bainesy

Bloody hell - you're stuck with pints of fizzy piss and Loch Fyne and Pizza Express for three nights then. No problem getting there though - regular train straight out of Marylebone.

Beaconsfield itself is not great - chain/pizza places from recollection. There's Artichoke in Amersham, the Plough at Winchmore Hill. Buckinghamshire's full of old-fashioned type pubs which are rather full of themselves, but maybe that only begins to rankle when you've lived here a while. I must confess I've a real soft spot for The Cock and Rabbit at The Lee, which houses a rather hit-and-miss Italian restaurant. Must be more places but I can't think of anything at the mo'. EDIT: - You won't be far from Bray, of course

Not sure why you've had no success - the first two google.co.uk results are US firms googleisyourfriend. I'm more puzzled why you'd want something probably roasted and shipped x months ago, instead of fresh roasted from your own area. Bainesy

Pod will eat itself? Personally, I'd be delighted to see protectionism driving pods out of the market. Er...(*checking earlier threads*) but I see you don't agree Jason. Bainesy

Well, I wake up in the morning with no way to hold my head that doesn't hurt, then stumble to the kitchen and switch the Gaggia on (needs a bit of water through the boiler to prime it). Take the LOML some cranberry juice (she rises SLOWLY) and leave it by her bedside . Have a bath and shave and back to the kitchen, by which stage the Gaggia is properly warmed. Grind Bourbon Espresso blend from local roaster HillandValley in the Rancilio Rocky. Get a capuccino cup and run it to two-thirds full with hot water then pull a double shot onto the water to make an Americano. Pull another double shot into a cappa cup, flick the Gaggia to 'steam', half fill a small pitcher with soya milk and try to microfoam it. Vainly attempt to make a latte heart with the results. Present to newly arrived LOML. Drink my Americano. If we have time we roll it out a bit, with an extra doppio for me, and a pain au chocolat each. Oh yes...by the way - I wish I had a dog. Bainesy

Grind on demand. There's no benefit at all to keeping your beans in the hopper in a domestic environment. Bainesy

Just confirmed dinner for two for Saturday night. Will report back in due course. (Not on my doorstep btw - 90 miles away) Bainesy

please... (unless it's all in the article)

We're staying at Lucknam Park this weekend. I actually booked the room before realising the potential of the restaurant, and I haven't booked for dinner yet. Hywel Jones, formerly (I believe) of Foliage and Lola's, is i.c. - here's the menu. Has anyone eaten here, and if so, should I try and get us in? Thanks Bainesy edited to say - has anyone else but Jay Rayner eaten here?

Just a quick point - I don't think the Brewtus has a built-in PID - the 'digital temperature control' isn't, I understand, the same as a PID. (Of course, I append my usual disclaimer in life - I may be wrong). Bainesy

Cold buttered toast for breakfast, hot buttered toast for tea. Toast rack prevents the toast going soggy as it cools (if you lie hot toast down on a plate, or slices on top of each other they will produce steam). For those of us too stingy to invest in a toast rack there is the daily ritual of getting slices to balance against each other (like a house of cards).

Hey Owen - I think the Nemox IS available in the US (clicky for 1st-Line) but I'm really out of my depth here (how the blazes have I got to the stage of knowing which US retailers sell which coffee grinders...?) My curve has been a steep one - I went from the Dualit (aka Solis 166 - nice but definitely NOT up to grinding even for my Gaggia Classic) to Mazzer Super Jolly (...suddenly it all made sense). What I would stress to the OP is the hackneyed "don't stint on the grinder...it's as important as the actual espresso machine...etc etc". I persuaded myself for a while that I was making good espresso with the Dualit. I wasn't. cheers bainesy

Errmmm...in a spirit of opening up the options (but fearing I'm going to muddy the waters). This site has been set up in an attempt to offer a comprehensive comparison of grinders. It may be WAY too much information. If so, apologies. (Owen, I think the Iberital /Nemox Lux/Aerolatte grinder is stepless. In fact, looking back at some of the reviews and recommendations - e.g. Alan Frew - it seems quite a good entry-level choice). bainesy

