Week 42 – making beer bread with the Fabulous Baker Brothers

Let me tell you, those baker brothers are pretty fabulous: they look good, they make delicious food, they are friendly and charming, and they seem to be genuinely nice guys. And next week both Tom and Henry Herbert are travelling east from the Cotswolds (where their family’s bakery is based) to open up a bang-on-trend Hoxton pop-up called The […]

Week 35 – lunch at Ottolenghi’s (review)

As I explained last week, due to travels to Paris for work I didn’t have much luck in the way of planning. I did indeed have pork chops, salmon and faggots, a tasty crab sandwich, plus a delicious Sunday lunch with local pals Isi and Michael earlier today. I made a speculoos cheesecake for pudding […]

A birthday dinner at Morston Hall, Norfolk – review

As you might expect for a foodie like me, a birthday dinner is often a very celebratory occasion, and it gives  me the opportunity to treat myself to a lovely dinner, although it doesn’t have to break the budget. Last year I went to Marcus at the Berkeley … the year before that was Joe […]

Jewelled Persian rice with pomegranates, walnuts and parsley

A while ago I was contacted by the chaps at Amira rice, asking if I’d like to receive a few recipes and some samples of their rice to try. I said yes, not expecting to receive a large box filled with portioned containers of each ingredient I would need to make one of their recipes: […]

The Slug & Lettuce is 30 – review

Chances are if you take a wander along most high streets, you’ll see a Slug & Lettuce pub somewhere – they have 80 bars spread across the UK, and I just discovered that the pub chain has reached its 30th birthday this year. To celebrate, they invited me to my local S&L for a review. […]

Weeks 28 & 29 – birthday in Rome, with Anthony Bourdain’s favourite restaurant

My meal planning hasn’t really been particularly noteworthy over the last two weeks as we have been away for a birthday trip to Rome, and Andrew has also been away for a few days in Wales to continue his birthday celebrations (will they ever end?!). I am just about to leave the house to meet […]

Week 26 – looking forward to the calm before the 40th birthday storm

My birthday celebrations have been brilliant, but carried on longer than expected. This week we have a brief break from birthdays before starting the celebrations for Andrew’s 40th, which will include a birthday party and trip to Rome (mmmm, pasta and tirumisu). I am very much looking forward to a rest as we’ve both felt like […]