Afternoon Tea at MacDonald Inchyra Hotel, Falkirk, Scotland

We have just come back from a lovely Afternoon Tea at MacDonald Inchyra Hotel (http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk) in Falkirk, Scotland.

It was not a nice day, a little bit wet and grey at around 3 degree outside however considering that it is approaching mid January we should not complain about the weather.

I have been to this place a long long time ago but they must have done refurbishment, I thought the reception was quite welcoming and cosy with the decor being almost like someone's living room rather than cold, impersonal and business like.

We are a party of four - my mother-in-law Mary, my younger daughter Maria, my husband and me. Our table, that could seat 6 people, was already set for four of us so there is some extra room on the table, which was good.

As soon as we were seated, Mary spotted brown sugar cubes and popped one into her mouth like a candy.  There is also a big jug of cold water with ice cubes and a slice of lemon on our table, which I thought was a very nice gesture. It was also nice to get proper cloth serviettes instead of paper napkins.

Once someone came to take our orders for tea, our Afternoon Tea stand arrived in good time.

I phoned in advance that half of us would like vegetarian option. When the stand came to our table, we thought half of sandwiches on the bottom layer was vegetarian; it turned out that we got a separate plate for vegetarian options, along with another plate of cakes!!

Wow, what a spread!

Selections of sandwiches for standard one are smoked salmon, egg mayonnaise, ham, and cheese with pickles, along with mini canapés with brie cheese and caramelised onion chutney and sausage rolls. 

For vegetarian option, we got selections of egg mayo, cheese with pickles in white, brown and poppy seeds (?) breads as well as canapés of brie cheese with caramelised onion chutney and also smoked haddock (don't know why smoked haddock for vegetarian option but we are happy with this as we do eat fish; we just order vegetarian as it would be easier than explaining that we don't eat meat but we eat fish and seafood).

There were 8 scones - 4 plain ones and 4 with currants (or sultina?) which came with raspberry jam and cream.

Cakes were also delicious - lovely soft sponges including chocolate orange, fruit cake and ginger ones as well as mini tartlet with custard cream filling with strawberries. There were also boozy cherries too. 

This was actually itson voucher deal and we did not expect this much selections of sandwiches and cakes as well as generous portions. We got two teapots which they happily replenished for us right away when we asked and it was really a good brew. 

I saw other people having afternoon tea and they all seemed enjoying themselves too. The Bar/Restaurant area is very nice and relaxing with soft lighting. The place was busy enough but not too busy, staff let us take our time to enjoy our afternoon tea in a relaxing atomosphre and we never felt being rushed. 

I then notice there were few people coming into the bar in their fluffy white robes and slippers ordering drinks. The Hotel has spa facility and their Luxury Afternoon Tea Spa Day package includes fluffy robes, slippers and towels, 1 x 60 minute treatment such as stress-away muscle massage or hot stone full massage, use of spa facilities, afternoon tea and glass of fizz. Wow, that sounds really relaxing already. Just think -  having a lovely hot stone full body massage and then sauntering into the bar in a fluffy comfy robe and slippers for a glass of bubbly and later on, have a relaxing and lovely afternoon tea. It sounds like a lovely way to spend your weekend!

There were so much food and we could not finish all. We asked if we could take away cakes, which was no problem for them to arrange. 

We really enjoyed our Afternoon Tea experience at Macdonald Inchyra Hotel.  The hotel is located in Grangemouth area, which is primarily known for the large petrochemical industry including oil refinery. It's not a sort of place you think of coming unless you got business here, that being said, it is central to Stirling, Glasgow and Edinburgh to visit as tourists; it is also easy access to the Kelpies, the largest equine sculptures of 30 meters high. And from our house, it is probably around 30 minutes drive. You never know. We may come back to this hotel again for spa break with afternoon tea....

We have had a lovely afternoon tea today and it was a great way to start our weekend ....

That's all forks!

Powfoulis Manor Hotel, Falkirk, Scotland

It was my mother-in-law, Mary's birthday a few weeks ago. My husband suggested that we try this place called Powfoulis Manor House Hotel (http://www.powfoulis.co.uk) in Falkirk as that's where his parents used to go when they were younger...
It's a Scottish Baronial style hotel in Falkirk and the estate has been in the hands of the Bruce Family since early 16th century and for 10 generations, Wow!

