Joanna Biddolph

Joanna Biddolph

Joanna Biddolph thinks about food all day long which she puts down to having been born just in time for lunch. She's always available to review restaurants, food retailers and caterers - no meal too big or small - as well as cookery books and books about food. She blogs about the struggle that is freelance life, with recipes for lunch, and in nbetween runs crisis management and crisis media management courses for airlines, restaurants and food businesses. So she also blogs about crisis management. With 30 years' experience in communications under her ever-expanding belt, she promotes charities and independent businesses and is an occasional freelance journalist, writing about real life from askance. She lives in the foodie heaven that is Chiswick, determinedly supporting her local greengrocer, grocer, butcher, fishmonger, deli, health food shop and chocolatier - and hanging out in independent cafés.

  • Humiliate food critics - for charity

    Friday February 17th, 2012

    Over-ebullient, self-obsessed, braggy, ill-informed, pompous, irritating … these are the mildest of the uncomplimentary epithets we chuck at food critics. And many readers would like to see them well and truly stuffed. This April, Action Against Hunger is giving you the opportunity to see the critics being humiliated by top chefs, in the professional kitchen at Hawksmoor Guildhall. Revenge will definitely be on the menu.

  • Two cocktails spiced up by Schwartz

    Monday February 13th, 2012

    As part of its flavour forecast for 2012, herb and spice specialist Schwartz has devised two trend-setting cocktails: a light and refreshing watermelon cooler for long, hot days, and a zingy and rich full-bodied lemon blanc cocktail for a big lemon kick. 

  • Show-stopping recipes from Schwartz

    Monday February 13th, 2012

    Don't be put off by the long titles, or the even longer lists of ingredients. These recipes are super-easy - and hugely impressive. Served together, they make a show-stopping four course dinner party; pick-and-mix your way through them for lesser occasions (the ham with lentils would be fantastic for picnics). All brought to you by herb and spice specialist Schwartz.

  • What's in flavour this year? Schwartz forecasts global influences

    Monday February 13th, 2012

    Forecasts about food trends are almost always about generating sales for whichever products its sponsor makes. Spice and herb specialist Schwartz has identified six approaches which will influence the way we cook, using recipes created by its own chef, Steve Love, and rising star chef Maria Elia who has transformed the menu at Joe's in South Kensington. Put your cynicism about corporate sponsorship aside; these well-crafted recipes are show-stoppers. 

  • Cod steaks with anchovy and fennel – from Mary Berry’s Complete Cookbook

    Tuesday January 31st, 2012

    Simple and quick enough to join your repertoire for easy midweek after work suppers, the fennel adds an element of chic for the image-conscious, though it is just as suitably wholesome for families. Perfectly judged in every respect, each flavour is detectable – the anchovies adds a salty note to the sweetness of the fennel and onion, a hint of dark earthiness comes from the parsley – but none overwhelms the other. A slightly crunchy brownish topping above the glistening white fish, all moist and flakingly just-cooked, gives it a variety of texture.

  • Mary Berry's Complete Cookbook - a wise mother in your kitchen

    Tuesday January 31st, 2012

    With the current trend for quirky cookery books offering an esoteric range of recipes from celebrity chefs, restaurateurs and bloggers, Mary Berry’s Complete Cookbook plays the role of wise mother to their naughty children. It won’t set you up as a here today, gone tomorrow pop-up or supper club host but it will make your repertoire much more varied – and your life a lot easier, as Joanna Biddolph discovered.

  • Charlotte's on the game in Chiswick

    Wednesday January 4th, 2012

    Punchy mouthfuls with a huge aftermath sum up this evening – an exciting menu that explores the best of this season's game, at a special game night on 23rd January at Charlotte's Bistro in Chiswick. With a Michelin Bib Gourmand, it's worth the 20 minute tube journey to experience chef Wesley Smalley's award-winning skills. Get there like a shot, recommends Joanna Biddolph.

  • How to make - and eat - Asda's Extra Special Creamy Lancashire Cheese

    Wednesday December 21st, 2011

    If you usually reach for the same slab of cheese every time you shop, surely Christmas is the time you should let your eye wander along the whole length of the supermarket cheese selection, looking and thinking differently? Joanna Biddolph discovered how Asda's Extra Special Creamy Lancashire Cheese is made and, more importantly, how to eat it at Christmas.

