April 2013
6 posts
How to buy sustainable cod
You can get a crisis of conscience eating seafood nowadays.
Our love of cod and chips may be responsible for causing the extinction of entire species. Cod has been overfished to dangerous levels but it is possible to buy cod and not worry about its future. Armed with the information in this infographic you’ll be able to enjoy cod with a clear conscience in future!
Infographic courtesy...
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Creating a cooking party for your kids
If the weather’s wet and cold outside and you’re looking for a fun way to entertain your children, why not throw a cooking party? Karen’s held many in the past and has great tips and themes to base your party on.
I am an expert on creating cooking parties for children; every sleep-over or birthday party for my daughter was linked to some sort of cooking party, and they were...
Birthday Cakes Do's and Don’ts
Are you considering making your child a birthday cake? If you are feeling nervous about this great undertaking, don’t panic! With three kids Antonia has made more than 20 birthday cakes and has some tricks and cheats to help you.
Don’t panic if what you make doesn’t match up to the picture in the recipe book. Kids don’t need the cake to be perfect. Your child’s imagination will ensure that they...
March 2013
16 posts
Pace Eggs, Hot Cross Buns and Traditional Easter...
Easter’s the first Spring Bank Holiday of the year and the long weekend is an excellent opportunity to get cooking. Karen has some wonderful Easter cooking and baking recipes to share, as well as the history behind them.
(Because Easter is so much more than just chocolate!)
I am a follower of culinary fashion, insofar as I love embracing new food trends and exciting ingredients, but, I am...
Making Eight Day Easter Bread
Monica had fun learning how to make Choereg. This ”eight day bread”, is a sweet, egg-enriched braided bread that is eaten across the countries of the former Ottoman empire and in Greece and Armenia has specific associations with Easter.
Last January my mother introduced me to her friend, Nimo, an Assyrian woman who’s managed that rare thing in America: to migrate to the...
Tarte au Citron
A fresh, light and creamy treat that will be a great Easter afternoon tea - especially if you’re looking for a break from all of that chocolate. Madeleine shares her recipe for mini Tarte au Citron.
This is my favourite dessert. I have eaten it for my birthday almost every year of my whole life. So fresh, light and creamy.
Since quitting sugar I’ve become very experimental with...
A Cure for all! Bacon Connoisseurs Week
Bacon – an essential part of the Full English Breakfast and the delicious filling in a bacon butty, a meat so delicious and enticing that when Karen became a vegetarian for a couple of years; it was one of the hardest foods to resist! She now explores a week dedicated to this cured delicacy and staple.
I eventually gave up vegetarianism and pledged only to eat meat with provenance, but, I do...
Chocolate and Guinness Mousse
What better way is there to celebrate St Patrick’s Day than by dressing in green and drinking a pint of the black stuff? Well, how about eating it instead? Victoria shares a delicious chocolate and mousse recipe, which even if you’re not a fan of Ireland’s famous stout, you’re sure you’ll be tempted.
A Pint of the Black Stuff for St Patrick’s Day
In the spirit of...
Hot Cross Buns
At this time of year it’s easy to pop into a supermarket to buy Hot Cross Buns - in fact most major supermarkets start stocking them from February. However, this year, why not try making your own Hot Cross Buns? Rachel shares a delicious recipe to put your bread and bun making skills into practice.
Whilst hot cross buns are typically made for Easter, they actually pre-date the Christian...
Guinness and Brown Bread Ice Cream for St....
There are fewer beverages more associated with the Irish than Guinness and St. Patrick’s Day presents a sound excuse for exploring this famous stout in all of its guises, both as a beverage and as an ingredient in cooking. Monica shares how it can be used to create a delicious ice cream
Last year I discovered that Guinness is an excellent addition to mushrooms on toast. This year,...
Pistachio, Cranberry and Chocolate Gluten Free...
Do you know anyone with a food intolerance? With more and more people having conditions where they have to watch what they eat, Kathryn, wanted to experience what it was like to give up gluten. She met mixed reactions from friends, but on a positive note, it’s led her to create some delicious coeliac recipes including these colourful cookies
It has never once crossed my mind that having...
