Mezzaluna, Whitefield

Am I the only one who is desperate to eat outside when it's nice weather? Don't get me wrong, the current 'Hades' levels we are experiencing at the moment are even too much for me, but on this particular day it was about 23C, which is perfect. Then comes the question, where can we eat outside, which won't be full of Stella fuelled idiots with no tops on?

Mezzaluna in Whitefield is a bit of a hidden gem on the al fresco dining front. I had no idea they had a beautiful garden, until we drove past and could see the doors open at the back. It was gorgeous. Picnic benches with optional parasols, pretty flowers, and food and drink flowing in the blazing sunshine.

My favourite type of food on a nice day is 'picky bits', and Mezzaluna was perfect for this. A pizza, sharing board, and chips appeared to be the perfect garden picnic on a warm day. Real picnics are a bit too much faff!

Antipasti platter: A selection of lovely strong cheeses, a full ball of mozzarella, continental meats, salad, olives, honey and bread. Now let me tell you, it turns out that mozzarella and honey are my new favourite thing. I may have recreated this in my own garden. Twice.

Pizza with fennel sausage, broccoli and mushrooms: Cannot for the life of me find this on the current menu, but noticed you can still build your own to this effect. Broccoli and sausage is such a wonderful combo that I have it wherever I go. If you've never tried it, I really must insist that you get your act together.

I kind of didn't want to tell you about this place, as it was serenely quiet in the midst of summer mayhem. Hidden away behind a busy road, this really is a little oasis for sunny days. Go here for a relaxed afternoon where you can pretend you're in the Mediterranean, not Manchester. Drink wine, eat some lovely food, and laugh with your nearest and dearest.

Falshaw's Farm Shop, Bury

It's the age old quandary, where do you go on a sunny day that won't be rammers, and you don't have to spend several hours in a heinous traffic jam in order to get there? Gem found. Falshaw's Farm Shop is just outside Ramsbottom, overlooking the rolling countryside. You can sit and eat whilst joined by the lovely cows and sheep with their babies, and a few mental birds running around the gaff.

If you're a fan of outside dining, you can eat al fresco, or stay in the cool cafe if you prefer. There's a large lawned area to the side of the cafe, where children can play safely on the mini tractors, and adults can coo over baby cows in the field whilst getting a tan. If you fancy it.

It was pretty early, and after initially declaring we weren't in the mood for a fry up, there we were, with a rather large breakfast in front of us, watching the above mentioned birds chase each other round the farmyard, and listening to children laughing. Absolutely delightful.

And what's the most obvious thing in the world to follow a full English? Correct, ice cream! It was hotter than the surface of the sun. I opted for a hugely refreshing elderflower and gooseberry sorbet, which was the perfect antidote to the sun beating down on us.

Go here for a bit of tranquility, home made food, friendly faces, and ice cream. If you're under six, also go here for mini tractors.

Parker's Arms, Newton-in-Bowland - Revisited (again)

It's one of my happiest places, and no matter what happens, always will be. The Parker's Arms in Newton-in-Bowland is the most magical of locations. It's like going visiting family who welcome you home like you've been missed dearly, and want to feed you up because you've clearly neglected yourself. AJ, Stosie and Kathy are the most beautiful of people, with warm hearts and a burning desire for all who enter to have the most wonderful of times. 

Now then, what to do on the most glorious day of the year so far? The brief is this; a ride out to somewhere in the countryside, a spot of lunch in the sun, and a nice walk afterwards. It had to be the Parker's. 

Just a short drive past Clitheroe and through Waddington is the tiny village of Newton. When you walk through the door of the Parker's, the delightful AJ will be there to greet you, and have a drink in your hand before you've even finished mithering the first dog you've met (French bulldog in our case). With it being such a stunning day, we decided to sit outside to soak up some rays, and bask in the glory of the picturesque countryside.

Sweet potato skins: Sweet, crispy and delightfully salty, these came with home made wild garlic mayo. I've never seen these anywhere else, and serve as an instant reminder of Stosie's skill when it comes to delicious simplicity.

Chicken liver parfait with pickles and chutney: The sweet and tart flavours combined were perfect for a sunny day. All home made and in perfect proportion.

Chicken pie with wild garlic sauce: They use their own wild garlic when it's in season, which is the most delicate of flavours. This is pie perfection right here. The pastry is light and buttery, and the portion size just perfect. Any more than this may kill you dead. That would ruin the ambience in a heartbeat.

Lamb and mint pie with lamb fat crust: Jeez Louise. This was the star of the show in my eyes. Not the obvious choice when sat in blazing heat, but I trusted in Stosie's pie power. Again, not so big that you're likely to have a cardiac arrest on the way home, but perfectly satisfying in every way. A special shout out goes to the world's best mash, so buttery that I think my arteries decided to keep some as a souvenir. I'm furious just looking at it, shining like a shiny temptress...

