Food News, with Christine Rutter

GOLFERS in Blackburn are enjoying some of the best table service and tastiest grub in the country.

Blackburn Golf Club, whose chef is Ray Thompson, is one of four finalists out of thousands vying for the crown in the Club Mirror Awards 1998 to find the best club caterer in Britain.

Ray's wife Sandra, the club steward, and their barman Richard Simmons have also been short-listed for awards in the competition, run in the Daily Mirror newspaper.

Their recent success is sweeter because Ray and Sandra have survived two horrifying ordeals which nearly claimed both their lives.

Former Accrington and Rossendale catering student Ray, 33, realised he had had a narrow escape when an IRA bomb exploded in South Quay Plaza 2 in London, wrecking his former workplace only a fortnight after he had moved back up North.

Ray, who has worked in top hotels in places such as Jersey and Grasmere, now runs Blackburn catering company Wedge 'n' Bite.

He said: "I saw the television broadcast and recognised the street. I suddenly realised it was the industrial unit I worked in. I knew I'd had a lucky escape."

And only months ago, Sandra, 39, was involved in a serious car accident which left her pelvis broken in two places. She was unable to work for months and this was when barman Richard really came into his own.

Accrington-born Ray said: "Richard is just a 19-year-old college student but he took it on himself to clean the lines, carry the barrels - everything. He was invaluable and this is why we nominated him for the club bar person award."

Between the three of them they have transformed routine snacks into scrumptious feasts, attracting plenty of hungry diners to the club.

Ray said: "When we came to the club, catering was not at the forefront.

"People now come just to dine rather than using it as somewhere to go after a round of golf. We now do 200 meals just on Saturday. On the bar snack side, we make home-made pizzas - everything from scratch. We go for the quality side of it, large portions and well presented."

And golfers are now rediscovering the intricacy of their palates with gourmet dinner dances on a pop star theme. The Madonna menu features a Sean Penn dish containing penne with garlic and basil and Dress You Up is a delicious crab cocktail.

The Cher menu features dishes such as Heart of Stone, a medley of mango and apricot.

Ray said: "The dinner dances are always fully booked and we have to limit numbers now. They give me a chance to stretch myself a bit and do some more exciting dishes.

"It has been very successful for the golf club as much as for us."

Of the award, he said: "We have only been at the club about two years, so we are delighted to be shortlisted in such a prestigious national competition.

"We are very excited and hope we win overall"

The club was judged on its bar snacks and dinner dance menus and a blind tasting will take place to choose a winner, who will be announced during an awards ceremony at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Thursday, November 26.

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