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10 Top Ways to use Marmalade
Although it’s National Mamalade Week, this zesty preserve isn’t just for toast. Tolani shares her top ten tasty tips for taking marmalade away from the breakfast table and making into a star of other meals.
Photo by Robert Walster
I can always remember marmalade being an essential ingredient in my house growing up. It was my mums’ favourite spread and she was adamant that it became...
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Amaretto Sour Cocktail Cupcakes (gluten free)
Looking for a slightly naughty but nice treat for Mother’s Day? Look no further than Victoria’s playful cupcakes. They look traditional but with their touch of Amaretto, will let you give your mum a decadent cocktail in cake form!
Traditionally, before Easter nicked it, Mothering Sunday was celebrated with Simnel cake, but my mother is not traditional by nature, so you can keep your...
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Butchery Classes at The Ginger Pig
Ever fancied becoming a butcher? Chris recently went on a Butchery class at The Ginger Pig. He learnt how to make his own sausages and came away knowing what sorts of ingredients to seek or avoid when buying them in the future.
It was a collective present for my 40th from a small group of friends. A really great present too! I had received a gift voucher for a butchery class at the Ginger...
Who Ate All The Pies?
Why do we love pies? Few things are a comforting a hot pie with flaky or crumbly pastry and a piping hot filling. As it’s British Pie Week, Victoria pays homage to the humble pie - or in fact not so humble pie.
Few things in life cannot be improved by the addition of pastry. Buttery, flaky and crisp on the outside, with a hint of delicious goo from where it’s slurped up a bit juice from...
Mother's Day: Gluten Free Orange Cake
One way to melting your Mother’s heart this Sunday is by making a Love Cake. Madeleine shares her recipe for a fruity and moist orange cake. It’s gluten free and has natural sweeteners, which your Mum with thank you for if she’s looking to lower her sugar intake.
The way to your mother’s heart this Sunday is making a homemade orange love cake. This delicious cake is...
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Let's hear it for ... Cod
Other than playing centre stage with batter and chips, seafood pie or given the full gourmet spin, how much do we really know about cod? Tolani looks how cod became so popular & what we can do to ensure it doesn’t run out.
Cod, undoubtedly the nation’s favourite fish, though it seems our gluttonous ways haven’t gone unpunished as decades of overfishing have resulted in a severe...
February 2013
36 posts
Horses for Courses
Infographic courtesy of Great British Chefs
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National Butchers Week 2013 - Support your local...
With our trust in processed meat and supermarket supply chains weakening there’s no better time to consider independent butchers. It’s National Butchers Week from 4th - 10th March and Miriam had a chat with award winning butchers John F Pitchford to see what local butchers have to offer.
I went a bit further than my local butcher, I travelled 130 miles north to Southwell in...
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Get Ready for National Marmalade Week with Vivien...
National Marmalade Week is coming up (2 - 9 March 2013) and to get in the spirit, Monica Shaw talked to Vivien Lloyd, author and winner of the World’s Original Marmalade Festival in 2008 and Fortnum and Mason’s Chutney Challenge in 2012. She gives some great tips on making marmalade and shares a fantastic recipe for Seville Orange Marmalade.
Photography by Robert Walster
Vivien wrote the...
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Sausage, Spud and Apple Bake
We’re often asked for tasty midweek suppers that are quick to prepare. So we were delighted when Victoria shared her delicious recipe for sausage, potato and apple bake. Simple ingredients, low effort but high on taste.
Often, when I want an easy midweek supper, I turn to the simplicity of dried pasta or rice. It always seems like the quickest option when you’ve left it until your stomach...
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Bistro Bruno Loubet at The Zetter Hotel
What are your thoughts of French cuisine? Tiny portions of nouvelle cuisine? Hearty portions of rustic and densely flavoured foods? Self confessed Francophile, Rory recently dined at Bistro Bruno Loubet to see what one of the best known French chefs working in the UK had to offer.
When it comes to food I’m an unashamed Francophile. Don’t get me wrong; I love Indian, Chinese and Thai. Give me a...
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Ordering meals made easy with QR Codes
Has the Hospitality sector finally found the perfect use for a QR code? Nadine discovered how QikServe’s technology is changing the way we order food & drink.
