Travelling is great for sampling foods of the world; whether that’s indulging into dumplings in Poland, eating Goulash in Hungary or Paella in Spain. The only problem is that when you’re back home, it can be quite difficult to recreate the exact same meal. Here in the UK, we are fortunate that there are plenty of ethnic specialities that have set up businesses allowing us to continue trying new foods - and experiencing some of the finest tastes of the world. We take a look at some of the most unique, and delicious foods around...we are sure you’ll be booking a table soon... Baltic Cellar If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to experience the Baltic countries, then you’ll know exactly why you should head to Baltic Cellar. Latvian owner, Elena Bogda, has created a menu inspired by her motherland and neighbouring countries including Poland, Russia, Estonia and Lithuania. Her passion for cooking began when she was 15 after learning how to create the most amazing meals from her grandmother. There’s an amazing selection of amazing meals including Wild Boar, Siberian Dumplings, Bigos and a Tallinn Delight. And in true Baltic style...there’s plenty of alcoholic drinks to finish off with! Address: The Vaults, Market Place, Bolton BL1 2AL 01204 386 854 Armenian Taverna One of Manchester’s oldest restaurants, Armenian Taverna, offers guests a true experience of wh at it’s liking dining in the heart of Armenian (which lies in highlands which surround the Biblical mountains of Ararat). Armenians cooking style tends to be barbequed food - of meat, fish and vegetables which often leads to a slow preparation time - but one that’s very much worth it. Their specialities including Lconac Smbuk, Pascus Dolma and Shashlik, delicious! Address: Alerbt Square, 3 - 5 Princess Street, Manchester, M2 4DF 0161 834 9025 Chicha Peruvian Street Kitchen For a true taste of South America, head to Chica Peruvian Street Kitchen in Liverpool. After opening last year, it’s been one of the most popular restaurants to hit the city - and also scooped the award of ‘1 of 3 best South American Restaurants in England’ by the Sunday Times. The interior is suitably themed and offers some of the most incredible meal selections around; from their meatfeast or Ceviche and Seafood bar. We’d recommend eating with a Cusqueña beer which will transport you from Bold Street to a sunny beach in Peru! Address: 55 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4EU What's your favourite food from around the world? Tweet us over at GB Hospitality and let us know...
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Bank Holiday’s are always fantastic; we get three days off, a lie in on Monday morning and a chance to completely forget about work (well, except those of us who work in the hospitality industry)! With this is mind, we are sure you want to make the most of the bank holiday weekend. Follow our guide to find out how... Sunday Afternoon Head down to the Albert Dock, where you can enjoy a multitude of events and attractions, in one concise location. When in Liverpool, it’s an unwritten law that you must do something Beatles related, so we obviously have to recommend taking a visit to The Beatles Story. Even if you’re not a diehard fab four fan, you'll be transported back across the decades to to a time when Liverpool - and the world - were enjoying a new dawn of modern popular music. Finish your day with a cocktail at Bar Four, Hard Days Night Hotel - the world’s only Beatles Themed hotel. Sunday Night Bold Street is a melting pot of eateries and some of the best restaurants that Liverpool has to offer. Whether you’re looking for something exotic - or middle of the road - you’re sure to find something for you. Personally, we are big fans of the exotic tastes on offer and have recently enjoyed the delicacies found at Kasbah. This Moroccan gem is a real treat, bringing a real piece of North Africa to the region. All decorations and wall art is available to purchase, and we struggle to keep our hands out of our purses... Monday Morning We are big fans of Leaf, and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share with our readers one of the best breakfasts from Manchester. How else to make the most of Bank Holiday Monday Morning than sampling one the most delicious dishes on offer. Having visited (a lot!) in the last couple of months, we’d recommend trying the eggs benedict, the cinnamon toast - or, if you’re after a real hearty treat, the full English. Monday Afternoon After you’ve enjoyed a great breakfast in the city, head to one of Liverpool’s most beautiful outdoors spaces - Sefton Park- to clear those final cobwebs and ease yourself into watching Monday night soaps. Located just a short drive from the city centre, you’ll be afforded some great walks, the perfect Instagram shots and a chance to feed the ducks! Head to the Palm House - which is arguably Sefton Park’s most popular site for visitors which is packed full of exoctic plants and greenery - but don’t pass up the opportunity to take a leisurely stroll around the boating lake before grabbing