Landing in Newquay and on to the Lost Gardens of Heligan
Paul shared part of his youth by taking us to Cornwall where he spent many summers growing up. We flew into the little town of Newquay and then took a drive through the Cornish country side. Our first stop was to the Lost Gardens of Heligan, seat of the Tremayne family for more than 400 years and one of the most mysterious estates in England. The incredible gardens were lost for almost 75 years as vines and vegetation took over. A hurricane in 1990 opened up a glimpse of the garden and renovation began.
Padstow
One purpose for this trip was to experience the cooking expertise of well know English chef Rick Stein. Stein is a restaurateur, cook book author and television presenter with 16 cook books and 10 cooking programs. He has cooked for The Queen and Prince Philip, Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher, French President, Jacques Chirac and of course the IDC. Stein owns and runs four restaurants in the small Cornish fishing village of Padstow. We booked rooms above "The Seafood Restaurant" (which has sixteen rooms available, most of which overlook the harbour and Camel Estuary.) This quaint seaside village is the epitome of lands-end splendor. The small bookstores tucked into small cobblestone side streets, the cottages behind garden walls and of course the wonderful food cooked right below us in the restaurant. (www.rickstein.com)(http://www.padstowlive.com/site/home/Padstow)
Trebetherick - Cornwall
Onto the ferry to spend the last of our visit in the village of Trebetherick on the north coast of Cornwall and the St Moritz Hotel.
What is now the hotel originated as an imposing private house that belonged to a couple named Underwood. After the war, the couple reinvented their home into a luxurious hotel named for Richard Underwood's love of St Moritz, the Swiss town. The hotel is truly international with chefs trained in Switzerland but committed to serving the finest British food, using predominantly Cornish ingredients.
Our Gala event was in the restaurant of the hotel.
Our Gala event was in the restaurant of the hotel.