View Full Version : OK, What's For Lunch or Tea Today? II
Spaghetti al pomodoro, with Del's homemade sauce:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/921/yBYDg3.jpg
Marco.
Looks great, as usual!
Will has a couple of mates for a sleepover so DIY pizza night.
The guests are the boring ones!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260731/f4bd67d1b0de86c53a8e547a3658d2bd.jpg
They look really good, mate. Hope Will's having a nice time:)
P.S Was I right in thinking you've had Marques de Riscal?
Marco.
They look really good, mate. Hope Will's having a nice time:)
P.S Was I right in thinking you've had Marques de Riscal?
Marco.
Surprisingly, they didn’t stay up all night!
Yes, Marques de Riscal is a good one. [emoji4]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That's the one with the annoying wires around the bottle! Even so, it's a good slurp, as are the majority of riojas: very decent wines for very reasonable prices. :)
Yes, Marques de Riscal is a good one.
Yups... Got a few nice Riojas in my collection, such a Faustino Reserva 2005:)
Marco.
That's the one with the annoying wires around the bottle! Even so, it's a good slurp, as are the majority of riojas: very decent wines for very reasonable prices. :)
Indeed... Any joy yet with the Brunello?
Marco.
Indeed... Any joy yet with the Brunello?
Marco.
Not yet Marco - there's no rush. In fact I will probably buy a bottle of each to compare the different single grape used in each.
At the moment it's lager weather, so Peroni Nastro Azzurro for us.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/3G8AAeSwyGJpcgj2/s-l1600.webp
A bottle each of what, Barry - do you mean the Barolo?
Marco.
Del made some spinach and ricotta crespelle for lunch. They're a bit like cannelloni, but lighter (made from pancake rather than pasta):
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/921/jLs2Er.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/921/wlMu1S.jpg
Marco.
Today's lunch... Salad Niçoise:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/IeAtCT.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/922/PYczOk.jpg
Marco.
Umm - yummy! Happy and I love salads: all kinds, regardless of whether they have names or not.
The Franziskaner wiessbier looks none too shabby either. I don't often drink wheat beers (and when I do, am always surprised by their slightly cloudy appearance). We can buy it in our local Sainsbury: maybe when we are next in that direction, we'll pick up a case. Won't be able to drink it out of matching glasses though.
Yeah, I like wheat beers, and the Franziskaner is a nice one. Paulaner's another good one, also sold by Sainsbury's: https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&productId=1582060&langId=44?utm_source=google
Have you tried that?
Yes, I have a nice collection of beer glasses, and like to match them up when I can with their respective beers:cool:
Marco.
Lamb chops
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260802/e59132a34436c97cb52bea2155b057d4.jpg
Looks good, Roy!:thumbsup:
Marco.
Mikeandvan
02-08-2026, 19:47
Today's lunch... Salad Niçoise:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/IeAtCT.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/922/PYczOk.jpg
Marco.
Is that that mental trappist Monk beer that blows yer head off?
Yesterday we went a bit vegan:
https://i.postimg.cc/W3TFJxJZ/20260801-191820-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Long grain rice, kidney beans, chic peas and some vegetables.
A large naval orange for dessert and Peroni lager to drink.
Tonight, a home made "pizza":
https://i.postimg.cc/T3HvbbLr/20260802-193711-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
(The word pizza has been put in inverted commas as it was not made in a wood-fired oven - sorry Marco!)
King prawns in a tomato, onion, garlic, ginger and basil sauce, with some vegetables on the side.
A bowl of muesli with yogurt for dessert, and some more Peroni lager to drink.
Lawrence001
03-08-2026, 07:50
Tonight, a home made "pizza":
https://i.postimg.cc/T3HvbbLr/20260802-193711-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
(The word pizza has been put in inverted commas as it was not made in a wood-fired oven - sorry Marco!)
It also looks more like a supermarket bought garlic flatbread which I suspect would offend Marco more.
Yes, that is what it was. It was an experiment which turned out well.
Is that that mental trappist Monk beer that blows yer head off?
Lol, no For that, you want the Belgian stuff... It comes in small bottles - got some of that, too!:eyebrows:
Marco.
Tonight, a home made "pizza":
https://i.postimg.cc/T3HvbbLr/20260802-193711-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
(The word pizza has been put in inverted commas as it was not made in a wood-fired oven - sorry Marco!)
King prawns in a tomato, onion, garlic, ginger and basil sauce, with some vegetables on the side.
Looks interesting, Barry. Half the fun with cooking is experimenting with stuff - it's the only way you learn:)
Marco.
It also looks more like a supermarket bought garlic flatbread which I suspect would offend Marco more.
Lol, no, I admire the effort. Pretty much all of Barry's food I've seen has been home cooked. No ready meals/convenience food in sight:)
Marco.
For lunch today, homemade Dim Sum and Del's homemade Chinese soup:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/WBEU6y.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/kc5s1r.jpg
Marco.
Wow, a good lunch Marco, I'm lucky if I get a cheese roll.
Welcome back again guv!
Lawrence001
03-08-2026, 14:55
For lunch today, homemade Dim Sum and Del's homemade Chinese soup:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/WBEU6y.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/kc5s1r.jpg
Marco.If the soup is vegetarian it's exactly my sort of thing.
Lunch today was eaten out at one of our favourite eateries:
King prawn and crayfish salad with Marie Rose sauce and balsamic dressing. (Prawn cocktail used to very popular in the '70s, but some didn't like that 'pink stuff'; well I did and I still do!)
No pics, as we didn't make it.
Wow, a good lunch Marco, I'm lucky if I get a cheese roll.
Welcome back again guv!
Cheers, Roy-boy! Who does most of the cooking in your house?:)
Marco.
If the soup is vegetarian it's exactly my sort of thing.
Hi Lawrence, yes veggie. We like soups like that, especially in the winter.
Marco.
Lunch today was eaten out at one of our favourite eateries:
King prawn and crayfish salad with Marie Rose sauce and balsamic dressing. (Prawn cocktail used to very popular in the '70s, but some didn't like that 'pink stuff'; well I did and I still do!)
No pics, as we didn't make it.
No, but you could link to the eatery, so I could have a gander at the menu:ner:
Marco.
No, but you could link to the eatery, so I could have a gander at the menu:ner:
Marco.
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/f8abab0c48.html#page/1
No, but you could link to the eatery, so I could have a gander at the menu:ner:
Marco.
This is where we went on Saturday - the best food we’ve found in North Norfolk the past couple of years:
https://whitehorsebar.co.uk/
I had the Smoked Salmon starter:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260803/830308bf182ef2245c273e4aa4dcc617.jpg
And Chicken Skewers for main:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260803/9543fd05299315b1c916c3221d7bcd2f.jpg
Tamzin had lamb off the specials:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260803/f6fea7d8f0264b6ba6c400b07d6110d9.jpg
Will had the burger:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260803/a6cbfb8814d886766d70683daf60cc83.jpg
They had pudding, I didn’t!
