BIG announcement today: The search is over for
the best coffee shop in town. We have a winner as of yesterday. BUT, because I’m
dedicated to the cause, I will keep working my way round the rest of them – just
in case. And anyhow, what’s good for lunch in the sunshine with the husband-t0-be
(had to get that in there), might not be the place for an all-out breakfast or
a long girly natter over a hot chocolate and piece of cake. So, I’m not
retiring yet!
Hot Pepper Jelly, aka HPJ, on Suffolk Road,
Cheltenham has had many a rave review, but our luck has not been in of late.
First of all we walked down after work to give it a try, but to no avail as
they’d shut up shop for the day, then we walked down a couple of Saturdays ago
for a late lunch, only to find it was hosting a wedding party, and we, in our
ripped jeans and tees weren’t invited. So, with a day off work yesterday, we
chanced it for third time lucky. And our luck was well and truly in.
It was quite a muggy day, and we decided to
bypass the indoor seating and hide away in the courtyard garden which is just
magical and filled with French bistro style tables and chairs. Coloured lights
and trinkets are strung on the walls with plants and flowers growing from giant
pots and old oil canisters.
We both chose a sandwich: Kingsley the Shredded
Beef and I the Halloumi, oh and a portion of chips to share (Kingsley was
really miffed at the ‘sharing’ part).
I started worrying before our food arrived
about that word ‘sandwich’. I almost always go for a baguette where there’s a
choice and I could just imagine my pan-fried halloumi being stuffed between two
slices of bread. I’m not an advocate for sliced bread; I’m more of a doorstep
type girl, give me a crusty cob or a baguette – something big! I needn’t have worried,
you can see from the photo’s below that my ‘sandwich’ was more than substantial
served in toasted ciabatta.
Kingsley’s was hot shredded braised beef with
lettuce, tomato and homemade BBQ sauce. My perfectly pan-fried halloumi was
served with spicy humous, tomato, rocket, olive oil & balsamic. I don’t need
to describe just how heavenly it is to bite into a toasted ciabatta filled with
squeaky cheese do I? Oh I just did…heavenly. Carrying on the one-word reviews, I
asked Kingsley and he said ‘meaty’. He is a man of few words, but I do believe
there’s a compliment for the food in there. A man can’t live without meat can
he? So much so, when I ordered the Halloumi Sandwich he looked at me like I was
mad.
‘No
meat?’ He asked, perplexed.
Poor guy, and to think I usually serve him up cheesy
beans on toast (crusty cob of course) for lunch at home.
We were both agreed that this place hit the
spot for lunch. And the great thing is, there’s loads more we both wanted to
try on the menu, which means, we must go back! Such a hard life.
Oooh it's pretty! We've actually had tea and cake in a gorgeous walled courtyard today, there must be something in the air!
ReplyDeleteWow, the coffee break in the courtyard seemed very cozy and wonderful. I like the flower bike leaning on the window. The food is also delicious.
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