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.