A true traditional butcher! Green's of Pangbourne!

What a pleasure it is to walk into a shop dedicated to the finer things in the foodie's life - fresh farm-raised meat, homemade pies, and savory treats. Green's of Pangbourne is such a place.

Quality of ingredients means everything to the aspiring gourmet, and Green's is dedicated to providing nothing but the finest selection. In fact, the shop has been awarded a most prestigious accolade. Green's is South England's Butchers Shop of the Year for 2009. Impressive!

The staff is friendly and charming, and the service impeccable. While we visited the tiny shop, the aroma of slow-simmered beef and vegetables filled the space, triggering an amazing burst of hunger. Known for its meat pies, Green's makes a wide assortment of the delectable pastries and sells more than 1000 each week. Since most top-crust pies are similar in appearance, Green's uses a clever code to tell them apart- they label each pie with pastry initials to identify the contents.

Known for the quality of its meats, Green's turns out sausages by the hundreds, if not thousands each week. I'm intrigued by the variety - especially the venison and red wine sausage and the pork, chili and apricot. To satisfy our curiosity this first visit, we opted for the traditional pork sausage. And of course, we stocked up on Green's homemade mango chutney to use as an accompaniment.

But the pies are warm and ready to eat now, and my kitchen smells beyond good.

Don't worry. I won't disappoint, hungry readers! I promise an interview with the legendary chef Philip Cripps in the near future and we'll talk about his skills at turning out free-range scotch eggs, French quiches, and the comfort food of all comfort foods, cottage pie.

Indulge in a meat pie today!

If you're curious, visit www.greensofpangbourne.com.
10 Whitchurch Road
Pangbourne, Berkshire RG8 7BP

Sunbury Antiques Market at Kemptown Racetrack

In the freezing, windy cold (somewhere around zero C on the thermometer), I braved the elements to visit Sunbury Antiques Market at Kemptown Racetrack. It's the largest biweekly antiques market in England, with nearly 700 stallholders. Some liked to bargain, some were firm on their prices. As the hours drew toward closing, the bargaining seemed to get better.

It was fascinating to visit the stalls and peruse the incredible range of memorabilia, furnishings, collectibles and ephemera. Quite truthfully, I could have wandered contentedly for another few hours in spite of my frozen fingers, but I arrived as some of the dealers were already packing up to get out of the cold. The artwork was amazing, the furniture beautiful and the deals aplenty.

My favorite find: 150 year old Chinese silk embroidered wrap skirts in a rainbow of gorgeous flower colors. I resisted the temptation to buy, but I'm wracking my brain to figure out a place in my home for such amazing textiles.

My treasures for the day? A lovely and very old footed copper pot and a vintage type tray.

My bargain for the week? The olivewood mortar and pestle I bought at a local vintage shop for two pounds (about $3.50).

Going back to Sunbury with a group of friends in two weeks. This time, we'll go armed with a wish list . . . but always be open to the unexpected surprise just waiting to come home!

We speak the same language - don't we?

Okay, I must confess. This package caught my eye in the local grocery, and I snatched it up after having a good giggle. Simply had to share with all of you.

Somehow, though we both speak the same language, American slang has not infiltrated Great Britain's food packaging. :)

Mediterranean delicacies

How many varieties of olives have you tasted lately? At Borough Market (and plenty of upscale food markets in the US), olive bars offer a range of flavors, from pleasantly mild with a salty essence, to fiery hot and garlicky.

Pitted or whole, olives make a fabulous snack any time of day.

Try a few new flavors today. You might surprise yourself by stepping outside your comfort zone.

Butter! Fleur de Sel! Like you've never tasted!

In spite of the rain we made our way from the museum to Borough Market today, the greatest single foodie paradise in all of Europe.

For those of you who haven't had the pleasure, imagine this. Acres and acres of gourmet food stands, produce stalls, flower markets, tiny jam and confection shops and open air cafes, tucked beneath the structures of London Bridge. For more than 250 years, Borough Market has brought together the best of the best of small European farms, bakeries, cheese producers, fishmongers, butchers and more. Heaven on earth!

My destination today was clear when we arrived at the market. To find Real France Fine Foods and purchase some of the best salt known to chefs: fleur de sel.

My bonus: discovering a delectable treat in Real France's unpasteurised butter with crispy sea salt. When biting into a piece of baguette spread with the butter, a first taste will reveal a creamy texture. Then, as the butter begins to melt, tiny salt crystals add a new dimension of flavor. It is spectacular!

I also indulged in thick wedges of their salted and unsalted butter, cut fresh from the block. Next visit I'll be certain to buy a Chabichou du Poitou, a creamy goat's milk cheese in a natural rind made in the Poitou-Charentes region of France.
For lunch this afternoon at Black and Blue Restaurant, I had a mixed green salad with pancetta-wrapped grilled goat cheese over sliced campari tomatoes. It seems to me that the Chabichou would be perfect served this way, accented by just a touch of balsamic and olive oil, and of course, fleur de sel.