Your Chinese lunch looks amazing, by the way!
Lunch at the Tiptree Tea Room:
https://i.postimg.cc/cCxhxNtB/20260803-131747-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Continuing the king prawn theme:
https://i.postimg.cc/m2GzFSmp/20260803-180637-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Penne pasta, king prawns in a tomato sauce with vegetables.
Watermelon for dessert
https://i.postimg.cc/cJcTVH6h/20260803-183100-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Peroni lager to drink.
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/f8abab0c48.html#page/1
Cheers. Tiptree is where we get our jam from:)
Marco.
Lunch at the Tiptree Tea Room:
https://i.postimg.cc/cCxhxNtB/20260803-131747-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Looks good:)
Marco.
Your Chinese lunch looks amazing, by the way!
Cheers, mate. I like a bit of variety.
Nice pics - your kids have grown up somewhat since the lat time I saw them!:eek:
They both look as if thy've got great appetites.
Marco.
Cheers, Roy-boy! Who does most of the cooking in your house?:)
Marco.
That's complicated as my lady friend and I don't actually live together.
We eat out at least once a week (not always with each other), she and her three daughters ate here on Saturday https://www.felixrestaurants.co.uk/ and it's where we go for 'special' meals out.
I'm out for a curry on Wednesday here https://gingerlounge.co.uk/ after a pint or four :cool:
I tend to spend the back end of the week at hers. She's very good at roast dinners and meat and two veg and I'll step in for curries and pasta dishes (although she does a mean lasagne!).
We've thought about pooling our resources and getting somewhere together but we both like the space our current arrangement affords :)
Tonight’s steak and chips
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260803/2fff278243f2568479d113a00c1d7070.jpg
Cheers. Tiptree is where we get our jam from:)
Marco.
:lol: It's where we get our marmalade from. Well actually we buy it from the farm shop in the village, but the Tiptree factory is only about 17 miles north of us. Never visited the place, but I believe you can have guided tours of the farm and factory. Must give it a visit one day.
That's complicated as my lady friend and I don't actually live together.
We eat out at least once a week (not always with each other), she and her three daughters ate here on Saturday https://www.felixrestaurants.co.uk/ and it's where we go for 'special' meals out.
I'm out for a curry on Wednesday here https://gingerlounge.co.uk/ after a pint or four :cool:
I tend to spend the back end of the week at hers. She's very good at roast dinners and meat and two veg and I'll step in for curries and pasta dishes (although she does a mean lasagne!).
We've thought about pooling our resources and getting somewhere together but we both like the space our current arrangement affords :)
Tonight’s steak and chips
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260803/2fff278243f2568479d113a00c1d7070.jpg
My partner and I do live together, but we have our own places. Her's is in London, mine in Essex. So a 30 mile distance via car or train, to shuttle back and forth.
We tend to alternate cooking duties. She is what I would call a natural cook, whereas I will follow a recipe assidiously; measuring out things to the last gram and mililitre (I had a scientific education! :lol:) She is good at spicy African food and curries, me, I'm more at home with pasta dishes and things like chilli con carne. Haven't cooked a roast dinner in ages, but I did perfect the art of making roast potatoes.
That's complicated as my lady friend and I don't actually live together.
We eat out at least once a week (not always with each other), she and her three daughters ate here on Saturday https://www.felixrestaurants.co.uk/ and it's where we go for 'special' meals out.
I'm out for a curry on Wednesday here https://gingerlounge.co.uk/ after a pint or four :cool:
I tend to spend the back end of the week at hers. She's very good at roast dinners and meat and two veg and I'll step in for curries and pasta dishes (although she does a mean lasagne!).
We've thought about pooling our resources and getting somewhere together but we both like the space our current arrangement affords :)
Ah yes, I forgot that you guys lived separately. Sounds like you've got it sorted anyway:)
Oh, and I like the look of Felix!
Marco.
:lol: It's where we get our marmalade from. Well actually we buy it from the farm shop in the village, but the Tiptree factory is only about 17 miles north of us. Never visited the place, but I believe you can have guided tours of the farm and factory. Must give it a visit one day.
Yes, you should. We like their marmalade too, especially the one with whisky in - yum. We order it direct from the factory every month. It's a little cheaper that way, and their service is excellent:)
Marco.
Just a light lunch today, some Coronation chicken sandwiches:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/905/ynaNjW.jpg
Marco.
Good to see I'm not the only one to sometimes have a sandwich for lunch. (Although as a good Republican, I would avoid Coronation chicken! :D )
Lol, a sandwich just hit the spot today.
Marco.
My partner and I do live together, but we have our own places. Her's is in London, mine in Essex. So a 30 mile distance via car or train, to shuttle back and forth.
We tend to alternate cooking duties. She is what I would call a natural cook, whereas I will follow a recipe assidiously; measuring out things to the last gram and mililitre (I had a scientific education! ) She is good at spicy African food and curries, me, I'm more at home with pasta dishes and things like chilli con carne. Haven't cooked a roast dinner in ages, but I did perfect the art of making roast potatoes.
Viz, yesterday:
https://i.postimg.cc/dtkPwTzN/20260804-190440-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Penne with red kidney beans and chick peas in a tomato, onion, garlic and ginger sauce, with freshwater prawns. Some yellow pepper and broccoli on the side.
Lemon cheesecake for dessert:
https://i.postimg.cc/x1QWVFnf/20260804-193837-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
2025 Gallo White Zinfandel rosé to drink.
Lunch today was a "late breakfast": Eggs Benedict and a Moka coffee.
My partner and I do live together, but we have our own places. Her's is in London, mine in Essex. So a 30 mile distance via car or train, to shuttle back and forth.
We tend to alternate cooking duties. She is what I would call a natural cook, whereas I will follow a recipe assidiously; measuring out things to the last gram and mililitre (I had a scientific education! ) She is good at spicy African food and curries, me, I'm more at home with pasta dishes and things like chilli con carne. Haven't cooked a roast dinner in ages, but I did perfect the art of making roast potatoes.
Viz, yesterday:
https://i.postimg.cc/dtkPwTzN/20260804-190440-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Penne with red kidney beans and chick peas in a tomato, onion, garlic and ginger sauce, with freshwater prawns. Some yellow pepper and broccoli on the side.
Lemon cheesecake for dessert:
https://i.postimg.cc/x1QWVFnf/20260804-193837-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
2025 Gallo White Zinfandel rosé to drink.
I missed this from yesterday. Nice, Barry:)
I can just picture you from the scene you painted following a recipe!:D.
Del very rarely follows recipes. She cooks 'off the cuff'.
Marco.
Fancied a curry tonight, so this is homemade chicken tikka patia with Kashmiri rice:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/rYXvx3.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/922/OGMBga.jpg
That hit the spot nicely:cool:
Marco.
