The Mouse Trap, Ramsbottom

Imagine the scene... Boxing Day 2013; a day where most normal folk are suffering from a major dose of over-indulgence, and others are even considering whether they may have developed gout. What was I doing? Messaging a cheese shop about their tasting evening! It's just not normal, is it? The demand for places at The Mouse Trap's cheese and wine evenings is so high, that the next available Friday was at the end of March. We were willing to wait.

Our friend Kev had heard about it through a friend at work, and was dying to go. Cue some fool getting a new job and having a leaving party on the same night as said cheese and wine evening. I was not a popular individual! The next available night was 4th July. I calculate that as being roughly a six month wait. It was worth it.

The Mouse Trap is situated on the main road running through Ramsbottom, just a couple of doors down from the First Chop pub. For such a tiny town, Ramsbottom boasts some of the best food lovers destinations in the North West. Sanmini's, The Chocolate Cafe, Ramsons, Hearth of the Ram, The Eagle and Child, and now Levanter are all but a stone's throw away. Do you see why we love it?

It's only a tiny place, much like many of the other establishments on Bolton Street. The shop is packed with mouse related memorabilia, chutneys, home baked goods, and an absolute shedload of cheese. We were greeted by a friendly couple, who offered us a seat by the window, took our wine to chill and then promptly poured us a glass. They don't usually serve alcohol, so guests are encouraged to bring their own, with corkage being included in the £9.95 per head tariff. We took a nice Prosecco. 

There were thirty six cheeses on the standard menu, plus a further four specials. Choosing from this epic list was a nightmare, but it was suggested that rather than do the standard five per couple, that we just share the ten between us. 

Your platter also comes with a decent range of accompaniments, all of which are refillable at no extra cost:

• Butter
• Apple and sultana chutney
• Tomato and balsamic chutney
• Black olives
• Fruit loaf
• Wholemeal seeded loaf
• Cheese crackers
• Fruit and seed crackers
• Herb crackers
• Crisp-breads
• Water crackers
• Red and green grapes

We went for:

1. Isle of Mull - very firm with a tongue tingling flavour. Perfect on the seeded bread with either of the chutneys.
2. Flamin Eck - a jalapeno infused creamy cheddar with sun dried tomatoes. A subtle warmth at first and then boom! Those chillies have quite a kick.
3. Comte - a beautiful hard French cheese that has a slight sting on your gums. I like this cheese sensation... 
4. Wensleydale and Cranberries - one of my favourites from the evening. Very creamy with a subtle flavour and plenty of fruit. 
5. Oakwood Smoked - A lovely rich cheese with a subtle smoky flavour. Great with the tomato and balsamic chutney. 
6. Lancashire Bowland - more like a dessert than a cheese. This was creamy yet crumbly with plenty of plump fruit and cinnamon. It was matched perfectly with the fruit bread and apple chutney. 
7. Camembert Rustique - a real gloppy little number with a smooth texture. I love a cheese that's trying to run off the plate. 
8. Brie de Meaux - pungent yet strangely inoffensive at the same time. I often find Brie a little underwhelming, but the strong flavours in this smelly little article won me over.
9. St Agur - reportedly the 'best blue cheese to come out of France'. I'm not a huge fan of blue cheeses, but this was creamy, delicate and all kinds of wonderful. Nice spread on the fruit and seed crackers. 
10. Blacksticks Goats Cheese - this was from the specials. I sometimes find goats cheeses too powerful, but this one was much more subtle. 

Kev getting cocky with the Flamin Eck and Paddy proving that you can take
the boy out of Horwich, but you can't stop him mixing the cheeses...

As you can see, we did a pretty stirling job of polishing off that cheese. I think we even ended up eating the rest of the grapes before it was taken away! While most mere mortals had a coffee after their cheese, I decided a massive hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows was in order. It's about addressing that all important sweet/savoury balance.

