In the interests of a complete review of this title I forced myself to watch an episode of Channel 4’s epic 50-part daytime show Cookery School in which ordinary cooks apparently get turned into great chefs by Michelin-starred Richard Corrigan and Leith’s trained cookery mentor Gizzi Erskine.
Vanessa Kimbell BBC Northampton
A quick mention today to let you know about my first ever radio appearance yesterday on Vanessa Kimbell‘s BBC Radio Northampton Kitchen Garden show. Our first of two shows went out live and you can listen to us from around 1 hour 07 mins into this iPlayer clip (only guaranteed to be available for the […]
Shamrock Cake Pops With Golden Syrup Cake
An easy Saint Patrick’s Day cake pop idea for Shamrock Cake Pops using McVities Golden Syrup Cake and green candy melts. This week I’ve been sick; today I’m not up to cooking, so it’s just waffle. And before you get excited about waffles, actually it’s just dodgy looking cake pops. Incase you’re wondering why they’re […]
Sainsbury’s Shop-Bought Cookie Dough
I’ve been laid low by the dreaded lurgy these past four days and unfortunately still heavily reliant on anaesthetic throat spray, painkillers and hours at a time hiding under fleecy blankets on the sofa. Hence I’m publishing a post I’ve had saved for such an occasion and normal service (plus a jolly exciting Mother’s Day […]
Presto Pasta Nights #204: Round Up
I have not been well in the past 48 hours hence regular readers may be wondering where the rest of my Le Manoir series has got to – I’ll be publishing the garden post tomorrow with the all important patisserie course review early next week. Tonight though I’ve pulled myself from wallowing under a blanket […]
Breakfast at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons
Starting the day with breakfast at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons. This post continues my current series about Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, Raymond Blanc’s Oxfordshire hotel and cookery school. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for a list of other posts in this series covering the accommodation, dinner and the patisserie class […]
Tasting Menu Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons
This post continues my current series about Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, Raymond Blanc’s Oxfordshire hotel and cookery school. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for a list of other posts in this series covering the accommodation, breakfast and the patisserie class at Raymond Blanc Cookery School. Shoes flipped off, champagne glass in […]
Suite Rooms at Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons
January is not usually a month known for pleasant surprises. Blinking with disbelief at my inbox, I received an invitation to stay overnight and take the one day patisserie class at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, home to the Raymond Blanc Cookery School. “Yes… I think I’m free that day…!” Explaining to my husband the […]
Cafe Luc Two prawns walk into a bar
Café Luc is a Belgian restaurant on Marylebone High Street. I have happy memories of trips to Belgium and I was really looking forward to this. Despite the menu above indicating my visit was in February, I’ve perfect recall of the meal. You’ll soon see why.
Namaaste Kitchen Camden
*This review was originally published in 2011. The restaurant is still open, but menus and experiences may have changed.* Spicy food pushes the boundaries of most toddlers. We’ve done pizza places, burgers, roast dinners. Even sushi. Ted loves strong flavours and has tucked into some Mexican dishes such chicken mole at Wahaca with gusto however […]
Nigella Express Macaroni Cheese
I’ve just drowned in Wikipedia, as I often do. Writing this blog post has reminded me of two things, my beloved Italian friend Anastasia answering the phone with an efficient “Pronto!” (meaning “ready!”) and that the favoured supermarket of my childhood was the now sadly defunct Presto (meaning “fast”). Wikipedia has a whole list of […]
Flipping Pancakes
Even though pancake day is relatively late this year, it still feels like it’s come round really quickly. Is it March already? We still have my sister in law’s family’s Christmas presents in the living room, I swore this year they would not hang around until Easter again but it seems history is repeating. Nothing […]













