Le Club Newsletter

Tel: 01200 415 960 August, 2010

Hello Le Club Members!
Can you believe it? We’re half way through the summer! Why
did the winter seem sooooo long and the summer is just flying
by?!
Both the 4th of July and Bastille Day Buffet were big hits! We
had a great turnout for each and thanks to all of you who
helped me celebrate on the 4 th! It’s a big day in my country
and you were all great sports for joining in. The Bastille Day
Buffet was our first public buffet, it was a big hit and there
were many requests for us to do something similar again. New Menu Items
Chef Paul has been busy in the kitchen coming up with
Christmas must be on people’s minds in July because half of
new dishes for the menu. One of the great things about
the weekends in December now have functions booked and my job is I get to taste all of his new creations (lucky the
Christmas Day is already 25% booked! And although the French paradox applies here (you can eat French food and
weather has been a bit half and half, we’ve had several not get fat) at the Bull - I can eat wonderful food all the
evenings where the patio was well filled. And the Lobster and time and not gain an ounce!). And lucky for me most of
Chablis night proved that lobster is very popular indeed here in his creations are ones that I say, “Oh, that’s fabulous, can
the Ribble Valley (and yes, we will do another Lobster Night!). we put it on the menu?” To which he says, “You can’t have
everything on the menu, you know”.
Many of you are keeping up to date with what’s going on on
The process of creating new menu items is an interesting
the Black Bull blog on our website. I’m honoured to have been
one. We start out by paying attention to the existing menu
invited to write a blog for Lancashire Life Magazine. It’s called – what do many people really enjoy and what do just a few
Luscious Lancashire and it’s (surprise!) about food! You can people enjoy. We look at preparation and what can be
find it at: http:// lancashire.greatbritishlife.co.uk/ prepared in a smooth, well-executed way and what things
community/blogs/ are less reliable – both from a preparation and a supplier
point. If we put something on the menu, we have to be
Business update – it’s gotten much busier out here and we able to rely on the supplier to provide it, consistently.
regularly have a crowd in. That’s good for all of us. I’ve said all
along that it takes a whole lot more than just Steve & I to bring Understanding that, we can begin to think about new
menu items. There is a constant discussion between Paul
this pub & restaurant back to life. And many of you have
and I about new dishes, guest preferences and what’s in
twigged the fact that introducing folks to the Bull, helping to season that we could make the most of. Paul will try out
grow a group of Black Bull food lovers results in the treats that each new dish, either on me, at our Supper Club (another
I’m able to share with you. That’s where the £1 glass of wine good reason to visit on a Wednesday!) , or as a daily
comes from on Wednesdays, the amuse bouche on Saturdays, special. That’s why we always check to see how you
the complimentary starters or desserts that periodically appear enjoyed the meal, not just to make sure that it’s done to
here and our taster evenings - all extra special things (and your liking, but also to gauge how much you’re enjoying a
thanks) for you Le Club members. dish that we’re trialling, or deciding to keep or remove a
dish from the menu.
I promised to let you know first when the new dishes are
If a dish passes the initial tasting and guest test phase, we
added to the menu! We’ve added a variety of delicious new review all successful dishes in terms of their preparation
starters, mains & desserts. Available from the 1 st of August! and seasonality and select the successful ones as new
menu items – like a contest where the best dish wins!
And finally, this is not just about growing a business, it’s about
giving back – check out Miracle Mondays! From the first week in August our latest new dishes will be
on the menu! Bon Apetit!
See you next time! Katherine & Steve
 Wine & Women August Supper Club
Sounds very enticing, doesn’t it? It is, but not in the way you August 4th - Navarin of Lamb with Herb Roasted Potatoes –
think! August marks the first wine evening and we’re Tender lamb & vegetables in a rich wine gravy
beginning with Wine & Women. August 11th - Poached Chicken & Wild Mushrooms in White
Wine Sauce
Why a wines class just for women? That’s not fair, I hear you August 18th - Salmon in a Tarragon Pernod Cream Sauce with
say! Actually it is. Women traditionally receive little education Sauteed Potatoes
about wine and therefore are often unsure about what wines August 25th – Crepes! Filled with Ham Hock Strips & Leeks
there are, what they go with and how to pick a decent one. topped with a Cheese Cream Sauce & Frites!
Now this is very interesting considering that in many
households women not only select and prepare the meals, but Miracle Mondays
also, while shopping for the meal, purchase the wine. Now that we’re moving out of totally life-consuming start
up phase and have a few minutes a day to lift our heads
This is an introductory wine class given by Katherine, who has above the parapet, there’s something in the Year 1 Plan
selected all of the wines on the Black Bull wine list. Making no that we can now begin. You’ll have read earlier how
claims to be a wine expert, as a wine lover Katherine does have important we think it is to give back – both to our
a variety of techniques for selecting a good wine for drinking customers and to the community . That’s why this month
and for enjoying with meal. is the beginning of Community Mondays.
This course is designed to introduce you to a variety of wines, 10% of the takings on Mondays will go to a charity or
to share hints on finding a good wine for you, and to show in charitable organisations – that’s Miracle Mondays,
quite a dramatic way what a difference the right wine with the working towards creating miracles. Each week a fund-
right food makes. It’s about what types of wines provide what raising group or individual can sign up to have their
tastes and how those tastes go with what you’re making (or special cause receive 10% of that Monday’s proceeds.
ordering). We’ll work with the fund raiser to promote the cause and
on how to create a good turnout for their Monday.
(Katherine will also share one of the industry’s best kept secrets
for matching food and wine, which will help you pick a good We are currently scheduling in charities and community
wine for your meal virtually every time!) groups for upcoming Mondays. If you have a charity
which you wish to raise funds for, call Katherine to get
So join us at the Bull on Thursday, August 19th for an evening of your charity booked in for a Miracle Monday!
Wine & Women – a tasting, an introduction to wines, and some
thoughts on how to pick a good wine for your meal! (Special
Price for Le Club Members - £20) Christmas Party or Function?
Are you planning that family or work Christmas
party? If you’ve seen the function room at the
Bull, you know it’s a great room for a special
party and if you’ve eaten here before you
already know about the food! Holding up to 60
people for a sit-down meal or up to 100 for a
buffet – the Bull offers a great sized, beautifully
decorated room (one of the few in the area) and
a delicious Christmas lunch or dinner. People
On Organic Wines started booking their parties at the Bull in June,
Is it true there’s no headache with organic wines?
available booking dates filling fast!
Wouldn’t it be fantastic if that were true?! Drinking
too much of any wine will give you a hangover, but (P.S. We’re 50%
often people (especially women) find they get a booked for
headache from even a moderate amount of red wine. Christmas Day!)
Organic wine, drunk in moderation, is less likely to
give a headache than non-organic wines. To prevent
deterioration, all wines are treated with sulphur
dioxide, but most organic winemakers tend to add far
less. Since many people react badly to sulphur, it is
fair to say that organic wine is less likely than normal
winea to
"Wine makes give youofa aheadache.
symphony good meal.“ Fernande Garvin, 'The Art of French Cooking'
 Black Bull Events
August 2010
SUN MON TUES WEDS THURS FRI SAT
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Miracle Beat the Clock – Supper Club - The Gourmet
Monday (10% 5:30 to 7:00 Navarin of Lunch – 5
of proceeds to Lamb Courses for
charitable £25
groups)

