Happy accidents
Some of the best discoveries in life are by accident.
There we were, out for a wander at beautiful Batsford Arboretum in the Cotswolds when our thoughts turned to a bite to eat.
Our aspirations were low - just a sandwich to keep us going. That was until we spotted the Yellow Brick Cafe.
From the blackboard promise of orange and beetroot smoked mackerel salad outside, we were sold.
It’s just off the high street in Moreton-in-Marsh, so not too tricky to find but we’d never ventured inside before - thinking it was just a spot for ice cream and coffee. How wrong we were!
Its gorgeous interior made us want to settle inside but there are plenty of tables in the courtyard outside to enjoy an alfresco bite to eat.
With high beamed ceilings adorned with dangling lamps, jazzy jungle print seating, potted miniature roses on each table and colourful cans packed with cutlery, its friendly, warm and lack of pretentiousness vibe shines through.
The first thing that struck us about the menu was the creative variety and the second was its great value for money. And the third was how jolly and efficient the staff are. This place couldn’t be less run of the mill if it tried.
Yellow Brick Cafe has been around for eight years and during that time its loyal customer base has grown, but for us this little gem was a complete surprise.
We were so struck by the starters that we chose a couple to share to get a good variety of flavours. And boy was that great decision!
The vibrant colours, flavours and freshness of the dishes were outstanding.
My favourite was the spiced lamb meatballs with whipped feta, pine nuts, tomato ragu and leaves, which was kindly transformed from a loaded flatbread into a salad for an extra £1.50, making the dish £11. A small bowl of pink pickled cabbage combined beautifully with warm balls of succulent lamb dusted with pine nuts and lifted with a vinaigrette dressed leafy salad. For me, it was pure perfection.
My partner’s favourite was the Thai beef salad. Beautifully presented and packed with crunchy peanuts - it was a riot of colour and flavour and perfectly portioned too. Combining rare sliced steak with a Thai basil crunchy salad and Asian dressing, it was a steal at £7.50.
The colourful mackerel dish (£7.50) proved a light and refreshing delight with juicy segments of orange combining harmoniously with the earthy beetroot and crunchy fennel - setting off the sliver of mackerel perfectly. And dusted with jewels of pomegranate, it was an absolute delight.
We would’ve stayed for pudding, it was that good, but with plans for an evening party, we thought we’d better save that treat for a return visit - because we’ll definitely be back!
For more details visit www.yellowbrickcafe.co.uk
