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    <title>ffionas notes</title>
    
    
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/" />
    <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-1545028</id>
    <updated>2012-01-24T20:54:58+00:00</updated>
    <subtitle>My name is ffiona and I have run my own business, ffiona’s restaurant, for over fifteen years. Every day presents new delights and fresh challenges, and that’s what I love about my work the most. There are never two days that are the same……ever. </subtitle>
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    <atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ffionasnotes" /><feedburner:info uri="ffionasnotes" /><atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="hub" href="http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" /><atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="hub" href="http://hubbub.api.typepad.com/" /><feedburner:emailServiceId>ffionasnotes</feedburner:emailServiceId><feedburner:feedburnerHostname>http://feedburner.google.com</feedburner:feedburnerHostname><feedburner:browserFriendly></feedburner:browserFriendly><entry>
        <title>Valentine's at ffiona's </title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/01/valentines-at-ffionas.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/01/valentines-at-ffionas.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401676103323c970b</id>
        <published>2012-01-24T20:54:58+00:00</published>
        <updated>2012-01-24T20:45:02+00:00</updated>
        <summary>Click here to link to the Valentine's menu... Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2012)</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340163000e54b0970d-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Ffionas_valentines_menu_2012" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340163000e54b0970d" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340163000e54b0970d-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Ffionas_valentines_menu_2012" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ffionas.com/ffionas_valentines_menu.html" target="_blank">Click here to link to the Valentine's menu...</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2012)</p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>FFIONA’S CHRISTMAS MENU 2011</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/10/ffionas-christmas-menu-2011.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/10/ffionas-christmas-menu-2011.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340153920be838970b</id>
        <published>2011-10-03T23:44:19+01:00</published>
        <updated>2011-10-03T23:44:19+01:00</updated>
        <summary>The Christmas menu is priced at £29 per person for evening parties and we offer a 10% discount off the total food bill for all Christmas lunch parties. Visit our website here... Any enquiries please contact ffiona on 0207 937...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The Christmas menu is priced at £29 per person for evening parties and</p>
<p>we offer a <strong>10% discount</strong> off the total food bill for all Christmas lunch parties.</p>
<p> <a href="http://www.ffionas.com/ffionas_Christmas_menu.html" target="_blank">Visit our website here...</a></p>
<p>Any enquiries please contact ffiona on<strong> 0207 937 4152 </strong>or<strong> ffiona@ffionas.com</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>TO BEGIN</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong>Pan fried halloumi cheese with sweet tomato and rocket salad. (v)</p>
<p>Homemade soup of the day.  (v)</p>
<p>Ffiona’s duck pâté with sourdough toast and cornichons.</p>
<p>Calamari in a crisp batter with a spicy tomato sauce.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>THE MAIN EVENT</strong></p>
<p>Roasted Bronze turkey with bread sauce, sage and onion stuffing,</p>
<p>cranberry sauce and gravy. Fabulous!</p>
<p>Roasted pheasant with game chips, bread sauce, stuffing and braised red cabbage.</p>
<p>Three onion tart (garlic, sweet red onion and chives) served warm. (v).</p>
<p>Rump of Welsh lamb with rosemary, garlic, homemade redcurrant jelly and mint sauce.</p>
<p>Roasted pork loin (Gloucester Old Spot) with crackling, stuffing and apple sauce.</p>
<p>Pollack supreme, baked with lime and chillies or a salsa verde.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>ALL THE ABOVE ARE SERVED WITH A SELECTION OF </strong></p>
<p><strong>BRUSSEL SPROUTS, WINTER GREENS, SPICED PUMPKIN, </strong></p>
<p><strong>CARROTS, BRAISED RED CABBAGE AND ROASTED POTATOES.</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>TO FINISH</strong></p>
<p>Christmas pudding with brandy sauce.</p>
<p>Apple crumble with custard or ice cream.</p>
<p>Bread and butter pudding with custard or ice cream.</p>
<p>Selection of British Cheeses.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>...We will be closed for Christmas from Saturday 24th December.  </strong></p>
<p><strong>We reopen on Friday 6th January 2012 at 6.30pm.  </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Any enquiries please contact ffiona on<strong> 0207 937 4152 </strong>or<strong> ffiona@ffionas.com</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834015435df7d01970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Ffionas_Christmas_menu_2011" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a28834015435df7d01970c" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834015435df7d01970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Ffionas_Christmas_menu_2011" /></a> <br /><br /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-United-Kingdom/ffionas-restaurant/57323121608"><img align="left" alt="Find us on Facebook" border="0" height="37" id="facebook" longdesc="facebook.jpg" src="http://www.ffionas.com/facebook.jpg" width="123" /></a> <img alt="spacer" border="0" height="30" id="spacer8" longdesc="title_spacer.jpg" src="http://www.ffionas.com/title_spacer.jpg" width="20" /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/FfionasNotes"><img alt="Follow FfionasNotes on Twitter" border="0" src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/follow_me-a.png" /></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2011)</p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>FFIONA'S THANKSGIVING DINNER MENU 2011</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/10/ffionas-thanksgiving-dinner-menu-2011.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/10/ffionas-thanksgiving-dinner-menu-2011.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a28834015435df7b74970c</id>
        <published>2011-10-03T23:41:37+01:00</published>
        <updated>2011-10-03T23:41:37+01:00</updated>
        <summary>TO BOOK YOUR TABLE OR YOUR TAKEAWAY PLEASE CONTACT FFIONA ON: TEL: 020 7937 4152 OR EMAIL ON ffiona@ffionas.com VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT HERE... WE ALSO OFFER A TAKEAWAY SERVICE THANKSGIVING DINNER MENU THURSDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2011 TO BEGIN Pan...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">TO BOOK YOUR TABLE OR YOUR TAKEAWAY PLEASE CONTACT FFIONA ON:  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"> TEL: 020 7937 4152  OR EMAIL ON ffiona@ffionas.com</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.ffionas.com/ffionas_Thanksgiving_menu.html" target="_blank">VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT HERE...</a><br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">WE ALSO OFFER A TAKEAWAY SERVICE</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>THANKSGIVING DINNER MENU </strong></span><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>THURSDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2011</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>TO BEGIN</strong><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Pan fried halloumi cheese with toasted pine nuts and a</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">sweet tomato and roquette salad.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Ffiona’s duck pate with toast.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">King prawns, shell off, with chillies, ginger and garlic.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Moroccan aubergine salad, served warm with fresh mint and yoghurt dressing.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Homemade soup of the day.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>THE MAIN EVENT</strong><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><strong> </strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Roasted free range Bronze turkey served with: creamed potatoes, roasted potatoes, winter greens and carrots, spicy, roasted pumpkin and Brussel sprouts. Accompanied by fresh sage and onion stuffing, cranberry sauce, bread sauce and gravy.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>TO FINISH</strong><strong /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"><strong> </strong></span><br /> <span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">ffiona’s  world famous sweet potato meringue pie with vanilla ice cream.</span></p>
<p> <span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Sticky toffee pudding, toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream.</span></p>
<p> <span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Hot apple crumble with custard or vanilla ice cream.</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;" /></p>
<p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340153920be2b0970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Ffionas_Thanksgiving_dinner_menu_2011" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340153920be2b0970b" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340153920be2b0970b-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Ffionas_Thanksgiving_dinner_menu_2011" /></a> <br /><br /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-United-Kingdom/ffionas-restaurant/57323121608"><img align="left" alt="Find us on Facebook" border="0" height="37" id="facebook" longdesc="facebook.jpg" src="http://www.ffionas.com/facebook.jpg" width="123" /></a> <img alt="spacer" border="0" height="30" id="spacer8" longdesc="title_spacer.jpg" src="http://www.ffionas.com/title_spacer.jpg" width="20" /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/FfionasNotes"><img alt="Follow FfionasNotes on Twitter" border="0" src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/follow_me-a.png" /></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2011)</p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>Zagat review 2012</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/09/zagat-review-2012.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/09/zagat-review-2012.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e8bc0746d970d</id>
        <published>2011-09-22T18:55:01+01:00</published>
        <updated>2011-09-22T18:55:01+01:00</updated>
        <summary>Wow we are thrilled with our Zagat review and rating for 2012. Thank you all very much. Click here to visit the Zagat website</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Wow we are thrilled with our Zagat review and rating for 2012.  Thank you all very much.</p>
<p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e8bc06f0a970d-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Ffionas_Zagat_2012" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e8bc06f0a970d" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e8bc06f0a970d-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Ffionas_Zagat_2012" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834015435a016d7970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Ffionas_Zagat_2012_2" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a28834015435a016d7970c" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834015435a016d7970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Ffionas_Zagat_2012_2" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.zagat.com/r/ffionas-london-united-kingdom" target="_blank">Click here to visit the Zagat website</a></p>
