text:
Thursday, 30 October 2014
3 star dining at Harrods
Harrods are running a five month long promotion called Stelle di Stelle at the moment. What does this mean I hear you say. Well the clue is in the name, because for the uneducated amongst you, stelle means star in Italian. As such, they have invited a bevy of multi-Michelin-starred Italian restaurants to each take a month long residency in their lower-ground floor restaurant.
Harrods isn't really my cup of tea, but I was invited to go along and try the food from the three star restaurant Da Vittorio, which is located in an idyllic hilltop villa in Brusaporto, just outside Milan. And not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth, off I trotted to see the lay of the land.
You can read my thoughts on the meal here on Foodepedia. But as an added bonus, I also got the opportunity to ask Enrico Cerea from Da Vittorio a few questions, which he answered in the video posted below.
Friday, 10 October 2014
Golf, whisky, the Highlands and a thumping hangover
There are certain perks to this writing lark and one of them is being invited on press trips. I have done a couple, but the one I went on a couple of weeks ago on behalf of the guys at The Arbuturian really was the money-shot.
Invited by the guys from Johnnie Walker Blue Label, I enjoyed a flying visit to the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, which was preceded by an evening at a modernist lodge in the remote Scottish highlands owned by a Swedish billionaire. Oh, and all transport in Scotland was by private helicopter ("roads, where we're going, we don't need roads")
Because Johnnie Walker were sponsoring the trip, the evening at the lodge was whisky themed, with a tasting session, cocktails and themed dinner to keep the assembled hacks and slebs (Anna Friel and Rupert Penry-Jones were along for the ride) entertained.
Anyway, I have said enough and you can read all about the trip and my whisky induced hangover on The Arbuturian.
Tuesday, 16 September 2014
Ode to an apple
Quite a while ago now I composed an essay on apples for a writing competition. In retrospect it is perhaps not surprising that I didn't win. Nevertheless, it is English apple season and as you will read below, I love English apples. It therefore seems a good time to share it with the world...
There has to be something special about a fruit that caused the descent of man; launched a thousand ships and burnt the topless towers of Ilium; enabled the discovery of gravity; and has given its name to devices that allow pornography to be accessed on the move. So what is so special about the apple?
It does not appear to be the most exotic of fruits, nor is it the most sensual; some might also say it is not tastiest either. But it was not the mango, the fig, the orange or even the banana that was present at these momentous moments; it was the humble apple.
The apple's unassuming status is a shining example of that famous maxim: familiarity breeds contempt. Because if you knew how far the apple has come and the lengths to which our classical ancestors went to in order to cultivate what we now know as this domestic fruit, you would not be so dismissive.
The apple's origins are to be found in the wilds of the Caucasus; specifically, it is the wild fruit malus pumila var mitris that is the ancestor of today's Egremont Russets and Cox's Orange Pippins. Small, sour and consisting mostly of inedible core, it was not the most promising of subjects for conversion. However, one of our kin must have seen something of note: perhaps it was a shepherd tending to his flock in the foothills of the Talysh Mountains (modern day Iran and Azerbaijan) who noticed one of his sheep eating these small round fruits and wondered if they would make a good addition to his meagre daily rations?
He tried one or two and found them unpalatable, but a third, plumper, with less core and more flesh than the rest, provided a small but tasty snack. And the rest is down to a couple of thousand years of careful grafting and selective breeding. Whether or not it was my fictional shepherd who was the first man to identify the malus as the grandfather of the Granny Smith, it is the Romans to whom we should really be grateful. It is they who perfected the technique of grafting cuttings from one tree onto another, without which it would have been impossible to transform those small, bullet-like orbs into the luscious and delicately scented fruits we know today.
Alan Davidson's The Oxford Companion to Food tells us that the first description of this process appears in Cato the Elder's De Agricultura. So when this ambitious man of provincial farming stock wasn't making thundering speeches in the Senate and demanding the complete destruction of Rome's mortal enemy, Carthage – Carthago delenda est – he was writing on the far more mundane subject of fruit farming. Indeed, the Romans considered the apple a luxury; to be aspired to over most other fruits; so it would be of no surprise that Cato gave instructions on the correct grafting of one type of apple tree to another- just as today's books on horticulture advise on the best way to cultivate borlotti beans and tend crowns of asparagus.
The decline and fall of the Roman Empire did not just set back the twin causes of Western art and architecture by a thousand years- it also, in Davidson's words, meant that apple cultivation "lapsed into disarray". While some remnants of the Roman's knowledge of grafting and apple nurturing remained intact, it was not until the Renaissance that Europe rediscovered these skills. Indeed, it is probable that it was the apple's rise in popularity during this period which led to its appearance at key moments in history, such as the Judgement of Paris and man's fall from the Garden of Eden.
Conventional wisdom states that the fruit given by Eris to Paris was a golden apple from the Tree of Life in the Garden of Hesperides; however, in the original ancient Greek, the word used for this is melon, which is a generic term for fruit rather than an apple. It is a similar story with regards to the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. The Bible doesn't actually say this was an apple, but from the Renaissance onwards, depictions of Eve show her being tempted by one; just as Renaissance paintings of the Judgement of Paris show him holding an apple. So was it the apple's very ubiquity which meant that later versions of these familiar stories showed it in place of another less familiar fruit?
The apple's prevalence is further emphasised through the names given to the newly found fruits and vegetables that made their way to Europe after the discovery of the New World. In place of something more imaginative, the French named potatoes "earth apples" or pommes de terre, while the Italians call their tomatoes "golden apples" or pomodoro. In some other European languages, German and Finnish among others, it is the etymology of the orange rather than the tomato that can be traced back to the phrase "golden apple".
In contrast to these mythological appearances, contemporary sources do state that Newton was partly inspired by the idea of the falling apple to think about the reason why objects always fall to the centre of the earth. In that respect therefore we can afford the apple its place at the centre of scientific history. Newton's alma mater, Trinity College, Cambridge, even have an apple tree in their grounds which is reputed to be a descendent of the tree in question.
So the apple of myth, whether Greek, Biblical or even Norse, is a bringer of discord, but what of the more prosaic English apple: the one that we know and love - the one that inspired Newton? Anyone who has had the fortune to wander through the apple orchards of Kent on a crisp September's day would say that there can scarcely be a more harmonious scene: the ground carpeted by windfalls; the air full of the scent of sweet and ripening fruits. Infinitely superior to its continental cousins and eaten with relish by rough handed farmers and effete city-dwellers alike, it is perfect on its own, stewed with custard, in a pie, with roast pork, or with a piece of sharp cheddar as an autumnal ploughman's lunch.
It is this apple which I treasure, not the golden apple, bringer of eternal life and/or damnation. For there can be no more perfect fruit that a Cox's Orange Pippin, freshly scrumped and scoffed in five minutes flat before the remnants are discarded in a convenient hedge, to be fought over by the attendant field mice. In our mild climate, this is an apple that has to work just a little bit harder to ripen than its Spanish and French cousins, and, like everything in life, hard work yields results: a tastier apple, a healthier bank balance or even a healthier body.
The real emergence of the English apple that we are familiar with came in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries during the agricultural revolution, when more advanced techniques for grafting and cross-breeding were developed, to the extent that there are now estimated to be between 1,900 and 2,200 varieties of apple native to these shores. However, given the number of varieties actually available to the average consumer, one would be forgiven for thinking that figure was in the tens rather than the thousands.
The apple has only just been overtaken by 'berries' as the UK's most popular fruit, but only around 35% of the apples we eat in this country are actually grown here, the rest are imported from France, Italy, Spain and New Zealand, and the UK is one of the largest importers of apples in the world. Even at the height of the English apple season, when we should all be eating home grown Ribston Pippins, Worcester Pearmains, Egremont Russets and Laxton Superbs, it is still possible to go to a supermarket and, I regret, some greengrocers, and find the shelves full of tasteless foreign imposters. Often found lurking in a corner is a sorry pile of imported Golden Delicious, an apple which should be banned from sale under the Trades Description Act for being neither golden nor delicious. Instead it is a woolly textured, bland and boring disappointment.
Of course, the fact is that supermarkets, like most other facets of modern society, demand a glossy uniformity as their norm. With the right variety and modern production methods, the consumer might never have to know that their apple was actually grown outside; just left to nature's whim and prone to attack by rampaging wasp, canker and Jack Frost. This year's poor summer has resulted in a crop of smaller and uglier apples than usual, which has prompted the English apples growers' association to launch a campaign to encourage us to choose our fruit based on taste rather than appearance.
