insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 18 - August 2016 | Page 95
Outdoor dining at The Fermain Valley Hotel
Bedroom at The Fermain Valley Hotel
sold in small boxes or stalls outside private
residences – honesty box and all), Guernsey’s
famous cows and goats, and the interesting ties
to Victor Hugo and even Paul Revere (the
American patriot).
First up: the homemade lobster soup with crab
dumplings, served alongside freshly baked bread
and Guernsey’s signature butter (from those
famous Guernsey cows, of course). Smooth and
flavourful, the starter was a great showcase of
local ingredients combined to make a fabulous
dish.
Deciding that we were on holiday after all, we
thought what the heck, let’s get the most
expensive thing on the menu – the Chateaubriand
for two. Now, this isn’t something I make a habit
of, and if we were back on the mainland, I’d have
second thoughts; but in this case, the most
expensive thing isn’t that expensive at all. Due
to no VAT on Guernsey, I found dining out to be
refreshingly inexpensive (our Chateaubriand for
two coming in at only £48). Arriving perfectly
cooked alongside Béarnaise sauce, hand-cut
chips, fresh spinach and courgettes frites, the
meal was simply superb.
Our night was finished off with a glass of bubbly
and a white chocolate crème brûlée, followed by
a breezy stroll along the harbour. Guernsey, we
are impressed.
Le Nautique
Rated number two of 97 restaurants in the town
(TripAdvisor), Le Nautique is quite a swanky
establishment. Beginning our evening at the bar,
we enjoyed a cocktail on comfortable cream
leather seats next to the wall-to-wall wine rack
before being shown to our window-side table.
Here we go with the views again… this time
instead of cliffs and sea, we admired the many
impressive sailboats and yachts moored in the
harbour.
fried panko crumbed Camembert. I know it’s not
from their signature seafood selection, but I
couldn’t help myself. I’ll have you know I did
order fish for my main – couldn’t not eat seafood
at a place known for its fish (though the summer
vegetable and truffle butter gnocchi did look
tasty). I ordered the daily special – sea bream
with crushed new potatoes and fresh vegetables,
whilst my guest sampled a fresh Guernsey lobster.
Both were tender, sweet and delicious.
After a few more glasses of wine, we headed
back for a second and final night at The Fermain
Bay Hotel. The great thing about Guernsey –
and its small size – is you have time to actually
do something on your last day, as everything is
within a few minutes’ drive to the airport. Whether
you spend your last hours on the neighbouring
island of Herm (as we did – stunning might I add),
relax on the beach or enjoy a crab sandwich
near the harbour, Guernsey is one island
destination that shouldn’t be overlooked. With a
few packs of that delectable butter in tow, I spent
the flight home daydreaming about my next,
hopefully much longer, visit.
I was utterly fascinated by the history, from the
ancient burial grounds (4000BC!), to the
newspapers and letters published during the
German occupation, to the 3rd-century Roman
shipwreck found in St Peter Port harbour. And
let’s not forget the scenery; almost everywhere
you look there’s either a jaw-dropping view of
cliffs and sea, or a street lined with beautifully
kept homes and endless rows of overflowing
flower baskets.
After the half-day tour and a quick spruce up
back at the hotel, my guest and I travelled the
short distance to Guernsey’s capital – St Peter
Port – for dinner at Le Nautique Restaurant.
The Auberge
Visit Guernsey
www.visitguernsey.com
St Peter Port High Street
Day two arrived after a restful night’s sleep, and
began with a delicious cooked breakfast served
in one of the hotel’s on-site restaurants, Ocean.
After devouring possibly the best omelette ever
made, it was time to venture out for another day
of exploration – this time to St Peter Port.
With its cobbled streets, boutique shopping,
quaint cafés and endless historical sites to boot,
the island’s capital is a holidaymaker’s dream.
Whether you fancy a day at a castle (Castle
Cornet), tea and cake amongst the flowers
(Candie Gardens), a spot of literary history
(Hauteville House, the home of Victor Hugo), or
a search around one of the many museums (the
Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery and La Vallette
Underground Military Museum are worth a visit),
St Peter Port has something for everyone. There
are plenty of guided walking tours available
(www.guernseyguidedtours.com), or if you’d
rather be chauffeured, hop on ‘Le Petit Train’ at
the harbour for a narrated driving tour, hitting all
the top spots.
Another packed day left us hungry (any excuse
to eat…), so we ventured out of St Peter Port
along the coast to The Auberge, a fine dining
restaurant nestled in the stunning cliffs of
Guernsey. Specialising in local seafood, the
menu’s starters included local scallops and bacon,
Rocquaine Bay oysters, and my choice, deep-
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The Fermain Valley Hotel
www.fermainvalley.com
Le Nautique Restaurant
www.lenautiquerestaurant.co.uk
The Auberge Restaurant
www.theauberge.gg
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