a hot tea and cake from the Oasis cafe. How will you be spending your early May Bank Holiday? Tweet us at GB Hospitality Castle St Townhouse welcomes new General Manager as part of its evolved dining destination concept4/27/2017 One of our lovely clients, Castle St Townhouse, has welcomed a new General Manager to head its expanding team. Robert Andrew Scott, 37, joins the all day, night and drinking destination following an impressive background in a variety of Rosette, Red Star and Michelin Star properties including Hipping Hall, Lower Slaughter Manor and Manor House Castle Combe. As part of ongoing developments, Castle St Townhouse has also unveiled an eclectic new dinner concept to add to its holistic dining options available in the heart of the Commercial District. Owner of Castle St Townhouse Jason McNeill said: “We are thrilled to welcome Robert to our team following his notable background managing and supervising a number of prestigious dining and drinking establishments across the country. Robert’s new role will see him overseeing our existing team members, looking after our guests and introducing our dinner menu as part of our new focus on evening dining. “Following a fantastic first six months of trading on Castle Street, we have continued to receive high acclaim for our quintessentially British breakfast and brunch offerings, and so it was the natural next step to add a dinner menu devised with social dining in mind. It is hoped that our latest progression will perfectly complete our all-day drinking and dining menus while continuing to blur the lines between social meetings and cocktail nights.” To start, diners can enjoy a range of appetising delights such as Chicken Liver Parfait with Toasted Rye Bread & House Chutney, Fishcakes with Lemon Mayonnaise & Rocket and Twice Baked Soufflé with Cheddar & Wholegrain Mustard Sauce. Dinner menu main course highlights include Townhouse Chateaubriand (hand-reared Lake District chateaubriand and hand-cut chips, peppercorn & béarnaise sauce), Hake Fillet with Spinach Hash, Avocado, Chilli & Chorizo and Roasted Wild Mushroom Orzo with Basil Oil. General Manager of Castle St Townhouse Robert Andrew Scott said: “It’s certainly an exciting time to join the team at Castle St Townhouse, and I look forward to being a part of our new dinner trade concept. To continue to offer guests the splendid quality of service that they so expect when visiting Castle St Townhouse, I will ensure that each and every visit to our venue is both memorable and immaculate from start to finish. “Ideal for friends, families and colleagues alike, we’ll be serving up an ever-changing specials selection that runs alongside our seasonal dinner all week long. Our new starter and main dishes are sure to give all of our customers a unique taste of the best of British combined with contemporary and imaginative recipes and ingredients – synonymous with fine dining establishments.” There’s something so refreshing about an ice cold, Craft beer. It’s the perfect treat to wind down after a long day at work, and perfect for socialising over with friends! We know that craft ale isn’t for everyone, but with some many different flavours and textures available, it’s hard to resist sampling them! So, if you’re looking where to have your next pint, we’ve pulled together a couple of bars that we’d recommend you head to next time you’re longing for a delicious beer... The Kazimier Garden Tucked away on one of Liverpool’s backstreets, you’ll find one of the city’s coolest bar, The Kazimier Garden. It’s set in an urban environment; ‘a hybrid of nature and technology’. Here, you can try a range of craft beers that has a team of knowledgeable staff who’ll be able to help find a beer that’s right for you and your tastebuds. If you’re not sure, ask for a sample before you buy! Brewdog One of our favourite bars has to be Brewdog (which you can find in both Liverpool and Manchester) which was first set up in 2007 by two friends who were fed up of ‘stuffy’ ales that dominated the UK beer market. They began making their own beers, filling bottles by hand and selling them out the back of a van. Fast forward a couple of years and the company has gone worldwide - and has won plenty of awards along the way. If you head to Brewdog, the Dead Pony Club is perfect for those who prefer a lighter taste, and Jet Black Heart for those who prefer very a heavier one! The Hope Known for their award-winning selection of Fool Hardy Ales, The Hope in Stockport is the perfect spot for beer. With over 12 different types of draught, including American and Belgian beers it can be a tricky decision for punters to pick one from! And, to make it that bit more amazing, the bar even has its own microbrewery down in the basement. If you’re visiting, we’d recommend sampling the ederflower-noted Rou Shou which will definitely quench your thirst! The Stanneylands Recently re-opened in the Cheshire Countryside is the beautiful Stanneylands. The hotel has now been refurbished, offering not one but two delicious dining venues - Tap & Pantry and The Grill Room. For the perfect