Ted lays in waite …

… oh c’mon Ted tell us about one of your favourite places in the fabulous Borough Market … well since you asked so nicely I will tell you about a fabulous place hidden almost in plain view on the edge of the market.  Yes, folks my favourite independent wine merchant’s flag ship store is right here in the railway arches – Laithwaite’s Wines.

Started over 40 years ago from humble beginnings by Tony Laithwaite and his wife Barbara (the business brains of the outfit) they have gone from strength to strength and are the biggest independent wine merchant in the UK and probably the world.  And yet, it has none of that big business feel, even though you can tell there is a huge and efficient buying, blending, production and supply machine behind it to deliver the variety and great value for money that is on the shelves every day. 

Little known fact though … when you’ve been with Laithwaite’s for two years you go on an all expenses paid trip to Bordeaux, where you are taken on wine appreciation trips that give you that exposure and experience that you can only get “on the ground”. Tony (like all true wine appreciators I venture) is a romantic and hence the headquarters of the French negociant company are in Le Chai de Quai in Castillon which is a beautiful building that lay derelict for many years after WWII. It was accidentally bombed by the allies in the war when the explosives planned to blow up the nearby bridge were somewhat over charged and also took out quite a number of the buildings on the shore. Tony saw it, bought it, and has restored it to its former glory and made into a functional negociant winery and business headquarters.

Back to London now … when I go into the Borough Market store I always feel like I’m talking to a member of the family, whether I’m talking to Grant, Karolina, Eva, Cedric or Emma, the incredibly knowable folks at the coal face. Their range is huge, and will meet every price point, but is about 300% better than what you’ll buy from the supermarket for the same price. They also do very accessible fine wines at great prices for those special occasions.

Don’t know what you want??? … then simply ask and you’ll see their knowledge shine through. They’ll let you taste different wines to get a handle on your flavour palate so they can tailor it to your tastes. All and all it’s a very pleasant experience to buy wine.  Later when you drink said purchase you know it has the propensity to be absolutely spiffing with your chosen cuisine too.

Their "pay for" tastings are always great value … rumour has it that nearer to Christmas they are planning a “Champagne goes with everything” tasting … watch this space and don’t miss out … it will be enormous!!!

Ted boroughs in

Ted … Ted ... why don’t you tell us about Borough Market (you know you asked right ... you did!!) Do you know how big Borough Market is???  Today there are over 100 traders on a market site that dates back to the 13th century. Well actually, if old records are to be believed there has been a market in the “borough” south of the river since the 11th century, and they have been moved several times – the last one in 1755 for causing traffic congestion!!!

You can get pretty much anything you want food and drink wise from Borough market. You name it and it’s probably here - all kinds of cheese, meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, bread, charcuterie, chocolate, cakes, pies, coffee, ethnic cuisine supplies, any alcohol, including english wine (the sparkling is good) and this time of year the specialities and traditional food of Christmas.

I decided I needed a plan for telling you about Borough Market ... over time. I thought I’d focus in on one stall at time and see if they actually talked to me or were off-hand, as they thought I was just a “looker” with a camera. If they were friendly, helpful, and interested, then I would tell you about them. So … today apart from Mrs McLaren who tried (nicely) to force feed me christmas pudding ... we meet the Cartwright Bros, second generation (twitter now even) … I was there a few weeks ago with SWMBO (who is secretly a wine merchant) and she had a long discussion with them about the wonderful Framingham wines from New Zealand that they stocked. She took photos and then tweeted the winemaker (ok so it was 4am in NZ – but I am sure he was up and doing anyway). 

Alas … my trusty iPhone 4 then spat the dummy and I lost all my photos ... so back I went and looked at more of their really interesting collection. I was impressed by a) their helpfulness, b) the variety on offer and c) their approach of supporting small producers.

One such producer is Dà Mhìle distillery in Wales, who forage their ingredients. We tried the gin with seaweed and concurred that it would be the perfect accompaniment to the brininess of freshly shucked oysters. So there’s a tradition buster for you .. an icy cold shot of welsh seaweed gin, or push the boat out, and go for a martini with your christmas eve oysters .. or anytime really.

Still in need of a gin and seafood experience then try Nardin smoked anchovies fillets from Spain .... lurve ... lurve ... 

The thing about photography

… is that I am really really bad at it.  I suck big time, but you saw that already right. The Doll has magnificent photography genes all over her DNA (again I am stating the bleeding obvious aren't I). I do have photography genes in my DNA, the only problem is that they are badly recessive ones, and I know why this is … my Mother !!!  If I had lost my memory at some stage earlier in my life and had to rely on her family snapshots to bring it all back I would be convinced that a) I had two and a half siblings, b) my mother was nine feet tall judging by the size of her shadow on us, and c) we lived in a garage … without a door, but we did have a car.

Well you can’t have it all they say … but what I do have is an institutional wine memory and a modest  ability to do wine reviews.  The Doll does not … 

Whenever I want to buy wine accompanied by entertaining and informative conversation I head down to see Mr Albion. His store is in a little cobbled street, and it's what I imagine a wine shop in a Harry Potter movie might look like. Kinda dusty with wine everywhere, but there is logic in the seemingly unordered groaning shelves and piles on the floor. Albion buys wine he likes and he generously allows us to buy what he likes as well.

