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Clitheroe Advertiser & Tlmes.Thureday, November 17,2011


i 5-miiiuteinterview m e


Dave McGrath Dave McGrath (46) has been the Watch ■


A Christmas ;ift idea that is for life


FINDING it difficult to choose a unique gift for the wine lover in your family? Then can I offer a solution. Membership for life to The


Wine Society, simple yet versatile. The Wine Society is owned


by its members and exists exclusively for their benefit. Founded back in 1874, its aim is to introduce members to the best of the world's wines at a fair price. The wine buying team is tasked solely with finding high quality, interesting and value for money wines from around the world. The Wine Society is unique in the wine trade because it is


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of origin and by colour. For example a listing of red Rhone wines is in the section for red wines with the white wines from the region in the white wine-section; There is a separate section for rose wines and Champagne and sparkling wines along with some spirits -whisky, Cognac, Armagnac etc. There is a section on sweet, dessert wines and


satisfying, especially as warm fresh bread was offered. A sorbet or choice of a wholesome spicy soup followed, which we both enjoyed. Guinea fowl breast was’rny


choice for main course, something completely different for me. It was tender, tasty and truly delicious with the accompanying leeks, pancetta, roast apples and cider,


• complementing so well. And again beautifully presented. . The wild sea bass chosen by Vic


was, in his opinion, cooked to perfection, with crispy skin and tasty


succulent flesh, complemented by shrimps, sweetcorn veloute, paprika and lime and with a side serving of hand-cut real chips too. Warm black treacle tart,


pistachios, blackcurrant and iiquorice ice cream was my choice for dessert and was lovely to look at and lovely to taste, while blackberry cheesecake, baked in the pot with apple jelly, was Vic's choice, and he loved it too, the creamy fruit flavours making an "excellent finale" to the meal he said. How often do you have coffee at


WNERS of The Villa, : i ■


■ : . Bciitheroe’s popular ■ Italian ■ restaurant,


owned by and sells only to its members. In a recent survey by Which Magazine the Society finished top in the survey of UK ■Wine Clubs.


. The cost of a lifetime's


membership is £40. with no . "annual fee or obligation to


•>


; buy. This includes one share ;-;in the society, which can be . transferable, a new member


::r pack,-including a Guide for ■


“Members and the current list. . The Wine Society produce . ' a comprehensive listing of all


.- 'their wines four times a year, .-with an easy to understand ■


■ explanation for each wine. . Prices are from around


: £4.95 to over £250 a bottle, something to suit every pocket. Listings are done by country


fortified wines such as Madeira and Sheriy. List prices shown are the price


delivered to your door. So you can sit in your chair and peruse the booklet and place an order either on line or on the phone/v Payment can be made in advance, or by debit card or on receipt of an invoice. > m . . ■; Membership details can


be found at thewinesociety.. > com. Follow the application for membership, which can be done directly or to fast track you can be proposed by a:; member. I would gladly offer my details for you to fill in the form so please telephone me; - . on 07971 060793 if you are interested in this route and I will be your proposer.


SAY "halo" to heavenly Angels and encounter a gastronomic experience in paradise. I have been fortunate enough to visit cocktail bars at Raffles in Singapore, the


■Waldorf Astoria in New York and Harry's Bar in Venice - and now Angels in Ribchester - and they all have one thing in common. When you walk through the door you go "Wow".


•


. This modern, chic, cosmopolitan restaurant in the heart of the Ribble Valley, opened four years ago by Nick and Shaun Ford, has an outstanding cocktail bar with striking furnishings you


With a glass of Champagne and dainty f o o d & d r i n k


. marcia moms


will not see anywhere else in the county. The crushed velvet, exclusively designed furniture and halo shaped hole-in-the- wall fireplace are only surpassed by the . array of cocktails on offer. •


canapes in hand, we were offered the menu by restaurant manager and sommelier Max Smith. It held an array of delights which all sounded so .tempting. Executive head chef Simon Eastham's


menus vary from a reasonably priced two-course or three-course special dinner to a gourmet six-course dinner with wine accompaniment, or, as my husband Vic and I chose, the four- course dinner, with selections from the a la carte menu. The spacious dining room is a more


an order either on line or on the phone. Payment can he made in advance, or toy debit card or bn receipt of an invoice.:


you can sit in your chair and peruse the booklet and place


delivered to your door. So shown are the price Listprices »


sedate experience, the decor in coffee and cream is enhanced by the pristine white tablecloths, silver tableware, and sparkling glasses while the heavenly lights, create a stylish ambience. In the alcove stands a cream grand piano, on which music is played on Friday evenings. However, onto the food, it is


exceptionally fine dining, presented in a way to create a picture on a plate, with portions not large, but certainly not small, augmented with attentive, but,,...


