Radio presenter James Wilson's food and drink reviews

Julian Hotchkiss and I from the Fresh Breakfast Show (at the time) took up a challenge thrown down by David Moss at the Wensleydale Heifer - and we were really glad we did!

We were greeted at the door of the pub and seated in a very comfortable lounge while our partners perused the very comprehensive menu. The Heifer specialises in fish dishes - and does them extraordinarily well! Julian and I already had our meal chosen for us. We were to attempt to eat our way through the pub's giant fish and chips. It's a massive meal - I think the fish itself weighs around a kilo, there's a pile of hand-cut chips sufficient to feed a small army, and the most delightful "mushy" peas you've ever tasted. It was difficult to imagine how such an enormous piece of fish could be cooked so perfectly - but it was!

Neither of us managed to finish our meal, but it wasn't for lack of trying! It's a bit of a gimmick, but the chef takes as much care of cooking this special as any other of the fantastic selection on the menu. It's not inexpensive to eat here, but it's well worth a visit for a special night out, and I don't believe you'll find better fish dishes anywhere else in the dales.

One thing certainly worth a mention is the attitude of the staff; they all seem passionate about what they do, and each does it very well. They're friendly without being condescending, very approachable and make a major contribution to a hugely enjoyable experience.

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