<p> </p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>WONDERFUL WATERMELON  </title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/07/wonderful-watermelon.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/07/wonderful-watermelon.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e89ea119b970d</id>
        <published>2011-07-17T19:46:17+01:00</published>
        <updated>2011-07-17T19:55:34+01:00</updated>
        <summary>Nothing says ‘summer’ better than ice cold watermelon. Ruby red and studded with ebony seeds, cut into fat wedges the juices running down your chin and dripping from your fingers. This is the stuff of childhood memories. It’s also a...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401538ff68918970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Melon1" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401538ff68918970b" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401538ff68918970b-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Melon1" /></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Nothing says ‘summer’ better than ice cold watermelon. Ruby red and studded with ebony seeds, cut into fat wedges the juices running down your chin and dripping from your fingers. This is the stuff of childhood memories.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">It’s also a great addition to summer salads and has become quite sophisticated. Available seedless, it marries well with cheese, especially blue cheeses such as Roquefort, Gorgonzola or Stilton and is a perfect in both colour and flavour with Feta cheese.</span></p>
<p><br /> <a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e89ea0dd3970d-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Melon2" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e89ea0dd3970d" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e89ea0dd3970d-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Melon2" /></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">I have just added one of my favourite salads to our “Summer In The City” menu. It is a combination of ripe watermelon, sweet, cherry tomatoes, spring onions with a some salty, Greek Feta cheese and a fresh, lightly spiced dressing. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Leave out the cheese add some fresh figs and toasted sunflower seeds and you now have a vegan feast.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Watermelon grilled is also delicious. For this you need a really hot grill, you’re looking for colouring and a smoky taste, you don’t want the melon to cook. Serve it with grilled halibut or just as a salad with ripe tomatoes. The red, green, yellow and orange of the multi coloured Heritage tomatoes are perfect for this. Dress it with lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt and some aged Balsamic vinegar and some of the watermelon juices (the better the vinegar the stronger the flavour).</span></p>
<p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e89ea0eac970d-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Melon_455" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e89ea0eac970d" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e89ea0eac970d-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Melon_455" /></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Whether it’s sorbet, salad, hot off the grill or just sliced into wedges, watermelon will tingle your tastebuds all summer long. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-United-Kingdom/ffionas-restaurant/57323121608"><img align="left" alt="Find us on Facebook" border="0" height="37" id="facebook" longdesc="facebook.jpg" src="http://www.ffionas.com/facebook.jpg" width="123" /></a> <img alt="spacer" border="0" height="30" id="spacer8" longdesc="title_spacer.jpg" src="http://www.ffionas.com/title_spacer.jpg" width="20" /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/FfionasNotes"><img alt="Follow FfionasNotes on Twitter" border="0" src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/follow_me-a.png" /></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2011)</p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>Review on LaineyGossip.com</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/06/review-on-laineygossipcom.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/06/review-on-laineygossipcom.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401538f72e995970b</id>
        <published>2011-06-26T14:58:59+01:00</published>
        <updated>2011-06-26T14:58:59+01:00</updated>
        <summary>Review on LaineyGossip.com Read the review here Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2011)</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e8966536d970d-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Lainey" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e8966536d970d" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e8966536d970d-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Lainey" /></a> <br /><br /></p>
<p>Review on LaineyGossip.com</p>
<p><a href="http://www.laineygossip.com/intro_21mar11.aspx?CatID=0&amp;CelID=0" target="_self">Read the review here</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-United-Kingdom/ffionas-restaurant/57323121608"><img align="left" alt="Find us on Facebook" border="0" height="37" id="facebook" longdesc="facebook.jpg" src="http://www.ffionas.com/facebook.jpg" width="123" /></a> <img alt="spacer" border="0" height="30" id="spacer8" longdesc="title_spacer.jpg" src="http://www.ffionas.com/title_spacer.jpg" width="20" /> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/FfionasNotes"><img alt="Follow FfionasNotes on Twitter" border="0" src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/follow_me-a.png" /></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2011)</p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>SING IT LOUD!  -  2ND June 2011</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/06/sing-it-loud-2nd-june-2011.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/06/sing-it-loud-2nd-june-2011.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a28834015432ca4e50970c</id>
        <published>2011-06-05T16:08:21+01:00</published>
        <updated>2011-06-05T16:08:21+01:00</updated>
        <summary>Last night I saw kd lang at the Royal Festival Hall. She was accompanied by the Sis Boom Bang and all I can say is, “Wow!” She was introducing her new album, “Sing it Loud” which she co wrote with...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="html" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a style="display: inline;" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401538ef6ff52970b-pi"&gt;&lt;img class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401538ef6ff52970b" style="width: 455px;" title="Image001" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401538ef6ff52970b-500wi" alt="kd lang" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"&gt;Last night I saw kd lang at the Royal Festival Hall. She was accompanied&amp;nbsp; by the Sis Boom Bang and all I can say is,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"&gt;“Wow!”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"&gt;She was introducing her new album, “Sing it Loud” which she co wrote with Joe Pisapia, who is also one of the five, űber&amp;nbsp; talented&amp;nbsp; musicians&amp;nbsp; who make up the Sis Boom Bang.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"&gt;kd&amp;nbsp; has never been in better voice or appeared so relaxed and well, just plain happy!&amp;nbsp; She sang Leonard Cohen’s, “Hallelujah” and blew every other attempt to cover it right out of the water.&amp;nbsp; Deservedly, she got a tumultuous&amp;nbsp; standing&amp;nbsp; ovation, people were crying, it was that beautiful.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"&gt;So good in fact that I thought I’d give you a little taste of what we &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"&gt;enjoyed…..&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;
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&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"&gt;It was one of those special concerts that you wish would never end, but finally after three encores she left the stage. A magical evening that started on the Southbank&amp;nbsp; terrace, sipping cocktails in the sunshine&amp;nbsp; and ended on a real high. If you get the chance…..GO!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/London-United-Kingdom/ffionas-restaurant/57323121608"&gt;&lt;img id="facebook" longdesc="facebook.jpg" src="http://www.ffionas.com/facebook.jpg" border="0" alt="Find us on Facebook" width="123" height="37" align="left" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;img id="spacer8" longdesc="title_spacer.jpg" src="http://www.ffionas.com/title_spacer.jpg" border="0" alt="spacer" width="20" height="30" /&gt; &lt;a href="http://www.twitter.com/FfionasNotes"&gt;&lt;img src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/follow_me-a.png" border="0" alt="Follow FfionasNotes on Twitter" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2011)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>FFIONA’S PRESENTS : SUMMER IN THE CITY SPECIALS</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/06/ffionas-presents-summer-in-the-city-specials.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/06/ffionas-presents-summer-in-the-city-specials.html" thr:count="1" thr:updated="2012-01-18T00:17:03+00:00" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401538ef1b6e0970b</id>
        <published>2011-06-04T18:58:01+01:00</published>
        <updated>2011-06-04T18:58:01+01:00</updated>
        <summary>The sun is shining, temperatures are soaring and finally my appetite for hearty meals is waning. I’m in the mood for sharing my food. My desire for steak and kidney pud has given way to a hankering for seafood, salads...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>   <a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401538ef1af7b970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Asparagus1" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401538ef1af7b970b" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401538ef1af7b970b-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Asparagus1" /></a> <br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">The sun is shining, temperatures are soaring and finally my appetite for hearty meals is waning. I’m in the mood for sharing my food. My desire for steak and kidney pud has given way to a hankering for seafood, salads and lighter bites.  With this in mind I am launching my “SUMMER IN THE CITY SPECIALS”.</span><br /><br />  <a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834015432c4e1ec970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Food1" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a28834015432c4e1ec970c" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834015432c4e1ec970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Food1" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">We will be extending our list of starters to include:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">King scallops seared with lemon and garlic,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Lincolnshire asparagus grilled with fresh parmesan/hollandaise</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Ffiona’s fab fishcakes (cod and sole)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Fresh buffalo mozzarella with sweet  tomatoes and basil</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Grilled halloumi cheese with sweet tomatoes and toasted pine nuts.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">King prawns (shell off) with chillies, lime and ginger</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Fresh fig, mint and feta cheese salad with pecans and pumpkin seeds.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">You may decide to forget main courses and instead just pick and mix some starters with a couple of glasses of our delicious, chilled Rosés.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">We are also offering:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Seared tuna with wasabi, Cornish megrim sole with lemon, fillets of sea bass with salsa verde and a wild rocket and fresh mint salad.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">And also introducing our fabulous new cocktail……</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">AN ENGLISH GARDEN, gin, elderflower, lemonade muddled with cucumber, orange and lemon. Truly delicious!</span></p>
