The Notts Nut House Nuts

The Notts Nut House is an independent company, who say on their website, they are slightly nuts, nothing wrong with that, I am mad about nuts.   Everything is done by hand, from blending the peanuts to stamping the logo on the bags and they say they like being different, so all the range including "Nuts About Bacon" are vegan and vegetarian friendly.

The Notts Nut House make five flavours of nuts and to be honest, they all appeal to me, so not sure I am going to be able to name a favourite.

Where to start, well first off I had to fight my husband from eating them all, so I could write my review.   I loved them all, each having their own distinct well rounded flavour.   I have not had any of the flavours before, apart from chilli flavoured nuts, but the habanero and garlic were in a league of their own and packed a punch.

The nuts are sold in different sized bags or in mixed boxes, depends how "nut mad" you are and I like the bags are resealable, if you can resist not eating them all, once open that is.

My favourite, well by a very small margin is the habanero and garlic, only because I love chilli, but I would be happy to eat them all and I will have to take advantage of the 10% discount offered to Associates of the VEGAN lifestyle ASSOCIATION which The Notts Nut House is listed with click here for details.

This review has been organised by the VEGAN lifestyle ASSOCIATION.   It has not been paid for and the products I received were sent free of charge. This is my genuine and unbiased review of the product.
 

The Palazzo Burnley - 30th January 2016

The Palazzo is an Italian restaurant in a magnificent building, that was Nat West Bank, on Grimshaw Street, Burnley which has fond memories, as I worked there for about twelve years, from the age of eighteen.   The Palazzo is the sister restaurant to The Villa Clitheroe, but on a larger scale and it was great to catch up with owner Pino Cafasso, to congratulate him on his new venture.   It really is an awesome building, with so much marble, wood panelling, plasterwork and cornicing and the refurbishment is sympathetic to its surroundings.

We had a couple of drinks in the bar, where there is plenty of seating and a huge wood burning pizza oven.

We shown through to our table, where we had some delicious olives, olive oil and balsamic and bread.

For starter I shared a rosemary garlic bread with my friend, but to be honest I could easily have devoured this on my own, it was fantastic, in fact the best I have eaten.

I enquired when I arrived. as to which pasta was eggfree, so I ordered the linguine with garlic, chilli and tomato and a side salad.   The pasta was perfectly cooked and absolutely spot on, if I had eaten this dish in Italy, which I have done many times, I would have been happy.

We had a lovely Canaletto Pinot Grigio vegan wine, to accompany the meal and then some rather nice Espresso coffees.

We do not live locally to The Palazzo, but it is definitely worth the trip, to visit with friends who live nearby and so we will be back, as based on their rosemary garlic bread, their pizzas must be awesome

Native Unearthed Mangosteen Natural Deodorant

I had not heard of these products before, so was very interested to try them out.   Native Unearthed's philosophy is underpinned by their eco-ethics, even their website is wind powered and their animal policies are stringent, with their crystal deodarants totally raw and certfied cruelty free too.

I had not heard of mangosteen either, which is a fruit from a tropical evergreen tree, believed to have originated in Indonesia, its flesh being sweet and tangy, with the fruit itself containing powerful anti-oxidants known for its anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties.

The product is made from earth derived crystals, super rich in minerals and custom blended and even better is The Vegan Society approved.

The first thing I do like, is it is an aerosol free product, so comes in stick form, with a small winder at the bottom, which you turn to release more product at the top.

The product itself is not strong smelling, although I have been full of a cold, so my sense of smell is a little off.   The deodorant has to be applied wet, so either wet the crystal tip with water, or apply to damp underarms, which is how I used it.   It works great for me, I walk miles every week and although I do get sweaty with the exercise, there was no odour.   The deodorant works by leaving an invisible layer of natural minerals on your skin, which prevents the build up of odour causing bacteria.   I would certainly buy this product, but maybe try another of the scents next time.