Approach to the main entrance of the building

As we were entering into the entrance, we were welcomed by an unexpected rendition of hard rock music. 

We were then shown through to the large Adam Lounge with big fireplace to take seats. I wonder why it's called Adam Lounge. Their website informs me that the owner of the Estate in late 19th century commissioned the Scottish architect Robert Adam to build on the lateral wings of the main building. I wonder if this could be the reason.... but no, it cannot be. According to Victoria and Albert Museum website, Robert Adam was alive between 1728 to 1792, a century earlier.... very intriguing.

I have forgotten to take more pictures but the Adam Lounge also houses distinctive deep buttoned Chesterfield leather sofas, whose name was allegedly originated from the 4th Earl of Chesterfield (1694-1773) who said to his servant at his death bed, "Give Mr Dayrolls (his friend) a chair" and died but the servant was confused as to whether the Earl meant his friend should sit down or have a chair as a present (http://www.independent.co.uk/property/interiors/the-secret-history-of-the-chesterfield-2292342.html). Anyhow, the buttons on the sofa were developed to make the chairs more uncomfortable as expensive pieces of furnitures often belonged to rich men of standing who would often have people waiting to see them and so buttons were designed to discourage them from staying.
I thought the sofa was rather comfortable to sit on it though...

I asked my mother in law when it was the last time she was at Powfoulis. She said it was probably about 30 years ago and things did not seem to have changed as she remembered, however she thought the carpets are new, hahaha. 

Staff came to take our drinks orders and then also brought us menus for perusal. When you are at this hotel, you don't rush, just take your time and wait until someone comes and take your orders in this Adam Lounge sitting on Chesterfield sofas. 

Table D'Hote lunch menu is 4 course meal for £19.95 including VAT. That's not bad at all.

Menu is ... some may call it old-fashioned or I would say old school. It's a bit like stepping back in time.

Once our table was ready, we were taken to the dining room. It's not a big dining room but could easily accommodate 3 - 4 big families or groups.  We were a group of 9 including my mother-in law, Mary, the birthday girl but there were also another 2 big groups of families lunching too.

The decor is also very old school with very vintage wall papers ... feels like stepping back in time again or even feels like having a dinner in someone's house....  this all adds to an unique charm to this old Manor House Hotel.

Back to the food. There were proper melba toasts on the table with butter.  Mary noticed the brown table napkin and said, "This has not changed, in fact, I think we still got this at home.... when Peter (her late husband) took it home by mistake after having wiped his mouth as hanky."  I am sure Powfoulis would forgive this minor incident - surely statue of limitation applies, after 3 decades ago ....

Whilst enjoying our Melba Toast, our starter arrived. I ordered prawn cocktail. Classic.

Emily and Craig had pate and melon pearls with mango sorbet.

Next came a home made potato soup. This was lovely too. Someone else had Scottish broth which turned out to be a vegetarian version so we could have had that too.

Then came the main course. I ordered breaded haddock. I must say that the service was very attentive and the staff came with big plateful of selections of vegetables which you can choose, and as much as you want. I tried to keep veggies to manageable portions but others had huge portions of everything piled up high.

This was Emily's steak pie - lots of properly stewed beef....

The birthday girl, Mary, had cold platter of chicken breast and salad - wow, that looks good. Do I see some potato salad hidden underneath that cucumber slice....?

I did not take a photo but Rebecca's macaroni cheese looked really nice too.

After this, a dessert trolly came to our table - with selections of different cakes.

I can't remember what everyone else had but I had white chocolate gateau (I think...) with cream. I don't usually like white chocolate as I often find them too sweet in general but I though this gateau was not too sweet and I rather enjoyed it, so I finished all.

After the meal, I sneaked myself out to go to downstairs where the lavatory is to power my nose ... it was really clean so obviously it passed my toilet check, or should I start saying loo or lavatory check instead from now on ....

Stepping back in time in the lavatory too....

