After a packed, fun filled month
and a half of countless family visits, eating, travelling, carol singing,
eating, festive outings, mulled wine consumption and yes, you guessed it, more
eating, life is now completely back to normal. Christmas is such a great, yet
funny time in regards to almost feeling like you are in a dream world. Everyone
is on such good form and you are never short of a keen friend looking to play
or have a laugh. Going out all the time is allowed and it becomes pretty
acceptable to let loose and basically do what you want as long as it’s in line
with adding to the ‘spirit of Christmas’.
I have to say, and I give credit
to all the people out there that restrict themselves at Christmas time. I
really didn’t go mad on the eating and drinking this year, but if it ever came
down to it and I had to for one reason or another I would struggle big time
missing out on all the fantastic treats on offer during the festive period. As
you might have sussed, I ate what I wanted, and when I wanted it, this
Christmas. It was absolutely fantastic. Being a bit of a foodie there are a
great number of treats, dinners, fish lunches and delicacies I could tell you
about, but for me, one of the most memorable treats of this year’s festive
period wasn’t any of these things. Its not something you can get your paws on
at a Michelin star restaurant, nor from a cute Mexican street food van on Brick
Lane, but an old station café in Derbyshire brought me a lot of happiness a
very cold 2nd January 2015.
Grindleford, a small village in
the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire is home to one of the most cracking
‘Chip Butties’ I have ever had in my life! The former Grindleford Station, now
Grindleford Station Café, is not a sleek rural watering hole with newspapers
hung delicately on the wall and fur throws available on the outdoor seating to
keep those little tootsies warm, far from it. In fact, with its piping hot cups
of tea and mouth watering plates of fried food, the café, or perhaps more
suited, greasy spoon is a much loved hang out for the hoards of walkers, bikers
and explorers who travel far and wide for this hidden gem. My advice to you,
have a warm up walk along Padley Gorge and through the woods. Its not a long
one, takes approximately two hours but at least then you have tried to burn off
some of the calories you are about to take straight back on board when you
realise you just cannot resist that Yorkshire pudding with extra chips and
gravy! (Got’ta be done, you are up’North after all). There is a lot on offer,
and I might be biased due to being void of the opportunity to buy a hefty, good
quality (fried in as much oil as possible) chip butty in London, but there is
no question about what has to be ordered from the no nonsense menu at
Grindleford Station Café, and that is OBVIOUSLY the ultimate chip butty!
If the food and surrounding
countryside don’t make this enough of a loveable, hidden gem for you and tug on
your heart strings, look out for the pithy signs and instructions. They’re sure
to tickle you. Once owned by a grumpy older bloke, the history of his reign
lives on, one of my personal faves - ‘If
you want to be a fire guard, join the fire brigade…’ - hog the fire at your
peril! For a real experience and some great comfort food, make it to
Grindleford Station Café, it’s a corker.
Cj x
