Sharing a love of good food - recipes from my kitchen - eating out - great producers & suppliers
In this post I share some of my food and drink highlights from last month, bringing together the best of the blog and my social media during February 2020. Includes: some favourite ways to eat eggs, when a meat substitute’s not really a meat substitute, …Read more
Tamarind & Mint Chutney is a fruity, sweet and sour, tangy Indian-style condiment. It’s great for dipping into with snacks like onion bhaji, spiced potato balls or aubergine fritters. Using convenient jarred tamarind paste, the chutney’s made in minutes. Just whizz the ingredients together and …Read more
Onion Bhaji are easy to make at home with none of the stodginess found in most supermarket versions. Mine have a very light batter so that the taste of the onions and spices come through. In this post I’ll also tell you about a simple …Read more
Sourdough Pancakes are a great way of using up some of the discard created when you feed your sourdough starter. Light and fluffy, these American-style pancakes are fantastic with butter and maple syrup. Eat as a weekend breakfast treat or dessert with warm berries and yogurt. But …Read more
Beef & Bean Stew is simple comfort food for chilly days and nights. And it’s even better with fluffy suet dumplings cooked on top. As well as tender cubes of beef and gravy thickened with veg, there’s beans in this economical stew too. In this …Read more
The Tap Steakhouse in Stafford serves up hearty, good value food. Service is friendly and efficient in this refurbished pub with an emphasis on locally sourced meat. STEAK & ME It’s funny but, the last week or so aside, I can’t remember the last …Read more
Egg Foo Yung is a quick Chinese-style omelette cooked rather like a pancake. Eaten on its own or part of a larger meal, I think Egg Foo Yung is even better with a savoury, tangy super-fast sauce poured over. It’s great for using up leftover …Read more
Chocao, a new cacao gin liqueur, is the result of a collaboration between two great Staffordshire independents. Its official launch is coming up later this month, but here I have a sneak preview for you. I’ve also given links to launch events where you can …Read more
In this post I share some of my food and drink highlights from last month, bringing together the best of the blog and my social media during January 2020. Includes American pancakes (twice!), a perfect pizza, Indian street food, tasty local beef in a country …Read more
Fresh Cream Muffins. How good does that sound? But it’s not just a filling of whipped, vanilla-scented cream that makes these muffins so special. There’s also a lemony preserve and juicy sultanas in the light, buttery muffins. Who doesn’t love a sweet muffin? Everyone will …Read more
Did you go out for Burns Night last weekend? I got my celebrating in early when I was lucky enough to be invited to The Old Mill in Leek. In honour of the Scottish poet, the smokehouse hosted a Whisky Night featuring Distilled Events. Along …Read more
Streat Graze & Bar in Stone serves up tasty, generous portions inspired by Indian street food. With an emphasis on tapas style eating, it’s a great place for sharing. You won’t find the familiar curries of traditional British Indian restaurants here, but good value dishes, …Read more
Fanny Cradock’s multi-faceted and fascinating life is laid bare in Keep Calm and Fanny On! The Many Careers of Fanny Cradock by Kevin Geddes. I began by knowing little about this prolific TV cook, journalist, travel writer, poet, novelist, campaigner and businesswoman with a reputation …Read more
Mushroom & Chestnut Soup is wonderfully full flavoured, containing dried porcini mushrooms as well as fresh mushrooms. I like to add a little smoked bacon, but that can be left out if you want to keep the soup vegetarian. But what makes this different to …Read more
The One Dim Sum & Noodle Bar is an unassuming little place in Newcastle-Under-Lyme. Doing a roaring trade in takeaway, there’s a few tables in the bright, modern interior too. I went there to eat recently and discovered reasonably priced, tasty dishes served promptly and …Read more
Coconut & Coriander Chutney is a delightful combination of creaminess and tart lime with the freshness of herbs. I add a final tarka of fried mustard seeds, curry leaves and dried chilli to add depth of flavour. My favourite way of serving this Indian-style condiment …Read more
Aloo Bonda, also known as Batata Vada, are wonderful little spiced potato balls coated in a chickpea flour batter and deep fried. Served as a snack, starter or part of a larger Indian-style meal with chutneys for dipping, you’ll be surprised how such simple ingredients …Read more
In this post I share some of my food and drink highlights from last month, bringing together the best of the blog and my social media during December 2019. Includes a birthday meal with a MasterChef finalist, seasonal baking and Christmas in Wales. Love …Read more
If you enjoyed plenty of festive feasting recently but are looking to bring things back into balance, my Top 16 Lighter Recipes for January are just right for you. I’ve selected my favourite lighter recipes from the blog and brought them together in one post. …Read more
Chai Spiced Star Bread, sweet, buttery and spicy, is a treat at any time of year. But I think it’s especially good at Christmas as, although not complicated to make, it looks really impressive. And those who don’t relish mince pies, Christmas cake and the …Read more
NØRTH Kitchen + Bar is the new incarnation of RAWR in Stoke-on-Trent’s Cultural Quarter. The change came in early November 2019 with the new brand and a new menu. I visited one recent lunchtime to take a look. Goodbye RAWR, Hello NØRTH Situated on …Read more
Last night I was among a group of very lucky diners at The George at Alstonefield. We were there for a tasting menu from Louisa Ellis, finalist in Masterchef: The Professionals 2017. Now working as a private chef, cooking at events, pop-ups and holding cookery …Read more
Pork Burgers make a welcome change from the usual minced beef. Subtly flavoured with sage and garlic, I top the cooked patties with slices of creamy Stilton cheese before popping under the grill to melt. Add a crunchy, tangy apple and cabbage slaw to your …Read more
In this post I share some of my food and drink highlights from last month, bringing together the best of the blog and my social media during November 2019. Includes a controversial chilli, sustainable meat eating, tapas, South East Asian, Indian and Pakistani food and …Read more
Roasted Red Pepper & Borlotti Bean Soup makes use of economical and easy to use peppers from a jar plus tinned beans. With the addition of vegetables like onion, carrot and celery it’s a nutritious, vibrant soup with the warming heat of a little chilli …Read more