* The Bell at Charlbury has been taken over by a new couple determined to make their mark and give local residents somewhere great to eat and hang out.
Tracey and Colm Reilly, a grand Irish couple with six children, have taken on the central pub and are determined to make an impact by changing the menu and introducing guest chef nights. Bipin, “the king of the massala”, is cooking at the pub on on Saturday, February 6. They will be writing about their experiences for us over the next few weeks so watch this space!
* The Wandering Kitchen is coming to Rosie’s Tea Room in Abingdon for Burns Night with a fantastic menu featuring pheasant, chestnut and chanterelle soup or cullen skink for starters, Scottish salmon fish cakes with creamed leeks, tenderloin of venison served with haggis parcels, neeps, tatties and a whisky sauce, or vegetable haggis Wellington for mains, and a chocolate and salted caramel brownie, or butter scotch bread and butter pudding, to follow.
It costs £35 per person for four courses.
* To celebrate 30 years of Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Raymond Blanc is set to welcome back members of his brigade to host a series of Diner des Protégés at his two Michelin Star Oxfordshire restaurant over the year.
Guests will be able to savour the acclaimed chefs’ signature creations during an evening of gastronomic excellence with confirmed chefs including Michael Caines, Martin Burge, Paul Heathcote, Adam Simmonds, Eric Chavot, Bruno Loubet and Alan Murchison.
The Diner des Protégés evenings will include a Champagne Laurent-Perrier reception with canapés and a signature dinner with accompanying wines, coffee and petits fours, priced at £225 per person.
* Ditch that detox, step away from the lettuce leaf and say goodbye to the January blues at Oxford’s Las Iguanas, which will be running its infamous Happy Hour all day, every day, for the rest of the month.
Indulge in one of their new coconut cocktails such as the Coconut Rum-ba made with Havana Club rum, banana liqueur, fresh coconut water and flesh.
See iguanas.co.uk
* Oakman Inns & Restaurants Limited, owner of the Crown & Thistle in Abingdon, Blue Boar in Witney and Old Post Office in Wallingford, have been named as one of the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For in the UK 2015.
The prestigious accolade was presented at a recent awards dinner.
* The Three Pigeons in Milton Common is holding its first ever beer festival in March with more than 12 real ales already lined up and more in the pipeline.
Running from March 6-8 it promises to be a memorable three days, complete with live music on the Saturday evening and no entry charge.
* Organisers have announced that the 2015 Oxford Wine Festival will take place at the Oxford Union buildings from August 21-22.
Last year’s festival saw an attendance of over 1,800 wine lovers, with visitors flying in from as far away as California and South Africa.
The festival brings together many of the UK’s leading wine merchants and regional specialists, and features award-winning and rare wines from over 20 countries. The event also includes live music, an English vineyards room, food stalls, and a tutored tasting programme.
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