I think you all need to experience The Mouse Trap. Their selection of cheese is fantastic, and the people running it were just delightful.You don't have to wait months to book onto a tasting evening as they are open during the day as a normal cafe, or you can simply buy cheese to take home where no-one can see how much of a pig you are...

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Eleven Madison Park, New York

It's taken me ages to write this up because it was always going to be a long one! However, after sorting through my pictures, I decided they paint a thousand words (bloody good job too!). So I've decided to keep the waffle to a minimum and let you enjoy the show that was Eleven Madison Park.

The story started in drizzly Manchester at the Indy Man Beer Con 2013. This was the day that I had to make the phone call Stateside to book our table. What's great about this place is that unlike the methods of Noma, The French Laundry and The Fat Duck, once the lines are open, you get put in a queue. No redialling a thousand times (yes, we have done that...), but you can be on hold for quite some time... Forty-five minutes in the damp Victoria Baths gardens and I was through... We were going to Eleven Madison Park.

Fast forward... I had packed a pretty floral frock for the occasion, with pastel pumps - not a chuffing chance. New York experienced an unexpected cold snap so bitter that I'm sure bits were falling off left, right and centre! Suitable attire located, we walked from our hotel on 56th to 11 Madison Avenue, playground of those Mad Men and lots of pigeons. 

First impressions: A modern dining room with a little old fashioned glamour. All the staff seemed quite young, and there appeared to be a genuine air of excitement when greeting diners. We perused the drinks menus, only to nearly give ourselves heart failure at the words 'Pliney the Elder' - a beer so rare I may be so bold as to liken it to rocking horse excrement - but alas no... it was a cocktail named after Russian River's special brew. Cheeky. They know their beer...

I defrosted with a warming ginger cocktail whilst my husband enjoyed sampling their extensive beer menu. He started with a Icculus Kolsch by Barrier Brewing, before opting for the Duchessic Ale by Birra del Borgo as we moved to the dining room.

We were taken to our table, which was by a large window and overlooked the entire restaurant - perfect for the perpetual nosey Parker...

Cheddar - savoury black and white cookie with apple: Two savoury biscuits with a sharp apple tang.

Oyster - grapes, bulgur wheat and sorrel: I normally detest the untrustworthy texture and salty taste of oysters, but this was to die for. Very delicate, very cold.

Shrimp - marinated sea urchin, foie gras and chervil: Reminiscent of some of the Scandinavian dishes I have sampled. Again, very light with a definite sharp edge.

Sturgeon - sabayon with chive oil, smoked with everything bagel crumble, pickles and caviar: A glass bell-cloche is lifted to reveal the most delicate scented smoke. I'm a real fan of finger food that you build at the table. This was a show that Heston would have been proud of, albeit a little more modern.

Bread and butters: The bread is very much like a tightly packed croissant; rich and buttery. The accompanying butters were a mix of churned cow's milk and duck fat varieties.

Hot foie gras option - seared with oats, sage and apple: A thick slab of foie on a bed of rich porridge.

Cold foie gras option - terrine with plum and bitter almond: Almost dessert-like, the plum made this version much sweeter.

Carrot - tartare with rye bread and condiments: 2013 must have been the year of the DIY tartare! The carrots were pureed at the table (great relief when no fingers were mulched...) and came served with lots of little pots containing condiments, drizzles and relishes. Very fresh yet very tasty!

Lobster - poached with Brussels sprouts and guanciale: Extremely rich but again had sharp elements to prevent it being overkill at the half way point.

Squash - roasted with cranberries, pumpkin seeds and sourdough: We were the first table to have this delivered, to the tune of many oohs and ahhs. Thanksgiving was just around the corner, and every doorway and shop window had donned their season squash as decorations. Perfect seasonal produce with an artistic flair.

Venison - grilled with pearl onion and chanterelles, roasted with pears and sunchokes: This is actually roasted inside hollowed out charcoal for extra depth of flavour.

The grilled element came with its own little barbecue - nice touch.

