This week’s Saturday Session is a foodie approach to a BBQ that may amaze your friends. It may also test your patience quite considerably, as it’s all in the prep! Now you might not think barbecued mussels sounds that exciting, but we were treated to them the other night, and this is not just a [...]
Entries from July 18th, 2009
The Saturday Session – Have a BBQ with a difference!
July 18th, 2009 · 2 Comments · BBQs, Fish & Seafood, Foodie things to do, Foodie Travel, Places to eat, Recipes, Saturday Session
When is local food not okay to eat?
July 15th, 2009 · No Comments · Foodie gifts, Foodie treats
We spend a lot of time in the UK saying we must support local food, support long standing traditions, support small producers. And we all absolutely support that. All great ideas. So what do you do in this part of France, when one of the local dishes is Foie Gras? To eat, or not to [...]
Tags:ethical food·foie gras·Local food·small producers·traditional food
The spirit of Cognac
July 14th, 2009 · No Comments · Foodie blogs, Foodie gifts, Foodie things to do, Foodie Travel, Places to eat, Recipes, Spirits
Before you read this, you might want to mix yourself a drink: Cognac Summit Put a piece of lime zest and four thin strips of fresh ginger into a glass. Pour in 2cl of Cognac VSOP. Press lightly 2 to 3 times with the aid of a drumstick (I think my translation may leave something [...]
Salt of the earth
July 13th, 2009 · No Comments · Foodie gifts, Foodie treats, Savoury gifts, Uncategorized
Moving on from bread, and probably because I am writing overlooking salt marshes, I thought today was a good day to think about this most basic of ingredients, without which most cooking would be an awful lot less flavoursome! Of course salt has been completely demonised in recent times, leading many people to leave it [...]
Tags:caramel·Fleur De Sel·Ile de Re·Salt·salt crusted sea bass
More make it yourself kits
July 12th, 2009 · No Comments · Baking, Bread, Cookbooks, Foodie gadgets, Foodie gifts, Ingredients, Recipes
After the cheese making kit, I began to think of the other essentials that you could make yourself, and the things that make it easier. Starting with the basics really, and bread. And we would not be without our Panasonic Bread Maker. The SD255 is one of the most hardworking gadgets in our kitchen, probably [...]
Tags:Baking·bread making·Cookbooks·Cooking with kids·credit crunch gifts·Foodie gifts·Gadgets·Gluten Free·Panasonic·Pizza
The Saturday Session – pack a picnic
July 11th, 2009 · No Comments · Baking, British favourites, Foodie blogs, Picnics, Recipes, Saturday Session
We’ll be on our way through France when this is published, having already completed a fairly long drive down to Portsmouth to catch the ferry. Which means either running the gauntlet of British service stations, not to mention needing a second mortgage, or taking your own. Guess which we went for for the first half [...]
The Friday Five – great French cookbooks
July 10th, 2009 · No Comments · Baking, Cookbooks, Foodie gifts, Friday Five, Meat treats, Sweet treats, Uncategorized
This week’s Friday Five has a particularly Gallic flavour, as by now our housesitters (aka Gran & Gramps) will have moved in to tend the house and garden, and we’ll be en route to France. Which of course means two weeks of over-indulging in great food and wine. Although given the exchange rate, we may [...]
Tags:Boulangerie·Charcuterie·Cookbooks·Elizabeth David·French cookery·Paris·Patisserie·Rick Stein·Ripailles
Is this a good foodie birthday gift?
July 8th, 2009 · No Comments · Foodie gadgets, Foodie gifts, Savoury gifts, Uncategorized
Sorry for public service announcement first but Charla, if you’re reading this, stop now! Step away from the page please. Because we’re going to debate the merits of the cheesemaking kit that’s winging its way to you tomorrow, with love. I’ve never tried making my own cheese. Plenty of yoghurt and sour cream, but only [...]
Blood oranges, the next big thing?
July 8th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Foodie gifts, Ingredients, Recipes, Savoury gifts, Sweet treats, Uncategorized
I was looking at the prizewinners of the 2009 Sofi winners at the National Fancy Food Show in New York last week. Firstly, why can’t we have a Fancy Food Show, loving the name! Secondly, in case you didn’t know, a Sofi is awarded for specialty outstanding food innovation. Now you know. There are 33 [...]
Tags:blood orange·Food trends·Ingredients·Jams·Preserves·Sofi awards
Not flailing around for a good meal
July 7th, 2009 · No Comments · British favourites, Foodie gifts, Foodie things to do, Places to eat, Uncategorized
I’ve been on a bit of a great North run around over the past two days, which involved an overnight stay in Sale. And dinner at the Plough & Flail in Mobberley. One of those places that is pretty hard to find, but very much worth the effort. It has all the cues of gastro [...]
Tags:Summer eating
