The Lion Inn, Trellech, near Monmouth

After a lifetime of having Sunday dinners cooked for me by my parents I decided that, at the age of 28, it was probably about time that I took them out for lunch.

We went, with my partner Maria, to the Calor Gas/South Wales Argus 2001 Restaurant of the Year's pub winner, The Lion Inn in Trellech, near Monmouth.

We were greeted by a cosy log fire in the snug pub and shown to our table in the small restaurant area which was full of customers both young and old.

What is unusual about the place is, that while being in the middle of the Monmouthshire countryside, it caters for among other things, Hungarian cuisine.

The Lion Inn's central European connection comes from proprietor Tom Zsigo's father who hailed from Hungary.

I therefore decided that when in Rome, or rather Budapest, I should sample something different since my only experience of anything from the land of the Magyars had been limited to goulash.

I had the Kecsemt chicken, a stuffed chicken breast filled with apricots and cheese and wrapped in bacon (£10.75) after being unadventerous and having potato skins for starter (£3.50).

Maria had sticky honey chicken fillets (£3.50) to start and chose the Pillis chicken for main course, a chicken breast in a creamy paprika sauce (£9.75) which was rich and rather good.

My father also had potato skins to start and then chose the locally reared ostrich steak in a creamy garlic sauce (£11.50).

My mother had the tomato and tarragon soup to begin (£3.50) and then the pan-fried Cajun chicken breast (£8.00).

For dessert I had the wonderful treacle sponge and custard, Maria had chocolate fudge cake and my father had the mile high toffee gateau (all £3.00).

A superb meal with a bottle of French dry white wine, soft drinks and coffee came to £83.65.