Shop My bag (0)
TwitterFacebookInstagramGoogle+PinterestLinkedInGuardian

Pairings | Uk travel

The Swan at Lavenham

The Swan at Lavenham

Posted on March 9 2013 at 15:53

We Londoners are spoiled for choice when it comes to weekend breaks. A lot of people are drawn west to the Cotswolds or south to Sussex, Hampshire and the New Forest. For me, though, East Anglia takes some beating.

Tags: English hotels hotels Uk travel
Read more …
Hotel TerraVina: what it's like staying with the World's Best Sommelier

Hotel TerraVina: what it's like staying with the World's Best Sommelier

Posted on September 30 2010 at 07:13

You might think an establishment run by the world’s best sommelier would be intimidating. After all if anyone knows what wine to choose and the right way to serve it it would be Gerard Basset, who scooped the title back in April (right). But happily Basset is a modest man who puts the comfort of his customers above any desire to flaunt his credentials.

Tags: sommelier Gerard Basset Hotel Terravina Hampshire UK travel travel
Read more …

Never miss a post!

Latest post

Do Mother's Day drinks have to be pink?Do Mother's Day drinks have to be pink?

Most popular

Top wine pairings for lambTop wine pairings for lamb

Instagram

I don’t know if the rest of you have been having problems concentrating during lockdown but it was becoming such an issue a few weeks ago that I realised I had to do something about it. And so I discovered a guy called Cal Newport - an academic who has written a book on the subject caked Deep Work. One of the techniques is this time planner which helps you create blocks of time to devote to work that needs real concentration and get on with bigger projects you - or at least I - are apt to put to one side. I’ve completed two since I started it I’ve been procrastinating about for weeks. Obviously you don’t need to buy the work book - just use a large exercise book - but I thought it might motivate me and it has. I like the flexibility of it. If something happens to throw you off course you just reschedule your day in the next column (swipe to see how that works). The irony is that I’m sharing this with you on social media which he encourages you to avoid but I regard as part of my working life. Just give it its own slot and don’t spend the day scrolling! . . . #book #bookstagram #selfhelp #timemanagement #timeblocking #planning #calnewport #deepwork #concentration #focus #ipaidforitMy first taste of Carlin peas thanks to kind neighbour @jennychandleruk. Fried off a bit of @coombesheadfarm’s lovely smoky bacon and a chopped onion then added the cooked peas, a handful of chopped parsley and some shredded cavolo nero and finished with a drizzle of olive oil. 15 minutes flat, delicious, simple filling lunch. . . . #carlinpeas #pulses #bacon #cavolonero #greens #oliveoil #lunch #homecooking #comfortfoodJudging by the number of food pix on my feed you might doubt my claim to be ‘an obsessive snapper of wine’ but THIS is the kind of bottle that really rocks my boat. It’s a young cabernet franc from the Loire and just brimming with the most gorgeously vivid fruit - think freshly crushed berries like wild cherries and mulberries. You might find it a tad too tart and sharp if you like bigger riper reds like malbec and shiraz but if you enjoy reds you can chill you should adore it. It comes from @lescavesdepyrene (who sent me the sample) - you can also buy it from @hopburnsblack for £18.95 which isn’t cheap but you’d probably be happy to pay that for a bottle in a restaurant. What would it go with? Charcuterie, goats cheese anything herby - think grilled lamb or chicken with herbs. Lots of veggie dishes too - I’m imagining it with fennel. Dip your toe into cabernet franc! . . . #cabernetfranc #wine #redwine #naturalwine #organicwine #anjou #loire instawine #winestagram #winelabelI confess I bought an ENTIRE meat box from @coombesheadfarm just to have the joy of this mangalitza and prune pie which I had for dinner last night (along with pink fir potatoes and PSB with an anchovy vinaigrette. EVEN better, the 2007 La Conseillante Pomerol I pulled out of the rack without any expectation of it being much cop (I bought it on impulse from Tesco when they had a Bordeaux promo a few years ago) turned out to be on song and just gorgeously rich and velvety. . . . #pie #porkpie #mangalitza #redwine #bordeaux #pomerol #laconseillante #winepairing #foodandwine #paidfor #notanad Follow on Instagram

My latest book

How to Drink without DrinkingHow to Drink without Drinking

Wine basics

What is the best serving temperature for wine?What is the best serving temperature for wine?

Wine pros

Pairing cognac and cheesePairing cognac and cheese

Podcast

My Bâtonnage podcastMy Bâtonnage podcast

Support our crowdfunding campaign!

About FionaAbout FionaEvents and appearancesEvents and appearancesWork with meWork with me
Loading