8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Miracle Beat the Clock – Supper Club - The Gourmet
Monday 5:30 to 7:00 Chicken with Lunch – 5
(10% of Wild Courses for
proceeds to Mushrooms £25
charitable
groups)

15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Miracle Beat the Clock – Supper Club- The Gourmet
Monday 5:30 to 7:00 Salmon in a Lunch – 5
(10% of Tarragon Courses for
proceeds to Pernod £25
charitable Cream Sauce Women &
groups) Wine 7-9

22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Miracle Beat the Clock – Supper Club – The Gourmet
Monday 5:30 to 7:00 Ham & Leek Lunch – 5
(10% of Crepes! Courses for
proceeds to £25
charitable
groups)

29 30 31
Summer Miracle Beat the Clock –
Monday 5:30 to 7:00
Charity
(10% of
Ball! proceeds to
charitable
groups)
 Summer Charity Ball
An Evening of Dining &
Dancing
at
The Black Bull - Rimington
A delicious event and fund raiser for the Children’s Cancer Research -
£5 from every ticket goes towards discovering a cure for children’s
cancer!
Tickets
£34.95 pp
Menu
Gazpacho & Tomato Water Shot
~~~ Sunday, August
Platter of Salmon & Avacado 29th
Terrine of Confit Chicken & Wild Mushrooms
~~~
Dinner served from
Beef Medallion with Creamed Leeks, Bacon & Red Wine 7:00 to 9:00
Chicken Breast filled with Spinach & Goats Cheese Mousse, a Rich Followed by dancing till
Tomato Sauce & Provencal Vegetables late
~~~
Crème Brulee, Shortbread & Summer Fruit Compote
Chocolate Tart with Vanilla Sauce Sorbet Rimington BB7 4DS T: 01200 415 960

Gourmet Lunch Coming Soon!

- Rooms! You’ve been asking for
Thursdays in August bring them and they’re ALMOST ready!
back our very popular Gourmet Official opening date to be
announced in the September
Lunch. Join us on Thursdays newsletter.
& treat yourself to a delicious
- Online Gift Vouchers! For easy
5-course lunch - £25. This and convenient gift shopping (yes,
offer is for Le Club Members Christmas is coming!) our gift
Only! vouchers will shortly be available for
you on the Black Bull website –