Ponderings of a foodie

Hello all!!

Here at the office we love a bit of foodie gossip and are forever ploughing through interesting food and recipes sites to keep ourselves entertained (whilst working incredibly hard putting together a fantastic day for all you food fanatics out there as well obviously!). Anyway we feel like there is so much going on all of the time that we just simply HAVE to share it with you all so here it is! It’s not going to be rocket science and we aren’t going to be solving the big bang theory it’s going to do exactly what it says on the tin so welcome to the Ponderings of a Foodie! I also want to let you know that there is no paying to appear on this page if we find a product and we love it we will tell you all about it!!

If you want to make any comments or add anything to the page please do email me at ginny.braynsmith@haymarket.com – I really do welcome any suggestions or comments at all.

 

26 July 2010 - University College Birmingham takes top spot!

Did you eat at the Nestlé Toque d'Or Restaurant at this year's BBC Summer Good Food Show?

If you ate in the Restaurant on Friday, then you'll have experienced the food from the 2010 champions from University College Birmingham! Join us in congratulating this team of up and coming chefs and restauratuers. For moire information on Nestlé Toque d'Or , the 2010 competition or for details on entering your college team for the 2011 heats, just visit the website: http://nestle-toquedor.co.uk/

And here's the winning menu from this spectacular final of the Nestlé Toque d'Or Competition:

Slow cooked Organic Shetland Salmon
Asparagus Mayonnaise, Quail Egg & Avruga Caviar
***
Roast Loin of Cornish Lamb
Green Beans, Feta & Chickpea, Radish. Lovage Jus
***
Caramel & Chocolate Parfait

If that whet's your appetite, remember to check back here for details of how to book your place in next year's competition restaurant!

 

11 May 2010 - High Street Dreams come true!!

Did anybody watch High Street Dreams last night?

It is our new favourite programme here in the office - Taking the wonderful Roland and Miranda and their absolutely divine looking burgers along with the Singh Family and their super hot chilli sauce and making their dreams come true! We have had Muddy Boots and Mr Singh's at MasterChef Live and the BBC Good Food Show Birmingham before and we have always loved their products!! They will all be at the BBC Summer Good Food Show at the NEC in June so come and meet the people behind these wonderful products!
 

30 April 2010

We are always looking for exciting and interesting ways to keep up with the latest foodie trends and ideas and we think we have the perfect way to do this throughout May!! 30 Days of Food and Drink is packed full of recipe ideas, fantastic giveaways, foodie events and offers throughout the whole of May! They will send you a frequent newsletter to let you know what’s going on and what you really can’t miss! We love this original idea and cannot wait to get involved with some of the events on offer! If you want to fill up your May with foodie fun then visit www.30days.co.uk to sign up to their newsletter – sneaky preview just for you guys – you also get the chance to win £500 worth of Sainsbury’s vouchers! NOT BAD!!

 

08 April 2010

MasterChef - We have a winner and we cannot wait to meet him at the Show!

 

We are just too excited for words here in the organisers office that after six weeks of heats, a week of gruelling semi-finals and a week of finals, Dhruv Baker was awarded his trophy by judges: restaurateur John Torode and food writer and ingredients expert, Gregg Wallace.

Dhruv Baker said: “I had always secretly hoped to win MasterChef but not until the finals did I actually allow myself to believe I could actually win. It’s mind blowing!

John Torode said: “The guy has a talent that very few people will ever have, and that is to cook the most amazing fusion food that I’ve ever tasted.”
 
Gregg Wallace said: “Dhruv, I’ve got to say, is probably one of the most amazing talents I’ve ever seen. He has the palate of an angel.”

Throughout the final week Dhruv, alongside other finalists Alex Rushmer and Tim Kinnaird, had to demonstrate his creativity, skill and determination as the finalists undertook serious challenges. 

These included; travelling to the Rajasthan desert in India for a gruelling three-day challenge in 100-degree heat  including cooking for a Maharajah and his family in a Palace atop the hills of Jodhpur, for the first time ever, running their own restaurant for the evening for paying customers with their own food on the menu and with John Torode manning the pass, and finally the greatest challenge ever to be set on MasterChef – cooking for one of the world’s greatest living chefs, the legendary Alain Ducasse, and five of his protégée’s who between them hold an incredible 30 Michelin stars.

The final task was to prepare a three course meal for judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace. Dhruv’s winning menu consisted of a starter of Saffron and Ginger Poached Lobster Tail with Celeriac Puree on Blanched Fennel with a Burnoisette Foam, a main of Venison with a Potato, Brunoise and Fenugreek Crust, Sugar Glazed Carrots on a Carrot and Cumin Puree, Confit Chestnuts and a Venison Jus, and a Trio of Desserts consisting of: Poached Pear in Sauterne and Star Anise, Massala Chi Ice-cream, and a Chocolate Truffle with a Pistachio Topping.

