sandra

About that beef and the blowtorch, has anyone tried that?

You didn't miss much, don't worry... the tempura was greasy, the rolls were covered in mayo, and the edamame were hard... It was always empty, not surprised they are gone...

If you have that tea over ice and add sugar, you have agua de jamaica, a very popular Mexican drink - you can even freeze it to make ice-pops or granita - sometimes I put a bit of lime in it... It's also very good with vodka

Great pictures of great food and family, but you really should get that kid an ARSENAL jersey!!!

Ah, the perfect snack - especially if you have added olive oil into it....

← double did you snap up those spare tix already??

Went yesterday afternoon session, so much better than last year! We did not take pictures, but that CRISPY SQUID!!!! I don't even like squid and I could have had 5-6-7 plates of it.... We had the scallops from Roka also, rigatoni from Refettorio with a fab bolognese and a big smile from Locatelli, sashimi from Moshi Moshi, some dorset crab on toast, some arancini, beef tataki and spicy tuna roll from Zuma also, the lobster bisque from Le Gavroche, served by Roux himself, and lots, lots, of other things.... Another highlight was the guy making dark and stormies with actual Gosling's rum and some of the ginger beer they were selling, I forget the name, but the GOSLINGS... and the pink Cava which we forgot to get a bottle of on the way out... The park is so much a better venue for it, not the cramped Sommerset House form last year - and even though it was TOO hot yesterday afternoon, I would definitely go again... Crispy Squid.....

What if you're using gel/liquid detergent?

That is a nice one Origamicrane... The Friends have requested gas, after all, for ease and speed - I know, I know... Thank you both for all the feedback...!

origamicrane, we have had several Webers in the past, as a matter of fact, the one we brought over form USA is now residing in the vicinity of Crouch End, at another friends's garden, as we have nowhere to use it... but frankly, I hate to pay UK prices for them... but ebay.... will take a look there fisherman, I thought gas so that the child can't pick up hot coals, I know adults that have picked them up from the chimney as they are heating up... stupid? yes, but it has happened... and as far as a wheelbarrow with coals, while I'm sure it works a treat, this one is a housewarming present, so I though we go a bit more upscale! thanks guys!

Any suggestions you have a greatly appreciated, as we would like to buy one for friends' new home, and we have never bought one here... They have a baby that has just started to walk, so I think gas might be better, unless you know otherwise... Thanks!

waitstaff that play deaf, dumb and blind....

In the UK all the butter comes in 250g flat bars - for American recipes I weigh the amounts - i.e. 4 ounces per stick, 8 tablespoons per stick, so each tablepoon is 1/2 ounce... and so on... Funny to read about "splurging" on Kerry Gold! Here it's not expensive at all.

Poutine, With the cajeta you can do 2 very traditional Mexican desserts - Crepas de Cajeta or Flan de Cajeta - for the crepas, make up some crepes and heat up some cajeta, fold one crepe in quarters on a dish and drizzle a ladle of the warm cajeta over it and srpinkle with chopped nuts - or the flan, just top a dense flan with a BIG dollop of the stuff! You can also use it between layers of a cake and as a frosting, or on toast with butter, or maybe instead of the honey on the peanut butter? You can also make some crumbly short-bread and sandwich 2 cookies with it, or churn it into alost reday vanilla ice cream, or top the ice cream with it, or swirl it into rice pudding.. or eat it form the jar.... Cajeta is like dulce de leche, except it is made with goat's milk... there are several variations - you got the one with a bit of sherry added, the translation is sort of like "wined" - there is also "quemada" which is darker and burnt a bit more and "vainilla" which has added.... vanilla!

my favourite for summer is a Ceviche Acapulco, made with lime marinated fish or cooked shrimp, (or both) chopped tomatoes, tomato juice, chopped onion, chopped cilantro, chipotle, olive oil, lime juice, salt, worcester sauce and sliced olives and the secret ingredient... ketchup. say what you want, but try it before you diss it...

The Golden Hinde on Marylebone Lane

I have been an addict to Goslings sicne the '80's and really missed it in the UK - I contacted them through their website Goslingsand they sent me the name of heir distributor and now I can get it here - try them. I did not have a problem getting it in New York, but it was more expensive, obviously... AND I once got a bottle of the 151, that was in 1990, I was never able to drink it, it was way too strong and the taste was different - it finally broke on one of the moves...

Right, another full update on Mestizo - I went again today... Saturdays they do a special of pozole, which was excellent. More of the new menu items: Filete a la tampiquena, flautas, a molcajete, a big mortar filled with all the taco makings you can want, meat, chicken, cheese, avocado, cilantro, chorizo, onions, suces, tortillas, both corn and flour, come on the side and you roll your own tacos - sopa de tortilla, a beef dish with chipotle sauce, a stuffed chicken with a creamy tequila sauce.. the list goes on and on... On Thursday evenings they will also be having "taco nights" in the bar downstairs, which is open til late... oh... and crepas de cajeta for dessert.... Do go and try it... you will be happily surprised...

There is a guy who comes around in a van, you call him and he will drive by, park by you and sharpen your knives while you wait - His name was Bruno, and he used to come to Le Cordon Bleu once a month, that is how I met him - he left for Australia, but his cousin now runs the same business... pm me if you want his number....

Morfudd, thanks for this reply, we will certainly be visiting Lola's when little Gomez gets a bit older, he is only 15 weeks old and very excitable still! Sandra

Thanks very much for your replies - as I discover more places that do allow them, inside and/or out, I will post them here also...

We just got a little Norfolk Terrier puppy and were wondering how many places he can come with us... So far we found one pub, The Feathers, near Baker Street, that is very dog friendly... and of course, any pub outside, especially with the nice weather coming... Where do you go with your poochies?

matzoh with butter digestives with butter shortbread biscuits with butter hot corn tortillas with butter

Well we just finished dinner, and it was great! I took the chicken out when it came out of the oven and then whisked some grain mustard into half of the creamy sauce and seasoned well, it was a great sauce for the chicken and white rice - still have left over and will try the potato gratin tomorrow... Thanks for asking the question

how about as a sauce for peas with some pearl onions? or add some lemon zest and have it over broccoli? do you take the skin off the thighs before you bake them?