<p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401538ef1b024970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Drink1" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401538ef1b024970b" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401538ef1b024970b-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Drink1" /></a></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff7f00;"><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">MENTION THIS ARTICLE AND TRY ONE OF MY ENGLISH GARDEN COCKTAILS ON THE HOUSE WITH YOUR MEAL.</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2011)</p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>REFURBISHMENT AT FFIONA’S</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/05/refurbishment-at-ffionas.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/05/refurbishment-at-ffionas.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e88326ef4970d</id>
        <published>2011-05-02T09:43:17+01:00</published>
        <updated>2011-05-02T09:43:17+01:00</updated>
        <summary>“Times they are a changin’…” sings Dylan and if anyone knows the score it’s him. Everyone wants bright and shiny these days and although I’d never go quite that far, it’s definitely time to renew, revamp and revitalise. Eighteen years...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401543211c050970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Ffionas_restaurant" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401543211c050970c" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401543211c050970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Ffionas_restaurant" /></a> <br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">“Times they are a changin’…” sings Dylan and if anyone knows the score it’s him. Everyone wants bright and shiny these days and although I’d never go quite that far, it’s definitely time to renew, revamp and revitalise. Eighteen years of smoking, cooking and candles have taken their toll and a refurb is overdue.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">I’ve chosen a beautiful, new fabric for the walls, been digging out all my old music scores for the ceiling. The carpet will be replaced by a dark wood floor and outside and in will be repainted.  The candles will stay and I’ve already installed a dimmer switch to control the lighting (what an amazing invention…who knew?).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">All of the above will take place during the month of August and of course I will let you know the exact dates when I have them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Ffionas isn’t changing, we're simply embracing the here and now, making a foray into the world of cosmetic enhancement… and having a tasteful facelift.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2011)</p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>SPRING IS HERE….CARPE DIEM</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/03/spring-is-herecarpe-diem.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/03/spring-is-herecarpe-diem.html" thr:count="1" thr:updated="2011-03-18T19:51:54+00:00" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e86aedd14970d</id>
        <published>2011-03-13T11:35:45+00:00</published>
        <updated>2011-03-13T11:36:46+00:00</updated>
        <summary>I really wanted to write about all things Spring, Schiaparelli pink rhubarb, a beautiful plant mysteriously “forced” from the earth in dark sheds in Yorkshire. Milk fed lamb, meltingly tender, sweet and delicious served with wild garlic. Morels, sardines, native...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">I really wanted to write about all things Spring, Schiaparelli pink rhubarb, a beautiful plant mysteriously “forced” from the earth in dark sheds in Yorkshire. Milk fed lamb, meltingly tender, sweet and delicious served with wild garlic. Morels, sardines, native oysters, blood oranges, radish, new potatoes and asparagus. However this year I just haven’t got the same enthusiasm for eating tiny, baby lambs. It could well have something to do with Cumbria Jane*. (I can remember talking to her on the telephone and hearing the lambs she was hand rearing bleating in the background).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">* All friends named Jane have a distinguishing tag i.e. Cumbria Jane lives in Cumbria, on a farm, Young Gorgeous Jane … self explanatory, Old Age Jane looks after the elderly etc…etc…</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">It’s the feeling of renewal that’s energizing me. Watching tightly wrapped buds of pale pink and white explode into exquisite blossoms, heavy with pollen. Shaking off our Winter coats and emerging into the sunlight.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e86aed9e1970d-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image001" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e86aed9e1970d" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e86aed9e1970d-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Image001" /></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">I want to visit Greece in May and eat locally produced cheeses and honey for breakfast. Walk along beaches and pick Spring flowers from the hillsides. Eat fish, caught that morning cooked on the grill with lemon and herbs for lunch. </span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">As I progress through life I realise more and more that we are only here for a short time and all the things we attach such value to: possessions, money, homes are just stuff that passes through our hands and lives and on and on through the lives of others.</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">It’s rather like a computer game, you reach Level 30 only to find that this has simply unlocked the path to the next 60 Levels!</span></p>
<p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e86aeda2a970d-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image003" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e86aeda2a970d" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e86aeda2a970d-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Image003" /></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">So, as Spring emerges, dazzlingly fresh and new, embrace the feeling of wonderment and joy. Get out for a walk in the countryside or in one of our wonderful parks. Watch the watery sunlight filtering through the trees.</span></p>
<p> <a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e86aedad2970d-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image005" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e86aedad2970d" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e86aedad2970d-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Image005" /></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Go down to the coast, dip your foot in the icy water and feel the sand between your toes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Spring fever is here, indulge yourself and seize the day.</span><br /> <br /><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e86aedb16970d-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image007" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e86aedb16970d" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e86aedb16970d-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Image007" /></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2011)</p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title> DON’T MESS WITH MY FOOD</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/02/dont-mess-with-my-food.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/02/dont-mess-with-my-food.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e2b292e1970b</id>
        <published>2011-02-20T14:49:06+00:00</published>
        <updated>2011-02-20T14:49:06+00:00</updated>
        <summary>In my neck of the woods, fiddly food seems to be making something of a comeback. There’s an awful lot of “nestling in” and “perfumed with” knocking about again. I really thought we’d seen the last of that in our...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">In my neck of the woods, fiddly food seems to be making something of a comeback. There’s an awful lot of “nestling in” and “perfumed with” knocking about again. I really thought we’d seen the last of that in our local restaurants, but two of my favourites have both caught the bug and it seems to be spreading</span>.<br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Of course there are some that prefer this type of cuisine, usually women, who are enviably thin and well maintained, rather like a classic sports car.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">I do however, appreciate the skill and artistry involved in producing a plate that looks full, when actually you may only have one, rather tiny, fillet of sea bream on it. No doubt though, it will be gratinéd with something obscure. Possibly  surrounded by miniscule puddles of a reduction of balsamic vinegar with shavings of parmesan. Nestling on a bed of something that will of course be perfumed with rosemary.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">I know that it is said that the “eye takes the first bite” but sometimes I get dizzy and my eyes glaze over as I try to take it all in. I prefer simple, rustic food. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Heaven to me is a thick cut, rose veal steak, pan fried with sage and garlic, served with the meat juices from the pan and a pile of spinach. Another favourite is mackerel. I coat it in seasoned oatmeal and pan fry it, or, I halve ripe tomatoes and cook them with the mackerel adding a good squeeze of lemon, thyme and plenty of garlic. It could be some plump Devon scallops, seared in foaming butter with a little lemon, salt and pepper.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">My absolute favourite is a roast dinner. Roast chicken with sage and onion stuffing, creamy bread sauce, gravy… ooh and not forgetting the crispy skin. Maybe a loin of pork, boned, stuffed and served with apple sauce and crackling. Blistered from the oven, the fat slightly sticky and salty with that unmistakable crunch. A majestic rib of beef takes some beating, cooked on the bone with Yorkshire pudding made with the beef dripping and served with freshly made creamed horseradish… I could go on and on.</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">To me, good, fresh food should be cooked simply and with passion and that’s a recipe I never tire of. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 14pt;">  </span></p>
<p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e5f577270970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Yorkshire_puddings" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e5f577270970c" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834014e5f577270970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Yorkshire_puddings" /></a> <br /><br /></p>
<p><br />Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2011)</p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>Ffionas, The Brunch Edition</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/02/ffionas-the-brunch-edition.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/02/ffionas-the-brunch-edition.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e244b599970b</id>
        <published>2011-02-03T21:10:24+00:00</published>