Ever been to a restaurant or pub either on your own or with kids, manage to claim a prized table and then get told you have to go to the bar to order? As a regular solo business traveller, usually well laden with bags, laptop...
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Adam Bennett on making award winning dishes at...
Head chef Adam Bennett and commis chef Kristian Curtis from the Michelin-starred Simpsons in Edgbaston, reached the highest place ever for Team UK in the world’s most prestigious chef competition, the Bocuse d’Or last month. We spoke to Adam about his experience and the inspiration behind his award winning garnishes.
At Great British Chefs we were delighted to see the UK team put in such...
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Let's hear it for .... Goat
Goat meat has been marginalised in the past, however, now’s the time to re-look at this meat that’s low in cholesterol & extremely tender when cooked well. Michael Smith received rave reviews for his goat dish in the Great British Menu. Tolani discovered his inspiration for the dish & gives great tips and serving suggestions for goat.
Photo of Goat Tagine by...
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Celebrating National Chip Week 18th-24th Feb 2013
A whole week devoted to chips. Is this mad? Aren’t chips supposed to be unhealthy? If they’re such a ubiquitous food, surely we’re already aware of them and don’t need an excuse to eat more of them? Discover more about National Chip Week from Solange
The role of national awareness weeks is to promote, remind and support, in other words they direct our attention to a...
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Get Baking To Beat Multiple Sclerosis
Victoria is making cocktail themed cakes to raise money for The MS Society. She shares a delightful recipe for Mojito Madeleines. Discover more about fundraising for “Cake Break” and how you can win a copy of Victoria’s book too.
Around 100,000 people in the UK have multiple sclerosis (MS). It affects two million more. The MS Society are doing amazing work funding new...
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Should restaurants fine customers who leave food?
If you’re eating out at a seafood restaurant in Japan, make sure you go with an empty stomach. They’re serving a bowl of rice with “all you can eat” salmon roe, but if you don’t finish every grain of rice you’ll get slapped with a fine! Would this policy work in all restaurants? Should restaurants look at other ways to make sure their diners don’t waste...
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Heston’s Triple Cooked Chips
Like many things, the chip has taken a trip upmarket recently, most famously with Heston’s triple cooked chips. As part of National Chip Week, Helen went to learn the secrets from Ashley Palmer-Watts, current executive chef at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal.
The perfect chip
Unsurprisingly, a Michelin starred chip is not the work of a moment, especially a Heston chip! The perfect chip will be...
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How Do You Like Your Chips?
It’s National Chip Week. A week to celebrate the delicious potato delight. But what does make the perfect chip? Which sauces are best served with them? Are there any strange & quirky ways of enjoying them? Danny aka Food Urchin to Twitter to find out your views on the humble (or not so humble) chip.
I will never forget the time when I first witnessed the profound influence and...
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Food and Drink Revamped
BBC’s Food & Drink classic 1980’s series was one of the first popular magazine shows about food. After a break of eleven years the show has re-appeared, with new presenters and a new look. Will it run for another twenty years? Will it inspire a nation to push their culinary boundaries? Danny aka food blogger, Food Urchin, gives his verdict.
It’s not often I get to say things...
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Great British Menu 2013 North West Final
Week three of Great British Menu and chefs from the North West were going head to head. Would Aiden Byrne or Mary-Ellen McTague make it through the tough judging panel to represent their region?
Friday’s episode (15th February 2013) of Great British Menu may have seen the closest match yet of the season, with North West chefs Aiden Byrne and Mary-Ellen McTague battling it out in the...
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Let's hear it for .... red mullet
Contrary to popular belief, red mullet does not refer to David Bowie’s haircut during his fling with Ziggy Stardust, no; in fact it is a fish and a very tasty one.
Ok, so I’m sure that is not a commonly made mistake but it is true to say that red mullet is not really a well-known fish in Britain; very rarely will you hear someone say that they’re popping down the local chippie for a red mullet...
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Candied Bacon Roses & other bacon goodies for...
If you’re looking for a unique present for Valentine’s Day and your beloved loves bacon, read on.
