The Merlin, Alderley Edge

Big Bird loves a mid-week lunch with friends, and it happens infrequently enough to make it feel like a special occasion, A favourite spot for some time now has been The Merlin, in Alderley Edge.






The Merlin calls itself a pub, but it's done Alderley Edge style, so has seriously stylish interiors and a menu guaranteed to cause decision stress! 

We start, as does any sensible woman, with the wine list.  It's extensive but not silly and there's lots to choose from by the glass.  The obvious wines are there - a Pinot Grigio, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Merlot, a Malbec - but there are also some less well known and these are definitely worth an explore.  I fancied a rosé (not like me, but was feeling pink!) and thoroughly enjoyed my glass of Cerusuolo (£4.75), from Montepulciano.  Very undemanding, softly fragrant and with a low acidity and short finish.  Perfect when you're making it last across two courses.

We shared the Mediterranean Mezze (£11.95) to start.  It was OK, but rather heavy on the bread and low on the rest.  They offered 'baba ghanoush, harissa hummus, tzatziki, chermoula crusted flatbread & hazelnut dukkah crusted aubergines.'  That's what we got, but only three slices of aubergine and smallish dollops of the dips.  The aubergine was fabulous (hence my wish that they'd been a little more generous!) and the dips very flavoursome. But Merlin...this is Cheshire, more - this is Alderley Edge!  We ladies prefer to limit our carbs - so less bread and more of the tasty stuff next time please!

Now, on to our main courses.  My Pancetta Hash (£7.45) came off the starter list and promised 'savoy cabbage, pancetta lardons and potato with béchamel sauce, topped with a free-range hen’s egg and crispy pancetta'.  It was exactly what it promised and was deliciously, carb-ladenly, luscious.  The starter size was enough, and I didn't need the bread. Crispy chunks of ham wrapped in a thick, creamy sauce with squidgey chunks of soft potato. I'd have liked more cabbage (one has to get one's five a day somehow) and a sprinkle more black pepper, but I'd definitely order it again.

My friend chose the Duck Salad (£11.95).  This was good too. Described as 'crispy duck tossed with mooli, sesame seeds, carrot & cucumber in a plum & hoisin sauce', it met expectations and was polished off happily.

Once again, a lovely lunch in wonderful surroundings.  I'll keep going back because I know I can always rely on the food, the wine, the service and the surroundings to make my very rare lunches with friends a real treat with no risk.  I will be asking for more aubergines next time though.

The Merlin, Wilmslow Road, Alderley Edge, SK9 7QL
01625 599 959

SOVANA.CO.UK

If like Little Bird you love your jewellery, and more specifically, you love your bling, then you really should check out a hidden gem on our doorstep…

Sovana.co.uk is a Cheshire-based online jewellery retailer, specialising in glamorous, funky and fabulous British Brands.  Stocking Pranella, Crystal Couture, Gemini London (genuine Swarovski), and Ingenious, they truly have something for everyone, and boys, if you are reading this, then you can score some serious brownie points by gifting your beloved something from here.

And if you’re stuck and don’t know what to buy, the owner will gladly help guide you, providing a knowledgeable and fashionable choice – you can’t go wrong…  And the best bit?  She won’t tell anyone, so you can claim all the credit yourself! 

New this Spring is the very covetable range of Scarves by Pranella, who started out life as a semi-precious jewellery company, and who present a high fashion collection every season, with hand-strung and very, very wearable pieces.

For all you ladies going to the Races this Summer (please, please say we are going to actually get one…) there is a fabulous red-carpet collection from Gemini London, and for those wanting something a little more subtle, but still sparkly-fabulous, then try Crystal Couture by Sovana.

If you will pardon the pun, this is a little gem of a website – fantastic, fashionable, affordable – what more could a girl want…

www.sovana.co.uk

CAFÉ ISTANBUL, KNUTSFORD

Little Bird, and Little Bird’s mother – they say yes!  Which is no mean feat considering one of them is gluten free and dairy free, and the other a notoriously fussy eater!

Café Istanbul has just opened in Knutsford, replacing what used to be Primavera, on King Street.  It’s been open just six weeks, but you would never know, the service is very smooth.

Café Istanbul is expanding quite rapidly, having started out with its flagship restaurant on Quay Street in Manchester, and now has restaurants in Prestwich, Knutsford and Redcar in Leeds.  As a group they’ve been going 32 years, impressive longevity (two recessions!) and plenty time to perfect their offering.

The great thing about Turkish restaurants in general, and this one in particular, is the sheer breadth of the menus.  You would be very hard pushed not to be able to find something you like, and so it’s a great choice for family dining, as there is genuinely something for everyone. 

LB and LB’s Mother visited Easter Bank Holiday Monday for dinner, and we had Hummus and Pitta Bread to start – yes, I know, not very adventurous, but then again, there’s nowhere to hide with the simple stuff!  One portion was more than enough to share as a starter – I’m sure the male readership will be delighted to hear that it was mansize portions all round!  The hummus was lovely – not too salty, and just wonderful on warm, fresh pitta bread.

