Archive for the ‘Food’ Category

Luxury, Summer Holiday Offers in Southern Scotland

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

After some much needed rain everything is green and growing again! I made blackcurrant jam this morning and picked broad beans, french beans, spring onions and various salad leaves to mix with smoked Ayrshire Bacon, parmasan shavings, anchovies, free range eggs and olives for a delicious lunch.

As we still have some availability in July and August we have put together some special hot summer deals to tempt you to this beautiful unspoilt part of Scotland

If you are a ‘passionate foodie’ you will love it!

*Come and stay for a minimum of 4 nights (with dinner on a minimum of 3 nights) and receive 20% discount off the B&B price (Sunday to Thursday)

*Enjoy a weekend break away from it all and receive a free bottle of wine, with dinner. ( 2 nights)

*Walking Packages – from gentle walks to a bit more strenuous, to a real challenge (including free packed lunch and drop offs ) The walking in this enchanting area of natural beauty has amazing views with seascapes
, Southern Upland Way, Ayr River Way, Carrick and Galloway hills.

*Romantic Luxury Break with free bottle of Delamotte Brut, Champagne, (Established in the prestigious village of Le Mesnil. Champagne Delamotte is Chardonnays most refined in style and pedigree.One of the oldest Champagne houses, 250 years old this year.)
and Pamper Packages arranged at Pebble Spa. – minimum 2 nights

5*****Golfing breaks on delightful courses, for couples or small parties, in South West Scotland. Golfing itineraries arranged and a 3 night package will include 2 rounds of golf at Dunsky / Stranraer/ Brunston / or Girvan.

3 nights dinner B&B and 2 rounds of golf in the Ailsa or Iona Suite £295 per person / Garden room £265per person

Please quote ‘Summer Specials’ to claim any of these offers – subject to availability.
We are a Wolsey Lodge, that very special place to stay away from it all!

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Best Restaurant, Cycling Scotland, Fine Dining, Food, Gardening, Gardens of Scotland, Holiday Scotland, Luxury special offer breaks in Scotland, Romantic Holiday, Tourism, Walking Scotland, Wine and Whisky | No Comments »

Fine Dining at Cosses Country House

Monday, June 21st, 2010

I just love these long summer evenings when it hardly ever seems to get dark. The cottage garden is a dream with lupins, delphiniums and roses, and the kitchen garden is beginning to produce an abundance of fruit, herbs and vegetables. The guests relax in the garden over afternoon tea with chocolate cake, whilst I select the evenings vegetables. There is a choice of Swift or Epicure potatoes; spring cabbage, spinach or Swiss chard, a gourmet selection of lettuce and lots of fresh herbs. Strawberries and gooseberries are in season, well matched with Elderflowers for faulous desserts.
i will be demonstrating at the Royal Highland show on Thursday, using all this seasonal produce.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Best Restaurant, Fine Dining, Food, Gardening, Holiday Scotland, Home, Romantic Holiday, Tourism, Wine and Whisky | No Comments »

Old Riley stays at Cosses Country House

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Wolsey Lodge guests arrived in their beautiful blue Riley, having been to a rally near Loch Lomond. Wolsey Lodges are a great place for vintage car owners to stay as they nearly always have safe discreet parking.

Tim with his Riley


Other guests, this week have had great walking experiences doing the first section of the Ayrshire Coastal Path, walking aroung Glen Trool, the first section of the Southern Upland Way from Port Patrick and out to St.Ninians Cave on the Isle of Whithorn.

The path down the Merrick towards Loch Trool


The garden is looking glorious and guests have enjoyed afternoon tea and breakfast in the garden. It has rained all day today and provided a much needed watering of the garden.

In the garden at Cosses Country House

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Food, Gardening, Gardens of Scotland, Home, Romantic Holiday, Tourism, Vintage Cars, Walking Scotland | No Comments »

Holiday in Southern Scotland

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

Guests leaving this morning said that their visit to Cosses Country House was ‘the icing on the cake’ to finish a lovely week touring Scotland. They said that the dinner was fabulous – Fresh asparagus with Marrbury Smoked Salmon and home grown salad leaves; Fillet of Dalduff beef with mushroom stuffed with spinach and roast beetroot with balsamic and saute potatoes; Blackcurrant Creme Brulee; Scottish Cheese and Home made oatcakes; finished with coffee and home made Tablet.
They called in woodland Farm shop to buy farm house cheese – Ann Dorwood’s Aiket Brie and Epicure potatoes to take back home to Ireland; then they were going for a walk in Castle Kennedy before going for the ferry.

