Intriguing choices

Intriguing choice for a celebratory lunch for wife Jill’s birthday and at the same time a trip down memory lane in the Hampshire town Lymington.
Actually, it’s not so much memory lane as the quaint cobbled street to the Quay in this fishing and sailing town.
Lunch was at the Elderflower Restaurant run by husband and wife team Andrew and Marjolaine Du Bourg who have an impeccable  background in fine dining, and for us an introduction to an interesting menu, with les petites assiettes — small plates of individual dishes, presented in a manner reminiscent of Spanish tapas,  but with a distinct flair a la Francais.
It’s an interesting place with lots of character, a low beamed ceiling and bowed windows, and with celebrated history and which you can only approach walking along the cobbled street. The restaurant owners say the building is over 200 years old, and the place itself was once known as the Bluebird, named after the record breaking achievements of Donald Campbell in his famous Bluebird cars and boat in the 1950s and 60s.  The first restaurant at the building was founded by Donald Campbell’s daughter, Georgina.
The approach to les petites assiettes menu either appeals or not, although I have to admit to selecting a full size main course of mussels with fries — well, something of a traditional choice for me whenever I get the chance to visit France, or indeed whenever I can in this country.

A fascinating place to eat.  Thank you Rob and Jo who took us there, and Happy Birthday today, Jill