PoppySeedBagel

I've seen truffles at Carluccios in the past too - and Harvey Nichols's food hall

Tarka - buckwheat is no relation to wheat (a relative of rhubarb I believe) and it contains no gluten I think. However, as Curly has found it is quite difficult finding 100% buckwheat noodles - which is why I was so pleased to find them in Planet Organic.

Curly - I recently bought 100% Buckwheat "soba" from Japan in Planet Organic just by the side of Habitat on Tottenham Court Road.

I've been recently and like it - I've always been happy about the service too

Tarka I've seen that too - it's obviously zipping round the world like that Claire Swire one - then the tabs will start ferreting, the true individuals will be exposed, and it'll all end in tears - congrats to you and your intended by the way Mikey

If you're near London there's also H R Higgins - worth a trip for the shop alone. I'll see if I can find a link- voila: http://www.hrhiggins.co.uk/tealist-00021.h...5272bbc293a87c3 they sell tea and coffee by post too

I'm pretty sure that Williamson & Magor sell an Oolong - their teas are wonderful (my favourite is their Earl Grey which is 100 times better than Twinings). They don't sell from a web site - ring 01582 813810. Selfridges also sell their teas (as do Waitrose, but only in caddies which is expensive). Harrods sell Oolong loose - and their Russian Caravan tea is good too.

I'd have thought it would be nicer, as the eggs will give lightness, and richness, and if you find 100% wholemeal too heavy, you could always add a bit of good quality white flour. At least you'd know what went into it!

Congratulations - remember the first year is the worst...

I suppose the fact that he uses the term 'tammied' bodes quite well, but overall I agree with Andy.

Pasta - Broccoli & Anchovy For 2 Put on some penne-type pasta (1) to boil, and steam some broccoli (2) florets as the pasta cooks, until broccoli is just cooked. Meanwhile melt a tin of anchovies in a bit of olive oil over a very slow heat. When the broccoli is cooked mix with the anchovy gunk, and add a knob of butter, then when the pasta is cooked (minutes later) mix it all together. Serve with parmesan. (1) we eat 300 g between us (2) 500 g or so

From a brief article in Metro today it seems to be in the top 10 for 'favorite restaurants' in London - I can understand this.

Personally I'd go for a night or 2 away in Brighton - Hotel du Vin's top floor suite - the one with 2 baths in the enormous bedroom is perfect and has a seaview if you crane a bit from the balcony. The restaurant isn't Ramsay standard but it is good - or maybe take a carpet picnic - you've got enough room - with a huge seating area. It's our 20th anniversary next year and I was thinking of this, or maybe a trip to The Fat Duck - are there good places to stay in or near to Bray?

Tulley's Farm near Turner's Hill in Sussex is pretty good: http://www.tulleysfarm.com/

it was simply to see if it really could be thatawful - but it was. I think I bought some chocolate biscuits having been told they weren't too bad - but they were... Mind - it wasn't as bad as the AXE supermarket in Consett, in which I did an audit stocktake circa 1981 - nothing fresh for sale at all - just stacks of tinned peas @ 9p a pop. Consett was a very depressed place at that time of course - Phileas Fogg not having arrived to rescue it.

Yes the Bounty one is disgusting isn't it? soooo sweet - I do love a Topic, though, if we're talking cheapo chocolate bars - but hard to find in many shops

On my only trip to Lidl, I spotted a smartly dressed couple, after the checkout, transferring their shopping into Sainsburys bags! I am stunned by Tesco adding all that c**p to fresh meat - I shall never shop there again (I don't often, but still).

Well if we're talking lunch and chains how about Benugo - which is sort of a chain. I find it's 'special' sandwiches over-fancy - too many flavours in competition. However they will make up a good simple sandwich to order, their salads are good (mango dressing is excellent) and puds etc are also excellent - I'm a sucker for Natas (those portugese custard tarts). There's one in Clerkenwell and one on Great Portland Street - I'm sure I've seen others

There's also a Paul on Marylebone High Street - excellent sandwiches again. There is also a good sandwich shop down a little street almost opposite that Paul - it may be on Marylebone Lane - ham with onion marmalade was good

If you're planning to go to Guernsey while you're there I can help out - let me know - or there's a good place for lobster on Sark

In some health food shops you can get Japanese 100% buckwheat pasta - expensive but excellent.

Robyn if you're still here in London - the chocolates at GRRHR are by Artisan du Chocolatand are sold at Borough Market as well as at their shop - I bought some bags of mis-shapes from BM last Saturday - a true bargain at £2.50 for about 15 of the little darlings - althiough there was little guidance as to what was in them - but then it was funny detecting what was in them. My favourite had to be the basil one.

I would have thought that home-made wholemeal pasta as you describe it would be better than the bought stuff, if only because the bought stuff is usually not made with eggs - so it will be lighter and richer. It may also be improved if you use fine-ground wholemeal flour. Most wholemeal pasta I have eaten is rather too rustic, because it is made with really roughly-ground flour.

I used to get an organic box, and as a result, I think that 'proper' organic fruits and vegetables go off more quickly than the sort you buy in supermarkets like Sainsburys, organic or otherwise. Possibly it's that the varieties chosen by your true organic farmer are chosen more for their flavour than their keeping abilities. A supplier of a supermarket will have to produce in quantity so is unlikely to be a small, perhaps rather idealistic organic farmer. The best you can do is buy what you can from smaller proper organic shop when you can to encourage them and accept that you won't get the choice available in Sainsburys et al.

I ate from the menu prestige and am embarrassed to say I wasn't too stuffed. (and I'm female and slim)