Archive For November 2016

Montigo in Batam, Indonesia – travel review

Montigo in Batam, Indonesia – travel review

The name Batam refers to both an island and a municipality, the largest city in the Riau Islands, a province of Indonesia. You might not think you know where this is but if you have travelled to Singapore you would perhaps have already seen it: Batam is found across the Strait of Singapore. It is…

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Smoked Salmon Tartare Canapes with Shallots, Dill and Soured Cream on Blinis

Smoked Salmon Tartare Canapes with Shallots, Dill and Soured Cream on Blinis

From BBC Food   Ingredients 1 lemon, zest and juice only 200g/7oz smoked salmon 20-24 ready-made cocktail blinis 1 small shallot, finely chopped 142ml/5fl oz soured cream small bunch fresh dill freshly ground black pepper   Method Use a lemon zester to remove thin strips of zest from the lemon, taking care to avoid the…

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Alhambra Reserva 1925 – drinks review

Alhambra Reserva 1925 – drinks review

Independently-owned Alhambra Beers, a celebrated brewery in Spain, was founded in 1925 and is named after the Alhambra Palace in its home town of Granada. Alhambra Reserva 1925 is the foremost artisan beer of the Alhambra Company and expresses its tradition and quality. Tasteful elegance One might not know too much about beer but the…

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Affordable Fizz from Les Grands Chais de France

Affordable Fizz from Les Grands Chais de France

Les Grands Chais de France Group is a company based in the Northern Vosges region of France. It’s run by the Helfrich family.  When Joseph Helfrich founded the winery in 1979 he made the decision to sell Cognac and brandy around the world – wine followed soon after.  Les Grands Chais de France Group is…

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Luton Hoo to Stay – hotel review

Luton Hoo to Stay – hotel review

Luton Hoo is an English country house and estate with easy access to London. But what is a ‘hoo’? The unusual name “Hoo” is a Saxon word meaning the spur of a hill. Luton Hoo is not mentioned in the Domesday Book, but a family called de Hoo lived on the site for four hundred…

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Champagne Taittinger at Luton Hoo – restaurant review

Champagne Taittinger at Luton Hoo – restaurant review

Champagne is the quintessential celebration drink. We enjoy it with friends and loved ones, accompanied by fine foods, perhaps in a drawing room with high ceilings, Grinling Gibbons wood carvings and sumptuous drapes. Well, OK, most of us can’t manage that stunning setting …but Luton Hoo can! Luton Hoo is an English Country House Hotel…

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Smoked Salmon Pâté

Smoked Salmon Pâté

From BBC Food   Serve a rougher blend of this smoked salmon pâté as a starter with salad and oatcakes or blend a bit longer for elegant canapés.   Ingredients 255g/9oz smoked salmon 110g/4oz cream cheese 2 tbsp double cream ½ lemon, juice only 2 tbsp chopped chives plus some chives to garnish pinch of…

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Parlay Ultra Black Rum – drinks review

Parlay Ultra Black Rum – drinks review

The label uses a strong old gold and black design which sets well on the inky dark rum in the tall slim bottle. The artwork is embossed and tactile and excites the expectation of a taste of something a bit different. There is the story of the name ‘Parlay’ emblazoned on the back and it’s…

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Castles and Clans with The Majestic Line – travel review

Castles and Clans with The Majestic Line – travel review

This isn’t the first trip with this charming and characterful Majestic Line. My first voyage was a couple of years ago and was an introduction to the Scottish Isles; this second trip was to remind me of why I loved the initial experience so much! The Majestic Line offers holidays and short breaks on two…

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