Archive For August 2016
This was my first visit to Southampton but finding good food wasn’t going to be a challenge: I had a recommendation! A French/Seafood restaurant called Olive Tree. But I knew nothing of Southampton. Southampton became a popular spa town in 1740 after the discovery of a spring of chalybeate (mineral-rich) water. It became a popular…
Soho in general and this street in particular became the refuge of Huguenots, French Protestants who fled to England in the early 1680s. The street was named after Henry Compton who raised funds for a local parish church which eventually became St Anne’s Church. Now there is The Patty and Bun at No.18! By the…
From Sainsbury’s A colourful bite with prawns and a fiery sauce. A perfect party recipe from the January issue of Sainsbury’s magazine. Serves: 16 Preparation time: 10 Minutes Cooking time: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 2 ready-cooked beetroot (150g) in natural juices, drained 2 teaspoons creamed horseradish sauce 2 tablespoons crème fraîche 1 x 135g…
We are blessed with many fine hotels in the UK. All the 5* chains are well represented in all major cities. But we also have a wealth of boutique and Country House hotels and each is unique and characterful. The New Forest is beautiful and mostly unspoilt and it also has hotels which reflect the…
People say it’s all about location. That’s probably true, as there is no finer spot than CAU in Kingston on a hot summer evening. Sitting outside with just a footpath between the diner and the Thames, one can bask in warm contentment, lifting a glass and the silverware being the only exertions. The team behind…
I live in West London and I can say with a degree of authority that a decade ago Shepherds Bush was, on a good day, seedy. But since it opened in 2008, Westfield shopping centre has transformed the area and the improvements continue, revitalising a whole neighbourhood. The Meat Co has a home here! The…
From BBC Food These crispy potato slices with smoked salmon and homemade horseradish cream make a tasty starter or canapé. Ingredients For the potato wafers 4-6 medium Kerr’s Pink potatoes or other floury potato vegetable oil, for frying For the horseradish cream 30g/1oz freshly grated horseradish 60ml/2fl oz mayonnaise 4 tbsp crème fraîche…
Following the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror designated this wooded corner of southern England as a royal forest for the pleasure of the king and his court. The area was cleared for regal entertainment at the expense of more than 20 small hamlets and farms; hence it was considered a ‘new’ forest, although it was…
Hotel TerraVina is a gem. It’s a well-appointed house – well, it seems like someone’s home (read the accommodation review here). A line of colourful wellies in the hall welcomes the arriving guests. The rooms are individually designed and the beds are the best I have ever slept on! One might not want to leave…
From Sainsbury’s A perfect balancing act between delicate scallops, bold pancetta and a fresh, zingy dressing. Serves: 8 Preparation time: 5 Minutes Cooking time: 5 Minutes Ingredients: 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar 100g crème fraîche Zest & juice 1 lemon 75g fresh…
We have likely heard of it but if pinpointing this region on a map was a capital offence then it’s probable a few of us would be hung; but mention San Sebastián and more people will say that they know about it, and usually with regard to tapas. It’s an attractive seaside city and municipality…