Potting, Plants and Gardens, and Farm (and tables)

 So, today…what was supposed to be Part II of y’day, but we both agreed THAT wasn’t happening, was a trip to the Eden Project.  Since there were road signs for it from like 10 miles out, it must be a big deal. :)

M and I came here on an earlier trip (I think it was ‘08) and she famously scared me by going on the zipline — marketed as England’s fastest.  No one ziplined today. 

As one ages, one forgets, or doesn’t notice when young, the difficulty of these things.  The walk down to the entrance to the Eden Project was not unlike the walk down to Tintagel exhibition center and beach yesterday.  No, I’m not making this up. 

And once in the rainforest biodome, there’s more climbing than a Himalayan sherpa.  They like these twisty walkways that go up and up or down and down; then you look up or down and see how much elevation you’ve cleared.

But it’s a cool place.  We both took lots (ok, I took “a few”) plant pictures.  There were a lot of lovely things, including a red poppy field.  

First, there was breakfast.  This is always a challenge (see the blogs on NYC last January) and there’s a competition between us: K has been know to take us to 4.8 star places in small towns where I ended up with a cup of joe and a muffin. :)

Today almost was one she would have held against me FOREVER! :)

It was called the Potting Shed (worth remembering) and when I showed her the picture in their reviews of their Benedict, she said “ewww”.  I asked what was that about? and she said the hollandaise didn’t look good.  After much to-ing and fro-ing, we ended up there anyway. 

We come down the highway and Google maps wants me to take a left into a street and she’s saying (intensely, if not loudly) “that’s the street?  are you sure?” and I said we’re almost there.  

It turns out we’ve turned into Newquay Garden Center!  Remember the restaurant’s name.  We stroll in through the plants, etc, and there is a sign for the restaurant above a door.  I open the door and its an office corridor!!! There’s no sign of a restaurant.   K said let’s ask someone (women!!) and she points to a glass door behind a ficus (or something).  As I walk toward it, I actually see people inside eating!!! Hallelujah!!!

It turned out to be a good little place.  Unusual.  I got a shot of the interior. 

and the food was excellent.  Here’s K’s variation on avocado toast (bc a garden center will have fresh avocados, right?}. 

Jump to dinner: again, a “famed” chef — Adam Handily, who is from Scotland, which explaned the Haggis Scotch Egg on the menu.  

It was an interesting venue — off a caravan park out in the relative middle of nowhere.  The farmhouse said 1669 on the side.  The interior had farmhouse vibes, with beams and wood and a fireplace.  

The food was labeled as “luxury pub food” and it probably was that.  At least for the price.  We started with these cheese donuts, which might have been the best part of the meal. 

 We both went basic: K had the filet, I had the smack burger.  Here’s the pics. 

And we had the custard tart with clotted cream and caramel ice cream.  We thought we chose poorly and had a chat with the wait person who asked if we had criticisms.  :). Duh. 

And then we went and watched the last sunset of our trip, at least over the ocean. 

Tomorrow we fly to London in the afternoon and have reservations at a place that does nothing but a tasting menu.  We’ll see how that goes. :)

Till then.