discrete service. My starter of caramelised king scallops


with green sauce and pancetta crisps was perfectly presented and cooked, with varying tastes of the salty pancetta and fresh green sauce. Vic chose the Portobello mushroom with goat's cheese, red onion confit, pine nuts and basil vinaigrette which he found very


. Pino and Carolynfare over the moon after being* selected as one of the finalist in the Lan­ cashire and Blackpool Tour­ ism Awards.- Their restaurant has achieved the Taste Lancashire Award, the coun­ ty’s premier award scheme, after receiv­ ing recognition of outstanding qualities and achievements in local business and for using local produce, of high quality, giving


the end of a meal and it lets down everything that went before, but not in this case. The coffee, freshly ground, was the icing on the cake, served with divine petit fours. Angels is certainly an experience


not to be missed for a romantic meal for two or a special celebration


, for family and friends, or even for a boutique wedding completely bespoke to individual requirements. Say "halo" to Angels very soon,


. it's a heavenly place with pleasant, professional staff, excellent service and certainly the "wow" factor.


good service and value for money as judged by a panel of experts. This means when you visit The Villa you can be sure to receive good food, good service and above all a choice of dishes to suite every pocket.


. ■ .■.


NO need to wait for Christmas to have a special treat for lunch, only a hop, skip and jump away is the ideal venue for a Sunday lunch in , a warm and ; friendly atmosphere. •


The Villa, on Whal- ley Road, has a fan­


. Manager at Clitheroe fire station for 15 years. He lives in Clitheroe, is married to Cathy and has four children, Kerry (20), Dave (17), Chloe (16) and Paul (15).


. Stylish and classy; the cocktail bar. at Angels in Ribchester.


Favourite holiday


destination? My home from home in Spain.


Bream car? Bugati Veyron.


Valley? I would say walking by the River Ribble


Favourite place in the Ribble


-th e views at any time of the year are spectacular.


V.


tastic offer of a two course Sunday lunch for just £12.95 or three cours­ es for £15.95. The choice of dishes is exceptional with a Mediterranean menu featur­ ing many signature dishes of the restaurant together with more tradi­ tion English delights such as a roast of the day, steaks, lamb and chick­ en, all served with veg­ etables and potatoes. Fresh fish is one of The Villa’s specialities to­ gether with seafood and pasta dishes, so look out for the catch of the day.


For after work gather­ ings or for a special tea


been, to? There are so many excellent restaurants in and around the Ribble Valley, but for us, it has to be La Vespa in


Best resfcarirant you’ve ever


Clitheroe. The seafood pancake is to die for!


cried? I shed a tear at my eldest daughter Kerry's passing out parade as a medic in the army, but it was one of pride, not sadness.


Last time you


without? Not my mobile phone, that's for sure! It would have to be Cathy, my wife - she's not an item, but she is mine and I can't live without her. Corny, I know, but that's just how it is!


One item you can’t live


time treat for the family, The Villa has just the thing, a two course meal for £10, from a set menu featur­ ing pasta and pizzas for the main


. course, between 5 and 6-30 p.m., Monday to Thursday.


This Papa’s tea time special is prov­ ing to be very popular, particularly


shop? I haven't got one ■ as I don't really 'do' shopping. If I had to choose, I would say Booths as that's where my mum shopped and when she wasn't very well, I spent a lot of time there.


Favourite


Pet hates? Smoking-with a


vengeance! / ~ *" •


Most embarrassing


moment?. Our freezer broke and as I said before, I don't'do'shopping. Cathy was working, so I thought I would surprise her by ordering another one, but when it was delivered, I had actually ordered a fridge!


Worst fashion'


disaster? Probably red patent leather shoes with white socks and black trousers! But hey-ho, it was the 80s...


J \


as modem day lives are so busy and time is always at a premium.


Eating out is all about safety and famili­ arity so for a family Sunday lunch you know it .will not cost the earth at The Villa and mine hosts Pino and Carolyn Cafaisso will certainly give you a very friendly welcome.


<y


„


O l q ;


,3,^SundayXunch.t:, ' 2 Courses £12.95


^ 1 _ . ' Lunches servedWednesday to Sunday


, '-3 Courses £15.95 i


. - ......... . . - . .


Whalley Road - Clitheroe ' Telephone; 01200 444 223 ■' info@thevillaclitheroe.co.uk ,www.thevillaclilheroe.co.uk


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