Review: Mikshake and Panini Press, Blackburn Market (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Review: Mikshake and Panini Press, Blackburn Market

4:24pm Thursday 29th December 2011 in Takeaway reviews By Anna Mansell, Features writer

OPENING an ice cream milkshake bar in the middle of winter may seem like madness.

But, throw in a festive speciality and a neighbouring panini stall, and it seems to be a recipe for success.

In the Christmas spirit, we went for a mince pie milkshake; an actual mince pie blended with ice cream and milk, only available in a large size.

As mince pies are always better with a good dollop of cream, it definitely worked as a combination — but after tasting, we agreed it needed more mincemeat to up the festive flavour.

Also in our order were fresh strawberry and Daim bar milkshakes, chosen from a mind-boggling 150 flavours — pretty much any chocolate bar, sweet, and cakey treat you could imagine.

They went down well.

Panini Press has a good selection of the toasted, baguette-like sandwiches, with fillings including cheese and onion, cheese and ham, and turkey, stuffing and cranberry, from £1.80.

I ordered a Dales sausage, onion marmalade and cheese, and a cheese, tomato and pesto panini.

Sited opposite Dales Butchers’ own stall in the market, this is just the kind of collaboration I’d like to see more of.

Both paninis had plenty of filling, and just the right amounts of pesto and onion to balance the cheese.

The shakes are more of a treat, at £2.50 for a small, but the panini are good value.