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…
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…
by Simone Sekers WE’ve just had a swift shot of French life – 24 hours in Cherbourg via the fast ferry from Poole – which reminded me of just how traditional France still is. We stayed in the charming Hotel Régence overlooking the old port, way up under the roof, no lift to help our…
WHEN you try to arrange a party a year ahead, a party which depends on good weather too, you are running a huge risk. It’s madness, really, and most of us, as we get older, play safe by celebrating big birthdays by going on cruises, or holidays-of-a-lifetime. I am never certain about either; supposing I…
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…
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…
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…
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. …
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…
CHEF Philippa Davis found herself whirling from 2014 into 2015 cooking in Scotland for a Hogmanay celebration for about 25 guests. She and a sidekick conjured up feast after feast – curry nights, Middle Eastern spreads, hearty lunches, big breakfasts, game pies and decadent afternoon teas. But the end of the game season is close at…