Finally, England’s day of reckoning had arrived. No more excuses, no more platitudes or attempts to apportion blame away from where it lay. It was time for a full English breakfast and a walk with the bulldog. Having scoured the Internet for something suitable a la Slovenia, I came up with a jolly nice little …

Read more

In view of the enormous task which lies ahead, today’s blog will be written in the future, present and past, as there has to be considerable planning. Eight nations to be catered by and just a few short hours in which to accomplish this mammoth task. And no mammoth. Three Latin American countries gave me …

Read more

My turn to keep the faith today, at home on my own, so it required a Herculean effort not to degenerate into convenience and lack of input on the worldwide front. I am very fond of Portugal, though my attempts at dishing up anything remotely authentic had so far run simply to that for the …

Read more

I decided to look forward today, rather than back and as a result, the mouth-watering prospect of an encounter with Brazil filled me with inspiration to cook. So I sat back and watched as Lynfa baked up a storm for both today and the rest of the week. By lunchtime, the kitchen resembled a battlefield, …

Read more

Phew! This is becoming difficult. Not the menus, but supporting England. How did we follow last night’s abysmal performance with a culinary fest suitable for the six nations on display? This is how we did it; Danish bacon sandwiches for breakfast at least restored some of our morale. Thick and juicy, served with Lurpak unsalted …

Read more

England’s next foray into the melting pot of South Africa 2010 looked like a meat-fest without equal. Some of Europe’s happiest sausage eaters were on the menu for footie and the BBQ, so it required a little more imagination than I had really planned for. Electing to produce a ‘menu in reverse’ paid off in …

Read more

A wonderfully entertaining day brought goals galore on the footie front. At the same time, French and Argentinean wines flowed, though some of the national menus were proving quite challenging as we settled into Round Two of the group stages. Aperitifs of Nachos and chilli dip went surprisingly well with Cotes de Provence Rose. Barbecued …

Read more

Nothing could have prepared us for the results on Day Six of South Africa 2010, but at least we were ready with the food! Spain and Switzerland provided the food, in the styles of: Roasted Peppers in Olive Oil and Patatas Bravas served with anchovies and Manchego cheese; Bratwurst mit Rosti, all washed down with …

Read more

To celebrate the arrival of one of the tournament favourites, Brazil, we had to go the extra mile. An aperitif took the form of Cloudy Bay Pelorus 2001, served with slivers of Saeng Sun Jim, (Korean Braised Sea Bass); Brazilian Bistecca de Porco Frita, (pan fried on the barbecue pork steak), served with a wicked …

Read more

So, into the start of the second week at South Africa 2010 and further challenges abounded. We went with delicious seafood sushi accompanied by Pinot Grigio Santa Margherita 2008; Smoked Danish Bacon Steaks in rich BBQ sauce, baked potatoes with matured Leerdammer cheese, mango in balsamic vinegar with Castel del Monte 2006 and fresh fruit …

Read more