Just a brief digression here while I illustrate this point with an anecdote: on one of these perfect autumnal days in the Kentish countryside, I had spent an extremely enjoyable afternoon wandering through the orchards, in pursuit of scrumped apples for a blackberry and apple crumble – surely the greatest pudding known to man. It was late afternoon and we found ourselves walking between a hedge and a low wooden fence. The fence served a dual purpose: to protect a large house and vineyard from us; and us from an angry dog. Just the other side of the fence, restraining his angry dog, stood an old man in a battered t-shirt and straw hat.
It being the time of year when the growers of grapes look to the skies and start to get twitchy, I asked him if he had commenced his harvest. "Not yet" he replied, "I'm going to give 'em a few more weeks, otherwise my sparkling wine won't be worth bottling". Our conversation meandered along various paths, ending up on the topic of apples, and more specifically his neighbour's orchards, from whence we'd come. The neighbour had had a contract to sell his apples to a supermarket, but when the man in the white suit came down from town to see the crop, he decided that, on reflection, the apples didn't meet his requirements in terms of size and appearance. The contract was cancelled and apples sold for juicing at a quarter of the price. That, however, wasn't the worst of it: the neighbour didn't even bother to pick a whole orchard full of Russets, as with no market for them it wasn't worth his while to pay people to do it. This, we both agreed, was a disgrace - something must be done!
As our mutual indignation faded away, he rounded off by giving me two conflicting pieces of advice: the first, to save half of everything I earn; and secondly, to "stop messing around" and marry my girlfriend. I protested that while both were technically possible, I would only ever be able to save half my income as a bachelor. As a married man, surely this could only ever be a fruitless task!
So you see, no blemish is to be allowed to see the light of day, just as it is with the models gracing the front cover of Vogue. A russet here, a wrinkle there, it doesn't matter which because it is assumed that we are no longer able to cope with these imperfections. Society has developed to the point where substance plays second fiddle to appearance, whether that is in the food we eat or the people we admire. When you can watch TV programmes on your Apple iPhone and tweet pictures of a perfectly symmetrical apple to your thousands of virtual friends, who wants to put up with a fruit that doesn't conform to the set standard? Eating that blemished, imperfect fruit might even trouble to remind us that instead of 21st century super-consumers, we were once shepherds in the Talysh Mountains, wondering whether those small brown fruits were edible or not.
Tuesday, 1 July 2014
Rosé d'Anjou and an eel under a rock
|Photo courtesy of Paul Winch-Furness
I believe it was the Bard who said: "a rosé by any other name would taste just as sweet..."
Ok, well maybe that's a slight misquote, nevertheless, there is one overlooked link between the works of Shakespeare and those pink wines of summer. Not a case of what is it, but where is it? Because Anjou in the luminous Loire Valley is both home to one of Shakespeare's most notorious characters and one of France's best known rosés.
I can't guarantee that it was with a glass of Rosé d'Anjou that the formidable Margaret d'Anjou, wife of Henry VI and main protagonist in three of Shakespeare's history plays, toasted the death of her nemesis the Duke of York. But if it had been, I am sure she will not have been disappointed.
The wine in question was once the toast of the Loire and according to my sources made up 55% of local production at the end of the 1980s. However, the style of sweeter wine they were making at the time found itself, alongside shoulder pads and nouvelle cuisine, going out of fashion in the 1990s.
Evidently, the people of Anjou are making an attempt to win back their reputation for good quality rosé. Because, at a little symposium organised by Douglas Blyde on the roof of a London pub a few weeks ago, the modern Rosé d'Anjou I tasted bore no resemblance to that stuff of our collective 80s nightmare.
All of the six wines served were dry or slightly off-dry; the ideal drop to enjoy in the garden on a sunny Saturday evening. And while these are definitely wines to savour while they are in the first flush of youth, they also make a good option to accompany some of the classic dishes of the Loire – freshwater fish from the river, rillettes and rillons, and fruit de mer from the coast around Nantes.
This got me thinking: what would be the perfect dish to honour the wines of Anjou, the terroir of the Loire and Margaret d'Anjou herself? It was then that I had my eureka moment, as a French phrase popped into my head – il y a anguille sous roche. Loosely translated as "there's an eel under the rock", it is the French version of "cripes, there's something fishy going on".
Not only is this quite an apt phrase with crafty old Margaret in mind, eels are also a classic part of the cuisine of Loire, so make a natural bedfellow for the rosé wines of Anjou. Usually stewed in red wine, my own recipe (which is also a tribute to James Hamilton-Paterson's classic book Cooking with Fernet Branca) turns them into tasty little hors d'oeuvres, with the eels hiding themselves from the diner under a savoury little rock bun (hence the name!). They would be perfect to have on the terrace before dinner: glass of vino in one hand, anguille sous roche in the other.
Anguille sous Roche
1 eel from the Loire, skinned and cut into 5cm chunks
1 bottle Rosé D'Anjou
1 bouquet-garni (thyme, bay, parsley stalks tied up into a little parcel)
1 onion, sliced
1 carrot, sliced
5 peppercorns
225g self-raising flour
110g butter
1 egg, lightly whisked
1 crottin de Chavignol (the Loire's famous goats cheese)
Salt and pepper
A splash of milk, plus more to glaze
This recipe really falls into two distinct sections, which can be spaced apart by up to a day if you like. The first job is to poach the eel in a court bouillon, which is as easy as kiss my hand. Simply combine the wine, bouquet-garni, onion, carrot and peppercorns in a large pot and bring to a gentle simmer. Turn down the heat, add the pieces of eel, cover and leave to cook gently for ten to fifteen minutes, or until the eel is cooked through. Take the pot off the heat and leave the eel to cool in the liquid, before removing and flaking gently.
When you are ready to proceed with the second half of the recipe, rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add the flaked eel, before crumbling in the cheese and season with a small amount of salt and plenty of pepper. Then, make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the egg and that splash of milk. Stir gently to combine the ingredients into a workable dough, adding more milk if it is too dry. Then divide into little bitesize morsels – using two teaspoons is a good method – and place onto a baking tray. Brush with a little milk to glaze and then bake in the oven at 180 Celsius for 15 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
Leave to cool slightly before serving with a glass of, you guessed it, Rosé d'Anjou.
|Who could resist the killer combination of eel and rock bun?
By the way if you want a couple of named examples of said wine, two I made a note of were the Champteloup Rosé d'Anjou 2013, which is available for £7.99 from Waitrose, and the La Grille Rosé d'Anjou Gwenael Guihard 2013, which is available for £8.49 from Majestic Wines. Forced to choose, I'd go for the latter...santé!
|One of me just to prove I was there enjoying the wine! Also courtesy of Paul Winch-Furness
Sunday, 8 June 2014
Tom on tour - North Yorkshire Moors and the Raithwaite Estate
|Whitby Abbey
A while back I whisked VD away for a weekend away in the North Yorkshire Moors. Staying at a 'grand country retreat' (their words, not mine) called the Raithwaite Estate, we had a fun couple of days eating fish and chips, enjoying walks on the beach and exploring the ruins of Whitby Abbey.
You can read all about it here on The Arbuturian...
Wednesday, 7 May 2014
The Ranelagh Kitchen Diaries. Part 7: Caravan
You will probably know this already, but Caravan, ironically, given the naff connotations, is a bit of a hip hangout next to the new St Martin's College building on Granary Square. It is just a short hop from King's Cross St Pancras and, thus, was chosen as the venue for a pre-bank holiday getaway dinner. It's firmly part of the urban regeneration that has rediscovered this formerly forgotten part of town and put it back on the map of 'civilised' London.
Mind you, the way things are going there won't be anywhere left that's uncivilised soon. It'll just be the District Line on Saturdays when Chelsea are at home and Hoxton Square on Saturday nights when the bridge and tunnel crowd are in town and up for a good time.
Anyway, Caravan is a bit hip, in a New York, meat-packing district, exposed brick, open kitchen kind of a way. And as you might expect, given the ambience and location (close to the Grauniad's offices) there were plenty of media douchebags on offer: the type of middle aged guys with shaved heads, beards, expensive denim turned up at the ankle and chunky boots who have jobs like Chief Innovation Officer and Head of Digital Content Strategy.
