Category: Food & Drink

Quarkini

Forgive me, for I have sinned; sins of omission are my special weakness. Earlier this summer I moaned about the bus replacement service after Ariadne auf Naxos at Longborough. You were entitled to think that I was on that bus when the reality is that I went back with my host in an ultra-comfy BMW.

Prom Virgins

I was a little surprised that neither of my guests on Thursday evening had been to the Proms before, especially as one is a little older than me, but they do live in Ireland.

Ham-Class

Ninety-three Ham-class minesweepers were launched between 1954 and 1959 and they cost a bob or two.

Eat Fish

“It’s brain,” I said: “pure brain! What do you do to get like that Jeeves? I believe you must eat a lot of fish, or something. Do you eat a lot of fish, Jeeves?” “No sir.” (My Man Jeeves, PG Wodehouse)

Hot News

There’s been so much happening in London that I must take a break from Kyrgyzstan. I was doing the drying up in the kitchen and for the first time spotted Eddie Redmayne.

Another Rule of Seven

In December 2015 I discovered The Rule of Seven, now I have invented another Rule of Seven (κανόνα επτά).

Monkey Business

When in Rome … but when in the Hotel de Rome in Berlin do as the Germans do; Monkey 47, Thomas Henry and a sprig of rosemary as garnish.

Goodbye to Dresden

Rigoletto at the Semperoper in Dresden on Sunday evening was a revival of a production first seen in 2006. It has had quite a few outings since then of which the best was surely when Dian Damrau sang Gilda and Juan Diego Flórez the Duke.

Churchill’s Finest

Port need not be decanted and savoured at the end of a post-hunt dinner in winter. A chilled glass of white port makes a fine late morning aperitif, especially in hot weather, and there is none better than Churchill’s.