Sharing a love of good food - recipes from my kitchen - eating out - great producers & suppliers
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
Besides enjoying the outdoors with my cocker spaniel Larkin, eating and drinking is how I spend a lot of my leisure time. Naturally, that means I’m always on the look-out for dog friendly venues. In this post I share with you my favourite dog friendly …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
In this post, I share some of my food and drink from last month, bringing together a selection from the blog and my social media during March 2020. March was a strange month. It started off relatively normal, albeit with fears about just how bad …Read more
In this post I share some of my food and drink highlights from last month, bringing together the best of the blog and my social media during February 2020. Includes: some favourite ways to eat eggs, when a meat substitute’s not really a meat substitute, …Read more
The Tap Steakhouse in Stafford serves up hearty, good value food. Service is friendly and efficient in this refurbished pub with an emphasis on locally sourced meat. STEAK & ME It’s funny but, the last week or so aside, I can’t remember the last …Read more
In this post I share some of my food and drink highlights from last month, bringing together the best of the blog and my social media during January 2020. Includes American pancakes (twice!), a perfect pizza, Indian street food, tasty local beef in a country …Read more
Did you go out for Burns Night last weekend? I got my celebrating in early when I was lucky enough to be invited to The Old Mill in Leek. In honour of the Scottish poet, the smokehouse hosted a Whisky Night featuring Distilled Events. Along …Read more
Streat Graze & Bar in Stone serves up tasty, generous portions inspired by Indian street food. With an emphasis on tapas style eating, it’s a great place for sharing. You won’t find the familiar curries of traditional British Indian restaurants here, but good value dishes, …Read more
The One Dim Sum & Noodle Bar is an unassuming little place in Newcastle-Under-Lyme. Doing a roaring trade in takeaway, there’s a few tables in the bright, modern interior too. I went there to eat recently and discovered reasonably priced, tasty dishes served promptly and …Read more
In this post I share some of my food and drink highlights from last month, bringing together the best of the blog and my social media during December 2019. Includes a birthday meal with a MasterChef finalist, seasonal baking and Christmas in Wales. Love …Read more
NØRTH Kitchen + Bar is the new incarnation of RAWR in Stoke-on-Trent’s Cultural Quarter. The change came in early November 2019 with the new brand and a new menu. I visited one recent lunchtime to take a look. Goodbye RAWR, Hello NØRTH Situated on …Read more
Last night I was among a group of very lucky diners at The George at Alstonefield. We were there for a tasting menu from Louisa Ellis, finalist in Masterchef: The Professionals 2017. Now working as a private chef, cooking at events, pop-ups and holding cookery …Read more
In this post I share some of my food and drink highlights from last month, bringing together the best of the blog and my social media during November 2019. Includes a controversial chilli, sustainable meat eating, tapas, South East Asian, Indian and Pakistani food and …Read more
Wat Wok serves up authentic, incredible-tasting South East Asian food. They’re regulars at food festivals and events with their pop-up kitchen, but right now you can enjoy their exquisite dishes in a restaurant setting during their residence at The Bank House Hixon. I went along …Read more
Picturedrome in Macclesfield offers food and drink from a range of independent businesses, all under one roof. I recently visited this newly opened food hall set in an old cinema and loved the lively, communal eating experience. Opened at the end of October 2019, Picturedrome …Read more
In this post I share some of my food and drink highlights from last month, bringing together the best of the blog and my social media during October 2019. Includes a recommended read on the history of cooking and eating, reports from one of Staffordshire’s …Read more