What Lyd Did

Being a 22 year old granny, I don't get out much, so when I do have an evening at the theatre, it's always nice to make a meal of it and go out for tea at the same time. Since Bella Italia have a restaurant right by Winter Gardens Blackpool, I've visited twice and thoroughly enjoyed my visits. The restaurant has been packed with theatre-goers, families, and couples on both occasions, but the staff were friendly and efficient, taking time to recommend dishes and check on our meals.

a peach coloured mocktail with fairy lights behind the glass

Since I, along with many others, don't drink (told you I was a granny) I was happy to see mocktails included on the standard drinks menu and the seasonal specials. I tried the peachberry mocktail and a raspberry lemonade cordial, and while they were really just posh juices, it was nice to order something that felt more fancy than boring old apple to accompany my meals.

white bowl of risotto topped with spinach, lemon, and prawns

On my first visit I plumped for the gamberoni risotto, a twist on the traditional rice dish, pimped up with king prawns, garlic, chilli, and lemon. The portion was huge, as were the juicy prawns, and while most risottos can become boring, the seasoning kept every spoon full of flavour.

My mum picked a chicken and bacon pizza on the classic base, but Bella Italia also offer a thinner base to shave off calories, and a cheesy crust variety. The classico base was dusted with semolina for that perfect crispy texture, and the tomato topping tasted lovely and fresh. Sadly I wasn't as impressed by the garlic bread, which was overpriced at £5.99 and no different to a standard supermarket one.

slices of cheesy garlic bread with a bowl of pasta in the background

My sister and I both sampled the paccheri calabrese, packed with chicken, pepperoni, n'duja sausage, red onion, and green chillis, all served in a fiery sauce and topped with mascarpone. While the sauce was way too hot for me to handle, the meat was plentiful and tasty. The pasta itself was perfectly cooked, and I was pleased to see that Bella Italia buy it from the Gaetarelli and Agnesi families.

The atmosphere feels family friendly, too, with fairy lights, wooden tables, and colourful tiles coming together to create a relaxed restaurant that I personally prefer to the simpler, sleeker designs of Prezzo and Pizza Express. In my opinion, Bella Italia's prices are high and don't fit their cosy vibe, but as a treat I would be happy to pay them for the quality and quantity of the dishes. Luckily they offer fantastic deals and a set menu that make the meals much more affordable, meaning I can visit more often!

What do you order at Italian restaurants?
*this post was NOT produced in collaboration with Bella Italia, but if they're reading, I'd love to talk!

When I was a little, I was a regular visitor to Haigh Hall and Country Park, in Wigan. It always felt so exciting, with big swings, trampolines, woodland to run through, and craft workshops to make my own souvenirs. As I grew up it lost its sparkle and began to feel a little tired, but it has recently undergone a huge transformation and become Haigh Woodland Park.

Amongst the updates I have noticed crazy golf, a high ropes adventure course, a refreshment of the playground, and -my favourite- a food court! The upper level still houses craft classes with something for everyone, and the ground level now offers a variety of food and drink options and a florist, all surrounding a courtyard which plays host to Foodie Friday.

Lyd wearing a cream bobble hat and burgundy jacket, holding a plate of duck spring rolls and biting into one

It's an opportunity for permanent and guest vendors to sell their wares and chat to customers, which they are all too happy to do. These aren't big chains, Haigh Woodland Park purposely chose independent artisan retailers including a chocolatier, ice cream parlour, micro brewery and bakery. There's even a small farm shop, Cook and Foragers, offering locally sourced, free range food, and food education through the 'Pig Tail Trail', which is a great way to introduce children to thinking more about what we eat.

Man holding a tub of poutine with pastrami, mustard, and pickle

Female hand holding up a bottle of Bec cola

I plumped for poutine, which I've wanted to try for ages. It was brought to Foodie Friday by Blue Caribou Canteen, who offer authentic Quebec style poutine. We chose the Reuben style, which consists of fries topped with pastrami, mustard, and a pickle, alongside the traditional gravy and cheese curds. I'm really glad that I finally tried it, and standing outside in the drizzle made it feel like true comfort food. Blue Caribou also stocked Canadian soft drinks, and I had a maple syrup based cola in the most beautiful bottle.

a man drizzles hoisin sauce onto a plate of 5 spring rolls

The portion was huge, but we soldiered on and forced down further foody delights. The things I do for this blog, eh? Our next choice was a plateful of piping hot duck rolls from Waan Yen. Again, these were authentic, as the lovely lady cooking them learned to do so through her Thai family. They were so far removed from supermarket spring rolls, and full of tender meat and fresh flavours. Topped with hoisin sauce and spring onions, they were simply scrumptious.

