EAT OUT AT CHRISTMAS

It might seem like a strange proposition, but some of us will be ordering a Take Away to celebrate Christmas! This is because our wonderful array of hospitality in Wendover has stepped up to the challenge of how best to serve the community. During full lockdown they were completely closed and therefore had no income at all but as soon as they were able to, they adapted their businesses and therefore started to offer take away even if they had never done that before. After all, it is likely that our gatherings will be small but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate with gusto!

A real bonus to living in Wendover is the variety of cuisines available to taste and enjoy. Anyone who cherishes that choice should also indulge it because we are all aware that the hospitality trade has suffered terribly in 2020. Invite your friends to come to Wendover this Autumn and discover so many different foods and styles. Make sure you search every nook and cranny and try them all!

One thing everyones agrees about is that Wendover is now the local leader in Café Society! This would have surprised the people who used The Manor Waste on the High Street for so many different purposes over the centuries! Now it is festooned with seats and shading attracting people who appreciate our lovely setting. Seating has also been restored to other pavements and the licencing issues have been settled with Buckinghamshire Council, see also Matters Arising on page 32. Tres Corazones, see advert page 17, had long offered paella as street food for sunny summer weekends and was able to convert this into kit form before inside dining was restored. Now the take away offer has been completely re-vamped to make is so much easier to eat delcious and authentic Spanish food. Click on www.trescorazones.co.uk/ for full details.

One of the quieter places offering comfort food all year round is the delightful Lady Grey Tearoom, see advert left. It is to be found off the High Street in Barn Courtyard behind Antiques at Wendover, see advert on front page. Go through the ancient coaching arch to find a true haven of tranquility. One very personal and domestic feature is the contribution of the matriarch of the family who has taken over complete responsibility for all the lovely plants, leading to the area gaining a new nickname - The Secret Garden. Now that the weather is on the turn, Tori and Stu are extending their range of heart warming soups so make sure you check out the menu for soup(s) of the day. Baked goods are specialities here including exquisite scones and scrumptious quiches. The entire menu is accessible during their opening hours, 10 to 4, Wednesday to Sunday. Lady Grey Tearoom has a quintessentially English atmosphere and was much praised by Mary Berry who visited a few years ago.

Beef Stroganoff is Back! Yes, that wonderful combination of strips of beef pan-fried with cream and cognac served with amazing straw chips is now on the menu again for local residents. Clubhouse TakeAway at Halton Tennis Centre is transitioning to new management brought to you by the team that owned and operated Le Bistro in Wendover for over 30 years. Due to Coronavirus plus risk assessment and protection measures they are starting on a collection only basis. Full details are available at www.haltonclubhouse.co.uk/. A new and expanding menu is available every week including all the old favourites. Familiar faces are flocking back so make sure you download the app to make it easier for you to order. They opened in early September and so far, the message from happy diners is - welcome back!

Spice Garden is very handy for those living out of the centre of Wendover and on or off Tring Road. It boasts a free private car park at the back for the convenience of customers. The clue is in the name - the cuisine is based on spices used in South Asian cooking which enrich flavour, not necessarily making it spicy hot. The combining of different spices is very regional on the sub-continent and it is worth exploring the tastes produced. Spice Garden is very experienced in providing take away food and can home deliver within a three mile radius, see advert left. The interior is extensive so tables are suitably distanced within a relaxing atmosphere. The Spice Garden Banquet is legendary and available to those dining in on Sundays and Wednesdays. Their extensive menu is available on www.thespicegarden.net/.

Wendover's Thai restaurant within the George and Dragon is so popular that booking was essential even before our new situation with collecting contact details. Their take away menu proved an instant success once they were able to re-open and you can see from the advert, right, value for money goes alongside tasty food. The George and Dragon offers an extensive Thai menu including a variety of stir fries, curries and house specials. They are very proud of the fact that all dishes are prepared from authentic ingredients in house at the George and Dragon by experienced chef Tu. Click on www.georgeanddragonwendover. com/ to explore the a la carte menu. There are also set menus and special offers to tempt you.

Our friendly Shoulder of Mutton also offers Take Away as well as a Dine In service in their extensive interior which lends itself to safe distancing. This is quality pub dining in a Grade II listed 18th century Chilterns inn. For full details go to www. chefandbrewer.com/pubs/buckinghamshire/shoulder-ofmutton/ or download the Greene King app to view menus, order and pay using technology. Christmas menus are ready to view. Greene King has also developed a Pub Safe scheme to safeguard our customers.