Travels for Taste - Tales of travel and food with a touch of spice

Springtime at Keukenhof – The Garden of Europe

August 11, 2017 by manjirichitnis 24 Comments

Visit to the World’s largest Tulip Garden – Memories of spring at Keukenhof

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of the Tulip Garden at Keukenhof is the famous song from the famous Bollywood film SilaSila. A mega success from at the box office in the 70’s, this Yash Raj film saw the popular screen couple Amitabh Bacchan with Rekha at the gardens, Bacchan serenading his lady love, surrounded by a sea of stunning tulips and the melodious title track playing …..sighhh…

Even today, that song remains one the most popular song from that era. And as you can now imagine, I have been dreaming of visiting these beautiful gardens forever. Finally this year, we made the trip to Holland, especially for the Tulips.

It was still early spring but most of the blossoms were in full bloom. But no matter how many pictures you see online, nothing compares to the feeling of walking into Keukenhof Gardens for the very first time.

We managed to leave as early as possible from our hotel, made our way to Schiphol airport/railway station and took the shuttle to the gardens. A quick 30 minute journey and you will be at Lisse, where the garden is located. When you are about to approach the gardens, you will be greeted by huge fields of tulips in all possible colours, we saw stunning shades of lavender and cream and rows and rows of bright red and yellow tulips.

I was a bit apprehensive when I saw a large number of tourist buses parked outside, but it was peak season for the tulips and a bank holiday weekend so crowds were to be expected.

Once inside we were greeted by friendly staff and handed a handy free map of the gardens.

History of the world’s largest Tulip garden

The worlds largest spring flower garden which is home to a mind boggling variety of tulips was originally a kitchen garden! Dating back to the 15^th century, this was once home to a Bavarian countess whose kitchen was supplied by produce from these gardens. Hence, the name – Keukenhof which in literal translation means kitchen garden. After being passed on from the Dutch noble family, in the 16^th century, an admiral took over the estate and built the Keukenhof Castle in 1641.

In the 19^th century, landscape architects Jan David Zocher and his son, famous for their work at Amsterdamn Vondel park re-designed the castle grounds to what we see today. Later in 1949, the then mayor of Lisse, threw open the gardens to floricultural commerce and even today more than 500 exhibitors showcase their plants, bulbs and blossoms in over 20 shows. So do make sure you don’t miss out on the custom made floral displays and do go and see the indoor exhibits. Be prepared to feast your eyes on not just tulips but stunning roses and a huge variety of flowers and potted plants.

Millions of spring blooms that grace these gardens give picture postcard perfect opportunities for budding photographers.

Though the best time to visit the gardens is mid- April, when we did, over the Easter break, the garden is open to the public from March end to mid-May.

Because the gardens are massive it is essential you chalk out a route for yourself and it is possible to walk through the whole garden in a few hours while packing in a quick lunch. That is, of course, possible if you do not linger around too much at any one spot – or you could if you like walk around and pick a favourite spot (like the one below) and spend some quality time there admiring the blooms and the grounds.

This was the best half a day spent outdoors during our trip to Netherlands. And although I did resist the impulse to run through the tulip fields pretending to be Rekha to my Bacchan, I did manage to tick off one of top 5 places to see in the world, also one of the first places that ever made it to any such list! ( and yes we did manage to get this picture clicked, that’s about as much of a Bollywood posing I can force out of the hubby)

Next year the flower parade for 2018 will be held on the 21st of April 2018. To plan your trip and make the most of your vacation, here are some important details:

Where: Keukenhof gardens are located in Lisse, Netherlands (Holland)

Opening Times: 8 am – 7:30 pm

Dates: 22nd of March 2018 until the 13th of May 2018

Transport:

Keukenhof is located at Lisse in Netherlands, a 30-minute bus-journey from Amsterdam. There is a bus leaving every 15 minutes from Schiphol airport to the garden. There are good transport links from all the major cities of the Hague, Haarlem and Leiden. Hoofddorp is a popular tourist location to stay during peak season too with loads of hotels in the town with regular shuttle services to Schiphol.

For tickets and information visit the official website: Keukenhof, Holland and for more detailed information to help you plan your stay in Holland visit the official website Visit Holland

Coming up soon on Travelsfortaste Blog:

Top 5 tips to make the most of your visit to Keukenhof Garden, Holland.
Photo-blog of the Graden of Europe and Tulip fields.
Top 5 travel and stay tips to plan your visit to Amsterdam.
Cheese and wine tasting at Reypenaer Amsterdam.

*With thanks to Visit Holland for our tickets to view this stunning Tulip garden.

*All opinions expressed are as always my own. No monetary compensation was provided for a positive review.

