Lincolnite taste test: Which is the best pancake or waffle in Lincoln?
Pancake Day only comes around once a year, so it can be hard to decide on the toppings – chocolate? Golden syrup? Banana? Bacon? And that is without considering all the shops and cafes offering delicious desserts. In honour of Pancake Day, we decided to sample pancake dishes from restaurants in Lincoln. We’ve even thrown…
Pancake Day only comes around once a year, so it can be hard to decide on the toppings – chocolate? Golden syrup? Banana? Bacon? And that is without considering all the shops and cafes offering delicious desserts.
In honour of Pancake Day, we decided to sample pancake dishes from restaurants in Lincoln. We’ve even thrown in special alternatives to the traditional treat!
Our contenders were:
Churchills Bacon Pancake Stack (£3.95) – A stack of Scotch pancakes with rashers of bacon and maple syrup
Madam Waffle’s Mandarin and Chocolate Waffle (£6.25) – A large waffle with Mandarins and chocolate orange crisps, and cointreau orange-lemon sauce
Madam Waffle’s Just Waffle with Ice Cream (£4.85) – A large plain waffle with vanilla ice cream
Bar Unico’s Nutella and Crepe Torta (£3) – A slice with seven layers of pancakes, Nutella and cream
All the meals were tried by our two reviewers Jamie Waller and Megan Taylor, and scored for taste and presentation. Value for money was also taken into account.
American style
First up to be tested was Churchills’ bacon pancake stack. They looked delicious, especially once we drizzled golden syrup on them. There were four American-style scotch pancakes with a rasher of bacon between each one.
The stack proved slightly difficult to cut into without the stack collapsing. However, the taste was worth it. They were savoury with perfectly-done bacon. The pancakes were slightly rubbery but this can be put down to the time it took to get them back to The Lincolnite offices rather than dining in.
What pancake stack would be complete without golden syrup?
Both reviewers agreed they looked good and tasted even better. It was also great value for money. If you were looking for a cheap dessert or main, this would leave you reasonably satisfied.
The Bacon stack was difficult to cut but tasty
Taste score: 7/10 and 8/10
Presentation: 6/10 and 6/10
Total score: 27
A pancake alternative
Next up was the mandarin and chocolate waffle from Madam Waffle. This is available all year round but had a cointreau orange-lemon sauce specially for Pancake Day.
Madame Waffle’s Mandarin and Chocolate Waffle
The reviewers disagreed on how appetising this looked; the chocolate orange crisps were a nice touch, but the mandarins were perhaps too unusual to appeal to everyone. However, the quality seemed to match the price tag.
Reviewers were split on the Mandarin waffle’s appearance
The waffle texture was sweet, fluffy and easy to cut into. The mandarins were quite sour when they were combined with the chocolate. It also created a mix of textures. The fruit wasn’t to both reviewers’ tastes but they received points because the chocolate orange crisps were nice with the waffle on their own.
The orange chocolate crisps were a nice touch
Taste: 4/10 and 6/10
Presentation: 6/10 and 9/10
Total score: 25
Next came the same waffle but with ice cream and golden syrup. The ice cream had melted slightly but in our opinion this made it more convenient to eat.
Churchill’s Just Waffle with golden syrup
The waffle looked appetising with golden syrup alone, which we had lots of fun drizzling on. The dusting of icing sugar also really enhanced its appearance. The vanilla ice cream was an added bonus visually – however it made all the difference when eating it.
The ice cream really enhanced the plain waffle
The reviewers were unanimous – it was almost perfect. It was classic but effective. The combination of simple flavours and ice cream made it really enjoyable to eat.
Simple but delicious
Taste: 9/10 and 9/10
Presentation: 8/10 and 8/10
Total score: 34
Chocolate explosion
From Bar Unico, we purchased a Pancake Day special which can only be described as a chocolate explosion. It was comprised of seven layers of pancakes with Nutella, mascarpone, fresh cream and a chocolate ganache. Our version was slightly smaller than the one that will go on sale, which will cost £3 a slice. However, it will only be available for Pancake Day.
Bar Unico’s Nutella and Crepe Torta
It was the kind of dessert that attracts attention and causes people to gather round it. The size of it was incredible, even when it was divided into slices. The cream and melted chocolate oozed out as soon as it was cut into. Whether this sound like heaven or hell probably depends on how much you like sweet foods.
Seven layers of pancake with mascarpone, nutella, fresh cream and chocolate ganache
The chocoholics of the office were in love with the rich, creamy texture. After a few bites, it started to become sickly but people kept coming back for more. For others, it was a chocolate overload and was far too sweet. However both our reviewers were in favour of it and awarded it top marks.