Do you mean Kashmiri Pulao? I like it, but without any fruit.
In general North Indian curries are much milder and less 'fiery' than their southern counterparts. Much more to my taste. :)
Yes, Kashmiri pulao, without fruit. Lots of ingredients in this curry, which all combined beautifully. Not too hot unless you ate a fresh chilli! Largely sweet and sour flavours:)
Marco.
Brisket
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260806/2a2efde3a683c41174abe41e00f22642.jpg
Yeah... Oi loikes a bit of brisket:)
Marco.
Mikeandvan
07-08-2026, 09:04
Salmon with freshly made ratatouille and mayonnaise. Didn't realise mayo is so easy to make at home, just blend an egg and some oil basically.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55448422410_775d59e118.jpg
That looks top notch, Mike!:thumbsup:
Marco.
Just some pasta for lunch... Rigatoni al pomodoro, with some fresh basil:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/8Ds0DU.jpg
Marco.
Looks good Marco, but I prefer penne over rigatoni. ;)
Lol yes, I also like penne and we use them often, amongst many other varieties of pasta - some quite unusual shapes among them:)
Marco.
Btw, these are the best Penne, available in Sainsbury's:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/922/AjkCrn.jpg
Thicker pasta, so it holds it's shape more during cooking.
Marco.
Thanks Marco. I always cook pasta al dente so it keeps its flavour and shape.
Indeed. Al dente is the only way that pasta should ever be! However, the De Cecco stuff gives best results:)
Marco.
Some spicy chicken wings tonight (Chinese salt & pepper)...
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/66Y9c3.jpg
Marco.
Mikeandvan
07-08-2026, 17:53
That looks top notch, Mike!:thumbsup:
Marco.
THanks, quite an easy dish, only being fried veg and tomato sauce, and once the mayo is made it keeps for days, or may be weeks?
I liked how you cooked the fish (nice crispy skin):)
Marco.
Tonight's tea... Southern fried chicken (Del's 'KFC') with corn ribs:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/ynSiJN.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/XWZUBC.jpg
Washed down with some ginger beer!:)
Marco.
It's been too hot here for anything but a salad. Thus:
https://i.postimg.cc/MH4kzS9N/20260808-190321-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
It doesn't have a name, so how about a Caesaromagus salad? :lol:
Watermelon for dessert, and all washed down with a Gallo White Zinfandel rosé.
How hot was it, Barry? Here it got up to 25C, which for me was fine for hot food:)
Marco.
28oC; even Happy found it too hot today. Anyway we both love salads.
We do too, but variety is the spice of life... Just watch you don't turn into a rabbit:D
Marco.
Tonight's tea... Sweet & sour chicken Hong Kong style with Jasmine rice:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/921/zTxS0w.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/ktu77N.jpg
Marco.
Good to see the use of chopsticks. Well done.
Cheers, matey - all part of the enjoyment:)
What have you enjoyed today?
Marco.
Baked potato filled with tuna mayonnaise with a salad. Watermelon for dessert.
https://i.postimg.cc/SQ2XdMZW/20260809-185923-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Chicken at The Peterboat in Leigh on sea
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260810/f51f11e316666d6f580385f51660f156.jpg
Some good wholesome grub there, Roy - and the salad's bigger than your chips!:)
Marco.
Tonight's scran... Some lamb cutlets, from our local butcher, with roast potatoes and seasonal veg:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/8H2bjH.jpg
Marco.
Only about 20 miles from Roy's lunch venue, our lunch was in Maldon, at the the Continental Café (https://continentalcafe.co.uk)
https://i.postimg.cc/bY4sGw9z/20260810-125411-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Salmon, prawn and avocado salad, with balsamic dressing.
(Not a very good photo but it was delicious. The Continental Café is our favourite eatery when we are shopping in Maldon.)
Nice... I'd have had the Locally sourced salmon and prawn with mixed leaves and a lemon and dill mayonnaise:)
What did you think of my cutlets - I know you like plenty of veg? :cool:
Marco.
It's 25°C outside, so time for some lunch, al fresco... Wiltshire ham and cheese salad with charcouterie and mixed leaves:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/DDlgZ2.jpg
Marco.
It's 25°C outside, so time for some lunch, al fresco... Wiltshire ham and cheese salad with charcouterie and mixed leaves:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/DDlgZ2.jpg
Marco.
Oh yes - right up my street. The charcouterie looks perfect; very much to my taste. :)
Lol, glad you approve... Just showing that I can 'do' salads too, and I hadn't had one for a while!:)
Hope you had a nice time in the pub.
Marco.
Steak night tonight... Peppered sirloin with tempura-fried cauliflower, vegetable kebab and chips:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/JJ9k3a.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/7hdUYU.jpg
Marco.
I like the look of the tempura fried cauliflower. I like cauliflower, but Happy does not.
Anyway it's still hot enough here to continue to enjoy salads, so:
https://i.postimg.cc/R0htxB3f/20260812-183723-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Hard-boiled egg and fresh water prawns on a bed of rocket and shredded cos lettuce, beetroot, pearl tomatoes, red capsicum, with a balsamic dressing.
Watermelon for dessert, and all washed down with a glass or two of 2024 Gallo, White Grenache, rosé.
Pigmy Pony
12-08-2026, 21:52
I like the look of the tempura fried cauliflower. I like cauliflower, but Happy does not.
Anyway it's still hot enough here to continue to enjoy salads, so:
https://i.postimg.cc/R0htxB3f/20260812-183723-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Hard-boiled egg and fresh water prawns on a bed of rocket and shredded cos lettuce, beetroot, pearl tomatoes, red capsicum, with a balsamic dressing.
Watermelon for dessert, and all washed down with a glass or two of 2024 Gallo, White Grenache, rosé.
I don't often come across a salad where I don't have to remove some items, as I'm very picky when it comes to "cold" foods. But you've managed it there Barry. Just perfect :)
Nice selection of stuff there, Barry, which would rival that served at one of your favourite eateries:)
Yes, the tempura cauliflower was a goodie!
Piggurs, you need to get some pics of either your or Anita's creations on here:exactly:
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
13-08-2026, 10:23
Nice selection of stuff there, Barry, which would rival that served at one of your favourite eateries:)
Yes, the tempura cauliflower was a goodie!
Piggurs, you need to get some pics of either your or Anita's creations on here:exactly:
Marco.
Yeah well, I'm hoping to get a "Posting pics for dummies" tutorial off Macca in the near future. He doesn't know this yet ;)
Really? I'm sure I've seen you posting pics before...:hmm:
Marco.
Yes, but they were not the pics that would be acceptable on a family-friendly forum that is AoS, so were automatically deleted. :lol:
Ah, was it those ones of his favourite 'hobby'?:eyebrows:
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
13-08-2026, 11:52
Yes, but they were not the pics that would be acceptable on a family-friendly forum that is AoS, so were automatically deleted. :lol:
Just as well really, X-Hamster's membership was dropping off a cliff. Got to give others a chance.
