80/20 Health Bar and Kitchen, Bolton

I am known for stuffing my face on a regular basis. My Instagram feed is quite frankly a disgrace, and shows quite clearly that I am Pig of the Week, every week. My friend Anna and I love nothing more than plotting a Great Escape from the office, which in the past was limited to Peckish Pony* or Frankie and Benny's unless we were willing to shlep further afield.

Then shone a shiny new kid on the block in the form of 80/20 Health Bar and Kitchen. Owners Tahir and Mina took what was a wreck of a building where pigeons lived, and transformed it into a spacious and airy restaurant serving fresh, healthy food. We were in love! Their ethos is simple; 'nutritious, wholesome ingredients with freshly ground spices, bringing you deliciously healthy food in just 10 minutes', which is perfect when you're on your lunch break.

Whether you're a body builder, mobile worker, catching up with friends, or daft girls on lunch breaks, everyone is made welcome and we always have a nice chat with the staff, and have genuinely considered working from here ourselves. 

It's a bit of a long standing joke, but we always have the same thing when we go. We just cannot deviate because we both love the dishes so much.

Satay chicken with basmati rice, stir-fry vegetables and peanut satay sauce

CAL 562 | FAT 27g | S.FAT 11g | CARB 48g | PRO 24.5g

Anna's choice. A great mix of sweet and savoury, and very filling. This is a decent sized lunch, ideal for a crackers Zumba teacher who will be killing herself in a sweatbox later on that evening. Or indeed if she decides to sit on the couch and watch This is Us until the early hours. Whichever.

Grilled halloumi wrap - slices of grilled halloumi with mixed salad and sweet chilli sauce with sweet potato fries
CAL 345 | FAT 14.5g | S.FAT 6g | CARB 33g | PRO 19g (not including fries)
My choice, and actual heaven. One day I promise to try something different, but for now, I'm hooked. I cannot get enough of halloumi, so this is perfect for me. There isn't too much in the wrap, which would sky-rocket the calories and fat content, but there's enough to satisfy the craving. Lots of crunchy salad and a drizzle of sweet chilli sauce make it a little more substantial, plus I always order a side of sweet potato chips as a treat. They are so crispy and wonderful, without being saturated in grease. Makes me feel better about the Milkybar later.

We go here at least once a week because we can be back in work within 45 minutes if needed, and the food is delicious. The menus include nutritional information, and all meals are already hooked up to My Fitness Pal, so tracking your macros couldn't be easier. The breakfast menu looks rather exciting too, so I think I'll be making a trip for steak and eggs some time soon.

Go here for tasty yet healthy food, in a relaxed setting. Muscle vest optional.

* Okay so it's actually the Hungry Horse, but we have literally never called it that.

Empire, Horwich

So I was aware of Empire before it was even a twinkle on Chorley New Road, yet for some reason, it's taken me this long to actually go. A couple of months ago, I bumped into an old school friend who I hadn't seen since we were about 18. She's moved back to the area, so we decided to get out for the evening, and sample what Empire had to offer.

Downstairs is a beautifully styled restaurant, whilst upstairs boasts a rather swish cocktail bar. The plan was to have a little something to eat, followed by a couple of cocktails in the bar. Sensible eh? It did not go down like that. Not at all. 

We took full advantage of the 'Two steaks for £26' offer that was on that night, which included a fat sirloin served with cherry tomatoes, sautéed mushroom and hand cut chips. I also ordered a peppercorn sauce, which is standard behaviour. I have to admit that I wasn't expecting amazing things, as steak can be a bit of a risk when trying somewhere new. This was absolutely delicious. Perhaps a tad more to the medium than rare side, but still, a lovely cut of meat with tasty sides.

This is where things went a little bit west for us. I was still heavily jet-lagged after New York, and if I was able to push through the mid afternoon lull, I was good until about 2am. It was a school night.

So, we popped upstairs for a couple. Things started in my usual fashion of challenging the barman to a surprise, so the cocktails below are mainly 'off piste' and of his own creation on the night. We became firm friends with Lucas, who I am sure performed some sort of alcohol based witchcraft. I also have to admit that looking at the volume here, I know there were more, and I had two of at least one of these. I didn't take pictures of duplicates, or the additional beers. Don't judge, it was a reunion.

I'm just sorry that I can't recall what was in most of these, other than the first one, which I know was a Poison Apple. What I can tell you is that we had a cracking little time, with each cocktail more delicious than the previous one. We also got vouchers for a free bottle of Prosecco for our return visit. I only got in bed at 1.15am on a Thursday night... oh well.


Go here with your mates to have a bloody good time. We went on a quiet weekday, but Lucas and pals kept us entertained, and certainly ensured that the drinks kept on flowing. I'll definitely be back to use my Prosecco voucher, and see what other alcoholic brews he can come up with.

