Having to dash over to the UK it was a surprise to walk into the Mercure Hotel in Bolton and be able to speak french to the staff. Naturally the Mercure is a French hotel chain but in BOLTON; Northern England was a real surprise? Checked in, room organised, then down to the bar at around 8pm with thoughts of heavy northern food in my mind. As the night was closing in with a cool minus 3 the need for warm and wholseome food was paramount. The restaurant was open but there was also bar food so I ordered a Shepherd’s Pie, which was the least exotic on the menu . 
There is a debate about the term and what is what – Cottage Pie if minced-meat; Shepherd’s Pie if Lamb apparently.
The Pie was accompanied by a cabbage, sweet-pea and spinach mix lighty fried in Olive Oil. It was really, really a scrumptious meal of crusty cheese topping, tasty minced beef, sweet-pea and carrots in a tasty sauce. What a beautiful dish on a cold winter’s night. The little sprig of thyme was unusual for northern-english cuisine.
Looking into the internet for information it was disturbing to hear that Tanzanians eat a version made with stray cats!? Surely this is not true?
Art of Oils 