Where to find the best Aussie Burgers in Earsfield

August 5, 2017 by manjirichitnis Leave a Comment

Paired with a great beer, I think, a juicy burger hits the spot and nothing comes close to this divine
combination. But enough about beer already, how about burger and wine pairings? Ben’s Canteen
seems to have that sorted.

A local favourite, the Bens Canteen branch on Earsfield high street, is a trendy burger joint which has a great selection of wine to go with their Aussie style burgers. To sample the burgers, I decided to visit this new local hot spot. Located a stone’s throw from the train station, Ben’s Canteen has a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. Large bay windows and a long wooden table right by the entrance beg you to sit down and enjoy a bottle of red while your order is prepared.

Though their epic scotch egg seemed quite tempting, we choose the pulled pork nachos to share. Packed full of flavour, the slow cooked pork was fall-off -the bone succulent – melt in your mouth meaty goodness. Coupled with melted cheese, the crunchy nachos are the ultimate treat in comfort eating. If like me, you can’t resist a gin and tonic then do try one of their innovative combinations – eight in all to be precise. My favourite – the Gin Mare strangely pairs well with the nacho starter.

For mains, we tried the trio of mini burgers, a fabulous combination of the cheese burger, the Hawaiian and my personal favourite – the Hot, crispy fried chicken burger. The regular cheese burger doesn’t disappoint with a fresh taste and satisfying combination of American cheese, pickles and juicy beef. What more could you want in a cheese burger? Though if I was to go back for a guilty treat – which I am sure I will, the Hawaain is what I would pick –
pulled pork and a pineapple fritter with red cabbage slaw tops the charts in terms of crunchy meaty goodness.

The hot crispy fried chicken burger satiates cravings for spice and flavour. Soft chicken breast encased in a moreish buttermilk batter with kimchi and spring onions finished off with a fiery Korean hot sauce before being slapped between fresh buns. Absolutely divine!

I like how they have kept the burger menu simple because each of the burgers we tried was fabulous. For all those hours, before visiting, that I spent browsing Instagram and drooling over photos of tempting burgers, salivating over melted cheese oozing from a meaty burger and dreaming of dripping egg yolks in buns, Ben’s Canteen did not disappoint. Not only did I get my burger fix and how, but also I absolutely loved washing them down with a great variety of wines. Given a choice, I would always pick a good Malbec but the Pinot Noir has also proven to be a reliable companion to the Hawaiian pulled pork burger.

Earsfield High Street has a spattering of some great local cafes and restaurants that serve everything from artisan coffee to Nepalese momos. Ben’s Canteen fits right in. No surprise then that, in past year or so, since it opened its doors, this has already become a popular joint amongst locals – they seem to cater to all tastes – everything from brunch time cocktails and bottomless bubbles to gooey cheese burgers AND everything in between (Brixton sourdough toast – here I come!)

It’s not just the great wine pairings that draw in the crowds at Ben’s, they also have a tempting brunch
menu and some really great cocktails. They are dog-friendly and local. In my book, they tick all the boxes.

*With thanks to Bens Canteen for an invite. All opinions expressed are as always my own. No monetary compensation was provided for a positive review.

Pure – authentic Indian Cooking at Fulham, London

April 14, 2017 by manjirichitnis Leave a Comment

Fulham High street is always buzzing with activity and is dotted by an assortment of eateries. Nestled among them is one hidden gem called Pure Indian Cooking. With a female chef, Shilpa Dandekar at the helm this is a neighbourhood restaurant with a loyal set of patrons.

The minimalist interiors at Pure belie the superior quality of food and service served up by the husband-wife duo. who have worked with some of London’s finest high-end names. Chef Shilpa has worked with the likes of Chef Raymond Blanc OBE. Both Faheem and Shilpa began their career with the Taj group and then continued to work with big names like The Bombay Brasserie and the Michelin-starred Quilon.

Cocktails with familiar Indian flavours like mango and chilli, I always find very tempting and the Mango Chilli Margarita at Pure is quite bold and refreshing.

We tried a range of starters but loved the Patra Chaat and seared scallops the most. What makes the patra chaat so special is the fusion of a popular street food – chaat with all it’s lively flavours married to a very homely familiar taste – that of patra or fried colocasia leaves. One bite of the patra and memories of my aai making ‘aloo chya vadya’ (patra in marathi) came flooding, reminding me how much I miss watching her cook, especially during Ganpati when she always very painstakingly makes these from scratch.

The scallops are fresh and the flavours are brilliant. The kebabs were fabulous simply they were cooked to perfection. The spices used for marination come through in every juicy mouthful and meat lovers will be left wanting for more.

