offcentre

I thought I'd bring a bit of closure to this thread. After much research I abandoned the Midlands idea and decided to stay down south. We are booked for the The Crown Inn in Chiddingfold in Surrey, which won Conde Nast Most Excellent Inn of 2010 award. Looks nice - I'll let you know how we get on in a few weeks.

I'd be interested in reading your results over the coming weeks (or days, depending upon the enthusiasm with which you enter into project sausage) Catherine! I'll also usually get sausages from a local farm, usually Tablehurst or Osney Lodge. In fact Tablehurst, a community owned farm in my village, has just won best butcher in the Sussex Food and Drink Awards. I am almost as happy with a Sainsbury's taste the difference though. Would a comparison of the finer supermarket brands be in scope for project sausage?

There was a bit of a 'movement' over here rebelling against the cost of bottled water in restaurants a few years back, encouraging people to ask for tap water to make it a bit more socially acceptable. It worked, I will never pay for bottled water anymore and I believe any stigma that was associated with asking for tap has gone. That said I never drink tap water at home as its flouridated where I live (south east england). Even though you can't taste it you can often smell a vague bleach-ey smell, which is enough to put me off, nevermind the health implications. fifteen bucks...blimey!

It was a steak with a mushroom cream sauce and I was about 14. I remember being blown away and raving on about how I could taste the steak and the mushroom and the cream. More recently was when I tried my first oyster say 10 years ago - salty, fishy, meaty, sweet loveliness that I could taste for a good half hour afterwards.

thanks folks - I'll do some research into these recommendations. Much appreciated.

I was hoping to stay at Mr Underhills but its fully booked. (there's nothing on here on this restaurant...does it come recommended?) I am looking for inspiration for a weekend without kids for my birthday. Somewhere within a 50 mile radius of Coventry, country-house-style (or luxurious pub). Any ideas? ta

david - I love your posts, they give me a great deal of pleasure. I couldn't bring myself to photograph my food in a restaurant, but I'm glad that you and others do. Photo's are great, your new camera seems to do the trick!

well I never made it to Margots but have followed this thread and your blog over the last few years so feel like I know you (a little). Your recipe for mushroom and chorizo risotto will live on in our house! Good luck in whatever you do next. I'm sure whatever you do you'll make a success of it.

Okay, I haven't quite finished reading this thread yet, but I have a list. I will be in Rome over this weekend (thursday to monday) with the family, which includes a 2 year old and a 6 year old. We will be going to the usual tourist areas. Staying at Residenza Cellini on Via Modena next to Repubblica metro. Breakfast in hotel, more often than not lunch on the go or a picnic, and casual dining in the evening. Here is my list, garnered from this thread, slow food site and a couple of others. It's a bit short on deli-style places I think, so tips on good places to pick up a slice, or some good bread and cheese etc. If there's any glaring omissions I'd like to hear of those too. Plus if anywhere is too formal, or not appropriate for kids of our age I'd appreciate striking a few off the list too. I guess the fact we want informal will mean cost will be low to medium - I don't want to pay more than 35 euro per person, plus wine. The list is long as I don't care to plan too much, so imagine we'll be somewhere, realise we're hungry, refer to list and find closest suitable place. Ah...localities may not be accurate but not to worry, I have a thumbnail map from google next to each one on the list! Vatican Pizzarium Osteria dell'Angelo La Credenza Villa Alda Fata Morgana Pantheon Matricianella Da Armando al Pantheon Del Cavalier Gino La Vecchia Locanda Trastaverre Dar Poeta Antico Forno Testaccio Agustarello Pizzaria Remo Felice Ne Arte ne Parte Campo de Fiori Ditirambo Monserrato Da Baffetto Da Sergio Centro Storico Trattoria da Gino Palatium Colloseo Il Bocconcino Trevi Trattoria ai Monti L'oste della Bon'ora Zaraza Pommidoro Trattoria Monti Trattoria Cardona Tram Tram I fancy a mooch around the ghetto at some point - is there anything on my list in that area? If anyone fancies answering any of the above questions I'd be grateful! thanks

I am off to Rome for 5 days on thursday. I was planning to take this approach, as I don't have an itinerary of places to visit. But the comments rooftop got to this statement has made me think otherwise. Thanks for changing my mind on that at least. I'd better read this huge thread! Edited - quoted wrong reply!

