Last night, Dan and I went to eat at this lovely little pub. Set in an enchanting village (think thatched cottages and a Father Brown style church), The Boot is a relatively undiscovered gem, with its very good reputation kept fairly quiet by the locals. (Let’s face it, when your local is that good, you don’t want outsiders coming and booking all the tables!) 

Last night was one of the many trips we have made to The Boot this year. We went first on Valentine’s Day and have been back five or six times since. It’s very close to the Hampshire Wiltshire border and, for the area, has an unusual menu. They offer English, Thai and Malaysian cuisine, all to a very high standard. Unlike so many other pubs, they also cater very well for vegetarians and those with dietary requirements.

When we arrived, we headed straight for the bar. It was relatively warm yesterday, but I still fancied a glass of wine, so I opted for a Chardonnay white wine spritzer. That really was the only way I could justify it to myself since (a) I’d promised myself I’d detox and (b) it really was too hot just to drink wine on its own. Dan ordered a beer- no idea which one. 

We’re now fairly familiar with the menu. For a starter, chicken satay usually wins, although they do have very good chilli shredded beef and breaded brie. Other options include garlic mushrooms, soup, patê, crispy duck and many more which I can’t recall. Last night, we ordered two chicken satays. Succulent chicken (eight pieces) in a homemade, spicy peanut sauce. It’s nice to have a spicy, as opposed to very bland, peanut sauce. I imagine that that is achieved by the addition of chilli oil, but am not certain. For the main course, Dan ordered beef massaman curry with egg fried rice (no peas, no sweetcorn) and I opted for the chilli shredded beef and coconut rice. Dan always orders beef massaman. I would say that The Boot’s version has a more prominent lime flavour than anywhere else, although it is not overpowering. Lime is also infinitely superior to lemon. The crispy beef was very tasty, although a little too soggy for me (there really wasn’t anything crispy about it). A little disappointing since it had been crispy on Valentine’s Day, when I’d had it last. That said, I would order it again. So tasty. 

The portions at The Boot are huge. Each time we go, we say that we can’t manage two courses, but we always try! The truth is, the food is so good that there are multiple dishes you can choose from, and you feel cheated unless you order as much as you think you can manage. The food is always so fresh and full of flavour. I suppose it’s a little surprising having such excellent oriental food in such a traditional English pub, eating prawn crackers and rice whilst sitting below exposed wooden beams, but that somehow has an added charm. 

The Boot is one of our regular haunts and for good reason. I’d advise you to give it a try, but don’t pass it on to your friends- it’s difficult enough to get a table as it is!

#pubs #countrypubs #sunday #dinner #theboot #shiptonbellinger