To anyone who is living or has ever lived in England

[zensho]

Actually, I think California probably has the best food in the world. Amaing restaurants.

[Occam]

Actually, I think California probably has the best food in the world. Amaing restaurants.

Not the best but certainy amazingly good. if I am in the states for extended period I start to look like one of them. I was once in LA for four weeks and I had to wear a muumuu.

But do they serve American in their best restaurants? Hardly. Thomas Keller at the best restaurant in the US (The French Laundry, 4th best in the world) does not sell many barbecued ribs! I bet they'd be good though.

In fairness London has some of the best restaurants in the world and only a few serve exclusively English food. England’s best restaurant Fat Duck sells uniquely insane food so that doesn’t count.

I trained as a chef and while I cook mostly English food I am heavily influenced from abroad. E.g. when I make chicken pie (YES, MEAT IN A PIE DAMN YOU) I cook the filling with leeks, white wine and tarragon. Not authentically English but really tasty.

[zensho]

Give us some recipes. How does one get the pastry for a pie perfect?

[Occam]

Give us some recipes. How does one get the pastry for a pie perfect?

Pastry. Good fat is key, use butter or lard never marg or any low-fat nonsense. Keep the fat cool. Keep your hands cool. Keep the pastry cool when you are working with it. After mixing it together I put it in the fridge to cool it down. You see, if you warm the fat and it melts then instead of bubbles of fat wrapped in flour you get chunks of flour soaked in fat; it goes hard and crumbly when you want firm and melting. You can use a food processor to good effect here if you have warm hands like me. Blitz the fat and flour together into a breadcrumbs consistency instead of rubbing it in your hands. Then add the (ice cold) water when you've tipped it into a mixing bowl.

Cook at the bottom of the oven so the bottom of your pie cooks. Brush the bottom of the pie with beaten egg before adding the filling (to form a protective layer so your bottom doesn't go soggy) and brush the top with the egg so it goes shiny and appetising.

Never serve a hot pie without mash!

Hungry now...

[zensho]

Will try this. Got a recipe for Lardy Cake?

[Occam]

Will try this. Got a recipe for Lardy Cake?

You know what? I have never eaten Lardy Cake.

I tend not to do that much baking. I'm fat enough as it is without the added problem of freshly baked puddings around the place.

[Cuddly_Carpy]

I've never eaten, made, or want to make a lardy cake

however I make brownie, flapjack, cakes, lemon meringue pie, apple crumble etc. all the time, yums...

[Occam]

I've never eaten, made, or want to make a lardy cake

however I make brownie, flapjack, cakes, lemon meringue pie, apple crumble etc. all the time, yums...

Flapjack, mmmmmm. I make about 4 kilos of it to take to Glastonbury as emergency rations.

[Cuddly_Carpy]

Exactly, it's easy to make, and a little bit good for you... filling... yummy... *drools everywhere*

[Occam]

Exactly, it's easy to make, and a little bit good for you... filling... yummy... *drools everywhere*

I can only bake things that don't need to rise. I need practise. I'm currently working on scones and simple bread. Biscuits are good because I take them into the office for my team and then I don't eat them all and get fat. I've got stem ginger cookies in the oven right now.

[Cuddly_Carpy]

I love ginger snaps! Mmmmm I just ate like half a ginger cake too... I'm such a pie sometimes...

[Occam]

Mmmm! Their fantastic. Stem ginger is lovely, chewy and hot hot hot.

[Cuddly_Carpy]

My mum likes stem ginger but I've never grown fond of it really... I LOVE to bake though, food is great!

What shall I make for the meet on sat?

[Occam]

My mum likes stem ginger but I've never grown fond of it really... I LOVE to bake though, food is great!

What shall I make for the meet on sat?

Pirate cake.

Actualyl there is no such thing ... how about Ships Biscuits but you could make yours edible.

[Stockwell Day]

I feel the need to throw in something Canadian here. You all must try poutine- the most heart-clogging meal to ever sustain a lumberjack. A poutine consists of French Fries, somethered in gravy then topped with mounds of cheese curds.



Mmm. Dying early never tasted so good.