SyndicationAug152008
10:41:16 am
10:41:16 am
The 3 Fishes pub - Mitton - UK - Saturday 9th August 2008
Well. I had high expections for this meal to be honest. When I was watching 'Great British Menu' some time ago, I enjoyed the food prepared by Nigel Howarth and planned a visit to The 3 Fishes when I came up North next.
On Saturday evening, Blondie's Family, along with an A-Z, made their way from Notlob to Mitton for an expectant feast. What a lovely place it is too. Blondie and her sister ooh and aahed over the houses and after weaving in and out of country lanes, we arrived. First impressions were good - well, if the contents of the car park were anything to go by, I felt I was back in Wilmslow, with what seemed like the entire contents of Mercedes and Porsche garages in attendance.
We parked up our Focus (the Ferrari was being serviced that particular weekend haha) and we were met by a friendly chap that showed us to a spacious table, one that would have easily sat 6. We arrived at 6pm and already the place was full!!!
The menu was given to us and I scanned the wine list first (I seem to take more interest in wine lists these days, than the food menu!!!) The prices of the wine, I thought, were very reasonable (reds priced between 15 and 40 pounds) and they also did my favourite heavy Malbec by the glass :))))) I was suitably impressed.
We decided against ordering starters and plumped for main courses and desserts instead. After much deliberation, I took 'Chargrilled Bowland lamb cutlets, spring cabbage, cauliflower gratin, mint jelly and roast gravy' and a side order of chips in dripping (being a Northerner through and through, I havent managed to break my addiction to chips yet). Blondie's sister and Mum ordered Lancashire hotpot with red cabbage and Dad ordered a burger type contraption with chips and different dips.
My lamb cutlets (specified rare) came as that, but there was no evidence of any 'char' grilling going on. When I grill meat at home, on a griddle pan, rare can be achieved with a griddled effect with no effort as long as the griddle pan is piping hot. If the pan is pratically on fire, you can chargrill any meat and still have the centre rare. No such luck here, I am afraid. But, the lack of charring did not detract from the tenderness and flavour of the lamb, which was spectacular. I've not eaten lamb like this for years. The cauliflower gratin, was like moulton lava and burnt my tongue, but after 10 minutes cooling down, it was just fabulous. The spring cabbage was crisp and the gravy was divine. No packet or stock cube monstrosities here. The mint jelly, which I wholly condemn with lamb due to its strong flavour, was actually rather nice and Blondie was really quite impressed with her dinner.
Mum and Blondie's sister faired the best with their Lancashire Hotpot. Spectacular. Heaven in a pot. Tender chunks of lamb and vegetables under a layer of thinly sliced potatoes. Just beautiful. The red cabbage was also fabulous. Dad's burger was 'very nice' and I tried the piccalli, mustard and tomato ketchup. All home made and all the best I've ever tasted. No Heinz here!
I dont usually 'do' puddings as I have been blessed with no sweet tooth whatsoever, so it is usually left to my Dad and Sister to do the honours with puds. But I relented and ordered strawberries and clotted cream and meringue. Sister ordered lemon meringue pie and Mum ordered some kind of tart (no, not that sort ;) All the puds were fabulous, particularly Sister's which was the nicest, lightest, zingiest, tastiest lemon meringue pie I've ever had.
We all sat there, sighing, aarghing and generally cooing over the place. I was still feeling a piggy so ordered a cheeseboard to share and we all tucked in. Smoked, blue, garlic, crumbly and a few other kinds of cheese were presented alongside thin biscuits. Very nice end to dinner that was.
We stayed for tea and coffee and then we waddled out back to Notlob.
In conclusion, I would go back to this place again in a heartbeat. The service was excellent, plenty of serving staff on that night and the quality of the food and drink was very, very good. Bill for 4 of us came to 100 quid including a tip, which I thought was very reasonable. As we left, the Cheshire type set seem to be pouring through the doors, the skirtlines got shorter, necklines more plunging and handbags bigger. If that isnt your sort of thing, then best eat around 6pm. After having spent a good year in Wilmslow, I try and avoid being anywhere near 'that sort' :)))))
Well. I had high expections for this meal to be honest. When I was watching 'Great British Menu' some time ago, I enjoyed the food prepared by Nigel Howarth and planned a visit to The 3 Fishes when I came up North next.