With the starters setting the bar high, we were expecting a great set of dishes for mains to follow as well. And Chef Shilpa did not disappoint. Crab kokum fry – crab shell stuffed with spicy crab meat – was our favourite. Inspired by dishes the chef has eaten in her childhood home in the western coastal parts of India, dishes like the crab kokum fry, Lamb sukke and Mango curry are simple homely yet delightful dishes created with love and passion which clearly shine through.

I would also highly recommend the lassoni palak – leafy spinach cooked to a creamy consistency and tempered with burnt garlic – perfect with a large helping of rice and some prawn masala – ummm – so comforting and satisfying.

The Apricot Halwa is very moreish, as the different flavours are delicately balanced together. A dessert such as this befitting of a trained and experienced chef’s repertoire.

True to its name, the food at Pure is just that – pure, earthy and full of flavour yet with crafted with expert knowledge and the very best ingredients and produce. I would go back purely for the

I would go back purely for the patra chaat, crab kokum fry and the lamb dish and we do hope to make the most of the fact that this delightful restaurant is in our neck of the woods. But for those who can’t get to Fulham, there is a great opportunity to sample this talented chef’s cooking at her supper club called the ‘Modern Indian regional journey’. To book the supper club go here and to explore the menu in detail head to the restaurant website.

*With thanks to Humayun Hussain for the invite and Chef Shilpa Dandekar and Faheem for their warm hospitality. No monetary compensation was offered for a positive review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Cinnamon Pecan Gluten Free Coffee Cake

March 2, 2017 by manjirichitnis 1 Comment

Cake ! Brilliantly easy afternoon tea cake with crunchy pecans, lots of cinnamon and plus it’s Gluten Free!

After a really long time, today I felt like baking a really big cake. Sometimes the desire to bake just takes over and then I have to get all my baking paraphernalia out and just enjoy the process. This classic coffee cake is what we in the U.K would serve for afternoon tea and doesn’t actually contain coffee. It is a modified recipe for a classic sour cream coffee cake. This cinnamon pecan coffee cake is not also gluten free.

I am particularly pleased with the outcome of this one because I literally just threw things together and poured the entire cake mixture into my lovely removable bottom cake tin.

The idea of a cinnamon pecan coffee cake had been dancing around in my head for a few days now after I found an easy recipe on Betty Crocker. But of course, I had to tweak the ingredients and swap a few things here and there. I also prefer cakes just as they are minus the fuss of a drizzle or icing or anything terribly fancy. Or maybe I am just lazy like that 😉

Another reason am rather pleased with the outcome of this bake is that I have been working with alternative flours for a while now. Ever since I made these fluffy GF, dairy free finger millet pancakes with no eggs and no refined sugar almost 2 years ago, I have made many more things using various flours.

Currently am rather obsessed with Teff flour and have even made some very yummy pancakes with them. But unfortunately haven’t been able to get the recipe up on time for Pancake Day today! And though I have finally managed to finally get back to blogging after a hectic but fun 3-month project, I still have to get all my ducks in a row. Looking for healthy pancake recipes? Try my Finger millet and blueberry GF, dairy free and refinded sugar-free, eggless pancake recipe or why not try my mixed flours amaranth and finger millet mixed berry GF pancakes recipe – which is also dairy-free and eggless and can be made vegan!

So this baking session also gave me an opportunity to finally try the sample of gluten-free self-raising flour sent to me by the lovely Vicki or ‘Free from Fairy’. I too have studied Biochemistry after my B.sc in Lifesciences. I didn’t pursue my research in Biochemistry though as I did my MBA in Marketing and life took me on another track. But I have always loved reading about and understanding the science behind food and various ingredients.

And I am very satisfied with the consistency and results with Vicki’s fabulous blend of self-raising flour – Gluten free whole grain which is also rice free and has a mix of teff, sorghum and buckwheat. All of these flours I love working with!

So here is my version of the recipe, I do hope you make this cake and enjoy it with your afternoon cuppa as it is ‘Time for a cuppa’ Day – a week where the charity Dementia, U.K raise awareness and support fund-raising activities. Also, it was St. David’s day yesterday and yes I love the google doodle but am also happy that I have been to Wales four times in the last six years – that’s a lot! Lucky me, twice to enjoy my stay and do every a food blogger would love to do, with some really good blogger friends and the other two times to explore the beauty of Wales and relish the food.

I have used Fairtrade dark chocolate in my recipe as 27th Feb was the start of the Fairtrade Fortnight. I met and spoke to many interesting brands at the Fairtrade Christmas show last year in July in London, more on that in another post coming soon.

