Month: February 2013

Lesley Graves: Co- Manager of award winning Burton Road Chippy

Des Anastasou and Lesley Graves

Des Anastasou (left) and Lesley Graves (right) managers of the Burton road Chippy, their shop was picked from 500 shops nationwide to win the award.

Lincoln’s Burton Road Chippy has just won the prize for being the Best Independent Fish and chip shop in Eastern England at the National Fish and Chip Awards 2013. The family run chippy only opened its doors in 2011, but with 30 years of experience running fish and chip shops behind its owners, it’s been frying up a storm. The shop has garnered glowing reviews since it opened and it seems only fair that their dedication should be awarded with national recognition.

I asked Lesley Graves who co- manages the shop with Des Anastasou, how it felt to have her business voted the best in the region and how they make such tasty fish and chips.

What does it feel like being voted the best fish and chip shop in the East of England?

Absolutely wonderful, we’re just so thrilled it’s a real honour.

Did you think when you first nominated yourselves that you’d ever do this well?

No, we had no idea we’d get this far. Obviously we knew people liked our food and we were getting some glowing reviews, but we never believed we would actually win any awards. Obviously this is our first time in the competition and it’s just a huge shock but very welcome.

So what’s your secret? How did you make your shop the best in the region?

Well to be honest, I really don’t think there is any secret. We just work hard, we have a lot of passion, some really great people on our team and we’re prepared to go the extra mile. We’re obviously dedicated to serving healthy food and protecting the environment but there’s no secret recipe for our batter or anything like that. We just do the best we can and obviously it’s worked well for us.

Are you going to enter the competition again next year?

Yes, we really did enjoy being in the competition and having that atmosphere. We found that the competition kept us on our toes and kept our staff on their toes and pushed us into working harder as a business. Yes we will definitely be entering again next year and hopefully, we will do even better.

Have you been getting many more customers since you won the award?

Yes we get a lot more customers now, winning the award has really raised our profile, but it’s also given us a lot more to live up to. Now that we’ve won the award, we have to work harder to meet people’s expectations but now we have the motivation and the drive to be even better.

Do you have any advice for those looking to start looking to start a fish and chip business like yours?

You have to be very very organised and cleanly. The health inspectors really go around your premises with a fine tooth comb. Keep cleaning rotors for your staff and obviously treat your staff well, respect them and they will respect you. Also, you have to listen to your customers and look into what they want, not what you want to sell. We introduced the Gluten Free Evenings at the Chippy so people who couldn’t normally enjoy fish and chips could enjoy them. The best fish and chips are the customers favourite. Yes, it’s always important to communicate with your customers and listen to what they have to say.

What’s your favourite food?
I think it would definitely be fish mezze. I remember when I was younger, the family would always have big get- togethers and we would cook it together. It would last for hours and we would all have a great time, so I always have happy memories of eating fish mezze, and it tastes great too.

So what does the future hold for the Burton Road Chippy?

Well I don’t think we’ll be making too many changes. Obviously there’s a lot more pressure and expectation on us now, people will be expecting the best fish and chips in the region and we do not want to disappoint them. So we will just be trying to fine tune our customer service and our menu and make sure everything is as perfect as possible in the future. I really get a lot of satisfaction from giving people a good meal and making sure people continue to enjoy our fish and chip shop is all we could ever want.

 

The Burton Road Chippy can be found at 169 Burton Road in Lincoln, they are open 11:30 – 14:00 and 16:30 – 21:30 Tuesday to Thursday and 11:30 – 21:30 Friday to Saturday.

Visit their website here.

Kate O’ Meara: Manager of the Cheese Society

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Kate O’ Meara is a very busy woman, unsurprising as she is the Managing Director of the Cheese Society on St martin’s Lane, widely regarded as one of the best places to eat in Lincoln. As anyone who’s read my review will know, I can vouch for that. However, I wanted to know more about the women responsible for this fine establishment, so I stopped by to get the low down on the woman behind one of the town’s most well-loved (and smelliest) places to eat.

(click here to read the transcript)

High Street Food Bar Review

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The High Street Food Bar from the street. Photo: Adam Walker

“High Street Food Bar”, while not a particularly imaginative name, its pleasantly retro exterior was pretty eye-catching. It reminded me of those old Past Times stores, purveyors of vintage knick- knacks that eventually became a victim of the recession, like so many high street chains before it. Given how much this newly opened sandwich bar stands out in an area of the town mainly dominated with cheap kebab shops and chippies, I decided to give the place a go to see if the food was as bold as the décor.

The retro aesthetic carries over to the interior with shelves lined with artfully arranged reproduction products from yesteryear, all of which are for sale. I checked the price on a jar of jam and one of the tea towels, £5.00 for the jam and £6.00 for the tea towel. That seems a little high to me and this really isn’t the kind of area you’re likely to find a market for these kinds of extravagances. Still this combination of colourful retro paraphernalia and the café’s rather modern minimalist furnishings creates a rather pleasant mix of the old and the new that gives the place a good atmosphere. Honestly it feels more like a trendy coffee house than any sandwich bar I’ve ever been in.

