With news of the fourth National Butcher’s Week (13-20th March) arriving in Qin Xie’s Inbox, she had an epiphany. She should, and need to, learn about those cuts of meat by exploring some of the best butchery classes right on her doorstep. After one or two train/tube/bus rides, that is.
A Flare for Food
‘I just sort of got fed up with fiddly food,’ he says leading us up the stairs to his first floor kitchen. ‘I wanted to get back to simple, fun food.’ As well as the Chicken Kiev, whose origin is as much a mystery as what goes into the hideous things that call themselves Kievs in the supermarket, he does Gala pies and Arctic Rolls too, all things that appeal to the 70’s schoolboy in us all.
Digital dining in the dark at The Ubiquitous Chip
Caroline Sargent tries eating in 3D at The Ubiquitous Chip in Glasgow. All thoughts of deep-fried Mars bars are put aside as she discovers an experience in art and taste unique in the UK
Making Japanese cocktails at Watatsumi
Have you been to Watatsumi? It’s a bit fishy in there. No, not in that “there’s something suspicious going on” sort of way but rather, they’re a bit fish obsessed. Qin Xie was recently invited to an evening of cocktail making at Watatsumi, the high-end Japanese restaurant at The Club Quarters Hotel.
The Savoy Grill, London
Andy Cook is putting the grill back into The Savoy Grill, with best of British cooking that is not a homage or a pastiche but just proper dishes done with style and flair and a sense of British achievement and proud British produce. Nick Harman joins Andy in the kitchen to salute the flag.
High Noon, at the W1 range, The Loyd Grossman chilli cook-off, Alan King (akandpa) battles against Andy Welch
There’s some nervous, edgy eye contact, we’re introduced, shake hands, then move to different parts of Caldesi’s place. The clock was ticking by, moving ever closer to High Noon. This hullabaloo had been arranged to find the perfect chilli, as part of the launch of Loyd Grossman’s ‘classic’ and ‘fiery’ chilli sauces, there could be casualties.
Over the grill – Ben Tish of the Opera Tavern talks tapas
The Iberican Pork Burger has gone down a storm at The Opera Tavern in Covent Garden London. Head Chef Ben Tish fires up the josper grill and shows us how it’s done
Strange Shores: The Uncanny Pleasures of the Foreign Foods Supermarket
Have you ever listened to one of those relaxation tapes? The ones where you’re told to imagine a ‘happy place’ then prodded in the right direction. Usually you find yourself directed to a beach. Inevitably there’s a sailing boat and warm, golden sand between your toes. Can you hear the sea lapping the shore? Congratulations, you’ve found your happy place.
Marmalade Breakfast at Fortnum & Mason
With marmalade appearing in the news here, there and everywhere, you’d think it was in vogue. But it’s not. The truth is, it never really went out of fashion.
Cheese and whisky. The odd couple that work together
Are you still matching red wine with your cheese? How about mixing it up with some single malt whiskies instead. Picking the right partnerships is a bit tricky though so why not let a master whisky sommelier do the choosing for you? We take a taste trip with Angelo Gobbi the man in charge of the remarkable Whisky Bar at The Athenaeum in Park Lane.