But my true goal for today was the salt. Fleur de sel is delicate, melts easily and seasons to perfection. It is highly prized by chefs. To read an article about how Real France's Noirmoutier fleur de sel is harvested, visit my website, www.michellecooks.com.

As a passionate cook, I keep two bowls next to my stove at all times: a bowl of fleur de sel for finishing the flavors of my dishes, and my "proprietary" blend of seasonings that evoke the essence of herbes de Provence. Real France has taken my two standby seasonings and combined the two treats into one with an herbes de Provence sea salt. Can you see me smiling?

Like I said, Borough Market and its vendors - foodie heaven on earth!

For more information email info@realfrance.co.uk.

Peace

Of all the military and civilian memorabilia on display at the Imperial War Museum, this newspaper announcement was the most breathtaking in its simplicity.

What a striking image of Europe, and the world, at peace.

Rare Finds at the Imperial War Museum

Nick and I ventured into London today for a visit to the Imperial War Museum. The structure itself is grand, and we barely scratched the surface of the exhibits. When we entered the impressive space, Nick was immediately drawn to the World War II German Jadgpanther anti-tank weapon on display. According to military records, there are fewer than 10 remaining in the world. I thought the treads were intriguing.


The other vehicle of note was Monty's personal tank, a Grant. Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard Montgomery ("Monty") turned the tides of the war for the allies as he led the second battle of El Alamein. As a result of his spectacular performance leading this battle, he earned the prestigous title "Viscount Montgomery of Alamein."

Much of the museum is dedicated to special exhibits on weaponry, uniforms and memorabilia, news coverage and personal letters. The museum shares fascinating insight into the First and Second World Wars from a European perspective, and also covers military engagements around the world before and since. We will definitely spend more time in this national treasure.

And why do European women wear black boots all the time?

Walking + English rain + train travel + puddles = one big mess.

No, these are not striped socks. That is pure 100% English city grit ringing my soggy ankles. And those lumpy, dripping black things on my feet? Suede shoes.

Lesson learned: black boots, tucked in leggings and a BIG umbrella! Oh yeah, and a little glance at the weather channel before heading out of the flat.

How to Crack a Coconut

The best tip of the day from our Indian experience: how to crack a coconut.

1. Place fresh coconut in double layered plastic grocery bags.
2. Grasp handles firmly in one hand.
3. Smash the coconut on a hard surface (the floor works great).
4. Hold over a bowl to catch the coconut water.

In one blow, the coconut will be halved. Continue smacking it to release the nut flesh from the shell. Super easy and super fast!

India Meets Surrey

Well, today I ventured into new cuisine once again. We went to India and we never left Surrey!

Before we talk food, let me set the stage so you all can join me. Imagine driving on a pebbled lane lined with herbs to a grand English estate with a vast garden, a swan pond and at the very back of the property, a walled garden with gated entry that looked like it had been there for hundreds of years. (I'll photograph it when the blooms are in play.) The home was built just before the Regency period at the turn of the nineteenth century and boasted every bit of character the history implies. While we gathered in the fire-toasty kitchen, hens fluttered to the windowsill to watch the goings-on inside.

Our hostess and cooking teacher, Shelagh, is a Minnesota-born world traveler and fabulous cook who ventures to locales like Kashmir and Ethiopia on a regular basis. Today about a dozen ladies and I settled into her country kitchen by the crackling fire while she taught us the finer points of Indian cuisine. Each woman brought to the group her personal experiences with life in India, the flavors of the Indian table and recommendations for great local restaurants.

The breadth of life experience in the room was awe-inspiring. These ladies had lived as ex-pats across the globe, from Transylvania to South Africa to Hong Kong to Tokyo. Though they may have spent time in America, most are international. What distinguishes them is their resilience, and their eagerness to try out new cultures and cuisines. You know my motto for trying new global flavors - I believe this is a practice everyone should adopt, including children. After all, how will you know what flavors you're missing if you fail to taste them at least once? (And my kids will testify that they've received many "New Food Awards" at the dinner table.)

Here are the dishes Shelagh prepared for us. I snapped photos of each of them to help you visualize.

• Lemon Rice
• Akri Bhindi (crispy okra) - my favorite!!
• Cucumber Raita
• Grilled Pineapple with Shaved Fresh Coconut
• Prawn Curry
• Aubergine and Yogurt
• Korma Murgh (chicken with cashews, spices and yogurt)
• Stir-fried Green Beans with Coconut
• Fresh Banana Ice Cream
  
• To eat Indian cuisine for maximum enjoyment, take a bite of something hot and zesty (like the green beans with chiles), followed by a cooling bite of the fresh raita. The flavors were really, really nice. None too overpowering, and some subtly complex. Shelagh used fresh curry leaves plucked from the branches, and whole spices that she ground with a mortar and pestle to maximize the flavor.

