Category Archives: Caponisation
First Catch, then Cook Your Poularde
Contrary to what we thought, Hannah Glasse never wrote that immortal phrase ‘first catch your hare’ – an instruction she was credited with from one of the very first English language cook books from 1747 - ‘The Art of Cookery’ - reproduced so lovingly by … Continue reading
A Poularde is just for Christmas
Some things stay special because they remain a treat. Make turkey, asparagus, strawberries, raspberries, ‘new’ potatoes and their like year-round available, and out goes both eating quality and sense of occasion. Food marketeers and their retail friends will have much to … Continue reading
Press(e) on to Bresse
Eurostar to Paris, a noisy RER to Gare de Lyon, then a drink for old time’s sake in the crowded salon of Le Train Bleu and lastly, as night had fallen, onto the two tier TGV to Dijon – that’s how my trip … Continue reading
First in Britain – ‘Le Grand Maitre’ at Our Table
A text message pings in from Arnaud, a guy I’ve never met – “meet me on Smithfield Market in the morning at 06h00″ he wrote. Arnaud visits London once a month to look after the affairs of Loué, my favourite poultry … Continue reading
The Grand Maitre d’Affaires who’s bringing us ‘Le Grand Maitre’
Grand Mâitre is not a title to taken lightly in France. Originally used as a mark of reverence to France’s greatest of all chefs and gastronomic chroniclers - such as Escoffier, Brillat-Savarin, Curnosky and others back in the 18/19th centuries, to the more recent ‘mâitres’ … Continue reading
Board a Red Eye Ferry for your Festive Food
Seeming to have only just fallen asleep, my ‘phone alarm goes off at 04h00 - it’s the Thursday before Christmas Day. Out of bed, showered, coffee’d – one sugar please - and we on our way on near empty roads to the port. … Continue reading
Ah, Les Glorieuses de Bresse 2012
In just over a week’s time I’ll be driving across France to the south of Burgundy – the Maconnais – to celebrate the 150th Glorieuses de Bresse. Here, farmers – known as eleveurs – bring their finest birds to be … Continue reading