        <updated>2011-02-03T21:10:24+00:00</updated>
        <summary>"Ffionas, The Brunch Edition" on Musings of a W8 Housewife... Click here to link to the article...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>"Ffionas, The Brunch Edition" on Musings of a W8 Housewife...</p>
<p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e244ac2d970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Musings_of_a_W8_Housewife" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e244ac2d970b" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e244ac2d970b-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Musings_of_a_W8_Housewife" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://w8housewife.blogspot.com/2011/02/ffionas-brunch-edition.html" target="_blank">Click here to link to the article...</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>CALLING ALL YOU SWEETHEARTS PLEASE BE MY TWEETHEARTS!</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/01/calling-all-you-sweethearts-please-be-my-tweethearts.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/01/calling-all-you-sweethearts-please-be-my-tweethearts.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e2224a17970b</id>
        <published>2011-01-30T20:39:58+00:00</published>
        <updated>2011-01-30T20:39:58+00:00</updated>
        <summary>I am now on Twitter, so come on sweethearts and be my Tweethearts. Follow me on Twitter @ffionasnotes and get all the daily gossip and offers straight from me to you. - Ffiona</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/FfionasNotes"><img alt="Follow FfionasNotes on Twitter" src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/t_logo-a.png" /></a></p>
<p>I am now on Twitter, so come on sweethearts and be my Tweethearts.<br /><br />Follow me on Twitter @ffionasnotes  and get all the daily gossip and offers straight from me to you.<br /><br /><br />- Ffiona</p>
<p><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/FfionasNotes"><img alt="Follow FfionasNotes on Twitter" border="0" src="http://twitter-badges.s3.amazonaws.com/follow_me-a.png" /></a></p>
<p> </p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>Valentine's at ffiona's</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/01/valentines-at-ffionas.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/01/valentines-at-ffionas.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340148c7ea67b3970c</id>
        <published>2011-01-23T17:07:25+00:00</published>
        <updated>2011-01-29T13:28:36+00:00</updated>
        <summary>Book now for Valentine's Day, this menu will be available on Sunday 13th February as well as Monday 14th. Hope to see you then! Click here to link to the Valentine's menu... Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2011)</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Book now for Valentine's Day, this menu will be available on Sunday 13th February as well as Monday 14th. Hope to see you then!</p>
<p>     <a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e218a724970b-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Ffionas_valentines_menu_2011" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e218a724970b" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e218a724970b-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Ffionas_valentines_menu_2011" /></a> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.ffionas.com/ffionas_valentines_menu.html" target="_blank">Click here to link to the Valentine's menu...</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2011)</p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>Bloody Mary Saturdays</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/01/bloody-mary-saturdays.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/01/bloody-mary-saturdays.html" thr:count="1" thr:updated="2012-01-08T13:47:01+00:00" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340148c7e2593d970c</id>
        <published>2011-01-22T16:30:44+00:00</published>
        <updated>2011-01-22T16:30:44+00:00</updated>
        <summary>Free cocktail of your choice with every brunch....every Saturday! View the brunch menu here... Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2011)</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">Free cocktail of your choice with every brunch....every Saturday!</span></p>
<p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340148c7e25713970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Ffionas-Brunch-Menu" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340148c7e25713970c" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340148c7e25713970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Ffionas-Brunch-Menu" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ffionas.com/ffionas_brunch.html" target="_self" title="View the brunch menu here..."><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">View the brunch menu here...</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino;"><br /></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2011)</span></p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>BLOODY MARY 2011</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/01/bloody-mary-2011with-the-new-year-fast-approaching-ensure-your-hangover-cure-is-up-to-thejobhappy-new-year-cop.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/01/bloody-mary-2011with-the-new-year-fast-approaching-ensure-your-hangover-cure-is-up-to-thejobhappy-new-year-cop.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e12f029b970b</id>
        <published>2011-01-01T14:31:35+00:00</published>
        <updated>2011-01-01T14:28:29+00:00</updated>
        <summary>WITH THE NEW YEAR FAST APPROACHING ENSURE YOUR HANGOVER CURE IS UP TO THE JOB! HAPPY NEW YEAR! BLOODY MARY MORNINGS “It’s a Bloody Mary morning, baby left me without warning, sometime in the night…” …sings Willie Nelson and it...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="Recipes" />
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">WITH THE NEW YEAR FAST APPROACHING ENSURE YOUR HANGOVER CURE IS UP TO THE</span> <span style="font-family: georgia,palatino;">JOB!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: 12pt;">HAPPY NEW YEAR!</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13pt;">BLOODY MARY MORNINGS</span></strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">“It’s a Bloody Mary morning,</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">baby left me without warning,</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">sometime in the night…”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">…sings Willie Nelson and it sounds like reason enough to me to order a tall, spicy, blood red, vodka fuelled cocktail. Those lyrics in fact, could have gone any old way really…</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">“It’s a Bloody Mary morning,</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">I woke up and I was yawning/and the curtains they need drawing/the rain it was still pouring, etc…etc…</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Let’s face it, you don’t need a reason you need an attitude. It’s seen as a slightly indulgent, louche type of beverage, drunk by equally indulgent, louche individuals. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">It’s a stylish, classy drink, not on a par with a martini you understand, but in a class all of its own. A breakfast cocktail no less, now that’s hardcore. Daquiris and Pina Coladas should hang their heads in shame, this is a drink to be reckoned with. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Willie Nelson rates it and I could definitely see Jeffrey Barnard and Peter O’Toole downing a few at the Coach and Horses in Soho whilst trying to remember the what’s, whys and wherefores of the previous evening.  A hell raisers drink no less.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">It is my favourite cocktail on a par with a Negroni. It’s an easy choice between the two though, my rule is: only drink Bloody Marys whilst there is still daylight and after sundown it’s Negronis all the way. Often all the way to all kinds of misadventures and I’ve ended up with some interesting tales to tell and some that are best forgotten.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">It’s also seen as a civilised way to start your Sunday brunch and cure your hangover all in one tall drink. That being said there are some bloody awful Bloody Marys around and there really is nothing more disgusting than a glass of tepid tomato juice with some vodka and a few desultory drips of Lea and Perrins sinking through the goo. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">These are the components of a good Bloody Mary:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Freshly grated horseradish</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Fresh lemon juice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Good vodka</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Freshly milled black pepper</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Tomato juice</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> Celery salt</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Lea &amp; Perrins</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Ice</span></p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">The combination of these elements produces a drink that engages all of our senses full on.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">BEHOLD the highball glass filled with a drink the colour of bull’s blood sporting an even taller stick of celery with a fat wedge of bright green lime languishing on top.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">PICK IT UP and feel the chill and the condensation on the frosted glass. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">INHALE the aromas of horseradish, always a winner for clearing the sinuses, mingling with fresh pepper and spices.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">HEAR the crunch of that first bite of celery and the clink of the ice.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">TASTE it, that first mouthful, spicy tomato juice and horseradish shot through with the sharpness of fresh lemon and pepper and of course the hit of the vodka…delicious!</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13pt;">You can keep your Bellinis and Buck’s Fizz, for me, if you’re going to drink Champagne for, breakfast, then drink it, don’t dilute it. Personally there’s no contest, if you’re drinking before lunch, maybe even before your morning coffee, then it has to be Bloody Marys all the way.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e12f0682970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="FFIONAS_NOTES_BLOODY_MARY" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e12f0682970b" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e12f0682970b-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="FFIONAS_NOTES_BLOODY_MARY" /></a></p>
<p><br />Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2011)</p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>FFIONA'S RESTAURANT REVIEW</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/12/ffionas-restaurant-review.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/12/ffionas-restaurant-review.html" thr:count="1" thr:updated="2011-11-02T20:17:14+00:00" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340148c6a0e632970c</id>
        <published>2010-12-12T09:09:22+00:00</published>
        <updated>2010-12-11T19:24:17+00:00</updated>
        <summary />
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e09775d2970b-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Ffionas_review" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e09775d2970b" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340147e09775d2970b-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Ffionas_review" /></a></p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>THANKSGIVING</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/10/as-a-brit-i-have-wholeheartedly-embraced-thanksgiving-as-my-favourite-holiday-obviously-it-has-its-origins-in-america-but-a.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/10/as-a-brit-i-have-wholeheartedly-embraced-thanksgiving-as-my-favourite-holiday-obviously-it-has-its-origins-in-america-but-a.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348899cbee970c</id>
