Sharing a love of good food - recipes from my kitchen - eating out - great producers & suppliers
The Knot Inn Rushton Spencer, close to the Staffordshire-Cheshire border, reopened under new owners just before Christmas. I paid my first visit on the New Year Bank Holiday and had a tasty, enjoyable lunch that represented great value for money for good quality cooking. Read …Read more
I’d love to be able to write full blog posts about all the great local, independent food and drink I enjoy. But, if I did, I’d have no time for anything else. So, here’s one of my occasional round-up posts: this time featuring my autumn …Read more
Spice Merchant opened last month in the Staffordshire Moorlands market town of Leek. I ate dinner there on Saturday night and found Indian and Bangladeshi dishes of a high standard with beautifully judged spicing. With a combination of old favourites and not so familiar dishes, …Read more
Northumberland seafood is some of the best available. And I ate lots of it when I spent a week’s holiday there earlier this month. In this post, I share the highlights from eating out in this seafood-lover’s heaven – and include a heartfelt thanks to …Read more
Little Dumpling King in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, serves up its take on well-loved East Asian favourites: Chinese dumplings and bao buns with tasty fillings. On my first visit to this casual bar and restaurant I found reasonable prices and good flavours alongside a truly memorable, lip-smacking dish. …Read more
I’d love to have been able to write full blog posts about all the great food and drink I enjoyed this summer. But, if I did, I’d have no time for anything else! So, here’s one of my occasional round-up posts: this time featuring my …Read more
Andalucia, a Spanish tapas restaurant, opened this month in the centre of Leek in the Staffordshire Moorlands. Not entirely new to the area, Andalucia had a former life as La Casona out on Buxton Road. Last weekend, I paid my first visit to their new …Read more
The Manifold Inn is in a great location in the Staffordshire Peak District, popular with locals, walkers, campers, and holiday makers. I ate lunch there and found a friendly pub that welcomed my four-legged friend, plus satisfying, reasonably priced home-cooked food. THE MANIFOLD INN …Read more
Lunar, at the World of Wedgwood in Barlaston, near Stoke-on-Trent, opened last year to great interest. Offering fine dining with a Michelin-starred chef at the helm, I went along last weekend to try the new Lunar Experience tasting menu. And was suitably impressed. Lunar …Read more
Duck Goose is the newest independent eatery in the Staffordshire Moorlands town of Leek. Styling itself as a bistro rather than restaurant, Duck Goose offers a small but regularly changing menu of familiar dishes that are big on quality and flavour. I ate dinner there …Read more
It’s not surprising that The Flintlock at Cheddleton in the Staffordshire Moorlands was recently awarded 2 AA Rosettes. Because my local restaurant just gets better and better. I ate their latest tasting menu last night and couldn’t fault a thing. With punchy flavours, great attention …Read more
Dinner at The Three Horseshoes, on the edge of the Staffordshire Peak District, is a regular treat for me. Follow me on social media and you’ll often see their excellent cooking popping up. But, after another great experience, I thought this country inn with its …Read more
My eating out highlights for September-October 2021 is the latest in a series of occasional posts bringing together some of the great food and drink I’ve enjoyed recently. I’d love to be able to write full blog reviews for all of them. But I’d have …Read more
My eating out highlights for August 2021 is the latest in a series of occasional posts bringing together some of the great food and drink I’ve enjoyed recently. I’d love to be able to write full blog reviews for all of them. But I’d have …Read more
Can Do Cocina is found in the shopping village of the Trentham Estate in Staffordshire with its renowned gardens. The restaurant and bar opened in Spring this year and on my first visit I enjoyed tasty, reasonably priced tapas. I must admit, I don’t …Read more
My eating out highlights for June and July 2021 is the first in a new series of occasional posts. I wish I had time to write full reviews for all the eating out I do in independent cafes, pubs and restaurants, at street markets etc. …Read more
Salt Bar in Macclesfield, Cheshire is small but perfectly formed. Offering Scandinavian inspired food, on my first visit I enjoyed light, fresh yet satisfying dishes including a great value smörgåsbord and simple, traditional desserts. Only a 30-minute drive from home, I already knew I …Read more
The Square in Stafford, newly opened just a few weeks ago, is already turning out memorable, superb quality dining. I went along and enjoyed three expertly cooked plates plus the homemade breads and fantastic amuse bouche we’ve come to expect at this level. Also open …Read more
The Butcher’s Arms in Forsbrook recently invited me to sample its food. My only regret is that I hadn’t eaten there sooner. Set in the Staffordshire Moorlands, this taphouse from Joule’s brewery is no gastropub. But what you will get is food like steak and …Read more
The Flintlock at Cheddleton aims to bring relaxed fine dining with an emphasis on local, seasonal produce to this Staffordshire Moorlands village. Opened just over a week ago in the building that was formerly Castro’s, I paid my first visit last weekend. And from what …Read more
The Black Lion Inn, Butterton was my choice for a first visit INSIDE a pub since lockdown. With quality food and drink, lunch at this recently renovated Staffordshire Moorlands Peak District pub turned out to be a wise decision. I can hardly believe it, but …Read more
Yesterday, I had my first meal out since lockdown. For this notable occasion, I headed to an old favourite: The Lazy Trout pub in Meerbrook. Set in the beautiful Staffordshire Moorlands countryside and serving outstanding food and drink, what better place could there be? …Read more
The Old Mill Smokehouse in Leek, like many other restaurants having to adapt to the coronavirus restrictions, currently offers a takeaway menu. I tried it last week to see if it lived up to the great food I’d eaten in the restaurant on my previous …Read more
Spicy Lanka in Burslem was my introduction to Sri Lankan food last night. Unable to visit the restaurant due to the Covid-19 lockdown, I enjoyed a range of well-flavoured, interesting dishes from their great value takeaway menu. And I can’t wait until they open up …Read more
As I write, restaurants, cafes and pubs are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But that doesn’t mean you can’t eat from some of your favourite places. Many now offer a takeaway service, and this week I tried that from Primo Piano in Leek. …Read more