As a rule, any restaurant that you walk into which has kitchen roll on the tables as standard, is likely to show you a good time. Smokies has two venues, one in Darwen and one in Chorley. As Chorley is nearer to me, we decided to try this one. 

I like that when you walk in, it already has a warm atmosphere, created by varying lighting, high ceilings, and lots of wood in the decor and furniture. In fact later in the evening, one of the owners would tell me that she loves upcycling, and the wood from the bar came from a Scottish distillery, and the tables throughout were made from old casks from the same distillery, simply sanded and oiled, and that what I thought was a table number on our table was in fact one of the original barrel numbers! I love a bit of provenance! I was surprised to find that the restaurant goes further back into another room, and even has another floor with even more seating for diners!




As we entered we were welcomed warmly by who I assume is one of the owners (mentioned above). She checked for our booking and pointed us to our table. Another member of staff brought our menus and explained about the specials menu, and specials on the chalkboards throughout the restaurant. 

The menu is a vegan's nightmare and a carnivore's wet dream! Delicious meaty starters and mains, a section dedicated to meat from the smoker, and even a couple of sharing platters all described in a way to make your mouth water before you get chance to order. This is a proper southern States style bbq joint, their mantra is "real food, real smoke, real slow", and despite that very much being accurate given their quality offerings, the prices are incredibly decent. We decided on the "couples platter" which was beef brisket, pulled pork, half a rack of ribs, chicken wings, home-made sausage, fries, coleslaw and beans... and it was just £20! In fact including the starter and drinks, the whole bill came to less than £35! CRAZY!




So before our platter main, we ordered some nachos as a starter. You know what nachos as a starter tends to look like if you go somewhere like Chiquito etc... about 6 doritos with a blob of melted coagulation-dried cheese and some jalapenos on top. We... weren't expecting what we got from Smokies! We got a huge tray full of nachos, covered in nacho cheese sauce, freshly made guacamole, pineapple salsa, (you also get jalapenos, but we asked for them without) with side pots of guacamole and sour cream. It made me swear when it arrived.


They were miles beyond the usual doritos-nachos starter you usually get. They were fresh, with perfect crunch, the salsa was fruity and fresh, the cheese was excellent, and it was incredibly moreish. We found ourselves even mopping up the tiny bits at the end with our fingers... thank god for that kitchen roll and wet wipes!

Our main platter arrives just after a side portion of fries each. I ordered plain with pitmaster's salt, and my partner ordered cheeseburger fries from the specials menu, which was the same fries but with bits of burger meat, cheese, and chipotle relish!  


They came with really lovely fresh coleslaw, and what he says as some of the best beans he's ever had... beans with brisket mixed in! HEAVEN! The fries themselves were hot, crisp, and perfectly seasoned. Absolutely perfect.

Then just as they arrived, we were brought out our platter! The owner I mentioned earlier then came over to us and explained to us fully about our platter, what meats were what, how the meats were prepared, down to information about the pink smoke ring on the brisket. It's really nice to see that amount of passion and enthusiasm go into food!


This platter was excellent. The sausage was flavourful with a spice which didn't get you at first, but which snuck up behind you and slapped you in the fact afterwards! The chicken wings were so tender that you could suck the meat off the bones. The pulled pork was absolutely perfect, and the brisket was so tender that I swear it literally melted in my mouth. This is the best brisket I've had! Even the pickled cucumber provided was pickled by them in brine using the flavours from the smoker, and was described as a 'palate cleanser' as it was fresh and tangy. Really good! I could imagine it on a burger quite easily! There were also their own blend of sauces on each table comprising of a sweet BBQ sauce, American style mustard, and Louisiana style hot sauce. I imagine they were lovely, but as the meat itself was so amazing as it was provided, I really didn't get chance to try them as they weren't needed! Maybe next time!

At the point I was about to try the ribs when the chef/pit-master came into the dining area, and was even introduced to us. When we talked to him about the quality of our meal, his enthusiasm and passion for the real deal of southern BBQ was evident, from how he does it and his smokers, to the difference between competition cooking and regular cooking. It was genuinely fascinating to hear, and as I said, a real treat to see someone excited about something they do.  Under the rib rack was a serrated knife. I picked it up and cut through the ribs, which promptly fell apart and off the bone as soon as they were touched. The chef laughed, "we provided a serrated knife for you there as a bit of a joke". He wasn't wrong! The meat on the ribs was so tender and juicy that I could've practically blown it off the bone if I'd let out a big sigh! As a special treat, the chef even brought us a taster of the burnt ends covered in their own J.D sauce, which were a real taste explosion! He should rename these, "THE VEGETARIAN CONVERTER!". 

