Posts by Tom Johnston
Amaretto
It’s amazing how one thing can lead to another. And even more amazing (and wonderful) to discover a kindred spirit who shares my love of completely useless pieces of information, and the sharing thereof. Some of you may know that my culinary repertoire has extended to the field of teaching. The Retired Big Financial Whizz…
Read MoreSouthside Scran
14 – 17 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4 HN 0131 342 3333 www.southsidescran.com The Bill Set Lunch 3 courses: £21.50 A la Carte Starters: £9.50 – £18.00 | Mains: £10.50 – £32.00 | Desserts: £7.50 – £8.50 The Score Cooking 8/10 | Service 5/5 | Flavour 4.5/5 | Value 4.5/5 TOTAL 22/25 Only…
Read MoreForage & Chatter
1A Alva Street, Edinburgh EH2 4PH 0131 225 4599 www.forageandchatter.com The Bill Set Lunch 2 courses: £14.95 | 3 courses: £17.95 A la Carte Starters: £8.00 – £11.00 | Mains: £16.00 – £23.00 | Desserts: £7.00 The Score Cooking 8.5/10 | Service 4.5/5 | Flavour 4.5/5 | Value 4.5/5 TOTAL 22/25 I’m not sure…
Read MoreForth Floor Restaurant, Harvey Nichols
30 – 34 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2AD 01310 524 8350 www.harveynichols.com The Bill A la Carte Starters: £7.00 – £13.00 | Mains: £15.00 – £35.00 | Desserts: £7.00 – £9.00 The Score Cooking 6/10 | Service 3.5/5 | Flavour 3.5/5 | Value 3/5 TOTAL 16/25 Edinburgh dwellers just don’t realise how lucky…
Read More60 Hope Street Liverpool
60 Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9PZ 0151 707 6060 www.60hopestreet.com The Bill Lunch Starters: £5.95 – £14.50 | Mains: £11.95 – £35.00 | Desserts: £7.50 – £9.50 Dinner Early Bird: 3 courses £25.00 | House Menu: 3 courses £29.95 A la Carte Starters: £7.95 – £14.50 | Mains: £19.95 – £35.00 |…
Read MoreChaophraya Liverpool
Lobster Risotto
Happy New Year, dear reader. I did tell you that Tom Cooks! would resume later in the month. A couple of reasons for the change. Firstly, we are still within the 12 days of Christmas, so festivities are still allowed. Secondly, I cooked a particularly fine routine masterpiece for the current Mrs J on Hogmanay,…
Read MoreSarah Mellersh’s Paris Brest
For the last Tom Cooks! of the year, let’s end up with a sumptuous show stopper of a dish, one which will grace the table of a festive, or indeed any other, party. This features choux pastry, almonds and a rich filling of praline cream. This recipe is from the uber talented Sarah Mellersh of…
Read MoreTartiflette
Where did Christmas markets start? Do I like them? And are they all the same? You’ll probably be relieved to know that I have no idea of the answer to the first question. We see them in paintings from centuries gone by, or from depictions of Merrie England (or Holland, Germany or whatever). I’m beginning…
Read MoreMeg Johnston’s Scotch Broth
Winter is now officially here. You can tell, because the shops have run out of de-icer just before you get there. And winter, more than any other season, calls for hearty soup. I have it on excellent authority (I heard one of the Hairy Bikers say it on the telly the other day) that we…
Read MoreHallowe’en Barmbrack
I’m grateful to Michael Greenlaw for alerting me to this rather nice confection and providing a couple of recipes. Michael is also this week’s guest reviewer in the Tom Cooks! column, so more about him there. As many traditions lose sight of their roots, it is interesting to do some research into their background. In…
Read MoreOxtail Stew with Horseradish Mash
OXTAIL STEW WITH HORSERADISH MASH The Slow Food movement was formed in Italy in 1986 in protest at the opening of a McDonald’s in Rome. Our ancestors, of course, knew all about slow cooking. It is wonderful to see that more and more people are rediscovering its delights. This has been led, in part, by…
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