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Bombay, makers of the well-known Sapphire gin, have introduced a London Dry gin. Available at Sainsbury's (my local branch at least) at £17 for a litre. It's pretty nice. The price is just an extra incentive.

Edited by Futtocks

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Speaking of gin - any suggestions for a "special" gin?

 

Where to start!

 

A nice 'drinking' gin is Martin Miller.

 

A refereshing summer gin is Bloom. Served with strawberries and blackberries.

 

A 'special' gin would be Saffron infused by Gabriel Boudier. Really different flavours.

 

All the above should be drank with Fever Tree tonic. Bloom is great with their Elderflower tonic.

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I like Fever Tree tonic, but it's a bit strong-flavoured for some people's tastes. Schweppes, on the other hand, is a bit insipid.

 

In recent years, I've tended to buy Sainsbury's own brand tonic, and not just because it's cheap. It's actually pretty good.

 

Opihr spiced gin is well worth a try. 

 

I tried Heston Blumenthal's Earl Grey & Lemon gin. It is not a flavour combination that convinced me.

 

Waitrose (if there's one near you) seem to be the best supermarket for gin at the moment. Otherwise, it's down to whether you know a specialist booze shop in your neighbourhood.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Waitrose is usually the port of choice; tanqueray (sp) is usually the gin we go for in the house.

 

Was thinking of a present for someone, they've previously enjoyed Caorunn, Portobello Road and a snazzy artisan one from Edinburgh.

 

I think the Heston ones are a bit too funky for the old man's palette.

 

Anyone had a Gin Mare? Reviews have people throwing Rosemary etc in with their tonic..

Running the Rob Burrow marathon to raise money for the My Name'5 Doddie foundation:

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Waitrose is usually the port of choice; tanqueray (sp) is usually the gin we go for in the house.

 

Was thinking of a present for someone, they've previously enjoyed Caorunn, Portobello Road and a snazzy artisan one from Edinburgh.

 

I think the Heston ones are a bit too funky for the old man's palette.

 

Anyone had a Gin Mare? Reviews have people throwing Rosemary etc in with their tonic..

I haven't tried Gin Mare, but it sounds interesting. I had a very nice gin cocktail once that included smoked rosemary, but I forget what else was in it.

 

I mentioned Opihr, which I bought at Waitrose. The spicing is subtle, so it's not a way-out weird gin. 

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Talking of booze, I recently tried Patron XO Café, a tequila-based coffee liqueur. Very intense coffee flavour, and I finished the bottle rather quickly!

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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I pushed the boat out a bit today, and bought a hare. After the butcher had jointed it, there's enough for 3-4 single meals.

 

I am currently marinating the saddle, which will be stuffed with black garlic and thyme, then roasted.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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I pushed the boat out a bit today, and bought a hare. After the butcher had jointed it, there's enough for 3-4 single meals.

 

I am currently marinating the saddle, which will be stuffed with black garlic and thyme, then roasted.

 

Makes a great ragu to go with pappardelle.

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Makes a great ragu to go with pappardelle.

Well, I have the two legs, plus sundry bits. I could use the latter for a ragu. Got a favourite recipe?

 

BTW, the black garlic is a new one on me, but I just tried a clove straight from the jar and it was fantastic! Soft like roast garlic, but jet black, with a smoky taste and a hint of balsamic vinegar (although there's no balsamic used to make it).

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Well, I have the two legs, plus sundry bits. I could use the latter for a ragu. Got a favourite recipe?

 

BTW, the black garlic is a new one on me, but I just tried a clove straight from the jar and it was fantastic! Soft like roast garlic, but jet black, with a smoky taste and a hint of balsamic vinegar (although there's no balsamic used to make it).

 

No recipe I'm afraid, although I'm sure there are plenty on t'net. I mentioned it because I had a wonderful version once in Tuscany. I'd start with a sofrito, heavy on the alliums, add the legs etc, red wine, a good dark stock, herbs, seasoning, etc and cook for as long as you can. As far as I can recall, it's very much a winter dish and being Tuscan is not a tomato based ragu, maybe just a bit of puree or passata. Shred the leg meat and serve. Probably good with gnocchi too.

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Speaking of gin - any suggestions for a "special" gin?

Bulldog or No3 London gin. There's also a slightly cheaper one out at the minute called Brecon gin that's been about £16 in morrisons. Advice I got is gin isn't like whisky or rum and you should never have to pay much more than £30 for it.

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Bulldog or No3 London gin. There's also a slightly cheaper one out at the minute called Brecon gin that's been about £16 in morrisons. Advice I got is gin isn't like whisky or rum and you should never have to pay much more than £30 for it.

Gin doesn't tend to be aged, which adds to the cost. But I'm sure there's someone out there right now who has laid down some casks of gin and will release them in a few years...

