We’re open! 14-page feature

We’re open!

The 17th May marks the moment we’ve all been waiting for. At long last – and with much excitement – restaurants, cafés, bistros and bars all over the Island are opening up their doors, unfurling their menus, and ushering in the new season.

This summer – though it’s only just beginning – we’re soaking up every single experience. From coffeeon-the-go to three-coffeesin-a-row; we’re taking treat-yourself Thursdays all the way into date-night Fridays and lazy weekend lunching. At Cowes’ Bliss Ice Cream Parlour, there’s an Isle of Wight ice cream for every day of the week. As we reacquaint ourselves with all the delectable details that makes eating, drinking, and meeting out an occasion worth waiting for – embracing indecision (when in doubt, order both!); choosing a cocktail (currently contemplating a Smoking Lobster Amaretto Wasabi Sour); deliberating over dessert (the Aquitania’s Raspberry bavarois is spoken for); sending compliments to the chef (as The Hambrough welcomes acclaimed Roux scholar Matt Tomkinson) – we promise never to take any of it for granted again.

Bluebells at Briddlesford is back

At Bluebells café, delicious local food and drink – and a very warm welcome – awaits. With cushions and blankets to keep you toasty and Island Roasted coffee made with golden milk from their own Guernsey cows, the brandnew pergola is the perfect place to enjoy a café visit at the heart of the farm. Many will have missed their famous Bluebell breakfasts; now back and available from 9am until 3.30pm daily alongside a range of tasty light bites, main meals, specials, desserts and locally made cakes. Or why not indulge in a decadent cream tea with homemade scones, fruit bowl raspberry and loganberry jam and Briddlesford butter and clotted cream – a well-deserved treat.

Looking ahead, there are big plans afoot for summer BBQs with live music, all with Covid-safe procedures. In the meantime, the baby calves (and staff!) can’t wait to welcome visitors back to the farm.

Razzle-dazzle

at new Seaview restaurant

Plaice fillets, turned potatoes, asparagus, marsh samphire, mangetout and parsley sauce The Aquitania is the new restaurant at the Seaview Hotel. Located in the former Naval Mess it features images from RMS Aquitania, a British ocean liner of the Cunard Line, and has been decorated to show some of the razzle-dazzle camouflage the ship wore during World War 1. The Aquitania will be open for dinner service only and the daily changing menu will focus on fresh fish and seafood.

"We have always wanted to create a more intimate restaurant at the hotel where dinner has more of a sense of occasion. The Aquitania can seat around 26 people and will showcase our finest cooking, where carefully selected ingredients are prepared with skill and care," says head chef Bruce Theobald.

The Seaview Hotel currently is one of a handful of venues on the Island

Raspberry bavarois, white chocolate cremeux, vanilla sponge and passion fruit

that has a coveted 2 AA Rosettes as well as mentions in The Good Food and Michelin guides. You can reserve online at seaviewhotel.co.uk

seaviewhotel.co.uk Instagram: @seaviewhoteliow

We are family

In just three years, husband-and-wife team Stefan and Becky, along with their two young children Willoughby and Vera, took a bare shell and transformed it into the award-winning independent Freshwater Coffee House

Family pictures Christian Warren Food pictures Steve Jones

From the start, Stefan and Becky have prided themselves on their range of wholesome vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian options; from brunches to home-baked cakes and desserts. Together, the family quickly cultivated an atmosphere of belonging — their space is dog-friendly, childfriendly, remote-worker friendly and bicycle-friendly – creating not only a coffee house, but a hub of the village.

And with award-winning coffee and a host of informal (‘best poached eggs on the Island’) and official accolades (in 2020, The Freshwater Coffee House was awarded a TripAdvisor Traveller’s

Choice Award), it’s easy to see why.

During the first lockdown, the local community dug deep and raised a phenomenal £20,000 to help see this much-loved business through to better times. Thanks to their generosity, The

Freshwater Coffee House is looking forward to reopening for sit-ins from the 17th May. Behind the scenes, the family has been busy preparing for the new season with a refurbished retail space and gallery wall featuring Stefan’s own artwork.