On Saturday evening, Blondie's Family, along with an A-Z, made their way from Notlob to Mitton for an expectant feast. What a lovely place it is too. Blondie and her sister ooh and aahed over the houses and after weaving in and out of country lanes, we arrived. First impressions were good - well, if the contents of the car park were anything to go by, I felt I was back in Wilmslow, with what seemed like the entire contents of Mercedes and Porsche garages in attendance.
We parked up our Focus (the Ferrari was being serviced that particular weekend haha) and we were met by a friendly chap that showed us to a spacious table, one that would have easily sat 6. We arrived at 6pm and already the place was full!!!
The menu was given to us and I scanned the wine list first (I seem to take more interest in wine lists these days, than the food menu!!!) The prices of the wine, I thought, were very reasonable (reds priced between 15 and 40 pounds) and they also did my favourite heavy Malbec by the glass :))))) I was suitably impressed.
We decided against ordering starters and plumped for main courses and desserts instead. After much deliberation, I took 'Chargrilled Bowland lamb cutlets, spring cabbage, cauliflower gratin, mint jelly and roast gravy' and a side order of chips in dripping (being a Northerner through and through, I havent managed to break my addiction to chips yet). Blondie's sister and Mum ordered Lancashire hotpot with red cabbage and Dad ordered a burger type contraption with chips and different dips.
My lamb cutlets (specified rare) came as that, but there was no evidence of any 'char' grilling going on. When I grill meat at home, on a griddle pan, rare can be achieved with a griddled effect with no effort as long as the griddle pan is piping hot. If the pan is pratically on fire, you can chargrill any meat and still have the centre rare. No such luck here, I am afraid. But, the lack of charring did not detract from the tenderness and flavour of the lamb, which was spectacular. I've not eaten lamb like this for years. The cauliflower gratin, was like moulton lava and burnt my tongue, but after 10 minutes cooling down, it was just fabulous. The spring cabbage was crisp and the gravy was divine. No packet or stock cube monstrosities here. The mint jelly, which I wholly condemn with lamb due to its strong flavour, was actually rather nice and Blondie was really quite impressed with her dinner.
Mum and Blondie's sister faired the best with their Lancashire Hotpot. Spectacular. Heaven in a pot. Tender chunks of lamb and vegetables under a layer of thinly sliced potatoes. Just beautiful. The red cabbage was also fabulous. Dad's burger was 'very nice' and I tried the piccalli, mustard and tomato ketchup. All home made and all the best I've ever tasted. No Heinz here!
I dont usually 'do' puddings as I have been blessed with no sweet tooth whatsoever, so it is usually left to my Dad and Sister to do the honours with puds. But I relented and ordered strawberries and clotted cream and meringue. Sister ordered lemon meringue pie and Mum ordered some kind of tart (no, not that sort ;) All the puds were fabulous, particularly Sister's which was the nicest, lightest, zingiest, tastiest lemon meringue pie I've ever had.
We all sat there, sighing, aarghing and generally cooing over the place. I was still feeling a piggy so ordered a cheeseboard to share and we all tucked in. Smoked, blue, garlic, crumbly and a few other kinds of cheese were presented alongside thin biscuits. Very nice end to dinner that was.
We stayed for tea and coffee and then we waddled out back to Notlob.
In conclusion, I would go back to this place again in a heartbeat. The service was excellent, plenty of serving staff on that night and the quality of the food and drink was very, very good. Bill for 4 of us came to 100 quid including a tip, which I thought was very reasonable. As we left, the Cheshire type set seem to be pouring through the doors, the skirtlines got shorter, necklines more plunging and handbags bigger. If that isnt your sort of thing, then best eat around 6pm. After having spent a good year in Wilmslow, I try and avoid being anywhere near 'that sort' :)))))
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