craft ale, head to the Tap & Pantry and discover its amazing selection. They even have their own cask ale, Outfoxed, which is made from 100% English Barley creating a beer that's complete with citrus character that's described as refreshing and satisfying. Let us know where's your favourite craft ale bar over on Twitter! #gbloves Summer is nearly here, and that means one thing...the food and drink festival season is almost upon us! We had a quick sample last week at Liverpool’s Food and Drink Festival which has got us really excited for all the upcoming events taking place throughout the UK over the next couple of months. Here’s our top picks of the most interesting food festivals around… Whittingham Beer and Sausage Festival Taking place from Friday 28th April to Sunday 30th is the Whittingham Beer and Sausage Festival in Lincolnshire. This is the perfect festival to sample over 80 local ales, and 10 varieties of locally produced sausage! It’s a fun way to spend the bank holiday weekend, with live music performances from bands including The Laser Monkeys. Artisan Cheese Fair Taking place in Melton Mowbray Cattle Market on April 29th and 30th, this is your chance to taste over 300 different types of cheese from across Britain and Ireland. The 70+ artisan cheese makers in attendance will be on hand to serve up their delights - and even offer tutored tastings for you to learn more about making - and indulging - on your favourite cheeses. Nantwich Food Festival Taking place on the 1st and 3rd September, all food lovers should head to Nantwich Food Festival which celebrates the best in local produce. Over the weekend, there will be over 160 stalls introducing cuisines from around the world - with demonstrations from Chefs and liver performances this is one food festival not to be missed. The Big Grill Festival UK Based in Bury and taking place between July 15th - 16th, there will be a selection of BBQs, meat smokers, street venders, craft ales and cocktail bars (could this festival get any better??). There will be live music from performers across the electric, acoustic, house funk and disco stages - or you can also get involved in the ‘Eats to the Beats’ food challenge. What Food and Drink Festivals will you be heading to this year? Tweet us and let us know over at GB Hospitality! #gbloves For those of you into your arts and culture, you’ve probably already got Liverpool’s Lightnight noted in your diary! It’s one of the best events that the city is fortunate to offer every year - with visitors flocking to discover some of the best creative projects. This year, Lightnight is taking place on Friday 19 May and there will be over 100 different events which are free for all. The event has been incredibly successful for many years - with this being the eighth year. If you’re interested in the event, we’ve carefully hand-picked our favourite activities that we’d recommend you seeing! Georges Dock Building - Mersey Tunnel Tours If you’re local, you’ve probably passed through the mersey tunnel plenty of times without really thinking about what’s actually around you (well, except the River Mersey, of course)! Well, now is your chance to dig that hard-hat out and get exploring underneath the Tunnel. You are lead by a very knowledgeable team who will lead you on a tour around the original headquarters, the undergrounds and the fan chambers. We’ve been lucky enough to go beneath the tunnels and it’s a must for those interested in the city’s history (and any film bods too as part of Harry Potter was filmed here)... Time to Taste Liverpool Scran We’re foodies - and what better way to take part in Lightnight than by eating? From 17.00 - 22.00 at Blackburne House, visitors can enjoy the finest selection of favourite foods from the city from producers, makers and sellers. It’s run by Liverpool Food People to celebrate the Great British Produce - and to show of the city's heritage. On the night, you’ll be able to sample foods from HomeBaked Anfield and the Liverpool Cheese Company - and plenty of other local restaurants. Lightnight at Liverpool Cathedral Taking place between 17.00 and 23.00 at Liverpool’s Cathedral there will be a number of activities including a DJ set from Greg Wilson, a soundscape by Ellen Loudon - and night prayers which will take place on the hour. If you spend the evening here, make sure you head up to the top of the Tower and take in the most beautiful views of the city which are very romantic early evening… For more information on the event, head over to their website here. Will you be heading to Liverpool’s Lightnight? Tweet us over at GB Hospitality and let us know what you’re excited to see... There’s something so special about sipping your favourite cocktail overlooking a beautiful city at night, or taking in a stunning skyline. Across the country, there are numerous bars and restaurants that are locating themselves with fantastic views - with quite a few in the North West area which is handy for the GB Hospitality team. Here are our favourite restaurants and bars that we’ve been lucky enough to experience, that offer some of