Nouvelle cuisine in Rishton. Help?

[garinda]

Returning from a family dinner out in Ramsbottom/Bury way tonight, (Fisherman's retreat, very good,) we were discussing the number of local restaurants which have closed down over the years.

We were talking about one that opened up in Rishton in an old Co-op building, though it could have been Gt. Harwood. Late eighties.

We think the chef/owner was called Wiggington, a local, who'd been trained in London, and later returned north to open a very swishy nouvelle cuisine restaurant.

It was decorated black and white inside, like an eighties Adam and the Ants pop video. Very chic, and probably a bit ahead of it's time, because it only lasted a few years. Lancastrians prefering something a bit more filling than some foam, drizzled with jus, next to an artfully placed flower.

I can only come up with the name Harlequins, but my Ma thinks it had a French name.

Anyone remember?

Please settle the confusion going round in my bonce.

[garinda]

Pierrot's?

Oh it's bugging me.

[steeljack]

is this the place Auberge, in Rishton

Auberge Restaurant - Traditional English and Continental Dining in Rishton Lancashire.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by steeljack

is this the place Auberge, in Rishton

Auberge Restaurant - Traditional English and Continental Dining in Rishton Lancashire.

No Auberge is still there, in the old bank. and is still successful.

This only existed for a few years, '87/'89?

The food was exquisite, but did, like all fancy dolly food of the time, leave you wanting to go the chippy on the way home.

I was living in London, so was used to eating gold leafed Nasturtiums, and probably only went there once, when I was up visiting, but the name eludes me.

On a side note, nouvelle cuisine was an extreme of it's time, but it did make people realise that you eat with your eyes, as well as your mouth. Nowadays we've moved on, and want good quality ingredients, reasonably price, and well presented. So the eighties fripperies did serve a purpose.

[steeljack]

Re. Food ..Just wish you'd take back to the UK those two British cooks who are never out off US TV, the foul mouthed one and the younger "youf" both complete *******. Pity one of the fat Ladies passed over , could put with them , good food and good stories

[garinda]

Originally Posted by steeljack

Re. Food ..Just wish you'd take back to the UK those two British cooks who are never out off US TV, the foul mouthed one and the younger "youf" both complete *******. Pity one of the fat Ladies passed over , could put with them , good food and good stories

Nah, you laud Gordy and Jamie, you keep 'em.



Talking of Two Fat Ladies, I used to know Jennifer Patterson, or Miss Paterson, as I called her, before she became famous.

I adored her. She used to tootle up through Belgravia on her moped, done up to the nines, but with an old fashioned helmet plonked on her head, and her thick specs. Leave her bike in the middle of Knightsbridge, and then order lots of lovely things for 'her darling boys'. The boys being the Fathers at the London Oratory. She always reminded me of the spoof soap star Sister George, from The Killing of Sister George, played by Beryl Reid.

We used to have a real laugh, and she was charming and eccentric, and pleasure to know. I was really suprised, and happy for her, when fame brought financial stability towards the end of her life.

Past life, blah, blah. But who remembers Rishton's nouvelle cuisine past?

[cashman]

have no idea of that un, thought Rishton closed in the 70s.

[MargaretR]

Nobody remembers because only you ever went

[garinda]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

Nobody remembers because only you ever went

Lol, I went only once. My parents, and their friends went quite regularly.

It was really popular, for a while. At least two or three years.

Someone must have donned their shoulder pads, and got their big hair through their door.

[steeljack]

going back 40 odd yrs Rishton had a late night eatery (popular with Arroders and Rishtoners after the pubs shut at 11 pm ) was notable because it was one of the first in the area to serve "Steak Diane " as a late night snack , (probably thinly sliced schmuck ,quick fried with mushroom gravy) exotic at the time in these parts at the time.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

Nobody remembers because only you ever went

It was a bit pricey, but I really don't think they'd have survived for at least a couple of years, off the one and only visit I made, even though I'm a big tipper.

I love giving those less fortunate than myself tips.

"Blue and green should never be seen, except with something in between."

Have that on me.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by steeljack

going back 40 odd yrs Rishton had a late night eatery (popular with Arroders and Rishtoners after the pubs shut at 11 pm ) was notable because it was one of the first in the area to serve "Steak Diane " as a late night snack , (probably thinly sliced schmuck ,quick fried with mushroom gravy) exotic at the time in these parts at the time.

Steely mate chips n peas are exotic in rishton.

[MargaretR]

Up north we don't care for green beans on the same plate as blueberries, even when arranged artisticly

[steeljack]

Originally Posted by cashman

Steely mate chips n peas are exotic in rishton.

Yep , agree thats why the place was classed as "Exotic"

[garinda]

Originally Posted by steeljack

going back 40 odd yrs Rishton had a late night eatery (popular with Arroders and Rishtoners after the pubs shut at 11 pm ) was notable because it was one of the first in the area to serve "Steak Diane " as a late night snack , (probably thinly sliced schmuck ,quick fried with mushroom gravy) exotic at the time in these parts at the time.

I was always envious when I was a toddler, that my parents had been out for 'chicken in a basket', somewhere in the Ribble Valley.

I was really disappointed a couple of years later, when I chose it, when we'd stopped somewhere on route to our holidays.

It wasn't even a proper basket.

It was plastic.