Food 'n' Drink |

Losing one Michelin star can horrifying for a restaurant, losing two can be a straight out disaster, but now the Goose located in the Oxfordshire town of Britwell Salome now has to face how to deal with losing three.

The staff at the former one Michelin star restaurant walked out after a dispute over the business’s direction taking the award status along with them.

At the moment, the restaurant is closed due to what their voice messages says is a set of ‘unforeseen circumstances.’  On the other hand, a notice hanging in the window of the stone building states that the restaurant is closed for refurbishment and will open its doors again under new management on March 16^th.

Chef Ryan Simpson walked out along with his staff last week after a debate with the owner, Paul Castle, who stated that he planned to change the format of the restaurant into a pub.

Simpson was forced to regain the Michelin star because the previous chef left stating there were financial difficulties.  In a statement yesterday Simpson stated that he did not like the way Castle planned to alter the business.

The Goose first won a Michelin star in 2005 but lost it after Chef Mike North moved to another restaurant.  It then once again received the Michelin star in 2008 with Chef Matthew Tomkinson but after only six months left because he felt the financial side of the business was in disarray.

We try to be inclusive on this website, so here’s a trailer which includes information about King Tasty Shirts where you can create your own BK T-Shirt design!

Action Duchenne, the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy charity launches second cook book after success of ‘Caledonian Kitchen’ with all proceeds to support research.

Action Duchenne has launched its newly published cook book, “Looks Good, Tastes Great – Jewish Culinary Favourites” this month. The cook book features recipes from celebrities and well known personalities in the Jewish community, including Nigella Lawson, Michael Grade, Maureen Lipman, Ed Miliband, Michael Winner and David Pleat. All proceeds from the book will raise money for the charity, which has an introduction by Denise Phillips, professional chef and cookery writer and foreword written by Helena Bonham Carter, patron of the charity.

According to Hollywood actor and Patron of Action Duchenne, Helena Bonham Carter: “So many celebrities from within the Jewish Community have donated recipes for Looks Good, Tastes Great, but the book will appeal to anyone with a love of cooking. Jewish and British cooking are closely linked and a dish celebrating its 150th anniversary this year – fish and chips – is known to have been a Jewish invention from the East End of London. So forget the calories and enjoy the recipes! At the same time, you’ll be supporting Action Duchenne and its vital work in bringing forward treatments for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.”

The official launch of the book is to be held at Let’s Meat restaurant in Boreham Wood on Tuesday 16th February 2010, when guests will enjoy a three course meal with a cookery demonstration by Denise Phillips. They will have the opportunity to have their own copy signed by Denise, who trained with renowned restauranteur Prue Leith and who has written four books, including Modern Jewish cooking with Style and Jewish Mamas Kitchen.

Nick Catlin, CEO of Action Duchenne said; “It is fantastic to see such a worthwhile project come to fruition with this book launch. Not only does the book feature genuinely desirable recipes, it is a great way to raise more funds for our charity. Our previously launched cook book Caledonian Kitchen sold over 8000 copies, which was a tremendous boost to our fund raising efforts. From the funds raised we have been able to support scientific and clinical studies that have a strong chance of therapeutic treatments being developed. We extend thanks to all of those who have helped achieve the successes that we have seen so far in our aim to help improve the quality of life for patients living with Duchenne.”

Copies of the Looks Good, Tastes Great – Jewish Culinary Favourites will be available to order from the Action Duchenne on 020 8556 9955
or emailing mark@actionduchenne.org

On Friday February 19th, the new Laithwaites flasghip store in the Vinopolis complex will open near Borough Market.  Customers are being invited to join staff from Laithwaites and Vinopolis, as well as stallholders from Borough Market, for a celebratory glass of champagne and an exciting evening wine tasting.

The celebration continues on Saturday February 20th when Laithwaites, the UK’s largest independent wine merchant, is offering customers the unique chance to walk away with a bottle of the finest wine for just £5.  From 10am – 10pm, Laithwaites will offer 500 ‘mystery’ bottles for sale, all for £5 each. Highlights include Lafite, Haut-Brion, Mouton and mixed in amongst the bottles, all worth over £5, will be other established classics and New World discoveries.  There will only be 500 bottles so with thousands expected to try their luck come early to avoid disappointment.

As well as picking up their mystery bottle, customers will also be able to taste a selection of wines from Laithwaites comprehensive range, at one of the world’s longest wine tasting tables in the 5,000sq ft store.

Opening of the Laithwaites Store – February 19th 4pm onwards

Wine Lucky Dip – February 20th 10am – 10pm

The store is situated at No.1 Bank End, London SE1 9BU.