But both A and me, are very drawn to Wales, especially to Snowdon. I did start writing a series of travel posts about our Welsh adventure but never really managed to publish all my posts. Why not have a look at what we got upto at Holyhead in my post here and also check out the breathtaking views from Southstack lighthouse in my post here?

Lastly I swapped sugar with Natvia, so all these swaps make it a healthy bake right 😉 Definitely lighter on the conscience, in moderation of course!

5.0 from 1 reviews

Cinnamon Pecan Gluten Free Coffee Cake

Save Print

Prep time

30 mins

Cook time

1 hour

Total time

1 hour 30 mins

an easy to put together cake recipe, a quick bake for afternoon tea, an <g class="gr_ gr_91 gr-alert gr_spell gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="91" data-gr-id="91">all rounder</g>, this <g class="gr_ gr_89 gr-alert gr_spell gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="89" data-gr-id="89">bake</g> gets full marks for being easy, quick, GF and fun to make!

Author: Manjiri

Recipe type: Classic coffee cake recipe with tweaks

Cuisine: simple home baking

Serves: 15 pieces

Ingredients

For the filling:
50 gm good quality Fairtrade dark choolate atleast 70%
2 heaped tbsp brown sugar
½ cup chopped pecans
1 and ½ tsp ground cinnamon
Cinnamon Pecan Gluten Free Coffee Cake
3 cups free from Fairy's self-raising flour
1½ cups sugar substitute like Natvia
1½ tsp baking powder
1½ tsp baking soda
¾ tsp salt
¾ cup unsalted butter
3 eggs
1½ cups soured cream
1½ tsp vanilla

Instructions

Chop the pecans roughly and add to a small bowl. Break the dark chocolate bar into small pieces by hand.Mix the cinnamon powder and brown sugar and set aside
In a large mixing bowl sieve the flour and the sugar - just to ensure no lumps go into. Add the baking powder and baking soda, softened unsalted butter, vanilla and eggsI did not use an electric mixer just used a large spatula and mixed the whole thing together really well until a proper thick mix was formed.Then I added in the soured cream and mixed well again
Now pre-heat the oven to 180 deg Cel
Grease a 12'' cake tin using a generous blob of the unsalted butter and pour enough cake mixture to make a thin layer then sprinkle some of the pecan mixture. Repeat at least 3 times until all the cake and pecan mixture is alternatively used up.
Bake in the centre of the pre-heated oven at 18- deg cel for one hour.
Check using a toothpick or a thin knife to check if cake is done by inserting it into the middle of the cake.If it comes out clean then the cake is done.
Place cake tin on a wire rack and allow to cool completely before releasing the removable base of the tin.
Serve with freshly brewed tea.
Stores well in the refrigerator for at least a week in an air-tight tin.

This cake contains soured cream and I wouldn’t keep it for longer than a week refrigerated but would love to hear from you if you have stored it longer and how.

Happy Baking!

BBQ pulled pork and aromatic Noodle soup

February 25, 2017 by manjirichitnis 12 Comments

Enjoy summery flavours mixed with a warming aromatic bowl of spicy noodle soup with Iceland Foods new BBQ Mississippi pulled pork from the World Famous Foods range

Winter evenings in February are always unpredictable, even though some days are warm, evenings are always chilly. During transition periods the trio of cold, cough and flu makes an appearance. At such times I mostly crave a hearty filling bowl of soupy noodles with a spicy zing and yesterday I had the perfect excuse – a chilly evening -and a freezer full of frozen delights from Iceland Foods World Famous Foods range. I cannot resist juicy BBQ pulled pork and thought an aromatic warming noodle soup topped with BBQ pulled pork was an apt choice – soup to warm your cockles and BBQ flavours to welcome the new season which is just around the corner.

Isn’t it great that you can enjoy summery flavours from across the world at any time you please by just stocking up your freezer with these delightfully diverse and flavoursome foods? The sheer convenience of having the #PowerofFrozen at your fingertips allowing you to create a whole host of budget-friendly, tasty meals that not only you and your family can enjoy but are perfect crowd pleasers.

To make their frozen range even more convenient is the Chilled Life on the products, which clearly states how long a product can stay in the fridge to ensure that its high quality and taste are not impacted. Smart way to free up precious freezer space especially in the summer!

To make the meal healthy I used zero fat, low calorie and low carb, gluten-free noodles and very less oil on high heat. You could swap the oil for a 1 cal oil spray too.

Iceland Foods has re-christened their slow-cooked range as the World famous foods range.

