Welsh Witterings: life’s a picnic
My week has been dominated by picnics. Sadly, I’ve not got to enjoy a picnic myself, but I have been researching and writing about them. A few years ago...
Taxi Noir: Going Back to Prison
I’m sure many of us are fantasising about re-visiting our favourite pubs, restaurants and hotels. I know I am; I can’t wait to get cracking. I’m particularly looking forward...
Our Trusted Comfort Foods
Mr Kipling’s tarts or butter-melting crumpets. Bored or got the munchies. What do you reach out for? During these challenging times, many kitchen cupboards have been filled with yummy...
A Sandwich is more than just Two Slices of Bread.
There’s nothing to beat a good sandwich. Unlike our British plastic, commercial, or basic choices of sandwich or rolls, the rest of the world has a great choice...
Delicious refreshing Agua Fresca, the Mexican Watermelon Drink
The weather’s hot, and anything cold and refreshing is very welcome. It’s time again for huge, cheap watermelons. If you find it quite bland, and messy to eat, try...
Mumbai Memoir 129- Exploring Minimal pleasure in the ‘Maximum City’!
Its been almost 3 months now that Mumbai has lost its social gravity. Since the ‘Un-lockdown phase’, which started in Mumbai from 8th June’2020, there is an ambience...
Welsh Witterings: The Pleasure of Preserving – making the most of seasonal fruits and vegetables
Culinary history has plenty to teach us especially when it comes to preserving food. Circumstances may differ, times undoubtedly change, but even in the age where most people own...
Taxi Noir: A Brief Perambulation around Fleet Street
People think that because I drive my taxi around London all day I know all the best places to go, or know all the history. I don’t. I haven’t...
Updated List of our Talented Writers’ Publications – great reads for everyone!
The B-C-ing-U! Writers are many-talented. A lot of them are published authors, so why not take a look at what they have for sale? There are some great...
When I met Vera Lynn, The Forces’ Sweetheart.
It was sad news to hear about the death of Dame Vera Lynn at 103. She was a real Lady who brought a lot of happiness into the world....
Harry’s Ramblings. Cream On Top
by Harry Pope I don’t know about you, but when I eat a scone with cream and jam, I always place the jam first, then cream on top. This...
Malta Diary. One of my Adventures in the Mediterranean – not what you know but who you know
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: Take one large melting pot, bung in equal volumes of Latin, Greek and Semitic blood...
Coping With Coronavirus 24. You can turn Almost Anything into Wine!
While you’re stuck at home and probably going for walks, it’s a perfect time for making home-brewed wine. Summer and early autumn are good times to make a supply...
Welsh Witterings: Simply Good Food
In these strange times I must confess I have lamented the inability to get out for a coffee or a spot of lunch. I love cooking for my family,...
Coping With Coronavirus no 23. Save Money! Cook while you Work; Ironed Sandwiches
I discovered an old recipe for Ironed Sandwiches. Fascinated, I had to try it! This was obviously originally invented when women used to heat up their flat irons to...
Malta Diary Once upon a time, olive oil was more precious than gold …Roman armies relied on it
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: They used to say that armies marched on their stomachs. However, Roman armies marched on olive oil. Without it...
In the pureness of Mount Athos – World Meanderings (n°86)
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Greece will soon slowly reopen its doors to foreign tourists. From June 15 international flights will be able to land...
Coping with Coronavirus 22. Rainbow Roast Vegetables
Rainbows have been very popular during the Coronavirus pandemic. Everyone has been painting them and sticking them in their windows. The seven colours of the rainbow are red, orange,...
Taxi Noir: Black Sabbatical
As the lockdown continues I’ve been thinking a lot about how time is used differently by different people. Some folk have an abundance of time while others feel there...
Ten spices to travel to Istanbul in your kitchen – World Meanderings (n°85)
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Champing at the bit and feeling more and more frustrated not to be able to get on a plane for...