Greensward, pretzel, mustard and champagne grapes: This was the bit I was looking forward to the most... the picnic basket! It arrived packed with goodies, including a Picnic Basket wheat ale specially brewed by Ithaca, a wooden box containing the greensward cheese and other goodies to accompany them. We particularly liked the Eleven Madison Park penknife - the devil's in the detail...

Malt - egg cream with vanilla and seltzer: mixed before your very eyes... this sweet drink was the pick-me-up I needed at this stage!

Apple - sorbet with bay leaf, crème brûlée and hibiscus: Although this was very sweet, the hibiscus and apple with their varying textures made it feel very light.

Sweet potato - cheesecake with honey and chestnut: The perfect balance between sweet and savoury.

I don't want to reveal too much about the chocolates, but I'm fairly confident there is some sort of witchcraft going on here. 

Coffee - Chemex Pot: Created by Peter Schumlbohm in 1941, this method was designed to give the perfect cup of coffee. The Chemex pots are exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art - and yes, it was that good!

Pretzel - chocolate covered with sea salt: Even when you think you can't eat another thing, you find yourself chomping on a pretzel and sipping apple brandy like a trooper! They leave the brandy at the table, probably because they know you have very little physical space left in your stomach.

Chocolate - sweet black and white cookies with cinnamon: A sweet version of those we started with.

A trip to the kitchen for damson gin cocktails: After a quick tour round the kitchen we were treated to some very refreshing gin cocktails sprinkled with violet dust, made using liquid nitrogen. Needless to say brain freeze was in order! Stunning.

Yes, the food is worthy of the 'number five in the world' rank given by the San Pellegrino awards, but it's more than that. What made this a truly memorable experience was the fantastic hospitality, and the genuine buzz of excitement as each dish was delivered.

We spent some time with the general manager chatting about our food related plans for the rest of the trip, and my husband's love of beer. We were given a copy of their restaurant magazine, which focused on beer in the most recent issue.

We talked about their bond with Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn, whose tweet led us to discover Betony. We had no idea that it was a chef from Eleven Madison Park who left to start his own venture.

It's not the kind of place you can visit on a whim because places are so sought after, however it's one of those restaurants that is truly world class. It's refreshing to see the young blood boldly delivering delicious dishes with an element of fun. They don't take themselves too seriously, but their critics sure as hell do.

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Parkers Arms New Years Eve Celebrations, Newton in Bowland

We first visited the Parkers Arms in September, and immediately booked for New Year's Eve. Situated in the beautiful Ribble Valley, its idyllic location and superb quality food make it one of my favourite places to visit. This year we fancied getting away from it all for a couple of days, so packed up and drove through the picturesque trough of Bowland to be greeted by the delightful AJ and roaring fires.

Walking into the Parkers Arms is like being welcomed into the home of an old friend. Local folk are stood chatting at the bar, and dogs lay dozing by fires as their owners enjoy home cooked, hearty food. There's no loud music, just the gentle chitter chatter of people having a good time. 

As we were about an hour from home, we decided to stay the night in one of their pretty little rooms overlooking the green outside. Just behind the tree lies a babbling brook and a walkers paradise. AJ showed us to our room, did a quick run through of how everything works and advised that our afternoon tea was ready whenever we were. He was back a few minutes later with a gift of beer for my husband, as it was also his birthday. 

After settling in, we went downstairs to find a table set and ready, and the fire crackling away. Two other couples were enjoying the same relaxed dining room; a lady and gent from Chorley who had stumbled across the Parkers whilst walking, and Sally and Chris, whom we would meet later that evening. 

Afternoon tea was no ordinary affair. Starting on the bottom we had ham and cheese, and crab finger sandwiches, warm glazed banana bread and savoury tomato scones. The middle layer consisted of soft fruit scones with butter, crème chantilly and homemade strawberry jam, then perched on top was an array of small cakes; eccles cakes, Christmas cake, small fudgy squares and mincemeat tartlets. This was accompanied by two large pots of tea. I cannot fault a single thing. It was the perfect antidote to the chilly weather outside! 

