As Covid still haunts (and scuppers) our every travel plan, we’re taking advantage of everything London has to offer. So today we headed west to Kew Gardens. This incredible garden/park is home to over 50,000 living plants – among the largest and most diverse collection in the world. Their seed bank encompasses the greatest concentration of living seed and plant diversity on earth with 2.4 billion seeds representing almost 40,000 different species. That’s a lot of species.
It was allium time when we were there. So beautiful.
The thing that always impresses me as you wander through the gardens is its majesty. The huge amount of space, the ancient trees, the lakes and wildlife, the greenhouses packed with myriad treasures and of course all the flowers. For a while you forget that you are in the middle of one of the most happening cities in the world. You’re just in a giant garden. The perfect peaceful oasis. Here’s the magnificent Victorian greenhouse.
Kew Gardens is right near the Chiswick riverside which is where we are heading for a spot of lunch after our rejuvenating amble. The City Barge is a 14th century public house – one of several pubs in the pretty Strand-on-the-Green area in Chiswick. The walk along the towpath to get there has plenty of opportunities for a bit of house-gazing – what a lovely place to live. On arrival there’s outside seating both overlooking the river and on the terrace on the other side. Inside the building has retained much of its original architectural detail including the stylish Victorian panelling. And there’s a wonderful comprehensive menu and wine list to choose from.
What’s on the menu
First up, pickings from the bar snacks section. Juicy buffalo chicken wings come with a deliciously tangy blue cheese sauce. Satisfyingly sticky and messy – love anything that involves no cutlery!
This dainty little pork pie is served with balsamic cipollini onions. One of the nicest pork pies I’ve every tasted with the lightest of pastry and a wonderful sausage-like filling. And those onions – so beautifully sweet – the perfect accompaniment.
Moving on to the starters section it’s time for a fishy choice. Fried baby whitebait and black pepper squid serve with a tangy tartare sauce. Crispy fishy heaven.
And now for my favourite starter of the spring. I love asparagus and it’s particularly good at this time of year as is the wild garlic, ever-present on menus when it’s in season. So I couldn’t resist the grilled new season asparagus which comes with wild garlic and a lemon dressing. What the menu didn’t mention was it also comes with the freshest of peas – a true favourite. I’m always trying to add peas to everything – they complete a perfect meal for me. Well this starter was just fabulous – spring on a plate that’s full of healthiness, too.
What’s for mains
There’s an impressive choice of fish, meat and vegetarian dishes to sample. This is the pan fried sea bass fillet serve with new potatoes, chorizo, samphire and a lemon dressing.
I enjoyed tender Welsh lamb rump served withJersey Royals, broad beans, more peas (hooray), gem lettuce and salsa verde. Another springlike plate to love.
I love a good pie – especially served up in a nice pub. And today’s was a great example. The charter pie has a substantial filling of chicken, ham hock, mushroom and tarragon and arrives with clotted cream, mashed potatoes, hipsi cabbage and a little jug of devilled gravy. Sometimes a plate of food is just the perfect mix of stuff! And the richness of that gravy…
Today’s fish and chips wherecider-battered (unusually) sole fillet (also unusual) with triple cooked dripping chips, pease pudding, tartare sauce and gherkin ketchup. What a cornucopia and all brilliantly executed for a wonderful traditional pub food plate.
Okay, it’s fair to say we were all satiated at this stage. But we were tempted to try a traditional dessert – Bramley apple and rhubarb crumble served with vanilla ice cream. The perfect ending to our riverside pub lunch. No idea why we’ve left it so long between journeys west to Chiswick – we won’t make that mistake again.
Today’s price point
Today’s lunch for four came to £111.50. That was for a starter and main course each and a dessert to share between us.
We had a delightful bottle of Picpoul de Pinet for £26.50.
White wine starts from £21.50 and red from £24.50.
The City Barge is at 27 Strand on the Green, Chiswick, London W4.
