Archive For October 2018
La Taillerie – the Gemstone Shop Although precious stones are not found naturally anywhere in the Jura mountains, the cutting and polishing of imported stones played a significant role in the economy of this region for three centuries. There are still traces of those traditional skills to be found if you look for them. Start…
It’s that time of year again! We are in gift-giving mode but much of our festive energies are spent on meal planning. The big Christmas lunch is usually a traditional affair so, despite the stress, it’s all sorted. But there is another meal that demands a bit more consideration: Teatime! Wild and Game have the…
Vodka – The Essential Guide for Vodka Purists is a one-stop shop for lovers of this versatile spirit …but what actually is it? Vodka is more popular than ever due to the cocktail-drinking trend. It has introduced vodka to a new audience as well as knowledgeable bartenders who appreciate this spirit as a base for…
Busaba presents modern Bangkok dining, with a dozen or so restaurants around Greater London. Having opened its first restaurant on London’s Wardour Street in 1999, the chain has gone from strength to strength – and now we can replicate a few of their dishes at home. Bangkok Thai: The Busaba Cookbook tempts with 100 recipes…
I have just returned from a trip to delicious Thailand. There were curries, refreshing and spiced salads, and noodles aplenty. There were also desserts, and these were, for the most part, made of vegetables. Seems like we in Europe are a bit behind the wave of that particular culinary classification. Vegetable Cakes: The most fun…
I have just returned from Thailand where the flavours and indeed textures of that country’s vibrant cuisine reminded me how much I enjoyed those dishes at home. Well, when I say at home I really mean in Thai restaurants in London, and that includes the famed chain of Rosa’s. Rosa doesn’t sound like a very…
At Outrigger’s Laguna Beach Phuket Resort, Thailand, there are both top-notch Thai and vibrant Asian foods aplenty (read my reviews here). And there is a stylish restaurant called Metzo’s. That might push the expectation envelope, as it has pan-Mediterranean dishes as its delicious focus. Metzo’s Bistro and Bar offers foods difficult to find anywhere else…
The Mezze Cookbook is a gift-quality volume which reflects how most of us eat… or would like to. There are 135 recipes suitable for the home chef, and they cover the Middle East with its tradition of delicious sharing plates. These recipes are perfect for intimate evenings as well as for larger gatherings, for vegetarians…
Vivek Singh’s Indian Festival Feasts is a vibrant cookbook from one of my favourite Indian chefs, who heads the celebrated and polished Cinnamon Group of restaurants in London and now beyond. Here Vivek presents recipes for celebrations. It is said that in India there is a festival every day of the year. Vivek Singh brings…
Abelha means ‘bee’ in Portuguese and the striking label offers a swarm of them on this bottle of Abelha Organic Cachaça. It speaks to one of summer days, nature, wholesome pleasures, and all of those happen to be found in Brazil from where this characterful spirit hails. Cachaça is a popular spirit which some describe…
One of the joys of a vacation, for me at least, is food. Not necessarily huge quantities but it must be interesting, perhaps reflecting the ethnic makeup of the destination, and it should always be delicious. Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort ticks all those boxes. This rather smart and beautifully Thai hotel (read my article…
In the beautiful Jura mountains of Eastern France, in the small town of Morez, there is a big museum. It’s dedicated to a rarely-seen industry that’s staring you in the face, and whose products change our view of the world. Spectacles, of course! Metal-working trades began to develop in the 16th century along the banks…
Sight Smell Touch Taste Sound: A New Way to Cook, by Sybil Kapoor, is a book that truly does awaken all the senses, and perhaps encourages both the home cook and their lucky diners to appreciate food in a more all-encompassing fashion. How does that song go? ‘New York, New York, So Good They Named…
Gin: The Essential Guide for Gin Aficionados offers a wealth of information. Gin is one of the world’s best-loved spirits. It has a rich history – made in medieval monasteries it was thought to protect against the plague. The science had come from the Arab world with their elevated knowledge of medicine. Gin’s botanicals were…
Well, what a surprise. A bottle of Foxhole Gin arrived. The event was no surprise, but the shelf appeal was. There are so many new gins around, but this one grabbed my attention before the nose or palate could evaluate quality. Each Foxhole Gin bottle is screenprinted by hand with a precious-metal ink, which is…