During our tour around the Cotswolds, our tour group was given an hour for lunch break in the Stow-on-the-Wold Square. Since our tour guide had highly recommended that we grab a quick lunch from Huffkins and eat as we walk around the square, my family decided to take his advice and give this place a try.
Immediately, once we entered the place, I was sucked into staring googly-eyed at all the yummy looking desserts. Cakes! Pies! Cookies! Eclairs! I was in dessert heaven! (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/yoDPhn-hn1Xe2Vcjydre2w?select=jkz8Ck2TPr14vQz-nVeVwg#pbJBF8clIaCnLq0Qpu6I6w) But no, we must eat lunch first, so I unwillingly tore my eyes away from the sugar and proceeded to stare some more...this time at the savory pies and pasties..and what were those wavy-looking things clustered in a pile in the middle shelf (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/yoDPhn-hn1Xe2Vcjydre2w?select=jkz8Ck2TPr14vQz-nVeVwg#o0IbC3jUDaFch77h8MEaSg)? Enchanted by the strange pastry (which was filled with beef and potatoes and other veggies), I told my dad that's what I wanted for lunch.
My sister, who had gone upstairs exploring for the restroom, came downstairs to inform us that there was actually a lounge area with tables for people to eat apart from the afternoon tea drinkers in their separate tea rooms. Oh, really?! Excited by the prospect of having tables for take-out food (which is almost unheard of), I made a mad dash upstairs only to see that the soup we had ordered was already heated and placed nicely on one of the tables for four. Eh? Seeming to have read our mind, the waitresses had gone a step further to reserve a table for us ahead of the rest of tourists/customers.
My verdict on the food (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/yoDPhn-hn1Xe2Vcjydre2w?select=jkz8Ck2TPr14vQz-nVeVwg#OF7qSmE9XYEBoL2euVq_Tg):
Potato and Onion soup (served with a grain-and-nut-embedded bread and butter) (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/yoDPhn-hn1Xe2Vcjydre2w?select=jkz8Ck2TPr14vQz-nVeVwg#Nx6pXhMJv2tVA6cz6MJqUQ) - I like creamy soups, and this one did not disappoint. The potatos had been blended into the soup and added a nice thickness to it. Although there were only a few strands of green onion (we had been expecting sauteed onions or something) in the soup, there was something addicting about the soup. Maybe it was the subtle acidity or the smooth texture and strong flavor, but whatever it was, it worked.
The Cornish ("wavy") pasty - This pasty is like an upright pasty with wave crests on the top, which was what lured me into ordering it. The flavor of the beef, veggies, and gravy were decent, but kind of dry. It seemed as though the gravy had evaporated or been absorbed. Hm..maybe that's why I kept drinking the soup...
Steak and Guinness pie - Both my mom and sister ordered this, and it was very delicious. There was so much flavorful sauce packed in this pie it came oozing out once they hacked into it. We all agreed that this was very yummy in flavor and in texture.
Pork Pie - Apparently, this is traditionally eaten cold, because when my dad went down to the kitchen in confusion thinking they had forgotten to heat this up, they informed him that pork pies are meant to be eaten cold. They really packed their pork in this thing, because it was really dense! I guess this makes for food travelers' food, but I'd already gotten sick of cold food by this point.
Homemade Seasonal Roulade (filled with fresh cream) (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/yoDPhn-hn1Xe2Vcjydre2w?select=jkz8Ck2TPr14vQz-nVeVwg#6yYzsBtbsKdeWIsUnTsD8A) - I had my eye on this thing the minute I entered Huffkins. The cake and cream just looked so fluffy! Although the texture did not disappoint (fluffy and light, indeed!), it was kind of lacking in flavor. I kind of wish they had rolled more jam into this thing because all I tasted was the spongy cake.
TL;DR: Quick service, many options, and nice seating areas. However, in general, the food here seems to look better than it actually tastes. I noticed that they do have some award-winning scones and fruit cakes, though. So maybe those are better dessert options. read more