Harwich may not be known as the place to go for vegetarian cuisine, but thanks to Hotel Continental it soon could be. The restaurant within the hotel offers a feast of homemade veggie and vegan delights, as well as meat and fish dishes.
Situated on the seafront, the hotel's yellow facade presented us with a sunny welcome, and the greeting we received from the staff inside was just as warm. All the dishes are prepared by owner and chef Blossom, who, with partner and co-owner Gordon, has been vegetarian for 30 years - so she certainly knows what she's talking about. The couple pride themselves on sourcing the freshest ingredients from local traders wherever possible. Their vegetarian specialities include puy lentil fritters with cumin and fresh coriander, and chickpea and vegetable harissa hotpot.
I started with the delicious Stilton-stuffed Portobello mushroom with a herb and nut topping, following it with a walnut roast with spring onion and garlic mash. This was served on a bed of fresh vegetables and accompanied by deliciously spicy tomato relish. My companion enjoyed wild mushroom soup - which he declared to be the best he's ever tasted - before sampling beer-battered fish and chips with mushy peas. The batter received a big thumbs-up for taste and lightness. I've just room to mention my dessert of vanilla cream terrine with fresh raspberries and blackcurrant coulis - it was out of this world.
