Calçots for lunch
28 Mar 2012 1 Comment
in ....just a thought, Life's little extras, Out and about Tags: Calçots, Catalunya, Priorat
We spent last weekend visiting friends in Barcelona. Saturday was a lovely warm sunny day so we drove down to the Priorat area of Catalunya for a walk and some lunch. We ended up in a little restaurant called Cal Pep in La Vilella Baixa, chosen because they had a traditional Catalan dish called Calçots on the menu. Calçots are a type of onion, as they grow they are earthed up so that they grow a long white stem like a thin leek. The season for them is between the end of winter and March or April when they are eaten in huge quantities. Calçots are barbecued and served by the plateful. Before eating you strip off the outer layer and then dip the onion in salvitxada or Romesco sauce, made from almonds, tomatoes, garlic, peppers, vinegar and oil. They make very messy eating so we were supplied with bibs and gloves to eat them!
The Priorat area is best known for its wines,better even than wines from the Rioja. Vines were first grown in this area in the 12th century by monks from the Carthusian Monastery of Scala Dei but the vineyards were wiped out by a pest in the late 19th century. The vines were only replanted on the steep terraces in the 1950′s. Old-style Priorat wines were rough and massively alcoholic,but since the 90′s things have changed and now the best Priorat wines are some of Spain’s most sought-after and expensive……and alcoholic……hic!
A fine day out at Fallowfields
29 Nov 2011 1 Comment
in Eating out, Life's little extras, Out and about Tags: bloggers, EnergyPr, Fallowfields, food bloggers
What is the name for a group of bloggers….a flock….a pack….a swarm … .actually a chattering of bloggers would fit the bill if you’re talking about the group of us that met at Fallowfields Hotel in the Oxfordshire countryside last weekend.
We had been invited there by EnergyPr for a talk about the increasingly important relationship between bloggers and PR companies. We kicked off with a lively discussion with Louise and Susannah from EnergyPr ….. accompanied by coffee and home made cake of course. After this came a very warm welcome from Anthony, the extremely genial owner of Fallowfields who told us a little of his plans and aspirations for the hotel before we donned our wellies for a tour of the grounds.
I’ve always had a soft spot for pigs…and pigs there are in plenty! Pink ones, ginger ones, big ones, tiny ones, all happily rootling around. Destined for the pot but happy pigs nevertheless. Dexter cattle lazing around, ducks quacking by the pond and chickens and quail pecking about completed the scene. Oh, apart from the kitchen garden, an orchard full of old varieties of apples, pears, plums and medlars……and the falconry with regular displays of birds of prey. Back into the elegant conservatory restaurant for a glass of fizz and canapes – lighter than air tiny choux puffs with soft cheese, slivers of smoked salmon and squares of melt-in-the-mouth pork belly with apple sauce. We were then treated to an amazing 3 course lunch. Anthony’s vision for Fallowfields is for fine dining to rival any Michelin starred restaurant and as part of this plan he has recruited the talented Shaun Dickens who worked under Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir before spending time in kitchens such as Per Se in New York and nearer to home at L’Ortolan. Now he has his own kitchen from which he produced a Jerusalem artichoke Veloute, smooth and smoky with slivers of artichoke and a truffle cream. This was followed by local venison, cooked perfectly pink, and accompanied by potato puree, chestnuts, beetroot and a dark chocolate crisp.
A pre dessert of a shot glass of creamy merlot infused was followed by a dessert of walnut ice cream, honeycomb, candied walnuts and figs with a sweet red wine jus. Did I eat it all? Do you need to ask!!
The choice of Australian wines complimented the meal, a Semillon 2007 Mitchell Clare Valley followed by a Shiraz 2010 Bush Telegraph Petit Verdot. Why they had been chosen was ably explained to us by Restaurant Manager and Wine Master Benjamin Petit.
Much of the produce is home grown or local and seasonal – the venison, quail, pork and beef, the artichokes, figs and walnuts. It is important to Anthony to know the provenance of what he is putting on the table – what better way of doing this than rearing your own animals and growing your own fruit and veg.