Pigmy Pony
13-08-2026, 11:55
Ah, was it those ones of his favourite 'hobby'?:eyebrows:
Marco.
I wouldn't go public with that Marco, that particular hobby is just for me and thee :eyebrows:
Lunch was a garlic and coriander naan, with a tomato and ham topping. One of Happy's improvised creations.
(BTW our fridge is now working again - somehow the thermostat dial got knocked to "1", the lowest level of refrigeration. :doh: )
What make is the fridge?
Marco.
Tonight's tea... Poached salmon fillets with a garlic and herb butter, Jersey Royals, pea shoots and baby carrots:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/922/wK4v7x.jpg
Marco.
What make is the fridge?
Marco.
Electra. It was bought some forty-five years ago. I think electrical appliances bearing this name were made in the mid '70s for the local electricity suppliers: in this case The Eastern Electricity Board.
The manufacturing companies involved were variously: Hotpoint, Hoover and Servis.
Not heard if it, but they definitely don't make things like they used to!
Did you like the look of my salmon dish?:)
Marco.
Not heard if it, but they definitely don't make things like they used to!
Did you like the look of my salmon dish? :)
Marco.
Yes.
More or less the same as yesterday:
https://i.postimg.cc/bNpJ73hT/20260813-191400-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Wild rocket and lettuce, with grilled whisky and oak smoked back bacon, hard-boiled egg, tomato, cucumber, yellow capsicum, with balsamic dressing and some honey and mustard dressing.
Again watermelon for dessert, and Gallo White Grenache rosé to drink.
Tomorrow is going to be just as hot, if not hotter - so it is quite likely it will be another salad for tea.
Yes, but the bacon makes all the difference!:eyebrows:
It's my birthday today, so we're taking a trip out to Powys Castle, then spending the night at a nice hotel.
Marco.
rmcin626
14-08-2026, 10:35
Yes, but the bacon makes all the difference!:eyebrows:
It's my birthday today, so we're taking a trip out to Powys Castle, then spending the night at a nice hotel.
Marco.
Happy birthday Marco, hope you have a great day, was mine yesterday
Cheers, mate. Should be a good one (due to leave soon). Hope you had a good one yesterday:)
Marco.
Yes, but the bacon makes all the difference!:eyebrows:
It's my birthday today, so we're taking a trip out to Powys Castle, then spending the night at a nice hotel.
Marco.
Happy birthday Marco - was Sue’s on Wednesday, but not yet had her proper birthday dinner as we were in Disney. Enjoy your break!
A pub lunch today at The Anchor in Danbury, Essex. (www.theanchordanbury.co.uk)
King prawn salad and chips:
https://i.postimg.cc/6qPhG6Fk/20260814-125629-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Dessert was profiteroles and cream (some of the best I have enjoyed, but sorry - no photo.), and a couple of pints of Old Speckled Hen. :)
Sausage toad
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260814/1b111cb6b6ce2879a4ba518278f84fde.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260814/dd6558df4c1bfc5b295e6e09fec0c107.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Happy birthday Marco - was Sue’s on Wednesday, but not yet had her proper birthday dinner as we were in Disney. Enjoy your break!
Cheers, mate. We had a great time here (some lovely peaceful, scenic walks): https://www.google.com/search?q=lake+vyrnwy&client=safari&hs=kbmV&sca_esv=db0a8001890438db&channel=mac_bm&sxsrf=APpeQnvpt2fusRbIFGqJjnXXh6KHZWbn_A%3A1786793 019155&source=hp&ei=O0yAasfUB5Hn7_UPi4bycA&iflsig=ABILxe8AAAAAaoBaS6XX4-XEq0_vkr1a80jNd5NLFj4K&gs_ssp=eJzj4tTP1TcwzskzMTFg9OLOScxOVSirLMorrwQAU5M Hhg&oq=lake&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IgRsYWtlKgIIADIIEC4YgAQYsQMyDhAu GIAEGLEDGMcBGNEDMggQLhiABBixAzIIEC4YgAQYsQMyCBAuGI AEGLEDMggQABiABBixAzIREC4YgAQYxwEYrwEYmAUYmgUyCBAu GIAEGLEDMggQLhiABBixAzIFEC4YgARI0DdQ9BJYsBxwAHgAkA EAmAFPoAHtAqoBATW4AQHIAQD4AQGYAgWgAosDqAIKwgIKEAAY AxiPARjqAsICChAuGAMYjwEY6gLCAgsQLhiDARixAxiABMICDh AAGIAEGIoFGLEDGIMBwgIREAAYgAQYigUYjQYYsQMYgwHCAgsQ ABiABBixAxiDAcICERAuGIAEGLEDGIMBGMcBGNEDwgIOEC4YgA QYigUYsQMYgwHCAgUQABiABJgDS_EFNizu08vXApuSBwE1oAfd e7IHATW4B4sDwgcDMi01yAcVgAgB&sclient=gws-wiz
Staying here: https://www.lakevyrnwy.com/?sjrncid=GA_20458624501&sjrnaid=GA_669835263290&sjrnclid=GA_lake%20vyrnwy%20hotel&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20458624501&gbraid=0AAAAAqGmZp-9B3rlnG9za49KcrdO2SjnG&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0aTwscKilgMVIZhQBh2szxD3EAAYASAA EgK5UvD_BwE
As it says: "Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, Wales, is definitely worth visiting if you love peaceful nature, dramatic hills, and outdoor activities without the massive crowds found in places like the English Lake District." Here, here, as the busyness of the Lakes is one of the things that spoils it for us.
Food at the hotel was excellent, but not especially photogenic - I'm probably spoiled with how good Del's food looks, lol.
Marco.
Good homemade grub, as usual, Roy!:)
Marco.
A pub lunch today at The Anchor in Danbury, Essex. (www.theanchordanbury.co.uk)
King prawn salad and chips:
https://i.postimg.cc/6qPhG6Fk/20260814-125629-1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)
Dessert was profiteroles and cream (some of the best I have enjoyed, but sorry - no photo.), and a couple of pints of Old Speckled Hen. :)
A bit mean with the prawns there, Barry, no?:)
Marco.
There were five, so we asked for more; which were cooked and brought to our table after I took the photo.
Cool... The chips looked good, too:)
Marco.
The profiteroles were even better, but sadly I didn't take a picture.
Anyway, what about your birthday meal? Let's see the pics. :)
See post 609...
Marco.
Looks good in general, but exactly what did you and Del eat? Our pub lunch was not exactly photogenic, but pictures were supplied.