Chiquito, Middlebrook

I am no food snob. I've eaten in some of the best restaurants in the world, in hidden dining rooms with a handful of tables, flown to European cities for my tea, driven two days out of my way in America in the name of food, and once made over 1500 redial phone calls and spent £68 on hold to San Francisco. All that being said, I bloody love a 'build your own' fajita.

I was recently asked to pop down to my local branch of Chiquito to put them through their paces, which I had absolutely no hesitation in agreeing to! Luckily for me, I have Ellie to assist me in such tough ventures, a role which she takes very seriously indeed. I was stuck in the most heinous of Chorley New Road rush hour madness, but like a true soldier, she got the Margaritas in.

Speaking of Margaritas, I want to tell you a little tale about their cocktails first. In the interest of honesty, I imagined their offerings to be similar to those you get on a Canaries all inclusive holiday; brightly coloured, watered down, three umbrellas, and tasting somewhat like radiator coolant. Not so. These cocktails were very pleasant indeed. So much so, we had quite a few, encouraged by our chirpy waitress who was a total cocktail enabler during happy hour.

To the food.

Halloumi skewers - onions and peppers, baked and served over a citrus dressed salad with salsa: Eyes straight to halloumi, as always. Light and fresh, which is perfect for occasions where you and your dining partner plan to stuff their faces with fajitas and desserts. Presentation could do with a little work if we're being picky, but delicious all the same.

Fajitas: These were huge, and came with unlimited wraps (I didn't get through the ones they gave me). These pictures in a dimly lit restaurant really don't do this food justice. We both had fajitas, so had prawns and steak. They are served with a choice of sides, which come in a little tray on the side. Big fan of these.

Bearing in mind that neither of us could finish the fajitas, you would think that most reasonable humans would call it a day. Not us, we battled on.

Toffee popcorn brownie - chocolate brownie topped with toffee popcorn and served with honeycomb ice cream: Ellie was massively impressed with this brownie, noting how light it was, and how well the toffee and popcorn flavours went with the chocolate.

Churros: They are one of my favourite desserts in the world. I rarely go to a Mexican restaurant without ordering these. Who doesn't love deep fried strands of doughnut, dipped in chocolate sauce? Good portion size too, as I often find I'm over-faced with too many, and saddened when I can't eat them. Polished this lot with ease.

Do you know what? We had such a nice time. Chiquito might be a well known chain, but they offer value for money, good fresh food, a great range of cocktails, but just as importantly, the staff were lovely. Our waitress gave some great menu advice, and was an absolute pleasure to speak to, despite the fact she was eight months pregnant and dead on her feet.

Go here for a midweek feast with friends or family, and enjoy a few cocktails without breaking the bank.

Disclaimer: I was asked to review Chiquito Middlebrook, and given a budget. We put our own money to this because we were having such a good time, we decided not to leave!

Provenance Food Hall and Restaurant, Westhoughton

Who would have thought it hey? Westhoughton are in the Good Food Guide; the actual one, not the Bolton Journal's version. Provenance have only been open for a year, so this is pretty impressive work. To be fair, you only have to walk through the door to see they mean business. I went when they first opened (see my Sunday roast review), and was hugely impressed by the quality of the food, attention to detail, and stunning food hall.

I went along a couple of weeks ago to try the new seasonal menu, which was explained in detail by head chef Lewis Gallagher. Anyone who listens to Lewis speak about his food will soon realise this is a labour of love, and despite being awarded the Acorn Scholarship by the Caterer magazine in 2013, and the North West Young Chef of the Year in 2012, he's a humble chap who was quick to thank and praise his team. Nice lad. 

So down to the good stuff. We were there to try out some of the team's new creations, including a few festive tasters. What do you mean it's too early for all that? I'm sat here drinking Christmas tea my friends.

What made the whole thing a little odd was the fact it was really warm outside, and still felt very much like summer. However, it mattered not when the canapes arrived.

Canapes - black pudding with apple and crackling, smoked salmon and beetroot on a homemade oatcake, and game crispbreads: How pretty are these? Although very different, they all consisted of beautifully presented, seasonal produce which tasted like a dream. My favourite was the black pudding with the tangy apple.

Pumpkin soup: Call me boring, but this was my favourite dish of the evening. I'm already wondering whether I can recreate this myself. It was everything I love about the colder seasons; warming, spicy and comforting.

Scallops, cauliflower and Granny Smith's apples: Now I'm no longer a fish hater, I thought I'd give this a go. I was massively surprised that I loved it. I often have difficulty with the texture of scallops, but the caramelised, pan fried top meant that they had a bite to them that was just lovely.

