The Queen’s Head, Newton
The Queen’s Head, near Cambridge in the tiny village of Newton, is exactly what a village pub should be, and lunch there provided a superb trip out of the Cambridge ‘bubble.’ We drove – a mere 15 or so minutes from the Trumpington end of town – and arrived...
New Year, old favourites
Like Madsen, I spent New Year’s eve in London. Two recently-graduated friends were hosting a party in their Elephant and Castle flat. With Canary Wharf’s towers just visible from the window, it seemed an excellent setting for a party. Food was to come later, but as the varied guests arrived we...
My father’s fudge
My father read my post on fudge, and when I returned home for Christmas I found the vanilla and chocolate varieties awaiting me. It was just as good as I remember, somehow both moist and crumbly at the same time. Vouching to make it myself, a friend’s New Year...
Stilton
Santa obviously knows I like my cheese, and was kind enough to deposit with me a Fortnum and Mason stilton jar. Stilton jars seem to be this years’ hit item for cheese lovers, and pop up everywhere. Madsen, ahead of the game, had one last year. Inside the ceramic...
Ris-not-o
After a train journey back to Cambridge – some two hours late, due to the gross incompetence of all train companies involved – I was hungry, and wanted something quick and easy. There wasn’t much food in the fridge or freezer, so into a pan I threw frozen sliced...
Otter Bright
Otter Bright, from Devon’s Otter Brewery, was a pleasant drnk to enjoy whilst watching yet more Christmas telly. Bright beers, as distinct from the more standard ales available, have had all of the yeast and sendiment totally filtered off. As a result, they have a wonderful golden colour and...
Torquay Turkey
Despite my misgivings on turkey, my family enjoys it, and so it came to pass that Turkey formed the ‘centrepiece’ of our Christmas meal. I removed and boned the thighs, to speed cooking time, and layered bacon atop the bird, with an onion in its cavity. It sat atop...
Christmas Cake
My christmas cake, steeped as it was in festive spirit, went down a treat at the christmas party. After a few weeks of periodic feeding, it was ready to be iced. I used ready-rolled marzipan and regal icing, because I’m very lazy. I smeared the top with a thin...
Ye Olde Cider Bar
Ye Olde Cider Bar in Newton Abbot is one of the few remaining cider bars in the country. As ale houses, which then become public houses, used only to sell ale, so too did cider bars only sell cider, scrumpy, and perry. Now, the cider bar is slightly wider...
Shepherd’s Pie
A pre-Christmas lunch at home, and I was cooking. I fancied something hearty and warming on a cold day. As potatoes (Vivaldi) boiled, I fried off onions – sliced, not diced – and then frozen lamb mince. To this went flour, then chopped garlic, tomato puree, water, carrots, and...