Lol... Del had, to start, Burrata with heritage tomatoes. Then, a butternut squash and chick pea salad with Tahini dressing, for her main. I had cod fillet with a watercress sauce, to start, followed by pan-fried tenderloin pork fillet wrapped in Parma ham, in a red wine jus, with Dauphinoise potatoes.
Wine was a bottle of Puligny Montrachet 2009.
Marco.
All sounds good, and very much to my taste.
But that Côte de Beaune, Puligny Montrachet 2009 would cost at least £100, and if a Puligny Montrachet Les Combettes Domaine Leflaive 2009, nearly £500! :eek:
Lol, it wasn't quite that, Barry, but a fair old wedge. The waiter did look rather excited serving it!:eyebrows:
Marco.
Tonight's tea... Homemade steak and ale pie with mashed potato, heritage carrots and peas:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/3MrvEB.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/nPZpkq.jpg
Marco.
Looks good Marco.
My family can be traced back to at least the 17th century (if not earlier), so our orange carrots, which were selectively bred by the Dutch in the 17th Century are good enough for me.
Anyway just to let the side down, any "mashed" potato I eat is "smashed": the skins are where all the goodness is.
Lol, Del loves her 'fancy' carrots - it makes what she's eating more interesting.
I've also had potatoes the way you describe, and they're nice, but Del's mash is made with butter and cream, and just so unctuous!
Marco.
Unctuous maybe, but not particularly healthy. :hmm:
Don't have it all the time, mate - like I said, variety is the spice of life!:)
Marco.
Paris for the day today, lunch was 3 entrées shared between us, Cafe Buci, Saint-Germain-Des-Pres:
Charcuterie, baked Camembert and onion soup gratin (no, I didn’t know cheese on soup was a thing, so much so that I forgot to take a picture!)
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260815/d27264c90b7b575d156271c30aa6b830.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260815/f04b6bf79e7323741b552290ea156252.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Dinner was at Cafe Bruant in Monmatre- their speciality is mussels, I had them in a blue cheese sauce and they were wonderful, we shared Escargot as Sue and Tamzin have never tried them. (Will had them on a school trip to France last year when they visited a snail farm.) Will loves French toast, and had a French toast pudding!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260815/7ebdeced5cf472d8fcdead2b4e51c2e6.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260815/96ff8f487f8c4f8e0a778fc4d2d708b2.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260815/39cde633dbb1a02f89b3683e0d6599f6.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nice pics, Alex... Food looks good - typically French:)
Marco.
Where I used to live in the West of England, there was a farm where they raised (?) snails. They were so good they supplied French restaurants.
Haven't eaten escargot for a good while now - they're not bad with garlic butter, but a bit 'rubbery' in texture. Like frog's legs, tasty but hardly worth the effort. :sofa:
Some more charcuterie for lunch:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/922/hQZIgp.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/hIHQr8.jpg
Marco.
Charcuterie not up to previous standards, Barry?;)
Marco.
Sunday dinner is pan-fried pork fillet with a peppercorn sauce, fresh asparagus, mushrooms and onion rings:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/0zogEM.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/TRKGIG.jpg
Marco.
No comments... Barry?:scratch:
Marco.
What do you want me to comment on: the charcouterie or your Sunday dinner?
The charcouterie looks very nice, did Del make it? We sometimes have something like that for lunch. Again your dinner looks very appetising; Del is an excellent cook.
What do you want me to comment on: the charcouterie or your Sunday dinner?
The charcouterie looks very nice, did Del make it? We sometimes have something like that for lunch. Again your dinner looks very appetising; Del is an excellent cook.
Both! (Which you've now done):)
No, the charcouterie is all from Lidl - they really do excel at this type of thing. Yeah, Del's not bad at cooking up an acceptable plate of scran.
Marco.
Tonight's tea... Sticky honey-glazed chicken wings with chips and sweetcorn:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/f2kUnn.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/922/xCPDZw.jpg
Marco.
Quite how supermarket guac manages to fail so badly against homemade I dunno.
But it does.
That was a lot better than I was expecting TBH.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260817/689c0af3643f64f9b100ebfd068429a0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260817/eb12e6494c420ceabab18b0df6e93c6a.jpg
Desert ...
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260817/839a65ab584eab78bc825900661b0954.jpg
Nice, Justers... Love yer plates!:)
Marco.
Tonight's tea... Sticky honey-glazed chicken wings with chips and sweetcorn:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/f2kUnn.jpg
Marco.Chips look a wee bit underdone.
Raise this serious issue with head chefette?:D
Nice, Justers... Love yer plates!:)
Marco.Villeroy and Boch. Wife's choice. I thought they would mark really badly but they seem to survive knives pretty well.
She's got good taste... Just wonder how she ended up with you!:eyebrows:
Marco.
Chips look a wee bit underdone.
Raise this serious issue with head chefette?:D
Lol, yeah they were ok, but somewhat of an afterthought... I'm not really a chip person.
Marco.
Steak
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260817/65bb17cf148a294163b472318eec3850.jpg
Nice bit of caramelisation there, Roy!:)
Where are the chips, though?:hmm:
Marco.
Steak
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260817/65bb17cf148a294163b472318eec3850.jpgAwesome [emoji106]
Nice bit of caramelisation there, Roy!:)
Where are the chips, though?:hmm:
Marco.
A very tasty bit of rump and surprisingly tender.
Swerving carbs at the moment Marco, trying to drop a few pounds.
Awesome
Thanks to a pound shop cast iron grill pan I got in Clacton about three hundred years ago...
A very tasty bit of rump and surprisingly tender.
Swerving carbs at the moment Marco, trying to drop a few pounds.
No worries, matey. Rump is always the tastiest - if you can get a good bit, as often it's a bit tough/gristly. Yours looked good, though.
Marco.
Tonight's scran... Pan-fried lemon sole in a caper, white wine and cream sauce, with skin-on Jersey Royals and seasonal veg:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/KUQhhC.jpg
Pudding was ice-cream and fruit:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/dJ9EWY.jpg
Marco.
Breakfast earlier:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/t42JGi.jpg
Marco.
One for Barry... Today's lunch:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/la1XKk.jpg
Marco.
rmcin626
19-08-2026, 15:55
Breakfast earlier:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/t42JGi.jpg
Marco.
Very nice Marco, although a couple of morning rolls would have made a difference.
Pigmy Pony
19-08-2026, 16:02
Very nice Marco, although a couple of morning rolls would have made a difference.
Don't know about that, it looks sufficiently bready already. Just add a couple of quality bangers, tomatoes and mushrooms and it would be perfect :) And washed down a Yorkshire tea.
Very nice Marco, although a couple of morning rolls would have made a difference.
Lol, I keep those (well fired) for my square sausage, which I get direct from a Scottish butcher!:)
Marco.
Don't know about that, it looks sufficiently bready already. Just add a couple of quality bangers, tomatoes and mushrooms and it would be perfect :) And washed down a Yorkshire tea.
