Tag Archives: Poulton

Winter treats at Tinderbox

Monday 017Tinderbox gift shop and cafe in Poulton has something to warm the body and soothe the soul this winter.

The specials board has been tantalising me as I pass by on lunchtime walks along Breck Road for months. Having finally paid a visit with my two sisters and baby niece, and being welcomed in out of the cold by a friendly hostess, I can’t believe I waited so long.

The front half of the building is a gift shop selling a beautiful range of jewellery, cards, candles, notebooks, handbags, woolly hats and, at the moment, gorgeous Christmas decorations and stationary. Lovely presents you’ll want for yourself and your loved ones.

With lanterns and art (which is for sale) adorning the walls and exposed lighting cables and bulbs hanging from the ceiling, the cafe at the back has the feel of a cool underground bunker, with an abundance of fairy and tealights giving light and warmth.

Monday 009A straightforward menu offers all the staples; breakfasts, sandwiches, toasties and a pledge to make whatever you fancy, so long as they have the basic ingredients! Daily specials include homemade soup and a couple of less ordinary options – on the day of my visit, bacon and cheese burger served in a brioche bun and coronation prawn vol-au-vents.

There are children’s choices and a great selection of cakes too; chocolate, Victoria, tiffin, parkin and cherry bakewell to name just a few plus gluten-free varieties.

As a dedicated tea drinker, I was pleased to find a selection of Atkinsons black teas on offer including my favourite brew, Assam, along with lemon and vanilla plus green Chai tea and herbal varieties. There’s also a bring your own booze policy with a minimal corkage charge. It doesn’t have to be a special occasion, ’bring a bottle if you feel the need’!

Monday 018I thoroughly enjoyed the hearty homemade leek and potato soup with doorstep bread and (soft) butter plus a pot of tea, served in a pot with teacup and saucer. My sisters enjoyed their choices; soup, cheese and tomato toastie (again on doorstep bed and served with salad), hot chocolates and a giant scone with obligatory jam and cream. The bill came to just under £20 and we all left feeling full and happy.

You can see the chef at work preparing your food in an open kitchen in the corner and the cakes calling you from a counter beside. There are around half a dozen tables, chairs and benches plus a comfy chair for coffee, attentive waiters and I’m reliably informed, good changing facilities. My sister was able to breastfeed at ease too.

For a perfect escape from the elements this winter, hole up in Tinderbox with tea and cake. Check out the Tinderbox Facebook page

Delectable deli is number one lunch destination

Salt of the Earth is a vibrant eatery, brimming with character and flavour, and my all-time favourite destination for lunch.

Situated, most unexpectedly, at the end of a row of terraced houses in Carleton (near Poulton), the enticing frontage catches your eye and hints at the delights to be found inside.

Described as a delicatessen, Salt of the Earth offers a whole lot more – extensive breakfast, brunch and lunch menus; takeaway food that can be phoned ahead or delivered; private functions and outside catering; and on Fridays, evening tapas.

It’s an independent, family-run business and it shows; the owners remember all their customers and seem genuinely pleased to see you! Step inside and you’re greeted with a colourful and upbeat venue that is clearly a labour of love.

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A collection of mismatched wooden tables and chairs are dotted haphazardly across two dining floors with breakfast bar seating available at the core of activity on the ground floor. Upstairs you’ll find the Dining Hall with whitewashed walls and painted floorboards and the Common Room, furnished with books, board games and armchairs just begging to be curled up in. Chandeliers, fairy lights, mirrors and wall art adorn each room and it all combines to create a charming and welcoming environment to indulge in some leisurely dining. There are also some tables outside for al fresco eating, when weather permits.

The menu is, in my opinion, the most imaginative and varied in the area, with dishes inspired by many different cultures, from the traditional English bacon sandwich to an exotic Spanish salad.

Everything is cooked to order, the bread freshly baked and ingredients locally sourced, and the menu changes to reflect seasonal food. Honest, quality food cooked with passion and flair is guaranteed.

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Hot sweet potato, falafel and halloumi sandwich

You’ll find breakfast dishes (served until 11.30am) such as banana split porridge, hot and cold sandwiches, soup of the day, crepes, salads and platters, all with food combinations that will excite you and leave you in turmoil over what to choose!

