The sun is shining again after 24 hours of lovely summer rain so all the plants are drenched, fresh and happy! Cosses has a beautiful hidden garden where guests can relax in a romantic setting soaking up the sun and the beauty. After the rain I can plant out the remaining bedding plants, cut back geraniums which have finished flowering and dead head roses and lupins. In Wolsey lodge tradition, our guests enjoy afternoon tea (lemon cake with strawberry jam yesterday) in the garden.
In the kitchen garden I have picked mange tout, carrots, courgettes, spinach, chard and beetroot as well as several varieties of potatoes; and strawberries and gooseberries this week. I made strawberry jam yesterday.
Our guests from Luxembourg wrote in our visitors book “What a wonderful place! Lovely hosts and Susan’s cuisine is absolutely out of this world!”
Posts Tagged ‘Best Food’
Cosses garden in July
Friday, July 2nd, 2010Fine Dining at Cosses Country House
Monday, June 21st, 2010I 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.
Old Riley stays at Cosses Country House
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010Wolsey 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
Holiday in Southern Scotland
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010Guests 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!
Caroline’s hen party at Cosses Country House and the boat trip to Ailsa Craig
Thursday, April 29th, 2010Last 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!!
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.
Holiday Southern Scotland at Visit Scotland Expo
Saturday, April 17th, 2010Holiday Southern Scotland took a stand at visit Scotland expo to promote Southern Scotland and Wolsey Lodges. We are aiming to make Southern Scotland a premiere destination. We are the garden of Scotland with many of the best gardens in Scotland. Paddy Scott from Scotland’s Garden Scheme helped us on the stand. We have the best golf courses in Scotland from West Coast Links to East Lothian gems. The best walking in Scotland from the Ayrshire Coastal path, the Carrick Way, The Southern Upland way and Borders walks. With outstanding scenery, the best cycling is to be found in Southern Scotland at 7 Staines in Dumfries and Galloway. And without doubt we have some of the best food in Scotland from the Ayrshire food network, Galloway food towns, to the Borders food network with many ‘Slow Food’ members. And whilst participating in all of the above we have the best 4 and 5 ***** places to stay in Scotland from here at Cosses Country House and other Wolsey Lodges to Glenapp Castle or exclusive use at Blair Castle or self catering at dog friendly Castlehill.
Visit Scotland Expo
SSMI stand at Expo