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All Nicola Jeal's Answers
4 Fashion
59 Food
3 Drink
Mar 09, 08
where can i buy petite jeans on the waist
Mar 09, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal
you dont say how old you are, or exactly what size you are, but my guess is you are tiny, so head to the shops that tend to cater for a teenage market. Topshop has a fantastic selection of jeans plus they have good petite section in the main oxford circus store. uniqlo also do small sizes.
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Mar 09, 08
Question from janet williams
what is the best lenght and shape of skirt, I'm 5ft tall, and can only wear flat shoes as I have to run around after 2 very active boys!!
Mar 09, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal
you do not say what size you are, but if you are a slim 5 footer then I would suggest you wear skirts no longer than the knee. a denim skirt (on trend right now) is always a good option, worn with opaque tights and pumps - go as short as your legs can take it. So mini if you have great pins, and knee-length if they are not so good. for spring there are lots of 'swishy' skirt, as named by Vogue (think mini dirndls, skirts with a bit of shape). Your skirt should look as if you are wearing a stiff petticoat underneath it. That is a good shape for shorties BUT it must end above the knee. If you hate that length or shorter do not fall for the swishy, stick to the pencil shape. if you are no a slim 5 footer than dresses are a much better option to skirts. skirts 'shorten' the body, whereas a dress will elongate it. Plain frocks are best but if you love patterns, make it a small print.
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Mar 09, 08
where can i buy petite jeans on the waist
Mar 09, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal
you dont say how old you are, or exactly what size you are, but my guess is you are tiny, so head to the shops that tend to cater for a teenage market. Topshop has a fantastic selection of jeans plus they have good petite section in the main oxford circus store. uniqlo also do small sizes.
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Mar 09, 08
where can i find a one shoulder cocktail dress
Mar 09, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal
reiss has a fantastic orange one, new look has a good one too. dont pay too much, this is a one season wonder trend and come september you will be pqacking it away.
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Mar 11, 08
why do i find it so hard to stop eating rubbish food
Mar 17, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
because you have got used to the high salt, high sugar hit you get with junk food. it is addictive - that is why children, brought up on that food, find it really difficult to switch to so-called healthy options.
the first thing you need to do is find a substitute 'hit' to try to wean yourself off the rubbish. try food either dressed or cooked in garlic for starters. always opt for the 'tastiest' option (roast chicken, mackerel) - healthy food that has a strong taste.
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Mar 09, 08
What foods are both low fat and low carb?
Mar 09, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Are you on a diet? I only as because your question is basically: which foods have virtually no calories. But this is no way to begin a diet. Rather than look at specific foods that are low carb and low fat you need to think in terms of meals. A meal of steamed green vegetables and white steamed fish, for example, is probably the ultimate low fat/low carb meal. BUT, trust me, if you want to lose weight eat less, and exercise more. That's it. eating low fat/low carb foods will not fill you up and will probably lead to binge eating at some stage during your day/week. So eat the foods you love, but less of them and only when you are hungry. Then exercise at least 3 times a week for an hour a pop. You will gradually shed pounds.
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Mar 09, 08
Question from Helen
Can anyone give me a quick and easy recipe for scallops
Mar 09, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
This is so fast and always tasty (courtesy of Nigella).
400g scallops, 110g chorizo sausage. juice of half a lemon and some chopped parsley.
slice the chorizo. fry (use no oil, no nothing) in a hot pan on both sides. Takes a few mins. Remove. fry scallops in chorizo juice/oil for a minute a side. No more. Add chorizo and lemon juice and let heat for a few seconds. Sprinkle over parsley and serve/
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Mar 09, 08
the best diet
Mar 09, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Forget all diets, they don't work. Follow a few rules: only eat when you are hungry - but never leave it to you are ravenous; never eat at your desk at work or on the go - you need to sit down properly and think about your food; chew every mouthful 20 times. Then do at least an hour of aerobic exercise at least 3 times a week.
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Mar 06, 08
where in Soho is the Italian Coffee Company that you recommend for great pizza and £3 margharetas?
Mar 06, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
It's on Goodge St. They are expanding all over London, and about to slightly change their name so as not to clash with another company. Called the Italian Coffee Company, Ecco or Icco.
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Mar 02, 08
i want to go somewhere romantic in central london but i can only spend around £20 a head max for 2
Mar 02, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
i am assuming you will want a bottle of wine, so that leaves about £23 between you, including bread etc. Unless you fancy taking her/him? to a chain restaurant, your best option is going to a really lovely place where you can opt to sit at the bar and basically have bar food with a really nice bottle of red or white. One of my favourite places is Moro in Exmouth market in Clerkenwell, where you can sit at the lovely bar and order tapas. You can't book bar seats so get there before 7pm and nab two stools. The staff are charming, the tapas is great and you will sit there in the knowledge that you are in one of Britain's best and most original restaurants. £40? It's a bargain!