Anyone else make it with sweet potatoes - Kumara Pie I think they call it in New Zealand. Makes an extremely rich and sweet gratin, almost a desert. Similar to breadcrumbing and deep frying, almost anything tastes good smothered in cream and baked.

I much prefer Bush's for baked beans - though Heinz will do in a pinch. I bet your taste different to ours.

Heinz Baked Beans

1. Peel and cut. 2. Parboil . 3. Drain. 4. Add decent nob of butter, salt and pepper to pan of pots. 5. Shake, stir or whatever (depending on whether I have over or under parboiled). The result is a fluffed-up tater with the fluff being a mixture of butter and potato. 6. Add to preheated tray of butter/vegetable oil, cut side down. 7. Do not move the little devils till underside has formed a crust. 8. Turn and add to oven for a further 15 mins. Similar to Hestons but instead of flour I add butter. I am yet to find a better roast potato (he says modestly).

Can you (or anyone) point to evidence to support this. Just interested, I know a raw foodie or two who would be interested. ta

Wasabi Peas - we have a big bag of them on the desk here at work. A handful...fine. A bucketful...not so fine. I just can't stop.

We seem to feed our 2 and 6 year-old a constant stream of pasta, and my wife is forever complaining about spending all day either cooking them food or trying to stuff it into their mouths. Maybe we could get a bit of inspiration from the egullet community. Often they get what us adults eat, but due to the nature of my work, and a daily commute, I am often not home in time for dinner. Also I prefer to eat later so during the week the kids eat at around 5 p.m. and me and my wife at more like 8 p.m. When this happens the kids get one thing and we eat something different. What are the top 5 meals you prepare for your kids most often? How much consideration do you give to what your kids like to eat, or do you give them what you think they should eat? For us it would be something like this: 1. A pasta/sauce combination - usually a form of carbonara or a tomato-based sauce. 2. Fishcakes, often accompanied by salad vegetables. 3. Jacket potato, sausages and baked beans. 4. Wraps/toasties with salad vegetables. 5. Rice/quinoa - often fried rice with vegetables.

is that passion fruit in the sauce? is that normal? I've not come across a fruit sauce for confit du canard. I'm trying to think if I have seen this combination in any of my recipe books but nothings coming to mind. I love confit, but this combination sounds odd.

well we were heading down Brewer Street towards Polpo, 6.25, perfect timing, as advised by David. However, Hix got in the way. And whats more they had a cancellation, so in we went. And I didn't regret it. A stark room, strange art (we were seated under a revolving fray bentos pie tin mobile), but it seems to work. Certainly it was full of people enjoying themselves. And there was grouse. And I'd never had grouse before. Who better to cook my first grouse (well, okay, he doesn't actually cook there, but...). Bloody hell I enjoyed it. Anyway, thanks for the advice folks, the prize goes to JMillar.

thanks, 2 possibilities there - hereford and la chappelle both have tables. Our evening will see us get the train to London and walk, so the locality of the restaurant is important. Soho sits well with us. Polpo and Polpetto are hitting the right note for saturday I think and an early dinner fits with my partner. Thanks for your help

just phoned les deux salons but no joy. Polpetto looked good from your report. I'll scour past threads for more inspiration. thanks David

I have a rare evening without the tiny taliban, late notice. First choice was les deux salons but only very late sittings left. First choice because last time we had a similar opportunity we went to Arbutus and I loved it. So I am after something not too formal, sub £150 for 2, and that we have a chance of a table this saturday. thanks

This has got to be worth a look... "When Steve is commissioned by the food supplement of a Sunday newspaper to review half a dozen restaurants, he decides to mix work with pleasure and plans a trip around the north with his food-loving American girlfriend. But when she decides to leave him and return to the States, Steve is faced with a week of meals for one, not quite the trip he had in mind. Reluctantly, he calls Rob, the only person he can think of who will be available. Never one to turn down a free lunch (let alone six), Rob agrees and together they set off for a culinary adventure. Over the course of six meals at six different restaurants in and around the Lake District, Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales, the ultimate odd couple find themselves debating the big questions of life" Interview in the Guardian today mentions L'Enclume and Holbeck Ghyll.

fantastic - I loved the foodblog series and its great to have them back - looking forward to the next week. I'll be especially interested to see the effects of the oil spill, the media have gone very quiet on that this side of the pond.

you can make a sloe and apple jelly