On the Menu

Quite the catch …

TRAVELLING chef Philippa Davis has been off to Scotland again, this time to the Highlands to cook for a salmon fishing week on the River Findhorn – lots of big breakfasts, afternoon teas, help yourself suppers and best of all barbecues by the river … “OH, it’s easy to find, you can’t miss it !”…

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The Cheeseboard – Camelot

JAMIE Montgomery is a big wheel in the artisan cheese world. His Montgomery Cheddar, made on the farm in North Cadbury, just to the north of Yeovil, is the byword for unpasteurised traditional West Country Cheddar, and now the “go to” variety for French epicures who are latterly discovering that the rosbifs can and do…

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Mind your Ps and Qs – Philippa does Quinoa

WHAT’s your take on quinoa? Is it the best thing ever or a rather boring grain-type food that is only as good as the things it is prepared and served with. Superfood or over-hyped fad? Private chef Philippa Davis has just spent some time in London teaching a client to cook. And here she shares…

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Goodness, gracious, great balls of…. power!

SOMETIMES we envy Philippa Davis for her varied life as a travelling chef – and sometimes we are just in awe of the skillful way she deals with every unlikely request, demanding client or latest fashion and food trend … I have had a very exciting (manic) week cooking for a fashion shoot involving one…

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Eating out at the Solstice … and all the rest of the year

YOU might not think that a restaurant in a chain motel off the A303 would be a dining destination in itself, but a visit to the Solstice Bar and Grill at the Holiday Inn Express at Amesbury could change your mind. Around a million visitors head for nearby Stonehenge, one of the world’s truly iconic…

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Japanese cooking with Teruko Chagrin

JAPANESE cook and cookery teacher Teruko Chagrin, who lives near Shaftesbury, believes in using the wonderful produce available in Dorset whenever she can for her recipes. For these recipes she is using Arctic Char, which she sources in North Dorset from Houghton Springs Fish Farm, at Winterbourne Houghton. Arctic Char is a special fish and…

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Thai thighs and other sky-high ski delights

TRAVELLING chef Philippa Davis has been in the Alps, catering for skiers in the French resort of Tignes, reflecting on the various types she observes on her many recent flights … (oh, and serving delicious food, of course!) I realise you don’t have to be in Sherlock’s league to decipher the purpose of everyone’s trip. …

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The Brunch Club

TRAVELLING chef Philippa Davis cooked for a large party near Perth for the final pheasant shoot of the season. The weather omens were poor but dressed in multiple layers and armed with some exciting ideas, the Shaftesbury-born chef was ready to face the elements … TRAVEL  plan A was vetoed as my car (stationed in…

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