Food Photo of the Day ~ Ploughman's Lunch

Quite simply one of the most simplest however satisfying lunches one can make or have. Rustic bread, dried fruit... or fresh fruit, selected cheeses, nuts, olives and pickled beets, pickled peppers and curated meats. The humble Ploughman's is a complete sampling to nosh and enjoy. 

 Hope the week has been going well for everyone. Overcast skies in E-town today with the chance of some welcoming rain. - JD 

Georgian Tearooms

When we go to England there is a list of the must haves. A Ploughmans lunch is at the top of that list; and I can say that the ploughman's at the Hands of Bath - Georgian Tearooms  in Bath was one of the best! A grade 2 listed building where Charles Hand founded Hands Dairy in 1850. The young ladies who worked and served us the day we went, deserve so much credit and more. They were professional, courteous and efficient! We had such a delightful and satisfying lunch there, that we want to return the next time we visit. 

To find out more about the Hands of Bath Georgian Tearoom click *here*


Hope everyone's week has been going well. - JD 

Food Photo of the Day ~ Ploughman's Sandwich

This is one of my favourite sandwiches as it is fairly simple and so satisfying. I enjoy many ploughmans while in England and when I am feeling the need here, I create this for an afternoon lunch. Multigrain bread with a nice spread of Ploughmans pickle, a hefty bed of spinach and arugula, a good strong English or old cheddar, juicy tomato slices and a nip of Colman's English mustard. I serve it with a sprightly pickled onion and crisp apple slices. So delicious and it keeps me going until dinner. 

Hope everyone is good. I have packed quite a bit into this week so far and it is only Wednesday. - JD 

English Pub Favourites

I have only been home for a few days and I am already itching to get back into the kitchen. There is really no big surprise considering that I brought back six cookbooks. However jet lag is lingering. So I thought I would do this post and share some of the menu choices I made while eating out.  

Usually when I go to England the ploughman's is the menu item I order. A quick glance at any menu when eating out and spotting a ploughman's means the search to fill the void is no more. Second to that is fish and chips followed by the Waldorf salad. 

The Ploughman's - The first Ploughman's I had was at the Old Bell in Rye, pictured here. By far this was the best one! The bread was cut thick and so was the cheese. The salad, fresh. The ham, tender. The apple slices crisp and a few crisps for crunch. Even though the ingredients to make up a ploughman's remains the same, every pub does it's own take on this pub classic. 

Fish and Chips - That is the standby favourite and I always have to have my fill. I do find fish and chips here and fish and chips in England are two different things. However this time I was able to try a vegetarian version at the Victoria pub in London, pictured here. Pieces of fried halloumi cheese, chips and mushy peas served with a side of tartar sauce. It was equally delicious and just as satisfying as the real thing. 

The Waldorf Salad - When I see this on the menu I feel compelled to order this. Waldorf salads are few and far between in Canada. Also I always have a bit of a laugh due to the Fawlty Towers episode. Therefore I find it amusing and comforting. I view this salad the same way as the ploughman's, the ingredients remain the same however some may add a few extras. This Waldorf salad, pictured here, from the Riverside Inn in Ashford, Kent was great. It was served with a bed of lettuce and bunches of diced veggies placed around it and then the salad topped with pumpkin seeds crowned the top. Very filling! 

- JW