Eggs Benedict - The Swan at Newbury 3 of 3

This current trilogy will be rounded off by the consumption of another Eggs Benedict at a restaurant I have been to many times.

Summer is almost upon us. Yes to the sunshine, yes to the balmy summer evenings and yes to Pimms. No to the fact that my bingo wings are only just falling short of smacking me in the face if I have to wave at anyone. I suppose in some ways I am glad I shan’t be having more Eggs Benedict in order to attempt to combat my large posterior. In other ways I am not excited for a summer of cucumber and lettuce surprise. The surprise being there are no calories and henceforth no taste or enjoyment.

The Swan at Newtown (near Newbury) got a recent refurbishment much to my pleasure. I have had mostly good experiences here. The olives aren’t worth the brine they’re stored in and the black pepper granules are far too large to fit through the holes of the outdated pepper dispenser. Perhaps I am nitpicking at what is essentially a really good, fresh, consistent local pub-come-restaurant.

Sandwiches are marvellous and the menu is always changing as well as keeping the old favourites. I wish so much they would take the time to make their own crispy, golden, Jenga like chips. For now, the McDonaldsesque puny, skinny, pale and uninteresting remnants of potato shall suffice.

Formerly to this blissful experience I had always regarded The Swan as OK, alright, nice but not exceptional. Now however my opinion has very much changed such that I would very happily go out of my way to ensure that I had this dish again. It was the same price as the others at a mere £6 but how different it was.

My oh my what a surprise. I thought that the former contender for top dog could not be beaten. How wrong I was. I will not lie to you, my appetite rivals that of Goliath so when I gazed down onto my plate and was greeted with the sight of two (not one, but two!) muffins I was a happy chappy. Not only this but they were not reluctant to lavish my plate with smoked salmon. Then, amongst all this delight and splendour did I taste the sauce choron. Ignorantly I had ordered without knowing what sauce choron entails. I suppose the key part of this dish is the eggs and they were flawless.

Without doubt this has beaten the other two. It is not traditional but without these delectable variations of a classic we’ll all be bored of the original. With these variations when we wander back over to the side of tradition we can truly appreciate the original and best in all it’s glory. Perfect little soft muffins, sumptuous silky smoked salmon and that sauce choron. It was so smooth, creamy and full of flavour. If hollandaise scores 10 out of 10, this is 11.

5 out of 5 – If you get the chance, go go go!

All That I’m Eating