He gave me this wine to try and give him some feedback.  So … I enlisted the Doll’s help.  Here is her review ... “light coloured, with a tiny hint of sunshine coming in the window, clear and sort of sparkly.  The label would benefit from another colour to give it depth and make it easier to photograph” … and? ... “and what?” … “oh yeah, tastes nice, have I had this before?” … I did warn you didn’t I … no wine review genes at all!

Here’s what this little fun Muscat from the south of France is really like … light golden in colour, sweet Muscat perfume on the nose, juicy, grapey and moreish on the palate, low acidity, nice light floral mouthful.  The lower alcohol level makes it perfect for summer lunch time drinking as an aperitif or matched with the fresh flavours of Vietnamese food.

Ted does Japan(ese) …

Howdy ... Ted here ... isn't this exciting .. I almost ran out of the blocks before I am allowed ...  I have just recently returned from a trip to Tokyo, that took in a little of Japan. I had one of the most fabulous dining experiences of my flurry little life there, but more of that another time. "We" (a woman who was not the Doll) went  to Yudanaka, on one of those wonderful pieces of engineering and technology quite correctly named “bullet trains”, or for those of you who don’t lisp “Shinkansen”.

We had come to see the snow monkeys who (surprisingly) live in the snow and spend most of their time in the natural geothermal hot pools.  After what seemed like hours of walking on a muddy high mountain track we finally reached a small hut in an advanced  state of snowy decay, with a smelly heater and a few “souvenirs”. The souvenirs had obviously been knitted by someone’s 98 year old Granny after a session of “so you call this Tequila do you? … and to think I wasted some much time on cream sherry!!”.  Naturally I bought one.

There were signs that politely spoke of the  “please do not’s” about interacting with the monkeys ... no staring, threatening, gesturing, eating, feeding, carrying Birkin bags etc.  They should have just said “be prepared to be monstered - the monkey’s don’t like you, they don’t want you here, you smell, and your mother dresses you funny!!  Your only hope is to lay down your Birkin bag containing at least 75% cocoa full fat dark chocolate bars” and RUN away!!”  This is of course a highly unlikely scenario for a highly unlikely reason - you just can’t get any chocolate that’s not green tea flavoured in Japan!!!.  So after what seemed like an eternity of being menaced by monkeys (probably 3 minutes in reality) we RAN away!!

Back in London the scars of the monkey incident healed quickly and my need for Japanese food returned in spades, so I talked the Doll into an early lunch at Koya Bar in Soho.

A skinny restaurant, with an attractive street front and a long light wooden counter/bar running the length of the place, very like what I had seen in Japan even!  The eaters sit on one side of the counter and the open kitchen is on the other.  Essentially Koya is a noodle bar that also has rice dishes, sides, and specials. Again in the Japanese fashion, it’s not designed as a place to linger after eating.  It is a place to be nourished and savour good honest food, well cooked, bursting with umami .. the 5^th flavour . Umami is intrinsic to the Japanese psyche and delivered skilfully and effortlessly, in even the most humble of eating establishments.  Koya does it really well, and if you are in the area I’d thoroughly recommend you drop in.  And no … sadly we didn't have any Sake as the Doll says I am smart mouthed enough already!!

Ted - a brief introduction

My name is Ted and I simply adore good food and the many beverages that can accompany it. I also like travel and small adventures - befitting my stature.

Mo Doll (“The Doll”) approached me and said that her Sunday readership was very low and would I like to do a guest spot (no singing or nudity allowed apparently) to try and get you all to show a modicum of the interest you seem to show during the week days. If it didn’t raise her readership it would be duly pronounced my fault … how could I resist?

So … you’ll be hearing from me on a more or less weekly basis now as I continue to eat my way towards paradise, following only the most basic of sensible rules designed for my own safety -    “never eat anything bigger than your head in one sitting, or drink from anything taller than yourself”.

A Good Reason for a Glass of Wine

I am rather partial to a nice glass of wine so when I was asked to taste a couple of wines for a good cause naturally I accepted. However, this was no ordinary wine tasting - it's a wine with a story. 

 

The worlds first "social wine" will to be launched later this year.  It's a collaborative work between Tesco, specialist wine company Enotria and Enaleni Vineyards.  The Enaleni vineyards in South Africa are owned by the farm workers and the profit from the wine goes back into their community Details on the ethical sustainable vineyard  project here

We blinded tasted five wines and popped a coloured ball into the jar to vote for our favourite wine. A close call as you can see.

Today Tesco announce the winning wine on their facebook and this being a social wine we all now get a chance to name the wine and suggest a design for the label - all of which gives you a chance to win a trip to South Africa. Check it out here at the Tesco facebook page - give it a go.

Wine and Cheese Tasting

A little rain is no deterent to a wine and cheese tasting at Southbank.

Wine and Swans

Ok a challenge today. Mainly as I was in a hurry to finish my prepostings while away. So you have to do some homework. What is the connection between wine and swans? I'll tell you when I get back to London. Hint, this picture is taken in the Vintners Hall.