Edited by Futtocks

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Bombay, makers of the well-known Sapphire gin, have introduced a London Dry gin. Available at Sainsbury's (my local branch at least) at £17 for a litre. It's pretty nice. The price is just an extra incentive.

 

I recently purchased a bottle of Tesco Finest London Dry Gin and was really taken by it. It's a very reasonable price and was very easy drinking. Some of the own brand stuff is really quite good.

 

Hendricks Gin is another I tried quite recently and enjoyed.

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I recently purchased a bottle of Tesco Finest London Dry Gin and was really taken by it. It's a very reasonable price and was very easy drinking. Some of the own brand stuff is really quite good.

 

Hendricks Gin is another I tried quite recently and enjoyed.

Hendricks is very nice.

 

And 'own brand' is worth trying out, because if you find one you like, that's a significant saving. I prefer Sainsbury's own brand tonic water to the ubiquitous Schweppes, and it's about half the price too.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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I pushed the boat out a bit today, and bought a hare. After the butcher had jointed it, there's enough for 3-4 single meals.

 

I am currently marinating the saddle, which will be stuffed with black garlic and thyme, then roasted.

Hare part 2 tonight: casseroling the legs in the slow cooker. Serving up with mashed potatoes and sautéed morels, same as last night.

 

Last night's saddle was just a little underdone, so I carved out the loin and gave it a little extra finishing in the frying pan. Ended up tasting very nice, but could/should have been better from the start. The morels and the black garlic were delicious.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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  • 2 weeks later...

Currently converting (and reducing) this recipe from US to UK measurements: Slow Cooker Korean Beef. The only unusual ingredient is Sriracha, which I think I can get at Wing Yip, but is just a chilli sauce, which can be substituted for another type if I can't.

 

http://www.convert-me.com/en/convert/cooking/

Edited by Futtocks

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Currently converting (and reducing) this recipe from US to UK measurements: Slow Cooker Korean Beef. The only unusual ingredient is Sriracha, which I think I can get at Wing Yip, but is just a chilli sauce, which can be substituted for another type if I can't.

 

http://www.convert-me.com/en/convert/cooking/

Got all the ingredients for this except the onion powder (I'll substitute diced onion or shallot) and white pepper (I'll use black). Cooking it all up tomorrow. Report/autopsy to follow.

 

I'd forgotten Marks & Spencer sold Sriracha sauce, which is usually shelved with the oriental ready-meals. In addition, mixed with mayonnaise, it makes a good seafood or burger sauce. Makes a damn good prawn mayo sandwich.

 

While at M&S, I also bought a Georgian white wine and a Brazilian red, just because they were there and I hadn't tried them before. Pretty good, too.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Futtocks, can you tell me where the butcher is you are getting Hare from? Ta.

It was from one of the butchers stalls at Borough Market. Looking at the online map, I'm pretty certain it is Furness Fish & Game. I get pigeon (whole or breast) from them most times I visit the market.

Edited by Futtocks

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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It was from one of the butchers stalls at Borough Market. Looking at the online map, I'm pretty certain it is Furness Fish & Game. I get pigeon (whole or breast) from them most times I visit the market.

BTW, they only sell them complete, although they'll joint them for you. Otherwise I'd just go for legs, if your local butcher offers the option.

 

The Korean Beef recipe I linked to earlier is cooking, and already smells good! Here it is in non-American measurements and the quantities halved. Should serve 4.

 

INGREDIENTS

120 ml beef stock

60 ml soy sauce

50 g brown sugar

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tablespoon sesame oil

1/2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

1/2 tablespoons freshly grated ginger

1/2 teaspoon Sriracha (chilli sauce), or more, to taste

1/4 teaspoon onion powder (I used half a shallot, sliced fine)

1/4 teaspoon white pepper (I used black pepper in this case)

1.5 lb beef stewing steak, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 tablespoon cornflour

1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds

1 spring onion, thinly sliced

 

Option: add broccoli or sugar snap peas to the slow cooker 10 minutes before serving, or cook them separately (see note at end).

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large bowl, whisk together beef stock, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, ginger, Sriracha, onion powder and white pepper.

 

2. Place beef into a slow cooker. Stir in beef broth mixture until well combined.

 

3. Cover and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours.

 

4. In a small bowl, whisk together cornflour and 1/4 cup cold water 'til smooth. Stir in mixture into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high heat for an additional 30 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.

 

5. Serve immediately, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.

 

Note: if you make more than one meal's worth, then garnish the dish after serving and cook the greens separately. Then allow the unused beef to cool, stick in the fridge overnight and reheat. It should taste even better on the second day.

Edited by Futtocks

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Just about to start making that Korean Beef recipe again. :) 

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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