A one stop shop at the Collins supermarket!….
One of my favourite lunches has to be a simple omelette and salad. It’s light, easily digested, healthy and quick to make. Now there are countless variations out there and I’m sure you all have your own favourites but I don’t. I put near enough anything in mine, […]
A great recipe from Laura Kelley….
I’ve been toying with the idea of putting an authentic lamb kofta type dish on one of our casual dining menus and so I turned to the wonderful Silk Road Gourmet blog for inspiration. I have wanted to esplore ‘new’ flavour combinations from other regions of Asia for a few […]
Not that old chestnut…..
What a day, what a week, what a month, what a summer, what a year. Never in all my years have I suffered such a miserable period of staff problems. Never have I encountered such a bunch of ignorant, lazy, carefree and ungrateful young people. Remember me telling you about my […]
Ronnie James Dio Tours with his Solo Band
One of rock’s finest voices, the legendary Ronnie James Dio, formerly of Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Black Sabbath and the reunited Heaven and Hell is to tour the UK in November this year.
He has written and performed some of rock’s greatest tracks and it is a chance to see […]
Getting ready for a busy service……
I’ve just returned home after opening a restaurant in the company I work for and spent the last couple of days stressing the importance of good prep work or mis en place as it is known in the trade. Good prep makes the difference between a comfortable service and a […]
Is there a a place for it on ‘fine dining’ menus?
I have recently regained my former rebellious streak when it comes to writing menus. Four years ago I won an award for the quality of food in one of our restaurants and despite being happy for my staff and the hotel I personally saw it […]
Keep it clean!!
Here’s a dish I’m trying at the moment, stuffed rabbit saddle with Italian bacon, carrot puree, flageolets, truffled gnocchi, tarragon infused rabbit sauce etc…It’s a time consuming job and I never sell enough of them to make it worth my while. If I served it cold as a starter it would sell like […]
A play on sardines on toast….
Fresh sardines are one of my favourite foods. Simply grilled with some lemon and olive oil and a chunk of warm bread and you really don’t need much more than a glass of crisp white wine. Such is the style of many of our restaurants I have to add a […]
You tell me!!!
I am changing the main courses in one of the restaurants this week and truth be told it’s a struggle. I have been writing menus for this particular one for twelve years and I am fast running out of ideas. There are thousands of lamb dishes out there but they have to cook […]
Those pesky squirrels….
My woodland walks have been few and far between of late. Time off is scarce at the moment and time with my camera is all but redundant. When I do get some time off I have to make the most of it, household chores have to be observed (I look at the pile […]