***He is coming to the Show!***

Dhruv,  will be appearing at the MasterChef Experience at the Summer Good Food Show in Birmingham on 16th – 20th June and we cannot wait to meet him there! He said: “Having spent my university career in Birmingham and also having family there means it’s a home away from home. I’m so excited to be able to take part in the MasterChef Experience in Birmingham in June.  I can’t believe after finishing the competition I’m going to face judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace again – but I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Don't forget if you guys want to have a little taster of what Dhruv and all of the other contestants went through you can take part in the Invention Test at the Show - For more information click here.

19March

If you love eggs then this will is going to be the greatest news for you! Waitrose have started selling Ostrich Eggs!! Is that the biggest boiled egg you have ever seen!!!

Picture taken from the Daily Mail website

At £15.99 per egg they aren't the cheapest you will ever find - however 1 egg will make 32 souffles or 100 meringues so if you use them correctly they could definately be value for money!

The Daily Mail reports:

"They work very well as omelettes," said a spokesman. "Quite big ones." Waitrose egg buyer Frances Westerman added: "The ostrich egg is a real show-stopper, in terms of looks and taste.

"Our customers like experimenting with new foodie ideas. We've seen growing popularity of duck, pheasant and goose eggs. Now it's the turn of the ostrich to take off."

The Clarence Court Ostrich Eggs, from a Lincolnshire farm, cost £15.99 each and are laid by freerange birds kept in small colonies.

When presented with one, leading chef Rowley Leigh of Le Cafe Anglais in Bayswater, West London, opted to scramble it.

But his first conundrum to crack was how to get into it because the shell is so thick. Mr Leigh resorted to hammering a roasting spike into the top and bottom and blowing out the contents into a bowl.
For good measure, he scored the top of the egg with a knife and cut it off with scissors to drain the last drops. Having scrambled the content she put them back in the shell to serve.

"We are not talking about the realms of practicalities here, we are talking about fun," he said.
"It tastes very much like a normal egg. It would go nicely with caviar. It tastes very creamy and rich but I wouldn't want to eat a lot of it."

Click here to read more.

 

09 March

This has got to be our favourite story here in the organisers' office at the moment!

Alwyn Williams - a former Welsh Guardsman is planning on sailing across to the isle of man - nothing exciting about that I hear you cry - untill you realise he is planning to do it IN A PUMPKIN!

And you thought pumpkins were just for cooking and halloween!!

Can this really be true?

It is indeed - this pumpkin will weigh in at a minimum of 7000lbs and measure 14 feet in circumference, powered by an outboard motor for the 45 mile trip!

Alwyn is not in this alone however he comes from a line of horticultural stars - his father is Medwyn Williams - 10 times gold medal winner at the Chelsea Flower Show - so he is sure to be a great help!

The scariest part of all...

Alwyn hasn't even sown the pumpkin yet! - He is planning to sow at the beginning of April hoping to get a growth rate of 35lbs a day between July and August.

It's all for a good cause though - Alwyn will be doing this to raise money for Help For Heroes.

For more information please follow this link

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/Madcap-plan-to-sail-to.6124348.jp

04 March

Fantastic tea!!

Everyone knows the first thing one looks for in the morning is that cup of tea (well for some it's coffee but I am definately a tea girl!). Katy (Section Manager for the Producers' Village - remember she found the Graze boxes!!) has found the most fantastic company which is sure to bring style and panache to your morning cuppa! The company is called Tea Forte and not only do they have the most fantastic range of teas from Coco Truffle to Orchid Vanilla

 

but they also have the most fantastic range of Cocktail Blends: Make a fabulous Mojito with their Lemongrass Mint or my favourite is the Lavendar Citrus which can be used to "Infuse the natural flavours of white tea and lavender into Martinis, Cosmopolitans or your own inspired creations." WOW!!!! Tea all of a sudden got seriously interesting - if it helps make a better Cosmo then really what more do you need!!
 

For more information on these fantastic range of teas please click here to visit the website!

 

01 March

Its all about Rhubarb!!!!

The news seems to be going a bit rhubarb crazy recently and we are loving the fact that Forced Rhubarb has now joined the ranks of Champagne and Parma ham on a list for Europe's specially protected food and drink!

The Yorkshire post said:

'It means only companies who produce the vegetable - in this case in the so-called "rhubarb triangle" between Bradford, Wakefield and Leeds - can use the name, guaranteeing the product is authentic and preventing imitation throughout Europe.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markeaston/2010/02/the_rhubarb_triangle.html

 

Rhubarb is in season at the moment and BBC Good Food website has some great recipes for you but our favourite is definately James Martins Rhubarb, ginger, whisky and custard crumble tart with rhubarb compote - YUM!!!

