Northcote provides a legendary experience (From The Bolton News)

Northcote provides a legendary experience

12:03pm Wednesday 21st July 2010 in

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FORGET the 12 labours of Hercules - he never had to come up with a fantastic surprise for his wife’s 30th did he, the wuss.

That would have stumped him.

Mind you, he wouldn’t have been able to call on the culinary masters behind Northcote, as I was.

If he had, I am sure they would have been able to do something spectacular with the Golden Hind of Artemis, maybe rustle up a fine sauce made from the Apples of the Hesperides.

Northcote, in Langho near Blackburn, is one of only two Michelin-starred restaurants in the entire North West and just a short car ride from Bolton. It’s well worth the journey.

A wonderful country manor setting with a welcoming staff, it oozes class from the moment you enter the doors.

We were invited to recline in luxurious leather sofas before a nice young man talked us through the menu as we sipped our drinks. He left us to enjoy a few canapés that the gods would be proud of. Then the sommelier popped in to talk wine with us. All very friendly. Oozing class ourselves, we plumped for the cider.

We also plumped for a set gourmet menu, a five-course dream created by head chef Lisa Allen for the BBC2 programme Great British Menu. So good it got her to the final.

Then it was through to the small, intimate and stylish restaurant to enjoy the fruits of her labours.

First up was wild rabbit and leek turnover with piccalilli, a melt in the mouth delight and a sign of things to come.

It was followed with a crisp wild Morecambe Bay sea bass with shrimp toastie, sitting in a full flavoured yet delicate tomato and broad bean consomme and topped with samphire.

The Foragers soup that followed - made with bittercress, nettle, chervil and wild garlic and served with goats cheese gnocchi - was again a perfect, subtle blend of fresh ingredients.

Then the main - lamb, crushed peas and woodland mushrooms with an English onion and sweetbread fritter - and it was a delight. So many flavours and textures but all perfectly complimented.

Finally, the cold, rich, sweet of strawberries, meringue, creamy panna cotta, jelly and Quiggins Kendal Mint Cake water ice with spearmint shavings rounded off our feast.

It wasn’t cheap, but then again perfection rarely is.

I think I passed the 30th birthday treat test with flying colours and she doesn’t even know about the tickets for Doctor Who Live! yet.

In your face, Hercules.