expensively

when your partner promises you a date at heston blumenthal's don't expect that it would be at his signature restaurant the fat duck in bray, berkshire.  this celebrity chef famous for his culinary experimenting and menu of the senses, had been called in to rescue none other than the chain of motorway cafes the little chef.

the revamped menu promises healthier options and better quality food.  their all new olympic breakfast special contains 50% more meat than before and from outdoor reared pork, no less!  but is it still affordable? - well a quick glance at their menu suggests that the prices haven't changed.

what i would look forward to is the dessert - haagen daz ice cream balls to be dipped in hot chocolate sauce - umm sounds amazingly unhealthy!  so next time the kids and i are on the motorway, i might suggest we try the little chef out just for pudding ....

roast duck

tonight i give you not just any old roast duck.  this duck was stuffed with the darling's maman's farcie recipe which i adapted using what was in the cupboard and fridge - bacon, sausagemeat, jamon serrano, black olives (pitted and chopped), onions and garlic, parsley and plenty of black pepper and a generous amount of nutmeg.  the darling usually says ah his mum would've used green olives and bayonne ham, but i tell you it tastes just as good with black olives and serrano ham.

the trick is to cook all that stufing pre stuffing the bird.  i usually also chop up the duck liver and throw that into the stuffing mixture just before it goes in.  cooks usually get first taste of the stuffing to make sure that the right amount of everything has been added.  cooks are usually highly critical and require several mouthfuls to ensure that all is just right!

of course when you have a serious roast dinner as tonight, there has to be roasted potatoes and plenty of red wine to wash it all down with.

so a salad of lettuce with the cheese is quite in order.

new regime

well in this credit crisis and when i was imagining the worst scenario, i quit the gym.  i realise it was perhaps a hasty decision as i found a lodger for the spareroom last night and i needn't hve quit the gym after all.

but you know, i feel freed.  one less burden.  i always felt that i had to go to the gym, to get value out of my subscription. these days i can take as long as i like on my morning walks with the dog and not race home to get ready to go to a spin class, or circuit training or some such.  i do miss the spin class but my favourite mad italian trainer is out of action for the next several months anyway due to an injury and op and his replacement though delightful just hasn't the same edginess.   anyway i might even take out that bike i bought on ebay last summer.  maybe.

so my new regime these days is very long morning walks and continue to eat sensibly.

diamonds from tequila

by 2011 it says in the article.

when the mood strikes me, usually when i'm holidaying on a sun soaked meditarrenean island i might have myself a few margaritas.  this cocktail, a mix of triple sec, lime juice and tequila must be served in a glass rimmed with salt.  tequila itself has a sordid notoriety, largely i suspect because it features in those westerns as the drink of macho men, men who live by the gun and in the harsh desert.  men who drink it straight up i might add, not in poncy cocktail glasses and other distracting flavours.

and now this bit of newsy discovery will continue to add to its reputation i'm sure. viva la tequila!