Category: Food & Drink

Château Bute

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is Paul Torday’s first novel and his best. It is significantly better than the 2011 film of the same name. The story is as old as the world: hope trumping reality and money over-ruling common sense. Wine production in Wales shares the same themes.

The Compleat Imbiber, Part One

Cyril Ray, who died in 1991, was best known in his latter years as a writer on wine. He wrote books about Bollinger, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild and Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, among others. However, his back-story is interesting.

Duel Purpose

I read in the FT three recommendations for places to eat outside in London; a timely feature as the weather warms up. One of their picks is Boulestin in St James’s Street (above) and, before you book a table, you might like my slant.

The Faultless Painter

An old friend told me this week that he is taking an evening course at the Slade School of Fine Art but The Faultless Painter doesn’t refer to him. It is the title of a poem by Robert Browning about the Renaissance artist, Andrea del Sarto.

Retail Travail

As more people shop online the retail sector in the UK is having to adapt.  I wonder if this trend is reflected in the shops around Barons Court station?

Royal Ginger (not Prince Harry)

Sensing the onset of a cold I have been self-medicating with draughts of the King’s Ginger. The King is Edward VII, who took over the reins from and reigned after his mother, Queen Victoria.

London House Prices

I’ll write those three most hated dinner party words again, “London house prices”.  Like Glenda Slagg in Private Eye, aren’tcha sick of ’em?

Marmalade Matters

You have twenty-two days to submit your entry to the International Marmalade Awards, held annually at Dalemain in Cumbria. Marmalade is submitted from all over the world, so don’t be put off if you don’t live in the UK.

Eating en Famille/Famiglia

The London restaurant scene is dominated by a small number of companies that own a  biggish selection of restaurants in central London that have appealing menus, slightly less appealing prices but are always reliable and with excellent service. Today I’m going to tell you about a few family owned restaurants.