Padstow
Padstow - A once quiet little, fishing-port in Cornwall. Nowadays it is the place to be if you follow the fortunes of celebrity-chefs.
Rick Stein has a couple of outlets in Padstow which has led the town into a seige by the followers of fashion. Mr. Stein is a well known TV chef/food writer and all round nice guy. His patronage of the town has given way to an invasion.
A few fishing boat still are in evidence.
Most of the boats in the small harbour are pleasure-craft and have nothing to do with 'fishing' as a resouce.
It is still a nice place. It has the feel of a Cornish town stuck in time but struggling to know what to do withh all the visitors that are drawn in by the 'Stein Effect'.
The crowds are not in keeping with this lovely little town.
I recall my first visit and I remember being welcomed as 'one of them strange, touristy folk.' Today one is welcomed as a unit with money to part with..
Rick Stein is a nice chap. I like his TV presentations, I like his persona. His passion for good food, in particular good sea-food, is legendary. And long may it be so.
My concern is that the masses that descend upon Padstow will destroy all he set out to do - deliver good food to good people.
I did sample some of 'his' wares; I had fish & chips at his wharfside outlet. The fish was a delight and I enjoyed it very much. The chips however, he can keep; They were awful. Limp, almost soggy things that a back-street alley chip-shop would have been proud of.
If I return to visit Padstow it will be 'out of season', when the crowds thin and a sense of normality returns.
Image Credit » Mine
Comments
LynnWrites wrote on August 25, 2014, 9:42 PM
What a quaint little place, I'd love to visit. Tourism has come negative effects as well as positive. We have a few lakes near us and I am always glad when tourist season is over and the community gets back to being normal. Tourism provides a lot of jobs and is good that way. I love the buildings in your photos, our history is so young here. I'm glad his fish was good, to bad about the fries!
Fractal wrote on August 25, 2014, 10:05 PM
Yes the tourism thing is as you say positive and negative.
Many of the old towns and villages are a delight to the eye.
I was very disappointed by the fries (chips), I can produce better tasting chips in my kitchen. In a professional outlet it does nothing to commend.
Tourism is a mixed blessing.
LoudMan wrote on August 25, 2014, 10:33 PM
I've always wanted to try fish and chips. I don't really know what the difference would be from average fried fish but one day, I will find out.
BarbRad wrote on August 26, 2014, 10:32 AM
What a beautiful little town you have shown it to be! What a contrast that peaceful scene in the last photo is to the one before it.