WeFiFo - whats it all about and Dinner at Maria's

So WeFiFo, whats its all about then, firstly its stands for "We Find Food" Its sort of an Airbnb supper club equivalent meets "Come dine with me" but in a good way. 

Its a way of home cooks, chefs and foodie people to find each other and hold unique food experiences, may be make new friends and eat delicious home cooked food.

WeFiFo events are being held up and down the country, so there is sure to be one near(ish) to you, we popped along to the lovely Maria's and Alan's who are our nearest hosts for Sunday tea, a proper traditional Sunday roast,but more of that later. There is is an amazing range of food related  events on offer so I am sure there is something for you to sign up for and to have your own WeFiFo experience.

If you are a budding chef you can start cooking, host events and earn, just check out the website for more details and lots of advice and guidance on getting started.

• You can turn your cooking into cash !
• Discover home cooked food near you
• Cook the food you love for paying guests
• Share food and meet new people
• What's not to love about WeFiFo

This is the lovely Maria our host who is passionate about sharing good food with local people in a friendly environment, with WeFiFo you are eating in your hosts home so its a friendly relaxed atmosphere. 

She's been a WeFiFo Home chef for a while and has hosted many varied and different events at various locations in her local area, it all started for her fund raising for a family friend and it went from there.  

Initially it is a little strange that you are turning up a someone house you have never met before and you are going to enjoy a meal with people you have never met before, but once you get over that initial meeting then you are off and running and by the end of the evening you are chatting like old friends. 

Booking our WeFiFo experience was pretty easy via the website, hosts post their events and you book on using Cookies (The WeFiFo currency) You can purchase Cookies using paypal or credit card and also get them as rewards for sharing and posting on social media)

The atmosphere at our event was very friendly and the chat was wide ranging covers from philosophy to Manchester Pride .

Our main course was succulent roast slice of beef served with a rich gravy, yorkshire pudding (gluten free one's especially for me :-)), crunchy roast potatoes, roast carrot and parsnip batons, cauliflower cheese (gluten free too), tenderstem, beans and peas. All delicious and a great roast dinner.

Maria had created for our pudding after all we are up North here, a delightfully decadent Champagne pavlova with strawberries, billowing with cream. Big piece for me then please....

Chocolate anise cake, again gluten free, rich dark and decadent.

Then to finish a selection of European cheeses with a variety of accompaniments.

A thoroughly enjoyable evening, great fun and something out of the ordinary, it's not just about the food its the whole atmosphere that counts. Maria would love to host something more rustic some if one of my foodie friends has a barn we can use then please get in touch. Of course if you fancy becoming a host Maria is happy to give you some hints and tips to get started.

Here is a blog post from Maria about her WeFiFo story

Here is a video of a WeFiFo event filmed at Maria's 

Our Cookies to enjoy our WeFiFo experience we given free of charge, we were not compelled to write a positive review and all viewss, opinions etc are our own. Thanks to Maria and Alan and the rest of the party for an enjoyable introduction to WeFiFo.

Pesto, Appley Bridge - a review

Last weekend we popped over to the cute Lancashire village of Appley Bridge to visit Pesto at the Dicconson Arms, a beautiful marriage of pub meets Italian food and not just any Italian food, piattini no less. Situated just off the M6 junction 27 as you head towards Parbold, its really easy to find.

The decor is classic country house with contemporary Italian touches, I particular liked the chunky Mediterranean pottery and flashes of lime green and orange in the decor. The facilities were lovely. very clean and nicely furnished too.

The staff were warm and friendly and on arrival we were shown to a delightful window side table, furnished with the chunky pottery as previously mentioned. We ordered drinks as we perused the extensive menu, which caters for all. Even though it was fairly early into the lunch service we were soon joined by plenty of other diners.

