"Snack time heals all wounds."
Bridger Winegar, American TV writer
Monday 26 March 2018
Monday 19 March 2018
Quote of the Week - Week commencing Monday 19 March 2018
"I won't be impressed with technology until I can download food."
Anon
Monday 12 March 2018
Quote of the Week - Week commencing Monday 12 March 2018
"Avoid fruits and nuts. You are what you eat."
Jim Davis, American actor
Monday 5 March 2018
Quote of the Week - Week commencing Monday 5 March 2018
"If we shouldn't eat at night, why is there a light in the fridge?"
Anon
Saturday 3 March 2018
West Ivy
2 Rock Place, Bury
West Ivy is the latest in a
selection of restaurants which have opened, or are about to open, on The Rock
shopping complex, as part of the gentrification of Bury’s town centre. School
friends Ata Mubeen and Luke Rafferty have opened the contemporary grill,
branching out following the success of their other eatery, Smoke Yard, in Oldham.
Their aim is simple – to offer
a dining experience which wouldn’t feel out of place in Manchester or London, but
without the hefty price tag. But for Ata and Luke, dining is not just about the
food, but rather the experience as a whole, which is why they’ve spent time and
money refurbishing the shop unit, complete with decking and outside lighting.
Inside, the decor carries a botanical theme, with a mixture of wooden and
marble tables and filament lighting.
At first glance, it’s so far,
so good. On Saturday lunchtime, without a reservation we wouldn’t have got a
table. They were turning people away at the door when I arrived, which is
always a good sign.
Despite being open since late
January, a menu has yet to appear online, which is disappointing if, like me,
you like to study the menu for three working days prior to your visit. This
causes a great deal of stress when you’re trying to skim through the entire
menu as quickly as possible, whilst turning away the waiter wanting to take
your order numerous times.
Eventually, I decided it was
to be halloumi fries for starters. I’m fairly new to this whole halloumi hype.
Much like pulled pork and smashed avocado before it, it’s very much a fashionable
food trend of the moment. I can see why, as there’s something so enjoyable
about this Greek cheese made from goat’s milk, despite its squeaky texture. Often
served grilled, halloumi has a high melting point, which means it can be cooked
without being melted. Served lightly battered with a sweet chilli sauce for
dipping is the perfect way to enjoy this cheese. The fries are beautifully
presented too, complete with chunky homemade coleslaw on a bed of lettuce. Six
chunky fries for just £4.95 – bargain!
 |
| Halloumi Fries |
For main course, it was the
inventively named Chickarizo burger: grilled chicken breast and chorizo
slathered in melted brie with peppers and coleslaw, served in a seeded brioche
bun with a side of salted, skin-on fries. The deliciously tender, juicy chicken
breast, chorizo and melted brie were a match made in heaven, and the coleslaw
added a crunch to the tasty beast. Served
with a generous portion of fries for £10.95, it was very reasonably priced.
 |
| Chickarizo |
My friend had a halloumi kebab
(there’s a theme here), hung with peppers and sliced corn-on-the-cob over sweet
potato fries. Despite not being in the slightest bit disappointed with my
burger, I couldn’t help but have a little bit of food envy, salivating at the
sight of this tall, tempting kebab. It’s definitely one to bear in mind for
next time. There are chicken and prawn options too.
 |
| Halloumi hanging kebab |
Sadly, at this time of the
year, Lent means I forgo chocolate and cakes, my ultimate vices, which means I’m
heavily restricted when it comes to dessert, normally my favourite part of the
meal. I’ll be returning to West Ivy in a few weeks time to sample either a
dessert or one of their intriguing milkshakes, which include peanut butter and Oreo
creations and a Unicorn shake, made up of strawberries and marshmallows. It’s
this kind of quirk which West Ivy hopes will set it aside from your
run-of-the-mill grill.
The majority of tables were
having afternoon tea, which is far from your traditional sandwiches and cakes.
West Ivy’s take on this classic British tradition includes avocado bruschetta,
cheesy brie and onion on toast and salted caramel cheesecake. I’ll be back to
sample, and review, this at a later date.
It’s easy to see why West Ivy
has hit the ground running. The staff were friendly, the service was faultless,
the food was delicious and it’s all very reasonably priced. It’s a refreshing
change from the mundane chains which have occupied The Rock since its
inception.
Whilst you can’t see a menu as
of yet, you can visit the Facebook page for some pictures:
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