Archive For October 2019
Honey BEEingPure and Sweet? Sounds like advice for a good life. In reality, BEEingPure is the name of a small yet influential honey-making (or is it gathering?) company in Limburg in the Netherlands. We visited the site where some hives are kept in a tranquil environment which rather resembles an allotment. Bee-attracting flowers bloom, insects…
Here is something a little different for Christmas. Besos de Oro Original Liqueur. Yes, a cream liqueur …but without cream. It’s perfect for those with allergies as this delicious drink is free from gluten, dairy, lactose, nuts, soya – and it’s suitable for vegans. I am always somewhat wary of the ‘free from’ products as…
Did you ever watch the movie ‘Moonstruck’ with Cher? It’s one of my top ten films of all time. Much of the action is set in the family kitchen – a room of significant proportions and a great deal of charm. We witness breakfast being made (in fact a couple of those) and dinner being…
I have visited Wagamama in Richmond a few times now and it does still tick those casual eating boxes for me. The word wagamama is Japanese for “naughty child” but don’t expect walls covered in crayon drawings – although Wagamama is indeed child-friendly. It was 1992 when they opened the first Wagamama in London’s Bloomsbury….
In Flanders Fields Museum – To End all Wars – Ypres 27 October – 15 November 2019 To End all Wars – Ypres Timed with the end of the centenary of the Great War approaching, the In Flanders Fields Museum takes a look at the real consequences of this great battle. The peace that ensued…
I have said it before, and I will say it yet again – The Netherlands has amazing food! It’s not all gin and cheese, although both are very good. There is a wealth of dining opportunities in this country so why do we overlook such gastronomic treasures? I have no idea, but I think Mes…
From Whole Foods Market Serves 6 to 8 Packed with vegetables, beans and pasta, this soup is a meal in itself. Serve Hearty Minestrone Soup with crusty bread and a green salad. Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth 1 cup…
Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of fish. They are found in both temperate and tropical seas, mostly living along the coast or just offshore, making them easy to catch. They are high in omega-3 oils and so a healthy fish. Before the 19th-century development of putting fish in…
Champagne: Wine of Kings and the King of Wines by Tom Bruce-Gardyne introduces the reader to the colourful story of how this delicious sparkling wine became the centrepiece of any smart party or event, and almost anywhere in the world. Champagne has universal appeal. This impressive tome looks at the essential and celebrated method of…
Drawn from life 12 Oct 2019 – 19 Jan 2020 The exhibition Drawn from life features many seldom exhibited drawings, pastels and watercolours from the collection of the Kröller-Müller Museum. The works provide an insight into life in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The collection of the Kröller-Müller Museum is famed worldwide for…
Glorious Game by the celebrated Face Publications is well up to their very high and exacting standards. It is a substantial tome in full colour with gold-edged pages. This is a sumptuous cookbook of recipes from one hundred and one of the UK’s and Ireland’s best-loved chefs and food writers, and they offer the whole…
Nestled in the historic streets of Maastricht is the Bisschopsmolen or, in English, the Bishop’s Mill. It truly was once a mill and its reputation grinds on in the guise of its bakery and restaurant. The mill was built in the 7th century and has had different roles since its construction. In the 11th century…