Blue serve up dish of the day after tasty win; Taste Test Greg O'Keeffe enjoyed a pre match bite with a difference.

Byline: GregO'Keeffe

ACUP of tea and a bacon butty is pretty much the extent of my dining standards before an Everton game. And as us football supporters can be a superstitious lot when it comes to matchday routines, I'm rarely keen on deviating from the menu.

But an opportunity to sample Everton's newly re-launched pre-match hospitality was too good to resist.

Club Everton is based in the marquee on the corner of Goodison Road that has been home to part of the Toffee's hospitality set-up for a while now.

Despite being, well, a big tent in a car park, I've always enjoyed the atmosphere and standard of food and service on offer.

But Everton have decided on a bit of fine-tuning, introducing a new name for the experience along with some ambitious new menus.

Me and fellow blue Tony headed to Club Everton for the Wigan Athletic game on the bank holiday/Mathew Street festival weekend.

The blues were looking for their first league win and things weren't going exactly to plan on the playing front, but we were cheered-up by the addition of new signings Sylvain Distin, who was making his debut, and flying Russian Diniyar Bilyaletdinov who we were both looking forward to seeing in blue shirts for the first time.

The usual pre-match tactical debates were order of the day while we were seated and a polite, friendly and efficient waitress took our drinks orders.

The draft lager selection was a bit limited with the unremarkable Aussie cooking lager Fosters and Chang (we love them because they sponsor us but less said about the taste of the beer the better) the only choices.

Fortunately we spotted some ice cold Becks with our names on them (not literally, that would be taking attention to detail too far) in the fridge and started off the day as we meant to go on.

Part of the fun of Club Everton is that, depending on the size of your party, you are likely to be seated next to other people enjoying the experience.

Our table was a lively mix including three girls who supported Preston North End but were being treated by a client of their company to a day and night in Liverpool, and a happy family of 2.4 Evertonians with a special birthday to celebrate.

The banter was fun and relaxed and we eyed the menus hungrily as one of the Blues media officers conducted an interview with popular ex-player and Wales international Barry Horne.

Their chat provided interesting background to the scoreline predictions and tactical discussions on our table but the first matter to be settled regarded food choices.

My starter of bubble and squeak with fried quails eggs and pompadour sauce was light but tasty and boded well for things to come.

Tony said that his garden vegetable soup with Maldon sea salt croutons was equally enjoyable and ignited his appetite.

I barely had to bother reading the other options after spotting the roast topside of beef with horseradish yorkshire pudding, season vegetables, fondant potato and pan gravy.

It was delicious. The serving of beef was generous and perfectly cooked. Neither too chewy or rare and the gravy complemented it perfectly.

Tony went for the pan fried sea bass fillets in an olive oil, garlic, lemon and parsley marinade which he said was rich but not overly and the fillets were plump and melt in the mouth.

We both enjoyed some of the impressive selection of breads to mop up our mains and more Becks washed everything down nicely.

By then the talking point focus had already switched to the curious dessert offering, namely the vodka and Red Bull trifle (fruits of the forest set in vodka and red bull with vanilla infused custard and exploding candy). To add to the effect the serving came in a tall shot glass.

It didn't let us down, tasting as great as it was unusual.

The vanilla infused custard was the triumph of the dish with the exploding candy a pleasant flash-back to childhood.

But even the exotic dessert was outshone by the surprise guest of the day, Toffee's legend Alex Young who popped in to answer some questions.

We'd just finished and drunk the last of our Fairtrade coffee when it was time to make our way to the excellent Main Stand seats which are part of the Club Everton package.

Things are rarely straightforward when it comes to the playing side for the Blues, but despite a few jitters our first three points of the season were duly captured.

Another good aspect of Club Everton is being able to go back to the marquis and enjoy more drinks and coffee while the post-match traffic sorts itself out.

Judging by the wide smiles on the faces of the rest of our table they had enjoyed the afternoon every bit as much as us, even the ardent Preston North End fans said they'd like to come back. It was a result and an afternoon to savour.

Foodie Facts Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool Tel: [phone] Email: [e-mail] Details of meal Service: Spot on. Value: Good value compared to other Premier League hospitality packages and plenty to justify the extra costs above a normal match ticket. Ideal for a business treat or special day

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FOOTY FEAST: Fans enjoy the Club Everton hospitality. Individual match prices are from pounds 89. Call 0151-530 5300 for details