Chocaholics will love the sickly sweet Nutella pancakes
Taste: 9/10 and 8/10
Presentation: 10/10 and 8/10
Total Score: 35
The verdict
By the narrowest of margins, Bar Unico’s Nutella and Crepe Torta won. Its taste and texture were fantastic, coupled with stunning presentation. However, personal preference might lead you to try Churchill’s savoury bacon stack or Madame Waffle’s slightly healthier Mandarin and Chocolate alternative. Whatever you do today, you are spoilt for choice in Lincoln.
Four desserts later, our plates were clear.
Share your own efforts and creations for Pancake Day in the comments.
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The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
Phase two of the works at Speakers’ Corner in Lincoln is well underway and expected to finish on schedule this summer.
Phase two, which began on Monday, January 11, will see existing paving upgraded, as well as new street furniture being installed.
It will follow the first phase which was completed and open to the public on December 22, with a new bench put in place around the existing London Plane tree, instead of the demolished kiosk.
Speakers Corner bench is in place, but closed off until phase two paving works are finished. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Site setup for phase two is complete, with workers on site currently digging out the existing hard paving standings at the Cornhill.
A large portion of the area has been fenced off while work takes place, leaving just two pedestrian strips on either side to access both the High Street and the Cornhill Quarter.
There is limited access in the area while works take place. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Despite the cold and wet weather throughout January, progress of the paving removal has not been affected.
This means that phase two works are still on course to be finished in summer this year.
It is hoped that once the area is completed, the walkways will blend in with those at Exchange Square, as well as utilising the space for events.
A look at how the finished development will look. | Illustration: City of Lincoln Council
Bin collections in Boston and in parts of East Lindsey will be suspended for the rest of the week due to COVID-related staff absences.
The collections will be suspended from Wednesday, January 27 as a number of East Lindsey District Council’s waste crews either have coronavirus or are self-isolating.
Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council said it is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it is necessary for the service to be suspended in some southern parts of the district until Monday, February 1.
From Monday, waste collections are expected to continue as normal.
Households impacted by the disruption can present any accumulated side waste in black refuse sacks alongside their black bins on their next scheduled bin collection.
The following areas are affected:
Friskney
Eastville
New Leake
Stickford
Coningsby (part)
Coningsby Moorside
Dalderby
Haltham
Mareham Le Fen
Moorby
N Bolingbroke
Revesby
Scrivelsby
Tumby
Tumby Moorside
Tumby Woodside
Wilksby
Wood Enderby
Carrington
Dogdyke
Frithville
Gypsey Bridge
New Bolingbroke
New York
Scrub Hill
Thornton Le Fen
Westville
Antons Gowt
Cowbridge
Fishtoft
Frithville
Langrick
Sibsey
East Keal
East Kirkby
Hagnaby
Keal Coates
Midville
Stickney
Toynton All Saints
West Keal
Victoria Burgess, Assistant Director for Operations at the council, said: “Over the past couple of days it has proved a real challenge to keep the service going with a number of rounds having not been completed due to staff absences.
“With more crews off again today we needed to take action now and suspending the service is the only realistic option available to us to keep everyone safe – something we’ve worked hard to avoid.
“Our workforce has done an amazing job over the past year and they’ve received much praise from the community and are grateful for your continued good wishes.”
Meanwhile, Lincolnshire County Council has agreed to extend their open days at the Household Recycling Centre on Bittern Way for the disposal of black-bagged general waste and recycling only.
The two extra days of opening are Wednesday and Thursday of this week and next, between the hours of 8am and 4pm.
Over 6,000 people living in and around the Scunthorpe have signed up to donate convalescent plasma after having coronavirus.
This comes as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is appealing for more potential plasma donors ahead of an upcoming third trial.
Convalescent plasma is the antibody-rich plasma of people who’ve had coronavirus. This can be transfused into people who are struggling to develop their own immune response.
NHSBT wants more people in the area hitting the 28-day recovery mark to sign up.
Over 30 donations have so far been taken at the Scunthorpe donor centre at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road, which opened in December last year.
People can register to donate online here and can donate 28 days after they’ve recovered from coronavirus.
The Lincolnshire centre is located at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road in Scunthorpe. | Photo: NHSBT
NHSBT is collecting the plasma for new trials for older people or those with cancer to treat them early in the course of the infection.
Two earlier trials have now stopped for data analysis. The upcoming third trial’s focus will be on those with low immune systems and all donations are tested for COVID antibodies.
The NHS trials of convalescent plasma are the largest randomised controlled trials for this treatment of COVID-19.
Professor Dave Roberts, Associate Medical Director for Blood Donation at NHSBT, said: “More people than ever are now able to help – the time to donate is now.
“We especially need donations from people in Scunthorpe who’ve had hospital care. Men who had hospital care are around six times more likely to have the high antibody levels which might save lives.
“We have completed two trials and analysis is ongoing. We now need to collect plasma for further planned clinical studies. We’re particularly looking at high risk groups such as the elderly and people with cancer.
“Donations are vital to the ongoing lifesaving research, which gives us a better understanding of how we can best treat patients with COVID-19 and help prevent deaths in the future.”