The Freshwater Coffee House’s eco-game is strong, too; having supported Plastic Free Freshwater from the start and being the first on the Island to collect and commercially compost Vegware takeaway cups, plates and cutlery. This May, the team is introducing a depositbased loan, purchase and reuse scheme for Huskee takeaway cups, made from recycled coffee husks, and Black + Blum stainless steel picnicware.

Find out more at www.freshwatercoffeehouse.co.uk Instagram: @thefreshwatercoffeehouse

Sunny days are here

As the sun bursts through after a long dark winter Bliss Ice Cream Parlour has had a fresh coat of paint and a new Whippy machine. Situated on Bath Road in Cowes, Bliss proudly boasts a full set of ice cream brands, all made on the Isle of Wight using only Isle of Wight milk, plus yummy vegan ice cream too. Enjoy a farm-made clotted cream Calbourne Classics ice cream, an extensive and fun choice of Isle of Wight Ice Cream company flavours or, if Italian is your choice, try their artisan Minghella range. You can also pop in and have a delicious warm Belgium waffle, epic ice cream Sundae or iced coffee – they can’t wait to see you! At Bliss they always do their best to reduce plastic consumption, and all of their takeaway cups, lids, straws, tubs, spoons and cutlery items are fully biodegradable/compostable. New for 2021 - Rex’s Range - the only lactose-free, Isle of Wight-made ice cream especially for dogs, so offer your pooch a special summer treat too!

www.blissicecreamparlour.com Instagram: @blissicecreamparlour

Home sweet home

Newport’s newest addition is something a bit different: enticingly decorated in eye-catching pretty pastels, Sweet Charlie’s – opening soon – will be the county town’s only late-night dessert shop, open until midnight every weekend in addition to normal daytime hours. Preparing for their grand opening on Friday 28th May has been a labour of love for Charlie and husband Dave; when Charlie’s hugely popular handcrafted chocolate and candy gift bouquets overflowed from every room in the home, they knew the time was right to find premises of their own. The couple, who had long dreamt of creating their own soul-food style café – selling freshly cooked crepes, waffles, paninis, milkshakes and ice-cream – were thrilled to discover the perfect building on the High

sweetcharlies.co.uk Instagram: @sweetcharliesnewport Street, with enough internal space to accommodate both sides of their business. And so, Sweet Charlie’s was born. As well as an array of sweet treats, the café will sell and serve their very own ‘Sweet Charlie’s’ blend of deliciously responsible Eco Roast coffee. Perfect with a Biscoff Crumble waffle.

We are ...

Serving Artisan barista made coffee and loose leaf tea, healthy and beautiful homemade food and cakes and vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options every day.

We can’t wait to see you and are child and dog friendly.

Check our website for opening times and events Stefan, Becky, Willoughby, Vera and #TeamTFCH

5 SCHOOL GREEN ROAD, FRESHWATER, ISLE OF WIGHT PO40 9AJ www.freshwatercoffeehouse.co.uk 01983 754095 TheFRESHWATERCOFFEEHOUSE TFWCoffeeHouse

Exciting times ahead at The Hambrough

Chef Matt Tomkinson cooking up a storm As The Hambrough prepares to reopen, excitement is building following the recent appointment of new Executive Chef Matt Tomkinson. The high-profile announcement marks the beginning of what is sure to be an exceptionally busy season ahead for Ventnor’s award-winning boutique bed & breakfast.

Matt brings with him multiple culinary accolades – his 2nd Michelin Star, gained as Head Chef at the highly acclaimed Montague Arms in Beaulieu just across the Solent - was held for eight years. Having visited the Island on numerous occasions, Matt was delighted when the opportunity came up and he is looking forward to working closely with local suppliers to showcase the abundance of fine seasonal produce in his menus. As a former Roux scholar – one of the world’s most prestigious training programmes for the industry’s most acclaimed chefs – Matt is keen to bring both his relaxed informal style of modern British hospitality and classical French influences to the Hambrough dining experience. The Hambrough Restaurant will be reopening from 17th May serving lunch from Wednesday to Sunday and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday during the summer season, closing on Mondays. Bookings are being taken by emailing info@thehambrough.com as the telephone lines are currently not manned full-time.

