Catriona

Looking good, Philip. I'm moving to London in January, and planning some gastronomic adventures, and based on what I've read here, think I might drop in one night. As I'll be on my own during the week (husband will still be commuting between dublin and london for a while), I might just try a weekday night, dinner for one. I'm actually looking forward to it. Now, the question is, Avventura or the regular tasting menu?

it's winter... so red wine!

Which is pretty much what I wanted to do with some of the interviewees. I guess I'm just not really into celebrity culture.

Parmesan

Agree wholeheartedly, Tim. I flipped through it, and then abandoned it - not a single thing to draw me in, I really couldn't care less where some comedian eats (unless it's damn good food, and then just tell me about the food, please). Abandon the pretence, just call it OCFM - celebrity food monthly.

(Edited to delete as Syrah and I posted at the same time)

Baby Monkfish, I'm not so sure, but what I tend to do for a really easy and deliviousd thing is to put it in a roasting dish with a tiny bit of ooil, salt and pepper, and some chili, with a tiny splash of white wine in the pan. Cover and roast for as long as it takes (20 minutes ish if it's in 2 inch long chunks of fillet). MAke sure you serve it with something to mop up the juices - monkfish has a lot of liquid in it, but this way you have firm, meaty fish and you still enjoy the juices, too.

What wonderful writing and pictures! I'm captivated.

Prawns

Ooh, have a good time. My plans to move to dubai have been abandoned since I last posted on this thread... I loved Bar 44 - but later in the evenig, Buddha bar may be the thing, I don't know - depends on what you're looking for!

Resolving to spend more time making good cocktails

Strawberries

Freaks.

A mixture of seasonality, practicality and inspiration. I wish I could write as eloquently about cooking as some of the others above, but this post, as much of my cooking, is limited by that scarce resource: time. One of my biggest challenges is to come home after a long day at work (I usually work from 7:30am to 6:30 or 7pm), and put together a healthy, tasty, appetising meal for my husband and I. He doesn't cook, but is more than willing to do the shopping on his way home. That's fine if I have something definite in mind, but otherwise I have to nip out at lunch and forage. Perhaps a good illustration is the shopping I've just done for supper tonight. It's not going to be too late a night at work, I should get out of here about 6, which is good news. I usually start with the "category" of meal that I want. Today it was fish, as I wanted something light, and my sushi lunch yesterday left me with a vague longing... There's a good fish shop a couple of minutes' walk from my office, where I know I'll get a good answer to my "what's good today" query. So I started there, and found my favourite fishmonger filetting some sea bass. It's perfect for a meal like tonight - quick, light, tasty, with no indepth prep work required (otherwise I'd have bought it whole). In search of a little bit of luxury, I also followed her suggestion and took 2 plump gambas each to be grilled as a starter. Here comes practicality: I have 2 eggs left in the fridge from something I made last night, so I'll do a mayonnaise to have with the gambas (note to self: you forgot the mustard again, dumbo!). Hop next door to the supermarket. It's always a compromise - good fish and crappy veg or the other way round... I can't manage both at lunchtime. Baby spinach caught my eye, and it'll serve as a nice bed for the fish, just wilted. Not very imaginative, but hey, I've been drafting leases all morning, give me a break. Practicality slaps me over the head reminding me that I have good carrots at home, so I'll do some caramelised carrots with that (husband's favourite, anything to win brownie points). Add in to that the good organic potatoes I have at home, and there's the guts of supper! I'll do a salsa verde type thing with some nice herbs to finish the fish nicely. Afterwards, grapefruit and yogurt for something light and juicy. Not terribly poetic, but knowing my target and combining the best of what's available today with the rest of what's in the fridge, within the time constraints.

Seem to recall a friend of mine (coeliac) having a good meal there..

Tomato

Sounds delicious, Michelle

(yes, chili peppers, sorry) Cinnamon

Chili

I haven't had any of the last 3, so this is a good "shopping list" for me - thanks!

Coconut (70's style orange and coconut "salad")

Yes, it was a bit one-trick in its genital focus... Hey, this is entertainment, rather than anything more serious, right?

Brian What Irish cheeses did you bring?

Agreed, we were crying with laughter at the donkey dick thing. (yeah, no "appendage" euphemisms for me"). It was fairly shocking though. Have these people not seen previous series? Do they not realise what they're getting themselves into? Surely, at this stage, people will just open the door and let him do his thing, rather than pretending that they know better and an order of chocolate prawns backs up their entire position. You know you're going to be made look a fool, just open up and take the medicine like a good boy. At least then you'll look like you're open to advice.

And then told us about it. Thanks, Jay.