The quest for the perfect vegetarian roast dinner: The Barley Mow
After the disappointing roast at Stourhead in November, I had high hopes for The Barley Mow in December, especially as it came recommended by a good friend and fellow vegetarian.
I'm told the centrepiece of the roast varies - today it was a delicious beetroot nut roast. I've never come across this combination before but it worked really well. The beetroot kept the nut roast moist and added depth to the flavour - as well as giving it a pinky hue!
Hiding under the Yorkshire pudding were green beans, which were fresh and nicely cooked, as were the carrots and the red cabbage. I'm not sure how the cabbage was cooked, but it had a nice, slightly sweet flavour to it. The parsnip mash was a real highlight, smooth and creamy and really, really tasty. The gravy looks a bit translucent in this picture, but it tasted good and wasn't too runny.
Last but not least, the roast potatoes - these were spot on, crispy outside, fluffy inside and not the least bit oily or undercooked. The staff put the leftover potatoes and Yorkshires on the bar when they'd stop serving roasts, so we helped ourselves to a couple more of the latter!
Given that June's Kitchen is no longer running Sunday roasts at the Thunderbolt, the Barley Mow is bumping into second place on my Sunday roast leaderboard - The Lansdown still holds my top spot for now. I'd definitely go for a roast there again and would recommend it to friends. It's a lovely pub in general, with a good range of ales and ciders, friendly service and a cosy atmosphere. I can see why my friend recommended it so highly!