A colourful hand painted sign for Indian street food

A Mexican food truck is decorated with sugar skulls and colourful lights

A chef turns a piece of meat on a grill, with steam rising from it

Whilst I was tempted by treats from Canada and Thailand, other visitors were sampling the best of British beefburgers, feeling the heat from India and Mexico, or trotting their tastebuds around Portugal, Syria, Italy, and Africa. It was clear that the event had been carefully planned so nobody was stepping on anyone else's toes, and visitors had a wide range to enjoy, including vegan and vegetarian options, which was great to see.

A chocolate brownie with peanut butter icecream, whipped cream, and chopped nuts

sundaes, milkshakes and desserts in a fridge

Deciding to end the evening on a sugar high, we headed into Holden's ice cream parlour for a warm, chewy chocolate brownie. They're served with your choice of ice cream, and I can promise you that the peanut butter makes a perfect partner. The parlour is a clear favourite amongst the younger visitors, and as I polished off my pudding I noticed the variety of visitors that Foodie Friday brings in.

Groups of friends in their 20-30s queued in Two Left Feet, the microbrewery, for somewhere different for weekend drinks, families brought their children, who could play safely in the confines of the courtyard, and older couples soaked up the atmosphere while enjoying one another's company. It's a very welcoming environment and an evening that everyone would enjoy. It would make a great, affordable date night with a difference too- £15 each will easily buy you a main, drink, and something sweet.

A girl surrounded by amps sings from an illuminated marquee

With tummies full, we stepped back out into the square just as singer-songwriter, Jay, took to the stage. Think of Birdy, but sassier and funnier, and you've cracked it. She was great at chatting to the crowd, and even better at performing covers of Amy Winehouse and Sam Smith along with her own originals. Having a live performance was the cherry on the cake, and brought the event together perfectly.

Whether you visit for an upcoming event or simply to take in the Autumn air, you certainly won't go hungry at Haigh Woodland Park! Grab a baked bite from All You Knead chill out with Holden's ice cream, or take home a handmade treat from Luisco Chocolate.

Have you been to a food festival?

*My food and drink for the evening was compensated in exchange for review. All opinions are my own, see my disclaimer for more.

Posh restaurants will never be my thing. If I can't wear jeans or pronounce the menu items, I'm not interested, but for dates or special occasions I still prefer somewhere just a little more upmarket, so when Solita invited me to their dining room in Preston, I was amazed to find that they fit the bill perfectly!

Solita is just a short walk from the train station, and is in a gorgeous Victorian building by the park. The dining room itself seats 150 people, and has an eclectic mix of sleek glass, industrial chairs, and quirky artwork, all of which certainly make it unique and interesting.

To the left of the room were 3 intimate booths (I could imagine giggling with the girls there!) sat under huge mirrors, which reflected light back into the room. I'm all for ambience, but some restaurants are so dark, they should equip you with torches. Solita had the balance just right.

At the back of the room was the bar and Inka grill, and I was thrilled to find that the bar stocked San Pellegrino, which is always my preference over a boring Coke. My companions were even happier to find that the beer they ordered was a high quality German affair, served in a glass tankard and everything!

To the right was one long wooden table with cool, industrial chairs. I took my boyfriend and met up with friends, and luckily we were at the end of the table, so I did enjoy the informal setting, but if we went as a couple I'd hope not to be sandwiched between strangers.

The best part of the room was the art work. Towards the back were some colourful prints, and the whole of the entrance wall was covered in a hand drawn map of Preston and the surrounding areas. You know how much I love illustration, so this was right up my street! See what I did there?

Now a great room is one thing, but the food needs to measure up! Burgers really took off a few years ago, and the pressure for perfection and innovation is really on. While the mini sliders didn't blow me away, the cheeseburger spring rolls were something special- especially when combined with some of their brilliant barbecue pulled pork. Do you ever find that pulled pork can be a bit like soggy cotton wool? Not at Solita! The short rib croquettes were also a favourite. Meaty little bites with a crunchy coating, that made the perfect partners for sweet and smoky barbecue sauce.

The menu is extensive, with seafood, salads, grills, and what seems like hundreds of burgers and hotdogs to choose from, as well as delicious desserts! I would like to see more vegan options though. They do pulled pork so well, I think they would nail the jackfruit alternative! I did also think that the menu was quite highly priced, at £11.90 for a simple chicken burger. However, you are certainly not dining in a greasy spoon, so the prices reflect the polished premises.

If you want to try Solita for yourself, they have locations in the Northern Quarter, Didsbury, Prestwich, and Preston, and you can find details and menus on their website.

My meal was complimentary, but as always, my opinions are all honest and all mine!

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