        <published>2010-10-31T13:18:10+00:00</published>
        <updated>2010-10-31T13:18:10+00:00</updated>
        <summary>As a Brit I have wholeheartedly embraced Thanksgiving as my favourite holiday. Obviously it has its origins in America but, as I always say, “If every country adopted the spirit of American Thanksgiving, there would, I believe, be far fewer...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">As a Brit I have wholeheartedly embraced Thanksgiving as my favourite holiday. Obviously it has its origins in America but, as I always say,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">“If every country adopted the spirit of American Thanksgiving, there would, I believe, be far fewer wars in the world.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">What’s so special about Thanksgiving? Well for me it’s the food, obviously. The first turkey of the year with all the trimmings followed by our sweet potato meringue pie. To quote one of my older, Texan regulars;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">“…just like my sweet Momma used to make, God bless her soul. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">It’s such a joyous occasion, unsullied by religion or money, just food, friends and family, a recipe for being truly thankful if ever there was one. </span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">It is so popular that we do two sittings and a takeaway service where families simply collect their feast, hot from our ovens, to enjoy at home.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348899ca83970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image001" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348899ca83970c" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348899ca83970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Image001" /></a> <br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">The work starts on the Wednesday and is run with military precision. Organisation, preparation and general hard graft are key. Every square inch of our oven space is utilised. (Last year I sat, babysitting/basting a turkey from midnight until it was cooked and ready to collect at 9.00am)!  Mountains of potatoes are peeled then roasted or mashed. Trays of spicy pumpkin are prepared along with Brussel sprouts, carrots, sage and onion stuffing and cranberry sauce. As a  nod to my English followers of the feast, I also prepare pots of bread sauce. Breadcrumbs rich with butter and milk, flavoured with cloves and onion and finished with a large splash of double cream. Trays of apple and blueberry crumble are left to cool and our sweet potato pies are topped with snowy peaks of meringue and baked until they’re browned. I’m beginning to drool just thinking about it all! </span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Well if it sounds good, believe me, it tastes even better, so don’t be disappointed, come and join us…..eat in or takeaway, come and share the day! </span><br />  <br /><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340133f5799543970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image003" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340133f5799543970b" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340133f5799543970b-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Image003" /></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">TAKE A LOOK AT OUR THANKSGIVING MENU</span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ffionas.com/" target="_blank" title="www.ffionas.com">www.ffionas.com</a></p>
<p>  <br /><br /></p>
<p>Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2010)</p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>THANKSGIVING MENU 2010</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/10/thanksgiving-menu-2010.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/10/thanksgiving-menu-2010.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340133f5799204970b</id>
        <published>2010-10-31T13:12:23+00:00</published>
        <updated>2010-10-31T13:19:10+00:00</updated>
        <summary>Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2010)</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348899cc9c970c-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Ffionas_Thanksgiving_menu_2010_large" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348899cc9c970c" src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348899cc9c970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Ffionas_Thanksgiving_menu_2010_large" /></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2010)</p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>Christmas at ffiona's restaurant</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/10/christmas-at-ffionas-restaurant.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/10/christmas-at-ffionas-restaurant.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a28834013487e73772970c</id>
        <published>2010-10-01T21:10:47+01:00</published>
        <updated>2010-10-01T21:12:36+01:00</updated>
        <summary>Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2010)</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834013487e735a9970c-popup" onclick="window.open( this.href, '_blank', 'width=640,height=480,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0' ); return false" style="display: inline;">
<a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340133f4c74e9f970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Ffionas_Christmas_menu_2010_notes2" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340133f4c74e9f970b " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340133f4c74e9f970b-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Ffionas_Christmas_menu_2010_notes2" /></a> <br /> <br /></a></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2010)</span></p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>FFIONA THE OWNER WHIPS UP A WAFFLE</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/09/ffiona-the-owner-whips-up-a-waffle.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/09/ffiona-the-owner-whips-up-a-waffle.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a28834013487871b92970c</id>
        <published>2010-09-20T20:16:44+01:00</published>
        <updated>2010-09-20T20:16:44+01:00</updated>
        <summary>My wonderful waffle iron is finally here, it weighs a ton and cost a fortune. My sister and I are now feeling heat to say the least, no, wait, that ship’s already sailed, blind panic would be closer to the...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348787177c970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image002" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348787177c970c " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348787177c970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" title="Image002" /></a></p><p /> <span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia;" /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">My wonderful waffle iron is finally here, it weighs a ton and cost a fortune. My sister and I are now feeling heat to say the least, no, wait, that ship’s already sailed, blind panic would be closer to the truth. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">She is currently down in the kitchen pondering on how we remove the ‘protective grease’ from the waffle plates. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Q.  How do we know that the gunk that’s slathered all over the cast iron plates is ‘protective grease‘, used to prevent rusting?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">A.  Because we phoned the company and accused  them, in no uncertain terms of sending us a used machine and charging for a new one, that’s how!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Will I ever learn? Probably not…”you catch more flies with honey than vinegar…….” is my mantra of the moment, no more “bull in a china shop” for me…….well not for a couple of days.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Anyway, enough of this waffling, back to the kitchen! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">The batter is made, looks  too thick to me but here goes…</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Whoops!</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">This is obviously going to be a work in progress ……what  can I say, Rome, after all, wasn’t built in a day. However, what I can say is that the buttermilk pancakes are wonderful, crisp and golden on the outside and meltingly delicious in the middle…..heaven on a plate!</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">So, my little sugar pies, stay tuned for more news……</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">TA DAH!</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">WE WILL FINALLY OPEN FOR WEEKEND BRUNCH STARTING ON SATURDAY 9TH/SUNDAY 10TH OCTOBER AND EVERY WEEKEND THEREAFTER, WITH OR WITHOUT THE WAFFLES…YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">P.S.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">In the meantime you could always pop into Bonds Restaurant in the Threadneedles Hotel for breakfast. The head chef, Barry Tonks, makes a mean waffle and has shared his authentic New York recipe with us. What a sweetie he is……..THANK YOU BARRY!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Bonds Restaurant</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Threadneedles Hotel</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">5, Threadneedle Street</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"> London EC2R 8AY</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">020 7657 8080</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2010)</span></div>
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    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>LET THEM EAT CAKE</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/08/let-them-eat-cake.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/08/let-them-eat-cake.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340133f2cde464970b</id>
        <published>2010-08-02T20:53:58+01:00</published>
        <updated>2010-08-02T20:53:58+01:00</updated>
        <summary>I was sitting in Liverpool Lime Street Station with my Mum and sister, waiting for the train back to London. We were enjoying a coffee at Café Nero, you know the set up, a small serving unit surrounded by a...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">I was sitting in Liverpool Lime Street Station with my Mum and sister, waiting for the train back to London. We were enjoying a coffee at Café Nero, you know the set up, a small serving unit surrounded by a group of tables and chairs. Anyway, Mum, who is absolutely passionate about animals, to the extent that she refers to the enormous spider and his family that have taken up 5star residence in the downstairs loo as,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">“….all God’s creatures….they’re all God’s creatures Ffiona ”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">This credo even applies to the evil slug that attaches itself to the cat’s fur in order to enter the house Trojan Horse style, only to be removed from the surprised cat and gently put back outside, to plot and scheme for another day. The cat, well, the entire household revolves around her happiness, she rules the roost. Then, of course, there’s the birds. Food has to be put out in different parts of the garden at different times of the day so that they all have a “fair chance”.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 17px; font-family: Georgia;"> </span><br /> 