The ambiance in the restaurant was good, the tables were decadently spaced and unlike a lot of other contemporary styled venues, it wasn't echo prone.                                          

Piatinni for those not in the know is the Italian version of tapas, i.e small plates, well for me that's almost food heaven. Italian food but with the ability to taste anything and everything, so we did just that selecting from across the wide and varied menu. Here's our selection

Bruschetta al salmone affumicato - just enough for two, crunchy bread topped with smooth cream cheese and moist flavourful smoked salmon.

Olive miste - mixed olives, tasty and more than adequate, but not the best olives I have every eaten.

Selezione di pane Italiano - bread basket of various breads, including sun dried tomato, ciabiatta. On the menu this is supposed come with oil and vinegar, ours didn't arrive, minor point and frankly we didn't notice until comparing the menu and what we had ordered for this post. Sure if we had mentioned it would have arrived pronto.

Insalata Toscana -  one of the stand out dishes, mixed salad with beans, avocado, tuna and red onion. Perfectly seasoned and with a delicious dressing, just enough to enhance and not drown the salad.

 Calamari fritti - a personal favourite, lightly battered squid rings with a punchy dip

Gamberoni all’ aglio e peperoncino - tasty king prawns with hints of garlic and chilli

Polpette di manzo - Spicy meatballs, served with a tasty tomato sauce, enough spicing to keep them interesting yet not blow your head off.

Pizzetta rustica - Cute little baby pizza, topped with goats cheese and rocket. Very tasty, just wished we had ordered two. Nice crust on the pizza

Fettuccine alla carbonara - an Italian classic, pancetta was crispy and the sauce silky, pasta al dente. Very nice would order again.

Arancini - classic milanese risotto (saffron) balls in a crispy crumb, stuffed with melted mozarella. I was recommended by a friend who eats regularly at the Trafford Centre Pesto, they were nice but thought they lacked a dip or sauce to eat them with.

Followed by desserts to share

Affogato - two balls of ice cream, we chose chocolate and vanilla, topped with a hot shot of espresso, delicious and very refreshing,  I love affogato and the combination of coffee with chocolate was sublime.

Tiramisu - served in a cute little pot, we were warned the portion were small, but we didn't think they were at all, just the perfect size. Lovely light sponge, creamy filling and more coffee flavour.

We really enjoyed our lunch and were impressed with the standard of food , we noted that they have an offer of 3 piatinni dishes for £8.95 or £10.95 at certain times and days, which looks to be good value for money. Pesto is a small and growing chain so check out if there is one near you.

Interestingly enough one of the waitresses mentioned that most men don't get the concept of piatinni , Mr LF had no such trouble !

The staff had no idea that we were undertaking a review until it came to settle the bill, so we received exactly the same service standards as anyone else visiting. We were mightly impressed by Pesto, the venue and concept is unique in the area and we are already planning our next visit.

                                                         

Our lunch was provided free of charge for review purposes, all views and opinions are our own.

Degustabox - a review

This month has seen quite a few items being delivered for review and the latest come from Degustabox (unfortunate name I know, the word however means to sample in Spanish) an online food box subscription service, were each month subscribers received a box contains a selection of food products that are new to market. The box costs £12.99  per month including delivery and for you lucky readers we have a discount code for you, so if you fancy giving the box scheme a try you can do so for a great price. The code is Z5QKW , just input at the checkout once prompted.

I was fairly impressed by the contents of the box as the value of the products ( I calculated the value was in excess of £25) and also the selection of products as I think there is something for most people in the box but a little strange mix of healthy stuff  some not so healthy items as well.

Our box contained the following items as you can see from the picture

Oats and chia - The Chia Co

A just add water breakfast pack which is a combination of oats, chia, coconut oil and quality fruits, for a great healthy breakfast on the go.

Clean Green - Pukka Herbs

A green tea with added cleansing ingredients, nettle, dandelion root and Silican lemon

Madras mix - Kents Kitchen

A meal kit with 3 steps to create a dish in 20 minutes, a perfect addition to the store cupboard.

Choco Liebniz - Bahlsen

Finest milk chocolate topping butter biscuits, one plain the other topped with decadent caramel

White Alcohol free wine- Eisburg

Alcohol free wine made in the traditional manner with the alcohol removed

Frylight Infuse Garlic - Frylight

Oil spray with added garlic to give that Mediterranean flavour to all your cooking, just spray and your away adding garlic flavours to your dish.

