Gregg Wallace Steps Down From Master Chef

 

TV host Gregg Wallace is to step away from presenting MasterChef while allegations of historical misconduct by individuals are investigated, the show's production company has said.

In a statement, Banijay UK said: "This week the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to historical allegations of misconduct while working with presenter Gregg Wallace on one of our shows."

Wallace, 60, is "committed to fully co-operating throughout the process", it added.

The BBC said it takes "any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them".

Banijay's statement said: "Whilst these complainants have not raised the allegations directly with our show producers or parent company Banijay UK, we feel that it is appropriate to conduct an immediate, external review to fully and impartially investigate.

"While this review is under way, Gregg Wallace will be stepping away from his role on MasterChef and is committed to fully co-operating throughout the process.

"Banijay UK's duty of care to staff is always a priority and our expectations regarding behaviour are made clear to both cast and crew on all productions, with multiple ways of raising concerns, including anonymously, clearly promoted on set.

"Whilst these are historical allegations, incidences brought to our attention where these expectations are not met, are thoroughly investigated and addressed appropriately."

The statement added: "If anyone would like to talk to us or raise any issues or concerns, then they can contact speakupbanijayuk.com in confidence."

A BBC spokesman said: "We take any issues that are raised with us seriously and we have robust processes in place to deal with them.

"We are always clear that any behaviour which falls below the standards expected by the BBC will not be tolerated.

"Where an individual is contracted directly by an external production company we share any complaints or concerns with that company and we will always support them when addressing them."

 

Lamenting the Closure of Smithfield Market: A Historic Loss

 

The forthcoming closure of Smithfield Market (it will be relocated to Dagenham) marks the end of an era for London's historic trading hub. For centuries (800 years), Smithfield has been synonymous with the heart of the city's meat trade, serving as a bustling center of commerce and community. As we bid farewell to this iconic institution, we reflect on its rich history and lament the loss of a cultural cornerstone.

A Rich History

Smithfield Market, officially known as the London Central Markets, has a storied past that dates back to the medieval era. Established in the 10th century, Smithfield initially served as a livestock market, where cattle, sheep, and pigs were traded. Its strategic location, just outside the ancient Roman walls of London, made it a prime spot for merchants and traders.

Over the centuries, Smithfield evolved to become one of the largest wholesale meat markets in Europe. The market buildings, designed by Sir Horace Jones in the mid-19th century, are architectural marvels, showcasing Victorian grandeur with their wrought iron and glass structures. These buildings have stood the test of time, bearing witness to countless transactions and the ever-changing landscape of London.

A Community Hub

Beyond its economic significance, Smithfield Market has always been a community hub. For generations, it provided livelihoods for butchers, traders, and workers, fostering a sense of camaraderie and belonging. The market's early morning hustle and bustle, the camaraderie among traders, and the aroma of fresh produce have all contributed to its unique charm and atmosphere.

The Impact of Closure

The closure of Smithfield Market is a blow to both the local community and London's heritage. The decision to repurpose the site for new developments is seen by many as a loss of tradition and history. While change and progress are inevitable, the closure of such a historic site feels like the end of a chapter that cannot be rewritten.

The impact on the workers and traders who have dedicated their lives to the market cannot be overstated. For them, Smithfield was more than just a place of work; it was a way of life. The closure not only displaces them but also erases a part of London's cultural fabric.

Conclusion

As we prepare to say goodbye to Smithfield Market, we must acknowledge its profound impact on London's history and community. The market has been a beacon of commerce, tradition, and community spirit for over a millennium. Its closure is a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between preserving heritage and embracing change. Smithfield Market will be sorely missed, but its legacy will endure in the memories of those who cherished it.

Feel free to share your thoughts or memories of Smithfield Market.

Ken's Special Tomato Soup Recipe

 

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tbsp butter

• 1 onion, finely chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 3 sundried tomatoes, finely chopped

• 1 tbsp tomato puree

• 2 cans of tinned tomatoes

• 3 cups chicken stock

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tbsp demerara sugar

• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar

• 1 bay leaf

• Salt and pepper to taste

• A handful of fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions:

1. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat.

2. Add the chopped onion and cook until it's soft and translucent.

3. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

4. Add the chopped sundried tomatoes and tomato puree. Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly.

5. Pour in the tinned tomatoes and chicken stock. Stir well.

6. Add the smoked paprika, demerara sugar, red wine vinegar, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 20 minutes.

7. Blend the soup until smooth using an immersion blender or a regular blender (be careful with the hot liquid).

8. Remove the bay leaf. Adjust the seasoning if needed. Sprinkle the chopped parsley on top just before serving.

Enjoy your enhanced tomato soup! 🍅🥣

Potato Soup

 Ingredients

- Potatoes

- Onion chopped

- Bay leaf

- Salt/pepper 

- Butter a large dollop

- Milk

- Chicken stock

Method

- Sweat the potatoes and onion in the butter

- Season and add the bay leaf

- Add the stock

- Simmer until ingredients are cooked

- Blend

- Add the milk

Garnish with parsley.