<a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834013485f16f93970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image001" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a28834013485f16f93970c " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834013485f16f93970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" /></a> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">So when  Mum spotted a lame pigeon hobbling around by her chair we weren't  too surprised when she said;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">“Aaah! Look at that poor little bird, he’s lame. His little foot’s half off .“ </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">“Look Mum, he seems fine, he looks well fed to me. Just leave it alone.” I advised.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">However, I may as well have been speaking Swahili, she was out of her chair and had joined the queue at Café Nero. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Mum was on a mission.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 17px; font-family: Georgia;">The long queue…. didn’t phase her one bit.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">“Excuse me. So sorry… I must have some sugar. Excuse me. Thank you….so sorry I just need something sweet. Thank you.” She trilled. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">The queue, sensing some sort of medical emergency, literally parted like the Red Sea for her. She sailed through up to the counter thanking everyone profusely and bought a slice of organic, (only the best), lemon drizzle cake.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Back at base camp she broke off a few crumbs and ignoring the heavily signed wall….. PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE BIRDS…..and surreptitiously dropped them by her chair. Bingo! Lame bird hobbles over and greedily hoovers them up, job done. This is where the story should end, but of course it doesn’t.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 17px; font-family: Georgia;">Flushed with success and overflowing with the of milk human kindness, she breaks up the rest of the cake and drops it by her chair.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia;"> WHOOSH! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Within seconds the Café Nero enclosure resembled a scene from Hitchcock’s “The Birds”. Every pigeon in Liverpool had come to the party. They  descended in circling columns on our table, swooping and diving. Fighting and flapping around our ankles in a wild and noisy feeding frenzy.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">The station came to a virtual standstill, people stopped to stare at the spectacle. My sister was shouting at my mum. I was curled up, almost in the foetal position,  my hands up over my face and head, screaming hysterically and stamping my feet up and down to scare them away.  Mum had the good grace to look slightly embarassed and as the pigeons finally finished their feast and flew off she shrugged her shoulders, smiled at us and said;</span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">“All God’s creatures girls. All God’s creatures.” </span></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;" /></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"> </span><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834013485f16dcc970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image003" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a28834013485f16dcc970c " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834013485f16dcc970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" /></a> <br /> <br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;" /></p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">MUM WITH A SUPER LAMB BANANA AT LIME STREET STATION.</span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia;">Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2010)</span></p></div>
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    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>THANK GOD IT’S ALL OVER</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/07/thank-god-its-all-over.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/07/thank-god-its-all-over.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340134852443bf970c</id>
        <published>2010-07-01T20:24:10+01:00</published>
        <updated>2010-07-01T20:24:10+01:00</updated>
        <summary>The roar of the England lions turned into the mewing of spoiled, overfed lap cats, they didn’t even make it to the quarter finals..... As usual they’ll be home before the postcards! I also heard recently, that the England team...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;" />
<a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348524425a970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="England" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348524425a970c " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348524425a970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" /></a> <br /> <br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">The roar of the England lions turned into the mewing of spoiled, overfed lap cats, they didn’t even make it to the quarter finals..... As usual they’ll be home before the postcards! </span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">I also heard recently, that the England team had turned down a lucrative sponsorship deal worth around 700 million pounds with a leading pet food company. Apparantly, they thought it might upset the fans to watch the team running around in shirts emblazoned with “WINALOT” on them…….there’s always next time boys.</span><br /><br /><p /><p /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2010)</span></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>THE NEIGHBOURHOOD DEAL</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/06/the-neighbourhood-deal.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/06/the-neighbourhood-deal.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340133f1e1b4cb970b</id>
        <published>2010-06-27T14:33:07+01:00</published>
        <updated>2010-06-27T14:33:07+01:00</updated>
        <summary>- THE NEIGHBOURHOOD DEAL - £19.95 3 COURSE SET DINNER (2 CHOICES FOR EACH COURSE) Menu changes weekly Tues - Sat 6.30 - 11pm Sun 7pm - 10pm Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2010)</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><div style="text-align: center;"><p><span style="font-size: 20px; font-family: Georgia;">
<a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834013485073f92970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Ffionas_neighbourhood_deal_small_opt" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a28834013485073f92970c " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a28834013485073f92970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" /></a> <br /> <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px; font-family: Georgia;">- THE NEIGHBOURHOOD DEAL - </span></p><br /><span style="font-size: 60px; font-family: Georgia;">£19.95</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">3 COURSE SET DINNER</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">(2 CHOICES FOR EACH COURSE)</span></p><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Menu changes weekly</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tues - Sat 6.30 - 11pm</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sun 7pm - 10pm</span><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2010)</span></p></div>
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    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>SHE’S GONE</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/05/shes-gone.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/05/shes-gone.html" thr:count="1" thr:updated="2010-07-09T17:17:29+01:00" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340133ef5adea1970b</id>
        <published>2010-05-31T16:39:28+01:00</published>
        <updated>2010-05-31T16:39:28+01:00</updated>
        <summary>Where do I start? Valda’s not someone you can sum up in a few lines. She was my friend for 28 years, eccentric, creative and hugely funny. In Valda’s life everything was pink and the more vibrant the better, including...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">
<a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340133ef5ae5e2970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image002b" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340133ef5ae5e2970b " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340133ef5ae5e2970b-200wi" style="width: 200px;" /></a> <br /> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Where do I start? Valda’s not someone you can sum up in a few lines. She was my friend for 28 years, eccentric, creative and hugely funny. In Valda’s life everything was pink and the more vibrant the better, including at times, her hair. Creative in so many ways, fabulous cook and gifted artist, she also designed and made the most off-the-wall sweaters imaginable, but in later life she concentrated on her photography.<br />When I was learning to cook she put me up and shared her home with me and others too. She helped me through my disastrous  marriage and was full of encouragement  when penniless, I decided to open my restaurant. Her advice was direct and honest, she never sugar coated it.<br /><br />Her love for her friends was exceeded only by her love of animals. Her horse, Totty, loved to stand on people’s feet which delighted Valda…..so you see, even her pets had personality. She loved all animals but dogs were her passion, except for  labradors, she found them irritating, and I quote;<br /><br />“Nothing on god’s earth can be that happy……they’re just plain stupid.“<br /><br />That aside, she rescued dogs, parrots and raised money for the greyhound charities even designing a memorable picture of a cherub kissing a greyhound, accompanied by the words,<br /><br />“All greyhounds and lurchers have been kissed by angels.”<br /><br />This was then printed onto T shirts with all the proceeds going to the charity. Her last dog, Wisteria, Wisty for short, a truly elegant greyhound is currently being looked after by her son Leckie.<br />Valda lived for her friends, she cooked for us, shared her home with us and provided not only a wonderful home for her animals and birds but a warm, safe and secure haven for us too.</span></p><p>
<a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340134828a37d5970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image003" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340134828a37d5970c " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340134828a37d5970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;" /></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">During the last two months of her life her home became a hub. Her girls, as she called us, organised a rota to care for her but we were rarely alone as literally streams of friends dropped in throughout the day and evening. The back door was never locked and Wisty, jumping and running around would herald the latest arrival.   <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">My favourite time to be there was when I arrived late at night after work. I would give her a kiss and a hug, make myself a coffee and have a chat with Cathy, Jane or Tracy or whoever had been sitting with her. Then I’d get my bed ready, in fact I slept in the kitchen with the connecting doors open from her room. Leckie and I would help her into bed and we normally all had a laugh as we tried to make her comfortable, some nights were harder than others. We’d sit with her until she fell asleep, always with the light on, she couldn’t stand the dark.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Valda hated to miss anything and was miffed that she wouldn’t be at the party after her funeral. So we planned a tea party, her “living wake” she called it. It was just going to be us girls and some of Leckie’s mates, in the event over 60 people turned up. Everyone baked and the tables were groaning with delicious food. A gazebo was put up in garden, chairs were borrowed from the local school, tablecloths from the cricket club and the sun dutifully shone. Valda appeared dressed in a hot pink T shirt, black joggers, pale pink linen tunic and draped in a matching pink feather boa,  accompanied by Wisty, sporting a fuschia boa. It was a great day and no one that was lucky enough to be there will ever forget it.<br /></span></p><p>