Sour cream and onion - Popchips

Air popped delicious crunchy snacks with less than half the fat of normal crisps

Various flavours - Gloworm

Raspberry and Orris

Cucumber and apple

Pear, spice and lime - our favourite

Ginger and lemongrass

Gourmet Mixers or over ice, would be nice without the high level of caffeine for my preference.

Coarse orange marmalade - Bonne Maman

Coarse chunky orange marmalade , zingy flavours and very orangey.

You can check out their website here

or on Facebook here

or on Twitter here

Ultimate Cafe - Preston - passionate about good food

A couple of days ago we were lucky enough to be treated to lunch at The Ultimate Cafe at Preston, this independently owned cafe (The Interesting Eating Company) is situated within the Ultimate Outdoors at the Deepdale Retail Park in Preston.

This unassuming cafe is the sister to a Cafe in Liverpool both of which are passionate about serving good food. The Deepdale cafe is spacious and decorated in a faux log cabin meets contemporary chic manner but the emphasis is definitely on the food. Pushchairs are welcomed and the little ones have their own menu so there is something for all the family.

We were pleased to note that time and trouble had been taken in sourcing some local produce and producers for the menu, Nichola (one of the co directors) explained that the bread is baked specially for them and they buy their sausages from an independent butcher. A wide range of drinks and beverages are available and takeaway is also available.

The menu is varied and features an all day breakfast and the in house speciality pancakes which you can find here and the menu also has plenty of choices for those who need gluten free.

After the browsing the menu whilst sampling the lovely coffee we plumped for a sausage sandwich , chicken broth soup with dumplings and a roasted vegetable pancake (GF) all to share.

The stand out dish for us was the soup, with an intense chicken flavour yet light. The sausage sandwich was tasty, the sausages juicy and the bread crusty and man enough to stand up to the filling. The Gluten free pancake was good and the vegetable filling tasty, all more than adequate for a cafe menu.

By this stage we were getting quite full so we decided to share a dessert, tempted by the great selection of cakes and treats on display we eventually chose the fruit meringue, made on the premises like most of the cakes (except the gluten free).

The Ultimate cafe is well worth a visit particularly when you are in the area and is a great choice whilst shopping rather than the other chain eateries on the retail park, situated on the first floor of Ultimate Outdoors its easy to find (and there is a lift), the prices seem reasonable for the product on offer and the team really want you to have a good experience whilst dining with them.

Our lunch was provided free of charge for review purposes, all views and opinions are our own.

The Highwayman Inn - Stand and deliver !

                                     

Yesterday saw our long awaited visit to the Highwayman Inn at Nether Burrow, near Kirby Lonsdale. We have now visited all but one of the Ribble Valley Inns, the gastro pub chain owned by Michelin starred chef Nigel Haworth.

Surrounded by stunning countryside the Highwaymann is just outside Kirby Lonsdale, situated on the borders of the three counties of Lancashire, Cumbria and Yorkshire.The establishment is pretty easy to find, has car parking right outdoor the door and an outdoor eating area for summertime. Our welcome was warm and we were pleased to see that the fires were lit and dancing in the grates when we arrived, we were sat in the friendly hunting lodge style dining area in large cosy chairs ready to peruse the locally focused menu.

                                  

This being a Thwaites house Mr LF plumped for his favourite Wainwright and I ordered a Dandelion and burdock another favourite as the driver of the party. The pub has recently been the subject to a mini refurbishment and also recently had a new chef appointed to lead the team, Jason "Bruno" Birkbeck who has an excellent pedigree in the kitchen and is a local lad too, you may have seen him on Great British menu a couple of years ago.