It's a Scottish thing, mate. Morning rolls are traditional. The baguette was pretty nice, though. A breakfast roll, eh? Down here, there's a van just off the by-pass that specialises in those, but it's not something I eat often.
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
19-08-2026, 16:37
Lol, I keep those (well fired) for my square sausage, which I get direct from a Scottish butcher!:)
Marco.
Whenever we visited our friends in Ayr we used to go to this butcher's in the town centre for white pudding and Lorne sausage. Proper stuff.
Couple of homemade burgers for tonight's tea:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/jaUSlN.jpg
Marco.
rmcin626
19-08-2026, 17:01
Holly Bruce has tabled the motion at Holyrood in support of food historian Peter Gilchrist's push to have the roll added to UNESCO's Living Heritage project in 2027, a scheme that allows people to nominate cultural traditions for protection.
Morning rolls are should be protected apparently just like the baguette.
Beobloke
20-08-2026, 13:40
Couple of homemade burgers for tonight's tea:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/jaUSlN.jpg
Marco.
Oooh, they look magnificent!
Apart from the green crap, obviously, which belongs on the side of the plate where its pleasing aesthetics can be briefly admired and then it can be ignored for the rest of the meal. ;)
Lol, Adam, they certainly slipped down nicely:)
Marco.
Todays lunch... Homemade gnocchi with a tomato and fresh basil sauce:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/092aJe.jpg
Marco.
Tonight's tea... Chicken Shnitzel with green beans and homemade Spätzle:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/3HcHrD.jpg
Marco.
rmcin626
20-08-2026, 17:17
Tonight's tea... Chicken Shnitzel with green beans and homemade Spätzle:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/3HcHrD.jpg
Marco.
That looks very nice Marco.
Cheers, mate. It was very nice... What did you have, or are about to have, tonight?:)
Marco.
rmcin626
20-08-2026, 17:27
Cheers, mate. It was very nice... What did you have, or are about to have, tonight?:)
Marco.
Nothing exciting , we had burgers which were not great.
It's nice and sunny here in Wrexham, currently 18°C, so we thought we'd fire up the BBQ. Tonight's tea... Chargrilled pork chop with side salad:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/2JK3Zp.jpg
Marco.
Curry and chips
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260821/5efa53ba20014464d71720fc590c4e1b.jpg
Bang goes the carbs-free diet, lol!:doh::D
Marco.
Out for a friend’s birthday meal last night to a Turkish restaurant in Ipswich, I had the mixed grill, still feel full this morning!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260822/c3f998692858fe022a6ea2f3e08e37ad.jpg
Kebabs look good:)
Marco.
For lunch: Javanese beef curry, long grain rice and green beans. Strawberry cheesecake for dessert.
Welcome back! I take it you were out for lunch?:)
Marco.
Welcome back! I take it you were out for lunch?:)
Marco.
Thanks - yes we 'dined' in the resaurant at the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London. :)
Lol, hope all went well for Happy.
Marco.
Yes, thank you. Happy had to have an iridotomy on both her eyes. Like a lot of surgical procedures, the actual surgery only took about 15 minutes, but the preparation pre- and checking post-procedure, meant we were there for three hours. But better to be safe than sorry, and the surgeon was satisfied with the results. And Happy was delighted that it was painless and what could have been a sight threatening condition was cured with such advanced laser technology.
It was thus convenient for us to have a late lunch (15:30) in the hospital restaurant, and contrary to possible expectation the food is very good, properly seasoned, and the vegetables not overcooked. The reason for no photographs is because it is served up in a polystyrene box, which is hardly photogenic. :lol:
Lol, that's good news, then. Can't take any chances with your eyes.
Marco.
Got a nice piece of sirloin from our local butcher, so as it's another pleasant evening in Wrexham, I thought I'd put it on the barbie:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/r7BNBD.jpg
Del turned it into steak Diane [yes, we all love the 70s, lol], with mushrooms, sautéed potatoes and asparagus:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/i8uGau.jpg
Marco.
Steak looks lovely, and as you know, I am a big fan of 70’s cuisine so gets my approval! :D
Lol, ta - I'll give you a shout when the Chicken Kiev comes out!:eyebrows:
Marco.
Lunch earlier was a selection of antipasti, enjoyed with some crusty bread:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/922/oNYeqs.jpg
Marco.
Lol, ta - I'll give you a shout when the Chicken Kiev comes out!:eyebrows:
Marco.
Don't forget the Prawn Cocktail (with Marie Rose sauce). :lol:
Pigmy Pony
23-08-2026, 16:08
I never got past chicken in a basket.
Don't forget the Prawn Cocktail (with Marie Rose sauce). :lol:
Ha - prawn cocktail is for lunch tomorrow!
Marco.
I never got past chicken in a basket.
As a kid, I used to love that. Somehow the basket made it taste better...
Marco.
Anyway, tonight's tea is sole meunière. I left the plate 'naked' (minus veg and potatoes) to showcase the fish, from a photographic P.O.V):
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/1xrWzv.jpg
Washed down with a bottle of Pouilly-Fumé 2016.
Followed by vanilla panna cotta with raspberries:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/UYvCaW.jpg
Del wanted to make it pretty, by decorating it with edible flowers from the garden:)
Marco.
Bang goes the carbs-free diet, lol!:doh::D
Marco.
I could never go completely chip free, my ‘nod’ at reducing calories was no rice.
As a kid, I used to love that. Somehow the basket made it taste better...
Marco.
You're not supposed to eat the basket, anymore than you're supposed to eat the polystyrene box of a Big Mac takeaway; though in the case of the latter, it could well be more nutritious.
Lol, never mind that - no comments on my dinner above?:)
Marco.
What is this - Master Chef?
I like Pouilly-Fumé, and we had strawberries for dessert.
Masterchef? Lol no, but I'd like you to say what you think when you first see the picture - whatever pops into your head, good or bad!:)
Saying nothing is a little disheartening for those who've cooked the food, uploaded and posted the pics. Btw, that applies to everyone here, not just you.
I always comment on people's food, so I'm not asking you to do anything I wouldn't do myself.
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
24-08-2026, 08:14
Masterchef? Lol no, but I'd like you to say what you think when you first see the picture - whatever pops into your head, good or bad!:)
Saying nothing is a little disheartening for those who've cooked the food, uploaded and posted the pics. Btw, that applies to everyone here, not just you.
I always comment on people's food, so I'm not asking you to do anything I wouldn't do myself.
Marco.
I'll try to comment more, something I've never really done before, and in the meantime here's a 'catch up' with a generalised comment: Most of the food that appears on here looks 'interesting', usually something I'd happily eat, sometimes including ingredients that would make me :spew: (not because there's anything wrong with it, but because I'm super-picky).
While I'm happy to leave comments, it's unlikely that I'll be posting any pics myself, because:
(a) I Don't know how to post pics.
