Big British Food Map Home Counties cooking

Date Published:

15/09/2008

Andrew hit the Home Counties in search of some home cooking

Swap shop

After battling through a monsoon on the M4 I managed to reach the Crooked Billet near Henley-on-Thames today. And look what greeted me on the door - brilliant.

An autumnal atmosphere

That's more like it, low dappled sunlight, a nip in the air, a covering of leaves on the ground - lovely. Today I nipped around Berkshire, Oxfordshire and even the bottom end of Buckinghamshire. The counties get much smaller round these parts. I spent the afternoon at the nearby Copas turkey farm.
Just a reminder that Christmas is only 43 days away.

Andrew's been north, south, east and west in search of the best

Since April 27th you've added 1932 places to the Map - woo! Here comes the geography bit... the most easterly place is The Flint house added by Karen who says: "The Flint House shines like a beacon on the East Coast - food as good as Claridges." Northwards it's Pierowall Hotel on Orkney, which Jane says: "does the best fish and chips in the world." Sadly I didn't manage to get out to the Scottish islands.

The most southern point on the Map is also on an island I was never going to make it to, because it's in the Channel Islands. Brooklands Farm added by Brendan has: "the happiest rare breed saddle back pigs , that give the tastiest pork I've ever eaten!!!!" Westerly gets a little confusing, as the good people of Northern Ireland have added places, even though I only planned to stay on mainland Britain. Still I thank them for their contribution. So consequently the most westerly point on the Map is MacNean House in County Cavin, which Laura says: "All 6 courses will leave your mouth watering!!". Sounds great, I only wish there was more time.

Sadly there's not; there's only 10 days of the project left so if you've not done so already, please add a place to the Map. It'd be great to break the 2000 barrier. And though I might not get to visit them, hopefully somebody else will.So share the wealth of knowledge. After all, no one knows your neighbourhood like you do.

Come in for a coffee? No thanks

Today I'd like to talk about the tyranny of the complimentary tea and coffee tray you get in hotels. I've encountered dozens of these over the past seven months and have come to the conclusion that this collection of items promises so much and yet delivers like the England team under McClaren. You know how it goes, you get in to the room, tired and hungry, you wolf the biscuits in one and think, 'I'll make a coffee to perk me up'. The kettle goes on, the sachet of bitter freeze-dried grains goes in the cup, then the hot water, and then the first of those 'nipples' of UHT milk. The coffee remains bible-black.

You send in the next two milks and achieve the colour of creosote, the coffee reluctantly turning opaque. The last one goes in and raises the colour to a very very dark brown. It's scalding hot but you take a sip anyway. It tastes dreadful, and you've now used all your milk. I've tried putting in less coffee, I've raided the cleaner's trolley for more milk, but lets face it, instant coffee and UHT milk are never going to make a tasty beverage. I'm therefore convinced it's all a ploy to get you to call room service. And what I want to know is who the hell decided that 12ml would be a standard milk serving eh? Answers on a postcard please.

Burger van in Arsenal, thankfully closed

Next week....London. the mighty metropolis. A quick look at the Map reveals well over 200 places. What's more it raises the question of how to even attempt to cover London in one week? Well I hope you've added something special for the capital, and if you have, why not meet me there and we'll experience it together. Mail me via bigfoodmap@channel4.com.

Last week Andrew was in and around Brighton.

Next he's off to London.

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