                           

The main menu features many Ribble Valley Inn classics, however we would point out that we found the specials menu a bit confusing (and we weren't the only ones !) as Mr LF really fancied the Hotpot but was disappointed to find it wasn't on the menu (or so we thought) and missed it on the specials as the menu wasn't divided into starters, mains and desserts. In fact we only found out it was on the menu after we had ordered when we heard two elderly gentlemen asking why the hotpot wasn't on the menu and a member of staff pointing it out on the specials. Minor point but a tad confusing.

So after perusing the menu we plumped for the classic nibbles knowing that the portions are generous in Ribble Valley Inn's, Ascrofts cauliflower fritters an old favourite which is served with curry mayonnaise and the homemade bread, rapeseed oil and treacle vinegar.

The fritters were delicious as expected, crispy light with a tender cauliflower floret in the middle and the curry mayonnaise with just the right amount of spicy punch to cut through the fritter.

The bread, oil and vinegar was acceptable, we did find the sliced white and wholemeal bread a little tasteless and pappy but enjoyed the rosemary and sea salt roll, the treacle vinegar was the standout part of this dish and is an idea I am going to be trying to replicate at home. The vinegar has a lovely tang and is great combined with the nutty rapeseed oil. 

So onto our mains, I chose the braised shoulder of Kitridding lamb, herb oatcake crust, root vegetables, potato pressing and confit swede and  Mr LF chose Steak and kidney pie, roasted root vegetables with real chips.

A delicious well balanced dish, I particularly liked the addition of the spiky aromatic red cabbage (Nigel Howarths signature red cabbage no less) which cuts through the richness of the lamb shoulder, the dish was well flavoured and the confit swede was lovely and gave a sweet savoury note.

As you know Mr LF is a pie connoisseur and nothing disappoints him more than when a pie is not a pie, he likes a pie with sides, so he was a little down heartened when his "pie " arrived as it was a pastry topped pot, the pastry however was good, nice and short with a little flake and well matched to the filling inside. The steak and kidney filling was tender and the gravy well flavoured if a little on the thin side. In fact a member of staff supplied him with a spoon so he could scoop the gravy out of the pot. His chips were pronounced as good but the roasted vegetables better. 

Desserts, I ordered the intriguing Sheep dip creme brulee, shortbread and Autumn berry compote and Mr LF plumped for the Forest Fruit cheesecake with pouring cream.

A lovely tasty dessert with just the right amount of crunchy topping, the shortbread was buttery and crumbly and the perfect contrast to the creamy creme brulee.

Forest Fruit Cheesecake, whats not to like, pronounced delicious by Mr LF, fruity yet creamy with a sharper berry top to cut the richness.

So all in all a good meal, the food was tasty and well made and presented, just a couple of minor niggles, but really all in all the same standard we have come to expect from Ribble Valley Inns. The staff were warm, friendly and attentive.

Our only other comments would that despite the recent refurbishment we did note a couple minor issues such as in the loos missing temperature buttons on taps, missing plugs and worn soap bottles. Very minor niggles but not something I have seen in other RV inns, this definitely won't stop us recommending a visit as the food is very good, reasonably priced and above all seasonal and local. 

The surrounding countryside is beautiful and you are well placed to visit the local attractions. So make sure you call in when in the area.

Our meal was provided on a complimentary basis but we were not compelled to provide a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Celia Gaze of The Wellbeing Farm

Our featured foodie this month is the lovely Celia Gaze of The Wellbeing Farm at Edgeworth, Bolton. Celia is the Managing Director and co creator of Lancashire's answer to River Cottage. The multi award winning educational and creative venue has risen phoenix like from a once derelict farmstead situated high in the Lancashire hills.

The food served at The Wellbeing Farm is all local, seasonal and sustainable and the venue also hosts food and cookery events ranging from sausage making, bread making, foraging and even how to butcher a lamb.

Here is an earlier post of our visit

 

Celia kindly answered our questions so we can find out more about the women being this amazing venue which is well worth a visit.

•  What is your favourite cookery or food book or publication?

I must admit being partial to the River Cottage series – considering I’ve tried to copy some of their setup when I created The Wellbeing Farm.

