I roam, grow my own, brave the kitchen heat and know my woozy way around a wine list. Welcome to my (very personal) world of food and drink…
After years of journalistic hyper-activity, lockdowns made me reassess the food and drink I really care about. Refreshed and unrestrained, I started this. Call it a blog if you must, it’s certainly a change of direction. Less about me, more the discoveries I want to share. Read more…

You say macaroni, I say Squacquerone. Ciao to one of Italy’s best kept secrets
One of the delights of our recent trip to Bologna was emerging from our apartment one Sunday morning in search of coffee to find a buzzing organic market on our doorstep. Just 12 hours earlier the Piazza Aldrovandi had been swarming with…

Red-hot Impala lives up to the hype with a dream duck and molokhia’s ancient magic
En route to Impala through London’s Chinatown you run the gauntlet of lacquered roast ducks garnishing restaurant windows. From the humblest establishments to the Four Seasons, which trumpets its version as the world’s best. Switch from…

Danielle and Sofie to reopen OSMA and introduce Boutikk in Manchester’s Northern Quarter
OSMA restaurant has been much missed. Now it is returning – to the Northern Quarter

A decade of daiquiris downed! Happy big birthday, Manchester Rum Festival
Manchester Rum Festival is celebrating 10 years of merriment







My Italian food trail – the ancient Umbrian ‘pea’ Roveja
It’s a Zin! But what version of this enigmatic Californian red will turn up?
All the winners from the MFDF Awards 2025 on a night celebrating community
A slice of my sweet, sweet sausage? You’ll be tasting a very Catalan dish
Hot lemons! Lonely Planet’s ready Med answer to those January blues
East Neuk is unique – that’s why I’m dreaming of a Fife Christmas
My Italian Food Trail: Peposo (don’t stint on the peppercorns)
Hrishi Desai – what makes this great Cumbrian-based chef patron tick?