Wednesday 23 May 2012

Restaurant Review - Frankie's, Hoylake 9/10

I had a lovely few days with Mum, which was rounded off by lunch at Frankie's in Hoylake with Dave Bro joining us on his return from Leeds. Luckily it is a stone throw from Mum's flat and I will definitely be returning with Jo as we all had a great time.

Horse racing little man Frankie Dettori and grumpy/ genius chef Marco Pierre White opened the restaurant this year in the £7m Holiday Inn redevelopment of the Kings Gap Hotel, and is one of 6 other Frankie restaurants including London, Dublin and Dubai. 


As the weather was outstanding the outdoor space really came into its own. We all agreed that we could be anywhere in the world and I for one could have sat there all day soaking up the rays and drinking cocktails. However, I was driving so that wasn't possible.....this time! 

View inside
View outside
The restaurant
As it was lunch time the others were quite restrained, but as I am running the Edinburgh Marathon I got stuck into the fat boy cannelloni. Mum had the caesar salad that came with anchovies! It is one of Jo's pet hates that they aren't always included in the dish so this was a big thumbs up. Dave Bro has the prosciutto and avocado salad which ticked all the right boxes and my cannelloni was the ideal mix of pasta, spinach and cheesy goodness - it was a struggle to finish but I managed to soldier on until the bitter end!! All in we couldn't fault the food at all.
Caesar salad
Prosciutto and avocado
Cannelloni with garlic bread and rocket
I had to leave Mum and Dave Bro to their desserts as I had to rush to miss the traffic so I have no pictures and am unsure what they had. But I am sure they would be been a brilliant finale to our lunch. Overall I would definitely recommend Frankie's to anyone who asks - it certainly puts one or two other restaurants in the local area to shame. 9/10.

Mum and simple Dave Bro

Tuesday 22 May 2012

Guest Post - National Vegetarian Week & a Delicous Tofu Recipe from Aly Challoner-Jones

 I love the power of twitter. Mum is really looking at healthy diet and after reading a detox book of her's I decided that I needed to try and get tofu into my life. Jo and I have had mixed success with it but I was sure someone on twitter could help - step up Aly Challoner-Jones who is a "Vegetarian Consultant and Educator". Given that it is also National Vegetarian Week she offered to do a guest blog post and I obviously obliged - the below includes a delicious sounding recipe that Jo and I will be trying very soon. 
Take it away Aly.....
Yes indeed, it’s that time of year….National Vegetarian Week!! When veggies and meaties alike rejoice in the knowledge, they can take pleasure in a whole 7 days of delicious meat free gastronomy. Or for some, beans on toast? Pop a poached egg on the top and I’d be happy. No longer do we associate being vegetarian with lentil stews and peppers stuffed with a variety of grains. Let’s not forget the offerings of cheese in pastry….many different types of pastry and a plethora of bubbling melted cheese, draped over tomatoes and mushrooms! No, we can be a little more adventurous, a little more refined, and a little more inventive than that.
Tofu…beancurd….a popular ingredient in Asian cuisine. It’s a delicious addition to a stir fry or a Thai curry perhaps. High in complete protein and low in fat, it’s right up there on the chart  next to chicken and steak. A versatile ingredient that lends itself to many different methods of cooking and preparation, so what can we do with it? 
This recipe encompasses all aspects of the taste spectrum. We taste with so much more than just our taste buds. We look for colour and appearance, then texture and taste, followed by each step of the experience arriving in sequence. I’ve included some delicious tender seasonal vegetables, as well as flavours that you can adapt and play with depending on personal taste. The recipes are separate, so you can add elements or take away as you wish.
The recipes make enough for 2 people (with a medium appetite!)
Sesame and maple roasted tofu with a salad of crisp seasonal vegetables, light lime and chilli dressing and a sweet potato stack.
For the tofu
200g of firm tofu (Clear Spot brand is good)
1 tbsp maple syrup, or honey if you prefer
2 tbsp sesame seeds
Salt and black pepper for seasoning
A little olive oil, or olive oil spray
Method
Preheat an oven to 180 degrees C or gas mark 4.
Grind the sesame seeds in a pestle or mortar, or food processor if you have one.
Melt the syrup or honey in a small dish, and add a pinch of salt and some freshly ground black pepper.
Pat dry the tofu and cut into batons about a centimetre in diameter.
Brush the batons with a little syrup or honey, and then roll each one in the sesame seeds.
Brush a baking tray with a little oil, lay the tofu batons on the tray and spray or lightly brush each with a little more oil.
Roast for 10 mins, turn and roast for a further 10.
Sweet potato stack
1 large sweet potato weighing about 200g
A little olive oil
A pinch of smoked paprika
Salt and pepper to season
Method
Preheat an oven to 180 degrees C or Gas mark 4.
Peel and thinly slice the potatoes, I used a mandolin but as thin as you can get with a knife is fine.
Using either non stick rings or an oven proof dish, layer up the potato, brushing with oil and seasoning as you go. Keep the prettiest slices for the top!
Brush with a little oil, and sprinkle with smoked paprika
Bake in oven for about 15 minutes, then cover with a piece of foil for the remaining 15.
Lift gently out of the cooking ring, or cut wedges from the dish to serve.
Salad of crisp seasonal vegetables, light lime and chilli dressing
You can be as choosy as you like here! I’ve decided to use Chanteray carrots, leeks, asparagus (of course!) and red pepper.
4 Chanteray carrots
Half a large leek
4 asparagus spears
¼ of a red pepper
For the dressing
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
¼ of a red chilli (no seeds!)
Half a tsp sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Coriander and chives to finish, a tsp of each, or a few sprigs!
Method
Make the dressing first. Whisk together the lime juice and olive oil until it forms a creamy emulsion. Then stir in the remaining dressing ingredients.
Peel and quarter carrots, steam for 5 minutes over a pan of simmering water. These take the longest.
Next are the asparagus, snap the stem where it breaks naturally, cut into half and add to the carrots so they steam for no more than 3 minutes.
Next cut the leeks into strips, make sure you wash all the soil away. Add these last so they steam for no more than 2 minutes.
Cut the pepper into long thin julienne strips, and leave raw.
Toss the vegetables in the dressing and serve with your tofu batons and sweet potato stack. You might like a little extra dressing on the side….I did!
Enjoy!! I thought you might like to see how I’ve put it together…..Happy National Vegetarian Week!