The menu is split into various sections and has disparate culinary influences: some burrata here, a spot of babaganoush there, some seabass ceviche for exiled Peruvians, chopped chicken livers for the Ashkenazi amongst us and a plate of grits for the hillbillies.
From this global arsenal of fine food, we ordered corn bread; some mahon cheese with a Pedro Ximenez (PX to those of us in the know) reduction; an heirloom tomato and chick-pea salad; and pizza with nduja and scarmorza. The scarmoza might have been smoked, I can't remember though - if so it was Marlborough Lights and not Regal Super Kings.
The mahon cheese was pleasant, as well made cheese tends to be, but too expensive at £5.50 for a mouse-sized portion. The cornbread was good in a cakey, corny kind of a way and they'd even included some real kernels of corn just to show that it really was cornbread and not some yellow dyed imposter. £4.50 for two small pieces had me clutching at my wallet though.
As pretty as it was, the tomato salad failed to make an impact: eating under-ripe tomatoes with a mound of mealy chick-peas of the type that emerge from a can of brine does not a pleasant experience make.
The pizza was better and generously apportioned with scarlet puddles of molten nduja and plenty of the scarmorza. The base wasn't up to much and reminded me slightly of those biscuity, pre-made ones you get from the supermarket, but that didn't matter too much with the quality of the topping.
The savouries polished off and plenty of time until our train, VD further indulged her monster appetite with an affogato, which was, to quote, "very enjoyable". Indeed, my macchiato confirmed that the best thing about Caravan, apart from the relatively reasonable £4.50 for a pint of Camden Pale Ale, is probably the coffee.
I enjoyed it more than any cup of the black stuff I can remember for a good while. That includes the flat white I had the other day at Kaffeine when the fire alarm went off at work and I had 15 minutes to kill trying not to get caught up in conversation with the office bores.
What's the moral of this story then? Pizza, beer and coffee! Don't bother with anything else unless cost is no barrier to enjoyment and then fill your boots. I dare say you'll find more to like than not.
Caravan, 1 Granary Square, London, N1C 4AA
020 7101 7661
Open Monday to Saturday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sundays 10am - 4pm
Monday, 7 April 2014
The Ranelagh Kitchen Diaries - part 6: The Guinea Fowl
I have learned a couple of things this week, which I think it only right to share with my small, but loyal readership:
- Rosa's Thai Cafe serves mediocre, overpriced food and is now on my notorious blacklist (alongside Ping Pong, Carluccios and various other crappy chains).
- Entering the Viking exhibition at the British Museum on a Saturday morning is rather like being thrust in to the black hole of Calcutta: a mass of writhing bodies, poor ventilation and an unseasonably warm spring day combined to make it less of an experience to remember. You'd be much better off leaving the Vikings to the tourists and heading upstairs to the Roman and Anglo Saxon galleries, where the exhibits are equally magnificent but the crowds fewer.
- The bacon flavoured ale from Brodies Beers (tried at the Old Coffee House on Beak Street) is like drinking liquidised bacon fries - a bridge too far in the endless quest to put bacon in every foodstuff.
- I remembered why I used to spend all that time at Borough Market on a weekend. I returned for the first time in two or three years last Saturday (the parents were in town and keen for a visit). Yes, it is expensive and crowded, and the real foodie connoisseurs head to Maltby Street or somewhere similarly trendy, but there isn't anywhere else in London where there is such a critical mass of good food. My tip is to go at the end of the day when prices start to drop and take full advantage.
With mother in residence for the weekend, the market proved a decent hunting ground for ingredients for a Mother's Day meal. Mrs L is partial to a guinea fowl, so one of those ended up in my bag of swag, as did a handful of morels which caught the eye. At something like £80 per kilo they are not cheap, but a little goes a long way and ours cost less than a fiver. Finally, a bunch of tarragon finished off this holy trinity.
With these three ingredients, our Sunday lunch almost chose itself...
Roast Guinea Fowl with Morel and Tarragon Sauce
Serves four hungry lunchers
1 Guinea Fowl, c. 1.2kg
15-20 morels, cleaned and halved - I also used the same amount of chestnut mushrooms to bulk things out a bit
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
100ml white wine (optional)
250ml chicken stock
100ml double cream
1 tsp dijon mustard
3 tblsp chopped tarragon
juice of half a lemon (optional)
1 tsp dijon mustard
3 tblsp chopped tarragon
juice of half a lemon (optional)
25g butter, plus extra for the guinea fowl
olive oil
salt and pepper
- Heat the oven to 220c. While it is heating up, prepare the guinea fowl. Season inside and out with plenty of salt and pepper and massage some olive oil in to the breast and legs. You can also rub some butter into the fowl's flesh as well if you like - I do.
- Place the bird in to the oven at 220C for 10 minutes, then turn the heat down to 160c and roast for another 30-35 minutes, or until the juices from the leg run clear when you insert a skewer. Once the fowl is cooked, take it out of the oven, cover with foil and leave to rest for ten minutes.
- While the fowl is cooking, you can deal with the accompanying sauce. In a non-stick frying pan over a low heat, melt 25g of butter and a tablespoon of olive oil, then add the garlic and cook gently until softened.
- When the garlic has softened add the mushrooms to the pan, turn up the heat slightly and fry until they start to release their juices! Keep cooking until the juices have evaporated, then add the wine (if using) and reduce until there is a scant tablespoonful or two of liquid in the pan.
- When the wine has reduced, add the stock and cream, lower the heat to a brisk simmer and leave uncovered to cook for ten minutes. If it looks like it is reducing too much, lower the heat, or you can always add some more stock to achieve the desired consistency - a smooth and velvety sauce.
- When the guinea fowl is out of the oven you can finish off the sauce by adding the mustard, tarragon, lemon juice, the juices from the rested bird and season with salt and pepper. I like the lemon juice as it is quite a rich sauce and the acidity lightens it slightly, but the amount you add is up to you.
- To serve, I jointed the guinea fowl into 10 pieces (two thighs, two drumsticks, the breasts into four and two wings), put it into a warmed serving dish and poured the sauce over the top. On this occasion the guinea fowl came with a bowl of boiled new potatoes and some purple sprouting broccoli.
Suffice to say, Mother was impressed!
Wednesday, 26 March 2014
The Ranelagh Kitchen Diaries - part five
Hi there blog watchers. I guess it is time to issue probably my fiftieth apology for a lengthy gap between this post and the last. All the usual excuses apply: busy at work, hectic social schedule and a two week holiday in Vancouver and Whistler for a spot of sightseeing and skiing.
This was a big trip for me as the last time I was in that neck of the woods I almost managed to write myself off permanently via a pretty catastrophic ski accident. Two operations, five days in the ICU, five weeks in hospital and almost a year later I was back to myself again, but liver lacerations, a duodenal tear and a jejunal perforation are not to be recommended!
Despite this, I have had no problems getting back on skis again and long time readers will note that the origins of the blog lie in my return, bored and depressed from a ski season in Val d'Isere. Consequently, when the chance came to extend my stay in Canada and spend a couple of days cat-skiing at a remote lodge three hours north of Whistler, I jumped.
Anyway, the full story of that trip is one I am hoping to have published elsewhere, so why am I telling you about it here? Obviously there was also something there that piqued the foodie as well as the wannabe pro-skier, gnarlster in me...
What was it? Why, the pancakes served up at breakfast of course! I am not going to launch in to some sort of rant about how they do breakfast better the other side of the pond and, if you recall a previous post, I am not a fan of going out for breakfast anyway. But as an occasional treat, the combination of thick, fluffy pancakes, salty, crisp bacon and lashings of maple syrup is hard to beat.
So when I was in depths of post-holiday depression on Saturday morning (somewhere I remain), it was to pancakes, bacon and some Vancouver Airport, duty-free maple syrup that I turned to lift my spirits.
On their own, this holy trinity work damn well together, but it was the addition of some sauteed slices of apple that lifted this particular breakfast from average diner fare to something slightly more impressive. Of course, apple and pork are natural bedfellows, so it is not so surprising that the apple combined so well with everything else to make a very tasty menage a quatre.
Make these pancakes to cheer yourself up; make them to cheer someone else up; or make them just for the hell of it!
Pancakes with bacon, apple and maple syrup
Makes 10-12 pancakes, so enough for four breakfasters
125g plain flour
125ml milk
1 egg
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp caster sugar
pinch sugar
30g melted butter plus more butter for frying the pancakes and apple
3 dessert apples, cut into eighths
8-12 rashers of bacon, back or streaky depending on your preference
Pre-heat the oven to 200C, gas 6
- Lay the bacon out on a baking tray and put in to the pre-heated oven to cook for 15 minutes, or until nice and crisp (streaky will take less time than back).
