Saturday, June 28, 2008

Dinner with family

Dinner at the reliably excellent RSJs on the south bank. Main was roasted monkfish with samphire, capers and garlic

Followed by rhubarb, passion fruit and creme fraiche sorbet
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Carluccios

A Tuscan evening at Carluccios in St Albans

Started with canapes - shown here is rare roast beef, basil and parmesan on crostini

Followed by a plate of Tuscan meats with an excellent Morellino di Scansano

Pancetta con cavolo - belly pork with cabbage and a glass of Chianti

Zuccotto for dessert

Vin Santo and Cantucci to finish

An excellent evening - they do them roughly every 6 months, and we'd definitely go again

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Proper Fish

A visit to Fishworks in Bath. Started with cracked crab with mayonnaise

Plaice in tarragon butter
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Afternoon tea

Scones, jam and clotted cream, in the Pump Room tea rooms in Bath
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Italian supper

Gnocchi

Served with fresh pesto, olive oil and parmesan

Pudding was some ripe peaches steeped in sweet white dessert wine
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Monday, June 16, 2008

Weekday supper

Found a new Italian deli in St Albans, which was very exciting. So, spicy Italian sausages, potatoes with rosemary and a green salad.
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Sunday, June 15, 2008

Sunday roast

Roast chicken, served with potatoes, carrots and gravy
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Saturday, June 14, 2008

Dinner with friends

Duck breast with sweet potatoes, jersey royals and green beans


Followed by pineapple surprise - pineapple carpaccio with strawberries, lemon sorbet, matchmakers and chocolate sauce
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Classy lunch

Fishfinger sandwiches, with plenty of mayonnaise
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Sunday, June 08, 2008

Dinner out

Dinner at Carluccios. Started with olives and prosecco

a wonderful, fresh panzanella to start with

And wild boar pasta with a glass of chianti as a main course
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Church breakfast

Cooked breakfast at a church event
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Saturday, June 07, 2008

Saltimbocca

Chicken breasts, flattened, covered with parma ham and sage leaves, and stitched together with cocktail sticks

Then floured


Then pan fried in butter and oil, with a sauce made with the pan juices, marsala and chicken stock
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Chinese feast

Started with sort of wontons. Mixed pork mince, prawns, ginger, cornflour, spring onions, dry sherry and soy sauce together.

Struggled to buy wonton wrappers, so improvised with filo pastry

Which was fairly successful. It tasted fine, and held them together while they were steamed, but was a bit too light to take the weight once they were cooked.

Followed by prawns and french beans with chilli and garlic, with an egg fried rice.
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Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Crostini

Grilled sourdough with garlic, olive oil and pesto or cep reduction
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Sunday, June 01, 2008

Chicken with friends

Chicken with garlic, potatoes, sherry and thyme, with a green salad
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