erica graham

In Shillingford St George, don't miss a visit to the Boyce's Fruit Farm (and Manstree Vineyard). Sensational pick-your-own soft fruits and some very good English wines. We are in the house next to them, over looking all the terraces!! Spooky!!

I'm looking for somewhere to eat midweek lunch in Devon, that will accept a 5 year old. No go at Gidleigh, or 22 mill street, and I think Agaric is closed last 2 weeks in August. Needs to be a grown up restaurant, as my little one thinks going out to lunch is the best treat ever, and her fave food is Turbot! So, any ideas?

If you are prepared to drive into Gloucestershire, there's lots of us who would welcome you! No really, how far out of Oxford do you want to drive?

They are a Sheffield based supplier of all things chemical for food production, flavoured purees, space dust etc etc If you look back over this topic you'll see them mentioned all over the place. Telephone number is 01246 416486. They are nice guys, more than happy to send sample of new stuff on the market. Whenever a package from them appears, I never know what they are going to be making in the kitchen!

We get ours from... you guessed it... MSK!!! Please tell me its not to make apple caviar as the whole world is already there doing it! (However if it is MSK will give you the recipe.)

Of course, they could always blend the two!! Although after reading Jeremy Clarkesons restaurant review some time back, that might not be a wise idea!!

I think that I am going to have to sit down and watch this programme, although it doesn't sound apealing, but everyone has such sharp views on it, I have to see for myself now!!

Being offered a glass from a particularly good bottle of wine always gets a good response from me!! And yes, it is always remembered!

[ Thing is you can't really avoid this stuff, If you eat prepackage sandwiches, fast food, takeaways, in restaurants and ready meals. ←

Have you tried asking MSK in Sheffield- they always seem to be the source of all things unusual and unheard of!!

Was Nathalie once called The English House? (It was part of a group that included Waltons of Walton Street, The English House and The English Garden.)

I really enjoyed it too, especially when our star chaser did not recognise Derek Brown when he stood in front of him! I have to say it made me a bit pig sick to see someone with sooo much money to throw at a restaurant "hmm, I don't like the look of the restaurant any more- here's £30k- see what you can do" I'm only insanely jelous of course.

I must hang my head in shame!! Sorry, Ray was 25 not 23- when he won it, he was the youngest, but obviously Toby Hill has beaten him!! Sorry- took me a while to find a definative answer

Does this mean that he is taking this on along with his other places, or or that he is leaving Brocket Hall? I forsee lots of airmiles!!

After thinking about Oxford for a bit, I was going to mention the above restaurant, instead here's a couple of extras from when I used to live in Jericho- The Duke of Cambridge was always fun for drinks on Little Clarendon Street, and the best burgers to take away after too many in there come from Peppers, about 100 yards, down the road from Petit Blanc- in fact you would probably see all the staff in there late on geting some food!

Petit Blanc I would personally avoid, as it definately not what it used to be, and I had my worst meal in Oxfod both service wise and unremarkable food wise. Why not try Al Shami for great Lebanese Meze, it is fairly basic, but always busy. I would avoid the main courses( mainly grills etc), as the meze option of all the starters are great, as is the selection of Chateau Musar, Lebanons famous wine. Our favourite meze item last time was the raw lamb dish, but lots of safer options. Great Lebanese Coffee and sweets (Baklava etc).OPen 7 days 12- about 12 I think. Its not far from the aformentiond P.B. but to me its a million miles away. 25 Walton Crescent They do have a website, but I'm not clever enough to know how to put a link on! Enjoy

Thats the last time I use Restaurant magazine as a reference for book shopping!! I was really enjoying the feeling of aching arms from carrying it around, thinking, well you do get a lot of book for your money!!

Have just received the first of three of Ducasse' culinary dictionaries translated into English- a bit painful at £156, but my husband is already calling it gastroporn of the highest quality- I was wondering if anyone else had caused thier postman to have a hernia yet?? If so what do you think?

I think that it may be Ray Farthing at Calcott Manor (Now at 36 on the Quay) I think he said he was 23!!

Glad to hear that its out on DVD, my VHS casette is now very grainy

Anyone with a cancelled table, just let me know!! Day trip fine, sleep is overrated you know!!

was he at El Bulli before or after Anthony Flynn?

So before my senile dementia hits and I forget everything: We all enjoyed ourselves at Jessicas. Location was a bit unexpected down what looked like a residential street, but thanks to our friends swanky sat. nav. we got there ok. We were sat in the conservatory, which was peaceful, with a nice city garden to look out onto (gravel, water feature etc) The restaurant was pretty much full, which is good to see on a Tuesday night, although I'm fairly sure its pretty much full all the time these days. Maitre d' was welcoming and charming, staff all French and again charming. One unfortunate cirumstance for us was that our table, although big was positioned into a corner, which meant that one of our party could not be served without the rest of us being leant over. Once or twice is ok but started to wear thin by the end of the night. Best starter was Quail with Scallops, best main Fillet of Beef roasted on the bone.( a dish I keep seeing on lots of different menus right now) Its a shame though, that both of these dishes attracted a supplement. I know that menus have to cost out, but on a short choice menu of four or five choices, it normally makes me choose something else! The only execption to this for me is cheese, as without a supplement no-one would be able to offer a board. We all had cheese and pudding (if in doubt always order both I always say), and the cheeses were well kept and nicely served. Rhubarb parfait served in the shape madonna boob shaped cones was a bit too frozen for my teeth, but well presented. All in all, we were made very welcome and had a great time celebrating a friends landmark birthday. The bill was a bit painful, but we all had extra courses and a few bottles of wine, so I suppose on reflection it wasn't too expensive.