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The attractively decorated interior of Food Bar. Photo: Adam Walker

The food, however, was nothing special. The High Street Food Bar offers baked potatoes, home- made soup as well as a choice of paninis, baps, rolls, baguettes or sandwiches with a variety of toppings served hot or cold that can be eaten in or taken away.

I ordered a roll with Lincolnshire sausage, sage and onion stuffing and apple sauce costing £2.90. The menu claims everything is homemade and locally sourced, I’ll take their word for it, it was all rather bland and certainly nothing I couldn’t have simply bought from Sainsbury’s or made myself.

Ultimately, I’m not sure that I was expecting from The High Street Food Bar, but with all the strong presentation, I was certainly looking forward to the food more than I should have been.

Top 5 Valentines Day Venues

Well, Valentine ’s Day is here once again and for those of us lucky enough to someone to share it with, that means time to start thinking about where to have that romantic meal. Luckily, Lincoln has plenty of cosy eateries perfect for a couple looking for somewhere to share some good food.

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The Barge on the Brayford

Situated in a picturesque location on the Brayford Waterfront, this floating restaurant has remained a staple of the Lincoln dining scene for many years. A family run establishment that specializes in fish, steak and shellfish, it’s a must visit for those who enjoy a taste of the sea. With cosy tables both above and below deck, friendly staff and a great view out over Brayford Pool, you and your beloved won’t want to return to dry land!

Click here to read reviews on tripadvisor

 

THe Jews House

The Jews House

Thought to be one of the oldest houses in Europe dating back to 1150, the history of this enigmatic building is steeped in mystery and legend. One thing’s for certain though, the restaurant now situated within this historic building is one of the most highly regarded in Lincoln. They even offer a special Valentine’s Day four course meal complete with a glass of pink champagne for £43.50 per person.

Click here to read reviews on tripadvisor

 

Bells valentines day

 

 

Bells Café

While a little costly this quaint, inviting café offers small yet delicious meals throughout the day. Boasting an intimate atmosphere in a picturesque old building located half way up steep hill, it is the perfect romantic setting for a cosy date.

Click here to read reviews on tripadvisor

 

 

The old bakeryThe Old Bakery

This multi-award winning eatery with 4 star Silver and 2 AA Rosettes is located in the historic cathedral quarter of the town. Meals are eaten in the luxurious conservatory area which is bathed in soft light as the evening draws in. Couples can enjoy a joint 3 course meal with a bottle of champagne for £99, or order separate meals for £52 each, with matching wines for each course.

Click here to read reviews on tripadvisor

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Ribs n Bibs

If you’re in the mood for something a little meatier, there can surely be no better venue in Lincoln than this newly opened authentic American steakhouse. While a quaint little farming town like Lincoln may be an unusual location for an American themed venue, you won’t really mind when you’re tucking into a juicy rack of ribs with your sweetheart. Rib’s n Bibs opens its doors for the first time on Valentine’s day, so ensure to book in advance if you want a table.

Click here to read reviews on tripadvisor

The Cheese Society Review

I actually already attempted to have lunch at The Cheese Society a few days ago, arriving at 1:30 however, I found the place packed and myself at the end of a long queue for a table. Considering its location, an inconspicuous backstreet it shares with only a skating shop and a vet that specialises in reptiles, it certainly doesn’t seem to be having trouble attracting customers.

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The Cheese Society’s packed dining area. Photo: Adam Walker

I was advised the best times to get a seat were 12:00 and 2:30pm, but even arriving dead on 12 noon, I was lucky to snatch one of the last two tables, the other being taken minutes later with the waiting area filling soon after.
The Cheese Society can best be described as hectic but welcoming. It was packed the whole time I was there but I never felt rushed to finish my food. The staff are constantly on the go but still found the time to be friendly. The design is open and airy making the place feel much larger than it is, the walls are decorated with photos of Lincoln landmarks and posters advertising upcoming local events. Despite its out- of- the- way location it feels like the centre of the community.

The café also features a small deli that sells a wide variety of cheeses as well as crackers, pâté and mustard. This, coupled with the open kitchens right next to the dining area ensure a constant scent of cheese wafting through the building.

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My piping hot Macaroni Cheese, I had to wait several minutes before it was cool enough to eat. Photo: Adam Walker

The menu is modest, featuring about eight cheese themed dishes with a selection of starters and desserts to boot. I ordered a Macaroni Cheese Au Gratin for a reasonable £8.99 and considering how busy the place was, service was impressively fast.

It emerged from the kitchen bubbling, the cheese almost molten in a dish with what looked like burn marks around the rim. Did they cook this in a blast furnace? A few degrees hotter and I’m sure the side salad would have caught alight.  Once it had cooled down I found the meal to be quite delicious with just enough macaroni mixed in with a perfectly rich cheese sauce. The whole mixture lay beneath a topping of admittedly rather tough melted cheese but it left me satisfied.

When I left, the waiting area was full to overflowing and new customers were already being seated at my vacant table. The Cheese Society is certainly well worth a visit, a must if you have even a passing passion for cheese. The café does not take bookings so make sure to arrive early if you want to avoid a long cheese scented wait.

Read more reviews on tripadvisor

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