- Sift together the dry ingredients in a large bowl and combine the milk, egg and melted butter in another bowl or jug.
- Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients, then add the milk etc. and whisk vigorously to combine into a thick, lump-free batter.
- Leave the batter to stand while you turn your attention to the apples. Melt approximately 25g butter in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and add the apple slices when the butter is foaming. Gently fry the apple slices until they are lightly caramelised on the outside and are soft all the way through.
- Remove the apples from the pan and leave in a warm place until ready to serve.
- Now return the frying pan to the heat and add more butter if necessary to lubricate the pancakes while they cook. When the butter has melted, add the batter to the pan. If you are using a large frying pan you should be able to make three at a time - mine were about the circumference of a teacup, but make them as big or small as you like.
- When bubbles start to appear on the uncooked side of the pancake, flip them and cook until they are golden brown on both sides. Now remove the pancakes and keep the in the same warm place where you left the apples until ready.
- Repeat these steps until the mixture is all used up and you have a steaming pile of fluffy pancakes ready for the table.
- To serve, I laid my bacon on the plate, then alternated pancakes and slices of sauteed apple, so that there were three layers of each and then drizzled maple syrup over the whole lot.
After that, you can either go out and slay some killer lines in the backcountry powder, or get a lift down to Tunbridge Wells for your friend Phil's 30th birthday. Guess which one I actually did on Saturday? Clue - it wasn't this...
|Photo courtesy of Ryan Davison Crisp
P.S. Don't worry if there's only a couple of you for brekkie - make the same amount of batter as it will happily stay in the fridge for a couple of days, supplying you with more pancakes for breakfasts or dinner time desserts.
Saturday, 15 February 2014
The Ranelagh Kitchen Diaries - part four
Ok, I know it is getting late in the day for marmalade recipes, but I made a big batch of my own marmalade over the weekend and it is, if I do say so myself, bloody fantastic stuff. Never mind Fosters, this stuff is the real amber nectar. Moreover, with the addition of a hearty slug of bourbon, if you eat enough of it, it might even have the same effect as a couple of tinnies.
Usually, I would launch in to some diatribe about how making your own preserves isn't actually an activity just for aged spinsters and something for hip young dudes as well. In this case though I think I would be fighting a losing battle. Marmalade isn't cool and lets face it, neither is marmalade making. But I don't care. I find it both a very satisfying and very relaxing way to spend a few hours on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. So ignore the naysayers and crack on because the Seville oranges won't be around for much longer (I was at the shops earlier and they still had plenty in though).
The recipe is easy, but does require a lot of juicing and chopping. I used my food mixer to juice the oranges, which was a real time saver, but if you don't have one a normal juicer or even a fork and a bit of elbow grease will do fine. Similarly, it might be tempting to use a food processor to chop the peel, but it is much better done by hand and if you have a sharp knife isn't too onerous.
Seville orange and bourbon marmalade
1kg Seville Oranges
1 lemon
1kg golden caster sugar
1kg soft light brown sugar
2.5 litres water
100ml bourbon or any other type of whisk(e)y
You will also need a very large saucepan, a piece of muslin or an old sock and at least seven or eight washed and sterilised jam jars.
- Get to work on the oranges, halving and juicing them in to a bowl. You want to reserve all the pips and pith and any other pieces of flesh in a second bowl and keep your bowl of juice free from all this detritus. Do the same for the solitary lemon too.
- Then comes the chopping. You need to slice all the orange halves into thin strips. These will end up being the nice juicy pieces of orange peel that liven up your marmalade of a morning, so the thickness of your strips depends on how thick you like them on your toast.
- Add the juice and the sliced peel to your large saucepan, cover with the cold water and bring to the boil. While the water is coming up to the boil put all the reserved pith, seeds and flesh into a piece of muslin, or if like me you don't have some muslin hanging around, use an old sport sock. Then tie up the ends to create a little parcel of pith and add this to the juice and peel.
- When the mix has come to the boil lower the heat and leave to simmer gently for approximately two hours. After the time has elapsed check that the peel is completely soft and cooked through then remove the bag of pith and leave to cool for ten minutes.
- At this point you can leave the marmalade overnight before moving on to step six. This is useful if you have a rugby match to watch like I did.
- When the bag of muslin is cool enough to handle grab it a give it a bloody good squeeze over the marmalade mixture. You want to get as much of the gooey gloopy stuff out of the bag as possible as the goo contains the pectin necessary to set the marmalade.
- Now bring the mix up to a simmer, add the sugar and stir thoroughly until the sugar has completely dissolved into the nascent marmalade. It is important that it does dissolve fully, so don't skimp on the stirring. Also put a couple of saucers into the freezer to chill.
- Now turn the heat up under the marmalade, bring to a rolling boil and leave to cook rapidly for at least fifteen minutes. This is to get the marmalade up to the setting point. For me this was a temperature of 109C, but start checking when the marmalade reaches 104C. If you don't have a temperature probe just start testing it after the 15 minutes.
- The best way to test if the marmalade has reached setting point is to put a teaspoon of the mix on one of the cold saucers and put in the fridge for a minute. The take it out and run your finger through the mix. If it crinkles, has formed a bit of a skin and your finger leaves a gap through the mix then it is ready, if not, let the mixture cook for another five minutes and try again. It might take up to half an hour, so be patient and don't be tempted to take it off the heat too soon or your marmalade won't set in the jars.
- When setting point has been reached, take the marmalade off the boil and leave to cool for 15 minutes, then pour in the bourbon and mix. Finally get the marmalade into the sterilised jars and seal.
It sounds like quite a lot of work, but everything is spread out over a couple of hours and the only sustained periods of action are at the start and the end. In any case, the whole process is thoroughly worthwhile and I've already worked my way through one jar and am on to my second.
A loaf of white on rye
If you saw part three of the kitchen diaries you will have read something along the lines of: I don't eat white bread and don't intend on making any bread with white flour. Well to be frank, that was bollocks and I did make a white boule seasoned with a smattering of rye flour last weekend. Moreover it was possibly the best loaf I have made yet. Proof that you shouldn't believe anything I write (maybe!).
Anyway, the method is almost exactly the same as the one in the previous post, but instead of the flour mix I suggest there use 400g strong white flour and 100g rye flour. Then instead of putting the loaf into a tin to prove, shape it into a sort of hemisphere or boule shape instead (see photo below). After the prove, slash the top a couple of times with a sharp knife and put it in the oven to cook for 35-40 minutes. Perfect toasted with butter and a good dollop of that bourbon marmalade.
A loaf of white on rye
If you saw part three of the kitchen diaries you will have read something along the lines of: I don't eat white bread and don't intend on making any bread with white flour. Well to be frank, that was bollocks and I did make a white boule seasoned with a smattering of rye flour last weekend. Moreover it was possibly the best loaf I have made yet. Proof that you shouldn't believe anything I write (maybe!).
Anyway, the method is almost exactly the same as the one in the previous post, but instead of the flour mix I suggest there use 400g strong white flour and 100g rye flour. Then instead of putting the loaf into a tin to prove, shape it into a sort of hemisphere or boule shape instead (see photo below). After the prove, slash the top a couple of times with a sharp knife and put it in the oven to cook for 35-40 minutes. Perfect toasted with butter and a good dollop of that bourbon marmalade.
Thursday, 6 February 2014
The Ranelagh Kitchen Diaries - part three
|A rye and spelt loaf!
God, isn't the weather so unremittingly shit at the moment. Every time I think I should get out on my bike for a bit of exercise I see a torrent of leaves rush past the door being chased by a squally rain shower. Thus, I close the door and return to the chocolate digestives and season five of Friday Night Lights (best TV show ever made - and that includes The Wire).
Ideal conditions you might think for spending extended periods of time in the kitchen, indulging in my second favourite activity outside the bedroom. Speaking of which, I have just returned from a couple of days skiing (my favourite activity outside the bedroom) in Courmayeur, where I had some really excellent food. If you are ever there I heartily recommend going to Maison Vielle for lunch - apparently it is one of Heston Blumenthal's favourite places, so don't just take my word for it.
Anyway, less skiing and more food because I have promised you my finalised bread recipe and it is just about ready for public view...
