meemalee

L'Enclume - Colleen Baby Potatoes, Oxeye Daisies, Smoked Eel and Purple Wight Garlic I eat out a lot, but not half as much as I'd like. And, despite what you might think, I've not actually been to that many "fine dining" establishments. I'm stymied not just by cost, but by geography - I live out in the sticks and so if I'm having dinner in town, I need to plan carefully or else risk missing the last train home . So Taste of London has always been a bit of a thrill for me - in fact, I went to the very first one, back in 2002, which was held in Lincoln's Inn Fields. I mean, what's not to like? It's a festival of the finest restaurants that London has to offer all in one spot at the same time at a reasonable* price. What's more, the head chefs themselves are usually there, cooking and dishing up in full view, and for a chef groupie like me ( sorry, Marina ), it's pretty damn exciting - like Glastonbury for the food-obsessed. * I say reaso...

Because it's Christmas and I think I am going very slightly insane, I now proudly present to my dear readers: The Many Tastes of Christmas At Excel's Taste of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Beautiful tome wonderfully illustrated by the great Dave McKean (famous for collaborating with Neil Gaiman ) and well worth £30 A Fat Duck cookbook in a bag-gy. At Excel's Taste of Christmas, my true love gave to me: We got Mr Bunbury 's Millionaire Flapjacks, Brownies and Tiffin Mini Bites. All deliciously home-made tasting. Mr Bunbury's baking And a Fat Duck cookbook in a bag-gy . At Excel's Taste of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Vegan caviar made from soy from Caviar 4 Everyone . A laudable venture but sadly no discernable taste. Caviar a-faking Mr Bunbury's baking And a Fat Duck cookbook in a bag-gy . At Excel's Taste of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Roast Duke of Berkshire pork belly, sweet potato and fenugreek mash with green pepper relish from...