I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream

In lieu of anything better to say, and in the spirit of summer I thought I would share my favourite ice cream producer with you, just in case you happen to find yourself in Cornwall this summer. Without a doubt ice cream of superlative quality - they are now starting to sell 'abroad' too which is nice!

Best of British

It has been commented recently that this blog is too serious... still, I thought this post on the Observer Food Monthly's blog about the state of the British diet really good - albeit a bit controversial.

Promise to write something much more light-hearted very soon.

The Rosé's alright

On Friday I somehow (thank you Asi) found myself one of the lucky guinea pigs requested to try out Shoreditch House's new restaurant and kitchen. It's a little different up there to how I'd imagine - the restaurant is laid out as a canteen, with a large farmhouse style French dresser running down the entire length of one wall. All in all though I'd say it was really good.

The food was excellent - I had Beef Carpaccio in Venetian sauce, followed by Roast Suckling Pig. In true student-style, not content with this for my lunch I managed to get a whole other course in my belly, and finished off with the Italian Cheese Board! Some habits die hard.

Personally, I still cannot justify the cost of joining or the enormous annual fee, but I'm sure this place will have no end of fans when it opens later this week.

PS - The rosé was rather alright too!

On a scale of 1 - 10

I have come to realise this evening, that I could rate my favourite recipes by how quick I am to taste (read: shovel into my mouth), and therefore, how burnt my tongue will be by the time the dish is ready. Butternut Squash and Sage Risotto is certainly up there, along with Delia's Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne. Is this just me, or do I really have the patience of a small child on Christmas Day?

** Incidentally, when I last cooked Delia's lasagne I swapped the Gorgonzola for... Rocquefort! And the Ricotta I swapped for Mascarpone - don't ask me how but it worked!

What the world eats

Photo essay on 'What the World Eats', courtesy of Time Magazine - this is the UK's representation.

I am a cider drinker

I am a very big fan of the cider. Oh yes, much research has been done in that department. Sadly though the East End of London isn't quite the best situation for such a taste, so it's nice to see the Guardian cite an online shop dedicated to the love and purchase of good apples.

I was even more pleased to see that they've been visiting the UK Cider Wiki - which I myself have rummaged around in recently. I have (vague) plans to try my hand at cider-making this summer or next; either way, Rose Grant's contribution on Cider By Rosie is entertaining.

ps - my personal fave is 'Rattler', produced by Skinners of Truro and The Cornish Cyder Farm (the latter owning the strapline 'Legless but smiling')

Borough vs Broadway

I went to Borough Market on Saturday. In terms of London markets it's not my first choice. It's a shame - there's no denying the fact that food-wise you won't really see such a good (if somewhat over-priced) selection anywhere else in London. But It does fill me with the feeling that I've been tricked into going to the Madame Tussauds of the food world...

On the other side of the coin I have happily been going to Broadway Market in Hackney for the past couple of years or so. It certainly does have it's fair share of yummy mummy regulars, but this little market has helped me give up supermarkets without costing a penny more, or sacrificing the food I eat. In fact, if anything I would say it costs less. As a shopper you're not sucked into buying all the extras that seduce you as you wander around the traditional supermarket. Not only that but I can buy fresh local organic meat, good cheeses and lots of other things too. In fact one of the highlights is that it is the only place I have found in London selling raw whole milk (which incidentally, has had no dodgy side-affects whatsoever, and is absolutely delicious!)

ps - not proud of my link there to an article by the Daily Mail, but sadly it was the only relevant one I could find!

pps - photo credit to Mr Royston Beddard

Not on the label...

I am currently reading Not On The Label: What really goes into the food on your plate by Felicity Lawrence. Ok, I can see how to some this may not be the most exciting, but it is really good and well worth the read just for the enlightening stuff on supermarkets (see, told you it wasn't classed as 'exciting').

However, this made this bit of news on the BBC's site even more alarming on Friday. Despite the short-term 'savings' in animal feed for farmers I cannot quite get my head around this has ever seemed to be the logical option.