Love Affairs Revealed.

All great love affairs start with those first few months, when everything is quiet. When it is only you and the other half that know. Friends, family, the public - no one really knows how you feel. Just you. There are no justifications, no one else to step in and make a comment, just pure unadulterated love. 

I have this. At least I did have this, except I finally decided it was time to open up to the world, my family and my best friend, about my love. I did the thing we all dread doing, I let them in. I took them to dinner to South Deep, my secret love affair of the last six months.

South Deep is one of those restaurants that if you aren't taken there, you'll just never know about it. Tucked down on the corner of an old boat yard in Poole, you can't see it from the road. There are no big signs, no flyers through your door, no website raving about the menu. It's just a simple little cabin, right on the waters edge, surrounded by the sound of ropes and masts clanging in the breeze, serving some of the best food I have ever had. 

The menu changes with the seasons, only serving fresh local produce cooked by a wonderful Belgian chef. 

Out of pure greed, and because I really couldn't pick between the two, we decided to start with two platters to share. A fish board and a chacuterie.

To me, nothing looks better than a table full of good food, and a tad too much alcohol.

Smoked salmon, mackerel, prawns, beetroot smoked salmon and some of the best mayonnaise possible.

Along side chorizo, parma, serrano, coppa and smoked duck.

For mains, of course I had to go for the steak. Which, as cliché as it sounds, genuinely did melt in my mouth. Cooked to juicy medium-rare perfection and served along side skin on Belgian fries and fresh leafy salad. They always say the simple dishes are the best.

Being the bad blogger I am, I tucked into my dessert before I had chance to take a photo. I was just far too excited. 

So here is a lavender and lemon roulade (with a large spoonful taken out) served with a blueberry compote. I love it when people cook with lavender, but I only get to have it once or twice a year because you seem to only find people really use it as an ingredient in the South of France.

I've now hit the stage where I want to shout my love from the mountain tops. So go and have a visit South Deep down in Poole Bay Marina, just off of Sandbanks Road. 

They open for breakfast and lunch everyday, but only Thursday, Friday and Saturdays for the evenings, so make sure you give them a call and book a table. Because I wouldn't want you missing out!

And enjoy! Revel in it's simple beauty, spend evenings sat on the deck listening to the boats rock in the water, start your own love affair. Go on, we can share our love, there is plenty to go around.