Week 21 – feasting in Paris and London, plus The Fat Bear review

I never anticipated how tiring growing another human could be, and recently my diary hasn’t reflected this added burden. Wednesday evenings are NCT evenings nowadays, which gives us 2.5 hours of baby ‘training’: how to hold a baby (using a doll), the realities of labour (scary), and of course the opportunity to meet seven other […]

Cookbook challenge – The Magpie Cookbook: beer battered prawns, cod with an anchovy crust and dauphinoise potatoes

So much lovely food, so little time! Despite not posting about my Cookbook Challenge for a couple of weeks, rest assured I have been making a recipe (at least one!) from one of my cookbooks – chosen by Andrew – each week. A few weeks ago, that cookbook was The Magpie Cafe cookbook, which I […]

Cookbook Challenge – Gary Rhodes: goats cheese and tomato salad, cod with bacon and carrots, rhubarb tart

Gary Rhodes is one of those TV chefs who was always on the telly when I was growing up, with his spiky hedgehog hair and checkered trousers. Despite his (for the time) slightly unorthodox appearance, his cooking and presentation could not have been more traditional. Classic dishes, cooked traditionally, presented in a refined and simple […]

Week 7 – out for dinner, making chocolate, and some continental treats

Well, I am going to be in the UK all of this week, but I have quite a few things planned, including a couple of lovely meals out with friends. I’ll be out on Tuesday night with Emma at Trullo restaurant in Highbury (I can never resist checking out the menu, and the pork chop […]

My favourite pudding ever at Berners Tavern (review)

I am a big fan of the chef Jason Atherton. I first came across him in an early series of the Great British Menu, and was struck by how quiet and calm he was, especially considering he is a protegee of the sweary, shouty Gordon Ramsay. He was then head chef at Maze, part of […]

A comfort food: fish pie

One of my biggest restaurant disappointments was when I visited Richard Corrigan’s Bentleys for a much anticipated meal many years ago. I had come across him on the first series of Great British Menu and was immediately drawn to his simple style of cooking: using the best fresh and local ingredients, fussing with them as […]