Ravioli of truffle and Jerusalem artichoke: I can't eat truffle, gives me migraines. I'd mentioned it, but here it was. Happy accident if you ask me. It didn't smell overtly truffly, so I ran with it. I'd only have myself to blame if I ended up with a numb face, seeing stars. Minor numbness later on, but Hell's teeth it was worth it!

Monkfish, ham, chorizo and lemon: Another stand out dish. A perfect plate of complementing textures; crisp ham, firm chunks of chorizo, and of course that delicately cooked monkfish. All around the table agreed that this was magnificent.

In house aged fillet of beef with onions and mushroom: Look at the colour on that beef. Lewis spoke proudly about the process of ageing the meat in house so they can 'get it just as we want it'. Cooked in a water bath and seared on the outside, the texture of this cut of beef screamed quality.

Chocolate mushroom: Caused quite a buzz around the table, this one. We'd had it a few weeks previously at the Bolton Food and Drink Festival Gala Dinner too. It's a mixture of chocolate textures, including the most delicious meringue and ice cream. I'm not a huge fan of chocolate desserts, but this wasn't heavy at all, and the perfect antidote to so much rich food on a hot evening.

General consensus around the table was one of shock that somewhere as unassuming as Westhoughton could attract such an impressive kitchen team, producing food worthy of being featured in the Good Food Guide after just a year of trading.

I urge you to go to Provenance. It's not all about the fine dining either, they do less formal lunch menus, afternoon tea, and even breakfast. They also have some cracking midweek deals, like Tuesday steak night, which includes your choice of steak and a large glass of wine, beer, or a soft drink for £10 - bargain! A lovely place run by a wonderful bunch of people with a real excitement for the task in hand.


Disclaimer: This was a press evening where we were asked to sample the new seasonal menu. I wasn't asked to say nice things. I'd already been as a paying customer, and will definitely be doing so in the future!

Provenance, Westhoughton

Stumbling across Provenance was a total accident. It opened on Thursday last week, and a friend 'liked' it on Facebook on Friday. Curiosity engaged, I went for a nosy at their website. Not only is it a restaurant, but they also have a butcher's, deli, cheese shop, hot food take away, a cake counter, ice cream counter and a cafe. I almost moved in.

We went on Sunday to sample their roast. A lovely lady (who I am assuming is one of the owners) came for a chat about the whirlwind that was the opening weekend, and how they have limited covers to get it as right as they can first time. I like this attitude. It's clear that a lot of money has been put into this venture, as the whole building is utterly stunning. Everything is finished to a high standard, down to even having Sonos speakers in each room. Nice touch.

Southern fried chicken wings - charred sweetcorn salsa, chipotle ketchup: My husband is a proper fan of fried chicken, and even having it for lunch the previous day didn't deter him from ordering it again. These plump little wings were beautiful, but the salsa stole the show for me. I nicked it... 

Goosnargh chicken liver parfait - gooseberry and ginger chutney, toasted brioche: You can't really get the perspective here, but this was a huge portion of parfait. The tangy chutney was the perfect partner. 

Roast topside of Aberdeen Angus beef with roast potatoes, roast root vegetables, cabbage, Yorkshire pudding and gravy: We went for one of each, just to ensure a fair sample... There's not much I can say about the roasts other than that they were fine examples of the British classic. Yorkshires were crisp with a fluffy bottom, the meats were tender and the vegetables were cooked to perfection. My only complaint was the addition of beetroot (mortal enemy number two), which I dealt with like a grown up and left to one side...

Roast leg of lamb with roast potatoes, roast root vegetables, cabbage, Yorkshire pudding and gravy

Lemon meringue - candied lemon and raspberry sorbet: I could not leave without trying this. I'm ashamed to say that despite being full to bursting after two courses, I ate pretty much all of this! It was just too good... 

I adore Provenance already. I love their eagerness to get it right, what they have done with the building, the friendly staff and the homely food. I can't wait to go back for breakfast!

Thailand Cafe, Bolton

Last year John Torode hailed Bolton's Thailand Cafe as 'the best Thai food I have had outside of Thailand.' That's right; it's in Bolton town centre. I've intended going ever since, but never quite got round to it. Cue my friend Dave hailing it as a tour de force, and suggesting we go on a lunchtime jaunt.

So the other week I had this particularly 'interesting' morning planned, so decided to meet up with homies Dave and Phil for a lunchtime trip to Thailand Cafe. I was never a massive fan of Thai food until we went to Buddha Lounge in Whitefield, and now I'm sort of hooked.