the most amazing views around… Panoramic 34, Liverpool The perfect spot for fine dining; you’ll find the one of the UK’s tallest restaurants, Liverpool’s Panoramic 34 which is situated on the 34th floor. Guests will experience a 360° view over the city, spotting all the main attractions including the River Mersey and The Albert Dock. On a clear day, you’ll be able to spot the Welsh Hills! We’d recommend heading to the cocktail lounge for a romantic drink when the sun sets... Follow on Twitter Cloud 23 Bar, Manchester Head to Beetham Tower to experience Cloud 23 Bar in the heart of Manchester City Centre. You can relax with a delicious afternoon tea, a light bite to eat or one of their delicious drinks while taking in the panoramic city views through its floor to ceiling windows. We’d recommend trying their floating cocktail ‘Up, Up and Away’ while your are ‘amidst the clouds’. It’s made from Zacapa 23 and Grand Marnier mixed with grapefruit, marmalade and pineapple juice! Follow on Twitter Oh Me Oh My Liverpool Overlooking the Liver Building in Liverpool is the gorgeous Oh Me Oh My. In recent years, it’s become a hotspot for those who want to sip the tastiest cocktails with the most stunning views. It’s best enjoyed in the summer months when you can sit back, relax and take in the glistening River Mersey. Follow on Twitter Club Brass - Hotel Gotham, Manchester Open to Gotham guests and Members only, is one of Manchester’s most spectacular bars, Club Brass. It’s located on the 7th floor of Hotel Gotham and offers beautiful views across on its terraces over the city. There’s a very clear speakeasy theme reflected through its interiors in the building which is reflective of the banking heritage that first opened in 1935. Follow on Twitter King Street Townhouse, Manchester Not many bars in Manchester offer many views, especially not specatualor ones like King Street Townhouse. Head up to its heated South-Facing terrace to take in some of the most wonderful view of the urban city - including the clock tower of Manchester Town Hall. It’s without a doubt one of the best places for a city wedding, and also great for relaxing with a cocktail in hand! Follow on Twitter What’s your favourite bar or restaurant with a view? Let us know over on Twitter GB Hospitality #gbloves One of the great things about being British has to be our undying love for a cup of tea! Whether you have yours with with sugar, milk or even on its own, there’s something we all love that comes from that little teabag! And research has shown that Britain's drink on average more than 60 billion cups of tea a year. As National Tea Day is approaching, we thought it’d be interesting to find out more about the day, but also why us Brits really do love tea. What is National Tea Day? National Tea Day takes places on April 21st and was founded as a movement of tea houses and lovers to promote tea in British culture, with the main aim of bringing people together. This year will see tea drinkers up and down the country celebrating their love for it across numerous activities which have been set up for the day! If you’re looking at ways to get involved, here’s a couple of ways that you can:
What is it with Brits and their love for tea? Without any doubt, tea is one of the quintessential of English beverages - despite it actually not arriving to England until the mid 17th century but had been a firm favourite over in China BC! When it was first sold here, history shows it was actually quite an expensive drink, meaning it was often the wealthy who enjoyed it. However, jump forward a couple of years to the 18th century and tea overtook alcoholic drinks including Gin as the favourite choice of drink. Today across Britain, tea is drank everywhere and forms part of our daily lives - and also our social lives. We gossip with friends over it, we enjoy it as part of an Afternoon Tea and we have a cup before bed to unwind for the evening. In more recent years, there’s such a wide selection of teas that we can choose from - from cold teas, to fine loose leaf teas which is great for the tea lovers among us. Are you a tea lover? Let us know how you’ll be spending #NationalTeaDay over on Twitter! Easter weekend is nearly here; and that means two bank holidays to spend time with the family. Whether you’re after a chilled weekend - or something a bit more exciting, we have pulled together 5 top ways to spend Easter Weekend here in the lovely North West. Cadbury’s Easter Egg Hunt Perfect for all the family, Cadbury’s are hosting a number of Easter Eggs hunts across National Trust Properties including Speke Hall, The Hardman’s House, Formby, Rufford Old Hall, Quarry Bank and Dunham Massey which are all running across the Easter Weekend - with most of them beginning on Good Friday. Each hunt has its own theme and will be a great day that all can enjoy! For times and location information, please visit here. Beauty and the Beast panto One of the most amazing films of the year is being brought to life this Easter at St Helen’s Theatre Royal. Enjoy this family friendly production, and watch the beautiful