A DECADE ago Abdulla Naseem and Andrew Turner were part of the team from Ramsons restaurant in Ramsbottom that went down to the British Museum to collect the award for Good Food Guide Readers’ Restaurant of the Year.
One Heston Blumenthal handed out the prize to owner Chris Johnson, the achievement owing much to the talents of head chef Abdulla, known universally as Naz. He went on to further acclaim at the Hearth of the Ram down the road in Rammie, celbrating the mill town’s status as a foodie destination.
Fast forward to 2018, Ramson’s is long gone, even Sanmini across the road, another GFG fave, has gone and the Hearth, though still good, has never adequately replaced Naz, who went back to his native Maldives.
As for Andrew, a young sous chef at Ramsons’ pinnacle, he went on to work for Gordon Ramsay and in top French establishments. Now he’s back as chef/patron of the Goose and Gander in the hilltop hamlet of Blackrod, north of Bolton. And his first decisionnat the helm was to call back Naz from tropical exile.
It’s on a par with the ambitious re-fit of the place, whose culinary past is hardly glorious – as Gallagher’s this country pub was serving the likes of pork medallions and sirloin Mexicana back in the day. The new menu is attractive and attractively priced, but hardly reflecting he track records of Andrew and Naz. Still early days and when ToM dropped by trade was roaring. We look forward to reviewing.
The Goose and Gander Country Kitchen and Bar, 38 Little Scotland, Blackrod, Bolton BL6 5LW. 01942 386700.