<a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340134828a3835970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image005" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340134828a3835970c " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340134828a3835970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" /></a> <br /> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;" /></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">The weeks that followed were filled with more friends and lots and lots of laughter, she imposed a zero tolerance policy for tears.<br />Then came the midddle of the night phone calls to the community nurses for morphine shots and the almost daily visits from her GP, Dr. Paul Van den Bosch, who inspired us all with the amazing level of care he provided.<br />She would open her eyes in the morning and see me sitting there;<br /><br />“Lovely!<br />How lovely to see you Nona.<br />When do you sleep?”<br /><br />She would ask me.<br /><br />“Go and make yourself a coffee and have a fag, I’m fine for now.” <br /> <br />Then the day began again, Jane would arrive armed with freshly baked bread and put the kettle on. Later on someone would stop at the same local bakery and bring cakes for tea…..Tracy, Cathy, Wendy or Miranda would be there for the evening shift.<br />She brought us all together. I met old friends and made many new ones, friendships that I'm sure will endure. Even in her illness she gave us so much.<br /><br />Bob Dylan, her hero, played on the ipod 24hrs a day. The parrots shrieked her name and her friends kept on coming.<br />Then, exactly three weeks after the party, on my birthday, Sunday May 2nd at 4am she died.<br /><br />It felt like my world had stopped, it still does.<br /><br />200 people crowded into the crematorium…..all dressed in pink to honour her. Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” played, Cathy read the eulogy. A poem was read and a song was sung, both written for her and with the strains of Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone” still ringing in our ears it seemed like it would all be ok.<br />We headed off to Pirbright village hall and  feasted on homemade cakes and sandwiches, absolutely delicious, everyone enjoying the day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Afterwards; Cathy, Jane, Caroline, Chrissy, Tracy, Miranda and me went and sat in the garden of the local pub. We raised a glass to Valda and howled with tears and laughter. Dressed in pink and fairly loud we were mistaken for a hen party…..much to our delight.<br />I packed my bags, said my goodbyes to Leckie and Wisty and prepared to leave. Jane and I ended the day with Lindy and Richard, who everyone adores, sipping gin and tonics by the fire in their lovely home. As we drove back to London there was the most dramatic sunset. Oranges, yellows and shocking pinks stained the evening sky. Then, as we crossed Putney Bridge all that was left were two enormous  streaks of fuschia pink. Well, if you believe in heaven……she had definitely arrived.<br />She is deeply mourned, greatly missed and will never be forgotten.</span></p><p>
<a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340133ef5ae7d9970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image007" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340133ef5ae7d9970b " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340133ef5ae7d9970b-500wi" style="width: 455px;" /></a> <br />         <br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;" /> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"><strong>VALDA MIYOSAWA  19th January 1943 - 2nd May 2010</strong><br /></span></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;" /></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Copyright © Ffiona 
Reid-Owen (2010)</span></p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>GO ON…SAVOUR THE FLAVOUR!</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/04/go-onsavour-the-flavour.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/04/go-onsavour-the-flavour.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348028e99a970c</id>
        <published>2010-04-26T22:28:35+01:00</published>
        <updated>2010-04-26T23:02:40+01:00</updated>
        <summary>April 23rd is St Georges Day it also marks the official start of the English asparagus season. The season lasts for only six weeks so be sure to make the most of it. Those beautiful spears, deliciously tender and so...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>
<a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348028e329970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image001" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348028e329970c " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348028e329970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" /></a> </p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">April 23rd is St Georges Day it also marks the official start of the English asparagus season. The season lasts for only six weeks so be sure to make the most of it. Those beautiful spears, deliciously tender and so full of flavour make asparagus the grande dame of fast food. It’s right up there as one of nature’s super foods, packed with vitamin <span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">A, folic acid and dietry fibre all of which play a vital role in the fight against cancer.</span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Bright green or white asparagus, British is best by far. The white spears are grown under banks of soil so that the only part that colours is the tip, which turns to a pale violet, the taste being more subtle and mildly bitter.</span><br /> <br /><p>
<a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348028e3a5970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image002" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348028e3a5970c " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a2883401348028e3a5970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" /></a> <br /> </p><p /><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">So, how to prepare it and  its best uses, well, where do I  start? You can boil, roast, char grill, stir fry, steam, sauté, griddle, bake it or poach it. Its good as a  vegetable or a starter, as a main course, as a salad, a soup or in a quiche, dipped into poached or boiled eggs, in a stir fry or barbequed. In short just use your imagination there are no boundaries, however we all have our favourites. Personally I like asparagus spears boiled, and then drenched in hot, salty  butter or, dipped into a foamy pool of hollandaise sauce. To boil, simply submerge the spears into a pan of boiling, salted water for 3-6 minutes until they are tender. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Asparagus also roasts beautifully and what could be simpler or more delicious than roasted asparagus with shavings of fresh parmesan melting all over it?</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">To roast it, use a baking sheet to put the spears on and drizzle with a little olive oil, place into a preheated oven, 220C or gas 7, for 10 minutes. Turn the spears whilst cooking a couple of times and serve piping hot, the stems should be soft, not limp and the tips slightly crunchy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">From the fields to the shops in less than 24hours, English asparagus is the best, it’s a fast food that’s nutritious, versatile and value for money……..beat that!</span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;" /></p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Copyright © Ffiona 
Reid-Owen (2010)</span></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>THE ETIQUETTE OF VOMITING</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/04/the-etiquette-of-vomiting.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/04/the-etiquette-of-vomiting.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340133eccbe5ed970b</id>
        <published>2010-04-19T22:10:40+01:00</published>
        <updated>2010-04-19T22:22:19+01:00</updated>
        <summary>If you feel the urge to regurgitate the entire contents of your stomach and literally re acquaint yourself, and others, with the dinner you’ve just eaten, in the restaurant you’ve just eaten it in, then there are certain rules. Here...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">If you feel the urge to regurgitate the  entire contents of your stomach and literally re acquaint yourself, and others, with the dinner you’ve just eaten, in the restaurant you’ve just eaten it in, then there are certain rules. Here is a list of do’s and don’ts the result of years of careful observations.</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;" /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">1. While exiting the restaurant, covered in vomit. </span></p><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">DO  - leave quickly, apologising to your fellow diners as you go.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">DO NOT - try to snog la patronne and breathe your sicky breath all over her.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">2. If you simply can’t make it to the toilet and have left your stomach contents somewhere in the restaurant.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">DO - leave an enormous tip for the poor wretch who has kindly cleared up your mess.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">DO NOT - leave without paying your bill.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">3. Post vomit.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">DO - offer a heartfelt apology, it is always appreciated and accepted.</span><br /><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">DO NOT - blame it on the fact that the wine is not organic or that you’ve discovered that pork crackling is fatty.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">DO - offer to clean up, even if we insist on doing it, the offer is always much appreciated.</span></p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">DO NOT - leave a pile of vomit filled napkins in a ball under the table as an unpleasant surprise for someone to plunge their unsuspecting hands into as they clear the restaurant at the end of the night.</span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">In short, accidents do happen and no one really minds just be mindful of those who have to deal with them. </span></p><p /><p><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;" /></p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2010)</span></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>ZIZZI - MARCH REVIEW</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/zizzi---march-review.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/zizzi---march-review.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a8e0b4df970b</id>
        <published>2010-02-28T16:41:52+00:00</published>
        <updated>2010-02-28T14:27:50+00:00</updated>