Native Unearthed is listed with the VEGAN lifestyle ASSOCIATION and offers Associates a 10% discount and you can take advantage of this here.

This review has been organised by the VEGAN lifestyle ASSOCIATION.   It has not been paid for and the product I received was sent free of charge. This is my genuine and unbiased review of the product.

The Three Fishes Mitton Road Whalley - 29th January 2016

I have been visiting The Three Fishes for a number of years and always been so well looked after, always giving notice, so the kitchen has time to plan dishes.   I visited last night, to sample their new vegan menu, launching today 29th January 2016, which I believe will change as the main menu changes.   This is great news, it makes for spontaneous dining, as when a group of friends want to go out, the choice of venue is left to me and whether they will cater for me.

I had a telephone call the evening prior to our visit, from Manager Martin, who was particularly concerned about soya flour which was in their bread, served with the soup, but I assured him that I would have more than enough to eat.....I was right!

I chose the roasted tomato soup, which was so colourful, a healthy portion and really delicious, my husband tasted it and said he would happily have eaten it.

I struggled as to main course, I love burger and chips, but butternut squash and chickpea curry won the day, what a good choice!   When my mains arrived, the aromas were amazing and whoever made it, got the spicing absolutely spot on, I struggle to get flavours just right in a curry, but this dish was better than most Indian restaurants I have been to.   It was served with basmati rice and two delicious cauliflower pakoras, my husband tried the dish and said although he was enjoying his main, could he swop.

Dessert had to be apple crumble, even though I should have chosen sorbet, as I was pretty full, because I was dying to try the almond milk custard.   The portion would certainly satisfy any appetite, in fact I failed to eat it all, but it was not for the want of trying.   The crumble was delicious, but really light and the custard was gorgeous, no lumps just silky smooth.

Service throughout was professional and friendly as usual and the food was delicous, if anything there was a bit too much for me, but that is a personal thing.   I had studied the wine list, prior to visting and chose two very nice vegan wines, a white Seguinot Bordet Chablis for the starter and a fabulous Finca Manzanos Rioja to go with the mains.   I prefer to chose wines by the glass, it gives more variety and although wines on menus are not listed as vegan, I have found it pretty easy to find out if they are or not.   The Three Fishes have quite a few vegan wines by the glass and even more by the bottle, maybe one day this information will become more easily accessible.

I hope the vegan menu is a success, I am sure it will be popular with both vegans, vegetarians, dairy or egg intolerant or those wishing to reduce meat intake or chose healthier options.   I will definitely be supporting their efforts and have plans to revisit with various friends very soon.

Quinta De Soalheiro

Quinta de Soalheiro, is in Melgaço (the most northern point of Portugal), surrounded by mountain ranges, which help to create the perfect environment of rain, temperature and sun, for growing the best Alvarinho grapes.   João Antonio Cerdeira planted the first Alvarinho vines in 1974 and in 1982 made the first Alvarinho brand "Soalheiro".  

I had seen their Alvarinho 2014 Vinho Verde on a wine list, in a very upmarket restaurant in Manchester, it was organic, so I decided to contact the vineyard and ask if their wines were vegan friendly.

I had a very speedy response from Luis, who confirmed that all their wines were vegan, how fantastic, I will certainly be looking out for them in the future.

The New Vegan By Áine Carlin

This is the latest book by author Áine Carlin published by Kyle Books and after reading it, the jacket cover says it all, it really is "Great Recipes, No-Nonsense Advice and Simple Tips".   For anyone contemplating taking the road to a vegan lifestyle, this covers all areas and as a vegan myself of nearly thirty years, I wish I had something like this to refer to, when I saw the light and decided to take that road.

The author gives her reasons for embracing the vegan lifestyle, which will resonate I am sure, with those reading the book, be it health, compassion or environment.   There are useful sections on vegan nutrition, what you can eat, ideas for daily menus, what to tell people whether it be family, friends or new acquaintances in certain situations and a section on dining out, a major concern for new vegans.

