The sun was blazing down over the Ribble Valley on the unusually warm day when About Manchester was invited to sample Lisa Goodwin-Allen’s latest Spring Gourmet Lunch and Seasonal Lunch menus, at luxury Lancashire hotel and restaurant, Northcote.
It was our first (believe it or not) visit to the Michelin starred restaurant,the domaine of Goodwin-Allen for seven years now as Executive Chef although the forty year old first joined the staff back in 2001
Our paths though have crossed before,a few years ago when the celebrity chef was taking part in a Manchester project to get young people interested in the catering trade as part of The Chef’s Forum at the Manchester College where nearly £3000 was raised for The Chefs’ Forum Educational Foundation to Support Young Chefs.
Goodwin Allen is passionate about getting people from all backgrounds into catering working at the restaurant Holbeck Ghyll in Windermere, on a part-time basis whilst completing a three National Vocational Qualification in catering before being spotted by Nigel Howarth at Northcote
She is also passionate about providing alternative menus for people with eating with herself having an allergy to shellfish, which was good because this writer is a pescatarian.
And so to the menu served on the chef’s table where you can as they say experience the brigade at work in the Michelin star kitchen, with the glass doors offering a window to the theatrical setting of the busy kitchen.
My menu of four courses comes with paired wines,Orkney Scallop with a green curry sauce,Skrei Cod,most delicious Wild Turbot with alliums and Black Garlic and warm Brantley “Apple Pie” which somehow captured in one spoonful the essence of a tradition dessert.
As Lisa told us the menu wasn’t quite ready to launch on the day we arrived,the full menu is below and there are also seasonal specialities
The venue has 26 rooms if you fancy an overnight stay and there are plenty of walks to burn off the calories that I am afraid you will invariably add during your stay and a brand new terrace overlooking the outstanding views across the Ribble Valley
It is not the cheapest of experiences especially if you include the overnight stay but for that special experience and given both the professionalism combined with the warmth and knowledge of the staff,one can fully recommend an indulgence in Michelin luxury
Chargrilled Wye Valley Asparagus
Sheep’s Curd, Sorrell
Pouilly Fumé, André Dezat et Fils, France,
Roasted Veal Sweetbread
White Mushroom, Wild Garlic, Caper
Pera Manca Branco, Alentejo, Fundacao Eugenio De Alneida, Portugal, 2019
125ml Glass £21.90 | Bottle £125.00
Wild Turbot
Clam, Bacon, Smoked Potato, Roe
Albariño, Bodegas Terras Gauda, O Rosal, Rías Baixas, Spain, 2020
125ml Glass £11.00 | Bottle £60.00
Yorkshire Duck
Heirloom Beetroot, Aged Balsamic, Bee Pollen
Chianti Classico, Fontodi, Italy, 2018 (O)
125ml Glass £14.00 | Bottle £78.00
Warm Bramley ‘’Apple Pie’’
