Food & drink
JULY 13 MAKING HIS MARC
Nautical but nice Michelle Rushton samples a tasty morsel at Liverpool Marina Bar & Grill WHEN two friends announced they were coming to Liverpool and wanted to meet me for lunch, I was all at sea as to where to take them. I only had around an hour, so it needed to be somewhere close to Best of Liverpool towers on Old Hall Street. Plus, I wanted them to see the city in its best light, so where to dine? You can’t really beat the Liverpool waterfront but they were already familiar with the culinary delights of the Albert Dock. One place we had never tried though was the Liverpool Marina Bar & Grill. A real hidden gem, the Marina is situated at Coburg Wharf, just outside the city centre, a few yards down from the Albert Dock. A great place to escape the stresses of city life, it has a really relaxed vibe, with its brightly coloured boats and yachts bobbing up and down and the breathtaking view of the Three Graces. The Marina Bar & Grill can be found inside the clubhouse and has a modern, informal yet welcoming décor with lots of comfy leather chairs and dark wooden tables and flooring. The menu is simple with the emphasis on fresh, home-cooked, comfort food with dishes ranging from Thai curry and chicken, leek and ham pie to sandwiches, burgers and steaks.
And, as can be expected from a maritime eatery, it features plenty of fishy options from moules mariniere and smoked salmon pâté to pan-fried sea bass and smoked haddock and spring onion fishcakes. I ordered the chicken liver pâté (£4.50) which came served with red onions and balsamic marmalade, a crispy citrus salad and toasted sourdough bread. The pâté was very moreish, especially when combined with the fruity marmalade, but being the gannet that I am, I find there’s never enough bread to mop it all up with. But our friendly and accommodating waitress was only too happy to bring me more bread. I opted for good old fashioned fish and chips for my main course (£8.95) and was greeted by a generously portioned cod in a lovely light and crispy beer batter and my favourite sort of chunky
chips which didn’t last very long at all. But I avoided the mushy peas, which to me, are the food of the Devil... The food was fabulous and very good value for money. We were so stuffed we couldn’t manage a pudding, so as it was a lovely sunny day, we chose to sit outside on the decking for a while with a glass of wine, relaxing, chatting and listening to the waves lapping against the boats. I felt a million miles away from the stuffy office. Deadlines? What deadlines?! “This is the life,” I thought to myself as I made a mental note to invest my forthcoming (imaginary) Lottery winnings on a superyacht... Liverpool Marina Bar & Grill, Coburg Wharf, Sefton Street, Liverpool L3 4BP. Visit www.liverpoolmarina.com or telephone 0151 707 6888.
CELEBRITY chef, Marco Pierre White, rebranded his Hoylake restaurant last month with a new name and a new concept. Originally a joint venture between the Hell’s Kitchen star and champion jockey, Frankie Dettori, Frankie’s Bar & Grill restaurant was relaunched as Marco’s New York Italian on June 17. A new manager has taken the helm and a new menu created, which offers a range of Italian and American classics. From primi dishes such as goat’s cheese arancini risotto fritters, garlic and lemon prawns, bruschetta and buffalo mozzarella with avocado, to mains like 28-day matured steaks, BBQ ribs, pastas, home-made pizzas and freshly-caught seafood, the menu offers an authentic taste of New York Italian. Marco Pierre White says: “These are exciting times here in Hoylake and we can’t wait for our diners to experience what fantastic new things we have to offer. New York Italian is a cuisine which I love whole-heartedly. I want the menu to reflect on all the things you have in your mind when you think of Italian American food – vibrant colours, fresh, natural and earthy ingredients, and that no-nonsense ‘street’ attitude juxtaposed with years of tradition and real heart.”
A TASTE OF ITALY STANLEY Street was the scene of an Italian feast recently, as Delifonseca hosted a special Italian Wine Evening on Tuesday, June 11 in association with Umani Ronchi Wine Estate and Enotria World Wines. Head chef Andy Hutchinson and the team at the Stanley Street eatery created a fourcourse menu especially for the occasion, with each course paired to a different Italian wine. Wine maker Giorgio Pasanisi was also on-hand throughout the event to talk guest through the wine pairings and answer questions. To start, diners tucked into Crab Linguini paired with Passerina Della Marche IGT 2012 and Verdicchio Classico Superiore 2012; whilst the main course of Roasted Rump of Herdwick Lamb with Olive Oil & Black Pepper Mash and Caponata, all washed down with Lacrima di Morro d’Alba, 2011 and Cumaro, Rosso Conero 2008. And, to finish the evening on a sweet note, a traditional Vanilla Panna Cotta with Limoncello Granita was served for dessert.
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