NEW WAYS WITH DUCK

Sometimes I am tempted to buy foods which are reduced and too good to pass up upon. It was the case with some lovely Gressingham duck breast fillets, which I bought sometimes ago and froze. Out they came of the freezer on a Monday morning, and since I was enjoying one of those rare nights in, I decided to cook them in the evening. I believe simple is best. When the ingredients are good, why mess about with them? Took all the skin off, heated up some very good extra virgin olive oil and quickly seared the breast. Added a splash of brandy, a splash of worcester sauce, a good splash of red wine, and a dash of organic stock. Oh, yes, and some Provencal herbs. Cooked for about 30 minutes, and it was absolutely juicy and tender. Cooked some mixed vegetables in the microwave (oh yes, I do use the microwave when I have to) and then tossed the cooked veggies into the pan where the duck had cooked. They mopped up all the remaining juices and I had a really great meal. Maybe I will suggest it to one of my lovely chefs....

YUMMY WINE FROM LE MARCHE

There is nothing better than crack open a really good bottle of wine when it's raining outside, it's Friday night and you dont fancy going out. That bottle you have been saving deserves to be gotten out right now. That's how I came to open one of my treasures, Cupio 2005, an intense red from Le Marche region, one of my favourite Italian regions for unusual wines. A great Rosso Conero made exclusively from the Montepulciano grape, this wine is intense yet very elegant, full bodied and velvety with a very long finish. Unfortunately it's not yet available in the UK, which is why drinking it was a bit of a sacrilege, but it was worth every sip. In fact, it was so good and satisfying that I recorcked it with my vacuvin and finished it on Sunday. It was still perfect.
Until the next bottle comes along......

SUNDAY LUNCH WITH A DIFFERENCE

Well, who would have thought that Harvey Nic would be so good for Sunday lunch? Seeing a world of informally dressed people rather than the D&G clad ladies one sees during the week, was a pleasant surprise. And yes, you could actually get a drink at the bar rather than elbowing your way through. Champagne was flowing everywhere (really - where is this recession?) . Anyway, the lunch was very good. Carpaccio of Angus beef was tender and succulent with a horseradish foam a la Blumethal (so good, wish there was more foam) and the halibut was great too, so was the sea bream. Two course lunch including a bloody mary or a bellini for £19.50 which seems good value, but beware - there is a hefty 12.5 percent service charge on top, a small cup of coffee is £3 and the wine list is among the most expensive in London. Harvey Nic are really missing a trick - they should allow customers to choose from their copious 'bin ends' in the wine department next door, and serve that wine at retail price. But if you want a recommendation from their current list, the Picpoul de Pinet, a little known white wine from the Languedoc, light and delicate but very elegant, was fairly good value at £21.50. Still, thebill came to over £90 with no dessert and no bottled water. Hello??!!!

TUSCAN FESTIVE WINE DINNER COMING UP

Yes, it's time to celebrate. I have organised a fab wine tasting dinner at the all new Pescatori restuarant in Charlotte Street on Monday 30 November. The restaurant is not new as such, but the chef is, the menu is, and it's really good.
If you have come to my dinners before, you know that they are great value and that are attended by lovely people too.
This one on 30 November will offer four great wines from the Antinori estate, and three courses to include Cacciucco, the Tuscan speciality from the sea town of Livorno, where the dish originates from. It's like a bouillebaisse, full of flavour, using fish and seafood, it's just a fantastic dish. Couple this with the best Peppoli Chianti Classico (the one you dream of) and you have a food and drink pairing beyond comparison.
hope you will come. find out more on www.euposia.co.uk

I AM LOVING THE NEW COFFEE

Just found a great new cup of coffee at Tossed, it's fairtrade, it's organic, and it's delicious. Can't get enough of it.

Also they now have these great Teapigs - funnily shaped teabags, but full of flavour. Wish they had the liquorice one, i tasted it somewhere and really liked it .

More later.

YUMMYBREAKFAST ON THE HIGH STREET

BREAKFAST LIKE A KING AT TOSSED

A new kind of breakfast ‘on the go’ which is indulgent and filling yet healthy and low in calories, is coming to Tossed, the next generation of healthy eating venues springing up around London. With the cooler Autumn weather, a ‘good for you’ breakfast is just what your body needs to feel and stay energised during the day.

Succulent, lean bacon and other toasted baps, tasty porridge, healthy muffins and cakes, luxury freshly roasted Arabica coffees and herbal teas turn breakfast into a feast fit for a king to give you a head start for the day.

The Classic Bacon Bap is delectable and guilt free, made with succulent lean bacon and contains 50 percent less fat than other baps. The Mushroom, Spinach and Scrambled Egg Bap is a great brain food to kick start the day, packed with foods full of iron, protein and energy, whilst the Ham and Egg Bap is the perfect protein fix to keep hunger at bay until lunchtime. Priced at £2.50 each, and with a vegetarian option at £2.25, they make proper breakfast an affordable treat.

