Sunday 31 March 2013

The Wick At Both Ends - Review

Sadly, an orb floated over the "Ends" bit.
I'm perilously close to falling off the wagon with this food blogging malarkey. The horse is racing away and I'm hanging onto the back of my clunky wagon, perhaps with both hands but possibly only one. My legs are certainly flailing though.

I've had an awful cold, a super new job (hello any bosses reading this!), the search for a new flat and it's all meant that I've become a bit more relaxed about writing and cooking.

What am I still doing though? EATING OUT, that's what.

Anyway, don't panic because I'm far too greedy to ever stop eating and as soon as I get my mind back, I'll be on at you all again. In the meantime, you may now read about the time I was invited to road-test the new Spring menu at the Wick At Both Ends on West Street.

GOING UP WEST TO THE WICK
Food Review: The Wick at Both Ends
Address: 151 West Street, Sheffield S1 4EW

Visit Laura's blog at www.meanmuncher.blogspot.com
It really is refreshing to visit The Wick At Both Ends (henceforth TWABE, for the sake of my word count) with a clear head. The last time I was here, I was treated to a flambéed lemon cheesecake shot which also doubled up as a Men in Black ‘Neuralyzer’, causing me to lose all memory between the hours of 11pm and 6.30am.

This time though, sober and strained from work, I stumbled into TWABE to sample the new menu and was immediately tranquilized - not by the alcohol – but by the dreamy low-ceiling, the nooks and crannies strewn with entwined fairy lights and ivy, the muted candles and dark wood flooring. I thought to myself “Wow, it’s good at night and it’s great in the day…I wonder where they get the name from?”

TWABE is more Division Street than West Street but I’m glad it’s chosen the latter as its home. It’s a bit like Caitlin Moran writing for the Times: she doesn’t just take the easy Grauniad route and preach to the converted. TWABE is the same sort of thing and West Street is all the better for it.

My guest ordered a selection of 3 small plates for £10: welsh cockle pies, mini cottage pies and a carpaccio of duck. I decided to gallantly sample the mushroom burger (£6.95) with an extra helping of Y-Fenni mustard and ale cheese.


Now, I don’t want to get too brown-nosey about the burger but this one does beat almost all of the offerings from dedicated burger restaurants. I’ll try to tell you why because after all, that’s why I’m here, isn’t it? It’s the bun – which is so soft and brioche-like, it’s the chips which – shock horror – are included in the price and it’s the piece of information, underneath the burger selection, that doesn’t just say “add cheddar” but permits you to add ANY cheese from the cheeseboard to your burger.


We were similarly impressed by the Welsh cockle pies which, once you broke through the delightful crispy pastry on top, were full of creamy sauce, bacon, leeks and fairly obviously, cockles. These were the pinnacle of the show and are highly recommended. The cottage pie was, well, a cottage pie and it would be silly to expect anything other than a homemade-tasting pot of beef and peas in a gravy sauce (the rich, red wine element being slightly lost) topped with mash. Nothing bad about that though and certainly a safe choice.


And finally was the carpaccio of duck, which was delightful in itself with the port and cherry reduction but - and now I’m being really picky - didn’t need the extra garnish of glacé cherries; a bit like a supremely good-looking bloke wearing too much expensive aftershave.


To finish off, we took 2 of the 3 desserts (which can cleverly be used as 1 of your 3 small plates for £10): cheesecake with a raspberry coulis and freshly baked cookies with ice cream. The other option is baked chocolate fondant served in a teacup, which for me completes perhaps the most faultless trio of desserts on offer in any restaurant, any where.

The fair prices, the quiet, the warmth, the good music, the service and the quality and choice of the food mean that, for me, TWABE is a Sheffield meal you can’t afford to miss out on.

The Wick at Both Ends on Urbanspoon

Pin It Now!

27 comments:

  1. Lovely. Please don't give up blogging, you do it so well and I love reading it :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Heya terrific blog! Does running a blog such
    as this take a large amount of work? I've absolutely no knowledge of programming however I was hoping to start my own blog in the near future. Anyways, should you have any ideas or tips for new blog owners please share. I know this is off topic but I simply wanted to ask. Many thanks!

    My homepage; classic cars

    ReplyDelete
  3. Terrific work! This is the kind of information that are supposed to be
    shared around the web. Disgrace on Google for no
    longer positioning this put up upper! Come on over and
    visit my website . Thank you =)

    Feel free to visit my blog post :: Fashion Dress

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, this paragraph is pleasant, my sister is analyzing these things, so I am going to
    convey her.

    Here is my web page - home architecture

    ReplyDelete
  5. If you would like to take much from this post then you have
    to apply such techniques to your won weblog.


    My web blog entertainment news today

    ReplyDelete
  6. Howdy very nice website!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .

