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Sometimes you go back to a restaurant you loved and leave disappointed. It just can’t live up to your memories. But others seem to get better and better with every visit. The Lord Clyde in Kerridge, Cheshire is very much the latter. I first ate owner/head chef Ernst’s food when he was at the Etrop Grange hotel in 2013. It looked amazing …

Want to know one of the best things about writing a food blog? Every now and again I get pleasantly surprised by somewhere I wouldn’t have gone otherwise. I was actually invited to Provenance Food Hall & Restaurant earlier in the year. But declined because I genuinely didn’t believe there could be anywhere worth eating in Westhoughton. For those that …

There are few restaurants I’ve had to wait as long to get into as The Man Behind The Curtain in Leeds. In fact, there are only three; Noma, The Fat Duck and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. This one was largely my own doing, though. Back in 2014, you could basically walk in off the street. But at that time I wasn’t sure …

I wouldn’t say I disliked whisky but it definitely isn’t my ‘thing’. A couple of friends have tried to get me into ‘the good stuff’ but I’ve always resisted. I don’t really need another expensive hobby. I’ve flown to Belgium specifically to drink beer that’s been ageing in dusty cellars for 20 years. Paid the equivalent of £50 a pint …

On the 1st of January, I made a New Years resolution. To visit three places that any self-respecting food blogger should have been to long ago. By the end of May, I’d made it to all three. First, Freemasons at Wiswell and most recently Man Behind The Curtain in Leeds (review coming soon). In between was the one I’d ignored the longest. ‘St. JOHN Restaurant’ in …

Since the day this blog started – over five years ago – there have been a couple of ever present entries on the ‘Upcoming Reviews‘ page. One of which, Nutter’s in Rochdale, I finally visited last month. Though I have to confess it wasn’t off my own bat. I was invited by Meze Publishing for the launch of their new ‘Lancashire …

There’s a new addition to Manchester’s fine-dining scene. ‘Grafene’ on King Street is named after revolutionary 2D material ‘graphene’, albeit spelt incorrectly. Run by Paul and Kathryn Roden, owners of highly regarded Losehill House Hotel & Spa in the Peak District. And headed up by their executive chef over there, Darren Goodwin. Although I’ve never been to Losehill House I know several …

I know afternoon tea is a time-honoured British tradition. But sitting around in fancy hotels eating tiny sandwiches and pouring from a teapot isn’t exactly my idea of fun. Mrs Food Geek loves a good afternoon tea, though. So on a recent trip to London, I decided to repay the countless times she’s been dragged around restaurants and bars for my benefit. With a surprise …

You know you’re spoilt for choice when it takes over two years to return to one of your favourite restaurants. Amazingly, after visiting Umezushi countless times during their first year, that’s how long it had been since my last trip. This despite recommending the place to countless people since. Not much has changed inside the tiny sushi bar under the railway arch on Mirabel Street. It’s …

Until this year the best steak I’d had in Manchester was over 15 years ago. It was at the newly opened Gaucho Grill, one of the first nice restaurants I went to when I could afford to eat out on my own. I’ve had some decent steaks since. At the likes of Grill On The Alley, The Lowry Hotel and perhaps …

A couple of months ago I hosted a private supper club. A bespoke 7-course tasting menu by the Drunken Butcher, including a curated cheeseboard. To which I paired a total of 11 beers. One for each course, four with the cheeseboard and an apéritif. It’s another one of those posts where I’m not quite sure where it belongs. On the …

Did you know 2016 is the ‘year of the taco’? I didn’t either but it’s true, well, according to Restaurant Magazine anyway. To be honest I’ve been obsessed with them for years but I’ll take any excuse to eat more tacos. Mexican restaurant Wahaca already have several on their menu but are celebrating the ‘year of the taco’ with a …

The Parkers Arms is one of my favourite places in the world to eat. I was blown away during my first visit on Good Friday three years ago. I’ve been back many times since and always loved it. But never again on Good Friday and never quite as much as that magical first time. Until the start of Easter weekend this …

A few years ago it was hard to get fried chicken in Manchester. Unless you were happy to slum it at the likes of Krunchy Fried Chicken on Canal Street anyway. Then Splendid Sausage changed to Splendid Kitchen and featured a couple of fried chicken dishes that ended up becoming their signature. Since then its popped up on several other restaurant …

As far as chain restaurants go Yo! Sushi are one of the good guys. I don’t eat in many chains and of course, I wouldn’t pick Yo! Sushi over a top independent sushi bar but they’re great at what they do. Their sushi is prepared in full view of diners with decent quality ingredients. And there’s always something zooming past …