For those craving a morning sweetness fix, as well as healthy sugar-free cookies, sweetened with fruit juice and made with low GI (glycemic index) whole wheat flour and no diary product, there are also indulgent cakes and muffins with a difference. These contain no animal products, are also log GI and low in Fat, and provide a wheat free option using spelt instead. Cookies, cakes and muffins are just £1.95 each.

Together with a new luxury range of gourmet coffees and teas, using organic, Fair Trade, 100 percent pure Arabica beans roasted to order and whole leaf organic tea temples for a fresher brew, Tossed is taking breakfast to a whole new level. Indulgence meets health not only in a porridge bowl, but also in a bap or cake.

What’s more, Tossed is launching two new loyalty cards, where with just four hot drink purchases the fifth is absolutely free, and with just four breakfast purchases, the fifth is also free.

Tossed are located at: 101 St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, WC2N 4AZ Tel:0207 240 3599; 10 Sheldon Square, Paddington Central, W2 6EZ Tel:020 7289 2516; Monsoon H/O, The Yellow Building, Notting Hill Village, 1 Nicholas Road W11 4AN Tel:020 7243 4103; 31-33 Baker Street, W1J 8EJ, Tel:020 7486 8555; Westfield London, Ariel Way, White City, W12 7GE Tel: 020 8740 9613. www.tosseduk.com. On-line order service and office delivery available.

WINE TASTING ON MONDAY 5 OCTOBER

Hello there, I have been a bit slack this month with my blog postings, it just happens from time to time. But I am back in full swing as I have lots of new wines to tell you about and lots of restaurant news.

For a start, here is a reminder that on Monday 5 October there is a wine tasting event at the super Modern Scandinavian restaurant Madsen in South Kensington. See how well classic European wines complement modern scandinavian cuisine, and relish the new tastes on show, in a really fab atmosphere. You will love it. More details on www.euposia.co.uk or drop me a line via the blog. It's a great event!

All Pizza and Pasta Dishes £5 at Spaghetti House

It seems that it's party time for Spaghetti House as they are celebrating 54 years in business this week 7 - 13 September. The first restaurant to open in Goodge Street just off Tottenham Court Road is offering all pizza and pasta dishes at just £5 this week. For some dishes, it's less than half the price. Really good food, and the pizza are stone baked so they are nice and crispy and full of flavour. My favourite pasta is The Linguine with King Parawns white wine, garlice, chilli and wild rocket, it's a meal in itself. This offer is available right through the day so if you are around, it's really worth going, even more worth taking a detour to Goodge Street.

Make a note: New Scandinavian Food and Wine Event

MONDAY 5 OCTOBER 2009 – MADSEN 20 Old Brompton Road London SW7 3DL (tube, South Kensington) – in front of the Lamborghini Showroom

Those who came to the first dinner here in February were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the leading edge European style of cuisine of this restaurant, coupled with some great wines. Since then, Madsen has gone on to winning its first AA Rosette, and every restaurant critic has awarded it high scores: 8/10 from the Guardian, 3 stars from the Standard, 4 stars from Metro and so on. So we return to enjoy the warm hospitality of owner Charlotte Kruse Madsen, more gorgeous dishes and new wines. Traditional and modern cuisine combine for flavour and freshness, coupled with an all-European wine list (company’s ethics are impressive, they like to save on wine miles, there are no patio heaters just warm Scandinavian blankets and menus are printed on recycled paper). I am showing the unusual dry Thessaurum Zibibbo 2007 from Sicily, a fresh and zesty Chardonnay, a Tempranillo from Spain which will leave you open mouthed and a really good French Cabernet. This event is meant to show how well classic European wines accompany modern Scandinavian food. Three course meal, one glass each of four different wines, service, VAT and wine commentary. Great convivial company free of charge!
COST: £42 FOR MEMBERS, £45 FOR GUESTS. TIME: 7.00 PM
Please book soon as spaces are going fast.

Out and About Spotting Celebrities and Dining

The latest Spaghetti House at Westfield London has become the centre of attention with celebrities visiting regularly, and increasing every week.
Spotted there were former Chelsea manager Avram Grant and former Chelsea players Jason Cundy and Ken Monkou.
The Spaghetti House manager told me that there are also celebrities from Eastenders visiting, but he was not able to tell me who they were....... never mind, just go there. If there are no celebrities when you visit, the food is an even better reason to go. Try Olive Ascolane, my absolute favourite, stuffed olives from Le Marche region, then coated in breadcrumbs and fried. Yum....this is a restaurant worth making a note of.