Recent Posts
I recently met a Caviar ambassador at a Devaux champagne and caviar pairing dinner. I mean if that’s not a dream job, I don’t know what is – having to come up with champagne and caviar food pairings. Oh sure, I suppose there is a downside, but I haven’t thought of it yet! The two seemed to be intertwined in most people’s minds so...
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Prosecco is now the best selling sparkling wine in the UK and for good reason. It’s fresh and bubbly without having to break the bank. A drink that can be enjoyed in celebration, whether it’s a job promotion, birthday or just because it’s the weekend. Prosecco is made from the Glera grape and all quality Prosecco hails from either...
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Earlier this year I was invited to the Basque Country with Visit Basque Country to discover all that it has to offer. I must admit that initially, the only thing I knew about Basque Country is that the Guggenheim has a museum there and Bilbao is the closest airport to Rioja. I was definitely in for a surprise. Of course, we did...
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English wine used to literally be a joke in the wine industry, not in part due to the fact that it was thought that this country was too wet and soggy to actually produce quality wine. But, an intrepid band of wine pioneers planted the first vines back in the 50’s and with a big push in the 90’s and early 2000’s,...
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The latest fad to sweep vineyard tours seems to be Segways. I had seen another blogger on a Segway in South Africa recently and thought, how cool, but will that ever get to the Old World? Well, the answer is yes! And it’s been going on for a few years – I really need to get out more often. We found them in the Rhone...
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Raymond Blanc is probably one of the most well known French chefs here in the UK with his various tv shows, books, and his Michelin starred restaurant in the English countryside. Less well known may be his string of affordable French restaurants around the UK that aim to serve up French country classic dishes. These affordable...
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London’s parks might not have the best reputation for culinary delights but St. James’ Park is fortunate to have Inn the Park, a lakeside British contemporary cafe and restaurant situated in the heart of St James Park. I was invited to lunch there recently and was pleasantly surprised by the building and atmosphere in...
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I’ve done winetasting in many different and exotic locales, from the vineyards of Champagne during one of the coldest winters ever (think minus 20 degrees Celsius and sitting in the snow on cardboard – believe it or not it was fun!) to dangling 100 metres up in the air whilst tasting- but the most exhilariating to...
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Something a little different this week: Blackpool is a seaside resort on the Irish Sea coast of England. Situated in the North West of England this place has been a well-known landmark for decades. From some of the old-school attractions to new and exciting places to see, Blackpool will always be a popular destination for a weekend...
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I recently lunched with the good people of Chateau d’Esclans at the Ivy in Central London. Chateau d’Esclans is located in Provence and as the region is famed for its rosés it shouldn’t be a surprise that Chateau d’Esclans makes some rather excellent rosé wines. They are known for producing such great wines...
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