Before I ventured to learn more about Indian cooking, we tried a local restaurant the other day called The Tamarind Tree, here in Wokingham. Nick enjoyed the biryani, though my chicken korma was too sweet for my taste. The naan bread was excellent. If you have not tried Poppodum, get some! They are crispy like extra light tortilla chips but are as large as full-scale tortillas. To share, simply make a fist and crack downward on the stack (as our Scottish friend Neal taught us). Delicious with mango chutney!

Enjoy - and be experimental at the table tonight!

American Women of Surrey and Thames Valley

I've joined a terrific group of ladies all living here from all over North America and beyond. Many have been ex-pats for quite some time in some really exotic places. The group promises to be a lot of fun. Tomorrow's activity is called Ginger Pumpkin Chocolate Fish, and I'll be taking an Indian cooking class.

Last week's foray to an Indian restaurant was a little sketchy - couldn't figure out what to order! I'll share what's on the menu at the AWS cooking class in another post.

As for the American Women of Thames Valley, bunco night is Wednesday, where I'll get to meet another group of ladies living overseas a little closer to my home in Wokingham.

Pretty soon I'll actually need to jot things down in a calendar! What fun!

Peri, Peri Power

We had our first taste of Portuguese flavoring this evening at a restaurant called Nando's in Reading on the River Kennet. The aroma was incredible - the open-fire grill sizzled with a rich blend of seasoned chicken and basting sauces. The restaurant calls their favored dish Peri-Peri Afro-Portuguese chicken.

Our meal started with grilled halloumi cheese and fresh-baked pitta bread. The halloumi is mild and a little more full-bodied and buttery than mozzarella, and grilling adds a nice smoked flavor to the cheese.

For dinner, I had a grilled chicken Caesar while Nick had wings and seasoned chips. Nando's marinates the British chicken overnight to soak in the flavor, and it's wonderful. Kind of zesty like Cajun and a little spicy hot like Indian, with a definite after-kick. If you want more of a kick, the sauces range from mild to extra, extra hot.

And I couldn't resist snapping a really cool shot of the lights overhead the dining room.

Comforts of Home

Ahh, the comfort of Krispy Kreme . . .

The U.S. franchise eateries here are a little more upscale than back at home. This donut shop had white leather sofas, but the taste of those glazed sweets was oh so familiar.

Mike and Nick stopped by McDonalds in Reading. In decor, it rivals most cafes. Modern chandeliers, abstract art, fine leather chairs. What was so very different was the attitude of the workers - the boys were greeted and thanked personally for dining there!

Our First Dinner Guests!

We couldn't come to England and not entertain, now could we? Just a few days after we settled in, we invited our friends Chris and Jen over with their son Luke for a true German dinner. Here was our menu:

• Aunt Karin's Reuben Dip
• German potato salad
• Simmered red cabbage and apples
• Sauerbraten
• Bockwurst and Bratwurst
• Spaetzle with brown butter
  
• German breads
• Custard and fresh fruit

It was delicious!

To Market

For those of you who know me well, great food is always on my mind. So of course, I had to brave the snow and ice to go to market! Bob the Produce Man kept doubling my quantities - it was the end of the day and he didn't want to take home so much. Don't know exactly how, but I ended up with what seemed like a truckload of fresh spinach. I cooked it for days!

Surprising though it may be looking at this wintry picture, Nick and I walked home from here with crates of raspberries and strawberries, succulent dates, fresh bundles of thyme and oregano, juicy oranges, absolutely beautiful red and yellow peppers, English cucumbers and kiwi.

And we've discovered that the three-foot refrigerator in the kitchen can't possibly hold all of that great produce, but our entry hall that hovers around 40 degrees makes perfect overflow cold storage space!

Wokingham, my Wokingham

I truly love living in a village. Everything I need is just a short walk away - fine groceries, dry goods, services, transportation. I've become very English with my shopping trolley to wheel behind me as I walk! Most days, I don't even miss having a car.

People here are quite trusting, and honesty is the unwritten rule. It's very interesting to shop here. The stores expect customers to supply their own shopping bags. At the grocery, a scanner is provided for those registered in a shopper's program. Customers will walk through the shop and scan and pack their own merchandise as they go along. No need to check out - they've already done it via the handheld scanner. They simply return the scanner and leave when they've packed up their bags. I just can't imagine this happening in America. People are too suspicious by nature, and petty crime is too prevalent. It's quite refreshing to become a part of this culture.

Wokingham itself has it's own charming character. History is everywhere, interspersed with modern conveniences. At the town's market center, the old church sits on the edge of a pedestrian plaza. Each week, produce, meat and other vendors set up stalls in an open-air market. Pubs are on every block and they always seem to be packed with locals.