We loved Smokies, and found the quality absolutely stellar, as well as truly friendly, professional and passionate staff who love what they do. We will absolutely definitely be returning!!

Smokies Southern BBQ

by on 18:42
As a rule, any restaurant that you walk into which has kitchen roll on the tables as standard, is likely to show you a good time. Smoki...

Papa's is one of the many places to eat in Darwen, but is quickly gaining a reputation as somewhere you can get good American food in a simple and welcoming environment, whilst not breaking the bank.

There's a great free car park pretty much opposite it, which is always nice. It's always a bit awkward when you want to go somewhere you've heard good things about, only to find there's nowhere nearby to park.

The frontage is relatively small, but inside there are several tables and booths, stretching back into the diner itself. It's not a 1950's soda-pop type diner, but more of an American style 'dive bar', with chunky wood battening, mounted hubcaps and lighting features made from bottles and glasses, as well as full sight lines into the action in the kitchen.





As we walk in, we are greeted at the main desk by a cheerful member of staff, who tells us to sit wherever we like and order at the till when ready. We opt for a booth towards the back of the restaurant as a birthday party is in full swing in the middle. The menus are more like take-out menus, but jam packed with all sorts of amazing sounding things from deep fried pizzas and chicken parmo, to a dedicated mac and cheese menu.

Whilst browsing the menu, we see a gigantic plate of chunky ribs covered in sauce taken out to the party table and placed in front of a stunned looking man, as the rest of the party gasp, laugh, and take photos.

We decide as the menu isn't structured formally with a starter, main, dessert etc, that we will both order a burger each, and ordered the Nutter Clucker and The Darrener respectively, and also a serving of Dressed Up Bacon Mac from the mac and cheese menu.



Now here's the interesting part which impressed me; despite the theming as an American diner/dive bar, and the setup of a small restaurant, the service I saw and heard in the kitchen was excellent. The team were checking timings of food with each other to make sure everything was prepared properly and in the right time frame, and I even heard discussion about whether the bechamel sauce was ready, and saw a chef taste it to make sure it was ok. That's a good thing. It's really nice to see a kitchen team with such slick operation, and genuine interest in the quality and taste of their products.

Before long, our meal came out, all together, presented in metal serving dishes, to further go with the American dive feel. I like that the paper lining of the dishes had trivia questions for you to uncover and quiz each other with as you progress in your meal. I was also really impressed that we were able to order root beer. So many American themed places never have root beer, and it really is an American diner staple!



I had to try the bacon mac and cheese before anything else, and it was absolutely amazing. The real deal, really well made and seasoned, and full of flavour and comforting melty cheese. I could've sat there any simply ate my way through the whole bowl, but needed to move onto the burger.

The fries were fresh, hot and crisp, perfect. The burgers were juicy and cooked perfectly. The barbecue sauce was really nice quality, and the soft brioche bun was the right choice too. Basically the food was really excellent.

The staff were friendly, cheerful, and helpful. They asked how we found the meal, if we enjoyed various elements of it, and when asked if we could have a take-away box to take home, were happy to suggest one of their foil boxes to keep our mac and cheese fresh.

The value was excellent, the quality of the food was excellent, the staff were excellent, and the atmosphere and venue was excellent. The website looks more geared to take-away or ordering online, but don't judge a book by its cover, because Papa's itself could very easily have a full on website, and full restaurant style and menus if it wanted to, because its that good. Seriously, give it a go.

We'll definitely be returning, because there's a lot of other things on that menu I'd like to try!


Papa's American Diner
193 Duckworth Street
Darwen
BB3 1AU
(01254) 777 977
www.papas-diner.co.uk

Papa's American Diner

by on 00:14
Papa's is one of the many places to eat in Darwen, but is quickly gaining a reputation as somewhere you can get good American food i...

Chianti used to be a pub, and it's hard for them to escape that when you see the outside of it, looking very much like other traditional boozers in the area. However, when you decide to give it a try and walk inside, you realise it's a genuine nice quality Italian restaurant. It doesn't feel like a pub inside. It's warm, pleasantly decorated with wall murals and Italian themed artwork, and welcoming and friendly staff. Even the music that plays is a mix of both traditional Italian trattoria style music as you might expect, but also modern Italian music, which is a nice touch.




