Tuesday 31 May 2011

Purely Pesto

Sadly this is not a restaurant but a great pasta sauce.

Last week I went with a friend to the Greene King annual food and drink festival (exhibition). This is the second year running that I've been and it's well worth a visit. There are a number of local food and drink producers who attend, offering quite a spectacular range of goodies to try or buy.

Amongst several items - maybe one or two a little overpriced (but local!)I bought two products from the above company: a basil pesto (they use other herbs for different varieties) made with cashews rather than pine nuts; and a hummus. The latter was good but the pesto was one of the best I've ever tasted. I have to say I don't buy a lot of pre-prepared pasta sauces and pasta pesto is not one of my favourite dishes, but the pasta I prepared using this, three of us agreed, was simply delicious.

The company is based in Norfolk but I'm not sure about the availability of their products in shops, but my son is already speaking of making an on-line order

Sunday 29 May 2011

Asian Fusion? - Orissa Restaurant, Risbygate Street

Orissa does good lunchtime and evening deals, and in the last couple of weeks or so I've had both a reasonably priced lunch and a surprisingly reasonably priced evening meal considering that two glasses of wine were included. Originally Orissa claimed - or so I thought, that they were an Asian 'fusion' restaurant. I'm not sure about that description or indeed whether they still make that claim, but in some respects I'd call it the only Asian 'Nouvelle Cuisine' restaurant I've ever been to. Their portions are not huge, which is no bad thing if quality and price are good, but being aware of this on my last visit to supplement my main meal I opted for a Tandoori King Prawn starter, which was I believe just over £5. Prawn being the operative word. I was presented with one largish prawn (but not very largish). It tasted fine and looked beautiful, but it passed as a nibble rather than a starter. I tend to think that usually starters are not a good idea in Indian restaurants - you end up with too much food. Orissa's management obviously has other ideas.

I'm anxious to try other dishes so am going again for lunch this week. I don't eat out that often so it is quite a compliment from me.

Saturday 28 May 2011

Carluccio's

So the man himself visited Bury St Edmunds this week for a special lunch at the restaurant that bears his name. Well, I hope it was more special than the meals I have had there, otherwise I fear he would have found the whole event rather an embarrassment. Although I do remember one pleasant pasta dish I was served, I would now shy away from their main courses and go for a mixture of starters - which in honesty, they do reasonably well. Having spent many years with an Italian who could cook, I am rather fussy about my pasta, risotto and pizza - and I don't believe the subtle - or robust meat dishes of Italian cuisine can be found around here.
I am not excited by any of the chain restaurants in town. Chain restaurants is exactly what they are, seemingly manned by students on the whole, but despite that, not offering great value for money regardless of their claims. Maybe most people don't care about the cost, or the food - they go for atmosphere, which is fine if you prefer to talk loudly rather than moderately to get yourself heard over the clatter of chairs, feet, dishes and other people generally.

'Food is love' says Antonio C. Hmm, well, love is often blind... apparently.