Debenhams Drops Stupid Coffee Names
According to this story in the Mirror, Debenhams are to use plain English to describe their coffee.
I suppose it’s their choice, but round here most people know their cappuccinos from their lattes. And I don’t just mean those that went to posh schools or were born outside of Hackney.
Baked Eggs With Tomatoes
I’ve done this recipe for years, but in the move the book with it in has got lost.
- Well butter four ramekin dishes.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C
- Take a large tin of chopped tomatoes and put in a saucepan with a a finely chopped medium-sized onion. Mix well and heat.
- When it is hot, simmer and add two tablespoons of flour mixed with enough butter to make a nice paste.
- Simmer for five minutes or so, adding a teaspoon of sugar and salt and pepper until you get the taste right.
- Spoon the mixture into the ramekin dishes, making a nest in the top of the mixture.
- Add an egg to the nest and cover with grated cheese.
- Bake in the oven until the cheese is cooked.
With practice they can be got to rise like mini-soufflés.
In some ways the great thing about this recipe, is that apart from the eggs nothing has a sell-by date. Usually I have everything required in my fridge and/or store cupboard.
Newmarket Sausage Gets European Protected Status
This has just been announced and about time too.
I actually prefer the Musks brand as does the Queen. It’s just a pity, I find it difficult to get their gluten-free ones in London. Hopefully, now they’ve got the protected status, we might see some promotion by the better food retailers.
I see on the Musks website, that they are offering a gluten-free hamper.
A Pub For Coeliacs?
Yesterday, A pub manager from Islington added a comment to one of my posts. said he’d got a good selection of gluten free beers in his pub called the Florence in Florence Street, Islington.
I went for a drink yesterday and it would appear he’s going to make very good provision for coeliacs with both food and drink. I just had half of Aspalls. And very good it was too!
France Might Tax Energy Drinks
France seems to be planning to tax energy drinks according to reports like this, this morning.
I’ve never drunk one, but judging by the number of cans you see strewn all over place, many do.
First Class Gluten-Free Food
I was travelling First Class both ways on my trip to Yorkshire yesterday.
Going up to York, I used East Coast Trains and although I got coffee, there was nothing else I could eat that was gluten-free. But it didn’t matter as I was going to see friends for lunch.
In some ways I often feel cheated in First Class, as others get all sorts of goodies and I get nothing. It’s usually worse at the weekend, as all that is available is sandwiches.
Coming back from Hull on Hull Trains, I effectively told the steward I was gluten-free by declining the biscuit with the coffee. So when it came to selecting the complimentary meal, she apologised and thought, they might not have anything suitable. But she did say they had one chilli left.
Now my chilli con carnes and many I’ve had in pubs and restaurants have been gluten-free! So I suggest that she checked and she returned a minute or so later with the packet and a big smile on her face.
Gluten-Free Chili On Hull Trains
The pouch said the food was suitable for coeliacs and I gave it a go. There’s more details on the food here.
Chilli With Tortilla
Unfortunately, the tortilla crisps weren’t marked and I just chanced a couple.
The meal was excellent and I got no adverse reaction at all. So my gut liked it too! Perhaps, I should have had more of the crisps.
The steward then got the bit between her teeth and checked all the other things they served including the chocolate. Admittedly, First Class was by no means full.
After all coeliacs may not be that numerous, but statistics show that about one in a hundred of the UK population may have the disease.
The steward had certainly remembered the two things you don’t lose in any form of customer service; enthusiasm and your temper.
It was an enjoyable and enlightening journey after a bad day at the football.
So well done to Hull Trains and their staff! And especially to Steph!
Hot Coffee With Cold Milk
I had coffee coming home and it was served hot with cold milk.
Hot Coffee With Cold Milk
I only know one person, who is specific about having their coffee like that and like the train, she has connections to Hull, as she was born and grew up there.
Perhaps it’s a Hullensian thing.
Silly Water Bottles
I very much dislike water bottles with teats. I got one on the train coming back from Hull.
Silly Water Bottles
So I’ve had a stroke and have a bit of difficulty sucking, but what’s wrong with a good old-fashioned screw cap?
A Dreadful Night
It’s raining hard here and I’ll be staying in for most of the night.
I did try to go up to the Angel to see if I could get some fish to make one of my favourite suppers, but a 30 bus turned up first, so I thought I’d try the littleWaitrose at Highbury and Islington. But they had power problems and the tills weren’t working. So I just bought one item for supper.
A Reduced Waitrose Fish Pie
At least it was reduced to £2,99. As you can see it’s a bit battered, but only in the damaged sense!
I do have some strawberries, so with a drink, it won’t be a bad supper.
The Anonymous Widower 