We're seated by one of the mural walls, and given some menus. The offerings are classic Italian, but at a reasonable price. When I notice that there's the option to have any of the pasta dishes as a starter option, I ask for a carbonara. The waitress tells me that it's actually the same price to go for a full normal sized carbonara, and I could simply take some home with me... I like her thinking! We order a garlic bread to nibble on, and a starter of carbonara, and the home made chicken liver pate.



Both arrive in good time. The carbonara tastes fresh and creamy, and is perfectly seasoned. The chicken liver pate is light and creamy, full of flavour, and served with light toasted rounds, and a fruit chutney. Really pleasant. I had to force myself to stop eating the carbonara so I would have enough room for my main course! The staff were happy to box up the remainder for me to take home.

For our mains we decide to order the penne pasticciata, and the pizza agrodolce respectively. As we wait for our mains, our drinks are kept refreshed, and we chat with some of the members of staff, who are friendly and warm, and happy to tell us about the decor and details of the venue.



The pasticciata was perfectly cooked, deliciously creamy, with plenty of meaty filling, and covered in a wonderful melted mozzarella. Very tasty, and a huge portion... very filling indeed. The pizza was definitely a hand-made base, which was perfectly crisp and had a semolina crunch to it. The ingredients were fresh and delicious, and managed to stay light, rather than many pizzas suffering from heavy and gloopy toppings. It was delicious, and also predictably, I also had to take some of this home too!

As I was now stuffed and content, I sadly had no room for one of the delicious looking desserts (I'd stood at the desserts chiller counter earlier, staring through the glass like a child at the window of a sweet shop). However my partner refused to throw in the towel just yet, and ordered some chocolate profiteroles.


The profiteroles were light and creamy and well complimented by the caramel sauce. The citrus zest grated on top of the cream was wonderfully fragrant, and gave the dish a fantastic little zing.

All all, the food was excellent and generously portioned considering how reasonable the prices were. The atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant, and the staff were attentive and warm without being intrusive.

Image courtesy of the marvellous DollyBakes

We will most definitely return. Don't judge this book by its cover, it's not just an old pub, and it's not pubby inside, it's lovely, and a real Italian treat.


Chianti Bar & Restaurant
1133-1135 Chorley Old Road
Bolton
BL1 5SG
(01204) 846 777
http://www.chiantibarrestaurant.com


Chianti

by on 13:32
Chianti used to be a pub, and it's hard for them to escape that when you see the outside of it, looking very much like other traditi...

We were in Blackburn town centre for a street festival of food. We had an enjoyable bit of lunch, then spotted flags outside of a shop declaring it was Mad Hatters Cupcakes and Tea Room, which had me floating over like a moth to a flame for a little dessert!

It has a nice big window allowing the tearoom to be well lit, and seen clearly from the outside, making it all the more inviting.


The first thing you see as you walk in is the fantastic blackboard wall full of hand drawn chalk images of quirky scenes from Alice in Wonderland, and various picture frames containing images of cupcakes, signs saying "eat me" and the such. A really nice touch. It's nice that despite being Mad Hatter/Alice in Wonderland themed, they haven't gone absolutely crazy with colour and made it gaudy and horrid, but have gone for some vintage touches, and soft varying pastel colours and bunting, to take the Mad Hatter and soften him a little into a vintage English tearoom.





As expected, the space is light, bright and relaxed as various mirrors bounce light around the room. Large and impressive cakes sit on cake stands and bell jars dotted around the space, and on the counter sits a display stand of delicious cupcake varieties. Staff are friendly and welcoming, and happy to reel off the various tea flavours when I asked what was available.

The menu has both hot and cold drinks, and offers breakfasts, salads, sandwiches and light lunches, as well as a full afternoon tea.

In this instance, we can't stop looking at a large salted caramel cake which seems to be giving us the eye from a stand on one side of the room, and decide to have a slice each, and share a pot of tea.



The cake was delicious, and we were offered cream with them too should we want it. It was marvellously sweet and tasty without veering off into "sickly" territory, and naturally it went perfectly with a big pot of tea, which was served with traditional vintage china.

Staff were friendly and social, and informed us that they have only been open for around 5 weeks, so everything was still settling, but from what I can see, they're doing very well, and should hopefully continue to do so!


