Some people think I live on a daily diet of truffles, lobster, foie gras and fine wine but I’m not adverse to simple fast food. I can be quite partial to pizza, fried chicken and fish and chips on a … Read More
There was once a time I thought of sweet wines being syrupy gloop, like golden syrup laced with cheap alcohol. I had blocked sweet wines from my mind; they were something I would always avoid, preferring to round off a … Read More
Message body Every year I wait until I feel the first real chill of winter, that intense cold that penetrates your fingertips through to the bone. When the temperature drops below 10c I know it’s Irish stew weather; I want … Read More
This cosy pub, just off the main drag in Bushey, prides itself on using locally sourced seasonal food. Last time I came here I hadn’t booked and, as there was a private function in the restaurant area, had to settle … Read More
My vertical learning curve in my sommelier studies bought me a prestigious invitation to the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux tasting, the second highest classification after Premier Cru. Most of the wines at this tasting are already a couple … Read More
I’m a big fan of small plates. This way you get to taste a myriad of dishes and sharing food is always a huge pleasure. Thus I was delighted to come across a rather charming Austrian cafe which lies in … Read More
The secret of any good tomato sauce is the quality of the base ingredients, which, of course, in this case are the tomatoes. If your pocket doesn’t allow for San Marzano tomatoes, I like to use the Sainsbury’s taste the … Read More
Occasionally you discover wine that really hits the spot, a eureka moment if you will; a real joy to this somewhat jaded palate. I was attending an Italian cookery masterclass at Novikov in Mayfair where one of the dishes we … Read More