What are you eating and drinking tonight?

[Zulus Thousand of em]

Best city to eat out in Spain? San Sebastian, by a long way. (There's not a bad Spanish city to eat out in,by the way!)

In my humble opinion, of course.

Yes - I heard that. More Michelin stars than Paris? Just that I've never been. but, obviously, should...

Scuzin' mi ignorance if you will, Zulu, is Basque cuisine generally different to your more readilly available Spanish nosebag then, or does San Sebastian have more by way of excellent eateries? Or, of course, both?

I was lucky enough to visit San Sebastian on a number of occasions on business trips about ten years ago. I liked the city so much we visited it as a family a couple of times since. It is a beautiful city built on a wide sweeping bay called La Concha. The food is just breathtaking. Basque cuisine is different from Spanish in some respects. Do not miss their version of tapas - called pintxos. Similar to tapas but much better! And Brucie, the place is just teeming with good restaurants.

Added bonus? You get at it from Bilbao (about 50 miles away) so you can take in the Guggenheim as well. Don't miss it!

And they're definitely Basques not Spanish! (Think Catalonia and multiply by ten.)

[Lofthouse Lower]

Toby Carvery for Sunday lunch - bustin'

[Wandering Willy]

Yesterday I made Tandoori Chicken from scratch - fresh spices, marinade over night etc. Served in tortillas with lettuce, onion and chutney. Turned out great.

I am a big lover of Indian food though though Tandoori is not something I order in a restaurant. I am trying other Indian dishes at home. If anyone can recommend an Indian cookbook/recipe they have used I will give them a go.

[David Lee's Hair]

If anyone can recommend an Indian cookbook/recipe they have used I will give them a go.

This... absolute genius book.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/India-Cookbook- ... 0714859028" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's real easy to follow, and gives you alternatives in the spice bit if you cannot get hold of some of the more exotic ones... I've really struggled for some of them even going to specialist food shops in Whitechapel...

Don't expect anything you'd get down the curry house, but there's some belting dishes in there... you'll need to buy half the ghee in tescos though...

[Prufrock]

Down in the Smoke for the weekend, stuffed myself silly over a concerted period of time. So much so that I don't fancy much food anymore.

Amongst all this munch, the girl decided she wanted to go to Fortnum and Mason for a champagne brekkie. Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on toast. Fruit and yoghurt. A danish and a mini croissant. A pot of tea. A glass of Apple juice. One glass of Champagne each. For two. SIXTY SEVEN BASTARD QUID. Thankfully her parents paid for it. But Jesus. It was nice, but not that nice.

Later that night I went to Kentish town to the Abbey Tavern where I had a very reasonably-priced, and ludicrously good Jerk Chicken. I know which I preferred!

[Wandering Willy]

If anyone can recommend an Indian cookbook/recipe they have used I will give them a go.

This... absolute genius book.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/India-Cookbook- ... 0714859028" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's real easy to follow, and gives you alternatives in the spice bit if you cannot get hold of some of the more exotic ones... I've really struggled for some of them even going to specialist food shops in Whitechapel...

Don't expect anything you'd get down the curry house, but there's some belting dishes in there... you'll need to buy half the ghee in tescos though...

Thanks. Ordering it now.

[Lord Kangana]

If anyone can recommend an Indian cookbook/recipe they have used I will give them a go.

This... absolute genius book.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/India-Cookbook- ... 0714859028" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's real easy to follow, and gives you alternatives in the spice bit if you cannot get hold of some of the more exotic ones... I've really struggled for some of them even going to specialist food shops in Whitechapel...

Don't expect anything you'd get down the curry house, but there's some belting dishes in there... you'll need to buy half the ghee in tescos though...

Alternatively, make your own. Melt some butter in the microwave, allow to settle, pour off the fat (which is your ghee) and leave the salts etc.

Done. As somebody else says.

[David Lee's Hair]

Bloody chefs

[thebish]

Alternatively, make your own. Melt some butter in the microwave, allow to settle, pour off the fat (which is your ghee) and leave the salts etc.

Done. As somebody else says.

...presumably - the butter that you made yourself?

(and the microwave that you built in the garage)

[Lord Kangana]

Doesn't everyone?

[thebish]

Doesn't everyone?

indeed - everything tastes better from a microwave you have made yourself...

[Bruce Rioja]

Anyone been up to the Shoulder of Mutton of late?

[General Mannerheim]

I go up there regular, it’s our usual start and (and finish point) for epic MTB rides over t'moors! The owner is the brother of a pal of mine so we can always squeeze in. But try and get a table on a weekend at short notice and you’ll be disappointed! It’s very popular atm. Tremendous nosebag, quality ale, cracking location!

The owner, Andy & his team have also recently re-opened the Elephant & Castle on Bury Road, Bamford (on the road to Rochdale) which is also very good. They did have the White Horse at Helmshore too but have sold it on, I imagine the new management has continued the theme?

[Bruce Rioja]

Ah, cheers, General. Thanks for the heads-up. I'd heard that it went shit for a while but that it's now bostin' under the new owners. I didn't know that it was the same bunch that had had the White Horse, in which case it'll definitely be top nosebag.

Still got visitors over at work and they want the 'English pub experience', so obviously I need somewhere traditional but with cracking scran. Job sorted. Thanks again.

[General Mannerheim]

It did go a bit shit for a while it even closed for bit too, but I reckon Andy has been in there a couple of years now and its booming! It ticks every box for your foreign friends, they’ll love it. Wish I was going, my stomach is rumbling thinking about their cheese & onion pie! Beans on toast for me…

google 'Lancashire Taverns' and you can print off the menus for your pals.

[Bruce Rioja]

I had a look at the menu after your last post and coincidentally enough the cheese pie jumped out at me (not literally, of course), as did the black pudding on a poached egg.
Years since I've been - they've done the old place up incredibly well. Really looking forward yo it now.

A similar sort of place that we use often (traditional pub, cracking nosebag) is the Fence Gate. Only problem is is that it's fecking miles away, so if everything goes alright tonight then we'll probably use the SoM on a regular basis.

[General Mannerheim]

haha - that’s really weird because i was gonna write the Black pudding & poached egg first, but thought it sounded a bit simple? But it comes with these crispy shallot rings and a dressing which all together is beeeeeautiful! im fecking starving.

[Bruce Rioja]

Oh mate. They did it with cripy panchette rather than the shallotts but what a triumph. And the cheese and onion pie? Best ever. Will definitely be going back, hopefully soon.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Best ever? There's a pub over the road from Riggs' Garden Centre that has the best cheese and onion pie in the world, IMO.

[General Mannerheim]

Best ever? There's a pub over the road from Riggs' Garden Centre that has the best cheese and onion pie in the world, IMO.

Wear the fox hat?