I have been making bread once or twice a week since Christmas and can see why people can become obsessed with it. It can be both immensely satisfying and immensely frustrating at the same time. I can't pretend that every loaf of bread I have made has been a success, indeed at least one rye and spelt loaf has ended up in the bin because of a series of cock-ups.
But when it does all work out, I really do feel a warm glow of achievement that few other kitchen-related activities can provide. Moreover, the bread is much better for you and tastes great - nicer than anything other than the best quality commercially-made loaves.
There are all manner of different methods for making bread and I have tried quite a few, but the best results I achieved were using the most traditional one, i.e. knead, rise, knock-back, prove and bake. So this is the method I am going to recommend below.
I decided not to bother making white bread, because I tend not to eat it anyway and if I am going to bake my own bread I want it to be as healthy as possible. Thinking about other types of flour, I have tried wholemeal, spelt and rye in varying quantities. Of these, my favourites have been a rye and spelt combo and the spelt only loaf. Baking with these flours isn't as straightforward as using plain flour, but the flavours you get are more complex and it is worth persevering with.
There you have it, follow the recipe below and you should emerge with a pretty decent looking rye and spelt loaf. Perfect for toasting, sandwiches and whatever other bread-related activities you indulge in.
Rye and spelt loaf
200g rye flour
200g spelt flour
130g strong white flour
7g instant yeast
10g fine grained salt
2 dessert spoons caster sugar
1/2 vitamin C tablet, ground into a powder (this is a baker's trick to stop the bread being too heavy)
300ml lukewarm water
a neutral tasting oil, e.g. rape or sunflower
You will also need a standard 2 lb loaf tin
I have been making bread once or twice a week since Christmas and can see why people can become obsessed with it. It can be both immensely satisfying and immensely frustrating at the same time. I can't pretend that every loaf of bread I have made has been a success, indeed at least one rye and spelt loaf has ended up in the bin because of a series of cock-ups.
But when it does all work out, I really do feel a warm glow of achievement that few other kitchen-related activities can provide. Moreover, the bread is much better for you and tastes great - nicer than anything other than the best quality commercially-made loaves.
There are all manner of different methods for making bread and I have tried quite a few, but the best results I achieved were using the most traditional one, i.e. knead, rise, knock-back, prove and bake. So this is the method I am going to recommend below.
I decided not to bother making white bread, because I tend not to eat it anyway and if I am going to bake my own bread I want it to be as healthy as possible. Thinking about other types of flour, I have tried wholemeal, spelt and rye in varying quantities. Of these, my favourites have been a rye and spelt combo and the spelt only loaf. Baking with these flours isn't as straightforward as using plain flour, but the flavours you get are more complex and it is worth persevering with.
There you have it, follow the recipe below and you should emerge with a pretty decent looking rye and spelt loaf. Perfect for toasting, sandwiches and whatever other bread-related activities you indulge in.
Rye and spelt loaf
200g rye flour
200g spelt flour
130g strong white flour
7g instant yeast
10g fine grained salt
2 dessert spoons caster sugar
1/2 vitamin C tablet, ground into a powder (this is a baker's trick to stop the bread being too heavy)
300ml lukewarm water
a neutral tasting oil, e.g. rape or sunflower
You will also need a standard 2 lb loaf tin
- Start off by combining the warm water, yeast and sugar in a warmed mixing bowl large enough to take all the flour. Stir until the sugar and yeast have dissolved in to the water. Now add the flour, vitamin C and salt, and stir until the flour and water have combined into a sticky dough.
- Pour a small amount of oil onto a clean work surface and at the same time grease up your palms too. This is so the dough doesn't stick to you while you knead it. Then turn the dough out on to the oiled surface and knead it for as long as you can manage - seven to ten minutes should suffice. The purpose of the kneading is to stretch the gluten strands in the flour and make them all elastic and bouncy.*
- After the knead you are ready for the second stage of my process - the rise. Roll the dough into a ball, place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with cling film, a tea-towel or plastic bag and leave in a warm place to rise for at least an hour. Ideally you would leave it a bit longer though.
- When it has risen and more or less doubled in size, turn the dough out onto a work surface, give it a bit of a bash to expel the air out of the dough and knead very briefly. This is called knocking-back. Then shape the dough into a rectangle the width of your loaf tin and roll tightly, as if you were making a Swiss roll. Now put the bread into the loaf tin, seam side down, cover again and leave in a warm place to prove. While the bread is proving heat the oven to as hot as it will go and ideally heat up a sturdy baking tray in there too (this helps the bread cook from the bottom up as well).
- Proving is just another name for the bread rising for a second time, which is easy enough. But the key is to catch the dough at the right time to put in the oven. Too short a time and it will turn out all doughy and too long a time and the bread will collapse when it is baking or when you take it out of the oven. The best way to do this is via the "prod-method". If you poke the dough and it springs back straight-away it needs a bit longer. If you poke it and it stays poked, it has proved for too long. Ideally, when prodded, the dough will spring back slowly to its original position. As is often the case, you want the happy medium.
- When the happy medium has been reached place the bread on the pre-heated baking tray and place on the middle shelf in the hot oven. Leave it at max temperature for 20 minutes, then turn the heat down to 210c and cook for another 20 minutes.
- There are a couple of ways to check if the bread is ready. The old fashioned method is to tap the bottom and if it sounds hollow it is ready. This is a bit imprecise though, so you can also use a temperature probe as well. Insert the probe in to the middle of the bread and if the internal temperature has reached 90c it should be done.
- Take the bread out of the oven a leave to cool on a rack before cutting in to it. If you do cut in to it while it is warm you will let all the steam escape and the texture of the crumb can change.
That, folks, is it. Don't be too disheartened if your loaf doesn't turn out perfect the first, or indeed, every time. Persevere, because bread-making is well worth your time and effort, even if the supermarket loaf is just a short stroll away.
|Stage three - pre-rise
|Another one of the finished article
* n.b. There is another kneading method that I have had some success with. This involves a series of three or four very short kneads (15 seconds) punctuated by 10 minutes intervals when you let the dough rest, before finally leaving the dough to rise properly. This method can be substituted happily for the more traditional one mentioned in stage 2 if you fancy experimenting.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
With the recent campaign battle in mind, along with the countless other experiences I've had during my years of movement building work as a queer Latina activist, I've created a fusion of lessons learned from the past and advice for the fights of the future.
When Grandma They're Taking Our Jobs starts up with you over the sweet potatoes about all the babies you're killing, refuse to engage. Instead, start a new conversation: one that shifts the conversation to the things you believe in.
A leading "personhood" activist, in the wake of repeated losses, is advocating for his allies to focus on municipal measures instead of statewide initiatives. And a national anti-choice group, launched in October, has announced plans to do just that.
This week, we released Saying Abortion Aloud, a report and set of recommendations for those sharing their personal abortion stories publicly and the advocates who support them.
HB 248, which represents at least the second time Ohio has tried to pass a heartbeat ban, was pushed hastily to a vote in the House Health and Aging Committee.
Thursday's live-streamed "one in three" speak-out made me realize that even as a staunch reproductive rights advocate, a clinic escort, and a feminist, I still have to battle my own internalized abortion stigma.
The city's last abortion clinic will remain open for now after state health inspectors granted an exemption to an anti-choice state law that requires all abortion clinics to have a transfer agreement with local hospitals, but also bans public hospitals from entering into those agreements with providers.
Mississippi's admitting privileges law will remain blocked after the full panel of 15 judges on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals refuses to hear the case again.
She's Beautiful When She's Angry, Mary Dore's new film about the birth of contemporary feminism, is an insightful, inspiring look at the struggles and triumphs of our foremothers.
Gordon Klingenschmitt, a state legislator in Colorado who's set to take office in January, sees demonic forces at work in everyone from reproductive health-care providers to President Obama, and his extreme views may hurt Colorado's Republican Party.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Great Inagua House Rental Photos and Description
Ideal for families and friends
This charming house in a peaceful area consists of 3 bedrooms, one of which is a Mezzanine with a superb view of the Pinel Island, the small jewel of Saint-Martin
Ideally located between Anse Marcel and Orient Bay (also called the small St-Tropez of the island), Ti Case house is suitable for a family or a group of friends.
The whole furnishing and linen has been fully changed as well as all the domestic appliances to provide you the ideal comfort.
The exclusive and private pool, equipped with new alarm, is located in the same level of the terrace leading to long sunny swimming as well as the moonlight.
