TheFoodieHistorian: there's no place like home

Showing posts with label there's no place like home. Show all posts

Sunday, 21 September 2014

Somerset: The Start of Autumn

I'm pretty lucky in that I have family dotted around some of the most beautiful parts of the UK. My brother chose Bath for University, and never left. Every time I visit, it strikes me how similar it is to Edinburgh, while being so different at the same time. The views are grander, the crescents are on a larger scale and the houses are the colour of pale honey rather than grey - but it still has that wonderful sense of history and the buzz of excited visitors.

A couple of years ago, he moved to a village on the outskirts, having lived in the midst of the hubbub for a long time. It is completely the best of both worlds. Beautiful city – beautiful Somerset countryside.

I went down to visit for my niece’s first birthday. It was the first weekend of September, one of those transitional weekends where you can see the season changing while you watch. We spent a couple of hours walking along country lanes, catching up and swapping stories, before heading to a pub for a roast dinner. Such a lovely way of spending the last Sunday of summer.

Saturday, 18 January 2014

Yorkshire: Betty's Cafe and Tea Rooms

When I was little, we had a tradition of going to Betty's. We used to go fairly often - it was the default spot for birthday celebrations. I think it's where my love of afternoon tea comes from.

I have fond memories of their beautiful tearooms, trimmed with shelves of tea pots and with the gentle soundtrack of a pianist, who appeared in their Ilkley tearooms on a Sunday. There was the time that, after they started trimming the crusts off sandwiches, my mum sent them back because "there was half missing now". There was the afternoon tea when the pianist played "happy birthday" to me and the waitress sang. There were Yorkshire Curd tarts, toasted tea cakes and Rosti's. There were our favourites, the usuals, the Welsh Rarebits and Vanilla slices, and the fruit tarts with confectioners custards.

For years, we went on Christmas Eve to the Ilkley tea room. It was somewhat of a ritual - a country drive over, a treat to eat, and a drive back home in the early evening, admiring the lights on trees and festive decorations.

2013 was the first year in quite a few that I've spent Christmas in Yorkshire. Although my parents have both moved away from the area I grew up in, it was so lovely to be back. Staying near York meant that a trip to Betty's on Christmas was a necessity...

Betty's, Stonegate, York

Seasonal menu, with Christmas specials

It's the little things that make it special - the silver tea set, the automatic hot water, and the drip absorbers on the saucers!

China teacups

My favourite: Welsh rarebit, with bacon and chutneys.

Mr F had a chicken, bacon and gruyere rosti

Lamps, complete with mice. Betty's cafes have these beautiful wooden carvings by the Yorkshire Mouseman.

The beautiful shop

Gift packages of tea and coffee

Beautiful wooden drawers

Christmas gifts on display

Cakes to take home

Treats for later

Adorable seasonal specials

My supper - a vanilla sponge with buttercream and soft marzipan decoration

Mr F's cherry and chocolate treat

Sunday, 5 January 2014

Forward Planning for 2014

The view of the Hogmanay fireworks from my living room.

It's not the end of the festive season yet. I have the luxury of not having to go to work until 8.15 tomorrow morning, which means that it is still the "holidays". Sort of. I've had a fortnight off, which has been utterly lovely, but incredibly busy. The first week was spent in Yorkshire, seeing family and friends, and "doing" Christmas. The second week has been mostly spent in Edinburgh, and it's gone way too quickly. In a good way - full of friends and cake - but I am feeling a bit overwhelmed about the list of tasks which I've not got around to doing. I always have grand plans for productivity for holidays, which always fall by the wayside.

I've spent the first few days of 2014 doing a bit of forward planning. I find list writing therapeutic, which is probably how I am now addicted to Pinterest. How did I not discover it before? I've decided against resolutions for 2014, and instead have decided to adopt a word, after seeing a few people discussing it on twitter. I like it. It's a lot more positive.

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I will grow fruit and vegetables. Last year I took my first step onto the property ladder. Although I am on the top floor, my flat does have shared access to a garden. It's not received any love for a couple of years, so I have decided to take over part of it and attempt a vegetable plot. I am excited, but also have no idea how or where to start.

I will grow fitter and stronger. I will continue walking home from work, and try harder to allow time to walk there too. I will swim more regularly, because it is relaxing as well as strengthening. I would like to get strong enough to move into the advanced Pilates class.

I will grow my recipe repertoire. I tend to cook the same things on a rotational basis for weekday dinners, so I will try some new ideas and think outside the box a little more.

I will grow my skills. I will practice my photography and learn how to use editing software. I will remind myself how to sew. I will crochet, because it is both relaxing and satisfying. I will write more, because I enjoy it, and because you don't get better at something unless you practice.

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Monday, 20 February 2012

Edinburgh: A Valvona & Crolla picnic up on Calton Hill

Yesterday was one of those lovely crisp winter days where, despite a slightly fuzzy head, I was desperate to get out and enjoy some fresh air. It may have been bloody freezing and mighty windy, but there's something about Edinburgh in the sunshine that lifts my little heart. And so, a walk up Calton Hill was proposed.
On the way, we passed Valvona & Crolla. The Italian deli is an Edinburgh institution, having been owned by the Conti family since 1934 and expanding beyond their Elm Row location to include a rather tasty (and reasonably priced Ristorante and Coffee Bar on Multrees Walk, and a specialist Emporium in fellow institution Jenners.

I love Valvona & Crolla, although it bemuses me like no other food shop I've found. Think of a price, and double it. Or think of another one and add a tenner. No - really. We're talking £4 jars of jam, £10 balls of mozzarella, and £6 jars of olives. I'm unconvinced about whether the prices are worth it, I've bought the same pasta in Sainsburys for £1.50 which is on sale in V & C for £2.50, but the wonderful range of tasty treats is somewhat of a museum. Admittedly, the wine and bakery sections are reasonably priced, and the assistant working in the wine area at the back was friendly and helpful when I asked whether the restaurant wine list was available in store.

The service in V & C is not great. Mr FS and I had the misfortune of arriving at the meat counter just after another lady- one of those "we'll have a single slice of everything" types who takes forever. The lady on the meat counter spent a good 5 minutes serving her, while her colleague re-stocked on the cheese counter. Another couple wandered up to the cheese counter and she served them, before they carried over to the meat counter and bypassed us. Astonishingly for a busy deli, they only have one meat slicer. Annoyingly, this was only told to us after we'd been served (with no apology for the according wait). Their meat range is small - a couple of types of cured ham, Pastrami, Parma, and a rather tasty Mortadella which we decided would be marvellous in a sandwich with one of their fresh bread rolls.But it's the olives, roast vegetables and fritatta which are really delicious.

After spending a small fortune on a picnic (detailed below) we marched our way up the hill and perched on a bench to enjoy the views.