Life is full of surprises and one of the most interesting for me recently was the discovery of a centre for top quality Thai food in the Oxfordshire countryside.

I had heard of the Crazy Bear Hotel before - it seemed to have a reputation for being slightly wacky but having been recommended by The Oxford Times food writer Helen Peacocke, I decided to have a proper look for myself.

So my companion and I drove across the city, past BMW's Mini plant, and beyond the point where industry turns into countryside to find ourselves in the little village of Stadhampton.

We faced a charming-looking building which has had several additions over the years, and made our way into the bar.

But already we had spotted the outside seating area with its wooden tables that seem to have been literally sliced off a tree, and large parasols.

We parked ourselves underneath one of the latter and were quickly handed leather-bound menus and a wine list.

After a few minutes of confusion as we read some of the choices, it became apparent that the menus we had were very different.

Mine featured English and other more familiar dishes, while my companion's had a wide variety of Thai specialities.

We soon found ourselves poring over exotically named food such as Tom Yam Kung Kai (soup) and Pad See U (noodles), although the explanations of what they contained were excellent, helping even the novice make an informed choice.

After some head scratching through the scores of choices, we decided to hedge our bets and go for a mixture.

The eight-plate tasting menu is for a minimum of two people and comes in at £20 a head and we both liked the sound of everything on the list.

About two minutes after placing our order, the shrimp crackers arrived, accompanied by sweet chilli sauce, which was just spicy enough to have you reaching for a glass of water.

Then came a mixed plate containing vegetable spring rolls, king prawns wrapped in rice paper and marinated chicken satay with cucumber pickle.

The highlight of this combination was the satay which was probably the best I have tasted.

It really did melt in the mouth and had a delicious, rich flavour. The spring rolls were just as they should be - crispy with a filling that packed a real crunch.

And the prawns were also very tasty, making this a delicious combination of tastes.

After this we sat back a little to enjoy our choice of wine - Mauzac Blanc, a French dry white at £3.75 a glass that perfectly complemented the meal.

With the sun beating down and the palm trees rustling in the breeze, it was difficult to believe that we were in the garden of an English restaurant.

Our fellow diners, who seemed to be a mix of executives and families, also seemed relaxed and although the service was brisk, unsurprisingly, no-on seemed in a rush to finish their meal.

Soon our final instalment arrived, which was the most substantial offering yet.

The braised smoked pork ribs were served with "sticky braising juices" and crispy shallots. Again they were beautifully tender, the meat falling off the bone.

The wok fried prawns and cashews were again another treat and we soon found ourselves fighting over both delicacies.

That is the trouble with sharing food - the other side of the plate somehow always seems more appealing!

But there was more than my fair share of the green chicken curry, as it proved a little too hot for my companion.

It certainly set the tongue tingling but you were hardly breathing fire. In fact I thought the spiciness added to the flavour of this traditional Thai dish, which was served with a large bowl of jasmine rice.

The final accompaniment was steamed baby pak choi, which also took a little of the heat out of the curry.

Having completed the eight plates, there was no room for dessert, although we did manage coffee, which came served with petit fours and satiated the lingering desire for anything sweet.

Afterwards, there was only one conclusion - this had been an excellent meal, served quickly and politely in an idyllic setting.

On the way out, there was just time for a look at the internal dining rooms, divided between Thai and English with a funky style including mirrored ceilings and leopard print carpets, which were enough to ensure we will be back for more of the Crazy Bear experience very soon.

n Contact: The Crazy Bear Hotel, 01865 890714, www.crazybeargroup.co.uk