This was the sort of treat I imagine Mrs Weasley would conjure up after Harry, Ron and Hermione had spent the morning cleaning 12 Grimmauld Place. Incidentally, there were no boggarts in our room, and the only heads on the walls were those of pheasants and foxes, not house elves. 

After a little rest back in our room (and the wonderful discovery of one of those dating channels where folk text in...), we headed back downstairs for the main event. Paddy enjoyed the local cask ales from Bowland Brewery (notably a nice amber ale, of which he had many), and soon after our first course arrived.

Canapés - Goosnargh duck liver parfait, rice crackers with soused cucumber and fennel, Lancashire cheese straws and tomato ragout: Delicious. The highlight was that tangy tomato ragout which I scraped from the pot...

Bread - Parkers' Molasses bread and Caron Lodge salted butter:
These little rolls were really something to behold. Dark in colour and sprinkled with seeds, they encompassed winter in bread form. Still warm from the oven, the butter melted with ease and the molasses gave the dough an almost cake-like quality.



Starter - pheasant breast, sweet onion puree, soused celeriac, raw chestnuts: Stand out dish of the evening. In fact, one of my stand out dishes of 2013! Neither of us left a single scrap on our plates, and mopped up remaining juices with our bread.

Fish - Cod, queenie scallops, seaweed butter, sea lettuce: My husband waxed lyrical about this fish dish from start to finish. 

Pasta - Parkers' baked potato gnocchi, bacon, Inglewhite goats' cheese: Knowing I'm not a fan of fish, Stosie made me a different dish! Now that's amazing service. My printed menu was even changed to include this course instead of the cod. This was comfort food of the highest order, salty bacon with crisp gnocchi. Amazing.

Main - Venison loin, sauce Bordelaise, wild girolles, bone marrow fritters, Anna potatoes, seasonal greens: Gee whizz. Although we were flagging by this point (see above pictures for reason why...), we both made one hell of an effort to polish this off. The potatoes were crisp on the outside with a slight chewiness where required, and soft underneath. That venison was world class. No doubt from the field opposite again too...

Dessert - Iced Valrhona chocolate orange parfait, orange curd, orange jelly, orange tuille: A jaffa cake for the discerning diner. A smooth chocolate parfait, lifted with the tang of the oranges. 

Cheese plate - local cheese, homemade crackers, fruit and chutney: The perfect end to a perfect meal. 

Petit fours - Spiced orange and apple marshmallows, Valrhona moelleux: A we sipped champagne at the stroke of midnight, we tucked into these delicate little cakes to round off the evening. 

As well as the food, highlights of our evening included chatting to supper club fans Sally and Chris on the table next to us, the couple who were so drunk that they danced into the Christmas tree, and breathing life back into the taxidermy birds...

Off their heads

After a wonderful night's sleep we trotted down for a home cooked full English. AJ had shrewdly taken our breakfast order the night before... Homemade preserves, Parkers' country toast and orange juice awaited us, with tea and coffee following shortly after that. 

The full English was truly spectacular; crisp bacon, a fat juicy sausage, runny eggs, black pudding, grilled tomato and breakfast potatoes with a small side of dressed watercress. Delightful. 

We had an absolute ball at the Parkers Arms New Year celebrations. AJ, Stosie and the rest of the team spoilt us rotten. It's lovely to see a place where it's more than just a business, it's a labour of love. None of the hospitality shown is fake; AJ welcomes you in with open arms and is so enthusiastic about the produce that I fear one day he may burst. Stosie is running a tight ship in the kitchen, and sending out some of the best food we have tasted all year - and we've been to a lot of restaurants home and abroad!

We can't wait to go back when the weather is a little warmer, so we can go and explore some of the beautiful countryside at the same time. Plus, I think I owe them a cake...

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