For further information visit www.laithwaites.co.uk

Edinburgh’s Wedgwood has been named the best new UK restaurant outside of London by Hardens in its 2010 restaurant guide.

The winners were chosen after a survey that included around 8,000 diners. Hardens also reviews around 1,850 restaurants in all of Britain’s major cities before listing its top choices.

Wedgwood is run by Paul Wedgwood and is found in the Old Town of Edinburgh.  It received the Remy Martin VSOP over the restaurants of Turners in Birmingham, Sam’s in Brighton, The Fish House in Chilgrove, West Sussex, and Vatika in Southampton.

Co-editor of the guide, Peter Harden, said that it was only appropriate that Wedgwood received the award given that Edinburgh has become the best city in the UK for top end dining followed by London.  This is due to the fact that it offers a traditional dining experience that is of the top quality.

Also receiving notice from the dining guide was Ludlow’s Mr. Underhill, which was honoured with the Remy Martin XO Excellence Award for showing consistency and all round excellence for a long period of time.  Although the owners of Mr. Underhill retired last year they placed the restaurant on the market with the same name.

Runners up for the same award were Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire, Northcote in Langho, Lancashire, The Waterside Inn in Bray, and Gildleigh Park in Chagford, Devon.

Also praised in the guide was the mid market Italian chain run by Jamie Oliver as a great contribution to the world of dining.

The Southbank’s Chocolate Festival returns this Easter with even more attractions and special activities, running from Friday 26 until Sunday 28 March. Included in the event will be an afternoon (Friday 26 March from 2-7pm) of demonstrations by top pastry chefs from some of the best five star hotels and renowned restaurants in the capital using Valrhona products in their chocolate infused recipes.

The chefs will include Valrhona’s own pastry chef Andrew Gravett, Abel Vieilleville from Skylon restaurant, Tal Hausen head pastry chef at The Lanesborough, Johannes Bonin executive pastry chef Connaught Hotel and Mourad Khiat The Berkeley’s head pastry chef. BBC Master Chef winner Steven Wallis will also be using Valrhona chocolate for his demonstration of courgette flower tempura & duck salad with dark chocolate vinegrate on Saturday 27 March at 1pm. All demonstrations will take place in the main marquee.

Pastry chefs will also join master chocolatiers to create a beautiful display of sculptures made entirley from chocolate. Visitors can see this at Festival Riverside Level 1 entrance in the Royal Festival Hall. It will be open for the public on the days of the festival, from 10am – 11pm.

The Festival will also feature dozens of stalls, all individually focused on one area of the delicious world of chocolate as well as a range of workshops, tasting talks, demonstrations and book signings. Exhibitors include Best British Chocolatier William Curley, Damian Allsop and Paul Wayne Gregory, as well as chocolate companies like Rococo and Hotel Chocolat.

Following on from the huge success of their Little Yellow Cook Book, with over 10,000 downloads, Maroque have produced a new Little Orange Cook Book which is full of new and inspiring recipes for those looking to entertin with a  Moroccan theme.  Maroque is the UK’s largest supplier of specialist Moroccan and Middle Eastern ingredients, including four types of couscous, herbs, spices and spice mixes, argan oil, Moroccan olive oil, rose water, pomegranate molasses, wild rose jam, and the list goes on.  Including such dishes such as melt in your mouth sensation of cumin scented crumbles, and the spicy aroma of winter fruits in ginger sauce to the complexity of fish with dried limes, there are some suitably lovely recipes featured.

As we approach Valentines Day, imagine a romantic meal for two, the air perfumed with the heady scent of orange blossom, the silky smoky taste of Zaalouk, Morocco’s aphrodisiac spice, Ras el hanout infused lamb, and twinkling candlelight from an array of little lamps. Or a sizzling summer barbeque with enticing kebabs subtly spiced with flavours of the Middle East, and lively salads to awaken the palate served on jewel coloured Moroccan platters.

The book is the brainchild of Julie Woodard, Maroque’s owner and founder.  She “I was so excited at the success of my Little Yellow Cook Book that I am delighted to release this next instalment. Moroccan food to me is wonderful, as it appeals to all the senses, the visual delight of jewelled rice, the zing of tomato and harissa sauce, the aroma of argan oil drizzled over warm peppers, all enhance the whole cooking and dining experience. In this latest volume I hope you will join me as I continue my journey in the fascinating world of Moroccan, Middle Eastern and Persian cooking. I have had so much pleasure creating, experimenting, cooking and of course eating these dishes, I hope you will enjoy them too.”

The Little Orange Cook Book is available for free download for free from the Maroque web site.