Hello! I hope Autumn is treating you all well - didn't we have a fantastic Indian summer in October? How lucky we were! Just a few days ago I was on the beach near Rye in hot sun, we were staying in a beautiful beach house and had lunch outside in T-shirts and evening drinks on the patio watching the sun set over the sea - amazing. The trees have been gorgeous over the last couple of weeks and a visit to the National Trust's beautiful Scotney Castle near Lamberhurst has some stunning examples, especially the maple shown here by the old boat house.
Then November arrived with gusto - gales, torrential rain and a real nip in the air on sunnier days. More like real Autumn. I love frosty blue mornings more than any other I think, to be able to wrap up warm without having to take your fleece off 5 minutes later, to go for a walk and come back all rosy-cheeked and in the mood for hot chocolate and crumpets by the fire.
Food-wise I adore autumn and winter, when you can slow-cook meltingly rich casseroles, make thick pureed soups and hot fruit pies and crumbles. In the pub where I cook, we have a huge log fire roaring in the grate and are serving plenty of comfort food - Thai curry, Hungarian goulash, hearty soups - spicy butternut squash, curried parsnip and roasted tomato and basil. Pies too - chicken, leek and tarragon with a puff pastry lid and a creamy fish pie bubbling with bronzed cheesy mash on top. Yummy in your tummy and so much more satisfying to make and eat than another caesar salad, much as I love those in summer.
There is so much produce around at this time of year, a haven for the fruit and vegetable-lover. Game is also in season - and venison will definitely feature at home and at work soon. Whether you casserole it or sear the beautiful fillet leaving it pink and juicy in the middle it's a wonderful lean and tasty meat. I love it with dauphinoise potatoes and perhaps some savoy cabbage. It's a good festive alternative to turkey as well ... but let's not go there just yet, it's only early November!
Oh and Lobster Cards will be offering a selection of Christmas cards soon and also some items which would make great presents, so please do look out for a few new things appearing in the online shop in the next couple of weeks.
Meantime, happy cooking!
AMT