The homes are also quite beautiful. Here's a great shot of the Tudor home next door to me at night in the snow. While it once was a private residence, now it houses the local "surgery," or doctor's office.

Snow, snow and more beautiful snow

England is truly lovely in the snow. The country seems to slow down as the temperatures drop below zero. People stay tucked in their homes, or better yet, they walk through the villages with ski poles to guide them.

We had a great adventure in Surrey last week, with a fabulous snow-in party with Carla and Mike's neighbors and friends at their home, Headley House. Roast lamb chops, duck and caramelized onion sandwiches, slow-baked potatoes in cream with fresh herbs - too much delicious food to name.

Point of fact, houses here in England are named, and the names are the addresses. Carla and Mike live in Headley House next door to Honeypot House - how cool is that name? How anyone can find each other is nothing short of a miracle!

Funny thing was, we took the train to get to Headley House in Cobham. When it was time to for us to say goodbye, we found we were snowed in! Spent the night, tried the train twice more the following day and ultimately rented a car. Now that was an adventure, let me tell you, with right hand drive and a left-hand shift. Dicey at best in the slush and snowdrifts!

The snow was amazing and coated the trees in crystal ice. Simply gorgeous! So different from what we experience in Atlanta. All in all, it snowed on and off for almost a week, and the accumulation was about eight inches. From what we understand, the weather is extremely unusual for this part of the world. We've loved it!

A New Year's Welcome

We were lucky enough to celebrate the new year with good friends Jen and Chris and meet some new ones. Our family was invited to attend a lovely party in Suzanne and Phillip's home. The food was fabulous and the company even better. What a fantastic way to welcome us to England!

The children staged a great performance for the adults, and dramatics were in high gear as they sang and danced until it was time to count down to 2010.

We said "cheerio" to 2009 and greeted the new year with snow, ice and a cozy taxi ride back to Jen and Chris' house!

Home Sweet Home

We're getting settled in our lovely village home on Rectory Road. We now live in a turn of the century police station, and our main living room is the former courtroom. Wonder what stories loom in these walls? I'm digging to find out more about this great building, and I'll share when I have good info.

Here's a shot of our home as the snow was just beginning to melt. We occupy the left side of the building, from the arched doorway over. The main living space is two stories with timbered ceilings (photos to come). The windows are stained glass. Our bedroom is downstairs, and Nick is living up the spiral staircase in the bell tower just under the pigeons' favorite roosting spot.

In case you're wondering, yes, pigeons are indeed chatty. He claims they chat all the time. . .

Birthday party time!

Tonight we celebrated Ed's birthday with a cocktail party. Of course I forgot to take pictures of the big event. Chris and Jen, Carla, Mike and the kids were all here for dinner, drinks and desserts.

Let's talk a bit about entertaining with an impossibly small kitchen. It's a challenge, even for a seasoned hostess like me! The flat came furnished, but with only the essentials in cookware. One bowl, no serving platters, etc.

So, before the party, I hit up the "charity" shops in town and bought up all of the crystal glasses, bowls, and plates I could find - for pennies! I've been amazed to see how lovely the items are, even in shops filled with castoffs and donations.

In the Grand University Town

We enjoyed a terrific trip to Oxford the other night, to send our friends Peter and Sara off to America. They're moving to Melville, NY just as we're moving here!

Their son Samuel is an Oxford student pursuing Greek and Latin studies. He explained that the classes involve meeting with scholars educated in a particular subject for discussion. There are no textbook or reading lists for the classes - students are expected to learn the subjects on their own and be tested late in the school year. The homework? Essays. Lots of them, which they must defend. The most amazing thing to us (Americans) was that there is no central campus. Oxford University is spread out across the entire town. And those classes we talked about? Here's the big surprise. Two students, possibly three, per "class." Talk about personalized education!

We shared a great meal at Brown's, and afterward, Samuel led us through narrow alleys to get to his favorite pub. Can't recall the name of it, but the pub name across the street amazed us - the Nosebag. Ha!

Dinner at the Ship Inn

We found a nice local pub just after we moved in. It's called the Ship Inn, and the main room with the crackling fire was filled with football fans cheering on their teams in a very British way. They didn't yell or make gestures like the Americans might - they shared their pints and smiled or frowned a lot. We enjoyed watching their reactions to great plays - so restrained!

A bit about pub protocol: you find your seat, review the menu then place your order and pay at the bar. Most pubs will deliver the food to your table - but you have to take that all important first step of ordering first at the bar! If you forget, you'll be waiting a very long time for your food!

Great bangers and mash, excellent meat pies and braised beef. And of course, there's Guinness. Always Guinness!

Sunday night at the Ship is quiz night, where table teams compete for prizes. Still trying to find a place with darts . . .