Amanda Biggs of Thyme Deli

This month's Lancashire Foodie is non other than world famous Amanda Biggs, owner of Thyme Deli and Cafe in Horwich, who unsurprisingly turned down a visit by George Osborne whilst he was campaigning in the area so she didn't let her regular customers down (good on you Amanda ). Amanda ended up in all the national press for her comment and even being mentioned on the topical satire quiz show "Have I got news for you" !

Thyme Deli is a gorgeous quirky cafe deli in the centre of Horwich where the emphasis on local seasonal Lancashire food, Amanda stocks a fabulous range of local produce and products and makes daily specials everyday. The cafe has also hosted numerous cake club events and is a favourite with all who visit.

Here's Amanda's answers to our now familiar questions.

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

I have too many cook books so it’s hard to choose one but I do love Nigel Slater’s writing.

• What sentence sums up Lancashire Food to you ? 

So many fabulous places to eat and buy food.

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

 If I wasn’t doing what I do now I’d be dreaming about opening a deli!

• Which piece of kit could you not do without ? 

· My Wusthof knife

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

My ultimate party would be with my family and friends though if I could I’d also invite Wentworth Miller !

• What advice would you give to your younger self ? 

Stop worrying about it, just do it.

• Describe your style in three words 

 Busy Busy Busy

• What was your latest foodie gadget purchase ? 

Last year I bought a Kitchenaid stand mixer which I have coveted for a long time. My only regret is that i didn’t buy it sooner

• What is your greatest achievement to date ? 

Without doubt becoming a mum. Coming second would be opening and running my business, especially trading through the recession.

• What is the worst mistake you have made ? 

Employing people based on their experience when I should have concentrated on personality.

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

I absolutely cannot eat fish or seafood, not for health reasons either. It’s limiting!

You can find Thyme Deli Cafe at 4-6 Winter Hey Lane, Horwich, Bolton, there is easy parking locally.

CCC No 5 - Rhubarb Victoria Sponge cake

For the spring meeting of the South Lancashire clandestine cake club I decided that I wanted to make a cake that was seasonal and celebrated the emerging new life that is all around at this time of year. So I choose to use the every faithful victoria sponge but create a rhubarb compote to fill it from the early season rhubarb that is growing like topsy in the garden right now. For a great victoria sponge check out my earlier post which you can find here.

To make the rhubarb compote I finely diced one large stick of rhubarb and cooked it gently in pan with 1tbsp of soft brown sugar and a similar quantity of fruit juice or water, remove from heat as soon as the rhubarb is cooked.

To make the vanilla buttercream , mix 250g of icing sugar, 125g of softened butter and a good drizzle of vanilla paste in a mixer until softened and well blended, check that the buttercream isn't grainy.

Assemble the cake using the cooled compote and some of the buttercream as filling, top the cake with the rest of the buttercream and decorate to your taste.

Our venue for the event was the lovely Thyme Deli in Horwich, a lovely cafe deli run by the wonderful Amanda that is funkly decorated in a vintage style, which serves great local food and sells a fabulous range of foods, bakeware and kitchenalia. Pay them a visit if you are in the area you won't be disappointed.

If you are interested in joining the fun at a local clandestine cake club visit the website for more details.