I've always wanted to go and explore the picturesque river just next door, but previous trips have been marred by snow, rain, over-eating or just being riverbank blocked! Not this day my friends. I was going. Newton hit new heights of cuteness when I discovered that locals were having a duck race. Enid Blyton would have been just ecstatic. So the Terrific Two hoofed it over a bridge, and down to the banks just as the race had finished, to be left with the most stunning of scenes, watching little fish play in the shallows, whilst we reflected on the most perfect afternoon. Life really is fantastic.

Go here to make yourself happy. The Parker's Arms can do no wrong in my eyes. I have never yet had anything but the most fantastic meals here, and recommend them to pretty much everyone I know. Say 'hi' to AJ for me if you visit.

God that was a joy to write.

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!

Manchester House, Manchester

Way back when, I was an avid viewer of the Great British Menu. We had watched it from the start, but as fine dining exploded in popularity, the contestants got more and more interesting. In 2009 they pitched a chap called Aiden Byrne against one of our faves, Nigel Haworth of Northcote. At 22, Aiden was hailed as the youngest person ever to win a Michelin star, and was destined for great things. We fell in love with his cooking style, and became regulars at his gasto pub, The Church Green in Lymm. 

In 2013, Aiden opened Manchester House with those of the Midas touch, Living Ventures. The hope was for Manchester's first Michelin star since the 1970s. Simon Rogan reopened The French at a similar time, yet unbelievably, neither have convinced the Michelin inspectors that they are worthy of the title of 'very good cooking in (their) category' - yes, it really is that vague. 

Despite having been to Manchester House many times for different reasons, I have never actually eaten in the restaurant. To be honest, we did so much fine dining over a number of years, that we almost got bored of it. We went from flying to Girona for dinner, to just fancying a burger. However, a suitable amount of time has passed, and curiosity got the better of me. 

The dining room is decked out in the typical opulence that you would expect from Living Ventures; everything has its place and nothing is there without careful consideration. The open kitchen allows you to watch the team of chefs beavering away, and the dark denim and tweed of the front of house team seems smart, yet welcoming.

I was driving, and experiencing a 'minorly-mard' bottom lip at the thought of not being able to drink cocktails in my favourite bar in town. However, when this was explained to our waitress, she quickly pointed out that they have mocktails for just such an occasion. The alcohol was not missed. Whilst Paddy enjoyed a few craft beers, I opted for a Kiwi Cooler (kiwi, lemon juice and apple juice, topped with lemonade) and a Raspberry Lemonade (raspberries and lemon juice, topped with lemonade).

We had decided to try the three course lunch menu, so as no to overdo it. In my experience, three courses very rarely means three in the world of fine dining. There was once an incident where a nineteen course tasting menu at Royal Hospital Road ended up being twenty six, which was wonderful and tragic in equal measure, seeing as the three course at Maze in the same afternoon was actually eight. There's always extra goodies, which I am sure are sent to test you. I couldn't take my shoes off.

So, on to the food.

Nori rice cracker, sweet peas, lemon and goat's curd: So so pretty, yet frighteningly tasty.

Carpet clam with lam tartare, broad beans and lovage: The thought of seafood used to send me running for the dunes, however mixed with the raw lamb, this was just beautiful.

Crisp chicken skin, foie gras mousse and aged Parmesan: These onions look so unassuming, but I assure you, they are the standout part of this already fantastic dish.

Ribblesdale goat's cheese and onion soup with Jabugo ham jelly: It was unbelievable. I don't have words to describe how much I loved this dish. The theatre of its presentation detracts nothing from just how wonderful it tastes. My favourite. 

Cured mackerel, dill, turnip and caviar: Look at this! Pretty dishes seem to be their forte at Manchester House, but never at the expense of taste.

Huntsham Farm long horn beef, cepe mushroom and roast onion purée: We saw a massive piece of this beef in the open kitchen when we walked into the dining room. There was no way in hell that I was missing out, none whatsoever. It really did not disappoint either. So rich, but the depth of flavour that came from that jus and the onion purée that accompanied it were just perfect. Massively filling for something which looks so small. Beef plus. 

Wild sea trout, artichoke, prawns and broad beans: This one was Paddy's choice. How can something that looks so small be quite so filling? Magic perhaps. 

Caramelised white chocolate, blueberry, yoghurt and lemon verbena: This is where things got interesting. Although this was Paddy's dessert, I have to admit to stealing a considerable amount of that caramelised white chocolate! Too good.

Poached raspberry meringues, pistachio sponge and cucumber ice cream: I challenge you to find me a more beautiful dessert than this. Go. Not only is it stunning, but it tasted like an actual dream too. Mix the two desserts together and you have my idea of bliss. Or give me both. Do that. 

