The White Swan, Fence by Hannah

This weekend we went out for a drive to try somewhere new. I always say if in doubt, drive north... that's where the best hidden gems are at!

There are some amazing places to eat in Fence. We've had some brilliant meals in the past around these parts, but in dire need of a pit stop to feed my baby's hungry tum we stumbled across The White Swan which from the outside looked very unassuming... However, the food was out of this world.

Here is the run down...

Fresh bread and homemade butter

Warm and yummy. The butter was light and mousse like.

Organic glazehill lamb shepherd's pie, glazed shallots

Rich and heart warming, under the mash lay some gorgeously slow cooked lamb in a rich gravy.

Sticky ox-tongue, marrowbone, roots and pickles

Gorgeous meat which contrasted well with the sharp flavours of the roots and pickles.

Dexter beef fillet, red wine sauce, triple cooked chips and Bearnaise sauce

Glazehill organic lamb, roscoff onions, onion and lemon marmalade, wild garlic

Both pieces of meat were to die for, perfectly pink and melt in the mouth. The lamb came with mash and the beef with chips, both with a deep silky gravy.

Yorkshire rhubarb, panacotta, blood orange and sasparilla

A pretty, light and cleansing end to the meal. 

The only minor criticism I had was that the mains didn't come with any greens. However, the meal came with lots of extra bonuses like the bread and homemade butter and some gorgeous homemade truffles at the end so all is forgiven.

We chatted to the people sat next to us who drive an hour from Southport regularly just to eat here. Says it all, it's definitely an eatery worth a long drive.

Quick run down of the facilities. The White Swan were very accommodating seeing as we rolled up unannounced on a Saturday lunchtime with a baby in tow. They have a variety highchairs, the wooden ones and those you strap to a chair with a tray. I didn't spot a kiddies menu but I'd brought my daughter's food with us and in a rush to get her fed I didn't think to ask. There was space for changing in the ladies and we had a little boogie to the music playing in the loos.

Overall we had an unexpected and fabulous lunch out, a really chilled experience and the attention to detail was second to none. The service was excellent, the staff are absolutely lovely.

I'd love to come back to try the tasting menu and the homemade spirits. 

Its no wonder they've won a Michelin Bib Gourmand, Two Rosettes, a place in the Good Food Guide and Lancashire Life Dining Pub of the Year 2016. 

They are having a Lancashire tapas night this month... I hope we can go... sounds like a match made in heaven!

The Fat Pig, Westhoughton

Long time no blog!  

I bet you have been pacing the floor for the last 10 months, wondering when the next post would be.  Well fear not - we are back!

So why the hiatus?  A baby!  Yep, that's right, we had a little girl in April! With severe morning sickness, a newborn and the subsequent sleep deprivation, we haven't had the chance to eat out much this year.

Last Friday was our 10 year anniversary and 6 months since we became parents so we went to celebrate at The Fat Pig on the Chequerbent Roundabout, Westhoughton.

Situated in a 140 year old building that was once a police station, The Fat Pig has been transformed into a stylish and modern eatery.  

It is the sister restaurant to The Strawberry Duck, Entwistle and the same focus on quality can be seen at both.

Pornstar Martini & Long Island Ice Tea
Neither of us drink much but we both appreciate a good cocktail.  That is exactly what we got. Cheers!

Cote de Boeuf
We decided on a 500g Grilled bone in ribeye for two people, roasted bone marrow, grilled confit tomatoes, skinny fries and a choice of two sauces.  

I can't get enough of sweet potato fries so we ordered a separate portion of those with some pickled slaw - it was a combination of our two favourite dishes, Hannah's roast meets Elliott's American diner!

We chose bone marrow gravy and The Fat Pig garlic butter to go with the meat.  The butter is moulded into the shape of little pig faces - a nice touch (pic above).

This platter was so big it hardly fit on the table!  The steak was melt in the mouth succulent and the bone marrow gravy was rich and delicious. 

The pickled slaw cut through the richness and went well with the sweet potato fries.  The only thing I didn't eat was the roasted bone marrow - I prefer it in my gravy as it doesn't taste of much when roasted.

Warm Chocolate Brownie
A velvety pudding with a Belgium chocolate gooey-centre and served with pistachio ice cream.

You can't go wrong with a warm brownie to finish a meal especially when you are sharing it!  I was sceptical of pairing it with pistachio ice cream but it worked.

The Fat Pig was the perfect place for us to celebrate our 10 year anniversary.  Great food, a relaxed atmosphere and great service.  
They rear their own pigs up in Belmont so I can't wait to go back and try one of their pork dishes!

A fantastic meal in a cosy setting.

It's Grim Up North

The Dining Room, Abersoch

Sometimes the best places to eat are the restaurants which you stumble upon by chance.  This was the case when we ended up at The Dining Room in Abersoch.  

Deciding where to go for dinner can be a tricky decision for us, especially when we are on holiday and don't know the local eateries. We struck gold this time when Hannah found an advert for The Dining Room in a local brochure.

The restaurant is discreetly tucked away a short walk up from Abersoch harbour and you would be forgiven if you walked right past it.  Situated in a quaint little row of shops - it looks more like a small tea room than a place to go for dinner.

The tea room theme continues inside with a homely and welcoming vibe with just enough room for a dozen customers without feeling too cramped.

We shared warm bread with oil and balsamic vinegar - a classic pre-starter to dinner which seems to have gone missing from a lot of places we have eaten at this year.

Smoked salmon Sc'egg with hollandaise and asparagus

This is the best starter I have had all year and it is worth visiting The Dining Room just to try this dish.  The Sc'egg, served in a different style each month, is the restaurant's signature dish and was so bloody fantastic it deserves 3 pictures!

Asparagus, cured ham and egg

Hannah went for a similar dish which was equally as satisfying. The delicate egg was covered in a hollandaise sauce and underneath was the perfect combination of salty ham wrapped around crunchy, super fresh asparagus. 

Ribeye of Welsh beef with smashed black pepper and brandy sauce, balsamic onions and herb butter

I am a real carnivore and this was a dish designed for someone just like me.  A perfectly cooked slab of the finest Welsh beef that came with a wonderfully rich sauce and seasonal vegetables which we both shared.

Just look at it and marvel.  

Sea trout with grilled red onion and garlic, rosemary and anchovy mayonnaise

When by the sea Hannah prefers to stick to seafood.  Her sea trout was exceptional and ridiculously fresh, the mayonnaise gave it a gentle but lovely kick. 

We were far too full to attempt a pudding after our outrageously good meal which Hannah was most upset about. However, we got our sweet fix from the little bag of sweets they gave us with the bill.  

I love the little touches in this place and made me leave with a smile.

If you find yourself over in this beautiful part of the country, don't hesitate to visit The Dining Room.  It was easily one of the best meals I have had in a long while and the service was impeccable. Five stars!

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