Is it really March already……? Life at The Victoria really flies by. February was a busy month for us with Valentines Day and Shrove Tuesday’s pancake extravaganza being the highlights. When March arrives surely its time to start thinking about spring – why not pop down and eat your way through the season’s changes - with Paul and the kitchen team making use of all the early crops.

Our garden definitely thinks better weather is on the way with daffodils popping up and the herbs coming back to life. We are not quite as convinced as our garden plants! So our log fire is still stoked up daily to give a warm inviting feel to the pub - but just in case we get that early flush of spring sun we have washed down all of our outside seating, so stop by what ever the weather!

Twickenham hosts two more rounds of matches this month with England playing France on 15th March and Scotland on 21st. We are close to this national stadium so let us know if you fancy a pre match bite to eat. We would be happy to pre order taxis as well if needed.

On 22nd March its Mothering Sunday. Treat mum to a well earned day off at The Victoria. We will be offering a fantastic menu for all the family and we’ll even do the washing up for free!

Start with a plate of all the following:

Char grilled king prawn skewers with flame grilled tomato salsa
Crispy chicken wings, garlic mayonnaise
Smoked salmon on brown bread
Sliced Serrano ham with feta, rocket and pomegranate
Vegetable spring rolls with sweet chilli dipping sauce

Followed by

Spit Roasted rib of South Devon beef, Yorkshire pudding, vegetables and roast potatoes
Or
Goat’s cheese and tomato crostini with a wild mushroom salad and herb oil
Or
Roasted sea trout on crushed new potatoes with a chorizo, rocket and mussel vinaigrette

Followed by

Chocolate and macadamia nut brownie, vanilla ice cream
Or
Apple crumble with blackberry ice cream and custard

£35 per adult and £15 for kids under 12

Starting in mid-March we’ll be offering breakfast every morning. Whether its an energizing breakfast smoothie, an uplifting bowl of fruit salad with Greek yoghurt and honey or a more comforting plate of scrambled eggs with assorted additions we’ve got it - all this and the morning papers thrown in for free. Of course we still do our teas, coffees, biscuits and brownies if your sweet tooth gets the better of you!

One thing we pride ourselves in, at The Vic’, is having the best wine list for miles around. Our wine buyer and consultant is Olly Smith – a well known face of wine on TV. He is currently busy assembling our next list so look out for news of a very special wine tasting evening to launch the list.

With all of the above in mind its worth knowing about our brand new events page on The Victoria website. Go to www.thevictoria.net to check out this page. See what we’re doing on those special occasions and make sure you don’t miss any of our up and coming in-house events at The Victoria.

March means lots of things – the weather improves and I can ride to work without thermals on (hopefully) and Brentford nudge ever nearer promotion! But it also means that spring is in the air and as any gardener will tell you it’s a busy time with potatoes going in and brassicas coming out of the vegetable patch.

I now switch attention from hearty menu dishes such as boiled collar of bacon and fruit crumbles to lighter dishes such as a salad of chicory with pear and gorgonzola.

On our dessert menu is one of my favourite seasonal fruits – blood oranges. We use them sliced in a caramel made from their own juice with the addition of campari and sugar; we then serve them with fresh mint and pistachio ice cream and shortbread flavoured with cardamom. Now that sounds seriously sexy...

...talking of which... this month Valentines night went down a storm – apart from in my house when my wife realised I would be cooking all night! The other big occasion was Pancake Day – We served over 400 pancakes! The boys in the kitchen looked seriously worn out after all that!

Now if you have ever pondered life’s big question – ‘who’s eaten all the pies?’ the answer is actually ‘no one yet!’ March 2nd – 8th is national pie week (www.britishpieweek.co.uk) so we will be marking the occasion with a daily lunchtime offering of steak, ale and mushroom pie. Its strictly first come first served so get your order in quick over the bar from 12pm all this week. It’s not all pies on the pub food menu though. Check out our bar food here: www.thevictoria.net/the-victoria-bar.htm

By the way this month I have decided to get all patriotic and feature an entirely English cheeseboard for the whole of March – if you have never sampled the delights of Stinking Bishop or the world award winning Tunworth cheese you had better get up to number 10 West Temple Sheen and demand a cheese board.

Finally thanks are due to my daughter Ellie for writing, designing and drawing our children's menu. Her latest offering is a selection of her favourite dishes which I note features very few vegetables!

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