Somewhere in the archives last year I talked about the trials and errors I was doing in making my own tomato sauce — another year and I’ve returned to it with a vengeance, and happily so. I’ve got the basic sauce preparation down t[…]

in which g.ramsay by the magickal technique of shoutin a lot w.a purple face turned a beardy no-mark no-cookin cowboy into a chef in six weeks
ok so far so didn’t-we-already-do-this? except this time the cut to the chase made no sense: the res[…]

Posh food and steeling the nerves to buy it
Visiting Brindisa, the very lovely purveyor of quality Spanish goods in Clerkenwell, on the way to the first night of the Beijing Opera at Sadlers Wells, was always going to feel like something a woman with[…]

It has been a trying weekend at the restaurant, and as I contemplate one more shift before some blessed days off it occurs to me that if diners abided by a few simple rules the entire experience would be a lot more enjoyable. For us, anyway.
1) If yo[…]

It is rather lovely to have an real ale bouzer almost on one’s doorstep, especially one as nice as the Oakdale. It’s a good size pub, with two big rooms, so I’ve never really felt crowded in there, although at the beer festival a c[…]

In my many years of drinking and brewing tea I have occasionally been accused of fussiness. I admit that there is probably some truth in this accusation. I am rather fond of the warming of pots. I do dislike the misordering of mug filling. Hell, I&#8[…]

New mammal found on food stall. – tragicomic tale of scientific discovery. The final paragraph raises an eyebrow though – the bumblebee bat??
Further quirky action – insect restaurant in Germany – website here, not prioritisin[…]

I had a bite to eat in the newly opened Taz by the British Museum. I like the one on The Cut, though I have always found that Turkish tends to lend itself to large groups rather than just a couple. A huge soup bowl of hummus can be a little bit dispi[…]

I can’t remember that there is anything outstanding about Badger Beer at all. Yet if it is on offer, I nearly always order it. I have tried to work out the reason for this, but it boils down to one simple fact. It is named after Badgers.
I am l[…]

Spotted in the Head Of Steam last night (pub one of three for me) – a new style of hi-rise charity box. In a wooden frame there were five perspex boxes all labelled with their respective charities. The HoS said they would double any money given[…]