Friday 29th October 2010

Italian Beers Festival
From 6pm

With more than 20 different Italian beers in stock
Come and taste 4 of them with open food buffet
for only £ 20 per person

Bar open until midnight
A’ la carte menu available
**********

Friday 30th July 2010

Food and wine tasting

6 courses and 4 wines to taste
With traditional  Sicily cuisine menu
For only £ 39.95 per person
With the expert Robert Bagot

A’ la carte menu available
**********
Every last Sunday

of the month

“TASTE TEST”
 

Taste your knowledge in Italian Cuisine and treat yourself to a free meal
(excluding drinks and wines)

Select and buy one of the mysterious dishes and if you GUESS ALL *** the ingredients the food at your table is FREE

*** You must guess the exact number of the ingredients.
You must guess all the ingredients
used to prepare the dish including herbs and flavourings. The right name of cheese, wine, cured/seasoned meat, meat, fish, poultry, game, pasta also are necessary.

The ingredients guessed will be compared with a list provide in a closed envelope.

Select between a vegetarian, a fishy and a meaty dish
at £ 12.95

GOOD TASTE!!!!!

PRIZES:
- ALL the ingredients guessed : FREE FOOD FOR THE TABLE
- ONE ingredient missing : 10% OFF THE BILL
- TWO ingredients missing : FREE BOTTLE HOUSE WINE FOR THE TABLE 

                                                     ******************
17 November 2009
2009 A MAGIC TRIUMPH FOR LA LOCANDA IN GISBURN

Last Thursday, 12th November 2009, Gisburn based La Locanda Ristorante Italiano has won the Platinum Awards at the PAPA Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food Industry Awards 2009 held at the Lancaster London Hotel in London.

Organised by the PAPA Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food Association, the prestigious event aims to identify in the category Italian Food Restaurant Award the best in genuine Italian Restaurants in the UK. To this end the restaurant will be presented to specialist where the food served is rooted at the heart of Italian cuisine and which offers a genuine taste of Italy and experience.

The awards, which were attended by 400 leading figures from the pizza, pasta and Italian food industry, are now in their 21st year.

Seven Italian and four pizza restaurants across the UK were given Gold Awards in recognition of their exceptional standards by the Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food Association and Three Platinum Awards were awarded to the restaurants in recognition of outstanding achievement:
La Locanda of Gisburn for the best Italian Restaurant
Tamburino of Yeovil for the best Pizza Restaurant
La Favorita of Edinburgh for the best Pizza Delivery Operator

Pam Sainsbury from PAPA Association said: “La Locanda won the Platinum award for outstanding achievement in providing extremely high quality food, excellent service and good ambience”.

Says PAPA Director Jim Winship: “These awards are important to the industry as they recognise the work being done by restaurants, supermarkets and suppliers to keep pushing the boundaries through innovation and promotion.”

Having won the Taste of Lancashire category at the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards in June, having been Highly Commended for the the Taste of England at the North West Tourism Awards in September and now win as best Italian restaurant in the UK, for La Locanda of Gisburn is a magic THIUMPH!!!!

Commenting on the award, Cinzia Bocchi said, “Winning all these Awards is a dream come true for us. Now we so enjoyed and we take all this as an incentive to continue to provide to all our customers the best of our home Italy.”


                                          ************************


JUNIOR CHEF COMPETITION 2008

June saw La Locanda host the final of the Junior Chef of the Year competition, organised in conjunction with The Clitheroe Advertiser and Times.

Four young chefs from the local area battled it out in the kitchen to impress the judges- owner Maurizio, chefs Andrea and Matteo and the editor of The Clitheroe Advertiser, Vivien Meath.

The four finalists (pictured with La Locanda owners Maurizio and Cinzia Botcchi) were Nicole Welch who attends St Leonard's School, Langho, Anna Threlfall, Norton High School, Fiona Porter of Thorneyholme School and Connor Baron-Hyde of Brookside Primary School.

Nicole Welch was the winner with her macaroni cheese dish really impressing the judges. Her dish will now feature on the restaurant's children's menu for 12 months.

Nicole was awarded £100 for her school and a voucher for a meal for four at La Locanda. Anna Threlfall was runner up and received a cheque for £50 for her school. All four finalists were given a certificate and a specially designed Junior Chef apron.




LA LOCANDA RAISES £1500 FOR LOCAL PLAYGROUND

Gisburn residents came together last week at the villages' award winning La Locanda restaurant and raised £1500 for Gisburn Playing Fields Association.

The fundraising evening was attended by over 40 residents who paid £25 per head for a three course gourmet meal with all proceeds going to the charity. La Locanda owners Cinzia and Maurizio Bocchi also donated a variety of prizes for the raffle, including a nights' one to one cooking lesson from chef Maurizio, which was won by Mr and Mrs Boothman of Barnoldswick.