All this ingredients are put together, so your holiday will be such an unforgettable memory that you need to come back to Saint-Martin.
- Suitability:
- Long-term Renters Welcome
- Low Allergen Environment
- pets considered


text:
Garrett Clayton Joins Cast of SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT at The Pasadena Playhouse
by BWW News Desk - Oct 31, 2014
This just in! The Pasadena Playhouse and Lythgoe Family Productions (LFP) announces Garrett Clayton (Disney's "Teen Beach Movie") as Sleeping Beauty's Prince of Alhambra in this year's Panto at the Playhouse SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT. The cast also features previously announced Disney Recording Artist Olivia Holt as "Aurora" (Disney's "I Didn't Do It"), Lucy Lawless as "Carabosse" ("Xena: Warrior Princess," "Spartacus"), David Engel as "Nanny Tickle" (Broadway's "La Cage Aux Folles," "Seussical"), Tamyra Gray as "The Good Fairy" ("American Idol," Broadway's "Bombay Dreams" and "Rent") and returning from last year's Panto at the Playhouse production of Aladdin and His Winter Wish, Ben Giroux as "Silly Billy" (CW's "Hart of Dixie). (more...)
Photo Flash: First Look at Human Race Theatre Company's MAME, Beginning Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Oct 30, 2014
The Human Race Theatre Company continues its winning streak of re-imaging large-scale musicals with the Broadway hit Mame. Producing Artistic Director Kevin Moore takes on directing duties and looks to catch the same magic that made recent small-scale productions of Oliver! and Fiddler on the Roof such outstanding successes in the 212-seat Loft Theatre. (more...)
CAMELOT Begins Performances Tomorrow at Drury Lane Theatre
by BWW News Desk - Oct 29, 2014
Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents the iconic love story CAMELOT, the winner of four Tony Awards, previewing October 30, opening November 6 and running through January 4, 2015. The all-star cast is led by Ken Clark (Titanic on Broadway, First National Tour of La Cage Aux Folles, Netflix's House of Cards) as "King Arthur," Christy Altomare (Mamma Mia! on Broadway and First National Tour of Spring Awakening) as "Guenevere," and Travis Taylor (Les Miserables and Young Frankenstein at Drury Lane Theatre) as "Lancelot." CAMELOT is directed by Alan Souza (World Premiere musicals The Little Hours and Exposure Time for New Jersey Repertory Theatre, and The Full Monty for Maltz Jupiter Theatre) making his Chicago debut. Drury Lane's production shines new light on this majestic musical that will feature new orchestrations by Matt Aument and a unique scenic approach that blends medieval fantasy with the opulence of the 12th Century court life. (more...)
Goodspeed Musicals' 2015 Season to Feature World Premiere of THE HONEYMOONERS & Two Other Classics
by BWW News Desk - Oct 28, 2014
After one of its most successful seasons ever, two-time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals announced today that its 2015 season will feature the world premiere of The Honeymooners and two classic musicals that are all sure to send theatergoers to the moon! (more...)
Kate Baldwin, Jason Danieley, Heidi Blickenstaff & More Set for 92Y's LYRICS & LYRICISTS 2015
by BWW News Desk - Oct 28, 2014
2Y announces casting for Lyrics & Lyricists 2015, the 45th season of the acclaimed American Songbook series. Cady Huffman, Liz Callaway, Kate Baldwin, Peter Cincotti and Jason Danieley are among the performers interpreting the works of Stephen Sondheim; Irving Berlin; Sheldon Harnick; and such songwriters as Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and Leonard Bernstein, who so eloquently illuminated New York City's essence in song. Mitzi Gaynor makes a special guest appearance for the show on Hollywood's Leading Ladies - only the fourth time the legendary entertainer has performed in New York City. (more...)
All Aboard - Meet the Full Cast of THE LAST SHIP, Setting Sail Tonight on Broadway!
by Meet the Cast - Oct 26, 2014
THE LAST SHIP - the new musical with music and lyrics by 16-time Grammy Award-winner Sting and book by Tony Award winner John Logan and Pulitzer Prize-winner Brian Yorkey opens tonight, October 26. The Last Ship is directed by Tony Award winner Joe Mantello and choreographed by Olivier Award winner and Tony Award nominee Steven Hoggett. Scroll down to learn more about the full cast and watch the company onstage in a commercial for the show below! (more...)
Wendi Peters to Join UK Tour of OH, WHAT A LOVELY WAR
by BWW News Desk - Oct 22, 2014
Wendi Peters, best known for her role as Cilla Battersby-Brown in Coronation Street, will join the ensemble cast of Oh What A Lovely War on its national tour in 2015. (more...)
Olivia Holt, Lucy Lawless, Tamyra Gray & More to Star in SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT at Pasadena Playhouse
by BWW News Desk - Oct 21, 2014
The Pasadena Playhouse announce cast members for this year's Panto at the Playhouse SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT. The cast will feature Disney Recording Artist Olivia Holt as "Aurora" (Disney's "I Didn't Do It"), Lucy Lawless as "Carabosse" ("Xena: Warrior Princess," "Spartacus"), David Engel as "Nanny Tickle" (Broadway's "La Cage Aux Folles," "Seussical"), Tamyra Gray as "The Good Fairy" ("American Idol," Broadway's "Bombay Dreams" and "Rent") and returning from last year's Panto at the Playhouse production of Aladdin and His Winter Wish, Ben Giroux as "Silly Billy" (CW's "Hart of Dixie). (more...)
Norm Lewis Extends Run in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA; Julia Udine & Linda Balgord to Join Broadway Company
by BWW News Desk - Oct 20, 2014
Producers Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group today announced principal cast changes for the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, directed by Harold Prince. The longest-running show in Broadway history and one of the most successful stage productions of all-time, PHANTOM this year surpassed 11,000 performances in New York - an unprecedented feat achieved by no other Broadway show. The Broadway production has played to more than 16 million people at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street), the musical's home for more than 26 record-breaking years. (more...)
Photo Flash: First Look at Abigail Shapiro in LIBERTY at Theatre 80
by BWW News Desk - Oct 20, 2014
Abigail Shapiro plays the title role in Liberty: A Monumental New Musical. Directed by Evan Pappas, the new musical will play a limited seven-week engagement at Theatre 80 (80 St. Marks Place) through Tuesday, November 25, 2014. Check out a first look below! (more...)
Theater People Podcast Welcomes Three-Time Tony Nominee Celia Keenan-Bolger
by Matt Tamanini - Oct 19, 2014
On Monday, October 20th, the Theater People Podcast welcomes three time Tony nominee Celia Keenan-Bolger. Topics discussed include her Broadway debut in the popular 2005 musical THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, her critically acclaimed turns in the Broadway productions of PETER AND THE STAR CATCHER and last year's THE GLASS MENAGERIE. She also talks about taking on the new play THE OLDEST BOY, currently in previews at the Mitzi Newhouse theater at Lincoln Theater, and the exciting experience of working for the first time on a play with two women at the helm--the playwright Sarah Ruhl, and director Rebecca Taichman. (more...)
BWW Interview: WICKED's Lauren Haughton Talks DON'T STOP BELIEVIN' BENEFIT for BC/EFA and the Actors Fund
by Alan Henry - Oct 19, 2014
The Actors' Fund of Canada and members of the National Touring Companies of WICKED and THE BOOK OF MORMON will host DON'T STOP BELIEVIN', an evening of song and dance, at the Panasonic Theatre on Monday, October 27. The performance starts at 8:00 PM with the VIP Plus reception beginning at 6:30 PM. The Panasonic Theatre is located at 651 Yonge Street, Toronto. Net proceeds will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) and the Actors' Fund of Canada. (more...)
Quast Confirmed As Judge Turpin In SWEENEY TODD With Terfel And Thompson!
by BWW News Desk - Nov 7, 2014
Joining the previously announced Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson who will lead the cast as Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett is Philip Quast as Judge Turpin. Further casting will be announced shortly. (more...)
Photo Flash: Inside CAMELOT's Opening Night at Drury Lane Theatre
by BWW News Desk - Nov 7, 2014
Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents the iconic love story CAMELOT, the winner of four Tony Awards, which opened last night, November 6 and runs through January 4, 2015. (more...)
