The Pick of the Crop
Seasonal fayre and cheer in November
Despite the cold weather spelling an end to my enjoyment of cold Riesling and even colder Peroni lager my spirits are no less dampened thanks to my teetotal evenings courtesy of Dr.Stuarts herbal teas. After a gruelling cycle ride home along my carbon footpath following a hectic dinner service I find myself too cold (and tired) for alcohol. Herbal tea has become my new drug of choice! Last week I almost bought a home stair lift to avoid spillage.
So despite the fact I have seemingly aged thirty years in two weeks and that November is as dull a month as you can get here’s a list of what has been good in the world of food and fotos (street lingo) and other matters this month.
1. Week in Week out by Simon Hopkinson- a lovely book
2. Watching a restaurant manageress smell a bottle of screw top riesling to check if it was corked-I asked if it was, she poured me some to check for myself-priceless.
3. Canon EF100mm F2.8 macro USM lens-perfect for photographing next years new kitchen garden.
4. Putting Arctic Char on the menu for the first time in a long while.
5. The new manfrotto 190xprob tripod -outstanding engineering.
6. Master Chef Alain Ducasse comes to London and opens restaurant at the Dorchester.
7. Slow cooking-stick it in the oven and go and brave the elements, reap the benefits when you return.
8. Dried mushrooms, a lifesaver because this years fresh crop here and abroad have been disastrous.
9. Cornish Yarg cheese-wrapped in nettles, understated and pleasant with a biscuit after service.
10. Sweet Potatoes-energy food for active people, roast them with mustard seeds and finish with fresh coriander and rock salt, beats chips anyday.
11. My Godson, aged 13 months. Favourite toys; 1 wooden spoon, 1 saucepan. Son and Godson to chefs-start ‘em young!
If you have had any foodie highlights this month feel free to share with the rest of Planet Bill Gates.
Miles,
I see that the BBC Good Food Show is due at the NEC Birmingham next week. Will you be demonstrating your skills?
November 25, 2007 @ 9:44 am
Great Post !
1: Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall Goes Fishing
2: Heston Blumenthall in Search of Perfection
3: Tuesday Lunchtime
4: My Cajun Spiced Chicken
5: The last of my homegrown leeks
6: The food I’ll be eating in about 2.5 hours
Like this sort of thing Miles.
There’s one problem though …
Every week from now on please
Cheers
Rod
November 25, 2007 @ 9:46 am
PS:
I just noted you said foodie highlights this month
I went for last week alone !
November 25, 2007 @ 9:47 am
Christine,
Re NEC and cooking demos, been there, done that and never again, thanks.
Miles
November 25, 2007 @ 10:06 am
Rod,
You’re not supposed to beat me at this!
Great list, thanks
Miles
November 25, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Miles,
Foodie highs this week….. supper at my sister’s house with her friends, a winning combination of roast beef and slow cooked bacon joints, lots of salads, baked potatoes, fabulous cheeses…. everyone helped themselves. All the cold stuff made before and the joints simply carved, stress free and excellent quality.
Cid
p.s. it’s not fair, Rod listed all kinds of things….. and I’ve had plumbing highs and lows, builders and dodgy guttering (something no one should have to suffer!)…. still, I eat problems like this for breakfast, bring on the new week
November 25, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
Cid,
Your sister’s bash sounds great, you can list anything you like on the soapbox rant-just keep it clean!
Miles
November 25, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
Miles,
The Nean household has been enjoying warming casseroles, Rick Stein inspired italian food and heartwarming soups.
Friends visiting, great conversation, sumptuous cakes.
November 25, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
Miles
just keep it clean!
Novel idea in catering
Cid
thanks god there’s nothing wrong with my plumbing
Rod
November 25, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
Elsie,
Sounds like you are in competition with Cid, as lousy as the cold weather can be it does, nonetheless allow us to cook some great dishes.
Miles
November 25, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Rod,
Touche!
Miles
November 25, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
Miles,
Reference no. 7, that’s such a good idea and something I haven’t done for years. I shall rummage through my ‘rarely used’ kitchen equipment cupboard (fondu etc) and give my slow cooker another try. This may well prove an essential piece of kit for the working woman and those who tinker with plumbing and construction!
Cid
November 25, 2007 @ 10:29 pm
Cid,
It’s the way to go! Ten minutes or so in the morning is all the prep you need to do. It’s the perfect cookery method for the winter months and I believe it encourages you to experiment with other ingredients/leftovers etc.
I will be touching on this again in the near future.
Happy Cooking
Miles
November 25, 2007 @ 10:41 pm