Friday, 23 November 2012

Café bocboc.....the perfect place to meet and eat.....

Opened in 2010 and situated in Eccleston, St Helens Café bocboc's aim was to provide a European style coffeehouse with an enjoyable and relaxing atmosphere for their customers to enjoy, and boy have they succeeded!

  

Café bocboc is a unique business in itself and proving to be a destination venue to eat and meet. It's the first and original coffeehouse, ice cream parlour and patisserie to be established in St Helens and the surrounding area.

The image and décor is based on creating a modern cosmopolitan establishment, providing something exclusive, elegant, yet still achieving a friendly and relaxed atmosphere for their customers to enjoy.


Their concept is unique in this area as they combine specialty Italian coffees, fresh cuisine made from the finest fresh (locally sourced where possible) produce by two qualified Chefs, Luxury ‘Award Winning’ Ice Cream (the Rum 'n' Raisin is to die for) and irresistible desserts.

They use a selection of local suppliers to provide fresh produce and ingredients. They constantly search for other suppliers and give other business the chance to offer their produce, which in turn helps them to regularly change the menu and to provide excellence with 'elan.  That, combined with the qualified Chefs provides the perfect match to offer creative and delicious food, a selection of beverages, old fashioned drinks and the luxury desserts on offer.



Bocboc are
 confident that their great food and quality coffee, served by trained and friendly staff will make Café bocboc a special place to meet, eat, relax and socialise with family and friends.  Light breakfast, Seasonal salads, homemade soups, luxury sandwiches created from fresh, in-house baked bread served with hand carved meats are just some of the highlights from their menu. 



Not forgetting the kids, as they have a selection of meals dedicated to providing healthy, yet appealing choices.  Always looking to take advantage of seasonal produce, this is reflected in the menu and so as the seasons change, you’ll see the menu and specials board updated on a regular basis.


Their blend of coffee is unique as it's roasted to their specification and provided fresh on a regular basis to give that perfect elegant flavour to suit all. The result, a warm fresh flavoured espresso produced from high quality coffee beans and is the perfect selection to suit the wide range of coffees on offer.



They have a local award winning ice cream supplier – Cheshire Farm Ice Cream and the brand name speaks for itself as Cheshire farm take pride in producing fresh, high quality ice cream in a range of flavours to suit all.
In the café they offer an extensive range of Cheshire farm products. Traditional vanilla, strawberry and chocolate, sit alongside luxurious honeycomb, Maltese and toffee fudge – adult favourites include stem ginger, mango and Bailey’s.
So, you can complement your choice of coffee and keep the children happy with an excellent selection of ice cream!



The selection of patisseries are as exquisite to look at as they are to taste. They're elegant, delicious and comparable whith any found in a fine dining restaurant. Dressed to perfection with cream and seasonal fruits, they're a truly luxurious accompaniment to a coffee or the perfect way to end a meal.

If that's not enough they have luxury collection of ‘flowerpot’ muffins, rich fruit filled granola, sweet pastry chocolate twists and traditional scones served with cream and jam. This list goes on, but what you can be certain of is that they'll have an indulgent treat to satisfy everyone!



Cafe bocboc has launched Junior Masterchef 2012, open to Young People in senior school years 7 – 10 in the St Helens Area. They're working with What's on in St Helens to promote this great competition.

They'll be sending the information to all St Helens High Schools to get involved and encourage young children to produce a healthy dish that they would be proud of and a chance to include it on the menu.












Apr 14, 2012 by Danielle Whitby
Bright, friendly and gorgeous food :-) perfectly located and very handy for a Saturday treat or catch up with friends after the school run!

My children love it .. Even my 2 year old asks to go! Love it and would tell anyone who would listen to me :-))
Response: thank you very much for your comments

Superb


Nov 24, 2011 by clare
superb cafe and we like it so much that we will come back a again and again and agian
Response: thank you

Fresh food on offer


Sep 06, 2011 by M Scott
Excellent choice of fresh, succulent meals, pleasant decor and friendly enagaging staff - well done. Provides a stylish and vibrant focal point which amalgamates good food and good conversation.
Response: Once again, its so rewarding to hear nice comments like this. Thank You

Community Love this place


Aug 31, 2011 by A Stahler
Excellent, staff always helpful. Nice place to walk to and have lovely food. Regenerated the Eccleston community ...provided a heart to the village. Long awaited.
Response: We appreciate your kind words and our aim is to provide a place for the community to socialise. Thank You

Excellent Place


Aug 09, 2011 by S Tabern
Lovely, lively place to enjoy lunch/snack, friendly staff, superb food, excellent choice and value for money. Provides the community with an upmarket venue which caters for all ages.
Response: Thank you for your valuable visit and see you again soon.