This Guardian article (by Ben Goldacre, who writes their regular 'Bad Science' column - Suzi, look at his articles on 'Dr' Gillian McKeith when you get the chance) is mostly having a go at over-the-counter 'detox kits', but it does ask a number of questions that mirror my own on the subject. I like the closing remarks in particular: I suppose you can only go with results though, and if people feel they benefit from detox plans, who am I to argue? bainesy

Hehe - hope that didn't come across as patronising Owen. Syracuse looks fascinating, and I guess residents there know a damn-sight more about Arts and Crafts than most. It looks like my kind of place. Best wishes for tomorrow. That's some way to start a working day - three hours as a barista (at least you'll have the best possible coffee on hand to keep you awake...) Cheers bainesy

Sorry to bang on about the font (I thought I was a coffeegeek...) but it's closely-based on the artwork of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. This CD looks interesting, especially if you wanted to produce further stationery etc along the same lines. Owen, the cafe looks fantastic: from the LM to the furniture to the windows to, yes, the font, and I can only wish for somewhere similar in the UK. bainesy

Pasties of course

Well Owen, I'm not particularly qualified to comment. The only expensive espresso cups I have are some chromed ones which are useless because they conduct heat too well and burn your lips. I covet the Illy Nudes but I can't say those Riedel ones really do much for me. What I will say is that of the many different cups I have I always go back to one set in particular. I can't remember where they came from but they will have been cheap. They're not even really espresso size but are just thick plain white ceramic. I can't honestly say they improve the taste, but they just *feel* right. I've tried (plain) Illy cups (some swanky bar in Germany IIRC) and they similarly felt right. bainesy

I seem to recall from last year that it's compusory to vote for Nigel Slater in *every* category. Or something like that.

I'll just add a word for Bahn Nah in Broomhill, a tiny Thai place which used to be good (a few years since I've been though). Nonna's on Ecclesall Road is a nice idea which doesn't always deliver - a combined deli/cafe/restaurant (and pretty authentically Italian in terms of its staff). I've not eaten at Thyme itself, but I wasn't impressed by the Thyme Bistro. Agree that Nirmals is good. err...that's about it I'm afraid...

Or find a local independent roaster. As always, you're likely to find the best value, best flavoured, most interesting experience at the micro-production level. I don't know LA, but I do know that there's a thriving coffee scene there as elsewhere in the states. Try the coffeegeek forums bainesy

Now I think about it...I may have imagined a restaurant room to the left...ahem... I don't think though that there's been a change in owner/manager (the chap in the picture on the page I linked to is the landlord I remember). The lamb curry was a high quality, but very 'rustic' anglicised version, and the goujons were just served in a big bowl for everyone to help themselves to. Anyway, maybe some of the north-based eGullet crowd should do a recce? and those that need the exercise could take advantage of the walking opportunities...

Here

Used to go there sometimes a few years ago when I was living in Sheffield and walking in the Peak. We had one great lunchtime/afternoon when we popped in for a drink, and decided to eat: lamb curry of some sort, and goujons of (again, some sort of) fish. It was nothing earth-shattering, but perfect pub food, and clearly freshly-prepared. There was then an ?impromptu folk-music session with most of the pub joining in. The place may be a bit *too* authentic/rustic for some. I have seen people laughed at for ordering lager, and shouted at for not shutting the door. Did you eat in the bar area Pranian Man? I seem to recall that, to the left as you enter, there was a restaurant area. We thought occasionally of driving out for an evening, but it really is out in the sticks. Absolutely fantastic walking country though.

Of COURSE you know I was just kidding - heck, I even changed my sig for you... Besides, you mentioned champagne as an option. As I'm not actually much of a breakfast eater I haven't got any good recommendations, but I embrace your proposed hedonism. Cheers Bainesy