onionbagblog

Saturday night is food night in Wivenhoe. Which must make Monday - Friday booze night. Sundays are for walks.

A wander down from Jardine to the Bake House on Saturday evening and all of our local restaurants appeared to be serving happy eaters. Upstairs at The Greyhound, Bengal Spice, Valentino’s and the Corner House - it may have been cold outside, but food was helping to spread a little warmth within the Wivenhoe economy.

@AnnaJCowen and I are slowly, slowly eating Wivenhoe. With a table for four booked upstairs at the Corner House (hellooo!) Saturday night was a much-anticipated chance to sample the tapas menu that Nigel and Lisa have recently been able to put on offer.

The granting of an evening booze licence has allowed the Corner House to make the most of the historic building, both day and night. The space takes on a different ambience in the evening. Candles, some jazz funk and foodie types replacing the coffee ‘n cake crowd - it’s as though Wivenhoe has gained an extra eating establishment.

Tapas is the main theme for the menu. There is a selection of hot and cold dishes, with very much a mix ‘n match style to suit your palette (or pronunciation - how tricky is it to say Halloumi? Whoops.) The wine menu matches the Mediterranean feel.

Chin chin.

Ordering for four soon became an eyes rather than stomach satisfying experience - Olives, Mediterranean Dips, Charcuterie Plate, Calamari, Hhh-halloumi, Borek, Santa Fe Potatoes, Baked Somerset Camembert and a Bread Selection - and that was just for the starters.

I’m hard pushed to choose my favourite selection of the evening. The Halloumi we had was tender, the San Fe Potatoes had a kick and the Baked Somerset Camembert was deliciously smooth and creamy as it melted away.

The booze wasn’t half bad, either.

All of this choice soon confused @AnnaJCowen, who managed to bring the fine food dining experience back down to her level by asking for a doggy bag.

Blimey.

But it wasn’t all about the fine food. Sitting upstairs at the Corner House and each time someone walks past St Mary’s, a twenty foot high shadow appears creeping up the clock tower. There is Wivenhoe comedy gold to be had in this scientific fact. A puppet show projection is just waiting to happen.

Some three hours later after first taking up our table, we staggered back up through the town, laden down with food and fond memories. Oh, and a doggy bag.

The softly, softly launch of the evening eating experience at the Corner House appears to be working. Word is getting around Wivenhoe of what a wonderful addition this is to our many splendid restaurants.

Feedback on the Corner House Facebook wall is glowing. It seems that the hardest working couple in Wivenhoe have managed to come up with a winning formula once again.

All this work and no play… ah - but look here: Vegas is set to come to downtown Wivenhoe next month:

“To Celebrate Lisa and Nigel’s’ 18th wedding anniversary (and the city they were married in) The Corner House will become The Vegas Lounge on Saturday February 19th. Expect an eclectic mix of music and food that would have been found in the golden era of Las Vegas. Book now and dress to impress Vegas style.”

There’s also a Vietnamese New Year event later on this week to add further variety to the menu. Booking ahead is advised, as is putting aside a whole Sunday to walk off the experience.