Tummies Cookery School, Station Road, Cippenham, Slough, SL1 6JJ

Tummies is a bit of an institution.  An oasis of good food in a desert of urban sprawl, I've been a frequent visitor to their deli and restaurant (particular highlights of which are the sun-trap of the back patio, and the colouring pencils on every table - the many walls are plastered from ground to ceiling in the best submissions from the last 24 years).

However, this latest visit was more than just a meal.  It was an all day extravaganza!  I was taking part in the Cookery School, enjoying what was the perfect gift of watching a fantastic feast being cooked, which I knew I'd then get to eat!

The set up was excellent.  The demo kitchen is bright, professional but still homey, and our small group was looked after by co-owner Tammy, who provided endless drinks, whilst we watched Head Chef Claude Mariuax create a three course meal, imparting the knowledge (and recipe cards), for us to be able to replicate it at home.

The starter was a goat's cheese pastry, topped with seasonal asparagus which was wrapped in parma ham, and served on a bed of rocket.  It seemed pleasingly straightforward to assemble, but the rich and contrasting flavours belied the simplicity.   

 Speaking of rich, the individual ramekins of dauphinous potatoes, were made with a heavenly combination of whipping cream, butter, gruyere and garlic.  The flavour was so enticing that despite the amount we'd eaten, we had no problems finishing it, along side the main course of roasted rump of English lamb, cooked in a delicious red wine sauce! 

The richness was tempered by the colourful and sweet roasted vegetables that made up the french style ratatouille.  It certainly changed my perception of ratatouille, as it wasn't cooked in a tomato sauce, but instead cooked and cooled down quickly in a way where the veg didn't release any water and stayed firm and delicious.

 

Despite a break before dessert, I was still sure that I wouldn't be able to manage the limoncello curd cake after eating such a large meal.  I sampled the tiniest of bites, and was struck by the beautiful lightness, and the moist and zesty flavour.  I'm normally a fan of chocolatey cakes, but this lemony wonder was perhaps the very best cake I'd ever tasted!  I managed far more of it than I ever would have imagined - the creme fraiche it was served with adding to the deliciousness.

As I cycled home (slowly and not very steadily after the delicious wine), I contemplated how much I'd enjoyed the whole experience, and how it was almost more delicious because it felt like home cooking rather than restaurant food.  It certainly was the best of both worlds, and was an unforgettable treat.

Cabana Brasilian Barbeque, Westfield Stratford City, London, E20 1GL

As we anticipate (with a little sadness), the Closing Ceremony, I'm very happy to say that I did finally make it to the environs of the Olympic Park today (to pick up my Paralympics tickets and to see the lovely L).  It was brilliant to experience first-hand the atmosphere and marvel at the spectacle, although without any tickets for today, the rest of this blog post of course focuses on the food (although we did later made the most of Newham's big screens, seeing GB's final Gold in the sunshine).

Cabana, is one of Westfields' many swanky restaurants (there's one other in Covent Garden)..  From it's atmospheric outdoor terrace, we could watch athletes shopping before they head home, squaddies enjoying a drink, friendly policemen posing for photos, and of course happy looking tourists and locals. 

Specialising in Brasilian BBQ, the menu is short and simple - focusing on what they do best.   L highly recommended the meaty skewers that smelt tantalisingly good.

I started with a zesty and refreshing Amazon Ice Tea, with mint, apple juice, and something called 'wild leaf cordial'. 

L's 'Biro Biro' rice, was next to arrive. It looked exciting with it's combo of garlic, herbs and shallots, but quite frankly, nothing could compare with my deliciously hot and crispy, sweet potato fries, lightly dusted in paprika, and then dunked in Cabana's signature Malagueta sauce.

The sauce, whilst not firey, had a lot of flavour, and a definite warmth.

I'd opted for two different types of chicken on a skewer, and both were blissfully good.

The first skewer was perfectly tender and juice chicken cooked in the aforementioned Malagueta sauce with sweet red peppers.  The second had the sublime flavours of bacon and pineapple, which was a fantastic combination!

L had opted for the steak option, and we were both delighted with our choices. 

Service was generally attentive and good (a little too attentive towards the end after some initial confusion).   It was a busy lunchtime, and so we didn't linger too long over the meal, but the quality and taste were fantastic, and should you be on a visit to Westfield Stratford City, be it for the Paralympics or the shopping, I'd strongly recommend a visit!

Tea Gardens at Exmoor Owl and Hawk Centre, Nr Porlock, Somerset, TA24 8HJ

On a glorious, unexpectedly sunny day, the expanse of blue sky above West Lynch Farm (home to Exmoor Owl and Hawk Centre) in the idyllic National Trust village of Allerford, genuinely made me feel that nothing could match the beauty of an English Country Garden.

But not just a garden!  We were here for a multi-activity day.  Flying owls, walking Shetland ponies, admiring chickens, alpacas and birds of prey - plenty of excitement to keep both the adults and kids occupied for hours.

All the fresh air definitely helped build our appetites, and I was delighted by the quality of the food on offer in the tea gardens.  Both lunch and cream tea were included in the activity day fee (a bargain at £25 for an adult), the ability to eat outdoors in beautiful surroundings, made a special day even more memorable!





Little hands going in for cake, leaving giant scones for the grown ups