Weekend In Bath, Somerset

Bern and I had our first holiday and weekend getaway. Bath, Somerset is a beautiful city that is about 1 1/2 hr train from London. It is named Bath for its historical landmark, the natural spring Bath which was built by the Romans. Bath is the only natural hot springs in the UK.The Romans felt that the springs must be from God and they buit a temple to worship the goddess Minerva. The Bath house was built near the temple, and there is a dedicated spring/bath for the goddess Minerva, and no one was allowed to use it.

However, the Celts were already using the springs prior to the Roman invasion and they were worshipping the Goddess Saulis. Hence, the Bath is also known as Aqua Saulis. A very beatiful and quaint place, with many of the buldings made of limestone.

                                                                         The Abbey

                                                                  The gardens in Bath

Bath is also known for, of all things, buns. The Bath buns according to Wikipedia is "possibly descended from the 18th century 'Bath cake'. References to Bath buns date from 1763, and they are still produced in the Bath area of England. The original 18th century recipe used a brioche or rich egg and butter dough which was then covered with caraway seeds coated in several layers of sugar similar to French dragée. It is said to have been devised by Dr. William Oliver who was a doctor treating visitors who came to Bath for the spa waters. He later invented the Bath Oliver biscuit, when Bath buns proved to be too fattening for his patients with rheumatism." Hilarious!

The Sally Lunn Buns, however, is said to have originated in Bath with the arrival in 1680 of a Huguenot immigrant called Solange (Sollie) Luyon who brought her native skill and worked at a Bath bakery - this bakery is now known as Sally Lunn's House and the original recipe buns are available for sale or consumption in the dining rooms. Sally Lunn is a corruption of her name and the bun became a very popular delicacy in Georgian England as its taste and lightness allowed it to be enjoyed as a sweet or savoury dish. This is all according to Wikipedia....

Bern and I had a taste of the Sally Lunn buns. Mine was topped with a cinnamon butter, while Bern had a savoury one, topped with stew. To be honest, it was just a soft bun, nothing that special, if not for its historical value. The dining room we were in was called the Jane Austen Room. She apparently lived in Bath for a few years of her life.

We had dinner at a little French Bistro called La Barrique. The restaurant served dishes in a Petit Plats form (small dishes to share). As usual, we ordered too much, but finished it anyway! The highlight of the meal for me was the Chicken and Foie Gras Ballotine with a caramelised red onion jam and toasted brioche. Sublime!

Bern also really enjoyed the Vino Cano Cabernet Franc. His first drink for awhile.

Bath is definitely a city to visit, if you are ever in the UK. I loved it!