•  What sentence sums up Lancashire Food to you ?

Quality food where provenance shines like a beacon.

• If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would you like to be?

Considering I gave up a great career to do this, I'm now following my dream!

• Which piece of kit could you not do without?

Pampered Chef pizza cutter – can be used for chopping anything.

• Who would join you at your ultimate dinner party and why?

An eclectic mix of friends, family and the odd celeb thrown in. When you are setting up a new business it does test your friendships and family commitment – you know who your true friends are by how much support they provide when you’ve ignored them for months!

• What advice would you give to your younger self ?

Follow your dreams – you only have one life.

•  Describe your style in three words

Overly enthusiastic, persistent and a bit loud!.

• What was your latest foodie gadget purchase ?

An all singing and dancing Kenwood food processor.

• What is your greatest achievement to date ?

Transforming a run-down neglected farm into an award-winning business in less than a year and winning the North West Start Up of the Year Award with the Countryside Alliance in the process.

• What is the worst mistake you have made ?

In setting up a business you make loads of mistakes, it’s how you learn from them that matters.

• Tell us a secret about yourself ? may be something we wouldn’t expect !

I’m actually a qualified chef but don’t practice actual cooking anymore unfortunately. I was also the first Management Trainee at The Garrick Gentleman’s Club in London.

Wellbeing Farm - much more than just a venue.

Set in stunning upland Lancashire countryside the Wellbeing Farm is a must visit for anyone interested in food and where it comes from field to fork really means something here. Or you can just generally chill out and get back in touch with yourself. With amazing 180 degree views means that on a good day you can see the Welsh hills and the Wirral. This thoughtfully converted farmstead is a location for a wide variety of activities and events. Whether its llama trekking or sausage making, the Wellbeing Farm has the course for you.

On a warm late spring evening Mr LF and I ventured to pastures new for our Sausage making experience, on driving up to the farm we were gobsmacked (the only word for it !) with the views, rolling moorland with vistas as far as the eye could see.

This unique venue hosts corporate wellbeing events, private events and educational visits during the week and at weekend is open to the public. They are also hosting their first "rustic" barn style wedding in a few weeks time complete with hay bales to sit on.

                                

The calming rustically decorated buildings immediately put you at ease and the farm's environmentally credentials are second to none, evidenced by the large wind turbine on a nearby rise which powers the farm. They proudly source local produce and have a true commitment to sustainability.

The welcome was warm and genuine as we entered the lovely licensed cafe / bistro which hosts regular gourmet evenings and we were pleased to note lots of local produce which even stretched to a good range of local beers. Whilst awaiting the arrival of all the attendees (10 in our case for the evenings sausage making event) we took the opportunity to shoots a few images so you can get the feel for the Wellbeing Farm.

Outside you can make friends with the farm's llamas or pop into the poly tunnel to grab some fresh herbs or salads for your cookery experience. The sheep in the field are raised by the farm and in season are used for the butchery courses, the farm also has resident pigs, chickens and quails amongst other animals.

                                 

So on with the sausage show ! First we had to hand mix the sausage meat and rusk with a secret blend of herbs and spices. With a bit of friendly persuasion everybody started to relax and embrace squishing the mixture. (Due to needing a Gluten free diet they also kindly mixed up a special batch just for me)

Now it was time to load the filling machine and get ready to fill the natural skins.

Loading the skins on to the filling machine

        

Filling the sausage

Tying the sausage , this was the difficult bit ! But Lee made this look very easy

                                               

Ta dah ! Sausages

                                                   

The finished product ready for cooking

                                                      

All this sausage making was hungry work and afterwards we enjoyed a BBQ of our creations with that awesome view for company.

                                            

Thanks to all the team at the Wellbeing Farm for a really enjoyable informative evening in a lovely environment. So check out their website and plan your visit soon and enjoy the full Wellbeing experience. They work in close partnership with Whiteheads Butchers in the local village for their butchery experiences.

Our experience was provided on a complementary basis however I was not required to write a positive review, all comments, views and opinions are my own.