02/08/2024

Eating Out Recommendations August 2024

I’d love to be able to write full blog reviews of all my eating out recommendations. But, timewise, it’s not possible. So, here’s the latest of my occasional round-up posts featuring some of the independent cafes, pubs, takeaways, and restaurants I’ve enjoyed recently.

Among the highlights are top quality pizza to take away, farm produced small batch ice cream, three very different pub lunches, dinner at a beauty spot hotel, over forty recommended dog friendly venues to eat and drink in Staffordshire, a taste of an exciting new venture from a local chef with a growing national reputation, plus traditional Turkish food comes to the Moorlands.

A RECURRING RECOMMENDATION: THE NAPOLI, LEEK

I don’t know how many times I’ve recommended The Napoli in Leek, but I’m going to keep doing it. They make some of the best pizza I’ve had outside of Italy as well as offering lots of other great dishes. I especially love their starter of handmade focaccia served with three delicious dips followed by wild boar lasagne.

I’ve had many a meal in the restaurant, but they’re also my first choice for takeaway pizza. Send your order in advance (we do it via Facebook message) and they’ll prep the pizza, but only put it in the wood-fired oven when you arrive to collect. It only takes a few minutes, so it’s always hot and freshly cooked.

The takeaway I had at the beginning of last month was as brilliant as always: the photo above is of our pizzas being cooked. I chose the Pollo Prosciutto (minus the tomato sauce as I prefer a ‘white’ pizza) which has garlic-roasted free-range chicken plus mushrooms and black pepper as well as the dry-cured ham.

From the choice of imaginative sides, we shared insanely good Truffle Oil and Parmesan Roasted Potatoes. Just look at that melted cheese gone all crispy!

We also treated ourselves to a dessert. The very neat and tasty Tiramisu was made extra indulgent with a little pot of cream to pour over.

ARTISAN ICE CREAM AT DOVEDALE

We had some very changeable weather during July. The middle of the month seemed largely dreary and rainy, but it was sandwiched between two periods of fine weather. I took advantage early on with a walk with doggo and other half at nearby Peak District beauty spot Dovedale.

At the end, before setting off home, we had a Bluebells Ice Cream from the van in the car park. Handmade in small batches on the Derbyshire farm which produces the fresh milk and cream that goes into it, this was the first time I’d tried it.

I chose Rhubarb Ripple and loved it. The ice cream was light and milky, the rhubarb coulis swirled through properly tangy. With no artificial colourings, flavourings, or preservatives, just real natural ingredients, it’s no surprise that a number of Bluebells products have won awards.

LUNCH AT THE STAR AT COTTON

I knew I hadn’t been to the Star at Cotton gastropub in a while. But when I looked back, I couldn’t believe was it was nearly three years ago! However, I put that right one weekday last month by having a tasty, enjoyable late lunch there.

I started off with Panko Sriracha Cod. The fresh fish was cooked perfectly in its crunchy coating and the crispy kale alongside was good too. Lots of chilli heat came in the form of blobs of sriracha mayo plus more sriracha drizzled over the fish.

My main course was Confit Duck Leg with braised red cabbage, duck bon bon, potato fondant, and berry jus. I thought the skin looked burnt, but it didn’t taste that way: very crunchy with tender meat beneath. The accompaniments were all good.

My dessert of Warm Cornflake Tart with custard was as you’d hope: simple but sweet, sticky, and crunchy.

I’m so glad I went back to The Star and won’t be leaving it so long next time.

RESTAURANT AT HOTEL RUDYARD

In my last round-up, I included my first visit to the coffee shop at the back of Hotel Rudyard. I’d enjoyed a good brunch so in July returned to try the restaurant.

I found menus with enough familiar favourites to satisfy most people, along with a few more imaginative dishes. Everything I ate was tasty and enjoyable, with Sun-Dried Tomato Arancini being outstanding. Read my full review of the restaurant at Hotel Rudyard here.

A MAMMOTH TASK COMPLETED

Last month I completed the mammoth task of thoroughly updating my guide to Dog Friendly Eating and Drinking in Staffordshire. I started publishing it five years ago and it now contains over 40 independent dog friendly cafés, pubs, and restaurants that I personally recommend.