It doesn't look much. In fact, it looks like the kind of town centre cafe you would expect in Bolton. However, we walked in to a warm welcome and a wonderful smell, so we were more than happy. All three of us are big fans of 'bits', so we ordered a nice little variety of picky things which we could share.

Chicken satay with peanut sauce: That peanut sauce... sweet, sticky and a bit sickly. It was out of this world. I could make myself quite ill with that stuff. The perfect accompaniment to the chicken.

Steamed dumplings - pork and prawn dumplings with dark soy sauce: I've just been thrown into a state of confusion. I adored these. I just checked out the menu - prawns!? I hate prawns, the evil little things. Turns out I like them in steamed dumplings. Who knew?

Massamun - chicken with potatoes, onions and peanuts: A creamy dish which is perfect for those with a sweet tooth like me. Turns out that Thai food is all about the mixture of sweet and savoury. I'm a bit annoyed with myself for only discovering this now at the age of 33. This was my favourite of the three curries we tried. I can almost see you all shaking your heads at me...

Yellow curry - chicken with coconut, potatoes and onion, topped with shallots: It's not giving a lot away with the name there, is it? Again, a lovely savoury dish sweetened by the addition of coconut milk. Although the sauce is quite runny, it was soaked up by the pile of rice we had on the side.

Jungle curry - beef with ginger, fresh peppercorns, red chilli and vegetables: This was the boys' favourite. That warming peppery sauce was just delightful. It's worth mentioning that all the curries are available in beef, prawns, chicken or pork too.

Sticky rice: I loved these little pots! I'm a very simple soul at heart. Sticky rice was the perfect option to mop up all that beautiful curry sauce.

I cannot wait to go back to Thailand Cafe. Turns out that Torode chap knows what he's on about.

The Pack Horse, Affetside

All my friends know I'm a right greedy pig, which is great because they are constantly recommending new places for me to visit. My pal Michelle sent me some pictures from The Pack Horse in Affetside a few weeks ago, which plonked it firmly on 'the list'. Although Affetside sounds like some far-flung land, it's actually only a few minutes outside Bolton on the edge of Tottington in Bury. 

We arrived to the tune of rumbling thunder and the type of sky that the Brontë sisters would have had a field day with. Watling Street sits on top of quite a steep hill which overlooks the rolling countryside below, and feels a million miles away from the pound shop infested town centre. There's a roomy outdoor seating area and the large inside skylights flood the dining room with light. 

The Pack Horse is made up of a cluster of little snugs, with what appears to be a more modern extension to the rear. Log fires burn, walls are decorated with old maps and pretty wallpaper and the furniture appears to be a mixture of new and up-cycled church items. It was heaving when we arrived, but we still managed to get a table quickly.

Beef burger served with baby gem lettuce, tomato, mustard mayonnaise, handcut chips and onion rings: This is a thick, 100% beef burger which has a taste of dad's barbecue circa 1994; meaty, slightly charred and piping hot. The chips were fluffy on the inside with a nice crisp edge, and the onion rings had a notable crunch. It's a shame that they forgot my cheese, and served this on a bun rather than the toasted foccacia described on the menu.

Lancashire cheese and onion pie from the Great North Pie Co. served with hand cut chips and mushy peas: This little individual pie had crisp pastry, a rich cheesy centre and a slight after taste of fennel seeds. I know my dad's from a generation where they generally enjoy vegetables cooked to mush, but he did mention that his carrots were a little firm. Again, there was a slight issue with the order, as he had requested mash rather than chips.

Wholetail scampi, hand cut chips and mushy peas: My mum adores scampi, and seems drawn to it wherever it appears on a menu. She was hugely impressed with this one. A crisp exterior with fresh tasting prawns on the inside - and plenty of them too.

Eton Mess: You can't go wrong with a big pile of meringue, whipped cream and raspberries. Surprisingly light too.

Sticky Toffee Pudding: Reassuringly lopsided thus indicating this was of the home made sort. Warm, sticky cake with little caramelised bits, and a subtle heat from the ginger. A big jug of hot custard didn't harm it either.

Judging by some of the reviews I have read, The Pack Horse has had a bit of a kick in the pants since being taken over by Hyde's Brewery. Old photos show a stark white building, a dining room which looked dated and a bit dirty, and customers were not always complimentary about their use of frozen chips. They've clearly spent a serious amount of cash to transform a dreary boozer into a gastropub worthy of competing with some of the other local heroes - notably the Hearth of the Ram, Eagle and Child and Fisherman's Retreat.

We all really enjoyed The Pack Horse, despite the handful of ordering misdemeanours. They were extremely busy (it's half term round here), and we probably would have bought more drinks if asked, but the food and surroundings made up for the little mistakes. Head here on a sunny day and enjoy your lunch al fresco whilst taking in the view.

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