Established to bring a brand new purpose built playground to the village, the charity has set itself a fundraising target of £110,000 in order to purchase the land and play equipment and so far has secured £85,000 in funding promises and grants.

Cinzia says: "It was a fantastic evening and everyone enjoyed themselves. It's a pleasure to support the Association, especially as the playground will be a huge benefit to the children within the local community."

Giles Bridge, chairman of the Playing Fields Association said: "It is thanks to Cinzia and Maurizio that we have been able to enjoy great food, good company and raise a fantastic amount to help build a first class playground for Gisburn."

For more information about Gisburn Playing Fields Association, please contact Giles Bridge on 01200 445124.


LA LOCANDA REACHES FINAL OF READERS' CHOICE AWARD

Craven Restaurant of the year La Locanda Ristorante Italiano & Wine Bar was this week named as a runner up in the Lancashire Life Food & Drink awards.

Voted among the top three restaurants in the top Readers Choice category, Gisburn-based La Locanda narrowly missed taking the top spot which went to the Cultured Bean at Ramsbottom.

"It was fantastic just to have got through to the finals" said Cinzia Bocchi who runs the award winning restaurant with her husband and head chef Maurizio. "The fact that this particular award was voted for by readers means a tremendous amount to us."

Cinzia and Maurizio attended the prestigious awards ceremony at Manchester's Commonwealth stadium on Tuesday October 2, where 18 different awards were made to top restaurants and hotels across Lancashire, Cheshire and The Lake District.


GISBURN RESTAURANT TAKES ITS CUSTOMERS SHOPPING�IN MILAN

Restaurateur Cinzia Bocchi, of the award winning La Locanda Ristorante Italiano and Wine Bar in Gisburn has always believed in providing her customers with a truly genuine Italian experience. So when it came to visiting this months summer sales in Milan, she invited some of her most loyal customers to join her.

However, the four day trip wasn't just about shopping. Cinzia also ensured that everyone had the opportunity to enjoy some of the regions most interesting historical attractions as well as sample some of Italy's finest wines.

Highlights of the trips were a visit to the ancient roman spa town of Acqui Terme, as well as the majestic Forte di Gavi and the diverse vineyard La Scolca. There were also plenty of opportunities for everyone to try the sort of authentic regional Italian cuisine that Cinzia and husband Maurizio pride themselves in serving at their restaurant.

Commenting on the trip, Cinzia said, "I knew before we set off there were concerns from some husbands and partners at the prospect of ten women being let loose shopping in Milan! The sales are renowned for offering some fantastic Italian brands at bargain prices, but it was important to strike a balance and the trip certainly had a good mix of visits that appealed to all."
 

"All in all it was a very good trip and I've already been asked if we can arrange another trip before Christmas - I have to keep reminding myself I'm a restaurateur, not a tour guide!"

The trip attracted customers from across the area including Colne, Nelson, Horton in Craven, Cliviger, Twiston and even France.

Commenting on the trip, Edith Thwaite from Horton in Craven said, "We all had a wonderful time and our thanks go to Cinzia for arranging it all. It really does make a difference having your very own tour guide who knows where the best shops are, and we certainly came away with some wonderful bargains."


GISBURN�S TINY TOTS CELEBRATE SUMMER WITH HELP FROM LA LOCANDA

Toddlers and their mums and carers who attend Tiny Tots in Gisburn were treated to lunch, Italian style, at their end of term party thanks to village's award winning Italian restaurant La Locanda.

Owners Cinzia and Maurizio Bocchi have carved out a reputation for helping out community projects and Tiny Tots is no exception. The restaurant donated traditional Italian snacks to the group such as freshly made pasta and pizza, mini Italian ciabatta sandwiches, antipasto and homemade ice cream.

Commenting on the gesture of goodwill, Kate Sherry, Treasurer of Tiny Tots said: "We always end the summer term with a picnic lunch and it was great that La Locanda said that they would provide us with the food to celebrate our end of year and they were certainly very generous! "
 

"It's wonderful that a local business is so enthusiastic about supporting us and we're very grateful as we're just a small group. Earlier this year Maurizio and Cinzia baked some biscuits for the children to decorate which was a really fun and creative session and we look forward to working on future play projects with them."

Said Cinzia Bocchi: "It was an absolute pleasure to supply Tiny Tots with the food. We're always keen to introduce young people to traditional regional Italian food and judging by the speed in which it was eaten they thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the ice cream!"

Tiny Tots is a community group for pre-school children and meet at Gisburn Festival Hall on Wednesdays between 1.30pm - 3.00pm during term-time. It is supported by the Ribblesdale Children�s Centre in Clitheroe.

La Locanda Ristorante Italiano and Wine Bar is located on Main Street, Gisburn and is open from Tuesday to Sunday and specialises in authentic regional Italian cuisine. All food is prepared using imported Italian ingredients and locally sourced fresh produce.