    . I will bookmark your site and take the feeds additionally?
    I am glad to find a lot of helpful info right here within
    the publish, we'd like develop extra strategies on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

    My web-site :: Colleges and Universities

    ReplyDelete
  7. This article offers clear idea in support of the new users of
    blogging, that really how to do blogging.

    Here is my web blog

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hey just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the images aren't loading correctly. I'm
    not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I've tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same outcome.

    my page http://custobox.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I was wondering if you ever thought of changing
    the structure of your website? Its very well written;
    I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could
    a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
    Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or two pictures.
    Maybe you could space it out better?

    Here is my homepage; Games Articles

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow that was unusual. I simply wrote an really long comment but when
    i clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m maybe not writing all that once more.
    Anyways, just wanted to say great web log!

    Also visit my website - financial business news

    ReplyDelete
  11. Its like you learn my mind! You appear to grasp so much approximately
    this, like you wrote the ebook in it or something. I feel that you could do with some p.
    c. to pressure the message house a little bit, but other than that, that is fantastic blog.

    An excellent read. I will definitely be back.

    Also visit my site: aircraft manufacturing

    ReplyDelete
  12. We absolutely love your blog and find nearly all of your post's to be just what I'm
    looking for. can you offer guest writers to write content for you personally?
    I wouldn't mind creating a post or elaborating on most of the subjects you write concerning here. Again, awesome website!

    Also visit my weblog ... video game articles

    ReplyDelete
  13. I understand this if off topic but I’m considering starting my own weblog and was
    wondering what all is required to get set up? I’m assuming having
    a blog like yours would cost a fairly penny?

    I’m not very web savvy so I’m perhaps not 100% positive.

    Any tips or advice will be greatly appreciated. Be thankful

    Also visit my blog - food industry news

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi to every body, it's my first go to see of this web site; this web site consists of remarkable and in fact excellent information designed for readers.

    Here is my weblog: social media and communication

    ReplyDelete
  15. Today, I went to the beach front with my kids.
    I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4
    year old daughter and said "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear." She placed the shell to her ear and screamed.
    There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants
    to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!



    Take a look at my homepage latest financial news

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi! Do you use Twitter? I’d prefer to follow you if that would be okay.
    I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new
    updates.

    Here is my webpage ::

    ReplyDelete
  17. I’m maybe not that much of a internet reader to be honest your websites
    really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your internet
    site to return afterwards. All the best

    Also visit my site ... solar energy articles

    ReplyDelete
  18. When I originally commented I clicked the "Notify me when new comments are added" checkbox and now each time a
    comment is added I get several emails with the same comment.
    Is there any way you can remove people from that service?
    Bless you!

    Take a look at my web-site :: Fashion Dress

    ReplyDelete
  19. Yesterday, while I was at the office, my cousin stole
    my iphone and tested to see if it could survive a twenty five
    foot drop, just so she can be quite a youtube sensation.
    My ipad by apple is currently broken and she's 83 views. I know that is completely off topic but I had to fairly share it with somebody!

    Here is my blog post; electrical engineering news

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks for your marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it, you'll be an excellent author. I'll make sure to bookmark your site and
    can often come back later on. I wish to encourage you to continue your best wishes, have a nice weekend!



    Feel free to visit my web blog; college or university

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great blog! Do you have any hints for aspiring writers? I'm planning to start my own site soon but I'm a little lost on everything.
    Would you recommend starting with a free platform like
    Wordpress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that
    I'm completely overwhelmed .. Any tips? Bless you!

    My site Fashion Hairstyles

    ReplyDelete
  22. Amazing blog! Do you have any helpful hints for aspiring writers?
    I'm hoping to start my own site soon but I'm a little lost on everything.
    Would you advise starting with a free platform like Wordpress or
    go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I'm completely overwhelmed .. Any ideas? Many thanks!

    Here is my blog; internet marketing news

    ReplyDelete
  23. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you
    relied on the video to make your point. You definitely know
    what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog
    when you could be giving us something informative to read?


    Visit my blog post home articles

    ReplyDelete
  24. Greetings! Very useful advice within this article! It's the little changes that produce the biggest changes. Many thanks for sharing!

    Check out my web page government

    ReplyDelete
  25. My partner and I definitely love your site and
    find many your post’s to be exactly what are I’m searching for.
    is it possible to offer guest writers to create content for you personally?
    I wouldn’t mind making a post or elaborating on a few of the subjects you write in relation to here.

    Again, awesome weblog!

    Here is my webpage :: current financial news

    ReplyDelete
  26. Helpful information. Lucky me I found your website accidentally, and I'm stunned why this accident did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.

    Here is my web site; electric articles

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thank you, I have recently been looking for info approximately this subject for a while and yours
    is the greatest I have came upon so far. However, what about the conclusion?
    Are you certain concerning the source?

    Here is my weblog; Home & Family

    ReplyDelete