Tag: Food

The Pearl of Prestwich

by CharlRose, posted in Lifestyle

Dan and I booked a date night at The Pearl in Prestwich. My brother and his partner told us great things of their food and drinks. I love discovering new places to spend our weekends and it’s also super convenient because it is pretty much right on our doorstep.

On arrival, we were greeted with a warm “Hi guys, table for Dan?” which I thought added a lovely personal touch, to show they were expecting our arrival. The interior reminded me of a French brasserie, small but cosy and the drapes in the window added a sense of privacy and elegance. The whole aesthetic completely took me out of Prestwich and felt very cosmopolitan.

So, let’s begin with the cocktails, we ordered spicy margaritas to start our evening and my god they were good! The perfect amount of tequila and spice. For me personally, you can just tell when a cocktail has been made with care and precision and that’s the impression I was given.

The menu is split into 4 courses, snacks, starters, mains and deserts. As a snack, Dan and I shared the warms breads with whey fat butter and The Pearl chips, which were filled with ox cheek, mustard and dill pickle. Both were equally delicious.

As a starter, I ordered the gin cured salmon and Dan order the Isle of White tomatoes with burrata. Dan is someone who doesn’t usually like fish, however he tried my salmon and said it was incredible. Top tier compliment.

For main, I went for the wild sea bass and Dan ordered the BBQ beef. I asked for a wine pairing with my main and I was advised to order the Chardonnay. I don’t normally drink Chardonnay but as recommended, it was beautiful and light, perfect with the fish.

We ended our meal with a tarte tatin. You need to tell the serving staff early if this something you’re interested in because it takes a while to bake. In my opinion, it was the highlight of the meal. It’s the kind of desert I would fantasise about on a cold autumn evening. Not too filling but enough to leave you feeling warm and content, if not wanting more.

The Pearl Website – Book a table here

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Cosy Cotswolds Pt 2

by CharlRose, posted in Travel

After a delicious cream tea at Lucy’s Tearoom, we decided to head back to the hotel to get showered and ready for a lovely tea at Bourton-On-The-Water. We asked the hotel for a taxi number to get there and back however they quite candidly handed us a piece of paper with two numbers on it for two specific drivers that they use rather than a particular taxi rank. The first driver was out walking his dog and said the wait could be an hour which I found quite amusing and the second driver said he was finishing his tea and would then pick us up. I found this concept so different to back at home in Manchester but made the whole experience a little bit more personal and cute.

When arriving at Bourton-On-the-Water, I was astounded by how busy it was. Families sat waterside enjoying a picnic and groups of friends sharing a bottle of wine enjoying the warm summer evening. The village was beautiful, and it was lovely to see so many people filling the streets again and scattering themselves across the green – even children were enjoying in a splash in the water.

We enjoyed a lovely meal at one of the many restaurants along the waterside and a few/many tipples of wine.

The next day, we surprisingly felt rather fresh and decided to go back into Bourton to have a wander around the shops. There were so many gorgeous hidden gems, I particularly loved this little bookshop we found.

We grabbed some food from The Bakery on the Water, there was quite a queue outside but it was definitely worth the wait. There were so many delicious options and the smell in the bakery was dreamy. Dan had a quiche and I settled for a goats cheese and tomato toasty. At the back of the bakery there is a small terrace next to a stream, perfect location for a coffee and bite to eat.

Later that day, we found an ideal spot for a Sunday Lunch, it was called The Mousetrap Inn . We parked our car down one of the country roads due to how busy the surrounding area was. I’m glad we did park a little distance from the restaurant because the walk was beautiful. The service in the Mousetrap Inn was quick and the staff were friendly and welcoming. The Sunday dinner was fresh tasting and the beef melted in our mouths. Definitely a place you must visit if you’re in the Bourton area.

I was very sad to be leaving the Cotswolds and heading back to the city but I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and would recommend it to anyone who desires a country getaway. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love all things cosy and quaint and the Cotswolds filled me to the brim with both of those things. A truly wholesome trip.