Food Day

This morning I finally got round to doing a few things that I had been meaning to do all summer. Primarily, visit Smithfields meat market to look at high quality produce at wholesale prices. I got there early (5.45 to be precise) and it was every bit as extensive as I hoped. It clearly isn't aimed at small customers like me, but it's very easy to buy in small amounts. I got chicken livers, braising steak, black pudding, sausages and duck breast. The prices are all very decent (sausages £4 for 1.5Kg, chicken livers £2 Kg) and the quality seems superb. I can't remember eating such good sausages, and at around £1 per lb, they are priced like 10 years ago. However the best moment of the morning came when I was searching for bread at London Bridge, nowhere was open at 7am, so I decided to knock on the door of a wholesale bakers called Tivicos. I asked if he could sell me a loaf of bread, he asked me what size I wanted (i said biggest!), then ran off and got me one, stuffing it in an old flour sack. Then when I tried to pay him he refused! Which made it hands down my favourite flavour of food, free!


From there I headed back home (via Bermondsey Antiques Market) and was on Wickham Road by 8am, Exactly 3 hours after leaving. Once there I set about cooking some of those sausages, which were excellent.


Then faffed around cleaning the kitchen and got out my newish coffee machine and persuaded it to make easily its nicest latte so far. Perhaps the double cream helped! I just got back from buying Mushrooms so chicken liver pate should be coming soon.

The Chicken Liver pate is complete. The livers were great, not much preparation needed. I made two flavours (as you can see). One is Mushroom and Parsley, the other is Thyme. The thyme one is a bit disappointing, somehow the soft flavour doesn't really compliment the richness of the livers, perhaps it needed lemon. I can always add it when its eaten. The mushroom one tastes great though. Seems to be a really strong combination. Anyway, here are the picture of that.



Next I'll relax for a moment before starting on the beef and black-eye bean casserole. Perhaps I'll even open the bottle of Bordeaux that I brought back from France with a slice or two of Alsace jambon.



The stew is done, I'm tired. Simon is here to pass judgement and he says its ok. Tough judge!



Yeah, it was nice. Now the left over cheese.