Macarons and madeleines: Gee whizz. I just want them to bake for me all day long. They have some sort of baking witch in the kitchen, who I feel I need to befriend. I'd happily pay for a big plate of these to come with my cocktails upstairs. Please take note, I will be asking for this next time I visit the lounge.

Cake ache and food fatigue had set in. Remember what I said about the fallacy that is the three course fine dining menu? See what I mean now? Even the tea and coffee comes with a choice of home made chocolates. 

We had such a lovely afternoon at Manchester House. How they haven't got that elusive star is utterly beyond me, and adds fuel to the fire that Michelin are out of touch. I've been to some restaurants that have had a star for donkeys' years, yet are nowhere near this standard. Regardless of awards and accolades, Manchester House is a lovely little place to spend the afternoon, and I'll definitely be returning.

Iberica, Manchester: New Seasonal Menu

I was having 'a day'... you know the type; people being idiots and your 'get up and go' having already departed. Then a lovely little email from Iberica arrived asking if I wanted to come and check out the new seasonal menu. Yes, yes please. 

Iberica is one of our happy places. We first went to the Marylebone one before Manchester opened, and were then quick to suss out our new neighbour. After declaring it wonderful, we've been regular patrons ever since. My tapas partner in crime Lee accompanied me, and loved it so much, that she was rather keen to do the review. So here's what she thought. 

I really don't have the words to describe how much I love going to Iberica, from my first visit in London to my excitement when the Manchester site was announced, I have been obsessed with this fantastic place! So needless to say when Rach asked if I fancied accompanying her to try the Spring menu, I nearly bit her lovely little hand off.

After a long day at a conference in Harrogate, and a slightly fraught journey back, I felt myself relax straight away when I arrived and was handed a glass of cava. We were seated in the beautiful bar area and served a warming sherry as the food started to arrive. 

First up was a trio of hams, varying in region of origin each of these hams had a very distinctive taste, and each was delicious. We also tried beautifully rich Presa, alongside roasted tomato bread which added a tasty burst of freshness. 

Trio of hams

 Cured Iberian acorn-fed 'Presa' (Lomito de Bellota)

Toasted bread with tomato

After aggressively front loading on ham I soon realised I needed to pace myself in order to manage a try of each of the mains....this turned out to be easier said than done! We started the mains with a red berry and beetroot gazpacho, the flavours within this were unbelievable, sharp and fresh, even Rachel (genuine hater of beetroot) was sold on this.

This was followed by my three favourite tapas dishes of the night, asparagus toast with manchego and truffle oil, cauliflower tempura and serrano ham croquettes. The asparagus toast and croquettes are already firm favourites of mine, in fact I may have had dreams about the croquettes! The cauliflower was incredibly tasty with a zingy pickled cauliflower slice on top.

Red berries gazpacho from MercatBar by Quique Dacosta 

 

Asparagus toast - green asparagus with manchego, onion confit and truffle oil on toast 

 Cauliflower tempura - deep fried fresh cauliflower heads in sauce

 Iberica's croquettes - signature serrano ham croquettes

Next was time for fish, we tried hake with hollandaise and lettuce water, fideua with garlic and prawns, octopus gallega, and sea trout with almond purée. Each of these dishes were delicious and perfectly cooked, and despite being a little afraid of octopus I am told this is one of the best. Special mention must be made of the lettuce water served with the hake; Cesar advised that this is basically salad blended into a sauce. I could go for a mug of this!

Fresh hake with hollandaise sauce and lettuce water

 Fideua with garlic and prawns - a classic Spanish seafood dish originating from Valencia

The Iberica octopus a la galega - Galician style octopus with potatoes and pimento de la Vera (paprika)

 Sea trout with almond puree, pickled cauliflower and smoked olive oil 

Just when I thought I may pop we were presented with the finale, Gloria Cachopo, a tender fried beef and pork patty filled with cheese. I am a firm believer that all food can be improved by putting cheese in or on it, this dish confirmed it.

Gloria Cachopo - fried beef and Iberico pork patty filled with Asturian cheeses and mushrooms

For dessert we tried the rice pudding, Gloria cheesecake and churros. My favourite here was the rice pudding, rich and creamy with a crispy caramelised top, I was in heaven.

Caramelised Spanish rice pudding

Gloria cheesecake - served with parmesan and dried strawberries 

Churros with chocolate 

The evening was a huge success; delicious food and wine, excellent service and lots of laughs with new friends, who I hope to see again soon. Thank you Cesar, yet again you have blown us away with your talent (and you still look like a young Spanish Jeremy Piven).

A massive thank you to Iberica and Cesar for having us, Lee for writing such a lovely review, and our dining partners:

Charlie from Gin Fuelled Blue Stocking

Sarah from North West Nosh

Glen from MDOG

Stephen and Carl from The Gourmet Gays

Liz from Things to do in Manchester

Give their blogs a visit and follow them on Instagram for more food fuelled adventures.