1. Northcote – New Winter A la Carte Menu

The new winter A la Carte Menu has now started and features some great new dishes which Nigel and the brigade have developed. As always Nigel features... seasonal and local ingredients, with an exceptional selection of local game. Here are some of the new dishes on the menu: Chervil Soup, Lobster Raviolis, Tomato Caviar Risotto of Southport Shrimps, Black Carrot, Chilli Jelly, Mace Warm Loin of Herdwick Mutton, Mutton Ham, Jerusalem Artichoke Puree, Organic Honey and Mint Potato Wrapped Native Lobster Tail, Pak-choi, Yellow Beet, Red Wine Spices Pugh’s Suckling Pig (salted and slowly cooked), Quince Puree, Liquorice, Sprout Leaves Loin Of Bowland Venison, Chocolate Jelly, Grilled Cepes, Butternut Squash, Spice Ash Knot Red Leg Partridge, Almonds, Goose Foie Gras, Damson Prunes Tapioca Junket, Tropical Fruits, Lemongrass Shot Bramley Apple Crumble Soufflé, Lancashire Cheese Ice Cream

Click here to view the whole range of our menus

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2. The Three Fishes – New Winter dishes

We have received some great feedback and suggestions from all of you who have visited The Three Fishes. Mostly excellent we are pleased to say, but also some valuable suggestions on how to improve the service at the pub, and despite having now won an array of major awards (you’ll see news on these below) we’ve no intentions of resting on our laurels.

There have been some fabulous suggestions for Lancashire dishes from the past, which have definitely given Nigel and David some food for thought as they develop the menus and specialities.

The number one on the “Top Ten favourites” is Bread & Butter Pudding, so for all of you who have requested this – Nigel’s version of this traditional favourite is now on the menu!

This was followed very closely by a number of variations of traditional puddings, which Nigel will be developing and featuring on the specialities along with seasonal, vegetarian and more fish options.

Here are the new dishes that now appear on this season’s menu:

• Boiled Onions and Kirkham’s tasty Lancashire Cheese, Free Range Soft Poached Egg
• Stuffed Deep Fried Trotters, Ascroft’s Golden Beet Salad, Honey and Grain Mustard Dressing
• Braised Oxtail steeped in Red Wine, Herbs and Spices, Horseradish Mash, Buttered Root Vegetables
• Forest Mushrooms, Celeriac and Spinach Pancakes, Gratinated with Sandham’s Creamy Lancashire Cheese
• Reg Johnson’s Cornfed Goosnargh Chicken Breast, Cream Leeks, Potato Dabs, Red Wine Sauce
• Caramelised English Custard, Mulled Pears
• Bread & Butter Pudding, Apricot Glaze, Simpson’s Double Cream
• Bramley Apple Crumble, Vanilla Ice Cream
• Sticky Ginger Pudding, Vanilla Ice Cream

Christmas Party Bookings at The Three Fishes

Remember we take bookings for parties of 8 or more and there is a Christmas
Party menu available– 3 courses from a choice menu £17.50 per person – click here to view

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3. The Gift of Good Taste – Northcote Gift Vouchers & Three Fishes Gift Vouchers

What better time of year to buy a Northcote or Three Fishes gift voucher – the truly delicious Christmas present! With options ranging as little as £30 it’s an ideal way to treat someone to lunch, dinner, a gourmet break, cookery day with Nigel Haworth, or even to one of our wine tasting events.

Choosing couldn’t be easier ... this facility can also be arranged for companies where we can supply a group of gift vouchers for colleagues or clients as a Christmas Thank You.

click here and buy your gift voucher on-line.

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4. Latest Awards and Accolades

The Publican – Food Pub of the Year 2005/06

The Three Fishes has swept up another award last week, when we were awarded the coveted “Pub of The Year title by The Publican, the UK’s leading licensed trade newspaper

A celebration of the best pub food in the UK saw the best pub operators in the business gather at the Savoy in London for these prestigious awards. John Porter, Food editor of The Publican said: “the awards are a timely reminder of just how exciting and innovative pub food is, at a time when the government is forcing many pubs to make a tough choice between serving food or allowing smokers into the pub. the winners are all shining examples of successful pub food.

Among the winners were, The Crooked Billet in Stoke Row – best British Food & Wine offering of the year. Newcomer of The year went to The Hands and Flowers in Marlow and Chef of The year – Claude Paillet of the Bricklayers Arms – Herts. But the team at The Three Fishes stole the show with the overall “Pub of The Year” – We are over the moon with these achievements.

Lancashire Life Food & Wine Awards 2005 – 2006
“Lancashire Casual Dining of The Year”

The Three Fishes was presented with “Casual Dining of The Year” at the grand Whitworth Hall of Manchester University on Tuesday 11th October. This was chosen by a panel of independent judges who have criss-crossed the region during the summer in search of the North West’s warmest welcomes and finest food and drink.

Click here for reviews – note full update on this will be in the December 2005 Lancashire Life

The Which Good Food Guide 2006
Three Fishes Lancashire Restaurant of The year

The new Good Food Guide was released this month. The Three Fishes was awarded “Lancashire Restaurant of The Year” with 5 points scored for cooking.

