Jenny McClure

My Grandparents.....They were (and now my uncle) potato farmers. I love going home to visit just around the time the spuds have just been dug!

I remember when Heinz said it was going to discontinue Salad Cream. People went crazy and started to buy it in bulk and I think there was even a mini campaign. So Heinz kept the product in the end. After it all, some said it was a marketing ploy to boost sales. I know a lot of people who still use Salad Cream but not as a Salad dressing, more likely, instead of mayonaise in a sandwich.

Squirty cream, vile stuff. Pop tarts.....why?

On our visit to Babbo I would say The Maitre'd was the only unpleasant part of the whole experience.

I think it would be unfair to Tiffany & Harold to overlook Dave only cooking 2 dishes. By only cooking 2, Dave had more time to think about and execute his dishes, whereas the H & T had the same time to do 3. Daves dishes should have been better in this challenge, who knows what the H & T would have come up with if they only had to do 2.

In Britain & Ireland they are fairly common. Mostly used for defrosting. I do remember my Home Economics teacher always screeching at us not to stand in front of it though. She said unless it was checked regularly, that it could send out rays that kills brain cells and for women damages your ovaries. I have no idea where she got this info from, but to this day, the few times I use a microwave I will not stand in front of it will it's on. My husband thinks I'm a nut job. The same teacher also said that if you left an egg beside your cell phone all night it would be cooked the next day. I didn't have a cell at that time. mmmm....maybe I'll have to give it go...wonder what my husband would think about that!

My Mum & her husband ,on their first trip to a Japanese restaurant, were served a bowl of edamame. After about 5 mins the waitress came over looking confused (probably trying not to laugh) and informed them they were not supposed to eat the shells. They had already eaten half the bowl figuring it was something you just got used to. Later, when the sushi came out, they asked first what the wasabi and ginger were and what to do with them. They said they felt like a couple of Irish paddies from the wilds of Ballymun that never got out.

Just thought of a few more: Iced Tea & Coffee....nasty stuff. Scallops, I have tried to like them, just can't. Avocado. I like guacamole, but by itself, no can do.

I hate clams, love mussels though. I love coffee and chocolate, but I cannot eat things flavoured with them. Yogurt, ice-cream, milk, liquers. I cannot eat tiramasu because of the coffee flavour. Caviar, can't take the things still popping in my teeth 10 minutes later. Grape flavoured things....vile! Mayonaise, my brother used to eat spoonfuls of it in front of me cause he knew it would make me retch. Cooked carrots, like them raw only. Ice-cream, just do not get why people go so crazy over it. Salami & Bologna....shudder.... I know there are more, but that's all for now...folks!

As an Irish person watching the show all I could do was cringe every time Ken opened his mouth. Mind you, most of the show made me cringe. I also noticed that everyone (Ken in particular) seemd to have spent some serious time in tanning salons since the show. Either that or very bad lighting. I definetely think they ply them with drink beforehand. They know they'll loosen a few tongues that way and get some reactions, ever seen an episode of "The Real World"?

I like farfalle, especially when there is a good bite in "tie" part. I also really enjoy angel hair. So light and forme, easier to eat than spaghetti.

Supper for me when I was growing up was always a small snack before bed. Maybe tea & a biscuit, or a small bowl of cereal. During the week we always had "tea" around 7.30. Usually we went out for "dinner" on Saturdays. On Sundays it was always "Sunday Dinner" and this was a huge meal served at about 3pm. Anything after that was called supper as after the huge meal , only something light was needed.

In Ireland a popular starter is an avocado split in half and filled with our version of prawn cocktail. Prawns mixed ina marie rose sauce.

*nods vigourously* key is to dip into into the tea until it's just soggy. Even better is choc digestives (no butter) dipped until the chocolate melts ← Oh Definately!! Heinz Spaghetti on toast, it's been so long, but always a reliable stand by to cure the grumble. Baked pototatoes with......anything

Banana Sandwiches. Fresh white bread, butter and banana.

