A well-known food critic for The Guardian and The Observer witnessed Preston's bustling food scene and left town to write a glowing review for the world to read.
advertisingBefore his trip, Jay Rayner went online to find a restaurant that wasn't yet another popular grocery chain.
During the arduous search for a hearty lunch, he came across a local Chinese restaurant - Roasta Preston, or as he called it, the "pillar cafe" on Plungington Road.
The reviewer was initially skeptical as the restaurant's outstanding Google ratings approached an average five-star rating, but found "warm unanimity" amid the jumble of praise.
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A close up of the 'simply awesome' roast duck and pork belly Image: @jayrayner1Jay was introduced to authentic Hong Kong cuisine at a 20-seat dining venue just outside the city center.
The reviewer was wooed with a range of options to choose from, with the menu specialty being Cantonese meat dishes.
Jay sampled a bit of everything from 'squeaky fresh' shrimp to 'hilariously turbocharged' refried green beans with ground pork to a huge platter of glistening duck wings, duck necks and duck stomachs that creak under your teeth”.
To keep the food high, Jay drank jasmine tea and completed his monumental trip to the rotisserie.
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In the evening, Jay had a premonition for Spanish cuisine and was about to be enveloped by another restaurant in Preston. This time a tapas bar-restaurant called Bar Pintxos, located in the market square.
The foodie managed to get in just before the kitchen closed for a few plates of "pleasant tapas" which weren't too heavy on the stomach.
The finale was a slice of Basque cheesecake and a glass of Pedro Ximénez sherry that "smelled wistfully of Christmas" to end the trip on a sweet note.
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Chicken and rabbit paella at the Pintxos barDescribing the place as "lovely accommodating," Jay said in the review's final notes, "It was a great end to a great day."
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Anthony Smith, owner of Bar Pintxos, said: "I was a little nervous when legend Jay Rayner came in and sat down with us for dinner on a quiet, leafy Tuesday evening.
“He was in Preston trying out this wonderful place in Plungington when he clicked on our location. Nervous was the wrong word, but I'm so glad he liked it."
To read Jay Rayner's review, visit the Guardian website.
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Have you ever been to Roasta Preston or Bar Pintxos? Will you leave after reading the review? Let us know in the comments below.
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