Rose Garden, West Didsbury

Time of visit: 15 February 2015


I call Burton Road -where Rose Garden is located- a culinary strip because there are quite a lot of restaurants/cafes/bars, such as "Gurkha Grill", "And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon", "Pomegranate", "Crazy Wendy's", "Sakura", "Folk", "Volta", "Pinchjos", etc., lining up along both sides of the road, very close to each other. However, I have tried only Rose Garden and has become one of my favourite restaurants.

We have never been disappointed eating there. It is an 'informal fine dining in affordable price'. I say it informal because you don't have to dress up. Appearing casual, wearing jeans, whatever, will not make you feel uncomfortable. Though, if you fancy dressing up, you wouldn't feel overly dressed either; I have seen people eating there wearing nice dresses. Affordable price because it won't break your bank. On certain days or times they have an offer, 3-course meal for £21/person (drinks and tips are not included). Of course you can splash out on ala carte as well, if you wish. I consider this place serving fine dining food because the portion of each course is relatively small, but the presentation, the taste, and the efforts the chef put into them are amazing. Plus, the service is great too. 
It is a small restaurant, if you like to try, don't forget to reserve a table.

Note: I am not their PR lol.. Just sharing my thoughts.

On healthy drinks: tea and water smile emoticon
Fresh mint tea for me.

Starter: Mackerel 3 ways -mackerel fillet, mackarel ceviche, mackarel pate.

Main: Beef, beef & more beef. Beef tartare, hanger steak (served rare, perfect! sooo tender), 

and oxtail croquette.

Main: Sunday roast, beef.

Dessert: Faked Alaska. No, I didn't mistype. It is FAKED Alaska, not BAKED Alaska... lol.. Yummy.
Sweet pastry, pineapple curd, coconut ice cream, Italian meringue.

Aspire Restaurant, Trafford College, Altrincham

Time of visit: 5 November 2014

AWESOME!! 

Fine dining at a bargain price (less than a tenner!!). Yes, you got it right, 3-course lunch for only £9.95. Dinner costs £14.95. This restaurant is run by students of Hospitality. With that price and superb food you get a fine dining experience -very well trained staff, great service, nice table clothes, good cutlery with hot plates, super clean toilets (worth to mention!). Oh, a staff will pull the chair for you, and puts a napkin on your lap. If you live nearby, have a go, you will not be disappointed.
But.. because it is a college, the restaurant opens only during the term time and only on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (lunch) and Wednesday and Thursday only (dinner).

My starter: trout.

Breads.

His starter: leek and potato soup.

His main: chicken.

My main: beef skirt marinated with soy and ginger.

My main: beef skirt marinated with soy and ginger.

His dessert: creme brulee.

My dessert: sticky toffee pudding.

The view.

The campus.

In front of Cafe Retreat, near the Aspire.

Basque Cuisine 4: La Vina Del Ensanche, Bilbao

Time of visit: 2 January 2015

A 7-course Expensive Meal I Didn't Enjoy.. 

For the last dinner in Bilbao, we decided to go to La Vina Del Ensanche, a well known eatery, a strong candidate to receive a Michelin star (rumours spread). It was only 11 minutes by foot from our hotel (Silken Gran Hotel Domine). We had Gastronomic Menu consisting of 7 dishes. Drinks and service were not included.

Earlier in the afternoon I felt sick, it was like trapped wind. After taking my herbal medicine, applied herbal oil on my tummy and resting, I felt okay. But otw to the dinner, while walking, I felt sick again. Though, we carried on going..

My judgement about the foods would be bias because I couldn't enjoy it. I managed (forcing myself) to finish the 3rd course, but I was terribly ill -my stomach was very hard, I felt bloated, sick, and dizzy. I thought I was going to pass out, it was so bad!!! I gave up, I just tasted little bit of the 4th course onwards. What a shame!!! Mr B said everything was very delicious. He was very happy.

The menu.

Superbly great service. All staff were very very very good.

Homely.

You are allowed to watch the chef cooking and preparing the food at the open kitchen.

Course 1:: Foie gras. I call it deconstructed foie gras, Richard calls it simply 'pate'.

This bread was very nice. Crunchy outside, soft inside, served warm.

Course 2: Vegetables. The carrot and courgette are miniatures.

Course 3: Risotto with langoustine.

Course 3: Risotto with langoustine.

Course 4: Seabass.

Course 5: Meat. They called it 'sheep', we call it 'lamb' smile emoticon

Course 6: Sorbet. Pineapple.

Course 6: Sorbet. Pineapple.

Course 6: Sorbet. Pineapple.

Course 7: Cake. When I looked at the golden ribbon on the plate, I thought it was part 

of the plate, not food. I wiped it with my finger.. it was golden cream smile emoticon

Bill is presented.

Total with service fee = 125 Euros.

The entrance for the shop selling local dry foods and wines to take away. 

The restaurant is behind the shop.

People queueing for La Vina bar. It was super crowded inside. I heard La Vina is always like that, 

regardless of season or weather.

Outside seatings, with heater.

Basque Cuisine 3: Pintxos in San Sebastian

Time of visit: 1 January 2015

There are so many bars in San Sebastian, each one has different pintxos. You might find various mini burgers in one bar, various mini sandwiches in another, but most bars provide pintxos with sticks.

Some travellers gave advice to not stopping at one bar. You would be better to stop at one bar, eat one or two pintxos then move to another one and eat different things. Every bar you go to will have some special pintxos that are different from other bars.

We tried various pintxos, all of them were delicious. We used to think that food made from bacalhau (salted cod) is salty. But we tried 'bacalhau pil pil' (one of Basque local dishes) and bacalhau croquet, both of them were not salty at all. My favourite amongst all was stuffed pepper. It was creamy, delicate, cheesy inside, and crunchy outside. So more-ish. I had 2 pieces. Each pintxo we ate cost €2. Not bad at all. There are other menu you can order. Usually they are written on a board, more expensive than pintxos available on the bar. We didn't try because after trying various things we were full. 
Be patient, you have to be in the crowd, take it as part of the way you enjoy your pintxos: standing with other people!

This is my fave: stuffed peppers

.

Seafood salad.

Young eels.

Salmon.

Anchovies.

Courgette.

Black pudding.

Chicken wings.

Menu on  board.