Excellent Place to Eat


Aug 01, 2011 by I Swift
Excellent, good value/service, pleasant surroundings and a godsend....somewhere decent and child friendly for the people of Eccleston. Made the district more attractive and appealing to all ages - nice surroundings and good value and quality food.
Response: Really glad you enjoyed the visit to cafe bocboc. Thank you

bocboc is the place to be


Jul 26, 2011 by H Miller
I really enjoy coming to Bocboc, its a welcoming place, lovely, clean and stylish. Food and service are excellent. A really nice meeting place giving Eccleston a 'village feel'. Easy to find from the A580..St Helens needs more quality cafes and restaurants.
Response: Glad you enjoyed it and hope to see you again. Thank You

Really Nice Place


Jul 23, 2011 by J Beech
Wonderful, Staff and service are very good and friendly. The food is very good, the ambience is just right and the decor is bright , fresh and contemporary. Its a great meeting place to meet with friends and relax.
Response: Your comments mean a lot to us as a business.

thank you


Cafe bocboc168 Kiln Lane St HelensMerseysideWA10 4RB UK  • 01744 24480








Wednesday, 21 November 2012

Microwave Crisps



Ingredients:



600g Roosters red potatoes, unpeeled and scrubbed

2 teaspoons of extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cooking spray







Method:

Slice potatoes into 1/8-inch rounds for thicker potato chips.

For thinner ones if you have a mandolin use it to cut very thin slices. 

Toss slices in a medium bowl with oil and salt to coat evenly.
Coat a large microwave-proof plate with cooking spray.

Arrange some potato slices in a single layer on the plate.

Microwave, uncovered, on High until some slices start to brown, 2 to 3 minutes 
(depending upon potato thickness and microwave power). 

Turn slices over (they will be hot, so take care with your fingers) and continue microwaving 
until they start to crisp and brown around the edges, about 35 seconds for very thin potato slices 
to 2 to 4 minutes for thicker slices. 

Check frequently and rearrange slices as needed to prevent scorching. 

Transfer chips to another plate and allow to cool completely (they'll crisp up more as they cool) 
and repeat the process with remaining slices.


Purslane Restaurant.....33a St Stephen Street, Stockbridge, Edinburgh


Purslane
Embedded image permalinkRalph's not been as excited for some time as he was when he discovered Purslane Restaurant in Edinburgh's fashionable Stockbridge (ok to be fair I did get a new pull rope earlier this week) who are offering a 'casual' fine dining experience for nothing like fine dining prices.  

The restaurant has a casual feel with no dress code or formality as they want the customer to feel relaxed at all times. Front of house are friendly, approachable and are happy to deal with any questions or requests. The food takes on the fine dining element showcasing local produce with a mix of old and new techniques using worldwide influences.



Purslane Chef
They feel strongly about the seasonality of the ingredients that are used in order to to ensure the best quality. 

They've tried to source most of their suppliers in the local area and around 80% are based in the Stockbridge area in the hope that it'll bring a sense of community to the restaurant and also help fellow small businesses. 



Chef Patron Paul Gunning has experience working in five star hotels, 2-3 rosette and Michelin starred restaurants, working under chefs like Marco Pierre White (Riverroom MPW), Jeff Bland (Balmoral, Number 1), Phil Thompson (Auberge Du Lac) and the classy Jean Michel Gauffre (La Garrigue). 


Head Chef - Craig Smith

He's ably assisted by Craig Smith who also has experience working in 2-3 rosette restaurants most notably the outstanding Seafood Restaurant in St. Andrews working for Craig Campbell Millar, and Peter Griffiths back in the Midlands. 


In 2009, Craig took part in BBC`s Masterchef the Professionals where he made it through to cook for Ralph's mate Michel Roux Jr` (OK had you going for just the teeniest moment). 





This is his first Head Chef position and has the drive and enthusiasm about food to produce great dishes.






Purslane have just celebrated their first anniversary and look like going on from strength to 
strength as they're quickly establishing themselves as one of The top eating destinations (they're only a sniff away from being in the top 50 on Trip Advisor) in Edinburgh.  Friday's and Saturdays' they offer a seven course tasting menu at a fraction of the cost that some restaurants (not too far away) charge for six courses but still manage to deliver an above and beyond level of quality and service.


Purslane Restaurant
33a St. Stephen Street 
Stockbridge, Edinburgh 
EH3 5AH 

T: +44 (0)131 226 3500 
E: @purslanerestaurant.co.uk
Purslane Restaurant - Edinburgh's Casual Fine Dining - Click here for bookings

Saturday, 17 November 2012

The Tapas Bar St Helens

The blog is fully interactive so please feel free to click on coloured text links or hover over the photo's to take you to related sites, enjoy.....





Now you might think that finding somewhere in 
St Helens to enjoy a relaxing evening in stylish surroundings, with a great choice of food that'll remind you of the night you spent in Quimet i Quimet tapas bar in Barcelona is out of the question.....well you'd be wrong! The recently opened Tapas Bar St Helens offers an authentic taste of Spanish tapas in stylish surroundings that will have you coming back for more.....and more!  

It's the ideal place to relax after work with a cold beer or a warming Rémy Martin.....and if you're celebrating that really special occasion why not splash out on a bottle of Dom Pérignon.





There's a selection of over 20 tapas dishes on offer plus a specials board, along with a wide range of wines, spirits, specialty coffees, cocktails and some of the best home-made sangria this side of the Mediterranean.


