Toughness is not normally a positive term when associated with food. “Mmm, that was really tough…” is not a phrase you want to hear someone at the next table saying when you’re waiting for your food to arrive. Especially the “mmm” bit – that’s just odd.
I haven’t heard anyone say this, I should hasten to add. But if someone were to, it would probably be about something like biltong.
A few weeks ago I had a day off work. I had various errands to run, and calculated that I would be passing through Alton (Hampshire) at around lunch-time.
I actually went to sixth form college in Alton, and even worked there for a couple of years, but I hadn’t really been there for about 10 years, so thought I should check out what had changed when it came to food.
Back in October, the budget finally felt flexible enough to stretch to a random Sunday lunch out, and some research into possibilities led me to Wheeler’s of St James’s at the Casa Hotel in Yateley.
A quick glance at the site will show you it is part of the Marco Pierre White empire, but on that subject I am going to remain stoically silent.
I’d like to pretend someone will remember my post of almost two years ago about fern tarts, but I’m not holding my breath.
Back then I had my first encounter with a fern tart, and as it was a rather unglamourous supermarket version I was hoping to find one in a bakery some time.
Fast-forward to my Maybole sweet treat hunt, and on scanning the shelves in Bakery Bites (11 – 13 High Street, Maybole), I spied an old chum.
I find it strange that Vietnamese food is not more prevalent in the UK. I suppose it isn’t strange, as it doesn’t have the same history with the UK as some cuisines do, or isn’t as visited a destination, but the food itself has the right combination of freshness, sparkling flavours and exotic appeal to prove popular with this country’s jaded palettes.
I am assuming our palettes are jaded because in the average supermarket one can find 6 different flavours of hummus.
Anyway, The Hanoi Bike Shop recently popped up in Ruthven Lane in the West End of Glasgow. The family members we were visiting were all in favour of going, so we popped in for lunch one day.
