Robert Mondavi wines

I tasted a selection of Robert Mondavi wines recently, the 2008 Woodbridge Shiraz,a deep red wine, the 2008 Private Selection Fumé Blanc, a crisp, barrel-aged white and the 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a luscious rich, dark, ruby red.

A freefrom Christmas

It’s always hard to cater for everyone at Christmas and it’s even harder when your guests have food intolerances. Many traditional Christmas treats will contain a number of allergens from gluten, nuts and dairy to soya, egg and wheat. Sainsbury’s have brought alternatives.

Spanish Persimon recipes

Fragrant Spanish persimon are in season from October until mid January. It has a sweet, firm, orange flesh, similar to a peach or mango and can be eaten fresh, or used in sweet and savoury dishes. Here are three great recipes including one from Sam and Sam Clark at Moro

The Gay Hussar, Soho, London

Today with MPs of all sides little more than jellies in suits, frightened to say boo to a goose and only interested in their puerile careers and a knighthood, The Gay Hussar is host to a dwindling band of the old crowd. Most are, thankfully, no longer sexually active and many have to swallow a cocktails of pills before eating anything to counter their various ailments. Some don’t even drink any more.