Beer on tap includes Mahou, a Spanish beer brewed in Madrid, medium gold in colour with a clean nose of orange, rich malt and a slightly nutty note and sipping it reminds you of sitting in a Spanish square in the early evening as the sun sets.



Tapas dishes available include....


Tuna & Patatas

Garlic Mushrooms
Patatas Bravas
Potato Salad 
Vegetarian Paella 
Pork Paprika
Peri Peri Chicken
Choritzo Stew
Spicy Black Pudding
Meatballs
Rabbit in Garlic
Chicken Kebabs
Chilli
Beef Stifado
Chicken in Tarragon
Seafood Cocktail
Prawns in Chilli and Garlic
Calamari
Spare Ribs
Choritzo in Red Wine & Paprika
Traditional Paella
Lamb Koftas
Boquerones








If you fancy a light bite then try the fresh bread with the best homemade Aioli I've tasted in a long time.  All the food is cooked fresh daily including the dishes on the specials board.

So if you're planning a special night, treating the family or just want to relax with a drink or a coffee and friendly chat then Tapas Bar St Helens is the place for you.....open from 12 - 12 every day.









Wednesday, 14 November 2012

St Helens feature part 4.....St Helens College & Colours Restaurant.....



St Helens College is one of the largest further education colleges in the North West of England and there has never been a more exciting time to study there. They have recently completed the first full academic year in the new £57 million Town Centre Campus. The new state-of-the art building provides students with the best possible learning environment to succeed and also the facilities and resources available will provide you with everything you need to develop your skills and knowledge for the future.
St Helens College currently has over 7,500 students of all ages, studying on courses from Entry Level through to Degree Programmes and Professional Qualifications. They attract students from across the North West and work with over 3,500 employers, helping the economy to thrive and develop.


Whether you're seeking employment, a promotion at work, a change of career, progression to university or you just want a new challenge, there are a wide range of courses available to suit your needs. They offer full and part time vocational courses from Animal Care and Construction to Catering and Sport along with a vast number of Apprenticeships and Adult Apprenticeships. They provide progression routes into higher education and offer over 50 Higher and Professional programmes and work in partnership with 6 major universities. They also offer courses for industry and courses for leisure.


One of the jewels in the crown of the college is.....


Colours Restaurant

Colours is an innovative fine dining restaurant in St. Helens with a modern contemporary theme, it certainly stands out from the crowd.
Take a look along Waterloo Street and you can't miss the impressive frontage and glazed entrance. Step inside and you'll receive a warm welcome by friendly staff behind the stylish reception counter, take in the striking bar and comfortable lounge area, with its beech wooden floor and colourful bold décor.
Have a seat and enjoy a leisurely drink before you eat, or if time's short you can be seated directly in the vibrant dining area and relax in the ambience that's been created. The quality furnishings, stylish crockery, and eye catching abstract artwork keep your interest whilst you savour the menu.

Menus

Here's some liinks to give you an indication of the type of menu, quality and choice of dishes that they offer.
Lunch MenuFunction Menu
Evening MenuBuffet Menu
Saturday Evening MenuWedding Packages
Childrens Menu



menu-image

They change the menus every term and all dishes are freshly prepared from quality ingredients. Wherever possible they try their best to source produce from local suppliers.
If you have a food allergy or special dietary requirements of any description, which may affect your choice of dish when dining with them, just advise the restaurant staff when ordering and they'll be more than pleased to accommodate your needs.


Christmas With Colours

Here's their Christmas menus for 2012.....just click on the links.....


Christmas Evening Menu Monday-Thursday
 
Christmas Evening Menu Friday & Saturday 
Christmas Lunchtime Menu


With no price increase from last year they're once again offering unbeatable value for money and looking forward to welcoming you.
  • Lunch £16.95 - 3 courses and coffee
  • Dinner Mon-Tue- Wed-Thu £21.95 - 3 courses and coffee
  • Dinner Fri-Sat - £25.95 – 4 courses and coffee
A deposit of £10.00 per person for all bookings is required by Friday 30th of November
Payment forms:
By phone with a debit or credit card
Christmas at ColoursCheque made payable to St Helens College
Cash: at desk only.
Please note: deposits are non-refundable
Dates for Christmas Meals
December 2012
Tuesday 4th
Wednesday 5th
Thursday 6th
Friday 7th
Saturday 8th
Sunday 9th
Monday 10th
Tuesday 11th
Wednesday 12th
Thursday 13th
Friday 14th
Saturday 15th
Sunday 16th
Lunch
Lunch & Dinner
Lunch & Dinner
Lunch & Dinner
Dinner
Lunch
Lunch & Dinner
Lunch & Dinner
Lunch & Dinner
Lunch & Dinner
Lunch & Dinner
Dinner
Lunch
LChristmas at Coloursunch served from 12.00 till 1.00pm last orders - Mon - Fri 
12.00 - 2.00 - Sun
Dinner served from 6.30 till 8.00pm last orders Mon-Thu 
6.30 - 8.30 - Fri 
6.30 - 9.00 - Sat


The indicated last order times are not the times by which they expect you to vacate the premises. They're far to friendly and look forward to your company so there's no set time for that.  Book early to avoid disappointment. Call them on 01744 623155 or.....