Click here for full review

French Wines Match 2005/06 Russell Bennett,
Northcote’s sommelier takes second place in this national competition

Russell took second place on 10th October following closely in the footsteps of Craig – who last year won this prestigious competition.

Russell had to select a dish from the Northcote menu and match a French wine to it, using his knowledge and imagination to come up with the most interesting combination. He was then shortlisted to six entrants.

Richard Corrigan of Lindsay House (who cooked at Northcote’s Festival last year) designed a menu for each of the finalists to match wines. This is the menu and Russell’s choice of wines.

Smoked Sturgeon with Blinis, Caviar and Crème Fraiche, Pickled Cucumber and Watercress, Riesling Les Princes Abbes, Domaine Schlumberger

Roast Mallard, Pineapple Relish with Thyme and Black Pepper Potatoes, Domaine Ott, Chateau de Selle, Cuvee Comtes de Provence 2001

Bramley Apple and Medjool Date Crumble with Cinnamon Custard, Muscat de Rivesaltes

Click for full review

Northcote Manor Winner of Rémy Martin Taste Match 2005/06

Russell Bennett entered this competition with the help of Lisa Allen our Head Chef who between them came up with the perfect dessert to match with Rémy Martin X O Excellence

Valrohna and Argen Prune Excellence

Russell believed the delicate balance of this fine cognac which has undertones of fig and prune with candied fruits would blend perfectly with the combination of rich Argen Prunes and Valrohna chocolate.

The texture of the biscuit underlying the chocolate mousse with notes of Ginger, also pull together with the garnish of the caramelised hazelnut. These flavours together provided a rich combination that balanced perfectly with Excellence X O. The length of the cognac holds up with the full flavours of the dessert to deliver an incredible food match experience.

The smooth texture and richness of flavours and aromas found in Rémy Martin cognacs can create some stunning partnerships with food.

Haworth Junior!!
Kirk Haworth wins the North West Fine Foods North West Young Chef of the Year 2005/06

Kirk, who celebrated his 18th Birthday this year and is in his third year as an Apprentice Commis Chef in the kitchens at Northcote Manor was named the “North West Young Chef of The Year” in a competition organised by the regional food promotion agency North West Fine Foods.

Kirk's menu

Pan-seared West coast Scallops, Yellow Beetroot, Cress Salad and Pumpkin Seed
~~
Potato Wrapped Goosnargh Chicken, Wild Mushrooms, Braised Celery and Celeriac Pure
~~
Orchard Plum Soup with Elderflower Cream

Kirk’s comments

“I wasn’t sure being a chef was what I wanted to do, but my love of food won through in the end, now I can’t imagine doing anything else”

Watch out Nigel!

Nigel’s comments

“I am extremely proud that he has done so well for someone so young. I think like any son he has been influenced by the environment around him as he has grown up. Like most parents I’m happy as long as he’s doing something he really wants to do”

Kirk, a former pupil of Ribblesdale High School will now go on to take up a work placement at London’s The Ivy as well as a gastronomic trip to County Cork

The 50 Best – Voted by The Independent

A list of the 50 best places to dine in luxury and on a budget were brought together by a panel of judges for The Independent newspaper – Clarissa Hyman, country living columnist, Andy Lynes Food writer, Andrew Turvil, editor of The Which Good Food Guide, Carol Wilson of Scottish Heritage Food and cooking along with Mario Wyn-Jones restaurant critic for Olive Magazine.

Both Northcote Manor and The Three Fishes took pride and place in each of these lists.

Northcote Manor - Dine in luxury and enjoy gourmet food at its best - never mind the bill.

Three Fishes - You don’t have to spend a fortune to eat great food in a stylish setting.

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5. The Private Room at Northcote

The Private Room at Northcote has undergone a complete refurbishment and has been re-launched quite simply as The Room

The Room is many things – Perfect dinner party venue or corporate hospitality opportunity. In fact, its personality changes to be anything – and everything – you want it to be when the brief is elegant, individual, sophisticated… and private.

Designed to be comfortable for 40 people as it is for no more than 4, The Room offers guests exclusive surroundings, bespoke menus, and dedicated service.

It also has the flexibility to combine an executive meeting with a quality food experience. And comes with the very latest multi-media facilities – at no extra charge for screening anything from PowerPoint presentations to memorable family films.

The Room at Northcote is anything you want it to be.

Click here to view The Room web site

Click here to request a brochure or to arrange an appointment to view the facilities

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6. Obsession – the Festival of Food & wine 23rd January – 29th January 2006

This year’s festival will be called “Obsession”

What’s wrong with being obsessed?
What’s the problem with being driven?
What’s so bad about the pursuit of perfection…simply for perfection’s sake?

From the uninhibited, the impulsive, the single minded and the passionate come inspired works of genius.

THE 8 CHEFS JOINING THE 6TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF FOOD AND WINE WILL BE RELEASED IN TWO WEEKS

AS FRIENDS OF NORTHCOTE YOU WILL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW BY E-MAIL

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** DON'T FORGET TO FORWARD THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS **