Crab House Café: Hidden Pearl of the South West

Our second stop during the Jurassic week was the acclaimed Crab House Café. A small restaurant in the coast of Dorset, exactly in Ferrymans Way Portland Rd, Wyke Regis. The place is run by Chef Nigel Bloxham, offering fine flavours, a relaxed ambience looking over Chesil beach, unpretentious surroundings, or as they define themselves a hidden pearl of the South West.

The Place

Staff in Action 

How to get there

We tried the local cider, ale, and a selection of starters including oysters au natural, oysters italiano (which come with pesto and parmesan), home made porkpie with piccadilli, and pesto herb crumb scallops on their shelf which was my favourite. I want to highlight that they have their own oyster farm, and you can even choose your crab or fish from the tank room.

Menu

Local Cider

Porkpie

Oysters 

Scallops 

Local Ale

Then for main, I couldn’t resist the temptation to order a full crab to literally hit the crab out of it, and cod fillet with pesto crumbs and aubergine mayo (their version of fish and chips). What can I say? UNBELIEVABLE! The food was spectacular, one of the best seafood restaurants that I have had the pleasure to eat, the cod was perfect, and the crab laborious task but fun and tasty.

Spicy Chinese Crab, the sauce is great to dip your chips 

Cod with pesto crumbs

Whole Crab to crack

Nothing more relaxing than 30 minutes hitting the crab with a hammer in a wooden board, using all the utensils including nutcracker, bib, picks, and forks to eat that succulent meal.

Ready to Crack

Crab reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Soup Nazi”.

George: Medium turkey chili.

Jerry: Medium crab bisque.

George: I didn't get any bread.

Jerry: Just forget it. Let it go.

George: Um, excuse me, I think you forgot my bread.

Soup Nazi: Bread? $2 extra.

George: $2? But everyone in front of me got free bread.

Soup Nazi: You want bread?

George: Yes, please.

Soup Nazi: $3!

George: What?

Soup Nazi: No soup for you!

A sunny week in the Jurassic Coast with a couple nuns and a monk

A couple weeks back got a team meeting in Dorset, the weather was amazing and I just love the British countryside. This time I had the chance to visit the Jurassic coast and do a 3 hours trekking follow it by a boat trip to see the coastline, life can’t be better, 250 million years checked, world heritage site checked.

Jurassic Coast

First day I went with a couple colleagues for investigation to the local pub Scott Arms, just like Dire Straits song Private Investigation. An exquisite traditional English pub, cosy, relax, with an outstanding view of Corfe Castle, simply a drink in the view. We had the chance of having a pint before dining in the Priory Hotel in Wareham.

Scott Arms

The Priory was a convent of nuns, then a monk house, it has an extensive history dating from the late 7^th century, the place conveys relaxation all over, good service and excellent food is what you can find in it.

The Priory

As a starter, I got a half Kimmeridge Thermidor Lobster, after that for main Aberdeen Angus Fillet with Foie Gras and wild mushroom Rosti in a red wine and Madeira reduction, and finally vanilla crème brulee.

Half Kimmeridge Lobster

Aberdeen Angus Fillet

Miss Brulee

A succulent start for an amazing week.

Point Percy...

All this priory experience reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Conversion” when Kramer jeopardise a novice taking her vows.

Jerry: Oh a slinky. Where did you get it?

Kramer: Sister Roberta gave it to me.

Jerry: Why did she give you that?

Kramer: I think she liked me.

Jerry: What do you mean she liked you?

Kramer: Liked me.

George: Kramer, they like everybody. They’re friendly people.

Kramer: No. I think I picked up on a vibe.

Jerry: You picked up on a vibe, from a nun.

Kramer: Yeah, Jerry I’m telling you I have this power. And I have no control over it.