Shaun then demonstrated the preparation and cooking of a dish of Fallowfields quail with fondant potatoes and talked to us about the challenge that lies ahead to put this delightful country house hotel onto the culinary map. With a winning team like Anthony, Shaun and Benjamin it won’t be long before the Michelin man is knocking at the door.
Chocolate squares and lime and elderflower jellies……well I just had room for one!!!
A big thank you to Fallowfields and EnergyPr for the invitation. I stick with the bloggers with integrity code to post honest and open reviews.
Saunton Sands Hotel
30 Oct 2011 1 Comment
in Eating out, Life's little extras, Out and about, Reviews Tags: Saunton Sands Hotel
The Saunton Sands Hotel on the North Devon coast is one of those amazing places that leaves you wanting to go back for more! It’s four star luxury and you pay handsomely for the privilege of staying there but well, it was a special occasion and one we will remember for years to come. Not only was it a triple birthday celebration but our son and his girlfriend announced their engagement on the first evening. Also, as this was our first hotel stay with our grandson it was good to be somewhere so ‘grown up’ but child friendly at the same time.
We were incredibly lucky with the weather so we spent the daytime on the beach and climbing the sand dunes as well as a bike ride down the beautiful Tarka Trail followed by a splash around in the indoor pool.
Just as well we worked up an appetite because the food was fabulous.The first night we ate at the Sands on the Beach bistro, just down the path from the hotel and on our second night we ate in the grand art deco restaurant. Believe me, the food tasted as good as it looks!
Cuddle My Soul – Afternoon Tea
15 Aug 2011 1 Comment
in Life's little extras, Out and about, Reviews Tags: afternoon tea, Cuddle My Soul, cupcakes, Groupon, Thame
I must admit to liking a bit of British tradition – morris dancers, seaside piers, fish and chips….and of course, afternoon tea. So when I spotted a Groupon voucher for afternoon tea at Cuddle My Soul in Thame I just had to buy one and today I went there with daughter and 3 year old grandson. Being slightly short on time we decided to combine lunch and tea which was just as well! A three tier cake plate arrived on our table with an amazing assortment of sandwiches, scones, lemon cake and cup cakes.
We steadily worked our way up from the bottom tier: The sandwiches were actually little freshly baked rolls from the local Cottage Bakery oozing with egg & mayo, smoked salmon & cream cheese,chicken, bacon & sweetcorn, beef and cheese with sun dried tomato.
Then the scones with strawberry jam and a generous dollop of thick cream. Up to the top tier with little squares of the most delicious lemon cake – light and moist and tangy with a crispy sugar and lemon crust. Amazingly we then scoffed both of the ‘Famous Glitter Cup Cakes’….they looked too good to eat but what the heck!
All this was served on the prettiest range of china I’ve seen in a long time. I love vintage and this is a close runner up. And after you’ve eaten off the china you can buy it too…not the ones you’ve just used obviously!!
Cuddle My Soul is not a cafe…it is an experience! It is a combination of tearoom, shop and treatment spa. You can buy the range of china, also lots of beauty products, candles, party stuff and jewellery, including an eclectic selection of vintage costume jewellry.
I might have to pop back later this week for those cufflinks….and a kinesiology session…..and possibly another cup cake or two!!
Millets Farm
16 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in Out and about, Reviews, Shopping Tags: Millets Farm, pick your own, PYO
What better way to spend a sunny afternoon than wandering around Millets Farm PYO, sampling cherries, raspberries and strawberries on the way. And have you ever tasted a carrot fresh out of the ground – you don’t get that crunch and taste at the supermarket!
When I was invited to join a group of writers and bloggers on a tour of the ‘growing fields’ I jumped at the chance.
Millets Farm has been a favourite family place to go for many years. In the early days there was just a pick your own area, one of the first of its kind, and a small farm shop. We used to go on a Sunday morning and treat ourselves to freshly made sugared doughnuts! The Carter family have owned and farmed the 50 acre site since the 1950’s and the PYO and farm shop was opened in the ‘70’s. Since then the Garden Centre has been added, also the restaurant, café, trout fishery, playground, farm zoo, woodland walk and of course the annual ‘maize maze’.
