April 2009 Archives

If there's a funnier man on television than Dave Lamb, I'd like to see him!
Not that you'd know what Dave Lamb looks like, but if you love Come Dine With Me you'd certainly recognise his voice.
Hes the man behind the cutting and very funny remarks that make the show as great as it is.
The 38 year old has been doing the show from the very first series but has also appeared in Doc Martin and Goodness Gracious Me.
Dave says the show has a script but hes allowed to ad-lib and genuinley doesn't know the result till the show comes to its conclusion.
The programme has recently changed format to just four contestants but I think the old 5 nightly shows worked much better. Either way it's guranteed to make you smile and there are some great recipes amongst the disasters.

They're all available at Channel 4's Come Dine With Me website.

Channel 249 or 250 (UK Food) are constantly on the box at our house, theres many a time I swap from a dull Premier League game and don't go back.
Market Kitchen is another favourite and I could sit and watch Rick Stein, Hugh Fearnley and the rest over and over again.
Many people think its a tad overkill these days but for not for me, although I have to say Ready Steady Cook has had it's day.
I find Ainsley the most annoying TV personality and a bit of a caricature of himself, a bit like the swearing Gordon Ramsay.
Has anybody else got any favourites that I might be missing out on?

Click on the names to read our restaurant reviews for;

Chilli Lounge

Balooshai

Puja Thai

Thai Sakon

Leeds is definitely the place to be! As much as the football team is hated with a passion round here (and most other places) there's no doubting it is the Champions League as far as food and drink is concerned. Treat yourself to a family day rover, whether your a genuine family or just the two of you and for eight quid and a twenty minute train journey you will find yourself surrounded by smart bars and restaurants where you can have a different type of day everytime you visit.

When I first thought of doing this blog my mind started to wander back to why I became interested in food, I remember stood on a chair helping my mum make buns, thats when the weather wasnt fit to play football, sometimes I'd be stirring currants or cocoa powder into the mixture with still muddy knees from scoring the winning goal at Anfield (Lindley rec) against my rotund, asthmatic friend Craig.
I was also equally happy just making what I called "concoctions" in the sink. Flour, vinegar, milk, grated cheese, jam, all mixed together and whisked up.... then tipped down the sink!
And to think Heston Blumenthal charges £150 a head for his stuff, well it could've been me!