Take the Middle Eastern platter for instance – lemon and mint infused halloumi, sweet potato falafel, chickpea hummus, dolmades (stuffed vine leaves), guindilla peppers (Spanish chillies), Moroccan couscous and toasted breads. Or the Mexican crepe – refried beans, guacamole, feta cheese and salsa dressed with lime and coriander. The only way to solve such a dilemma is for everyone to order a different dish and share.

Then there are the specials, which are posted on Salt of the Earth’s Facebook page, and frequently cause me to salivate at my desk if I happen to catch the day’s offering while at work. At the time of writing, specials include a Beef and Blue Burger of hot beef, blue cheese, pancetta and crispy onions served on a toasted brioche bun with hand cut chips and a Belgian waffle with vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce.

There’s a good range of hot and cold vegetarian options available and something for the traditional as well as the adventurous eater. Desserts are no less impressive; a variety of delicious home baked cakes served in huge wedges, cupcakes and slices. And the drinks menu is extensive, with a beverage for every day of the year – soft drinks such as shandy and ginger beer, fruit smoothies, milkshakes, speciality coffees, teas (served in a pot with china cup and saucer) and hot chocolate.

On my last visit, two of my party chose from the brunch menu (served until 2pm) – an omelette of chorizo, feta and manchego cheese, served with salad for me and an American breakfast of French toast, pancetta and maple syrup for my friend.

My sister opted for a hot sweet potato, falafel and halloumi sandwich, again served with salad, and we shared a portion of sweet potato fries with aioli (a tangy type of mayonnaise flavoured with garlic).

Our food, which was as pleasing to the eye as to the taste buds, was fresh, hot, bursting with flavour and filling, just as I’ve come to expect here. Who made the best selection? A difficult decision but we all agreed that the American breakfast was an inspired and indulgent choice for an early Saturday lunch.

The bill for three meals and four drinks came to £24 – excellent value for money for such wonderful food and friendly service.

sunday 017Salt of the Earth can be found on Poulton Road opposite the Castle Gardens pub and opening times vary, so check first.

If you live locally and have never visited, I urge you to stop what you’re doing and make a booking immediately (you can book but don’t need to). And if you’re further afield, let me assure you, it is well worth making a special journey. Whether you’re catching up with friends, enjoying a family outing, treating yourself or even nursing a hangover, a visit to Salt of the Earth is an absolute joy in every respect.

 

Upstairs downstairs, tea and treasure in Poulton

Halo is a coffee house-tea room in Poulton and a frequent haunt of mine for lunch or afternoon tea and cake. Situated above Gabriel’s House on Ball Street, opposite St Chad’s church, it’s conveniently located in the town centre and guarantees great quality homemade food at every visit.

IMG_2194Gabriel’s House sells darling gifts and items for the home – a treasure trove of Sia products, chic interior gems plus unique jewellery and scarves. If you’re in need of a gift for a woman, you’ll find it here, along with a little something for yourself I often find. You have to go through the shop and up the stairs at the back to reach Halo, so the chances of a purchase are high!

The café is petite and snug with a handful of tables in a room decorated very much in the vein of the shop below – quaint and inviting. It’s nearly always busy (testament to the popularity of the establishment) so I find the best chance of getting a table is mid-afternoon, which just happens to be perfect for tea and cake.

The menu is varied and reasonably priced. Choose from a long list of hot and cold drinks, including a good range of teas – I always opt for my favourite Assam brew. Food-wise breakfast, brunch and lunch are catered for with hot and cold sandwiches, toasties and salads, all served with salad and coleslaw; jacket potatoes with infinite fillings and tasty soup; plus favourites such as toasted rarebit and Halo club sandwich.

IMG_2192The specials board always delights with tasty dishes like potato cakes with smoked salmon and cream cheese and cauliflower mornay with crispy bacon.

When it comes to cake, there’s always a hot pudding and a selection of slices and scones. The egg custard is perfect and a personal favourite.

Halo is the perfect venue for a lunch break, shopping stop off or catch up with friends whether you’re dashing or have time on your hands. It feels a little like being in your mum’s kitchen; familiar and comforting with food served up as it comes out of the oven. Expect to pay around £7 for a sandwich and tea. There are a number of public car parks nearby (paid) and a bus stop almost opposite.

Good luck resisting the urge to buy something you don’t need but desperately must have from Gabriel’s House on the way out!