Belle fall in love. There will be performances from stars including Nikki Grahame from Big Brother and Channel 5’s Amy Thompson. Tickets are from £13.50 for children, £14.50 for adults and £54 for a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) which you can buy here. CamperFest, Chester If you’re a fan of amazing food and drink, then don’t miss Chester’s very own food and drink festival, CamperFest which runs from 13th - 17th April. The event is now in its eighth year and has beautiful views over Chester Racecourse. Sample some freshly made food, watch demonstrations from leading chefs and get involved in cooking classes! Prices start from £30 and you can book your place here. Manchester Duck Race One of Manchester’s annual Easter Event is its Duck Race which is taking part on Good Friday. Hundreds of plastic ducks will be released onto the River Irwell into one of the biggest races of the year! Anyone can enter a duck for £1 with all proceeds going to Brainwave, a Children’s Charity. The first race begins at 2pm and is free for those who are there to cheer them on - and there’s plenty of themed ducks which are all unique - so you might be able to spot yours floating down the River! Bents Garden and Home, Glazebury 8 very special eggs have arrived at Bents Garden and Home! They are currently being cared for by a team of professionals, but they are little chicks waiting to hatch - hopefully before Easter weekend! They are currently on display at the Children’s Boutique and once they are hatched they’ll be moved to a facility where guests and visitors can hold the baby birds. In the run up to the hatching, a dedicated webcam has been set up so that chick lovers can monitor the progress - every step of the way. This is complimented by further activity such as face painting and a chance for kids to decorate their own easter baskets which will then be filled with goodies. Let us know how you’ll be spending your Easter Weekend! #gbloves #Easter In a couple of days, we will be celebrating Easter! Children across the country have finished school for two weeks, while all the grown ups can enjoy a four day weekend… It’s the perfect chance to relax with family and friends, and to indulge in plenty of chocolate- and not feel too guilty about it! For the past couple of months, Supermarkets have been stocked up with thousands of Easter eggs for customers to enjoy - and although many people may buy them, they often do not know or question the reason why we eat them at Easter. Here’s a little exploration into the history of the egg - and where you can find some of the best ones around…. Religious Background As we all know, Easter Sunday is a day for Christians to remember and celebrate Christ's resurrection; proving life is eternal. The date of Easter changes every year because events must fall in the right place on the calendar (including the Last Supper and the Crucifixion). But, because no one could confirm when these dates took place, bishops in 325 AD decided that Easter should always fall on a Sunday - which had to be the first Sunday following the full moon at Passover (which was the time of the Last Supper). So, how are Easter Eggs associated with this? An egg is often associated with being a symbol of rebirth or a new life; hence the reason they are linkedin with Christian celebrations. However, these eggs were not as tasty as the choice we have today - with people having the make them using duck or hen eggs and finishing off with vegetable dyes and charcoal. We doubt we’d be rushing to Tesco to buy these! Where was the first ever Easter Egg made? The very first chocolate Easter eggs that were made where in Germany and France back in the early 19th century. However, they were not hollow like the eggs we buy today as technology hadn’t really advanced to be able to create them this way. Cadbury’s first Easter Egg was made in 1875 with dark chocolate, and sugar coated with chocolate drops. A few years later they started decorating them to the eggs we love and know today- finished with beautiful floral outlines! One of the world’s biggest Easter Eggs that has ever been made was in Argentina in 2012 weighing 4,000 kgs which was 27ft high and 15ft wide! What are the best Easter Eggs 2017? If you’re looking for the ultimate egg this Easter, here’s our top three! Hotel Chocolat Rocky Road to Caramel Extra Thick Easter Egg If you feel like pushing the boat out, why not choose Hotel Chocolat Rocky Road to Caramel Extra Thick Easter Egg for £27? It’s a rocky road style egg filled with chocolate bunnies, caramels and pralines. Amazing... Asda Bumper Egg Hunt Box A perfect way to keep the kids entertained is to throw a Easter Egg hunt - and with Asda’s £4 egg hunt box, it will definitely do the trick. It contains 21 eggs - one is big and the rest are small. Vorrei Dark Chocolate Easter Egg £10.50 Perfect for those who are vegan - and those who are not! It’s handmade and wrapped so beautifully you might not want to open it... Happy Easter from all the team at GB Hospitality! #gbloves #Easter |
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