Ingredients:

BBQ Mississippi Pulled Pork 550 gm
Beef stock 350 gm (from a 450 gm shop bought jar)
240 gm of mixed tender stem broccoli, green beans, pak choi
2 tbsp sesame oil
1 pack bared naked noodles
Cinnamon stick – thumb sized
Ginger – thumb sized – peeled and sliced
1/2 Thai red chilli – thinly sliced
1/2 a stick of fresh fragrant lemongrass
1/2 a medium sized red onion sliced lengthwise
3-4 cloves of garlic, deskinned and smashed roughly with the flat end of a knife
a pinch of brown castor sugar
Handful of fresh coriander roughly chopped
Some fresh chopped spring onion to garnish
1 lime sliced into wedges
2 medium boiled eggs

Method:

Defrost the BBQ Mississippi pulled pork in the refrigerator for 24 hours before use. Heat for 40 mins at 180 deg cel in a pre-heated oven
While the pork is heating in the oven, start with the noodle preparation
Heat a wok on medium heat, when the wok is hot add sesame oil and add the cinnamon, garlic, ginger and red onion
Cook on medium heat until the garlic and red onion turn a nice brown, then add the green beans and broccoli
Stir fry the green for about a minute on medium low heat before pouring in the beef stock
Add some water to thicken the stock if it is too thick and then added the cooked noodles. Throw in the sliced lemongrass stalk and sugar.
If you are using noodles that need to be cooked beforehand, simply follow pack instructions. (I used Barenaked Noodles as they are zero fat, low in calories and very low carb )
Add the pak choi and cook covered on a low heat for about one minute.
To serve, add the noodle soup in each bowl then garnish with fresh coriander and some chopped spring onion. Place about 2 heaped tbsp of pulled pork in each bowl. Seve with a wedge of lime.
Serve hot.

Both hubby and I loved the thick and flavourful rich BBQ sauce and used some of the leftover sauce to drizzle over mushrooms stuffed with mature cheddar and oven cooked with just a spritz of chilli garlic oil – the result was mouth watering!

The entire range of World famous foods is available in stores at Iceland Foods from 20th Feb’17. The World famous range includes: Hoisin Duck Wings, OHSicilian Half Chicken, BBQ Mississippi Pulled Pork, BBQ Texan Down & Dirty Pulled Brisket, BBQ Memphis Baby Back Ribs, Minted Lamb Shanks, Garlic & Rosemary Lamb Leg. To find out more head to the Iceland Foods site here.

This post was commissioned by Iceland Foods. As always all opinions are always my own.

Egg based Tea Time Treats – February 2017

February 6, 2017 by manjirichitnis Leave a Comment

Put all your eggs into one basket for this exciting linky bloggers!

The new year seems to be hurtling us ahead in time at a lightening speed. January came and went in the blink of an eye! And before we know it we are already in Feb and the annual frenzy surrounding Valentine’s day seems to be in the air.

Every evening while I return from my evening stroll I happen to pass by a beautiful flower shop. The florist has gone a bit overboard this year with a massive heart-shaped display of red roses, red balloons and cute cuddly teddy bears! I think looking at that window display every day has subconsciously influenced me into purchasing a heart shaped baking tray – believe me, I have resisted for many years now but this year, I just succumbed to the temptation.

So a heart shaped cake or two will soon feature on the blog! That got my co-hosts, Jo and Karen thinking about the theme for this month’s #TeaTimeTreats linky and we all unanimously agreed on EGGS!

The vital ingredient to most sweet and savoury #TeaTimeTreats, eggs are not just for breakfast! Think muffins, cakes, cup cakes, sandwiches, quiches, french toast, pakoras , sweet and savoury delights ! The possibilities are endless 🙂 Afternoon tea never felt so egg-citing 😉

Just a few reasons we at the #TeaTimeTreats team love EGGS!

Eggs are so versatile to cook with and they are easy on the pocket.
Eggs are DELICIOUS , great for kids and adults alike.
ONE egg has 13 essential vitamins and minerals.
ONE egg contains 6 gms of protein – wow!
Eggs are an egg-cellent source of vitamin D, vitamin B12, phosphorus and riboflavin
Eggs are great for those looking to loose weight as they can easily be incorporated into a healthy meal plan to support a regular exercise regime.

Chocolate Coconut Cake with Coconut flavoured Icing

So please do join in and link up with us for this month’s #TeaTimeTreats linky, can’t wait to see your cakes, pancakes, bakes, muffins, rolls, wraps,stuffed delights, crispy delights, fried temptations, based goodies, sweet treats, savoury treats and other creative recipes with egg as one of the ingredients- bring it on!

Meanwhile, if you are looking for some recipe inspiration for leftover ingredients from Christmas that are still lurking around in your freezers, then have a look at these 7 creative ideas to have some fun cooking for tea.

7 tea time treat recipe ideas – January 2017 #TeaTimeTreats recipe round-up by Jo of Jo’s Kitchen Blog.