Here it is for you - If you give it a go then do let us know what you think!!

Ingredients

For the tart
500g/1lb 2oz sweet pastry, rolled out to 5mm/¼in thickness
1.5kg/3lb 4oz rhubarb, cut into 5cm/2in lengths
3-4 tbsp caster sugar
4 tbsp whisky
3 pieces stem ginger, finely chopped
For the custard
150ml/5fl oz double cream
150ml/5fl oz whole milk
3 free-range eggs
2 free-range egg yolks
75g/3oz caster sugar
For the crumble topping
75g/3oz butter
150g/5oz plain flour
75g/3oz demerara sugar
Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/365F/Gas 4.
2. Place the rolled-out pastry into a deep loose-bottomed tart case and press the pastry into the sides. Place into the fridge to chill for 30 minutes, then remove and line the pastry case with baking parchment. Fill the tart case with rice or baking beans and place onto a baking sheet.
3. Place into the oven to bake blind for 15 minutes, then remove the rice or baking beans and baking parchment and return the tart case to the oven. Bake for a further 10-12 minutes, or until golden-brown and cooked.
4. Meanwhile, place the rhubarb onto a baking tray and cover with the sugar, to taste, whisky and ginger. Transfer to the oven to roast for 15 minutes, or until the rhubarb is tender.
5. For the custard, place the cream and milk into a pan and bring to the boil.
6. Place the eggs, egg yolks and sugar into a bowl and whisk to combine.
7. Pour the hot milk and cream mixture over the eggs mixture and whisk well to combine.
8. Return the custard to the pan over a low heat and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly, until the custard has thickened.
9. For the crumble topping, place the butter and flour into a bowl and rub together with your fingers to form a breadcrumb-like mixture.
10. Add the sugar and mix to combine.
11. Pour the crumble mixture onto a baking tray and place into the oven to bake for 15 minutes, or until golden-brown. Remove from the oven and stir the crumble topping to break it up into pieces.
12. To assemble the crumble, place three-quarters of the rhubarb into the tart case, packing the rhubarb as densely as possible.
13. Pour the custard over the top, then transfer to the oven to bake for 15 minutes, or until the custard has just set.
14. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the custard with the crumble topping.
15. Place the remaining rhubarb into a small food processor and blend to a purée.
16. To serve, place a slice of tart onto each plate and serve with a spoonful of the rhubarb compote alongside.

 

For more rhubarb recipes and seasonal advice visit the BBC Good Food Website

09 Feb 2010

The Hairy Bikers are really funny guys and here you can see just why we love them so much! Every year at the Show we do our filming for next years' Show video and here are just a couple of the outtakes from said filming!

 

 

05 Feb 2010

Looking for an amazing Sunday breakfast? (don't forget guys it's Valentines day so treat your ladies right!). The fantastic Mr Darren - senior sales exec on BBC Gardeners' World Live - did just this and headed to Wallace & co in Putney (It is south London but worth the journey for all you non London readers out there!). Said he had the most delicious Cumberland Sausage with bubble and squeak and an egg - best thing about this dish though HP Gravy!! Seriously what more can you ask for in a breakfast!!

http://wallaceandco.com/about-us

Anyway Darren gave a rave review so check it out here and of course it is run by the amazing Gregg Wallace from MasterChef whom we absolutely love - Just a bit of icing on a fantastic cafe cake!

03 Feb 2010

It is still really horribly cold out there (roll on summer that's all I can say!!) so what a perfect time it is to warm yourself up on a Sunday with Roast Turkey!! Bring back all those warm fuzzy feelings of Christmas day which seem to disappear so quickly over January and recreate your Christmas Lunch!! Actually we in the office are planning on doing exactly that - have you seen the price of christmas crackers at this time of year? - Lets put it this way - we will be getting the good ones!

Well I was having a little look for tips from our favourite Turkey farmer Mr Paul Kelly and he sent me this through - I thought it only right that I share it with all you lot out there! Step by step instructions on the perfectly carved turkey!!

Mr Kelly we salute you!!

02 Feb 2010

Wow Wow Wow - Check out these amazing graze boxes that the manager of our Producers Village (otherwise known as the delightful Katy) found!

http://www.graze.com/

 

These are delivered directly to your desk once a week and healthy too!! You can choose your favourite types of fillings and the lovely people at graze will give fill your graze box with all the things you love! How handy is that!! Our official favourite in the office is the strawberries and cream mix (seriously I did a poll!). Now this may sound not so healthy but the best bit about it is that it's 2 of your 5 a day!! It doesnt get better than that!!