Hambrough Road, Ventnor, PO38 1SQ thehambrough.com

The doors are open at Inns of Distinction

The team at Inns of Distinction are delighted to be able to open their doors again; The Boathouse and The Fishbourne have been welcoming guests in outdoor areas since April and, from May 17th, The New Inn and The Spinnaker will be opening too. Fresh, local and seasonal produce remains their focus with the Island’s natural larder being a constant inspiration to their talented team of chefs. Dishes such as their in-house smoked pulled brisket burger, melting applewood cheese and Jack Daniels barbecue sauce from The Boathouse, and crab, avocado and Isle of Wight tomato tian, black olive crumb, split dill and lemon dressing at The Fishbourne have been big hits in the spring sunshine, with many more new dishes coming every day. Reservations for dining are essential so please visit innsofdistinction.co.uk to make your booking. They look forward to seeing you this spring and summer!

innsofdistinction.co.uk

A true taste of Italy

According to legend, Renaissance artist Michelangelo was completing a painting that had been commissioned by a Prince when he ran out of red paint: searching the kitchen, he came back with some tomato sauce in a bowl and continued his work to completion and great acclaim. And so, Michelangelo’s Tomato Sauce was born.

At Michelangelo’s, on the bottom corner of Ryde’s Union Street, you will find a delicious range of Italian Renaissance-inspired sauces designed to lift your pasta, meat or fish dish to another level of authenticity and taste. Made with the same love and care as if for their own families, their artisan-made sauces – from classic Bolognese to hot Piccante and Capperi e Olive tapenade – will give you the taste of Italy whatever the season.

ristorantemichelangelo.co.uk Facebook: @Michelangelo Restaurant IOW

Summer at Quarr Abbey

With the long-awaited summer finally here and all areas of the Abbey now open, some things will be returning to normal, and some things will be slightly different this year at Quarr Abbey. In May they reopen the inside seating area of the popular teashop and start to take lunch bookings once more. Outside, the tea garden remains open for takeaways and for those who wish to eat their purchases on the grounds of the Abbey and soak in the peaceful atmosphere. Reservations and table service are available for the inside seating area only during the summer period. The menus consist of an array of grab-and-go goodies – freshly made baguettes, sausage rolls and pork pies – along with a delicious selection of daily specials created by the chef. The farm shop remains in its new location opposite the art gallery; in this courtyard area you will find an array of fresh produce, plants, local Island products and their very own Quarr Abbey products. Meanwhile, the church is open for services with all welcome, and the grounds and woodland walk remain open throughout the day for all to enjoy. And, of course, the ever-popular pigs are also back in residence and extremely happy to have visitors once more.

Smoking Lobster comes to Cowes

The popular dining experience is bringing its unique brand of panAsian cuisine and seductive cocktails to the Island’s north coast

When Giancarlo and his team opened the now infamous Smoking Lobster on Ventnor seafront in 2017, it quickly gained popularity with locals and tourists alike. Boasting panoramic views of one of the Island’s most picturesque beaches out towards the English Channel, the small restaurant reimagined seasonal Island produce through a pan-Asian lens, bringing a fresh, contemporary feel to the Island’s food scene.

Then, in 2020, the Smoking Lobster Group proudly opened an alternative to the restaurant on the beach with their sister venue – Drunken Lobster – in Ventnor town. The Izakaya-style bar swiftly became a Style of Wight favourite where the drinks take centre stage: here, cocktails, sake and Japanese bar food are served in a more casual dining experience. This May, the final addition to the Smoking Lobster family is about to hit town. Here, in this larger restaurant overlooking the bustling Cowes Marina, the team has taken inspiration from the best of both: its pan-Asian menu and plethora of delicious cocktails and speciality wines combining in perfect harbour-side harmony.