At Great British Chefs we had to look twice when we saw this beautifully shot bouquet of roses. We wondered why the petals looked a little dark around the edges, then discovered the roses were made from bacon!
The very talented Caleigh from Domestic Sluttery made this bacon bouquet...
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Sweets For My Sweet …
For many Valentine’s Day won’t be complete without chocolate in some shape or form. For a dessert to melt your loved one’s heart, try Victoria’s Chocolate & Pistachio tarts tarts with a hidden layer of salted caramel.
It always seems a shame that Valentine’s Day has stopped being about sending secret tokens of admiration and mysterious cards signed with a “?”. The...
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The 5:2 'Fast Diet': The ultimate diet for...
Have you heard of the 5:2 Fast Diet? Of all the diets that have captured the public imagination recently, this one seems to be holding traction. Particularly amongst food lovers. Monica looks at why this diet is being followed by thousands, the science behind it and whether it is the “ultimate diet for foodies”.
If you live in Britain then you’ve likely heard of the...
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Lamb steak with minty Brazilian pesto and white...
Heart shaped lamb is on the menu for Valentine’s Day. Rosana shows how these tender steaks can be paired brilliantly with a minty pesto and white bean mash.
Donald Russell kindly sent me their grass fed and hand cut Valentine lamb loin steaks. Heart shaped, they make an ideal centre piece for a romantic meal.
Lamb loin is a very succulent, tender and juicy piece of meat. It...
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Valentine's Day Menu
How to impress your Valentine for dinner this year? Miriam shares a wonderful menu that can be part prepared ahead, leaving you with more time to make yourself look perfect. Soothing chicken & fennel soup, followed by seared beef salad rounded off with ginger & pear eclairs.
So there’s a person that you’ve fancied for a while, maybe you’ve been on a few dates and now you want to impress...
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Crepes Suzette - Galvins
For a classic finish to a dinner party, we’re delighted to share a recipe from Michelin-starred chef brothers Chris and Jeff Galvin.
We’re very excited to announce that the Galvin brothers will be joining Great British Chefs site soon and you’ll be able to discover how you can make their award winning dishes at home.
The remarkable Galvin brothers have had amazing success...
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Gluten Free Banana Pancakes
Those with a wheat or gluten intolerance don’t have to miss out on the joy of pancakes, as Victoria shares her recipe for mouthwatering banana pancakes. Enjoy for breakfast, brunch or a delightful dessert.
I’ve always loved the ritual of an evening spent flipping batter on Pancake Day. When I was growing up, it was always my Dad who took over the frying pan duties (with much greater...
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Blueberry Almond Pancakes
There’s nothing quite like fresh pancakes in the morning. How about some sugar free pancakes, packed with fresh fruit to start your day?
Pancakes in the morning can seem quite decadent and glutinous, however these pancakes are gluten and sugar free so they can be enjoyed without the guilt!
So simple, this recipe is held together by some delicious free range eggs to load your body with protein...
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Bak Kwa - Sticky smokey salty-sweet barbecue meat...
Bak Kwa is a typical Chinese New Year dish. Just hearing the name makes many Singaporeans homesick. Now you can discover how to make this much loved dish in a fun post from Goz. Warning elbow grease is required.
For some reason, if you were coming from Singapore and asked any Singaporean overseas what he/she wants back, there’s a pretty good chance he/she would ask for bak kwa. In Singapore,...
Sesame Prawn Toast
If you’ve ever been disappointed by soggy sesame prawn toast arriving at your house from a take-away, Victoria suggests, the perfect solution is to make it yourself. She shares her recipe for this delicious Chinese starter.
The London food scene’s obsession with pimped up “dirty” food is staying put. You can’t throw a lettuce leaf without hitting a trendy burger and who doesn’t delight in...
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Gluten Free Apple and Ginger Crumble
Apple Crumble is one of the nation’s favourite desserts and good news is that those with wheat intolerances needn’t lose out. Victoria shares a heartwarming recipe for gluten free apple and ginger crumble.
It’s Bramley Apple Week and I don’t need much persuading to get my Bramleys out for this delicious crumble. Bramleys have exactly the right balance of acidity and sweetness for...
