Visit Lancashire

Taking The Trip to Obsession

Last night, it was the turn of Simon Rogan from the Michelin star L’Enclume Restaurant with Rooms in Cartmel to cook a lavish six course dinner at Northcote’s Obsession Food Festival.

Simon thinks it is “Absolutely brilliant” that he was invited to cook for a night at Obsession 2011, especially since he knows firsthand what an outstanding event it is, being an Obsession diner himself in 2007. 

Northcote’s Night to Remember

Martin Burge, 2-star Michelin Head Chef at Whatley Manor’s ‘The Dining Room’ restaurant created a 5-course menu to die for as part of this year’s Obsession food festival.  

Highlight of the evening for me was the venison loin roasted, served with caramelised bacon and sausage, cabbage puree and bitter chocolate ably complimented by a glass of Californian Zinfandel.

Closely followed by the house speciality of chicory mousse layered with bitter coffee mascarpone cream and chocolate leaves with a fruity Languedoc - Roussillon Banyuls red wine to round off the dessert.Northcote continues to excel and Martin certainly delivered on the evening entertaining 94 guests at one sitting.  

Walking up to Darwen Tower

After the over indulgences of Christmas we were desperate for some fresh air and a good walk.  We didn’t want anything too taxing but I was keen to explore somewhere new. The two mile Darwen Tower walk (found in the walks under 5 mile section on our website) seemed the perfect solution, especially as I’ve passed it so many times on the M65. So we set off to Sunnyhurst Wood (in between Blackburn and Darwen) to start our walk.