Matfen Hall, Matfen

Aug 3 2008 by Sunday Sun

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FOOD SERVED - Noon to 2.15pm

THE missus has got a bit of a bee in her bonnet of late about me “taking her for granted”.

She’s not stopped bleating for weeks now about how I never surprise her or make loving gestures like buying her flowers.

I didn’t think it would help my cause any to point out that I don’t recall ever being the romantic type, and instead put my thinking cap on about how I could charm my way out of the doghouse.

We had recently been to a delightful wedding at Matfen Hall, a stunning country house nestled in the Northumberland countryside near Hadrian’s Wall.

Mrs Eats had been very impressed with the marvellous setting, surrounded as it is by a golf course and beautiful gardens.

So what better way to get back into her good books than by making a return visit?

So, unbeknown to Mrs E, I made a reservation for their three-course lunch.

Come Sunday, I ushered her into the Eatsmobile . . . and refused to reveal our destination.

As we trundled through the Northumberland hills and followed the signs for Matfen Hall, She Who Must Be Fed began to beam, and I knew I was onto a winner.

We pulled up and made our way to the library and print room . . . and the missus’s smile grew even wider.

It was a blazing hot day without a cloud in the sky and a cool breeze was blowing through the room’s bay windows.

A wedding party spilled out on to the lawns and pretty rose garden, and golfers ambled round the course.

We ordered drinks — a gin and tonic for Mrs E and a glass of red for myself — and studied the lunch menu before a polite and chatty waitress came to take our order.

I had chosen the soup — leek and potato — to start, although I had been extremely tempted by the warm duck salad.

The missus opted for the chicken liver parfait, followed by slow-cooked shoulder of pork in a mustard jus.

I plumped for the roast beef which, I was told, was served rare.

A few minutes later, we were shown to our table in the library which, to Mrs E’s delight, was in the window overlooking the golf course.

A waiter filled our water glasses and offered us a bread roll from a selection.

Shortly after, our starters arrived.

She Who Must Be Fed devoured her parfait — served with salad and brioche, — and declared it perfect .

She added that she could have done with a little more brioche, but made do by eating the remainder of her starter with her bread.

My soup was thick and tasty, with a strong garlicky flavour, but it seemed to be drizzled with some kind of oil, which I wasn’t keen on.

Next were our mains. My beef was served with a Yorkshire pud, roasties, carrots, cabbage and parsnips, all with a thick gravy.

The pork was served shredded and formed into a small patty, accompanied by cauliflower, green beans wrapped in bacon, and a potato and onion gratin.

The waiter told us that there were two Yorkshires going spare in the kitchen — we’d reserved the last table of the day — and offered to bring them over. Who were we to refuse?

The beef was close to pink and beautifully lean and tender, and complemented perfectly by the good selection of veg. The missus was just as happy with her meal, although she said the pork was a little cold.

The portions were generous — but not overly so — and left us nicely full and ready for a short breather before our desserts.

I chose the treacle tart with praline and honey ice cream, while Mrs Eats plumped for the iced mango parfait.

The individual tarts were delicious and served warm which contrasted perfectly with the ice cream.

The missus’s parfait was a lighter end to the meal, garnished with exotic fruits, but a little too creamy for her taste.

For an extra £3, diners can add coffee and mints on to the £17.95 three-course lunch, but we decided instead on a gentle walk in the sunshine.

And, as we strolled arm in arm through the magnificent grounds, the missus’s face was a picture of contentment. Mission accomplished.