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Andy Lynes

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Posts posted by Andy Lynes

    Masterchef Goes Large 2008

    in Food Media & Arts

    Posted

    So last night, the three finalists were flown to the jungle in Belize to cook for a bunch of British soldiers who were out there training. What made it worth flying the contestants, presenters and crew 5,000 miles was because the jungle is really hot, which makes for quite difficult conditions to cook in. Unlike, say, oh I don't know, just off the top of my head you understand, A PROFESSIONAL KITCHEN. Like the ones the contestants have been cooking in all along. So it was a really exciting episode because the contestants were sweating more than in previous editions of the show. And um, it was really hot.

    Magic Water!

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    I really hope he's looking at the work of the tiny band of English Surrealists. They were funny, amateurish, iconoclastic, geeky and ultimately rather sweet.

    I saw an exhibition of Unit One at the Portsmouth City museum about 30 years ago. You don't hear much about them do you? But Heston's more about Old English Spangles than surrealism. (There's the basis for a three hour Friday night Channel 4 special featuring Stuart Maconie and other assorted talking heads right there, "Do you remeber when you used to like, take your pocket money right and ride down to the newsagent on your chopper yeah and like buy loads of a packets of Old English Spangles and like, eat them. Fantastic!").

    Delia’s Cheat Ingredients

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Cooking & Baking

    Posted

    Is their actually a product called "Sainsbury's New Season Olive Oil"? Otherwise I think you might be giving the poor old internationally famous, multi-millionaire a hard time over nothing.

    This was rather my point. Sainsbury had begun selling an own label olive oil prominently branded as 'New Season' with a vast facing* at around the time Jamie started name checking it.

    "Sainsbury's New Season Olive Oil" is not available to buy via their website and is not stocked in their West Hove branch (I've just checked), which is the largest store in my local area. Where did you see it and how recently?

    Brighton - Where's good at the moment?

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    People seem to like Coriander on Sackville Road - ever been there Andy?

    Only to interview the owner for the local free sheet and that was a few years ago now. The menu has never really tempted me to be honest.

    I'm planning on popping into In Vino Veritasfor a post theatre beer on Friday. Its fairly new and run by a couple of ex-Hotel du Vin staff. Interesting looking cocktail, wine and food menu.

    Delia’s Cheat Ingredients

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Cooking & Baking

    Posted

    I should be more accurate. I noticed initially that Jamie was mentioning 'New Season Olive Oil' several times in a programme, which was not a designation I'd particularly heard before going into Saino's and finding shelves full of it.

    I assume this is something he picked up from the River Cafe ladies who banged on about it in their books and TV programmes and love it so much they even sell their own label version. Here's a rather old article about it http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/food/s...1613764,00.html

    Is their actually a product called "Sainsbury's New Season Olive Oil"? Otherwise I think you might be giving the poor old internationally famous, multi-millionaire a hard time over nothing.

    Delia’s Cheat Ingredients

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Cooking & Baking

    Posted

    can't say i'd noticed a preponderance of packaged products on jamie's programme. I must say i'm loving a lot of the recipes and hopefully it will spur mrs m to grow me a whole garden of veg by the summer. :biggrin:

    I've been watching the series and really enjoying it, so much so that on Saturday I went out and paid my own money for the book. I haven't noticed a lot of mentions of packets of stuff and there is certainly no direct reference to them in the ingredients lists in the book (I haven't read all the text as yet, but the emphasis seems to be on gardening tips for growing your own).

    I made the roast carrot and avocado salad with orange and lemon dressing on Saturday night which may well be one of the healthiest plates of food I've ever prepared in my life. Delicious too.

    Brighton - Where's good at the moment?

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    Wandering around Brighton yesterday I saw that MyHotel is due to open this spring/summer. The good news is that it will add a large stylish bar to a scene that is crying out for more decent places to drink. The bad news is that the restaurant will be run by Aldo "the only reason I'm not on the bottom rung of the culinary ladder is because Ainsley is standing on it" f***ing Zilli.

    Bearing in mind that the other two MyHotel's are in upmarket Chelsea and Bloomsbury and that they claim "food and drink are an integral part of the myhotels experience", I can't help wondering what the hell went through the mind of whoever made that particular decision. The last thing Brighton needs is another sodding Italian restaurant, we are literally drowning in them - the new restaurant will be directly opposite Carluccio's for God's sake.

    Brighton could easily make room for more Modern European, classical French, a really good Thai, British, a bar and grill - anything but Italian.

    The UK Menu Game (2008-)

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    Dead easy one including a couple of sigs, just because I fancy all of this right now:

    pan fried squid with borlotti beans from Lamon, chilli,

    parsley and chopped rocket

    handmade pasta stuffed with slow cooked veal and pancetta

    fish stew of Dorset blue lobster, langoustine, monkfish, sea bass, vongole with fennel, tomato, saffron potatoes and parsley

    Amalfi lemon tart

    Shaun Hill & The Walnut Tree

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    I wrote this http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=1094 for Restaurant magazine but the Walnut Tree was still a building site when I was there. I did get to taste a few of the dishes in the rather breezy kitchen and they were up to Shaun's usual high standard. Because its a busy brasserie, its different kettle of fish from Merchant House, although a few items like the goats cheese gnocchi do reappear. The menu reads very well indeed I have to say http://www.thewalnuttreeinn.com/restaurant-menu.html.

    Brighton - Where's good at the moment?

    in United Kingdom & Ireland: Dining

    Posted

    I'm making a long delayed first visit to The Meadow in Hove next week where the prices are far more bearable, I will report back.

    An excellent business lunch of tian of crab with celeriac remoulade and toast followed by braised pigs cheek, neeps and tatties with caramelised apple and then a stonking peanut parfait with chocolate mousse. Really excellent home made breads, good service, great room with loads of natural light and very tastefully done out. The wine list is short but generally good value and they've got a nice list of beers, cocktails, sherry and dessert wines. Easily one of the best meals I've enjoyed in Brighton and Hove and one of the few places in town I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. Looking forward to going back in the near future, and I don't say that very often about local restaurants.

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