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Mar 02, 08
Question from Mimi Spencer
Nicola, is there a new undiscovered foodie market in London?Borough is so busy these days
Mar 02, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Borough is a nightmare if you actually want to buy food to cook rather than hang round and eat 'organic' hamburgers all day. You could go on a friday and miss the tourist crowds or go crack of dawn on a saturday or you could give the 'chelsea triangle' a try. Pimlico farmer's market (Pimlico road) is small but perfect for fresh meats, fish, veg, bread (fantastic eggs, butter and cheese from the Lincoln farmer stall). Then you could 'go posh' and have breakfast at daylesford cafe, bang opposite the market. Then walk 5/ 10 minutes to the Kings Road for the farmer's market on the pedestrianised area by the old barracks. The stalls are of the cooked, takeaway variety (good thai, morcoccan and fresh salads). So you get the best of both worlds and some people watching along the way.
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Mar 02, 08
Question from Mimi Spencer
Nicola, is there a new undiscovered foodie market in London?Borough is so busy these days
Mar 02, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Borough is a nightmare if you actually want to buy food to cook rather than hang round and eat 'organic' hamburgers all day. You could go on a friday and miss the tourist crowds or go crack of dawn on a saturday or you could give the 'chelsea triangle' a try. Pimlico farmer's market (Pimlico road) is small but perfect for fresh meats, fish, veg, bread (fantastic eggs, butter and cheese from the Lincoln farmer stall). Then you could 'go posh' and have breakfast at daylesford cafe, bang opposite the market. Then walk 5/ 10 minutes to the Kings Road for the farmer's market on the pedestrianised area by the old barracks. The stalls are of the cooked, takeaway variety (good thai, morcoccan and fresh salads). So you get the best of both worlds and some people watching along the way.
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Feb 20, 08
Are there any great new restaurants opening in London soon?
Feb 20, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Are you a restaurant critic? What an odd question. There is no such thing as a great new restaurant that hasn't opened yet - you never know how good a place will be until the punters, you and me, have visited and decided whether we would return. But hey, I love a hot new opening as much as the next C list celeb, so places to watch and book asap are the new new Quo Vadis in Soho, which is being launched by the men behind Fino (it will have a private club attached as well), followed by Angela Hartnett's new Italian-ish restaurant called Murano on the old Zen site in Mayfair. Both should happen late Spring...although we all know how late those buillders are completing a job. So maybe you are looking at at June treat.
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Feb 16, 08
This is an embarrassingly basic question and I know I don't need to explain myself but I skipped from no cooking at all to following complex recipes so missed out on the extreme basics! What's the best way to get perfectly boiled potatoes? There are so many variations: starting with cold or boiling water, salted or not, covered or not, peeled before or after... Mine always end up a bit wrong so advice from an experienced cook would be much appreciated!
Feb 20, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
this is like the wold boiled egg question - a few years ago a foodie mag (not mine, sadly) rang all the top chefs and asked them for their perfect boiled egg 'recipe'. Each one, from Gordon Ramsay to Delia Smith has a different method, but I am sure that each preferred their own. The answer to your question lies in the palate of the taster - although potato varieties vary massively when cooking
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Feb 15, 08
Question from Mimi Spencer
What is the perfect recipe for crumble topping? Mine always goes doughy, not crispy
Feb 20, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
raymond blanc says he has the best method `- basically you cook the crumble bit first (till golden brown) and then add to the fruit after. That way you get a lovely crispy topping. Obviously that is cheating, but who cares?
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Feb 19, 08
Question from elaine martin
I am going out in London on Friday - can you recommend any Gastropubs. North of the Thames.
Feb 20, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
The best gastropub north of the river is the first pub that sold organic food _ way back 9n 1998. It is in Islington (where else?). The Duke of Cambridge. was set up by a brilliant woman and great cook. It still wins awards and it's the real deal - great food that just happens to be organic.dukeorganic.o.uk
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Feb 11, 08
have you a good light baked cheesecake recipe?
Feb 13, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Donna Hay's recipes are always v easy and quite light. Her latest recipe books (you can get them in Sainsburys at £9.99 each) are 'Chocolate' and 'Fruit'. In the latter, there are quite a few light fruit cheesecake recipes but my favourite is the Chocolate cheesecake made with chocolate biscuitd and dark chocolate. Worth the calories
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Feb 10, 08
what is the best way to lose weight ?
Feb 13, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Forget all diets, they don't work. Follow a few rules: only eat when you are hungry - but never leave it to you are ravenous; never eat at your desk at work or on the go - you need to sit down properly and think about your food; chew every mouthful 20 times. Then do at least an hour of aerobic exercise at least 3 times a week.
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Feb 12, 08
Can you recommend a great sea-view restaurant near St Mawes in Cornwall?
Feb 13, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
The are a few good restaurants in Cornwall but there are an awful lot of really bad ones. I would go to Fifteen for the views and the breakfasts and without a doubt Tresanton for lunch (get a table outside). It is a bit like London-on-sea but all the better for it
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Feb 12, 08
My French mate always brings the most fabulous cheeses over with her when she stays, so I'd like to do the same for her with British cheeses. Am I being daft or can you suggest some that will impress and delight ?
