Friday, 8 July 2011
Why Sprats?
I could quite easily make the case for sprats, or whitebait, on the grounds that it's THE fish to eat if you care about sustainability. They are one of the varieties of fish used to make salmon feed, and it takes three kilos of these unpopular minnows to produce one kilo of salmon. But I'm not going to do that. I want to serve sprats because they are very delicious. They don't take a lot of cooking and you can eat them whole, as the bones crunch down. They are a delicacy in parts of Andalucia and while I wouldn't advise a visit to Malaga, should you find yourself there you will find them to be wonderful. Alternatively, come to the Supper Club on 16th July and hopefully I'll convert you.
Monday, 4 July 2011
Rescheduling
Due to the demands of the busy summer social season we have decided to reschedule the British Isles-inspired Supper Club for Saturday the 16th July. We hope you can come. Just drop an e-mail to heidiandfranks at gmail.com to let us know you're coming.
Monday, 6 June 2011
The twin room conundrum
The drawback of fitting 22 guests in a drawing room is that some make a squawking noise about not being able to move. Odd that.
The argument this week has been what to do about it. The easy option is to limit numbers somewhat. Yet this would also limit the number of lucky people able to get a seat. My proposal, to have a kind of 'Chef's table' next to the kitchen where everyone eats without a table cloth and have to hang on to their plates, has not been met with rapture. 'People won't like being separated' is the point of contention.
We don't know how true this is. Were people to treat it similar to a restaurant and booked a table for six, we'd be okay with that. But said half dozen peeps would not have the pleasure of meeting a banjo-playing tree surgeon or a former pimple-popper to Britt Ekland. The sixer would also hear first-hand perpetual bickering about canapé presentation and whatnot.
The debate may well be resolved on the night itself. In my mind at least. Everyone else decided what to do long ago.
The argument this week has been what to do about it. The easy option is to limit numbers somewhat. Yet this would also limit the number of lucky people able to get a seat. My proposal, to have a kind of 'Chef's table' next to the kitchen where everyone eats without a table cloth and have to hang on to their plates, has not been met with rapture. 'People won't like being separated' is the point of contention.
We don't know how true this is. Were people to treat it similar to a restaurant and booked a table for six, we'd be okay with that. But said half dozen peeps would not have the pleasure of meeting a banjo-playing tree surgeon or a former pimple-popper to Britt Ekland. The sixer would also hear first-hand perpetual bickering about canapé presentation and whatnot.
The debate may well be resolved on the night itself. In my mind at least. Everyone else decided what to do long ago.
Saturday, 28 May 2011
I've finally gone and done it
After wanting to do a supper club from first reading the ticket info for The Underground Restaurant, I'm finally going to do one.
It is going to be called the 'Rodborough Supper Club' as it will be a supper club held in Rodborough, near Stroud in Gloucestershire. For those not familiar with the concept of the supper club, it is a supper served in someone's home where you pay for your meal. RSC will be held in the home of the bestselling romantic novelist Katie Fforde and her husband and anthologist Desmond Fforde. The food will be cooked by me, Frank Fforde, their middle child and by the hostess Heidi Cawley. I should explain further.
Me and Heidi are quite obsessive about food. We have his and her Kitchenaids. We've got thirteen varieties of flour in the cupboard. We even eat all the veg in the veg box- including the beetroot and jerusalem artichokes! RSC is our chance to show off and to share the food and recipes we love. The criteria for inclusion on the menu is that we think it tastes delicious.
It is going to be called the 'Rodborough Supper Club' as it will be a supper club held in Rodborough, near Stroud in Gloucestershire. For those not familiar with the concept of the supper club, it is a supper served in someone's home where you pay for your meal. RSC will be held in the home of the bestselling romantic novelist Katie Fforde and her husband and anthologist Desmond Fforde. The food will be cooked by me, Frank Fforde, their middle child and by the hostess Heidi Cawley. I should explain further.
Me and Heidi are quite obsessive about food. We have his and her Kitchenaids. We've got thirteen varieties of flour in the cupboard. We even eat all the veg in the veg box- including the beetroot and jerusalem artichokes! RSC is our chance to show off and to share the food and recipes we love. The criteria for inclusion on the menu is that we think it tastes delicious.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)