The Mucky Duck

Posh Nosh at the Mucky Duck

Three commendations in a week from guests we had sent their way was a good enough reason to head up the road and "make sure everything was still OK" with the food at the Black Swan Inn.

We chose Saturday evening and phoned ahead to book from The Snacky where we were enjoying an early cocktail.  Just as well we did - when we arrived (early at about 7:15) there were no spare tables in the bar.  The Black Swan is only 200 yards up the road from our B&B in Swanage, but we are not regular diners and had been recommending it to guests largely on the basis of a fine game casserole enjoyed a fair time earlier.

We started with a sharing platter which, alongside the tasty ham and warm brie, included a really good appley chutney and garlicky sun-blushed tomatoes.  This would have been enough for a lunch, and with lots of warm crunchy bread was a very generous starter.

Jude then had a spagetti carbonara, nicely sticky-rich rather than creamy smooth; and not at all spoilt by the inclusion of a fair quantity of mushrooms.  The camera had lost all pretence of focus at this point so I concentrated on eating; I think the best mash potato I've ever eaten out - and that despite it being adulerated (in my view, but as advertised) with chives.  The Pork and Cider casserole was perfect: generous and tasty it struck a careful balance between the potential tartness of apple and the potential cloyiness of cream.  Bright savoy cabbage provided a good contrast in both colour and texture.  There was also a completely superfluous puff pastry "lid" which added nothing; but as Alyson the landlady told me "if you don't like it you can always leave it" - I did.

Didn't really have room for a pud, but as there was treacle tart on the menu it fell to me to give it a go.  Treacle, tart, custard - it was of course fine; but frankly not a patch on the truly home-made tart with thin crispy pastry that Jude sometimes makes for our Tea Room.

With coffee and a couple of glasses of wine we had change from £50 - and we'd eaten better than on many occasions when the bill was closer to £100.

Think its safe to carry on telling guests that "the Black Swan is an OK place to eat"!

Click to visit the Black Swan's site (opens in a new window) ...