We were welcomed by Jo from Millets Farm, given a fruit basket each and taken by Jo, Orlin Atanaso the resident fruit expert and Les Britten, veg expert on a behind the scenes tour of the farm, past the redcurrants, blackcurrants and gooseberries and on to the cherry orchard where we were encouraged under the nets to pick some of the fruit.
Then on past the rhubarb, broad beans and leeks to the carrots where Les dug armsful for us to taste and take home. Next we were off to the fruit cages of raspberries and strawberries where we were again encouraged to pick what we wanted. I plumped for raspberries….. and plump they certainly were!
A welcome cup of tea and coffee was waiting for us back in the restaurant were we were also presented with a goody bag each to take home.
I must confess I’ve eaten the scones and strawberry jam for tea…..and I think I’ll be going back at the weekend for more raspberries!
Many thanks to Hallane from Energy PR for inviting me on this tour.
The Magdalen Arms
08 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in Eating out, Out and about, Reviews Tags: Magdalen Arms, Magdalen Arms Oxford, Oxford pubs, Oxford restaurants, pub grub Oxford
So one evening last week we caught a bus outside our house and hopped off on the other side of town, right outside The Magdalen Arms. This formerly down at heel pub in east Oxford has been transformed into an inviting, bustling eating place. I hesitate to call it a ‘gastropub – it’s a notch or two up from that! Some of the best food critics have given it glowing reviews so we were delighted to be given a Christmas present of a voucher to eat there.
The menu changes daily and much of the food is locally sourced and seasonal.
We started with a large bowl of moules mariniere in a creamy garlicky sauce, it would have been tempting to ask for more bread to mop this up with but I resisted!
For mains we ordered the braised venison shank and the wild rabbit with chorizo, fennel, lentils and aioli. The venison was my choice but when the plates arrived the shank was ENORMOUS so we swapped plates! I must say the combination of the spicy chorizo, earthy lentils and aioli with the rabbit was delicious so that was a good move. The venison – dark, sticky and gamey, was also much enjoyed.
We finished off with the caramelised apple and amaretti tart which was sublime. What could have been ‘just’ an apple tart was taken into another dimension by sprinkling the top with crushed amaretti bisciuts before it was caramelised….yummy!
There wasn’t a single empty table and this was on a weekday night, proving how popular this place is.
Baby, it’s cold outside!
07 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in ....just a thought, Out and about Tags: broccoli, frost, hoar frost, vegetable garden, winter, winter vegetable garden
We haven’t had the blanket of snow that has covered most of the country…but it is soooo cold! Ventured into the garden this afternoon as the sun shining on the hoar frost looked amazing.
Our little broccoli plants are only a few weeks old but they seem to be surviving under their little deer proof domes.
The green garden netting, protecting the leeks from deer, looks like a ghost ship’s sails!
Oxford Foodies Festival
02 Sep 2010 Leave a Comment
in Out and about Tags: black garlic, Cordonui, food market., Matt Dawson Monster Munchies, Oxford Foodies Festival, South Parks, the Mission
Spent Bank Holiday Saturday at the Oxford Foodies Festival. At first site it looked quite small but this was misleading. Once we got stuck in there were plenty of stalls selling a wonderful variety of ingredients and also lots of tempting food to eat, from paella and noodles and burritos to sausages and spit roast pork.
Having said we would look round before we started to buy,I only lasted 10 minutes before being tempted by the black garlic!
We then spent a messy half hour icing cupcakes
after a demonstration by Holly of Holly Cupcakes
A very tasty lunch of paella and a free glass of Cordonui cava
gave us the energy to shop, shop, shop!
Some old favoutites…..and so much more as well!
The added bonus on the Saturday was watching Matt Dawson filming a ‘giant trifle’ competition for an episode of Good Food channel’s new series Monster Munchies.
Ploughman’s Lunch
10 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
in Out and about Tags: Camra, cheese, ploughman's lunch, The Bell Aldworth
What could be better on a summer day? This is at the Bell Inn at Aldworth on the Berkshire Downs, winner of West Berkshire CAMRA pub of the year 2010.