Just a gentle reminder of some simple rules to follow while linking up to #TeaTimeTreats

Rules:

Post your recipe on your blog with a link to Lavender and Lovage, Travels for Taste and Jo’s Kitchen and mention the relevant month’s host and attach the Tea Time Treats logo as shown on the event page.
Add Tea Time Treats in your blog post as a label/tag.
The recipe can be one of your own or one you’ve seen elsewhere. You are welcome to republish old recipes/posts but please add the information about this challenge.
Please be as creative with the theme as you like.
If you put your post on twitter please mention @KarenBurnsBooth, @travelsfortaste, @Jos_Kitchen and #teatimetreats in your message and we will re-tweet all those we see.
You do not need to enter every month to join in with the challenge.
Your post can be submitted for other blogging challenges, just make sure this complies with the rules of the other challenge.
VIP: Add your recipe link to the live linky posted at the bottom of every challenge post.
If using a recipe from another person, book, website, chef or blog, you must link back to the original recipe and not reproduce the recipe in full in your post. You must also use your OWN images for the recipe and not the original images, unless you have permission to do so, with appropriate links and any other information requested by the photo’s owner added to the image.

Get your creative hats on bloggers and make some magic happen with those eggs! Am so egg-cited to see what you come up with! (Don’t blame for being so egg-static!)

(Copy and paste the code below into your Text editor to embed the logo into your blog post)

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.lavenderandlovage.com/tea-time-treats" title="Tea Time

Please add you Afternoon Tea and Tea Time Treats recipe links below!
THANK YOU and have a dreamy, happy and lovely February 2017, may every tea time be filled with inspirational recipes and eggy treats!
Manjiri, Karen and Jo xxx

Christmas Lunch at River Cottage

November 30, 2016 by manjirichitnis Leave a Comment

River Cottage is an experience and after the power packed day, I spent there last year with Foodies 100, I couldn’t turn down an invitation to go back this year.

Thankfully, my friends and I managed to find rooms at the same gorgeous B&B which we stayed at last year, Millwater House run by Tim and Ruth. This year in addition to maintaining very clean rooms, a stunning reception and dining area and a massive back garden complete with a green-house they also built a make shift disco in a barn and kept the signage as a memory and a huge rack to grade and store the excess supply of apples from the many fruit laden trees that dot the driveway.

Last year thanks to Heidi’s husband the very kind Mr. R, we ( Tina, Nayna and I ) managed to go see the beach at Lyme Regis and explore the beautiful town and even have a fabulous dinner at one of the best sea-food places in town.

This year though we spent our extra day off, window shopping and shopping for props.

Unlike last year, when we had brilliant sunny weather and had a farm tour, kitchen garden tour, a fabulous baking session in the superb teaching kitchen and not to mention some cracking blogger training sessions, this year gave us an opportunity to really connect with other bloggers. We had a brainstorming session where everyone shared their tips for increasing social media following to scheduling blog posts and collaborating.

The main hall at River cottage was decorated with pretty flowers and pumpkins of all shapes and varieties adorned tables. It could have been a setting for a dreamy country wedding.

We were given an insight into brining of meat and vegetables and I managed to learn a few great tricks.

Though I did enjoy spending some time in the huge yurt and loved how toasty and warm it is inside with the fireplace, but of course, the best part was the fantastic festive dinner.

We started off by enjoying eating some of the fantastic sharing platters with pork and leek croquettes with a tamarind and green tomato chutney, goats cheese, beetroot, honey and fennel on impossibly thin crisp bread, mussels served with a scattering of finely chopped red onion and a few other gorgeous dishes.

For starters we were served celeriac ravioli with wild mushrooms and leaves – what an absolutely satisfying dish this was. I craved an extra portion …alas, it was not to be 😉

River Cottage brines and cures their own meats of course, as they use natural ingredients versus the nitrates used in commercial varieties. For my main we enjoyed succulent ‘fall off the bone soft’ River Cottage pork brined in cider served on a bed of carrot puree, fried savoy cabbage and braised beans. Probably the only time I have felt like asking for helpings of cabbage;)

The dessert was a perfectly formed honeycomb Crème brûlée with served with apple puree that had a really sharp kick and the most divine wafer thin apple crisps.

I am so glad I wore layers and purchased a fab new pair of warm gloves before we made our way to the farm. It was a very cold evening and a crazy tractor ride to and fro to the farm was just one of the things that made the evening really fun.

Am not entirely though whether I feel brave enough to cure or brine meat on my own though but am certainly hoping I can go back to River Cottage sometime soon to pick up some more kitchen skills.