I think Greek Salads are one of the most misrepresented. Every restaurant seems to have their version of it. The latest one I got had grated red cabbage and carrots in it. IT drives me mad and my husabnd can't understand why I continue to order them in restaurants as I always end up pissed off. I guess I just live in hope. Ceaser Salads are another one that most restaurants manage to cock up.

Maybe now I will avoid anything made with monkfish and peachskins or tomato innards and which is served on a spoon or stick ... Shudder.. (apart from the tomatoes & monkfish)

What a wonderful birthday week this is Klary. It is so wonderful to see you celebrating so fully and openly. It makes me think about my own situation quite a bit. I go all-out planning meals and activities for the birthdays of my kids and my sweetie but when it comes to my own I sort of wake up and expect it all to be done by the birthday fairies. I think I am starting to realize we can be our own birthday fairy. The pizza really does look great. Wendy, I wish I had a "Dayne" who would cook to order for me. What a dream! I am preparing for my little guy's 3rd birthday which is this Sunday. For his party next weekend he wants all the kids to make their own pizzas. Pizza for birthdays...must be a Taurus thing! ← That is so true. My Husband is Taurus. Pizza is his favourite food. His birthday is on the 11th and a group of us are getting together at a wine bar which is famous for its .....wood oven...pizza!!! So it's not just my husband...interesting.

Me too, a slice of brown bread.....

I second "The Ubiquitous Chip" in Glasgow. I enjoyed my meal on both ocasions there.

First Escargot: French Alps Skiing when I was 11. Friends Dad got drunk and wanted to see all of the yougsters reactions when they realised what we were eating. First Foie Gras: I've had it in mousses & pates, but the first "real experience" was in St. Barths 2 Christmases ago. First Caviar: This past New Years Eve in Spain. First (and last) Sea cucumber: Kuala Lumpar about 7 years again....never again. First Blood Sausage: Puerto Rico (therefore Morcilla) 3 Christmases ago. Now addicted. First Alcohol: Since I remember, My Grannie used to always give me a sip of her Sherry on Sunday's after church. First Loster: Maine: about 7 years ago in Philadelphia. Caribbean: about 5 years ago in Anegada in the British Virgin Islands. First Sushi: 7 years ago in Puerto Rico. First Sweetbread: Thanksgiving 2004 (aged 25) - Buenos Aires

I have to say, I have really enjoyed all the shows. Each have their own merit. My husband rarely watches TV, but after walking in whilst I was watching the Japan episode, has been hooked ever since and is pissed off that I never told him about the show before......a big thing as the usual comment is "What crap are you watching now?' I am very interested in seeing the episode in Puerto Rico. I have been living in Puerto Rico for 7 years now, after living the rest of my life in Ireland, so it'll be good to see where this show visits and to see it from Antony's perspective.

Sorry about that! Dinner at Babbo was everything we were hoping for. There was 5 of us. We had 3 starters, which were simple and good, the prosciutto, a special that had some seasonal type of leek(can't remember the name) with mozarella on bruschetta and the 3rd escapes me. For pastas, we split 3. The mint love letters, I really liked this but others found the mint a bit overwhelming. The black spagetti with rock shrimp, everyone loved this. Also the pasta with the wild boar Ragu, delicious. The favourite of the table was the black spaghetti. For mains we had the Osso bucco and the duck. The duck was by far the standout. We were all too full for pudding about from the pregnant one. I don't know what she had as she wasn't about to share and the plate was just about licked clean. Great food, lovely service. The Host was a bit put out that one of party had to drop out at the last minute due to a stomach flu, boy, if looks could kill, but apart from that, fantastic.

Just to let you know, we ended up going to Pegu Club, but after dinner instead of before (or flight got a bit delayed). I guess as it was late the place was probably about 35% full. The staff were very helpful and even made our pregnant friend a delicious mocktail so she wouldn't miss out. Thanks for the suggestion. Chefboy, we also went to Otto, but on a different night. We were there on Sunday night and ate at the bar. Loved the food, loved the wine and loved the place. It was packed, impressive for a Sunday night!