It’s been a busy few weeks since my last column, with a holiday to Rhodes for the family, Thomas’ first tantrums (which have been interesting!) and plenty of autumn flavours on the menu in the restaurant.
We’ve got some big, bold flavours with stonebass and halibut bang in season. Lamb is at its absolute best with a little more fat on it right now, and we’ve got amazing ducks coming up from Lancashire as well.
It’s a great time for veg too with Ken Holland and Hamish producing everything from beautiful tomatoes and some very late edible flowers through to the first of the turnips, heritage carrots and some of the best beetroot of the year so far on our doorstep.
It’s been such a busy few weeks it’s hard to remember everything I’ve been up to. We had an amazing time in Rhodes as a family and I’ve got a nice tan for once. We’ve also been over to Amsterdam to see The Rolling Stones – one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to and a big tick on my bucket list.
We’re also making a few changes at home, where a new garage door makes getting out on the scooter a lot easier and I’ve been working out a plan for the new kitchen.
Working with Adam Riley at Riley’s Fish Shack in Tynemouth was a fantastic experience which included getting up at 7am for the fish market then cooking for 29 people down on the beach. The seven courses of turbot went down really well and I’m looking forward to doing something with him again soon.
Last up this month, a couple of shout outs.
First to The Patricia and Nick just up the road for a top quality Sunday lunch. And another
to the team at Peace & Loaf because we’ve just been named runner-up in The Observer Food Monthly’s top Sunday lunches in the country and runner-up un the Best restaurant in the North category. Well done guys, keep it up!