Whether you’re looking for somewhere to eat breakfast, have a coffee or beer and a sandwich, an ice cream, an informal lunch, or even experience some top-notch cooking with your pooch in tow, I hope you’ll find lots to tempt you.

APRÈS: A NEW VENTURE FROM THOM BATEMAN

In July I got a taste of a forthcoming venture from Thom Bateman. Chef patron of the two AA rosette, Michelin recommended Flintlock at Cheddleton, you may also have seen Tom popping up on TV a time or two recently as well.

His new restaurant, Après, is coming soon and will serve small plates for sharing plus wine and cocktails. While the finishing touches are done, Après has been doing pop-ups featuring panuozzo to take away. These are Neapolitan street food sandwiches using pizza dough. Other half and I shared two and loved the substantial chewy breads absolutely stuffed with good things.

The My Favourite had whipped ricotta, fennel sausage, mozzarella, gorgonzola, and honey. The sausage was meaty and well-flavoured sausage and there was loads of cheese in there too. Cutting through the salty gorgonzola was delicious, sweet honey.

The Bourdain featured charred mortadella, crispy prosciutto, fontina, dijonnaise, and pickles. This was packed with quality meat and silky melted cheese, balanced with the acidity of thinly sliced pickled cucumber.

There was also a selection of sides. We went for hash browns (which Thom kindly doubled up for us!) and they were truly awesome. So crispy on the outside, soft inside, and with the flavour of rosemary. He also threw in some quality dips: BBQ, smoked garlic mayo, and hot honey.

After a breather, we even managed a couple of desserts. Other half had a beautiful caramel panna cotta with strawberries while I demolished a knockout tiramisu.

Follow Après on Facebook or Instagram to hear about the latest pop-ups and restaurant news.

BACK TO THE HOLLY BUSH, DENFORD

While I love visiting new places, there’s a lot to be said for old favourites. The Holly Bush at Denford, which was also in my previous round-up, is one of then. In fact, since developing mobility problems at the start of this year, I’ve been more often as the easy walk to it along the pretty Caldon Canal suits me.

This time, instead of choosing one of their hearty main courses, other half and I decided to share a couple of starters.

Hummus with flatbread and salad garnish, spicy chicken wings (good and crunchy on the outside, very tender within) made a filling, satisfying lunch with a portion of good skin-on chips.

THE BLUE MUGGE, LEEK

Almost as soon as I’d revamped my guide to Dog Friendly Eating and Drinking in Staffordshire, I had to add another great venue: The Blue Mugge in Leek.

This hugely popular, traditional backstreet pub had been on my radar for a while, with people telling me about their very reasonably priced food and good range of beer. So, in Leek one weekday lunchtime with other half and dog in tow, I decided to give it a try. The place was incredibly busy, but the friendly staff managed to find us a table.

Pretty hungry, I fancied something substantial. Which is exactly why I chose The Blue Mugge, given what I’d been told about type of food served. What I found though was a pretty wide-ranging menu. Yes, there’s braised beef, chilli, gammon, cod or scampi and chips, local sausages with mash, and the like. But there’s also lighter choices as well as sandwiches.

As I say though, I was there for something filling, so chose the Fidget Pie with braised ham and apples in cider. Often associated with Shropshire and usually a pastry lidded pie, this had a cheese and mustard mash topping. With veg, chips, and gravy for just £7.50 it was a real tasty bargain.

Lots of the main meals were this price, although other half’s excellent Meat & Potato Pie was incredible value at just £6.95.

To drink, we both had a pint of mild, a beer not seen often enough in my view.

MOKISSOS: A GREAT ADDITION TO THE STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS FOOD SCENE

I ended the month by trying Mokissos restaurant, meze, grill and bar. It had opened just a few weeks earlier on Buxton Road on the outskirts of Leek.

Serving wonderful traditional Greek and Turkish dishes, both familiar favourites and lesser-known delights, and offering generous hospitality including complimentary mezze dishes, I think it’s a great addition to the Staffordshire Moorlands food scene.

I especially loved the Sarma Lamb Beyti pictured above. This was subtly spiced lamb mince in lightly crispy flatbread slices served on thick, creamy yogurt, topped with a little fragrant tomato sauce. Read my full review of Mokissos here.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my latest eating out recommendations and been inspired to try or revisit some for yourself.

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Wherever you live, please support your local independent food and drink.

MENUS & PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF WRITING