Claire

    Claire

    A football match wouldn't be the same without a burger and chips but these are Rolfes burgers at Walsham - no standing in the drizzle with luke warm instant coffee and a Mars bar here. No wonder they have some of the best facilities in this part of the county. The only thing missing was a little bit of salad but I am probably in the minority for that one.

    the pitch     the food

    Byron is well known for his barbecues on the beach, and says the secret of good Caribbean food is in the seasoning. Everyone makes their own version and it usually includes thyme, plenty of salt, peppers such as scotch bonnet or the small local chilis, and a number of other spices. In the UK we can cheat - but make sure you do it the night before, it's all about the preparation. And use twice as much as you think you need - strong flavours are the thing. Even though summer seems to be over we will be eating this on Monday at Notting Hill and until it's too cold to go out in the garden. And then we might just have to cook it in the oven.

    Barbecued chicken, pork or fish with rice and peas

    Prepare your meat or fish the day before - cut slashes into them to ensure the spices get right in, it will help with cooking too.

     Season with your preferred seasoning - curry powder will do but you can buy most of the Caribbean style seasonings now. Or make your own from a combination of salt, black pepper, turmeric,  ground allspice, dried thyme, red pepper (cayenne or fresh scotch bonnet chili) and olive oil. Rub this into the meat or fish. The next day - cook on your coal pot in the garden!

    Rice and Peas

    Rinse your rice, long grain is best. Cook until nearly ready, add plenty of salt, a tin of black eye beans or kidney beans or if you can get them, pigeon peas complete with their liquid and finish cooking. If you like you can add a bit of coconut - but most people don't.

    barbecued chicken big time Cheating!

    Saturday, 27 August 2011 10:49

    I'm back...

    ...and in spite of eating and drinking non-stop, have lost weight. Must be the heat. And no cakes. So here are the pictures of the kind of thing I have been eating, in order of appearance: a mediocre fried fish from a side of the road stall in Antigua, papaya and banana from the garden with local honey and yoghurt for breakfast, my neighbours breakfast - sent over in return for a lift to church - salt fish, chop-up and fried corn bread, a soursop, mangoes and a proper delicious fried fish served with soldier crab fungi.

    I want to go back... 

    Wednesday, 22 June 2011 11:02

    Eating it and painting it...

    For a whole year illustustrator David Meldrum painted what he ate and the exhibition of 365 pictures is on in London. That's my kind of project!

    Tuesday, 21 June 2011 09:47

    Vineyard Tour

    Groupon sent me this offer  - a tour of Shawsgate Vineyard near Framlingham for two for £11 including tasting. I would be asking my sister if she wanted to go except I'm packing to go Abroad.

    Friday, 17 June 2011 10:44

    School Dinners

     

    Thurston School parents have been invited for lunch on 29th June - £2.60

    Moroccan Inspired Tagine of Lamb

    or

    Chickpea and Potato Samosa with a

    minted cucumber and yoghurt dressing

    Spicy Couscous

    Sesame Seed Loaf

    Cauliflower, Garden Peas or a Mixed side salad

    Wild Berry Fruit Fool with Shortbread

    or

    A piece of fresh fruit

     

      


    Wednesday, 15 June 2011 13:34

    Yogurts from Down Under

    Guess what? More free yogurt! From New Zealand via Little Melton in Norfolk and delivered to my door - as you know I never turn down free samples.

    These are just how I like my yogurt, flavoured with a satisfying drizzle of mango or passion fruit coulis (or pear, blueberry and honey) They taste as good as the ones I make myself for breakfast with plain yogurt and home-made coulis. My son said 'they look nice' when he opened the fridge after school, so I can only tell you that the one I had was lovely!

    Monday, 13 June 2011 12:22

    Shark and Shallots

    I bought some shark from the market on Saturday and cooked it with shallots, thyme and tomatoes and a bit of hot sauce, a la Caribbean Sunday Breakfast...mmmm. The man said it was a kind of dogfish-type-shark-thing but tried to look it up afterwards and couldn't find it on the list of British sharks that we are allowed to eat, so hope it wasn't endangered but whatever it was it was delicious!

    Sunday, 12 June 2011 11:10

    Making a meal of it at M.E.A.L.

    Are they so busy here at the Museum of East Anglian Life that they have run out of food by 1pm on both the days I visit? The broccoli soup and cheese scone was very nice but the only thing left on the menu. And no, we can't 'wait for half an hour' until you sort yourselves out in the kitchen!

    Reigning Supreme – Justin is awarded top honours as the·best new restaurant - in the UK.
     
    As the curtain fell on a glittering awards ceremony at the Westminster Park Plaza Hotel, the culinary industry proved why the tagline for the evening, ‘Bursting with Talent,’ was more than the right choice. Glorious food accompanied a night to remember as the 2011 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards set to the task of rewarding and highlighting the tremendous amount of talent that exists within British kitchens today. The awards paid tribute to chefs from across the industry, from those that work in village pubs and fine dining restaurants to those involved in university or contract catering, developing products for national retailers or feeding British soldiers. Famous faces, including among others, the Tanner brothers, were on hand to present the gongs. Leading industry representatives selected 40 chefs as finalists for the 15 prestigious awards, but there could only be one winner in each category. Our own Pea Porridge in Bury beat all those restaurants in London for the Best New Restaurant Award. Well done Justin and Jurga - brilliant!
     
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