The premise of this blog being to report back on the best thing I have cooked or eaten in the last week, I have simply got to feature the completely fabulous meal we had at the Three Tuns, Bransgore, last weekend.

Immediately upon entering the pub, you feel at home. I am sure you'll all have had the nerve-jangling experience of walking into a pub only to have everything stop while all eyes swivel towards you and watch as you nervously make your way to the bar. Not here.

The first thing we noticed was the Dandie Dinmont terrier who was enjoying greeting everyone. Now any pub that is dog-friendly, is okay by me.

Whilst we were there, a steady stream of canines entered and left - and in fact we had to negotiate a big old black Labrador who seemed intent on getting his tail trodden on, on the way out.

The waitress quickly arrived to take our drinks order and to leave the menu. Not everyone was having a starter and those who didn't indulge weren't made to feel uncomfortable – which makes a pleasant change!

For my starter, I immediately pounced upon the Soft Shelled Crab with garlic & saffron dip and pickle. This was the first time I had ever tried a Soft Shelled Crab (which is a crab which has recently moulted its old exoskeleton and is still soft) but I'd seen them being prepared on the TV and had made a mental note to try one.

The crab had been dipped in batter and deep fried and the batter was as crispy and light as a new five pound note, whilst being flavoursome yet not overpowering to the delicious light crab flavour.

The garlic & saffron dip was more of a mayonnaise than a dip, strictly speaking, and took the form of a very cheffy smudge across the plate. However, we can forgive the chef that, as the flavour of the dip accentuated and enhanced the crab to perfection.

A little light relief was created by the pickle of vegetables that had been subtly pickled and provided a welcome acidic note, without wiping out your taste buds. I thoroughly enjoyed this course and would happily go back for more.

Moving on to main course, I went completely off piste for me and ordered the Rabbit Pie with Prunes & Mashed Potato, together with seasonal vegetables.

My individually baked Rabbit Pie consisted of a suet crust - which appeared to have had cheese included in it, which was a touch of brilliance that I'll have to reproduce in my next suet crust - and was just thick enough to qualify as pillowy, without taking up two thirds of the pie dish.

The rabbit below was soft, juicy and totally delicious. Mixed with New Forest Penny Bun mushrooms and carrot that had been so finely chopped as to almost be invisible, the flavours were richly rounded and a complete joy.

The mash was as it should be - creamy and capable of standing to attention, as opposed to creamy and slushy. The prunes were sweet and jammy and went so very well with the rabbit and indeed, with the potato. The seasonal vegetables were a lovely mix of brussels sprouts, green beans, Chantenay carrots, broccoli and sugar snap peas.

The one negative regarding this dish was that I felt it required a small jug of cooking juices from the rabbit that you could have poured over your vegetables. Without that, it was all a little dry - but so long as you eked out the cooking juices from the pie, it was perfectly acceptable and so totally delicious.

For me, the excitement was building as we came to the dessert course. I was completely intrigued to see what they had on offer that was described in such a way that it seemed completely unfeasible as a dish.

The dish of my choice – Chocolate soup with carrots & beer - that arrived was by far and away the most intriguing, surprising and delightful of the entire meal.

Firstly, a soup bowl was set before you, in which were three baignettes shaped like short stubby cigars, which turned out to be a sweet shredded carrot & (I think!) cardamom mix that had been dipped in a beer batter, deep fried and coated in icing sugar.

These three were surrounded by a foam of rich, deeply hoppy flavoured beer. Now this foam didn't disappear as time went on - it maintained its foaminess to the end, which is something quite amazing that none of us can quite work out how it was achieved.

The chocolate soup was presented in a separate jug that - like the soup earlier - was poured at table. Marvellous!

To think that this superbly complex and totally delicious dish comprised four main flavours of carrot, cardamom, beer and chocolate, is just incredible. Hubby even admitted to having a slight case of course envy, which wasn't assuaged by having tasters of the component parts.

The meal progressed exactly as it should, in that the waitressing was attentive and accurate, waiting staff were easy to apprehend for extra drinks and the clearing of each course was achieved with the minimum of fuss.

The staff all appeared friendly with a ready smile and were happy to exchange a comment or two, as necessary.

We all had a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours at The Three Tuns and can't wait for the next opportunity to visit.

• Jenny's review was done without the co-operation of the establishment or the Daily Echo.