Sunday, April 21, 2013

Eggs - continued, wolves and MFK Fisher

Started to read the Art of Eating by MFK Fisher, lots of fantastic quotes and reasons for a few doodle... Both strike a chord about recent experiences.

Want one of them, or any quote illustration, as Kitchen art? contact us!

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Farm eggs and Tautavel!

One unforgettable Cumbrian cottage diner!  After a full day of activities in cold and crisp Lake District weather, and once the kids were in bed.  Eggs from the nearby farms, with the yolks so bright it colours cakes a deep turmeric-yellow.  And some Tautavel 2009!
We did a taste test between 2 eggs providers, see the notes!  The Tautavel bottle was brought from our personal reserve in London...!  :)  Dessert was a bit of lemon quatre-quart and great conversation!





Thursday, April 4, 2013

Easter in Cumbria

We spent Easter in the Lake District of England, a wonderful place full of cold pure streams, ancient stone circles, high valleys and peaks.  We had spring lamb, farm eggs, local honey.  We made bread with our sourdough (brought from London, like a pet - it needs to be fed!) and the local water-milled stoneground biodynamic flour.  The lovely mill is next to Long Meg stone circle and includes a cafĂ© with chicken running free outside and the view onto the stream.  The region clearly has a love of huge earthy crumbly fruit scones.

At the Keswick market, we got some Benzoin and lemon-scented gardener's hand cream made by a local women under the name of  "Essential Spirit". 



The market lady sent us to Calbeck, a stunning village full of energy and streams, with a church named after the local Celtic saint St Kentigern ! Lots of amazing mystical stories attached to this saint, hard to imagine it is an official Catholic saint!  He is featured on the Glasgow coat of arms, with the main features of his legend:
Here is the bird that never flew
Here is the tree that never grew
Here is the bell that never rang
Here is the fish that never swam