HEARTY meals are the bedrock to happiness at the end of a long day.

In France, this looks like a croque monsieur, the Italians would settle for a simple but flavoursome pasta dish and the Vietnamese would throw in 101 ingredients to make a delicious pho.

Some Britons would say a hearty meal is a McDonald’s, or a meat feast pizza, or even chicken nuggets and chips. 

Others with an ounce of dignity would say it’s a cottage pie or a toad in the hole.

I’d say it’s a good old roast dinner.

Starter: Starter: Devon crab croquette, brown crab sauce, winter coleslaw and seaweed (Image: Daily Echo)

With Christmas being just around the corner, pubs and restaurants are upping the game in their roast offerings.

The Britannia in Britannia Road, Ashley Cross, is well loved by residents. So much, in fact, that its Christmas bookings are filling up fast. 

Its festive menu started last week and a quick scan reveals business as usual for this time of year. 

Turkey, Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce are all mentioned - all what you want to see. 

As I was here to try out the new Christmas meal, I opted for the classic turkey dinner. 

But before that, the starter. A crab croquette. Simply delicious, but then crab always is. In fact, crab is a food that needs to be more available. 

And then the main arrived. Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce. Sprouts, carrots and roasted new potatoes. 

The food was well cooked. And the small amount of gravy that was on the plate was more than doubled thanks to a special request by me (I’m from the north, so will happily drink the stuff). 

Main: Main: woodland-raised bronze turkey, chestnut stuffing, rissole potatoes, sprouts, bread sauce, port gravy (Image: Daily Echo)

However, I’m afraid no Yorkshire pudding. I’m not sure why, because everybody loves them and everybody expects them. And for a three course meal costing £39.50, I’m sure it wouldn’t blow any budget.

Nevertheless, the meal was agreeable. Maybe for excitement, next time I’d go for the venison which I’m told is prepared 24 hours in advance. 

Finally, pudding arrived to do some redeeming. Apple and blackberry crumble, served with a blob of ice cream.

Pudding: Pudding: apple and blackberry crumble, vanilla ice cream (Image: Daily Echo)

Crumbles are something I grew up with every Sunday evening after my roast. I have fond memories of eating homemade apple crumbles.

And this one, although not what can be rustled up by my mother, it was still mouth watering.

In summary, while the food I was given was delicious, well cooked and well prepared, I couldn’t help feeling there was more to give. Even if it was just a Yorkshire pudding and lashings of gravy.