Rose Murray

A Taste of Britain

October 27, 2009 at 1:26 pm 1 comment

Earlier this month, we visited friends in Chester, a beautiful ancient city in England very close to the Welsh border. We had travelled to this walled city before, but this time was very special because our hosts, Aileen and Alan Yates gave us a new perspective, driving us through both England and Wales, pointing out the area’s beauty. One highlight of the visit was a dinner prepared by their friends, both English and Welsh, in our honour and held in Jennie and David Thomson’s Chester home. Each couple prepared a course and explained how they sourced local ingredients. Brian and Stephanie Rule prepared the first two courses…Scottish Smoked Salmon with English Watercress and Roasted Tomato, Garlic and Onion Soup, beautifully prepared by Steph with tomatoes right from her own Welsh greenhouse.  The soup was accompanied by a lovely whole grain bread baked by Win Jones whose wife Hil created a Beef and Ale Pie with Shortcrust Pastry accompanied by organic carrots and greens and Mustard Mash. The cheese course (supplied by our hosts, the Yates) represented all of Britain with Jennie Thomson ending our feast with a beautiful bowl of fresh raspberries and no fewer than two made desserts—a steamed Treacle Sponge Pudding and Apple-Raspberry Charlottes made with bread rather than pastry.  For pouring onto both desserts…cream, golden syrup with orange and a lovely homemade custard made from fresh eggs supplied by Jennie’s son who had rescued their layers from the chopping block. These two retired lady hens, “Thelma and Louise” get petted and cuddled daily so that they reward their rescuers each day with fresh eggs. This lovely story of the custard’s eggs was a delightful ending to a beautiful meal enjoyed amidst much laughter around a British table….a true Taste of Britain.

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