(b) The idea of getting a photo well composed, well framed, well lit and then posted while me food's getting cold doesn't appeal, and
(c) My food usually arrives looking like an explosion in a dog food factory.
So what's for lunch today? I can't decide between ham 'n' cheese toasties or beans on toast :drool:
Thanks for your comments, Steve. That's the sort of feedback I've been looking for:)
The main point I'm making is that when you look at any of the pictures here, something must enter your head, so what I'm saying is type those thoughts into a reply here, rather than say nothing, which to be honest is bordering on ignorant, given the effort someone's made to get the pics here in the first place - and the thread just dies.
And we're all big enough and ugly enough not to be 'offended' by constructive criticism.
To answer your b) above... It takes me 2 mins on Del's smartphone, in our kitchen (which is always well lit), to take the pics, and as the food is piping hot, it stays warm until I'm ready to eat it.
Marco.
Beobloke
24-08-2026, 10:17
I don't comment on your pictures much, Marco, as I'm sure we'd all get bored with reading "Oh my god, that looks amazing" over and over again. That's pretty much all I can offer when it comes to Del's cooking!
Sorry Marco, but I don't feel compelled to automatically reply to any post, including your posts in the 'What's for Lunch or Tea Today?' thread.
I accept that the photos of the meals in all your posts look attractive, and I'm sure the food tastes delicious, but that is as far as I can comment. I can't taste it myself, and some of the components are not my taste.
I don't comment on your pictures much, Marco, as I'm sure we'd all get bored with reading "Oh my god, that looks amazing" over and over again. That's pretty much all I can offer when it comes to Del's cooking!
Lol, Adam, I get ya - and thanks:)
Marco.
Sorry Marco, but I don't feel compelled to automatically reply to any post, including your posts in the 'What's for Lunch or Tea Today?' thread.
I accept that the photos of the meals in all your posts look attractive, and I'm sure the food tastes delicious, but that is as far as I can comment. I can't taste it myself, and some of the components are not my taste.
Barry, you're looking at and judging pictures. As you rightly said, you can't judge the food, as you can't taste it. All I'm looking for is some feedback. It's like someone on the main forum posting pics in a new Gallery thread, and no one commenting - not good.
Anyway, I'd appreciate it if you would comment when you can.
Marco.
Today's lunch, taking a trip back to the 70s... A classic prawn cocktail:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/JWMJxs.jpg
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
24-08-2026, 13:11
I know it makes me a traitor to my formative decade (the 70s), but I have to be honest - I'd need a gun pointed at my head to be persuaded - I couldn't eat prawn cocktail! Similarly with vol-au-vents, it's the appearance of (and the expectation of it tasting like) cat's vomit.
But I'll balance that view with a positive comment on that lemon Sole you recently had, which looks so much nicer than the Sole I once had, which tasted like an actual sole. From a tramp's boot. :(
Anyway, here's what I had for lunch (not actual size):
https://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/mcdonalds/DC_202302_0005-999_BigMac_1564x1564-1?wid=1000&hei=1000&dpr=off
Not prepared by Anita, but she did go to the counter to order it. Was it good? Not really, but it was free, due to points she'd racked up from buying hot chocolates there.
Hey, you know how to post pics!:thumbsup:
Cat's vomit? Lol, yes I can see that... Also, loads of folk don't like prawns, so that's no biggie.
Thanks for your comments on the sole; it's one of my favourites. Incidentally, did you mean the sole I've recently posted above, or the lemon sole a few pages back?:)
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
24-08-2026, 14:37
Hey, you know how to post pics!:thumbsup:
Cat's vomit? Lol, yes I can see that... Also, loads of folk don't like prawns, so that's no biggie.
Thanks for your comments on the sole; it's one of my favourites. Incidentally, did you mean the sole I've recently posted above, or the lemon sole a few pages back?:)
Marco.
Sorry, I meant the one you had yesterday. My mistake - it wasn't lemon sole, it just had a bit of lemon on the side :doh:
And yes, I can post pics that come from other sources, just not ones originated by me.
Ah ok, no worries... The pic thing can be easily sorted - was Macca not helping you with this? If so, give him another prod!
Marco.
Today's lunch, taking a trip back to the 70s... A classic prawn cocktail:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/924/JWMJxs.jpg
Marco.
Photographically and composition-wise it's not bad. Maybe it needs a little more of the left showing, but the lemon is placed 1/3 of the way down from the top of the frame, which is perfect.
My only other comment is that the quantity of prawns looks a little meagre, unless the dish is deeper than it looks. That or the slice of lemon is much bigger than it looks.
Lunch today was grilled salmon with rice and a green salad.
Photographically and composition-wise it's not bad. Maybe it needs a little more of the left showing, but the lemon is placed 1/3 of the way down from the top of the frame, which is perfect.
My only other comment is that the quantity of prawns looks a little meagre, unless the dish is deeper than it looks. That or the slice of lemon is much bigger than it looks.
Thanks for that, Barry. Not sure about the prawns being meagre; there were plenty to eat, as yes, the dish is deeper than it looks.
Btw, although you're judging the pics, it's from the P.O.V of the food looking appetising, or not, not the composition.
Marco.
Lunch today was grilled salmon with rice and a green salad.
Pics?:)
Marco.
Btw, just to respond to this from earlier:
You're not supposed to eat the basket anymore than you're supposed to eat the polystyrene box of a Big Mac takeaway; though in the case of the latter, it could well be more nutritious.
Lol - it was a visual thing (it was real baskets then up in Scotland, not plastic pish), and the fact that as a kid, the basket made it special, thus the chicken tasted 'better':)
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
24-08-2026, 17:10
Ah ok, no worries... The pic thing can be easily sorted - was Macca not helping you with this? If so, give him another prod!
Marco.
[Martin don't read this post]
I'll be seeing him next month for NEBO, hopefully then. He doesn't know about the posting pics tutorial, it'll be a surprise :)
Ha - two things to look forward to, then!
Marco.
Tonight's tea... Roast chicken with crispy bacon and gravy, with roast potatoes, green beans, cauliflower cheese and seasonal veg:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/922/5InrAH.jpg
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
24-08-2026, 17:28
An interesting combination, but not one bit of it would go to waste :) If I look at it long enough, the cauliflower cheese looks like a poodle's head. Or maybe that's just me.
Poodles head? Lol!
The bacon was wrapped around the chicken during the roasting process, hence its presence, which keeps the flesh nice and juicy and adds flavour to the gravy:)
Marco.
Looks nice, but I can only eat chicken once it has become cold after cooking. And no trace of skin or bone either. Love cauliflower cheese, but Happy doesn't like cauliflower.
What is for dessert?
Duck
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260824/8776828359861b4a259c5db66507d081.jpg
Pudding was a fresh fruit salad - no pics, sorry.
Marco.
