Harters

Much too late for you but I thought Clivia was pretty much top notch. Of the other good places: L'Aup - good examples of the local classics. Stay - depending on your point of view, it was as good or bad as it ever was. Siller - smallish place at the back of the Port. Much of the produce is off the owner's finca, including the olive oil. Thoroughly enjoyed the evening. O'Lume - cracking back street seafood. Other than that (and the Alcudia recc above), it was all tourist stuiff. Some pretty reasonable. One or two, bloody awful.

Excellent. Always impressed with seeing hare being served. Thanks.

Hi there. I've no real wish to be picky on your first post but, just for clarification, you mention the previous owner of this pub. How does this affect the current ownership and food style? You also mention the food is aimed at the "guide book masses", a phrase I don't read as a compliment, particularly as you suggest those of us who use guide books might be more interested in presentation than, possibly, taste. It'd be helpful if you could clarify what you're trying to say about the place. What have you eaten recently that was particularly good? J

The White Bull's website seems to now be down. Anyone know if it has now closed/changed hands/whatever?

Abode will sort you out. They have a couple of rooms with a "moveable wall" so it can be made into one large one. You should get a dozen into one of the halves. It's off the main restaurant area. Mrs H was going to book it for her retirement thrash but got a better deal away from the centre.

HAND & TRUMPET, WRINEHILL, NR. CREWE Perhaps I'm getting pickier as I get nearer the free bus pass. Or perhaps the food at Brunning & Price place ain't what it ought to be. But this is now two very indifferent starters I've had in recent weeks. A ham hock, apricot and pistachio terrine tasted of none of these things and I couldnt detect any sign of apricot or pistachio. This was just a solid lump of bland meat encased in proscuitto. The accompanying piccalli did nothing to lift it - no kick from vinegar or mustard, this was just a spoonful of yellow vegetables. The main course burger was a much better event. In fact, pretty much everything you want from a burger - a good sized piece of quite tasty meat,topped with lettuce, tomato, pickle (Mrs Elwoods?), bacon and cheese. Cracking good coleslaw on the side. And what would have been star chips if they been fried for just a tad longer - but still, pretty good proper chip-sized chips.

Thanks for that, Thom As you suggest, bit of a worry to see a place have a menu claiming "traditional Punjabi" alongside its chicken burgers and Lobster Thermidor. I may not be in a rush to visit. John

In today's Guardian, Simon Hoggart mentions he was at the Tory Conference in Manc this week and that he had dinner one night at a "modern upmarket Indian restaurant". He had a tandoori haddock as a starter followed by sheeps trotters. He describes the latter as "a bowl of flourescent red and orange sauce with a single bone, perhaps 5 inches long, floating on top.Under the bone were pieces of a dark substance which looked like meat but turned out to be fat with soft glutinous skin attached". He didnt like it! Anyone know the restaurant based on these items? Doesnt seem like Akbars,Dilli, EastzEast or Shimla Pinks but I can't think where else might fit the "modern upmarket" description

Don't you just hate it when you're the only punter in a place throughout the whole time you're there? I was out and about this morning and remembered that Red Chilli has a branch in the land that time forgot - or Atherton as the locals call it. The menu's a bit different from the Manchester one - for instance there's no french beans with pork - although there is just french beans with chilli. And some of the more offaly offerings don't seem to be there. However, truth be told, I was feeling a little off colour and didnt think I could face anything particularly challenging. So, gongbao chicken and boiled rice. Enormous portion (which I almost managed to clear) - peanuts providing crunch; chilli more than a background flavouring; halved cloves of almost raw garlic giving a "twang". Good dish - I liked this a lot.

I had lunch at Kabana a couple of weeks back and, yes, it was an enjoyable and cheap meal. No better than , say, Aladdin or This and That, both just round the corner. I think Thom got them on a bad day for the chapatti - mine was fine.

You'll want Chaophraya on Chapel Walk. It's "proper" Thai not just "hot Chinese". Brilliant fresh fish (like the Pla Pao).Spot on Som Tom salad and the like. http://www.chaophraya.co.uk/about_manchester.html

I'm seriously gutted to hear about New Emperor. (and, unless I'm mistaken, I don't think there's a Malay place in Chinatown anymore. Isn't that where the other Sichuan restaurant is - Red & Hot? Nearest proper Malay I can think of is Bunga Raya in Stockport.)