Tinto Taperia - A Spanish Gem In The Heart of Brighton

 

Kudos and thanks to the good people of: 

 
Tinto Taperia
7 New Road
Brighton
BN1 1UF

01273 727766 

Three of us went for dinner there last night, and had an excellent evening. The food was sumptuous, tasty and freshly prepared on the premises. The service was professional, friendly and welcoming.

Tinto Taperia is our favourite Tapas and Paella restaurant in Brighton, and is well worth a visit. We will most certainly be returning!

The Plough Rottingdean - Revisited

 

Eva and I revisited had lunch on Monday in The Plough Inn in the village of Rottingdean.

The Plough Inn, 

Vicarage Lane, 

Rottingdean, 

BN2 7HD, 

01273 390635

As before, the food was excellent. I had the gammon, eggs, chips and peas and Eva had the braised coffee ox cheek (exceptionally tender and flavoursome) with red cabbage and potato purée. Both dished were bloody good!

The Demise of The Colonnade Bar Brighton

 

The Colonnade Bar (next door to the Theatre Royal) was a popular, beloved, well run and welcoming Brighton institution (when the Golden Lion Group owned and ran it). We have often gone there for drinks, and have always received a warm and friendly welcome from the professional and cheerful team that used to work behind the bar.

Sadly, in June 2023, the Ambassador Theatre Group (who own the theatre) took back the lease and put a door between the theatre and the bar.

I had the misfortune of going for a drink in the Colonnade last night. As reported in Brighton and Hove News it is now bereft of the many pictures of stars from stage and screen that used to adorn the walls.

That aside, it is clear that the bar is but a shadow of its former self in terms of welcome and customer experience. 

My request for a Bloody Mary was met by the response from the manager (sitting drinking with another colleague) that they don't have tomato juice. 

For why? 

She claimed that she had been "only running it for two months and no one has ever asked for that".

I opted for anon tomato juice based drink, and sat at a table near the closed door to the theatre.

One minute later the security guards from the theatre opened up the connecting door, this let in a blast of cold air in as the front door to the theatre was open. I asked them to close it. 

Their response?

"Can't do that mate, people from the theatre will come in!" 

Factoid: no one came in from the theatre.

I was forced to change tables in order not to freeze, although the bar was still cold because of the open connecting door. At this point someone, who had been drinking at the bar, introduced himself as being part of the ATG team. Apparently his role was to gain an understanding of customers' views and experiences. I gave him my views, and asked him to shut the connecting door. He claimed he didn't have the authority to do that.

Suffice to say, I will not be going there ever again.

Avoid this place!

£10 Off Your First Order of Free Range Eggs From The Good Egg Fellas

 

 

Get a free £10 credit for The Good Egg Fellas. 

 

Use coupon: REFFKUF2B7RY9 

 

via this link https://thegoodeggfellas.co.uk/

 

As per their website

GOOD WELFARE

Our hens’ welfare is at the heart of our farming policy, keeping our hens happy, healthy and safe is our number one priority. We give them the ability to roam freely in a natural, stimulating environment.

GOOD QUALITY

When you buy from The Good Egg Fellas, you know you will be receiving eggs directly from our farm to your kitchen, meaning you can be confident knowing you’re buying fresh, high quality eggs from a trusted reliable source.

GOOD SERVICE 

We deliver first-class service and deliver our eggs via overnight courier to get your eggs to you the next working day. We go the extra mile to ensure our customers get what they want, exactly when they need it

AWARDS

2022 Winner of the Egg Producer of the Year at the National Egg & Poultry Awards

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2015 Winner of the British Free Range Egg Producer of the year by the Free Range Egg Producers Association.

ORDER NOW

Buy our fresh, golden yolked free range eggs. Delivered straight from our farm to your kitchen within 24 hours of the eggs being laid. RSPCA assured, Lion quality and excellent reviews from our customers. 

Try our eggs out today! 

Get a free £10 credit for The Good Egg Fellas. 

 

Use coupon: REFFKUF2B7RY9 

 

via this link https://thegoodeggfellas.co.uk/

Burns Night at The Basketmakers Arms Brighton

 

Kudos and thanks to the good people of the Basketmakers Arms for putting on a really splendid Burns Night (complete with piper) celebration last night.

As per their website:

"The Basketmakers Arms is an award-winning traditional British pub in central Brighton. Come and pop in to our cosy retreat in the heart Brighton's North Laine. 

Our traditional British menu champions freshly caught seafood specials, and traditional roasts on Sundays. Behind the bar, we boast an excellent range of pristinely kept cask ales and ice cold beers. 

There's also our small but perfectly formed wine list and extensive selection of single malts and unique spirits to whet your whistle."

It's a lovely pub, with friendly, cheerful staff and an excellent menu. Last night's haggis with neeps and tatties was top notch.

Well worth a visit!

12 Gloucester Road

Brighton 

East Sussex 

BN1 4AD 

Phone: 01273 689006

Tea Wars

 

In case you've hit your head, here's a reminder on how to make a proper cup of tea. Hope this helps! ☕️pic.twitter.com/lu2VgnB7qI https://t.co/aMXuBT6mxY

— British Embassy Washington (@UKinUSA) January 24, 2024

Advice To Chefs - Stock Up On Knives Now!