  • An alternative Christmas Day feast – from Leiths and Asda

    Wednesday December 14th, 2011

    There are some who will not eat turkey at Christmas, ever. Most of us are tempted to try something different once at least, only to default to turkey because it seems so much more, well, Christmassy. Whichever you are, this menu – a selection of recipes created by Leiths School of Food and Wine specifically for Asda – could be the alternative you seek.

  • Easy Christmas canapés with recipes from Leiths and Asda

    Monday December 12th, 2011

    Asda and Leiths collaborating? Yes, surprising. But no more surprising than Waitrose coming out with an Essentials range. Both are trying to appeal to people at opposite ends of their food spend spectrum. Don’t scoff cynically; make these recipes and scoff with smugness. They are ridiculously easy but impressively delicious.

  • Entertain (or nibble) in style: Asda's Extra Special Christmas range

    Monday December 12th, 2011

    Those nice people at Asda sent us a few samples to try from their Extra Special range.  Here’s what our taster Joanna Biddolph thought of the treats in their goody bag: 

  • Indulge in the Thai Christmas Banquet at Mango Tree

    Wednesday December 7th, 2011

    In a passer-by-free part of London – down the western side of Hyde Park Corner – Mango Tree is unlikely to be on your regular route unless you work locally. If you are well ahead with your Christmas wrapping and have time for a late, long lunch, or are taking a day off to Christmas-shop and need to recover from the throng by warming your wintry bones and spicing up your flagging enthusiasm, the Christmas banquet is extremely generous and excellent value for money.

  • The Chocolate Festival is back!

    Thursday December 1st, 2011

    If your idea of bliss is to cover your face with sticky smears of chocolate, make time for this year's London Chocolate Festival from 9th to 11th December. 

  • Fox’s festive biscuit collections – worth dipping into

    Tuesday November 22nd, 2011

    There is something much more shareable about a tin, or box, of biscuits – and something much more indulgent about musing over which one to choose, as Joanna Biddolph discovered when testing Fox's new festive collections.

  • Bought, Borrowed & Stolen - Allegra McEvedy waffles around the world

    Saturday November 19th, 2011

    Ignore the hideous photographs, and self-indulgent waffle, and you might find some recipes you'll want to cook again and again in this astonishingly big book, suggests Joanna Biddolph.  

  • Indulgent festive Thai feast coming to Mango Tree

    Saturday November 19th, 2011

    On 28th November Mango Tree, the award-winning Belgravia restaurant, will launch a festive Thai feast that gives traditional English Christmassy food a Thai twist for only £39 a person.

  • Big warm flavours from Tamarind's autumn menu

    Wednesday November 2nd, 2011

    The launch of a new menu is excuse enough to go back to a favourite restaurant, even if you know you will find the regular signature dishes irresistible - as Joanna Biddolph discovered when she nipped back to Tamarind to test its autumn menu.  

  • Gin O’Clock – Queen_UK publishes extracts from her diaries

    Thursday October 27th, 2011

    The Queen [of Twitter] has published extracts from her diaries, revealing her surprisingly candid thoughts about the events of the day and showing that the only way to survive the nonsense we have to put up with from leading public figures is by taking hefty slugs of Bombay Sapphire gin, with or preferably without tonic. Joanna Biddolph went along to meet her at the official launch. 

  • Celebrate Diwali at Namaaste Kitchen – the best value tasting menu

    Wednesday October 26th, 2011

    If your eating out decisions are driven by your wallet, while hoping not to sacrifice taste, Namaaste Kitchen in Camden should be on your must-go list. And, if you want to experience its special Diwali tasting menu - seven courses, each matched with a wine - you must-go soon; the special menu extravaganza lasts until Saturday, 29th October.

  • Special offer on tickets for Taste of Christmas 2011 with Jamie Oliver!

    Tuesday October 18th, 2011

    You've got until 31st October to save £20 on a pair of tickets to this year's Taste of Christmas and the chance to see top celebrity chefs in action, get inspiriation for your own festive feast and eat your way round the exhibition.