        <summary>Will this vile weather ever end? Today we had sunshine and hailstones simultaneously, closely followed by howling winds, rain and finally snow showers to round off the day. English weather, all four seasons in one day, personally I am fed...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p style="font-family: Georgia;">Will this vile weather ever end? Today we had sunshine and hailstones simultaneously, closely followed by howling winds, rain and  finally snow showers to round off the day. English weather, all four seasons in one day, personally I am fed up to the back teeth with it all. No amount of yoke yellow daffodils, desperately trying to announce that Spring is just around the corner can lift my spirits.</p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">However, there is an upside to everything and this is the perfect weather to tuck into  some good, rustic Italian pasta. Huge plates of  Spaghetti Bolognese, or tagliatelle piled high with pork and beef meatballs  packed with fresh garlic and oregano. Homemade tomato sauce, fiery with red chilies, draped over a bowl of steaming, hot penne, or maybe Puttanesca sauce, flamboyant, rich with olives, capers, breadcrumbs and a hint of chili peppers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Then there’s the cream sauces; luscious Fettucine Carbonara being a favourite of mine or maybe you prefer the flavour of basil and pine nuts in a  delicious pesto sauce. I am beginning to feel better already.</span></p><p style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a8e0ba5c970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="NHG_09" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a8e0ba5c970b " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a8e0ba5c970b-500wi" style="width: 455px;" /></a> </p><p style="font-family: Georgia;">So, where do  I go to indulge my passion for pasta? I head off to Zizzi, and there are plenty to choose from, in fact W8 is flanked by two branches, Earl’s Court Road and Notting Hill Gate.</p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Zizzi offer traditional, rustic Italian food, great service and most importantly of all, excellent value for money. Some of their branches currently offer a set two course lunch menu for £10 and a three course meal for £16.95 which includes a glass of Prosecco.(Please check their website for details of these offers). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a8e0ba9f970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="NHG_04" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a8e0ba9f970b " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a8e0ba9f970b-500wi" style="width: 455px;" /></a> <br /> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;" /></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Having just celebrated their tenth birthday they seem to be maturing nicely. They keep their eye on the ball by regularly updating the menus and offering imaginative seasonal specials. This is a restaurant for all tastes, all  pockets and it’s child friendly.</span></p><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> As I sit here in Zizzi writing this, I have a plate of piping hot spaghetti pomodoro in front of me. Studded with sweet, baby Santos tomatoes and fresh basil leaves, there are small puddles of buffalo milk mozarella splashed on the steaming, scarlet sauce like little floating islands.</span><br /><p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I look out of the window, the rain is pouring down, beating a steady and depressing rhythm, everywhere it’s grey. Do I care?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">  <br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Georgia;">Not me, I’m about to go island hopping. Ciao!</p><p style="font-family: Georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia;">_____________________</span></p><p style="font-family: Georgia; text-align: left;">ZIZZI  - NOTTING HILL</p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">2-6, Notting Hill  Gate</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">020 7243 2888</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">ZIZZI  - EARL’S COURT</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">194-196, Earl’s Court Rd.,</span><br /><p><span style="font-family: Georgia;">020 7370 1999</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;" /></p><p>Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2010)</p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>BUTTERMILK DELIGHT </title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/buttermilk-delight-test.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/buttermilk-delight-test.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a8879cd7970b</id>
        <published>2010-02-10T18:20:24+00:00</published>
        <updated>2010-02-10T18:21:19+00:00</updated>
        <summary>I’ve experienced a revelation, bordering on the religious…… I HAVE FOUND BUTTERMILK! My first experience of it was when we started to make our own soda bread to serve with our amazing duck paté. It brings a lightness to your...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">I’ve experienced a revelation,  bordering on the religious……<br />I HAVE FOUND BUTTERMILK!<br />My
first experience of it was when we started to make  our own soda bread
to serve with our amazing duck paté. It brings a lightness to your
baking, it really is fabulous. I went on to experiment with a breakfast
loaf which I feel is soon to become a best seller on my brunch menu. I
made buttermilk pancakes, biscuits and southern fried buttermilk
chicken, the list goes on.<br />It’s low fat, low cost and simply delicious….BUTTERMILK ROCKS! </span></span><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">However, during my quest for unusual buttermilk recipes I</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"> came
across a  sweet little story about a group of American  women in the
1930’s who baked pies, cakes and biscuits and made homemade lemonade
for their church. They organised “bake and  take” evenings for church
suppers and made up picnic baskets to take down to the river  when the
minister was performing baptisms. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"> <a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a887917d970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image001" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a887917d970b " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a887917d970b-400wi" style="width: 400px;" /></a><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">The
following recipe is from the minister’s wife, Sister Lizzie Honeycut.
It’s said that when she was asked for her recipes she was always
tickled pink and happy to oblige. Sweet Lizzie did not believe in
keeping secret recipes she saw them as “blessings” to be shared with
all.  </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a8879073970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image002" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a8879073970b " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a8879073970b-320wi" /></a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">An admirable sentiment and so in the true spirit of sister Lizzie I will share with you one of her wonderful pie recipes.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">    </span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">Copyright © Ffiona Reid-Owen (2010)</span></p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
    <entry>
        <title>Sister Lizzie's Southern Buttermilk Pie</title>
        <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/sister-lizzies-southern-buttermilk-pie.html" />
        <link rel="replies" type="text/html" href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/sister-lizzies-southern-buttermilk-pie.html" thr:count="0" />
        <id>tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e54fdbc4a288340128778a39f1970c</id>
        <published>2010-02-10T18:18:17+00:00</published>
        <updated>2010-02-10T18:18:17+00:00</updated>
        <summary>FOR THE PAT IN THE PAN PIE CRUST 2.5 cups of self raising flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon sugar 3 tablespoons of cold milk 2/3 cup of vegetable oil Whisk together dry ingredients in a bowl and add the...</summary>
        <author>
            <name>Graeme Findlay</name>
        </author>
        <category scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" term="Recipes" />
        
        
<content type="xhtml" xml:lang="en-GB" xml:base="http://ffionas.typepad.com/my_weblog/">
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a88788f4970b-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image001" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a88788f4970b " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340120a88788f4970b-500wi" style="width: 455px;" /></a> <br /> <br /></span></span></span></strong></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: Georgia;"><strong><span style="color: #e6e6e6;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">FOR THE PAT IN THE PAN PIE CRUST</span></span></span></strong></p><div style="text-align: center; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px;" /><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">2.5 cups of self raising flour </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;" /></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">1 teaspoon salt </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;" /></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">1 teaspoon sugar </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;" /></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">3 tablespoons of cold milk </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;" /></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">2/3 cup of vegetable oil </span></span></div><p style="text-align: center; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">
Whisk together dry ingredients in a bowl and add the wet ingredients and stir gently until the dough forms a ball - don’t over mix. Put the dough into a pie pan and pat it thin and flat to conform to the shape of the pan. Crimp the edges, you are now ready for the filling. <br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-family: Georgia;"><strong><span style="color: #e6e6e6;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">FOR THE FILLING<br /></span></span></span></strong><p><strong><span style="color: #ffffff; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></span></strong></p></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: 15px;">1.25 cups of caster sugar </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-size: 16px;">3 tablespoon of self raising flour </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia;">4 eggs, whisked </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-size: 16px;">1 cup buttermilk </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-size: 16px;">1.5 teaspoons vanilla essence </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-size: 16px;">½ a cup of melted butter that has cooled </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-size: 16px;">1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">1 tablespoon of lemon zest </span></span><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;" /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;" /></span><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Pinch of grated nutmeg </span></span></span></div><p style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px;" /></p><p style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Combine the flour and sugar. Stir in the eggs and buttermilk. Add the cooled, melted butter, vanilla, lemon juice and zest and nutmeg. Pour into the unbaked pie shell. Bake at 425 F in a preheated oven for 15 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350F and bake for a further 40 minutes. Cool and serve. </span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340128778a391b970c-pi" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Image002" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e54fdbc4a288340128778a391b970c " src="http://ffionas.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fdbc4a288340128778a391b970c-500wi" style="width: 455px;" /></a> <br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Verdana;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Verdana;" /></div><p><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></p></div>
</content>



    </entry>
 
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