Bolton is a big town - after living here for 9 years there are many parts of it that I have still not been to.
One of the things I love about living here is that despite its size, it has a strong community spirit. So when somewhere new and exciting opens, word spreads like wildfire.
I have been hearing great things about Provenance Food Hall & Restaurant in Westhoughton since they opened in the summer of 2015.
They are obviously doing something right because they have been featured in the 2017 Good Food Guide, putting Westhoughton firmly on the foodie map.
On the ground floor is the food hall - a veritable smorgasbord of high quality produce that is heaven for any food lover.
Cheeses, pastries, steaks... how have I not been here before! This is what Bolton has been crying out for - what I wouldn't give to have this range of locally sourced delicacies near home.
You have to pass through the food hall to reach the restaurant upstairs so you arrive drooling, ready for something special.
We arrived early for lunch but this proved no trouble for the helpful team at Provenance who seated us in our own corner of the bright and modern eatery, overlooking the busy Market Street.
Now that we are parents, the facilities in a restaurant are even more important than before - we were given a very good high chair for our daughter and there is a communal area outside the toilets with baby changing. This is such a fantastic idea that I wish more places offered rather than making parents change their children in the disabled toilet.
Homemade Chilli Hummus with bread
Rustic and chunky with a kick, our shared starter got us off on the right foot. Like a spicy guacamole, it perfectly fulfilled my current obsession for avocado based dishes.
Beazley Sausage & Mash with Crushed Peas
What a revelation. Somewhere that offers an exciting and diverse children's menu!
My daughter polished this dish off in record time. Easily the best restaurant meal she has ever had - I could not be more impressed with the quality of the ingredients, especially the sausages. We switched out the green beans for peas which proved no fuss at all for the very accommodating Provenance team.
The sausage was so good that we bought some from the Food Hall to take home.
Buttermilk Fried Chicken Burger, Homemade Beans, Fries
Hannah ordered the chicken burger which was to die for. Sweet and succulent on a brioche bun.
The surprise star of the dish are the 'tomatoey' beans. Superb.
Beef Burger, Gem Lettuce, Beef Tomato, Gherkins, Tomato Relish, Treacle Cured Bacon, Lancashire Cheese with fries
Just what a burger lover wants. The best produce used to create a classic taste. You can really taste the difference with such good ingredients.
This is exactly the kind of place I love - somewhere that values high quality local produce, a family friendly environment and excellent customer service.
It was so good that we took home 3 vanilla slices, a chocolate brownie, some sausages and a couple of steaks!
If you are taking the family out for a bite to eat, go here, you won't regret the trip to Westhoughton. We are already planning our return to try the Chateaubriand and enjoy one of their live piano evenings.
