erica graham

We had a nut allergy sufferer in recently who had thier "Pen" injector laid out on the table "Just in Case". I have to say it was the most stressful night ever for us, but we only had to deal with it for one night. I can't imagine going through that every time you went to eat. I have to honestly say that I was relieved when they left still alive! (as I'm sure they were!!!!!)

I had to placate the Catholic Bishop of London in similar circumastances-he bumped into the stripper on the way to the toilets, she had just finished performing so was only dressed in a thong and two tassles! Strangley enough, it didn't take an awful lot to placate him, he had a huge sense of humour ( and a couple of digestifs!!!)

Going home to Southport for Mothers day etc, so think we will be trying it out, if I can persuade my mother that its a bargain!! (She still thinks 2 for 1 are a good bet!!)

Last time we ate at Gavroche, I insisted on knowing the cost of the proffered brandy, and got the same reaction from a nearby table! I got the waiters to move us to the lounge were we could enjoy our wallet busting digestifs. I must quickly point out that the waiter didn't turn a hair at my question- just the snobby eavdroppers!! Just goes to show that, as always, money don't buy manners!

To be honest, we've had so much fun putting this list together, that we may change around the 8 "none local" beers later in the year as we find new beers

Well here it is- the final list that we are going with for now! Butts Brewery, Hungerford, Berkshire Le Butts Biere 5% Butts Brewery, Hungerford, Berkshire Barbus Barbus Organic Ale 4.6% Butts Brewer, Hungerford, Berkshire Blackguard Porter 4.5% Bath Ales, Bath Gem Best Bitter 4.1% Whittington Brewery, Newent, Gloucestershire Cats Whiskers Ale 4.2% Wywood Brewery, Witney, Oxfordshire Circlemaster Organic Golden Pale Ale 4.7% Wychwood Brewery, Witney, Oxfordshire Fiddlers Elbow Wheat Brewed Beer 4.5% Hook Norton Brewery, Oxfordshire Old Hooky Ale 4.6% Hook Norton Brewery, Oxfordshire Double Stout 4.8% Westons, Herefordshire Westons Organic Cider 6.5% Timothy Taylors, Knowle Spring,Yorkshire Landlord Pale Ale 4.1% Goose Island Beer Co, Chicago Honker’s Ale 5% Les Trois Taverenes, Alsace Kasteel Cru, Champagne Yeast Lager 5.2% Hoegaarden, Belgium Belgium White Beer 5% Abbaye de Abdij van Leffe, Belgium Leffe Blonde 6.6% Duvel Moortgat, Belgium Duvel 8.5% Liefmanns, Belgium Kriekbier 6% WM Magner, Ireland Magners Original Vintage Cider 4.5% The first ten we would class as local, the rest obviously not!! Cotswold Lager- well we hope we can have it sooner rather than later The only problem we have now is deciding what to have to drink after work on a Sturday night!!

Unfortunately they are only bottling for family and friends at the moment, so it will be a bit of a wait until we can have this local lager, although the list of pubs in the area stocking seems to be growing weekly!

Thank you everyone! Will post the list in a few days once finalised! Erica

If you get that in then I'll come to your restaurant!! ←

I'm just in the middle of updating our beer list, and although we have plenty of English Ales, Beers, Porter and Belgian/French beers, I'm struggling to add some English bottled lager. Any suggestions- has to be bottled as we don't have pumps and anything from the Cotswolds or SW England would be perfect, although I haven't had any luck searching! You could always come with samples to try over lunch!!

Our machine will still do both (swipe & chip) and we aren't expecting any changes with non chip cards (outside the uk banks), only you wont be able to get drunk and sign when you get the pin wrong anymore! (Always plenty of washing up on hand though!)

Having just started back at work, finished typing the menu for tonight etc I logged on to catch up, and saw this thread- short ribs rang a bell- then I realised we have them on our menu tonight! "Braised Short Ribs with Glazed Root Vegetables and Curly Kale"!!

Not in London (sorry) but MSK will post it to you! 01246 412211!

I used to live on Depford High Street and shop at the market, its a shame to hear its going the way of so many others. I have to add to that, the huge indoor markets in the centre of Liverpool and Wigan which I grew up with are now shadows of there former selves, the food sections shrinking and cheap shoes and clothes taking over. In Wigan though, there is still a feeling of pride throughout the market stall holders who battle on against the huge supermarket that was built with its main doors opposite the market doors! I haven't been to Leicester market for years now, but when I was a student it was a huge source of never heard of before ingrediants, and cheap job lots at the end of the day! All three of these markets are not marketed towards organic and farmer/producers, so they don't have the high end "luxury" stalls, but the tripe stalls are all still there (if you've got the stomach for it!!!!!!)

I had a quick flick through, but there wasn't any major shocks- lots and lots of gastropubs -but before I could settle down to a good nose the bookshop started to give me dirty looks, so I had to put it back on the shelf and carry on browsing!!!

My favourite meal in Paris ever was at Guy Savoy, when we let him cook for us- 16 courses later, and we had had an amazing experience. I never regret ordering a tasting manu, even one when I don't know what I'm going to eat, although to be fair, I order it only when I am going to be visiting a restaurant once (due to distance etc) so that I can experience as many dishes as possible. I'd like to think that by leaving it to the chef, the balance of the meal, the order of the dishes etc are going to be as the chef would have liked them, and that should add up to the best experence from my chosen restaurant. Even better when I ask the sommelier to match the wine aswell!!

With goose, because it is richer than some of the other birds, you do not need quite so much, so it should be OK for you. I have to say that we tried Canada Goose once, but with no success, so I would stick to a farmed one!!

Something along those lines! Edited to add that I've asked those who did the cooking (not me!!) and the goose weighed about 18lb!

Hmm, my husband wants to buy some tripe- don't think I'm that keen on the smell issue!!

Goose!Goose!Goose! We had an early Christmas Dinner on Sunday, with friends who were just about to emigrate. I'd forgotten how good it is, it beats turkey hands down! We fed 10 adults and 7 children from ours, and had plenty left for making rillettes afterwards!

Going shopping at Rungis on Sunday for three days (yes we do hav a buying card- very easy to obtain) only thing is- we've never been near it before, so I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for eating out in the area. We will be staying in a local hotel, and getting up at 2am to start buying, so needs to be simple and not far away. Hope someone can help!

We are going shopping at Rungis (Paris)on Sunday so could look out for one there for you- but you would have to freeze it until then, don't think we are doing more than the one trip before xmas!

Wild Harvest in London (I think) 020 7498 5397 we pronounce it ver-juice but I wait to be corrected!

I'd loved to have seen it! Anyone got a copy I can have?

Its only November!!!