Formby

We are getting adventurous, Knowsley last week and Formby tonight! First to Tesco to stock up ready for Lynn, Pete and Dad at the weekend then off to the Red Squirrel. I actually got J to sit outside for a meal... However, the conversation went like this.
Can I set up a tab please we are going to have a meal?
Yes, where are you sitting?
Outside.
Oh no, you can't set up a tab if you are sitting outside.
OK I will pay by card for the drinks.
We sit in the sunshine (rare event these days but today was sunny) and choose our meals. Chicken, leek & ham pie for J and black pudding, bacon and egg salad for me. Next conversation.
Can I order some food please? (to same bar person as earlier)
Yes, where are you sitting?
Outside.
Oh no you can't order food for outside, but you can set up a tab now if you stay inside.
Once again the idea of sitting in the evening sunshine having a glass of wine and a nice meal was foiled. I think J gave them a tip off!!
The pie connoisseur was happy, the salad was ruined by far too much honey and mustard sauce. And so back home to unpack (J), put out the rubbish (me) and watch England lose to Germany at football (I assume that will be the result!)
Is there anybody out there?? xx

La Bohem

No. we haven't been to France, just Crosby! A complete break with tradition as we not only went to Crosby for a meal but went shopping to Sainsburys after the meal which is unheard of. J had been to La Bohem on Friday night with old chums from South Sefton and thought i would like it too. I had pate followed by seared salmon in a lemon and cream sauce with roasties, carrots, cauli and mange tout. J had a tower of black pudding (it didn't look like a tower to me) with garlic mushrooms, plus half of my bread which I couldn't eat then shoulder of lamb (very tender!) with similar veg. A can of Guinness for J - very French, and a white wine and soda for me. A very pleasant meal for £31 including drinks. Sainsburys was very quiet by the time we got there at 8 o'clock so shopping was quite relaxed. Got home early tonight to go to the gym and realised we didn't have anything for tea so called at M & S for some frozen fish and have just had fish and chips - good job I went to the gym!!

Haworth and beyond

As our original blog has been taken over by JD and his maps I have decided to start again. This will be random thoughts, I have a lot, meals out and theatre reviews. Lots of random thoughts on our Bronte Way walk and Ben will be pleased to know that we visited the original Ponden Mill at Ponden!! Needless to say I didn't believe JD when he told me that was what it was, I thought it was just a random mill at Ponden - nice cream teas though!
We had some good Yorkshire food including the Old White Lion where we stayed, J had game salmis (casserole by any other name) which seemed to be mainly rabbit and I had a disappointing roll mop herring in an excellent seafood salad. We also tested out the Weavers Restaurant in Haworth which came highly recommended and we were lucky to get a table at 9 pm 3 nights ahead! Interesting antiquey decor and started off well with smoked trout pate for me and smoked venison salad for J. Both rather disappointing and bland. Followed by my chicken stuffed with aubergine and peppers with grilled sea trout and prawn mash for J. OK but not over impressed - perhaps we expected too much. Service left a lot to be desired.
The find of the week had to be the White Horse Inn at Thornton. We came across it one damp lunchtime when it really wasn't time to stop but I was in need of the ladies and J fancied a pint! It didn't look much from the outside but inside was an array of comfortable leather chairs and settees with Timothy Taylor Landlord beer and excellent roast beef and horseradish sandwiches with chips and salad. The toilets were wonderful and it was very tempting to stay there for another drink and a snooze but the drizzly moors were calling!
We vowed to return for an evening meal later in the week and J had a delicious steak and Stilton pie with suet pastry (all homemade) and I finished off with cheese and biscuits. Probably the nicest C&B I have had and I am quite a connoisseur of C&B!
We hoped for some good National Trust fare when we arrived at Gawthorpe Hall at the end of the Bronte Way. No such luck - they didn't take cards so we just about had enough for an ice cream and went to Tesco for sandwiches!!
The Swan at Aughton has reopened as a tapas and wine bar and does good starters - wooden plates of fresh bread, olives, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, nuts etc and the chicken paella together with a fresh salad was more than enough. J had kebabs which were also good. Wed we went to the depths of Huyton for shopping and called in at the Royal Oak on the A580 on the way home. Do you remember Neil's birthday party there in the Wacky Warehouse Ben?? Two meals for under £10 and good value for money. Chicken and bacon pie for J (there seems to be a pie trend) and smoked haddock and mozzarella fishcakes with salad for me - not quite as exciting as it sounds!
Well that is the end of our recent gastronomic delights, no theatre at the moment but the new season is all booked up from September.