 

'We have to stop the buying and selling of knives.’

Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell, sets out Labour's plans to prevent and tackle knife crime. pic.twitter.com/JyVMJQjWW0

— GB News (@GBNEWS) January 24, 2024

Adieu La Gavroche!

 

La Gavroche, that grand old dame of London fine dining, is shuttering its doors. After 53 years of waltzing with Escoffier's ghost and tickling taste buds with three-Michelin-starred sorcery, she's calling it a day. Last orders were last night. Now, before you drown your Wagyu in a river of Cristal tears, let's raise a glass, not to mourn, but to celebrate a legend.

Michel Roux Sr., the original maestro of this culinary circus, was a titan. A bloke who could coax symphonies from a celeriac and pirouette a pigeon into a masterpiece. He built this place on sweat, precision, and a sprinkle of Gallic charm. La Gavroche wasn't just a restaurant, it was a bloody institution. The Queen supped here, presidents preened, and oligarchs coughed up more for a souffle than some of us earn in a year.

And the food? Well, it was the edible equivalent of a Mozart concerto. Every plate was a meticulously orchestrated dance of textures and flavors. You'd bite into a scallop and hear the ocean whisper, savor a sliver of lamb and feel the sun-warmed fields it grazed. This wasn't just fuel, it was art, a fleeting glimpse into the divine.

But like all good shows, even the curtain on this culinary masterpiece had to fall. Michel Jr., the inheritor of the toque, kept the magic alive for years. But times change, palates evolve, and the restaurant game is a fickle beast. Rents skyrocket, trends morph like chameleons on espresso, and suddenly, even the most exquisite soufflé can feel a tad passé.

So, should we wallow in the gravy of what's lost? Nah. Instead, let's tip our toques to the legacy. Let's remember the nights when La Gavroche made us gasp, giggle, and shed a tear (mostly from the bill, but hey, that's the price of perfection). Let's raise a toast to the white tablecloths that cradled countless dreams, to the silver service that glided like whispered secrets, and to the symphony of flavors that danced on our tongues.

La Gavroche may be closing, but its whispers will linger in the hushed tones of Michelin inspectors, the reverent murmur of food critics, and the misty memories of those who were lucky enough to have danced with culinary royalty. And who knows, maybe one day, the grand dame will rise again, her silver gleaming anew, her kitchen humming with the ghosts of Escoffier and Roux, ready to once more orchestrate a symphony of epicurean delight. Until then, let's savor the echoes, and remember, a legend never truly fades. It just waits for the next curtain call.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a good bottle of Rioja and a fat stack of Michel Roux cookbooks. Time to recreate a taste of that magic in my own little kitchen. And who knows, maybe one day, my own culinary ditty will find its way onto the grand stage. In the meantime, chin up, foodies, and remember, even the last bite leaves a taste.

Now, go forth and spread the word. Let the world know that La Gavroche may be gone, but its legend will simmer on, a whisper in every Michelin-starred kitchen, a ghost in every perfectly poached egg.

Si Signore - Revisited

 

Yesterday Eva and I went back to Si Signore, a lovely Italian restaurant in central Brighton.

12 Sydney Street

Brighton, 

BN1 4EN 

01273 671 266

As per its website: 

Si Signore opened its doors on 18th April 2006. Situated in the North Laines in Brighton is the perfect place whether dining solo, on a date night, celebrating with your family or to experience home made Italian cuisine.

Get your meal started with a glass of Italian wine or cocktail and to follow try our homemade Bolognese, oven baked lasagne or signature dish, they will impress you at the first bite. Part of the experience of dining at Si Signore is trying our homemade tiramisu paired with a shot of Italian liquor or a great espresso.

If that’s not enough, our friendly staff always ready to help and welcome you and our décor and lovely atmosphere will let you feel relaxed and thrilled to come back

 GRAZIE MILLE!

This has become one of our favourite restaurants in Brighton; not only is the food excellent, but the welcome and service is genuinely warm and friendly. Regular customers are made to feel as though they are friends dining in someone's home.

We had a lovely evening.

It is without doubt well worth visiting, and we will most certainly be coming back in the not too distant future!

The Cleveland Arms - Brighton

Eva and I went for a late lunch at the Cleveland Arms yesterday, and a splendid time was had by all!

Rated by Tripadvisor, they have been awarded both their certificate of excellence 2020, 2021 & 2022 & Travellers Choice 2020, 2021 & 2022!!

The Cleveland Arms are an independent, traditional family run Freehouse pub serving home cooked food 7 days a week. Their meat is locally sourced and fish is sustainably caught locally. Offering Sussex Ales including Harveys, Dark Star and Long Man.

With a bright open plan space The Cleveland Arms can cater for small or larger groups. They are very family and dog friendly showing live sports via BT Sport, live music nights, quiz nights, cheese and wine nights and charity events.

The food was bloody marvellous, the welcome was genuinely warm and the service cheerful and professional.

What's not to like?

We will definitely return! 

Cleveland Arms

27A Cleveland Road

Brighton

01273 502396

Happy Beaujolais Nouveau Day!