Robert & Kristen Lopez's UP HERE, Phylicia Rashad-Helmed 'BLUEPRINTS' and More All-New Works Set for La Jolla Playhouse's 2015-16 Season
by BWW News Desk - Nov 7, 2014
La Jolla Playhouse announces five shows for its 2015/2016 season, featuring all new works, including the world-premiere musical Come from Away, featuring book, music and lyrics by acclaimed Canadian husband-and-wife team Irene Sankoff and David Hein, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley; the world premiere of Indecent, co-created by director Rebecca Taichman (Playhouse's Sleeping Beauty Wakes, Milk Like Sugar), and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel (How I Learned to Drive), co-produced with Yale Repertory Theatre; and Blueprints to Freedom: An Ode to Bayard Rustin, by Michael Benjamin Washington (Memphis, The Wiz), directed by The Cosby Show's Phylicia Rashad, which had its first workshop during the Playhouse's 2014 DNA New Work Series. (more...)
Photo Flash: First Look at Ken Clark, Christy Altomare, Travis Taylor and More in CAMELOT at Drury Lane
by BWW News Desk - Nov 4, 2014
Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents the iconic love story CAMELOT, the winner of four Tony Awards, previewing October 30, opening November 6 and running through January 4, 2015. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action! (more...)
Maltz Jupiter Theatre to Present FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, 12/2-21
by BWW News Desk - Nov 4, 2014
Celebrate the festival of lights at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre with Fiddler on the Roof like you've never seen it before! (more...)
Lee Roy Reams & Karen Mason Join 2014 TRU Love Benefit Lineup, 11/9
by BWW News Desk - Nov 3, 2014
Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) will celebrate its 23rd year as a not-for-profit service organization with a celebration of three extraordinary people at the annual TRU Love Benefit, When You Care. (more...)
A.J. Shively to Star in Abingdon's MERTON OF THE MOVIES Concert Reading; Full Cast Announced!
by BWW News Desk - Nov 3, 2014
Abingdon Theatre Company presents a concert reading of MERTON OF THE MOVIES -- an uproarious new musical comedy set in the rollicking age of Keystone Cops, Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplin, and Buster Keaton -- with book by Donald Brenner, music and lyrics by Doug Katsaros, on Monday, December 8 at 7pm at the June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street) in Manhattan. Donald Brenner, whose directorial credits include MARCH MADNESS and the upcoming MALLORCA at Abingdon, will direct. (more...)
Jeff McCarthy Completes Cast of CHICAGO in Manila; Meet the Full Cast!
by BWW News Desk - Nov 27, 2014
Broadway stalwart Jeff McCarthy joins the all-American cast of the Broadway musical CHICAGO, which is set to play Solaire Resort and Casino's The Theatre from next Wednesday, December 3, to Sunday, December 21. McCarthy will play the role of criminal lawyer Billy Flynn, alongside Bianca Marroquin's Roxie Hart, Terra C. MacLeod's Velma Kelly, Jacob Keith Watson's Amos Hart, Roz Ryan's Matron 'Mama' Morton, and C. Newcomer. (more...)
STAGE TUBE: Preview Kerry Ellis, Ben Forster and Louise Dearman in THE ROUTE TO HAPPINESS Album!
by Stage Tube - Nov 27, 2014
Kerry Ellis, Ben Forster and Louise Dearman appear on the new recording of Alexander S. Bermange's three-person musical The Route To Happiness, which was embraced by critics and audiences alike during its run at London 's Landor Theatre last year. This album of the complete show includes new and reconceived material that BBC comic songwriter Bermange has created for the musical since its premiere production, and is produced by Mike Dixon, one of the UK 's foremost Musical Supervisors. (more...)
WAKE UP with BWW 11/26/14 - ILLUSIONISTS, Macy's Parade, Turkey Day and More!
by Jessica Showers - Nov 26, 2014
Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This holiday weekend's big news: SOUL DOCTOR comes back to New York, DISENCHANTED! begins, THE ILLUSIONISTS bring magic to Broadway, performers from the Great White Way crowd this year's Thanksgiving Day Parade and more! (more...)
Photo Coverage: Take a Backstage Look at CHICAGO!
by Oliver Oliveros - Nov 26, 2014
The day after the opening night (October 7) of the 16th National Tour of Broadway smash CHICAGO, Rick Pessagno (Broadway's 'Sophisticated Ladies,' '42nd Street'), who also starred as Roxie Hart's unscrupulous lover, Fred Casely, in CHICAGO's First National Tour in 1997, and now dabbling in backstage work as one of the touring production's three stage managers, generously gave us--BroadwayWorld.com and a small group of Filipino journalists--a glimpse of CHICAGO's rather simple backstage setup at the Saenger Theatre, New Orleans' famed atmospheric theatre. (more...)
'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for November 26th, 2014
by Paul W. Thompson - Nov 26, 2014
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Five different musicalized adaptations of 'A Christmas Carol' will put holiday cheer into your playgoing! Also 'Plaid Tidings,' a new 'Hansel And Gretel,' our first touch of 'Hands On A Hardbody,' the cast of the upcoming 'La Cage Aux Folles' at the Marriott, and Idina Menzel schedules an appearance in the Loop! (more...)
2014 BroadwayWorld Birmingham Awards Update 11/25 - Dallas Taylor, Hunter Brown Tied!
by BWW Special Coverage - Nov 25, 2014
Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Birmingham Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 25th. (more...)
2014 BroadwayWorld Columbus Awards Update 11/25 - Mark Mann, Kevin Connell Gobble Up Competition!
by BWW Special Coverage - Nov 25, 2014
Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Columbus Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 25th. (more...)
Robin De Jesus, Tracy McDowell & Tim Weil Featured on THE ENSEMBLIST's RENT Podcast
by BWW News Desk - Nov 24, 2014
Mo Brady and Nikka Graff Lanzarone announce the release of The Ensemblist's 36th episode: 'RENT Retrospective' (more...)
BWW Reviews: LA CAGE AUX FOLLES - A Disappointing End to 2014 for The Production Company
by Tim Carney - Nov 24, 2014
The Production Company's final installment for 2014 La Cage Au Folles opened last night at the Arts Centre. Based on the play by Jean Poiret, opening in 1983 and winning 6 Tony Awards on Broadway, La Cage tells the story of Georges (Simon Burke), owner of the famous La Cage Au Folles club in St.Tropez where his partner Albin (Todd Mckenney) is the star drag act. Georges son Jean-Michel (Robert Tripolino) returns to the club to announce that he is engaged to Anne (Emily Milledge), daughter of the Edouard Dindon (Gary Sweet) leader of the Tradition Family and Morality Party. What ensues is a riotous fusion of two different worlds coupled with a touching story of love and the bond of family set against Jerry Herman's fun, poignant score. (more...)
Celebrate the Holidays at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre with FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
by BWW News Desk - Nov 21, 2014
Currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, a colorful, reimagined version of the classic Tony Award®-winning musical Fiddler on the Roof will hit the Theatre's stage December 2 - 21. Set in 1905 in the village of Anatevka in Tsarist, Russia, the story follows dairyman Tevye as he fights to maintain his family and heritage. Featuring timeless melodies and songs such as "Sunrise Sunset," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" and "If I Were a Rich Man," this beloved musical will capture your heart. (more...)
FLASH FRIDAY: A Mike Nichols Remembrance - Brilliance On Broadway, In Hollywood & Far Beyond
by Pat Cerasaro - Nov 21, 2014
In honor of his death, today we salute one of the most renowned and respected directors on Broadway, in Hollywood and far beyond, the one and only Mike Nichols. (more...)
WICKED Announces Slew of Broadway Cast Changes Including New Witches Caroline Bowman and Kara Lindsay; Plus Kathy Fitzgerald, Robin DeJesus & Matt Shingledecker
by BWW News Desk - Nov 20, 2014
WICKED will welcome new cast members to the Gershwin Theatre beginning Tuesday, December 16. CAROLINE BOWMAN (Kinky Boots, Eva in the Broadway revival tour of Evita) will step into the role of Elphaba, and KARA LINDSAY (original cast of Broadway's Newsies) will assume the role of Glinda, directly from playing the role on national tour. (more...)
Theater People Podcast Welcomes Margo Seibert and Amber Iman in Broadway Debuts Episode
by Matt Tamanini - Nov 2, 2014
On Monday, November 3, The Theater People Podcast welcomes celebrates Broadway debuts with actresses Margo Seibert (ROCKY THE MUSICAL) and Amber Iman (SOUL DOCTOR). Both actresses discuss landing leading roles for their first Broadway jobs. (more...)