*With thanks to Foodies100 for organising such a Christmas Lunch and the talented team at River Cottage for an unforgettable experience. As always all opinions expressed are as always my own. No incentive was provided for a positive review.

Pickling with Sarsons new speciality blend vinegar

October 23, 2016 by manjirichitnis Leave a Comment

When life gives you lemons, make a jar of – yes you guessed right – Lemon Pickle! No proper Indian meal is complete without a bit of pickle on the side. Growing up my mum pickled every possible vegetable and fruit that she would get her hands on , whatever was seasonal and also many times what took her fancy. That is why I was curious to experience how pickles are made using Sarsons vinegar, which now I know is a a very different and easy way to create great tasting pickles.

I cannot resist a good mango or lemon pickle – both of which are firm favourites in our family. But pickled chillies, garlic and even fish come a close second and third. As a preservation technique pickling is almost 4000 years old and am proud to say it started in India with cucumbers.

U.K’s leading vinegar brand has launched a new speciality blend this year and I spent a happy evening pickling bright coloured peppers . The condiments which lend any pickle their distinctive flavour are already a part of these unique Sarson Vinegar and are a must try for anyone who is remotely interested in making pickles. Not only do Sarsons speciality vinegars have the added benefit of coriander seeds, black peppercorns and pink peppercorns, they also help extend the life of your pickles. For recipe inspiration, hints and tips have a browse through the Sarsons website here.

The beauty of this process of pickling is that all you need to do is chop what vegetable you would like to pickle and add in the beautiful speciality blend. Ensuring that the Kilner jars used are sterilised properly to prevent any illness and also ensuring that only the most fresh produce is used at all times.

At the event, Denise Tollyfield was at hand to provide her top tips and guide us through the process of making pickles. My friends Nayna and Heidi bottled cucumber while Vaishali and me worked on the peppers. Must say we were quite the team.

Denise recommends boiling the lids of the Kilner Jars separately as they have a rubber ring to ensure the jar shuts tight and prevents leakage – this shouldn’t be oven dried whereas the jars should be sterilised in a pre-heated oven for at least ten minutes. The most important tip she shared is that when pouring the prepared pickle into the sterilised jar – both the glass jar and the pickled mixture should be equally hot. Before sealing the filled jars its best to add enough vingear to cover all the vegetables in the pickle.

I was quite tempted to amp up the heat in our pickled peppers so we added a naughty red chilli sliced into or jars. The garlic pickle looked so good that I was really craving to try some but alas, once the jars were sealed we would have to wait for a a few hours to allow the flavours to mature before enjoying the fruits of our labour. Just remember to label and date each pickle and store them in a cool and ideally dark place,

No better way to spend a chilly winter evening that with friends like Nayna and Heidi doing something we love , working with food and even better when it turns into a chance meeting with another passionate foodie like Vaishali.

There is a definite joy in working with the best possible ingredients especially fresh produce as it guarantees great results each time. I cannot wait to create more fun pickles and add mini jars to share with my friends and family in their Diwali and Christmas gift Hampers.

Disclaimer: With thanks to Sarsons for the invite. As always, all opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review and was not compensated monetarily for this post.

Shampan at The Spinning Wheel revisited

October 16, 2016 by manjirichitnis 1 Comment

Last time I was at Shampan in Kent it was a very sunny and bright summer afternoon and I remember O.D ‘ing on the cocktails and accompanying papad. This time around we were all wrapped up with the gentle early autumn sunshine playing peek-a-boo with the looming grey clouds hovering above.

This British Curry Award winning, large and modern flagship outlet is very popular amongst it’s patrons in the local area and has recently launched a New A la Carte Menu.

We managed to make it in the nick of time what with delayed trains on the Southern line. On much insistence from the eager waiting staff I gave in decided to choose a cocktail over a mocktail (Not that I needed much convincing !)

An adaptation of the porn star martini this one packs a punch is in my opinion a great accompaniment to the Basil Scented Tiger Prawns with Desi Honey and Pepper Vinaigrette starter.

Encouraged by the brilliant taste of the first cocktail my defences completely crumbled and I had to sample the Lychee martini which was brilliant.

Chef Sadek’s assorted grilled Hor’s d’oeuvres with Paneer, king prawn, chicken, lamb, salad and a relish is ideal for sharing and is a great way to a variety of different meats and vegetables on one platter. Presented on a slate tray this appetiser was quite popular around the table.

The onset of colder weather always makes me crave a flavourful meat curry and the Hyderabadi spiced lamb with pilau rice was really tempting. The Shampan group prides itself on sourcing most of their ingredients locally and this main is made by slow cooking marinated Kentish lamb shank. The meat takes up all the rich flavours of the marinade and is fall of the bone soft, topped with moreish roasted vegetables it tastes great with a comforting side of flavoured pilau rice. I was quite fascinated by the thin slivers of okra used as a garnish which were flavoured with a light masala mix and flash fried to make them absolutely delicious, crunchy and a far cry from the usual homely version of okra that we are used to.

