Friday, 19 October 2018

Visit York Hospitality Awards --A Hat Trick

Armed with 4 finalists in the Visit Yorkshire Hospitality Awards and their bosses Ed Fawcett from Studford Lodges and Simon Parker from the White Swan in Ampleforth we went along to the VisitYork Hospitality Awards which were held in the Every Man Theatre in York.

I had sponsored one of the awards and Alexandra Kew from the Principle won that one.

 I was delighted when the entries I had put in scored a hat trick. First to win was Matty Cressey for the Warm Welcome for Studford . Then I had to be "a fake Jo" as the presenter called me as Jo Skelton could not attend, so I was the substitute for her winning the Sparkle Award for the best cleaning staff. Kuba Bartosiewicz won the Star Behind the bar award. It was quite unbelievable that with all the serious competition that we can away with some many wins.

Truly a night to remember not only for winning the 3 awards,


  but when the winners and finalists got backup on to the stage it was so wobbly that we were very lucky to get off it on one piece.

Then on to celebrate we went to the Windmill nearby first and then went down into town with Anna another winner who works at the Whippet in town. I knew Anna previously when she had won at the larger Visit York awards in the Summer and I guess it wouldn't be long beofre we see her again soon at the White Rose Awards .... the awards season is well under way


Monday, 27 August 2018

Duck Race results with extra help from the little people...Part 2

Duck race at The Fairfax Arms in Gilling East.... part 1

Bank Holiday Monday at the Durham Ox

And all before 10 .30am ...
 I had the butcher coming for his tea tonight, his wife is away on holiday and I didn't want to slave over the Aga all day - well it was Bank Holiday Monday. I nipped along to pick up some steak pies from his sons indoor market stall which was at the Durham  Ox in Crayke. Katie, his girlfriend had kindly saved me two.
There is something about the events that the Ibbotsons do that means each and every one of events they organise is always spot on . It is called a Knack, well that is what we call it here in North Yorkshire. In the posh South it may come under the term gift. But whichever, it was spot on .
Knowing the pies were safety saved I had a look around the other stalls. My favourites from Ampleforth Village market were there too. Queen's Flowers and Sophie from Bakehouse in the Barn cakes and tarts. But then there was gin ..our most local distillery -Cooper King ... 42%. Infused with lavender and honey. As I am not over keen on lavender, or honey for that matter, I thought I should try before I bought. 9.45am on a Monday morning, but needs must, as it was to add to my collection of 35+ gins. But this was not the liqueur 22% stuff this was the real Mccoy. Mistake- I would try it neat well as nice as tonic..and sensible too, you dont really get the exact taste. Not a good idea to drink on an empty stomach and as most of you know I rarely drink in any case. As I purchased a bottle and was tempted with more ..at this stage you could have sold me a dozen bottles, How I managed to carry a tray of free range eggs out I do not know ...we have our own hens but I thought the man still had a lot of sell... and well I might need a few more ...and he had come a long way ..and he was very pleasant . All I can say Durham Ox you do the best bacon sandwiches. I safely got my 30 eggs to the car without them getting scrambled ,although I think there was a few who wonder how I managed.




it

Wednesday, 22 August 2018

Fundraising for Yorkshire Air Ambulance with Wass WI


Last Friday evening I attended an event in conjunction with Byland with Wass WI and 6 tour operators, showcasing their fantastic holidays available in aid of Yorkshire Air Ambulance 
It was a fun event and great to see so many people there as tour operators... African Pride Classic Collection Holidays Great Rail Journeys Latin RoutesANZCRO (UK) Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection gave up their time to tell us all about holidays 
Each member of the WI provided canapés relating to each destination with wine for each country also being served, provided by Helmsley Wines.
It is lovely to dream where we could go but we wont be leaving North Yorkshire in the near future. As Jack would say we live in the best part of the World and the views from The Lund where the event was held over to our farmland probably proves it too.
ps my head is on a side as I was reading something and not because I had drunk too much .


Sunday, 15 July 2018

Fish and Butter ,Butter and Fish

I was delighted to receive an invite which took me to watch Rob Green giving a cookery demonstration on how to cook fish. It was arranged by the North York Moors National Park and the Fishing Authorities ,
Did you know 90% of our wonderful fish caught down the East Coast of Yorkshire is exported to Europe and beyond. So if you are stay by the coast in Spain enjoying your lobster it will more than likely have been caught not far from me.

 I have been in contact with Rob Green for many years when he owned a fish restaurant in Whitby. As much as people enjoy fish, some like a change or would rather eat a steak. So after many a tweet and spinning it around on Twitter I created Wednesday night steak nights in Rob Greens restaurant, hoping that diners would then go twice a week once to eat superb fish but then be tempted by my drools of whopping big steaks on a Wednesday. A great marketing way of thinking as it plants a seed in a customers mind and if you keep chipping away at it they remember .

I am quite happy to cook fish,I dont have a problem.  Rob made the filleting of it look like child's play He had the very sharpest pliable knife. He showed us how to dress a crab and to take the ink out of squid . Both of which I have done many times and was surprised how many people hadn't. Wonder if they just open a tin or sardines if they want a change. Of course I had to chirp up I liked mustard mixed in with crab. You must try it as it certainly does improve the taste.

The conclusion of the day was everything for me


tastes better when it is cooked in butter...


Saturday, 20 January 2018

A recipe to share



As the colder months came, we should adjust our diets in order to protect from the bacteria that can occur during the winter time, which is why we need to take care of what we consume and how we consume it.

Which is why we give you this wonderful recipe for a soup that we like to call “medicine in a cup”. This miraculous soup will prevent from any kind of harmful bacteria and will keep your body full of nutrients through the whole winter.
The Traditional Chinese Medicine, has always said that every ingredient that we consume relates to a specific function or part in our bodies. This means that every organism and body are not the same, no two people are the same. This is one of the reasons why you need to understand and listen to the signs and symptoms that your body sends you, give it the things that it needs.
The Ginger can provide some warming effects to our body. Whenever you think of the summer, we feed ourselves with products like tomatoes or cucumbers, the things that may cause some cooling effects for us. But when it comes to the winter, we want to do the opposite, eat something that can cause warming effects to us, things like hearty soups, cinnamon and ginger.
This recipe is a mix of ginger and garlic, and adding the garlic into the soup makes a perfect combo. Therefore, the soup is able to protect you from cold, flu, sinus infections and many other diseases that can be easily caught during the cold winter months.

This is the recipe we told you about, the perfect combo of Ginger & Garlic, that can provide warming, wholesome and hearty effects and still taste delicious.

Ingredients:
  • Two cloves of garlic, peeled and finely diced
  • Four green onions, also finely sliced
  • Seven cups of chicken stock or broth (for vegetarians – vegetable stock)
  • 50g of grated root ginger, finely sliced too
  • And last but not least, one finely diced hot or medium-hot chili
  • Chopped or whole mushrooms (optional)
Instructions:
1. Put the Garlic, onions, mushrooms (if there are any) and the ginger in a big pan and put it on low heat for a few minutes, and saute them.
2. Add the whole stock and continue to boil.
3. Stir very gently, until all of the ingredients become soft.
4. Last add the chopped chili, and stir for another 5 minutes. Then you can serve the soup while it is warm. Combine it with lemon water and crusty bread. This will provide more anti-bacterial effects and improve your digestion too.
And there you have a tasty and hot winter meal, share it with your friends and family let them know how to protect themselves during the cold winter months.