Koffee Pot

One of the nicest places to eat in Manchester, on Stevenson Square in the Northern Quarter. It was also the first place I ever ventured for something to eat when I first visited the city twenty odd years ago. In those days it was a slightly rougher-edged greasy spoon, I remember they served nice steak and kidney puddings, these days it's gone a little bit trendier along with the rest of the northern quarter, but still retains the greasy spoon charm and relaxed atmosphere while serving food that is a little more thoughtfully prepared than one would usually expect. For instance my cheeseburger and chips came with a greek salad and a dill pickle, and was all the better for it. Also does hefty black puddingy breakfasts and irish breakfasts, kippers on toast, that sort of thing. Great views out of window. Has probably taken over the role as Manchester's best greasy spoon, now that the John Dalton Cafe has gone.

Cheddar's cheddar

There are a number of excellent artisan cheesemakers in Somerset producing good Cheddar, but only one of these is based in Cheddar itself. The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company occupies premises in the Gorge, tucked in amongst all the tourist tat shops, and is about the only place in the whole strip that sells anything worthwhile (how I miss those old mini cider flagons with 'oi've just come up from zummerzet' written on them that I remember from childhood). The CGCC goes to great lengths to be faithful to the original cheddar (which dates back to 1170, apparently) - they use milk from cows who've grazed the local pastures, and now they've begun cave-maturing their stronger varieties - yes, they've been stored in the famous cheddar caves, just as the medieval cheesemakers did. They claim it gives it a distinctly authentic flavour. We bought some of this cave-matured Cheddar today, a very rainy August afternoon, and it is very good, with the pineapply tang that is familiar in the best mature cheddar. Behind the shop you can visit the dairy itself, and watch the cheese being made, though now they seem to charge a small sum for this, I'm sure it was free the last time I came, a few years ago. But well worth a visit.