It rained last night, which watered the garden, as I had planted out the runner beans – St George and climbing beans – Cobra. The first early potatoes (in the green house) will be ready at the weekend, the spring cabbage is almost ready, and everything else has grown after the rain – including the weeds!

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Best Restaurant, Food, Gardening, Gardens of Scotland, Home, Romantic Holiday, Tourism, Walking Scotland | No Comments »

Caroline’s hen party at Cosses Country House and the boat trip to Ailsa Craig

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Last weekend saw Cosses Country House host Caroline’s ‘Hen Party’.
All 8 ladies arrived on Friday evening when Kristina conducted a tutored wine tasting before supper.
An early start was needed the next morning in order to make the sailing from Girvan harbour at 10am. All boardered the Glorious and skipper mark Mccrindle set off for a rather choppy crossing to the volcanic plug, Ailsa Craig. The granite to make curling stones is mined (every few years) on Ailsa Craig. Seals gather on the shore and can be seen bobbing out of the water.

The bride and her brides maid’s climbed to the top -quite a hike!!
The bride and bridesmaids!
A great picnic was hungryly devoured on the return to the shore, but had to be finished on board the Glorious, which was waiting to pick us up. Another 10 minutes and the boat would not have been able to reach the jetty! The boat then circled the island and we watched seals and ganets, the puffins had not yet returned to breed.
All members of the hen party returned for a siesta before gathering for drinks and pre dinner games. A magnificent dinner of Crab, tomato and rocket salad, Gressingham Ducking Breast with czar plum sauce, Clapshot, purple sprouting broccoli; Almond and Ginger Tuilles with Rhubarb and Ginger ice cream; Scottish Cheese and Home made oatcakes; then coffee and tablet. Lots of silly games ensued!
A lovely woodland walk, where bluebells and orchids are coming into bloom followed breakfast. The party finished their weekend with afternoon tea at Glenapp Castle.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Food, Tourism | No Comments »

The gardening year and home grown vegetables

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

The first seeds of the year are in the proporgator. Tomatoes are the first – lots of unusual varieties such as Tomato Roma, Tomato Sungold, Tomato Green Zebra, Tomato Costoluto Genovese, Tomato Orange Santa,  Tomato Black Krim, Tomato Pink Brandywine, Tomato Gardeners Delight, Tomato Yellow Pear and the old favourite Shirley.
Sweet Pea Spencer Waved Mixed,  Sweet Pea Cupid Mixed All Things Nice,
Sweet Pea Heirloom Mixed and Sweet Pea Purfume Delight. I also planted Broad Bean Stereo in pots.

Tags:
Posted in Food, Gardening | No Comments »

A walk by the river Stinchar

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

It was such a lovely afternoon, so after a delicious fish pie made with local seafood and Caroline’s hen’s eggs, we took the dogs for a walk along the banks of the River  Stinchar. There were signs of the recent flooding with silt covering the grass, sticks and branches caught up in the undergrowth and hedgerows. Snowdrops were peeping through, showing the first signs of spring. A heron watched us, having just eaten his fill of salmon par. The dogs raced along, chasing the scent of a hare or a fox and then jumped  into the river for a swim.

Tags: ,
Posted in Food, Tourism | No Comments »

Plucking Pheasants

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

Following the Crailoch Shoot, Mum and I had a morning plucking pheasants in the Games Room. Mum does the females and I do the males and the gory bits! They have hung for longer than usual this year as it has been so cold. You hold them by the tail and start pulling the feathers up the back, then the legs towards the breast. The wings, feet and neck are all cut off before pulling out the tail feathers. Its a good time to catch up on the chat and they were soon bagged and put in the deep freeze. Crailoch Pheasant with Whisky, cream Bay and Thyme is a favourite recipe at Cosses Country House. Mum and Dad then went off to Wildings for lunch with friends as it is Dad’s 88th birthday tomorrow.

Mum plucking a pheasant in the games room

Mum plucking a pheasant in the games room

Posted in Food | No Comments »