Although this was only a fleeting and unplanned visit, we enjoyed it, and agreed that we will definitely pop back in whenever we are next in Blackburn, especially as I had my eye on a strawberries and cream cake that was flirting with me from a cake stand on the opposite side of the room, in all its lovely pink splendidness... I shall be trying that one next time!

Well done, Mad Hatters! I wish you luck in your new business! :)

Mad Hatters Cupcakes & Tea Room
15 Town Hall Street
Blackburn
BB2 1AG
07380 942 382

The Strawberry... sorry... Strawbury Duck really is in the middle of nowhere! You have to drive up a single-berth road to get up to it, and then its just suddenly there. It's full of age and character, big chunky wooden beams, flagstone floors, rooms jutting off into different directions headed with various names in Olde English lettering, and comfortable tables and chairs scattered throughout and in cosy corners.





It's also nice to see that the pub is dog friendly, and various happy and well behaved dogs can be found lounging around in front of open fireplaces, curled up under tables, or hoping their respective owners might drop a bit of sausage. What's really nice is that there is even a small section on the menu offering various doggy treats, so your canine companions don't feel left out! That's a lovely touch.

As we walked in, we noticed most of the currently empty candlelit tables had 'reserved' signs on, showing the popularity and notoriety of the Strawbury Duck, and necessity of booking in advance. We were pointed to our tables, and given a couple of menus including the specials menu. A large chalk board on one wall proclaimed that the pie of the week was lamb and mint. Meanwhile another table next to us arrived, and their adorable greymuzzled dog curled up and relaxed on the floor. The decor is cosy, traditional, and a little rough and ready in parts. The bowls crammed full of plastic sachets of sauces and condiments on the tables I feel let the style down a little bit, reminding me a bit of a greasy spoon cafe, but with how popular they are, I assume this is a necessity.



From the menu we opted to try the starters of garlic butter mushrooms, and the rare breed chipolata sausages. I would describe service as friendly but basic, seeming to comprise of a no nonsense barman (owner?) and two young waitresses dashing about. As I say, service was friendly, but we were never given any names, nor did we feel anyone particularly went out of their way to look after us, but they did their job well, and with a smile.

The starters arrived. The mushrooms were cream and delicious, served with a wedge of bread, and the chipolatas were full of flavour, and came with a mild mustard mayonnaise which was a very tasty coupling.



After enjoying our starters, and chatting to the table next to us for a while, our mains arrived. We ordered the pie of the week, and the Strawbury Duck pan fried Goosnargh duck breast. Both were well presented, looking very appetising against the candlelight as the darkness drew in outside, and candled dotted around the pub flickered cheerfully.

The pie was the definition of a proper home-made pie, in a tin, with a good pastry lid. The filling was hot, perfectly seasoned, tender, and comforting. It came with fantastic big chunky chips which were crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and a side of buttered peas. Very tasty indeed.

The duck breast was really excellent, full of great flavour and a glaze/jus that would make anyone's eyes sparkle! The dauphinois potatoes and vegetables served with it were the perfect accompaniment.



The food in general really was superb. It was nice to read on the menu that they are dedicated to locally sourced produce, and even list their local suppliers.

For once, we decided that as the food was so good, even though we were pretty full, we were going to take a breather and go for a dessert! We ordered a chocolate fudge brownie and a sticky toffee pudding respectively. Both arrived in good time, were deliciously presented, and were a pleasing size each, not being a disappointing mini-dessert as so many places seem to offer now when offering hot puddings.


The sticky toffee pudding was rich, sweet and comforting, and the chocolate brownie was delicious and had just the right amount of chewiness to it. Both were really good.

The bill wasn't the cheapest we've had, but the quality of food really merited it, and they do have various special offers on through the week where you can get things like two for one on fish and chips, and two for one on a steak and grill night too. I think if they just added a little polish to certain aspects, such as service, and things like those plastic sachets of sauces on the tables, they could really add another layer of quality and service on top of their already popular and pleasant offerings.

What's certain though is that we will be back! If I didn't take my mum for sunday dinner at this place I think she'd disown me!




The Strawbury Duck
Overshores Road
Turton
Bolton
BL7 0LU
(01204) 852 013
www.thestrawburyduck.co.uk


The Strawbury Duck

by on 17:14
The Strawberry... sorry... Strawbury Duck really is in the middle of nowhere! You have to drive up a single-berth road to get up to it, ...