Sharing a love of good food - recipes from my kitchen - eating out - great producers & suppliers
Dog Friendly Eating & Drinking in Staffordshire is a personal guide to my favourite independent dog friendly pubs, restaurants and cafés in the county. Besides enjoying the outdoors with my cocker spaniel Larkin, eating and drinking is how I spend a lot of my leisure time. …Read more
The Restaurant at Hotel Rudyard, like the rest of the business, has recently undergone a major refurbishment inside and out, with its food offering now including quality local suppliers. Returning after many years away, I was pleased to discover that the current management seem set …Read more
The Butcher’s Block in Stone Staffordshire has barely been open two months. But it’s off to a flying start. Specializing in locally sourced, great quality dry-aged steaks cooked perfectly, it’s worth every penny. Lots of choice for meat lovers plus some imaginative sides and veggie …Read more
Anasma Greek Eatery opened at the Trentham Estate in Staffordshire barely two months ago. But it’s already a roaring success. I went along last weekend and soon discovered why. Affordable mezze plus souvlaki, gyros and lots more tasty Greek dishes, both familiar and traditional family …Read more
The Saturday Lunch Train on the Churnet Valley Railway is an experience not to be missed. In this post I tell you all about my recent trip and why I highly recommend it. Whether you’re a rail enthusiast or just want to step back into …Read more
The Feasted Chef’s Table is a unique event. An outstanding 11-course tasting menu rooted in the heritage and culture of Stoke-on-Trent. Seated in the Feasted kitchen, a maximum of 10 diners watch their food being prepared, learn about its creation, and bring their own stories …Read more
The Plumicorn is a fine dining but relaxed restaurant at the luxury Tawny Hotel in north Staffordshire. I went along to try their ‘Taste of The Tawny’ menu and enjoyed six faultless courses in the beautiful surroundings of the Consall Hall Estate. THE PLUMICORN …Read more
Staffordshire Oatcakes are a regional speciality of The Potteries and north Staffordshire. Unlike the biscuity Scottish oatcake, these are soft, oatmeal pancakes that are lightly risen thanks to the inclusion of yeast. Most often eaten alongside or filled with traditional breakfast foods like sausage, bacon, …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
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
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
The Staffordshire Oatcake Company produces a just-add-water mix, formulated to a traditional recipe, making it easier to cook this North Staffordshire favourite in your own kitchen. I was sent a packet of Oatcake Mix to try, and in this post show you what you can …Read more
Dalton’s Dairy is a family-run affair based on their farm in Wootton, east Staffordshire. At the heart of the business are grass fed cows whose milk is turned into quality handmade products. I was recently invited to try their cheese and butter and loved it. …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
Beer & Cheese Bread with Oats is a hearty, rustic loaf that’s full of flavour. It’s perfect for eating with cheeses, meats and pickles or alongside soups and stews. In this post I show you how to make it using my easy, no-knead overnight method …Read more
The Staffordshire Cheese Company has been making artisan cheese for over twenty-five years. I recently spent a day in their creamery in Cheddleton, learning about and watching them produce their award-winning, handmade cheeses. I even played a teeny part in the production of one of …Read more
Chocao, a new cacao gin liqueur, is the result of a collaboration between two great Staffordshire independents. Its official launch is coming up later this month, but here I have a sneak preview for you. I’ve also given links to launch events where you can …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
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
No.26 Bar & Dining, at Aston Marina near Stone in Staffordshire, offers a tempting selection of seasonal dishes with an emphasis on using local suppliers. On my first visit I enjoyed some satisfying Autumnal food. It wasn’t until after I dined at No.26, Aston Marina‘s …Read more
The Foxlowe Arts Centre in Leek has been holding its annual Apple Fest for a number of years now. So, as I go food shopping in Leek most Saturdays and visit the Foxlowe fairly regularly (not least to have a mooch among the local art …Read more
Stone Food & Drink Festival, now in its fifteenth year, seems to be going from strength to strength. Held over the first weekend in October, the 2019 Festival drew huge crowds to the Staffordshire town. As on a number of other years, I joined them …Read more
Thalii in Stoke-on-Trent offers a way of eating that may be new even to diners who consider themselves old hands in British Indian restaurants. That’s because they specialize in serving tapas sized dishes on a traditional Indian thali tray. On my first visit I loved …Read more