Tim Burke | Great Food Club

Lilu’s Pratik Master launches #notjustacornershop

February 26th, 2019

Last week I visited a corner shop (aka #notjustacornershop) in Wigston, Leicestershire, that is taking a brave new approach to retailing. Many Leicester food lovers will know Pratik Master for the indefatigable enthusiasm he brings to the running of his top-end Indian restaurant, Lilu (known on social media as #notjustacurry). Now he’s turning his attentions […]

Reflections on blogging and Leicester restaurants, by Tim Burke

February 14th, 2019

OK, so I’ve not posted a blog for a long time. There are plenty of reasons for this. For one thing, blogging of the type I’ve done over the last 10 years seems to fit less easily with the bite size nature of more instant social media platforms – newsy bits seem better suited to […]

Cue

Cue fits in well with the upmarket surroundings of Leicester’s Stoneygate with a simple, pared-down style…

Review: Cue, Stoneygate, Leicester

July 24th, 2018

When I were a lad, cafés were places to get a full English. Some were bad, some were good. Nowadays they are more likely to involve avocados and chia seeds – but again, some are just following a trend, others are a real treat. Newly opened Cue is definitely in the latter camp. It fits […]

Herb

Herb in the heart of Leicester focuses on Keralan vegetarian food. Expect fresh, clear flavours that make the most of herbs and spices, and allow vegetables sing out clearly…

Review: The White Swan at Shawell’s ‘Express Lunch’

March 29th, 2018

Even the best restaurants, especially in rural areas, can sometimes struggle to pull in strong lunchtime trade. GFC favourite The White Swan at Shawell, Leicestershire (recommended by us here), is in a beautiful village location but is actually well placed for many businesses in Lutterworth, Rugby, Magna Park or indeed those passing through the busy […]

Lilu

Lilu of Leicester is an Indian fine-dining restaurant that comes with the tagline “not just a curry” – summing up its ambition to widen the horizons of Indian food lovers…

The Fish & The Chip

The Fish & The Chip in Leicester is fun, informal and inspired by Britain’s love affair with its favourite dish…

Black Iron

Black Iron is located in stunningly renovated Winstanley House Hotel in Leicester’s Braunstone Park and offers first-rate traditional British dining…

45 West launches regular distillery tours

November 21st, 2017

Leading light of the craft-gin revival, 45 West of Leicestershire, is well known for its Gin School Experience (10% off for GFC members). It now hosts regular distillery tours, too. The 90-minute events give juniper fans a chance to hear distiller Liam Armstrong explain how he crafts the three main expressions of the company’s Burleighs […]

Onggi

Onggi in Leicester might be a relatively humble Korean cafe and takeaway but it scores highly on atmosphere, friendliness, professionalism and, of course, delicious umami-rich food…

Kilo Wines

Kilo Wines of Quorn in Leicestershire brings fine, affordable Italian wines from small, family-run vineyards directly to the consumer…

The Fox and Hounds

The Fox and Hounds in Tugby, Leicestershire, is a village local serving proper but unpretentious food with a refreshing lightness of touch…

The Knight & Garter

The Knight & Garter in Leicester brings independent flair and a dedication to quality that makes it stand out from its peers…

Paddy’s Marten Inn

A Leicester institution for over 20 years, Paddy’s is the kind of restaurant that makes the city so famous for Indian food…

Sapori

Sapori in Anstey, Leicestershire, is hidden away down a side street in an old industrial building, but it is one of the region’s best Italian restaurants…

Grounded Kitchen

Leicester’s Grounded Kitchen has a mantra of “eat healthier on the go”, and its Korean-inspired salad bowls offer some delicious freshly-prepped combinations…

A day at Manor Farm Cookery School in Branston, Leicestershire

November 25th, 2016

As food and cookery programmes continue to spread across TV schedules, it’s possibly no surprise that more and more people want to get a bit of extra hands-on experience. Throw in the likes of students looking to learn how to cater for themselves, active retired types wanting to indulge passions, and businesses looking for enjoyable […]

Leicestershire’s Stone’s Dairy – bringing back that traditional dairy taste

October 30th, 2016

It’s bit of a cliché for a small-scale, independent producer to claim that their organic alfalfa sprouts or whatever “taste like alfalfa sprouts used to”. However that is the entirely accurate bottom line when it comes to Stones Dairy and its raw (unpasteurised) milk, butter and cream. Farmer Matt Stone and wife Katie may only […]