 Aly Challoner-Jones
Vegetarian Consultant and Educator.
@AbsoluteCooking and Facebook page - Absolute Cooking


Monday 21 May 2012

A round up of the past few days

I was home from Saturday through to tomorrow to with with her through her 2nd session at Clatterbridge which took place today. Ok, it's a pretty poor reason to be home but I do enjoy hanging out with Mum and seeing friends and family who are based on the Wirral. Obviously I miss Jo, but I am lucky to have the best fiancee who understands the reasons why I need to be here and she supports me 100% - thanks biscuits!!x

Anyway, here is a whistle stop tour of the last few days;


On Friday after work, Jo and I stopped for a post work drink and a couple of Oysters at Stew and Oyster - our new favourite venue in Leeds.

Jo
Joe 
On Saturday I left Jo to head home and after a few hours with Mum I joined Smartie, Al and Jess to sample wedding wines with the Champions League final in the background (which I hardly saw any of which I was pleased with)......Al and Jess get married in July and we are really looking forward to being with them on their big day.

Al and Jess
Joe and Smartie
Sunday started with a hangover after getting through all the wine from the night before. Yuck. I managed to drag myself out for a run, then to a game of snooker with Unc the Punk, followed being dragged out onto Caldy Hill by Mum - she has more energy than me!! The day was rounded off by a stir fry cooked by my fair hand and a nice relaxing night in for us.
Mum on Caldy Hill
Today started with blood checks at Clatterbridge for Mum and an all day chemo session. I managed to sneak away to go and visit an old friend of mine, Andy Pimbley at Claremont Farm. It's a brilliant farm with loads going on, but best of all loads of exciting plans for the future. Andy has really taken the bull by the horns and I have no doubt that he will build on the current successes.  Good work pal! After a difficult few months with the weather, the Asparagus has come out to play at last and he was kind enough to give me some to sample. I also bought a few other bits in the well stocked and good value farm shop. I'll be back soon as Jo really wants to visit too.

Mr Asparagus
Some asparagus bounty
The asparagus was put to work this evening at the Hosnys - after a difficult day I couldn't think of a better place to be to raise the spirits with good food, a couple of drinks, laughs and even a bit of dancing thrown in....our second home.

Pimbley asparagus, salmon and new potatoes
Pastilla all the way from Libiya
Barbara's lemon cake and Mollie's chocolate and Hazelnut ice cream
Here are more photos from this evening (non of Mummy Hosny as she is camera shy!):

Raf the chef and music maestro
Mummy Rees
The brothers grim
I'll be heading back to Leeds tomorrow after leaving Mum in Brother Dave's capable hands....thanks for reading!