Then we both happened to choose the same main course – the excellent Lamb Yahni - lamb in paprika, onion and red wine sauce slow cooked until tender. Just delicious.  Meltingly soft, and warm from the paprika, but sweet and very, very more-ish.  Served with rice and salad in just the right amount.  We couldn’t finish the lamb itself as we ladies can’t manage a mansize portion, but we would have done if we could have done!

By this stage we were too full for pudding (not at all like us), so we gracefully retired after starters and mains.  The bill came to £33, which we thought was excellent value.  They also do a lunchtime menu – two courses plus a drink – for £8.95, we’d highly recommend giving it a whirl, and we will definitely be going back.  Top tip – go hungry!

 

125 King Street
Knutsford
WA16 6EH
01565 632 576

istanbulgrillknutsford.co.uk

ASTALIFT

It takes a lot to impress Little Bird, with her 20 years of experience in the cosmetics indusry, but I have to say, the new skincare range from Astalift does exactly that. And better still, it performs better than some of its more premium competitors for less money – what’s not to like?!

Little Bird tried the Astalift Discovery Set, which at £49 is a great value pack, giving you a four week supply of Aquarysta Jelly and a six week supply of day and night cream, and a four month supply of eye cream. 


It also gives you a Cleansing Oil product, but I can’t comment on that one as I didn’t use it (I just don’t like cleansing oil as a format, although I have friends who are evangelical about it). 

The good thing about offering a pack like this, and other cosmetic companies take note, is that it actually gives you enough of the stuff to do a meaningful trial, meaning any repurchase is purely because you have used enough of it to know if it is going to work for you, without having had to outlay a small fortune for an entire range.

The ‘Jelly’ is used like a serum – and after four weeks of use (morning and night before the moisturisers), I can safely say Little Bird’s lines were definitely less deep – particularly the pesky forehead lines and nose to mouth lines.  Result.

Now, Little Bird is hardly the most aged specimen on the planet, and isn’t really old enough (a tender 42) to have any significant degree of ‘sag’ going on, but that said, when she puts the Day Cream on her skin definitely feels ‘whoa, that’s firm.’  It’s a lovely unctuous texture, good for dry skin, but not so rich as to leave you shiny. 

The Night Cream is very ‘feel good’, and is more unctuous still, making you look plumped up and radiant on waking (big result).

The Eye Cream is nothing short of miraculous.  The full size eye cream retails at £40, and is a true bargain in terms of its efficacy.  Little Bird usually uses a £104 eye cream (scandalous, I know, but in my defence I did inherit it from my mother), which is a very, very good eye cream.  But I would have to say at £40 this is definitely better.  Just to be sure, Little Bird only did one eye for 4 weeks to see the difference, and the difference was very definite.  It has fantastic line-reducing properties, and again was very smoothing and firming.  And the best bit… it doesn’t ‘rub off’ when makeup is applied over the top of it.  (I’ve now applied the cream to both eyes, as my slightly piratical lopsided look was starting to alarm my neighbours!)

All in all, Little Bird fielded many compliments during her trial time, and was seriously impressed.  Just for once, a cosmetic company has come good with its promise to make you look radiant.

Top Tip – order online from Debenhams.com when they have a mega day, and you’ll get an extra 10% off.  Otherwise available from Boots.com, and Astalift.co.uk

Polished Glass

Red Tern, by iitala

Polished Glass in Knutsford has to be one of the nicest gift shops around, in my opinion.  The shop is run by the very charming Maureen Kulikowska and her husband John, who have been in the same premises for some time now, so they know both their customers and their stock extremely well.

Little Bird first discovered Polished Glass about six years ago, whilst out shopping for a friend’s birthday present.  The friend ended up with nothing, but Little Bird got a great necklace and pair of earrings from the outing! (Shame on Little Bird, bad friend!)

To be fair, she did actually go back (hanging her head in shame) a week later to get her friend a pendant necklace.  Over the following six years, Polished Glass became the staple ‘go to’ for all manner of presents, and of course, Little Bird now has an enviable collection of jewellery to boot ;0)

Sunset Storm Ocean Vessel, by Graham Muir

Maureen first opened her business as a source of Polish glass (hence the name, geddit?) but in the years since discovered so many talented glass-makers, both at home and all over Europe, that you can now find glass art, jewellery, vases, glasses, coasters…etc, from all over the place.

Maureen and John have a wealth of knowledge about all their chosen artists and brands, and they seek out new products all the time, bringing a freshness to the collection all year round, meaning you can go in and add to your own collection all the time – bad for the wallet, but good for the soul!

For beautiful, unusual jewellery, stylishly different home accessories, and gifts for all ages and occasions – I say look no further, and tell Maureen and John that Little Bird sent you!

Polished Glass

19 King Street

Knutsford WA16 6DW

Get directions

01565 651 651