The recipes throughout the book, have symbols highlighting whether gluten-free or raw, with recipes divided into sections beginning with smoothies, juices and breakfasts with delicious sounding dishes like Savoury Indian-style Crêpes and even tells you how to make nut milks.   It then moves on to snacks and lunches such as Crunchy Chipotle Chickpeas and Fried Tofu ‘Po Boy’ Baguette.   Easy meals include gorgeous soups like Mushroom and Tarragon Soup with Rocket and Walnut Gremolata and Smoky Orzo Jambalaya and special meals include Red Pepper and Spinach Stromboli and Jerk Style Cauliflower Steaks.    You can make your own vegan cheeses and creams, breads, cakes and unusual dessert recipes like Beetroot and Lemon Cupcakes and Mint Choc Avocado Pud.

The book ends with a section on homemade vegan beauty products, using everyday ingredients you have in your cupboards and refrigerator and The Vegan Wardrobe and what to do, as regards clothing and footwear, you may still have from your previous lifestyle.

When I pick up a book, the first thing I want is a bright and modern layout, with lots of colourful photos and this book said "look at me" as soon as I opened the first page.   The recipes are interesting and fresh, with easy to find ingredients and makes me want to get in the kitchen and cook.   This book is a must for all, especially new or potential vegans and will dispel any notion that a vegan lifestyle is difficult and vegan food boring!

This review has been organised by the VEGAN lifestyle ASSOCIATION.   It has not been paid for and the copy of the book I received was sent free of charge. This is my genuine and unbiased review of the book.

The French by Simon Rogan Manchester - 21st January 2016

I watched the programme Restaurant Wars - Battle for Manchester with Simon Rogan from The French and Aiden Byrne from Manchester House, hoping to gain a Michelin Star for the city.   I have been to Manchester House (see my review here) and also visited Simon Rogan's restaurant L'Enclume in Cartmel over ten years ago, before he achieved his second star.

I had been meaning to contact The French for awhile as my husband was dying to try it, so I contacted Restaurant Manager Kamila Plonska, who was most helpful, liasing with Head Chef Adam as to my vegan diet and allergy issues.   I was offered either a six or ten course tasting menu. with my choice being six, as I am not sure I could manage ten.

On arrival we met Kamila, whose friendly attitude made us feel welcome, so we immediately felt relaxed, as she told us a little about the history of the restaurant, which dates back to 1903.   I know some of the restaurants loyal customers, prior to Simon Rojan taking over, were a little perturbed at the new decor and colour scheme, but times move on and I thought the refurbishment was sympathetic in its surroundings.   I was given my menu, asked if I was happy with the dishes suggested, which I definitely was so it was left on the table, so I could refer back to it.

There is a wine flight offered to accompany the tasting menu, but we decided to choose wine by the glass, so I kicked off with Nyetimber a British sparkling wine, then Sipp Mack Riesling finishing with Karasi, a gorgeous red Armenian wine, who knew they made wine in Armenia.   All the wines were vegan due to their production method and I am hoping one day wine and beer lists will reflect how they are fined, so I do not have to try and remember, as my memory is not as good as it used to be!

The first course (or what I thought was the first course) was actually two small amuse bouche, but not what I was expecting.   The chickpea was actually made into a crisp, spread with a delicious, what I can only describe as a rich tomato chutney, with celery and edible flowers.

The parsnip appeared as a crispy wafer, topped with pickled cabbage and leek cream, with micro herbs, two wonderful titbits to wet the appetite.

I was then given some delicious sourdough, with a small bowl of rapeseed oil, instead of butter, which was a nice touch.

Second course was golden turnip dumplings, resembling very light gnocchi, with crispy onion rings, onion petals and a mushroom broth, which I would describe as a ketchup, it was so deep and rich in flavour.

Next was potatoes with caramelised cabbage, horseradish, salsify and scurvy oil, presentation was pretty stunning on the eye and the dish said "eat me" it was so good and I hope no-one was watching, as I wiped the plate with my finger, as I did not want to leave any of the sauce!