Lindsey City centre is about 20 minutes from the airport - lots of trains. Taxi a bit longer, a lot more expensive but more convenient. We have a small, but perfectly formed, Chinatown. Red Chilli gets the buzz at the moment for its Sichuan cuisine - but plenty of good Cantonese if that was more to your fancy - New Emperor (on George St - a personal favourite), Little Yang Sing (George St), Kwok Man (Princess St), for example. John

GLASFRYN, RAIKES LANE, MOLD Situated on the fringe of Mold’s industrial estate, this place doesn’t look too great but as you drive into the car park, you see there are some great views, and on a warmer day, it’d be nice to sit outside on the extensive terrace or lawn. I'd come here because it’s a Brunning & Price place and I should get a decent lunch. Most folk who have come are, judging by the number of ID badges being worn, local workers on their lunch break. I started with corned beef hash, poached egg and brown sauce. When it came, it looked a good plate – brown sauce drizzled cheffily across the plate, a tennis ball sized lump of hash, crumbed and fried to crisp, a bit of lettuce and topped with the egg. But it came far, far too quickly for it have done anything but sit around somewhere for a long time waiting for someone to order it. More unfortunately, it had sat somewhere not hot, so when I cut into it was just lukewarm. And it was just so bland – not just underseasoned but the meat underflavoured. The brown sauce was the only thing perking it up. Better, much better, was the main course. Braised shoulder of lamb (or, seeing as I was in Wales, should that be llamb) – hefty portion, flavoursome, tender. A good ratatouille – nice rounded flavours, not cooked to a mush, the courgette particularly holding some texture. Pesto mash.

Bertie Congratulations. I felt sure you'd make it this year. What score? John

I'd suggest either the Modern or the Market Restaurant. Had decent meals at both in recent months - the Market edging in front on food, but the Modern has great views which add to its experience.

Phil Many parts of Spain, especially more rural areas, do not have mains gas. Maybe it's easier/more consistent to cook on leccy than use gas bottles? J

How would you define "best"? Michelin stars? A cuisine you particularly like? Value for money? Something else?

Finally got into Manchester this evening. What a slick operation they're running. Staff very much on the ball - with stuff like drinks orders, clearing crockery, resetting tables. Started with the Beijing dumplings. Well made dumpling, pleasant filling, nice vinegary dip. Nothing to write home about though. Much better was the other starter - cucumber with crushed garlic sauce. Nicely spicy and crunchy - we hung on to most of it till the mains arrived - made for a good contrast of texture. First main - braised pork belly with preserved cabbage. You often hear of someone describing food as "melt in the mouth" - you could take it almost literally with this dish. The meat was just fab. Preserved cabbage formed a sauce with something sweetish. It came with some stalks of choi sum. Not sure which region this comes from - the sweetness makes me think Cantonese but, wherever, it's a belter of a dish. Second main - the green beans with chili and pork. A standout dish. Crunchy beans with the pork providing a flavouring rather being a main event. And it was certainly hot enough - wouldnt ewant to eat anything hotter than that , thanks very much. Just the sort of dish you can imagine feeding a family of six, in rural China. And that is another thing. Portions are bloody enormous. I drank a pint of lime & soda. Herself mnaged a G & T and a pint of lager. Bill for food came to £25. Drinks added another £9. Bargain eating experience if ever there was one.

No, no, NO! The last thing you want is your fish and chips cheffed about with. I am very much in the same camp as JMillar here. Crisp batter; good mushies; chips a bit floppy; loadsa vinegar (or non-brewed condiment, if you will), cheap sliced white for a butty. As for training yourself, my autumn project is a tour of the north west's regional finalists in the "Fish & Chip Shop of the Year" competition over recent years. Place's like Les' in Crewe, Seniors at Thornton Cleveleys and the like. Diet? What diet?

This good to hear. I havnt been for maybe four years when we had a very poor value meal and I vowed never to cross the doorstep again. Might have to change my mind. I take it you'd also advise a trip to Ribchester in the very near future then? Or are there some longer term plans to keep that "gastro"?

Phew, that's a relief. Always happy when a recommendation works. We're planning a revisit in the not too distant future. My in-laws are in their late 70s and will have passed the front entrance on many many occasions over their lives, but have never been inside. "Too posh for the likes of us", I'd bet they'd have said. Anyway, we're taking them for dinner whilst, erm , there's still chance.

In that category, it was a toss-up between the Kabana and the Cafe at the Rylands. I went with the Cafe which I think is just one of the nicest places in the city centre to eat a lunch - and I reckon their committment to north western produce deserves more acknowledgement. .

We're fortunate here in North Cheshire that, whilst we can't get warm oatcakes, we're near enough to Stoke for a number of local outlets (often on markets) to stock them, so I'm not reliant on the Sainsbury version (which is very claggy). As you say, sprinkle with a good Cheshire or Lancashire, grill and wrap round bacon . A favourite Sunday brekkie.

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