Real Fast Stroganov!

Pete first cooked the quick and easy Beef Stroganov from Nigel Slater’s Real Fast Food several months ago. I liked it so much I wanted him to cook it the very next night but he’s kept me hanging till tonight. It was just as delicious as I remembered. Yes, I know it’s odd to serve ... Read more »

Hot Cross Buns!

We’d only made hot cross buns once before and, to be honest, they were disappointing. The texture of the bread just wasn’t right let alone the spicing and balance of fruit. This time, I decided to find a tried and tested recipe from one of the knowledgable posters on the BBC Food Chat board. When ... Read more »

Restaurant Review: Las Iguanas, Southbank, London

Las Iguanas is located next to the Southbank Centre, looking out over the Thames River and within a few hundred yards of the London Eye. It’s in the heart of tourist town and the majority of it’s customers are most probably tourists. And it’s part of a chain. The menu promises “fresh latin food lovingly ... Read more »

Choctastic! WoM’s Chocolate Tasting Event!

I’ve just got home from the Guardian Word of Mouth Blog’s free chocolate tasting event for some of it’s lucky readers. The first such event they’ve run, the invitation was in the form of a blog post from Susan Smillie, WoM editor, and wasn’t open long as interest was keen! Luckily, I got in fast ... Read more »

Restaurant Review: Yahe Garden, North Finchley (N12), London

What was previously a rather mediocre chinese restaurant near our house has re-opened (having been closed for refurbishment for several weeks) with new name and new owners and staff. It’s now called the Yahe Gardens and it’s rather good. We first went in for lunch 2-3 weeks ago, on a day when we were both ... Read more »

Restaurant Review: La Trompette, Chiswick, London

After a Monday evening dinner at La Trompette I can definitely understand what all the fuss (and it’s Michelin star) is about. We had a marvellous dining experience! Welcomed warmly and shown to our table we were quickly asked about apéritifs and water, offered advice on the wine menu from the sommelier and offered some ... Read more »

Charles Campion’s Banana Cake Recipe

This banana cake recipe is from Charles Campion’s Fifty Recipes To Stake Your Life On and makes a really, really gooey banana cake. Campion describes the recipe collection as “fifty, sure-fire, tried-and-tested recipes and fifty stories to go with them” and its a great starting point for those just getting into cooking and looking for ... Read more »

Mini Restaurant Reviews: Cardiff, Wales

Pete and I spent a weekend in Cardiff recently, to attend the Cheese Festival and to celebrate my birthday. Here are reviews of the following: Dinner and Breakfasts at Ty Rosa B&B Coffee & Cake at Craft in the Bay Lunch at Madame Fromage Woods Brasserie Dinner and Breakfasts at Ty Rosa B&B This is ... Read more »

Restaurant Review: Maze, London

Yesterday was my birthday (and my sister’s too) and we celebrated with dinner at Maze, one of the Gordon Ramsay stable of restaurants, run by head chef Jason Atherton. We opted for the Tasting Menu which was the reason (along with hearty recommendations from foodie friends) that I picked Maze: unlike most of the GR ... Read more »