Perfect Pies

Today’s blog is specially for my favourite “pie-monster” Martin.

Purely in the name of research on Martin’s behalf, we had lunch in the Fleur de Lys. You can view the menu HERE

They claim to be the home of pies and with a choice of 8 (including 2 vegetarian) plus a special ‘pie of the day’ that is certainly the case.  We couldn’t decide which ones to have, so after a starter of really well kept Abbot and Otter ales we ordered one Chicken of Aragon and one Matador to have half each of both.

At first sight the meals seemed a bit expensive at £10.45 for pie & chips but what a pie! The portion size was just right, the chips were really nice and the mixed veg (carrots, leeks and cabbage) were perfectly cooked too, not hard and undercooked as is so often the case in pubs. This all came with a couple of jugs of very tasty gravy which really made the meal.  The chicken pie was succulent and packed with large plump chunks of chicken, smoky bacon & tarragon. The Matador pie was full of  tender beef, chorizo, green olives and butter beans. It was hard to decide which was best and sharing half and half was definitely a good idea.

2 empty plates says it all!

For desert I had Summer Pudding with ice cream, purely in the name of research you understand, and again it was really good.

This is a pub restaurant I can heartily recommend and we will definitely be stopping here again, after all there are still many more pies to sample.

The live staff were a bit younger,
very friendly and efficient too

Stratford Canal

It rained last night, so heavy that the canal looked like it was boiling. Just as suddenly as it had started it stopped and we were left with a fantastic double rainbow that started on the pub opposite and went right over the canal. As usual the photos don’t do it justice.

We had a very peaceful night with Charlie and all slept in till late so we didn’t start moving again until 1.00.  We turned into Kingswood Junction, through the well bashed bridge and through a very narrow link onto the Stratford Canal.

After the wide Grand Union Canal and the very wide locks it all seemed just a bit too narrow. Would we fit?

We soon got used to it again and carried on down past beautiful barrel-roof lock cottages 

and under the M40 which was very noisy and the traffic was almost at a stand still.

bottom gates are almost impossible to close - needs a man's touch

We finally moored for the night opposite the Fleur de Lys pub. They’re famous for their pies and we intend having lunch there tomorrow, just to check out the place for a very good 'pie-loving' friend of ours.

One of the lock cottages had bird boxes dotted about, both on the side of the cottage and in the trees beside the lock. They were all made from recycled footwear, old work boots and wellies.