The Barn Players Present LA CAG AUX FOLLES, 11/07-23
by BWW News Desk - Nov 2, 2014
Opening this Friday evening at the Barn Players is 'La Cage Aux Folles' - the hilarious musical that won six Tony Awards and was made into the popular movie 'The Birdcage'; the show will play through November 23rd with performances Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 and Sunday matinees at 2:00 at the Barn Players, 6219 Martway in Mission, it is the theatre group's final 2014 regular season production. (more...)
THE SOUND OF MUSIC NUNS' CHRISTMAS PARTY to Play 54 Below Next Month
by BWW News Desk - Nov 19, 2014
54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents 'The Sound Of Music Nuns' Christmas Party' on December 12, 2014 at 9:30 pm. It's been one year since you saw them on national TV in THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE!, but these sisters have reunited and are hosting the season's best and most irreverent Christmas party! Celebrate the season at 54 Below with an evening of holiday spirit, majestic choral singing and hilarious storytelling from some of the finest female voices on Broadway. Featuring Cameron Adams, Wendi Bergamini, Catherine Brunell, Paula Leggett Chase, Margot de La Barre, Rayanne Gonzales, Joy Hermalyn, Leah Horowitz, Autumn Hurlbert, Andrea Jones-Sojola, Jessica Molaskey, Sydney Morton, Elena Shaddow, Laura Shoop, Georgia Stitt and Rema Webb. (more...)
Alastair Brookshaw, Nic Kyle and Zoe Doano to Lead THE GRAND TOUR at Finborough Theatre
by BWW News Desk - Nov 18, 2014
Alastair Brookshaw, Nic Kyle and Zoë Doano are to head the cast for the European première of Jerry Herman's 1979 Broadway musical, The Grand Tour, directed by Thom Southerland, at the Finborough Theatre as part of the 20 Premières Season. (more...)
Way Off Broadway to Host Breakast with Santa (and Mrs. Claus)
by BWW News Desk - Nov 18, 2014
When Christmas rolls around each year, Santa Claus begins making appearances everywhere. At one time, the only chance children had to talk to Santa and tell him what they wanted for Christmas was by visiting him at one of the local shopping malls. Today, Santa's schedule has him showing up in a lot more places as the demand for his time has increased over the years. (more...)
Goodspeed Musicals Welcomes New Executive Director
by BWW News Desk - Nov 18, 2014
After an extensive national search, Goodspeed Musicals' Board of Trustees announced today that they have selected Michael Gennaro as the new Executive Director of the two-time Tony Award-winning theater. Mr. Gennaro succeeds Michael Price, who will retire at the end of this year after concluding his 46th season at Goodspeed. (more...)
The Theater People Podcast Welcomes SIDESHOW's Erin Davie
by Matt Tamanini - Nov 16, 2014
On Monday, November 17, the Theater People Podcast welcomes SIDE SHOW star Erin Davie. Davie shares stories about her six year journey with the production, working with director Bill Condon on updating and reimagining the show, memories from having seen the original production on Broadway, and how she and co-star Emily Padget found their Daisy and Violet. (more...)
FLASH FRIDAY: Our Fair Frasier! Kelsey Grammer Gears Up For Broadway Return
by Pat Cerasaro - Nov 14, 2014
Today we are focusing on a popular stage and screen star just announced to return to Broadway in FINDING NEVERLAND, Kelsey Grammer. (more...)
Photo Coverage: Christopher Sieber Gets Honored with Sardi's Caricature
by Walter McBride - Nov 14, 2014
Broadway favorite Christopher Sieber was just honored with a caricature at the legendary Sardi's Restaurant (234 West 44th Street). BroadwayWorld was there for the big celebration and you can check out photo coverage below! (more...)
Review Roundup: KINKY BOOTS on Tour!
by Review Roundups - Nov 14, 2014
Let's see what the critics had to say... (more...)
Ensemble Theatre to Present SLEEPING BEAUTY, Begin. 12/3
by BWW News Desk - Nov 14, 2014
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) presents the return of one of its most cherished family-friendly holiday musicals Sleeping Beauty, by local playwright Joseph McDonough with music and lyrics by David Kisor, playing December 3, 2014 through January 4, 2015. In the tradition of ETC's "fractured fairytale" holiday productions, Sleeping Beauty is a modern spin on the classic tale by Charles Perrault. This revamped production features a magical set design, an updated musical score and story, enchanting comedy, and a blooming twist on the meaning of love. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers. Premiere Sponsor is Macy's. (more...)
BWW Reviews: Pantages Shows Off KINKY BOOTS
by Don Grigware - Nov 13, 2014
Following in the footsteps of La Cage Aux Folles, Billy Elliott and Priscilla Queen of the Desert, all foreign films turned into Broadway musicals, Kinky Boots, the 2013 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, brings its spirited message of 'Just Be Who You Wanna Be' to the Pantages in its West Coast premiere for three weeks only through November 30. Replete with splashy direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell and a splendid cast, it's top.of.the.line entertaining fare. (more...)
VIDEO: Kelsey Grammer, Matthew Morrison Talk Co-Starring in Broadway's FINDING NEVERLAND
by TV News Desk - Nov 13, 2014
On this morning's TODAY, Kelsey Grammer and Matthew Morrison joined the NBC anchor team live from Los Angeles to talk about co-starring in FINDING NEVERLAND, heading to Broadway in 2015. (more...)
Ira David Wood to Lead North Carolina Theatre's BILLY ELLIOT; Cast Announced!
by BWW News Desk - Nov 12, 2014
North Carolina Theatre (NCT), the region's premier producer of professional Broadway shows, is excited to announce that Raleigh's own Ira David Wood, III has been cast in Billy Elliot alongside talented young Charlotte teen Sam Faulkner in the title role of "Billy." David will play Billy's father. NC Theatre's original production of Billy Elliot will run February 10 - 15, 2015 at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium in the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. (more...)
Way Off Broadway to Present IT'S CHRISTMAS!
by BWW News Desk - Nov 12, 2014
The stage at The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre will once again ring with the sounds of Christmas when the theatre's 2014 Season concludes with its final production of the year, It's Christmas! The musical variety show will close Way Off Broadway's 20th Anniversary Platinum Season, which has been a year of celebration. (more...)
BWW Reviews: Drag in the Humor With LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at The Barn Players
by Steve Wilson - Nov 12, 2014
The hilarious production of the French musical La Cage Aux Folles currently plays at the Barn Players in Mission, Kan. The musical based on the play by the same name by Jean Poiret opened on Friday night November 7 and runs through November 23. Kipp Simmons directs the Barn Players production with musical direction by Martha Risser and choreography by Rob Reeder. (more...)
Children's Theatre at Way Off Broadway to Present 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, Begin. 11/22
by BWW News Desk - Nov 11, 2014
"'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." One of the most iconic opening lines in any piece of writing in history, and the basis for the Children's Theatre's 2014 Christmas presentation. Beginning November 22nd, The Children's Theatre at Way Off Broadway will be reviving its original production of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, which first appeared at the theatre during the 2010 Season. (more...)
BWW Exclusive: Counting Down to Jennifer Ashley Tepper's THE UNTOLD STORIES OF BROADWAY, VOLUME 2 - The Palace Theatre
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Nov 10, 2014
To celebrate the publication of The Untold Stories of Broadway, Volume 2 on November 18 by Dress Circle Publishing, Jennifer Ashley Tepper will be sharing three short excerpts about each of the Broadway theaters featured in the book-countdown style! Today: The Palace Theatre! (more...)
Gallery Players to Host Jerry Herman Musical Revue, 12/6
by BWW News Desk - Nov 10, 2014
The Gallery Players will present this holiday season a gift to musical theater lovers, a revitalized production of Jerry's Girls. A musical revue of one of Broadway's most successful composers, Jerry's Girls is a celebration of Jerry Herman's work, including songs from Hello Dolly!, La Cage Aux Folles, Mame and Milk and Honey. (more...)
Message Board
NBC's TODAY Visits Cast of PETER PAN LIVE, Idina Menzel Performs, 12/1
PETER PAN's Tinkerbell to Be Portrayed by 'Point of Light'; More Secrets Revealed!
Broadway Song List Revealed for 88th Annual MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE!
VIDEO: Quvenzhane Wallis & ANNIE Cast Perform 'Hard Knock Life' on DWTS