LA LOCANDA MAKES IT THROUGH TO SEMI-FINALS OF LANCASHIRE LIFE AWARD

A very, very big thank you to all customers and friends who voted for us in the Lancashire Life Food & Wine Awards 2007/08 we've made it through to the semi-final and are now up against two other restaurants in the region to take the Readers' Choice Award.

We�d greatly appreciate it if you could vote for us again by sending an e-mail to: food&wineawards@archant.co.uk and stating in the message box that you'd like to vote for La Locanda in Gisburn or by calling 01772 329392.

Lancashire Life are giving one lucky person will win two tickets to the awards evening at the City of Manchester Stadium on 2 October, 2007. The winner will be the first name selected at random from the e-mail or telephone entries on the closing date of 14 September, 2007.

Thank you very much for your support!

Cinzia and Maurizio Bocchi


LOCAL ITALIAN RESTAURANT HAS RAISED OVER £16,000 TO HELP LOCAL WOMEN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER

Local residents and regular customers at Craven's Restaurant of the Year, La Locanda, of Gisburn, have raised over £7,000 to help local women in the fight against breast cancer.

The restaurant held two charity events on April 18 and 19 where customers paid by donation for their three course meal and wine and then took part in a grand auction and raffle which included prizes such as private cooking lesson with chef patron, Maurizio Bocchi .

A further £2,000 was donated from the estate of a deceased client of Baldwin and Wyatt solicitors, boosting the two charity nights takings to £9,222.20. The grand total of money raised by the restaurant now stands at £16,340.52.

Cinzia and Maurizio Bocchi, owners, of La Locanda, want to use the fund to encourage women in the Gisburn area to be "breast aware". They are currently in talks with local hospital, Abbey Gisburn Park, to explore the possibility of free wellbeing checks for local women with a particular focus on breast care.

Manager, Cinzia Bocchi says "We are ecstatic with the amount of support and generosity we received from our customers on the evenings. Raising awareness of breast cancer, especially in those under 50 who do not automatically get breast screening on the NHS, is of great importance to me. I hope that this money can go someway towards helping local women in the fight against cancer.

Others auction prizes included a blind banquet for four people at the restaurant which sold for £350 and a three course meal for 10 people, prepared, cooked and served in their own home, including wine, for £530.

La Locanda was named as Craven's Restaurant and Business of The Year 06/07. They specialise in authentic regional Italian cuisine. All food is prepared using imported Italian ingredients and locally sourced fresh produce.


BLIND BANQUET OFFERS AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CUISINE IN GISBURN

La Locanda Ristorante Italiano and Wine Bar of Gisburn, near Clitheroe, is offering customers a true taste of Italy, with a new "Blind Banquet".

Manager, Cinzia Bocchi, explains: "We specialise in authentic regional Italian cuisine and found people kept asking us "what is a typical meal?" so, decided to offer our Blind Banquet option."

The £29.50 secret menu includes an aperitif dish and three courses, all accompanied by different wines. I give a detailed explanation of each course, which may include dishes such as home made fresh pappardelle with wild boar rag and is native to the region of Tuscany. We have an extensive wine cellar so every course has a specially chosen wine which compliments each dish and is also explained" says Cinzia.

Italians are passionate about food and drink and often take hours to enjoy their meals. Chef Patron, Maurizio explains: "We use fresh local produce whilst also importing Italian ingredients and wines. I am dedicated to making sure people eat the best quality food while also having a fun evening. We want to people to share in our Italian enthusiasm for cuisine."

La Locanda's "Blind Banquet" is available to parties of between four and 10 people but not on Saturday evenings. Notification must be given at the time of booking. For further details please call 01200 445303.





LOCAL RESTAURANT SWEEPS THE BOARD AT CRAVEN HERALD ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

La Locanda, the authentic regional Italian restaurant, swept the board in the Craven Herald Business Achievement Awards.

The restaurant in Gisburn, near Clitheroe, scooped both the Restaurant of The Year and Business of The Year award, at a ceremony in Skipton's Rendezvous Hotel last Friday night (Nov 10).

Said Cinzia Bocchi, who runs the restaurant with husband Maurizio: "We are absolutely thrilled with the awards. It is an acknowledgment for all the hard work we have put into the restaurant."

La Locanda has undergone a major revamp this year beginning with a name change and re-brand, followed by the introduction of an Early Bird menu and more recently a kitchen and wine cellar extension. This has enabled them to extend their menu to include fresh pasta, plus home made cakes, pastries and ice cream, which they also plan to sell on a wholesale basis.

La Locanda is an authentic Italian restaurant specialising in regional cuisine. All food is prepared using imported Italian ingredients and locally sourced produce.