Try the ultimate feel-good recipe, “Rent a Finn”! – World Meanderings (n°84)
Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Did you know that Finland has been awarded as happiest nation in the world for the third time in a row...
Welsh Witterings: Home Cooking is here to stay
Whilst in covid19 confinement many Brits have turned to home baking and have got themselves out of the evening meal rut. Our home baking endeavors have been so great...
Coping With Coronavirus 21. Will there be Food Poisoning in Bars & Restaurants after Lockdown?
Boris is talking about easing the Lockdown on Monday. After many years in catering, I know what goes on behind the scenes. In my past, I spent several days...
Coping With Coronavirus 20. Plants & Recipes
Remember how I told you how to grow tomatoes from tomato slices? Well, look at the results after another week. And remember how I told you about the...
Kent, A County Full of Surprises
The English county of Kent, known as The Garden of England, is as pretty and as charming as its name suggests. Rural Kent, with its gentle rolling hillsides, rich...
Mumbai Memoir 125- Exploring food in Quarantined Mumbai!
Its been a month now that Mumbai city is in the ‘lock down’ mode. Initially it was a compulsion-like feeling for all, as everyone was unable to move out...
Coping With Coronavirus 19. Why are the Garden Centres Closed? + Growing Tomatoes From Seed
Why are all the garden centres closed when everyone wants to buy compost, seeds, and lots of garden plants; flowers, vegetables, salad plants and herbs? There’s a lot more...
Welsh Witterings: Deadly Delights- lurking in your pantry
At the moment store cupboard cooking is in the limelight and it seems everyone and their Gran is talking about how we should be delving into the back of...
Coping with Coronavirus 18. Computer Rage. Is it really Necessary? Plus Cheap Recipes.
When I was at school, we used to hold debates. Someone would speak and everyone would politely listen without interrupting, even if they totally disagreed with what was being...
Coping With Coronavirus 16. More Cheap Recipes
We’re halfway through April and more and more plants are making an appearance. Living in the country, we can go for walks over fields and in the woods. If...
A Place to Stay – Finca la Fronda
A cat lies motionless in flickering shadows cork oak trees. Its whiskers barely move in the welcome breeze. Except for a dog’s bark in the distance, a lone donkey...
Coping With Coronavirus 15. Idiots are Ignoring the Lockdown.
We’ve been home now for nearly a month, obeying the rules and missing the family terribly. But we’re surrounded by a lot, and I mean a lot of Visitors,...
Coping with Coronavirus 14. Want not, Waste not! Jamelade.
I was feeling so ashamed of myself. There I was lecturing everyone about food waste while looking guiltily at my rotting fruit. We just didn’t fancy eating any, and...
Dream trip to Jelsa on Hvar Island – World Meanderings (n°81)
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Havr is one of the 1,244 islands of Croatia. They are spread like confetti on the Adriatic Sea, a...
Welsh Witterings: The Pleasure of Preserving
This week the term lock-in has come to mean something very different to me. No longer does the term lock-in conjure up images of local boozer allowing patrons to...
Champagne Rosé, the most elegant drink for festive moments – Meanderings through France n° 214
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny White Champagne was created in the 17th century but it was not until the second half of the 18th century...
Coping With Coronavirus 11. Astronomy For Beginners
One positive thing about Coronavirus is that, with all the world’s planes grounded, the sky is clear and unpolluted. For the first time since 9/11 we can gaze up...
Coping With Coronavirus 10 Applause for the Workers!
Last night (Thursday) at 8pm everyone went outside to applaud the key workers who are keeping our country running. Even the three Royal children were filmed applauding. It started...
Coping With Coronavirus 9. Steamcleaning in Seconds!
See this photo? It’s my steamcleaner and I think it’s the most useful and important thing in my house at the moment. You just fill it up...
Coping With Coronavirus 8. False Alarms.
Another clear, sunny day without a cloud or contrails in the sky. And the roads are silent. Our lungs must be healthier without the pollution! Coronavirus is a contagious...