This is a place where time stopped, where everything stays as the way it is or how you would have remembered. Some calls this old fashioned but it's this way of old schoolness that has its own charm. I don't think we would go back again soon, only because we feel that the menu would probably remain the same and I like to try different things, but at the same time I am sure this vintage feel and familiaity that give you a fond memory of 'back in the day' feeling is the precise reason why people would go back to this hotel for meals to keep them going. I would be curious to know what this place would be like in many years later ....

Well, the food was definitely old school but I enjoyed it. My mother-in-law enjoyed it so that's what matters the most. I thought the service was very attentive, the interval between each course was appropriate, not too rushed and not too being kept waiting too long but just right. Overall it took us about 2 hours to have our lunch, which is not something we would do in this modern busy daily life nowadays so I felt like we had a nice relaxing Sunday lunch with family.

Powfoulis Manor Hotel awaits you to join for dinner....

That's all forks ....

Fish & Chips in Falkirk

It was my mother-in-law Mary's birthday last Sunday. We were looking for place to go for dinner with her. Mary lives in Stirling. We live in Glasgow and Peter's sister family lives in Edinburgh. It has to be somewhere central for all.  Mary then suggested to go to benny t's (http://www.bennyts.net) in Falkirk.  It's a family-run fish and chips restaurant and takeaway place, not too far away from Falkirk Football Stadium.

I checked the reviews on Tripadvisor before we left home. Some said they do very good pizzas. That's tempting but we are in fish & chip restaurant so I decided to stick to their main products and ordered Classic Haddock Fish Supper (£9.95) that comes with 2 fillets (the menu says approx. 100g each) in crispy butter, served with benny t's tartare sauce, chips and was garnished with benny t's coleslaw.  Also ordered were two picked onions.




2 full fillets were a bit too much after all. My eyes always bigger than my stomach, however I managed to eat 1 1/2 fillets and the rest became a doggy bag for Robbie, Mary's beloved dog.
benny t's coleslaw lacked some sharpness and flavour, I thought, however overall I enjoyed the supper.

Mary's grand daughter Bekky is vegan at the moment so she ordered Vegetable pizza without cheese. It looked really good and was generous in size, smelling of proper stone baked oven pizza. Unfortunately I don't have photo of that. There were 9 of us at the table and Bekky was sitting the opposite end of the table from me. I did not have audacity to ask her not to start eating till I position her plate of pizza to be at the correct angle to take a photo for me.

There is extensive list of pizza on the menu (http://www.bennyts.net/uploads/files/bennyts.seesites.biz_--_590511914.pdf).  Pizza Amalfi sounds nice. If I ever go back there, I may try their pizza next time.

The restaurant decor is bright and colourful. Take away bit and restaurant stand side by side. It also has good size car parking facility.

We arrived at the restaurant at 4pm (it opens at 4pm on Sundays) so we did not have any problem to get a table for 9. By the time we were leaving, the restaurant was getting busier with people waiting for their seats. There are also people driving in to pick up takeaways from the chippies.

After this, Mary, my husband and I went back to Mary's house in Stirling.  I had earlier baked strawberry sponge cake with white chocolate and cream cheese icing for her birthday.  So we decided to eat some slices as dessert at her house. I think I did a fairly good job of this; the sponge was nice and moist, strawberries married well with white chocolate and cream cheese icing. I hope Mary enjoyed it too.  Well, I enjoyed it, blowing my trumpet here.... ha ha ha. 

Scotland has so many great fish and chips shops so to be honest benny t's is not a place we would go to drive all the way from where we live in Glasgow however, we could go back there for pizza next time as there are now The Kelpie near Falkirk,  300-tonne 30m high Kelpie horse's heads, Scotland's biggest art installation built by the artist Andy Scott's.  I fancy go and see them properly.

You can actually see the Kelpies from the motorway.  I am sure they look amazing from the Helix park where they are situated, however even from the motorway, they look awesome.  The stainless steel sculptures look so alive.....

Yes, we shall go and see the Kelpies and then go back to benny t's for pizza!

Anyway, hope Mary has enjoyed her birthday. Bekky and her boyfriend Don gave her a lovely card which they bought when they were travelling Vietnam.  I could not resist taking the photo of this. It's just so lovely and intricate.

Anyway, it was lovely for the family to get together. Happy Birthday, Mary.

That's all forks.