All Things Considered

The Balvenie
Posted by Simon Lewin

Consultancy Here Design have been working on the redesign of packaging for Speyside's The Balvenie Distillery.

Although lithographically printed due to the volume, the designers collaborated with calligraphers, letterpress printers and wood engravers as they worked on the finished packaging.

Posted by Simon Lewin on July 28th, 2009

Speyside Organics
Posted by Angie Lewin

One of the first things we try to do when we arrive in the Highlands is get in our supplies from Speyside Organics. On this trip we were able to visit them on their stall at the first ever Forres Farmers’ Market.

As well as their own excellent organic lamb and beef, we bought Phoenix Bakery rye and sourdough loaves from Findhorn plus some locally grown fruit and veg. Keep an eye on the Speyside Oganics website for details of the local Farmers' Markets that they attend - you can visit them next at Inverness (July 4th) and back in Forres (July 11th). But if you live further afield, a mail order service is available - and highly recommended.

Posted by Angie Lewin on June 16th, 2009

Yurt at Drove Orchards
Posted by Kate Sullivan

A new eating venue on the Norfolk coast is about to open its canvas curtains – in a Mongolian yurt.

It’s a joint venture between the farmer of Drove Orchards and Ollie Trezise & his family. Possibly the only yurt restaurant in the country, with seating for fifty, they plan to serve simple, reasonably priced seasonal food with as much produce sourced from the farm as possible. For more information about opening times visit their website.

Some other eateries on the Norfolk coast well worth stopping at are Number 10 at Sheringham, Cookies Crab Shop at Salthouse (telephone 01263 740352) and Wiveton Hall Café. 

Posted by Kate Sullivan on June 11th, 2009

Wolterton Hall
Posted by Kate Sullivan

Just a few minutes up the road from our St. Jude's Gallery in Itteringham is Wolterton Hall. A beautiful estate built by Thomas Ripley in the 1720s for Horatio Walpole: politician, diplomat  and younger brother to Britain's first Prime Minister - Sir Robert Walpole.

Last Sunday, Wolterton Hall's walled kitchen garden opened its gates to the public as part of their annual Organic Garden Event. I hadn't visited before and didn't know what to expect but the day was thoroughly enjoyable and insightful for anyone - green fingered or not.

We stumbled across David Barker, the organic farmer at Wolterton talking about the importance of soil, its quality and how we must 'feed' it. He also showed us just how much soil is on our planet using an apple to represent Earth. I found this clip on You Tube which explains what David demonstrated to us. Fascinating stuff.

 

Posted by Kate Sullivan on May 21st, 2009

How to run a café
Posted by Simon Lewin

Posted by Simon Lewin on April 23rd, 2009

Underground Restaurants
Posted by Kate Sullivan

What a brilliant idea - first 'Secret Cinema' and now 'Underground Restaurants.'

I was alerted to the rising new trend of cool eating establishments by Le Cool, the weekly magazine that arrives in your inbox, who, in-turn, sourced it from the Guardian. Read the article here.

In short, various domestic cooks are turning their homes into ever-so-slightly illegal eating establishments. Apparently, this movement is happening all around the world.

MsMarmitelover (author of entertaining food blog 'The English Can Cook') recently turned her spacious London flat into a restaurant. It was a success, so she's now opening her doors every Saturday night. MsMarmitelover serves almost vegetarian food (fish is allowed) and three courses will cost just £15.

Posted by Kate Sullivan on March 14th, 2009

Jake Tilson
Posted by Simon Lewin

An evening spent with Tilson's "A Tale of 12 Kitchens" reminded me about his "3 Found Fonts" project, an inspiring record of a journey combining photography, travel, collected ephemera and fonts. You can get a flavour of his work in this Independence Lunch PDF download.

Posted by Simon Lewin on February 23rd, 2009

Whisky Galore
Posted by Simon Lewin

About half way through our time at The Bankside and I'm looking forward to a trip north to the Highlands. We're lucky enough to spend part of our year in a region that's home to some of the best single malts you could hope to sample, just about equidistant from Cragganmore and Aberlour. All very tempting. (PS... if you ever come across a copy of Tom Eckersley's poster below, PLEASE let me know).

Posted by Simon Lewin on February 8th, 2009

Good night…
Posted by Simon Lewin

... in more ways than one.

Thanks to everyone who braved London's worst snow in 18 years to come to the opening of our St. Jude's In The City exhibition at the Bankside. More on that tomorrow.

We made our way back across the Millennium Bridge, the clock at St. Paul's struck eleven, and shortly after we enjoyed 2 cups of tea and 2 bacon rolls for a total of £3.10 at Ferraris in Smithfield.

Job done.

Posted by Simon Lewin on February 3rd, 2009

The Albannach
Posted by Simon Lewin

Just back from a couple of days on the wild west coast of Scotland. Treated ourselves to a stay at The Albannach which we'd been meaning to try for years. Run by Colin Craig and Lesley Crosfield, it's homely, warm, comfortable and confident.We enjoyed some of the best food we'd tasted in years.

Had a car-free day on Sunday, taking the path north from the hotel to Achmelvich beach (see below).

Back south via Loch Assynt, Ullapool and Inverness to a soundtrack of E.S.T.'s Seven Days Of Falling and lots of Underworld.

Posted by Simon Lewin on December 17th, 2008