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Food and Drink

I love nothing better than finding a lovely restaurant or cafe to enjoy great company, delicious food and fine service. Read my reviews below.

Indian Cookery Masterclass: Street Food

Amritsari Fish at East India Cafe

When I was invited along to East India Café’s Indian cookery masterclass afternoon, I couldn’t believe my luck. It sounded to me like a perfect Sunday afternoon – eating, chatting and learning new recipes.

East India Café sits on The Promenade in Cheltenham. It’s not your usual Indian curry house; it serves Anglo-Indian food with cuisine harking back to the days of the Raj. Being an Indian Summers fan, and having enjoyed the trials and tribulations of Ralphie, Cynthia, Afrin et al, I was keen to understand more about the food of the times.

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Foraging in the Forest

Wild ramson soup with poached duck egg

It was a snowy, April morning when I set off towards the Forest of Dean for my first official foraging in the forest experience. I was a bit concerned about getting stuck in a snowdrift en route and wondered how we were going to forage beneath the white stuff, but as I neared the little village of Clearwell, I was surprisingly relieved the rather large flakes had turned to drizzle.

I received a warm welcome at Tudor Farmhouse, a boutique hotel tucked into the village, and was introduced to our guide for the morning, Mr Raoul van den Broucke.

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The Story of the Chilli Crab

The Boat Shed (© Sara Chardin)

My first visit to The Boat Shed Cafe, in Nelson, New Zealand, was in the late 90s. I’d just graduated from university and was yet to find a proper job. So I decided to travel on my own, for the first time, to visit my beloved Grandpa, who had emigrated to New Zealand at the age of 80.

It didn’t take me long to fall in love with Nelson and its arty vibe; it took even less time to fall in love with The Boat Shed and its Chilli Crab. A love affair, that’s stood the test of time.

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