I had heard of "hen of the woods" mushrooms, but never eaten them until tonight, served with carrot puree, baby carrots and barbecued broccoli, another fabulous tasting dish.

The last savoury dish was hay baked celeriac, crispy kales, buckwheat, pickled kohlrabi, with a creamy sauce described as hazelnut milk, which was so delicious and nothing like any hazelnut milk I have ever had.

To finish was poached pear, buckthorn sorbet, gooseberry jam and candied walnuts, a very delicate dish, with one of the smoothest sorbets I have eaten, a perfect end to the meal.

We got to meet Head Chef Adam, who was so enthusiastic and passionate, he showed us where they grow micro herbs in a special cabinet with perfect light conditions for growth and incredibly they have a roof garden, who would have thought.   He seemed to have no concerns about catering for any dietary requirement or allergy either, perhaps he likes the challenge.

My blog only includes restaurant visits as a vegan over the last year,  but I have dined at numerous one, two and three Michelin restaurants in the past, becoming jaded with fine dining along the way.   This first visit to The French has made me want to experience fine dining again, I was not expecting to like it.....but I loved it.   Service throughout was spot on, ultra professional, yet friendly from the young team looking after us, the cooking is modern, light yet packed with flavour and includes unusual ingredients.   I like the fact that my menu, included amended versions of what my husband was having, like the turnip dumplings dish and the dessert.

Why this place has not been awarded the first Michelin Star for Manchester is beyond me. I hope Adam and Kamila, if they happen to read my review, realise that I will be returning, sooner rather than later, as the whole experience was wonderful.

Gino D'Acampo My Restaurant Corn Exchange Manchester - 22nd January 2016

Gino D'Acampo My Restaurant is part of the Individual Restaurants chain and I wanted to visit for breakfast, after a night out in Manchester.   I really liked the decor, bright and colourful as you would expect from an Italian restaurant, but with nice low lighting over the dining tables.

The breakfast and brunch menu includes a number of juices and dairy free smoothies, although a little on the steep side, although this did not bother me too much on this visit, as I was taking advantage of the 50% off food January offer.

I ordered the Rejuvenate juice, an Americano and as they served scrambled eggs, with chestnut mushrooms cooked in olive oil and rosemary on grilled ciabatta bread, I asked for a vegan version with no eggs.   Sadly there was some confusion in the kitchen and the dish appeared with scrambled eggs, however the Manager who took my order, went off to the kitchen speaking fast Italian and asked for a fresh version to be made immediately.

The photos are not brilliant, due to the low lighting, but everything was very tasty, the mushrooms were delicious, as was the juice and the coffee had a real kick.

I will definitely revisit, especially as on the way out, the Manager said I would be well looked after on any future visits, so I really should give their pizza a try!

Banyan Bar & Kitchen Corn Exchange Manchester - 21st January 2016

I had to re-visit Banyan Bar & Kitchen, purely because they have introduced a vegan menu and so lunch today was a must.

It is quite an extensive menu, with plenty of choice, so I shared a vegan platter with my husband, which was actually lunch in itself.

I then had vegan skewer, house fries, salad and flatbread, which I could not eat, after having such a substantial starter.

The food was delicious, but more houmous and some chilli oil with the platter and a sauce of some description with the skewer would be nice, but that is my personal preference, I love houmous and am a bit of a chilli lover.   This does not in any way detract from my experience, the fact that Banyans are offering a vegan menu, has to be applauded, they obviously listen to their customers.

On our last visit, we were looked after by a young waitress called Rose, who made an excellent first impression, professional but chatty and friendly.   As luck would have it, Rose looked after us on our second visit and so service was top notch once more and we chatted about the introduction of the vegan menu, which she said was popular.

I will definitely revisit Banyans, it is a fabulous venue and I am dying to try other vegan dishes.