The mister decided to try the Slow braised leg of kentish lamb ‘salli’ with straw potatoes with biryani rice for his mains because the salli bit reminded us both of grand Parsi meals we have enjoyed over the years especially at Parsi weddings and Navjote ceremonies.

The assembly is very well- thought of with the juicy slow cooked lamb resting on mince and a fried onion surrounded by a thick aromatic gravy with perfectly done basmati rice biryani topped with wafer thin sliver of potatoes deep fried – just the right crunch to garnish a fabulous main.

Some of the dishes that the other guests enjoyed were Punjabi red spiced chicken breast served with sautéed spinach, pilau rice and Kerala spiced king prawns tempered with curry leaf and served with a thick coconut milk sauce accompanied with coconut rice.

The naan platter was fabulous too and the pipping off naans disappeared almost as soon as the basket was set down.

The dessert platter was grand affair with gajar halwa and an ice cream resting on a bed of crushed crunchy biscuit base and a beautifully fresh whole fig on the side.

Executive Chef Sadek Miah has created an truly delightful new menu with exciting and bold combinations with keeping in mind classic Indian recipes. The results are visually stunning, beautifully presented palate pleasing dishes that are sure to become very popular. The venue itself is very charming and a would make a great day out in the “Garden of England” not just for dinning out but as a party or celebration venue. The bar and main dining area at the Tamarind Room offers a spacious dining area done up in muted colours comfortable lattice wood chairs. Perfect for quite, intimate moments whereas the Caraway overlooks the garden and is bright and airy.

Shampan even caters for private functions with a dedicated space – the Saffron Room – a plush setting with it’s own huge bar and a generously proportioned classy function room.

Don’t leave without a cup of coffee to wash down all those spices, a great way to round off a superb meal.

*With thanks to Humayun Hussain and Shampan Group for an invite. All opinions expressed are as always my own. No monetary compensation was provided for a positive review.

Norwegian Fjord Trout hits U.K shelves in shoals

October 10, 2016 by manjirichitnis 3 Comments

Norway – home to clear, pure, ice cold, sparkling waters surrounded by majestic mountains with waterfalls and glaciers – also home to the Norwegian fjord trout fish. The only saltwater trout in the world that has the benefit of a unique environment, a mix of seawater and pure glacial water melting into the fjord.

Norway has a great environment for aquaculture and fish-farming, thanks to their long and vast coastline, deep fjords and of course clear and pure water. Responsibly farmed, the fjord trout are fed a nutritious diet to help them develop slowly.

Norwegian fjord trout – Purity on a plate

The vibrant orange coloured flesh has a firm texture and delicate flavour. Perfect for raw dishes like sushi and sashimi. Since all of the fat is stored in the belly this oily fish is very lean the perfect choice for the health conscious. Naturally high in omega 3 and essential vitamins, it is a great source of healthy protein.

At an event in London, unveiling this beautiful fish to the U.K audience Brand Ambassador Chef Daniel Galmiche. explained exactly why it is that he is so passionate about the fresh taste of fjord trout. He demonstrated simple recipes which allow for the fresh taste of the fjord taste to shine through. He also shared some expert tips on how best to pan fry this fish and add in ingredients that enhance the inherent great taste of this oily fish.

I sampled some delicious recipe combinations while Chef Galmiche explained the fjord trout is farmed sustainably thanks to centuries of learning and adherence to the world best aquaculture practices.

To sample the very best of seasfood from Norway, one doesn’t need to venture too far, as Tesco will now be stocking this healthy fish at their counters. The beautiful marbled red flesh is suited well for marinating, curing, smoking and pan frying.

To keep the party going, there was a beautiful bar area set up at the launch event, a refreshing elderflower presse’ made for a great accompaniment to the freshly prepared starters.

Norwegian Fjords Trout lets you get a Taste of the glaciers straight from the Cold, Clear and spring Norwegian Fjords onto your plate. Ready in minutes, enjoy the fjord trout grilled to enchance it’s flavours or bake with fragrant herbs and finish with citrus notes or simply serve marinated as a ceviche. Whichever way you choose to enjoy it, celebrate the arrival of this new and healthy oily fish to the U.K by creating some magic in your kitchen.

Where to buy: At select Tesco fish counters at an estimated price of £12.50 per kilo.

*Sponsored Post. All images taken by me unless they appear without the ‘travelsfortaste’ mark.

Norwegian fjord trout – Seafood from Norway