Duck
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260824/8776828359861b4a259c5db66507d081.jpg
A nice couple of plump breasts there, Roy-boy!:bum:
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
24-08-2026, 19:36
Poodles head? Lol!
The bacon was wrapped around the chicken during the roasting process, hence its presence, which keeps the flesh nice and juicy and adds flavour to the gravy:)
Marco.
I had something like that (chicken breast wrapped in bacon) at a Toby Carvery years ago. Very nice it was too. As for cauliflower cheese, I could eat a whole plate of it with nothing else.
Cheese, pickles and some St Lucian rum.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260824/3a2392492cc0dcb3b890ab0fbefc2d39.jpg
I had something like that (chicken breast wrapped in bacon) at a Toby Carvery years ago. Very nice it was too. As for cauliflower cheese, I could eat a whole plate of it with nothing else.
Glad you enjoyed it, mate. With roast chicken, the bacon just keeps the meat moist, and is also nice to eat on its own afterwards. With cauliflower cheese, Del roasts it first, rather than boiling it, before putting it together with the sauce and it all going back into the oven - maximises flavour that way...
Her cooking is all about maximising flavour, as we don't do bland:)
Marco.
Cheese, pickles and some St Lucian rum.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260824/3a2392492cc0dcb3b890ab0fbefc2d39.jpg
Lol, yer some man, Roy!:D
Hope you don't have nightmares tonight...
Marco.
Today's lunch... Spaghetti with extra-virgin olive oil, fresh garlic and chilli:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/7Bd2mR.jpg
Marco.
We're having a spinach and aubergine omelette for lunch. :)
Nice - pics? You've stopped posting them...
Marco.
It was just an omelette - nothing special, and not worthy of a pic.
Ok, what about tea tonight?:)
Marco.
At Marco Towers, I had a couple of grilled lamb cutlets and some new potatoes with a parsley sauce [accompanying side salad not shown]:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/922/oS3xE9.jpg
Marco.
walpurgis
25-08-2026, 17:36
I had a cheese and tomato granary roll, wasn't in the mood for cooked food. It wasn't exciting enough for a photo :).
southall-1998_mk2
25-08-2026, 18:13
I had a cheese and tomato granary roll, wasn't in the mood for cooked food. It wasn't exciting enough for a photo :).
Can't beat a good old cheese and tomato roll. Sometimes the most simple food can be satisfying.
S.
I had a cheese and tomato granary roll, wasn't in the mood for cooked food. It wasn't exciting enough for a photo :).
Didn't feel for a fry-up, then?:D
I liked the pics of your fry-ups.
Marco.
Veggie risotto init bro?
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260825/6160c5d8ac41e809e1b4f11a2988ff60.jpg
southall-1998_mk2
25-08-2026, 20:16
Veggie risotto init bro?
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260825/6160c5d8ac41e809e1b4f11a2988ff60.jpg
Very unusual looking plate/bowl.
S.
Yo, bro.... That looks like it's come out rather well:)
I like risotto - not had one for a while. I'll need to rectify that.
Marco.
I love risotto, but I really dislike Arborio rice. I find it too pudding-like in texture; so I use long grain rice instead.
Sorry! :sofa:
Risotto is meant to be pudding-like, but hey, you like what you like...
What did you have for tea tonight? You were posting regular pics of your salads, now that's dried up.
Marco.
Very unusual looking plate/bowl.
S.I think the pic looks shit.
Looked fab in reality and it was cheap to make like a lot of the best dishes. Price doesn't come into it, but skill and appreciation does.
It tasted excellent.
As I said before earlier in the thread, just a mid priced Villeroy & Boch plate.
You might say your plates are "just mid priced", but at nearly £64 for two, courtesy of John Lewis, they are expensive. Elegant looking, but nontheless expensive.
Not that has anything to do with the food served on them. :)
Lawrence001
25-08-2026, 23:46
You might say your plates are "just mid priced", but at nearly £64 for two, courtesy of John Lewis, they are expensive. Elegant looking, but nontheless expensive.
Not that has anything to do with the food served on them. :)If that's what they cost it's like saying "I'm just wearing a mid priced Ralph Lauren suit". It might be mid priced in the Ralph Lauren range but not in the wider suit market.
Pigmy Pony
26-08-2026, 07:19
Our mid-priced plates came from IKEA and cost about 2 quid each.
Risotto is meant to be pudding-like, but hey, you like what you like...
What did you have for tea tonight? You were posting regular pics of your salads, now that's dried up.
Barry, have you seen this?:)
Marco.
Justers, I think your plates are excellent, and it's good to see you treating yourself to something a bit different:)
Marco.
walpurgis
26-08-2026, 10:27
Didn't feel for a fry-up, then?:D
I liked the pics of your fry-ups.
Marco.
Six of us here Marco, so kitchen use can be challenging. At least I'm not the only person to prepare meals now.
Nobody would ask my wife to do food. She doesn't know how and never wanted to.
Pigmy Pony
26-08-2026, 10:55
Six of use here Marco, so kitchen use can be challenging. At least I'm not the only person to prepare meals now.
Nobody would ask my wife to do food. She doesn't know how and never wanted to.
Anita hates cooking too, though she really is very good when she decides to.
Six of us here Marco, so kitchen use can be challenging. At least I'm not the only person to prepare meals now.
Nobody would ask my wife to do food. She doesn't know how and never wanted to.
Lol, no worries, matey... When you get the chance to do some cooking, bob up a few pics:)
Marco.
Anita hates cooking too, though she really is very good when she decides to.
Lol, looks like I'm the only one with a wife who likes cooking (as an Italian, it was in the wedding contract;))! She finds it rather therapeutic. Plus, both of us were brought up in families who cooked fresh food from scratch. My mum was a great cook, on a par with Del, and so that's what I've always been used to.
In that respect, food is a big part of our day: what we're having for lunch and dinner, and it is planned, prepared for and very much looked forward to!:cool:
Italians LIVE to eat, not eat to live. We never see food as simply sustenance. Brits are, erm, a wee bit different...
Marco.
Today's lunch... Tomato salad with Burrata and vinaigrette:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/6QjnYH.jpg
Washed down with a rather fresh and fruity Pinot Grigio.
Marco.
Looks lovely Marco - something I could quite easily eat, though I have never tried Burrata before.
Approve of the Pinot Grigio. :)
rmcin626
26-08-2026, 14:44
Today's lunch... Tomato salad with Burrata and vinaigrette:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q70/923/6QjnYH.jpg
Washed down with a rather fresh and fruity Pinot Grigio.
Marco.
Very nice lunch Marco
Looks lovely Marco - something I could quite easily eat, though I have never tried Burrata before.
Approve of the Pinot Grigio. :)
Thanks, it's just like a creamier mozzarella.
Marco.
Very nice lunch Marco
Cheers, mate. It was nice and 'fresh':)
Marco.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2026 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.