Feb 13, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
The are some wonderful British cheeses. I would suggest visiting or ringing Neal Street – it stocks amazing cheese and the staff are very helpful. Or what about Alex James' Little Wallop goats cheese made in his Oxfordshire barn? You can buy the ex-Blur bassist's cheese from Harvey Nichols.
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Feb 12, 08
My French mate always brings the most fabulous cheeses over with her when she stays, so I'd like to do the same for her with British cheeses. Am I being daft or can you suggest some that will impress and delight ?
Feb 13, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
The are some wonderful British cheeses. I would suggest visiting or ringing Neal Street – it stocks amazing cheese and the staff are very helpful. Or what about Alex James' Little Wallop goats cheese made in his Oxfordshire barn? You can buy the ex-Blur bassist's cheese from Harvey Nichols.
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Jan 30, 08
I like the idea of fruit and vegetable boxes. Where can I order one from?
Jan 30, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Well first and foremost, try Abel and Cole (www.abel-cole.co.uk). They change their boxes on a weekly basis depending on demand and season, and you get a nice little selection. Equally good are Riverford, and again they offer a vareity depending on season and number of people, orderable online (www.riverford.co.uk). Lastly, Graig Farm (www.graigfarm.co.uk) will deliver a cheaper (and almost always unbruised) selection of seasonal fruit and veg, nationwide.
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Jan 24, 08
Where can I buy eco-friendly water?
Jan 24, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Bottled water has been receiving a lot of bad press of late, so my obvious answer would be "use a tap." But I've recently discovered one reason not to feel too guilty about not using the tap: Thirsty Planet water. This charity-cum-bottled-water-company basically give a whole tonne of money to Pump Aid and have thus have raised far over £300,000 and installed over 1000 pumps. Available to buy at all the big supermarkets nationwide.
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Jan 23, 08
I'm looking to buy butcher-fresh meat, preferably from an online company which doesn't require advance notice?
Jan 24, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
The prolific online company Donald Russell (www.donaldrussell.com) has been causing a stir for some time. Their gourmet meats come from a group of farmers in Aberdeenshire who specialise in grass-fed, traditionally matured, animal welfare approved meat. Being Scotland though, it will take a few days to deliver, but considering the weight of your average leg of lamb, it doesn't cost the earth (at most £7.95 for mainland UK) and they will deliver off the mainland for a small surcharge.

Otherwise, try Arun lamb (www.arun-lamb.co.uk) – fantastic purveyors of Welsh mountain lamb and multi-award winning team from Providence Farm (www.providencefarm.co.uk) who offer a huge organic range of fresh meats, again available nationwide.
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Jan 23, 08
I would like to send my husband on a cookery course for his brithday, but not a bog-standard, London based one. I am willing to pay.
Jan 23, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Head to Oxford and Raymond Blanc's cookery school at his Michelin-starred Manoir aux Quat'Saisons. Although Raymond doesn't tend to appear before the blackboard, 'students' will get to cook in the Michelin-starred restaurant and will be taught by some of the most culinary-gifted teachers outside of London. There are all sorts of courses available - 'Fusion', 'Nutrition' or the very popular 'Dinner Party' where you can learn to cook a 3 course meal a la Gordon Ramsay's 'Cook along Live'. Book online at www.manoir.com.
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Jan 23, 08
I would like to spend Valentine's Day in London and would like to take my girlfriend out for a meal. I will book now, but I am on a very tight budget. Any ideas?
Jan 23, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
For good food on a budget, particularly on Valentine's Day, I would suggest one of the Little Bay restaurants: I recently discovered their branch in Kilburn. This Zagat-praised chain (although very un-chainy in both its hand-written menu and theatrical-gilt decor) was opened by restaurateur Peter Ilic. He came up with the concept of a perfectly decent, French-inspired three course meal at an astonishingly low price, which is a must if you're not willing to spend over £50 a head on the biggest Hallmark night of the year. Look at the website to find your nearest restaurant, www.littlebay.co.uk.

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Jan 18, 08
Where do the top chefs eat breakfast?
Jan 18, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Sara Adams at Kensington Square Kitchen is a fan of the West country: "I think the best breakfast I have ever had recently is at Babington House (Frome, Somerset BA11, 01373 812266).

Cass Titcombe recommends fifty-year-old Mario's cafe in Kentish Town, (6 Kelly Street, Kentish Town, London, NW1, 020 7284 2066) "I'd be hard pushed to find somewhere better than this in London."
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Jan 14, 08
Where can I find buy really good fresh fish in London?
Jan 17, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Cheats will head to Borough market by London Bridge tube where shop/stalls such as Applebee's and Mersea island's sell the freshest of the fresh Italian octopus and oysters, respectively. Otherwise, head to Billingsgate fish market (Poplar, E14), the largest in the UK. They sell everything imaginable at trade-ish prices. The only drawback are its opening hours – tuesday to saturday from 5.00am - 8.30.
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Jan 10, 08
Question from peanutgirl
Can you suggest any very traditional, old fashioned British restaurants that serve food which hasn't been boiled in the bag but which won't break the bank?
Jan 12, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Canteen (Spitalfields or Royal Festival Hall, 0845 686 1122) serves super-traditional food such as devilled kidneys on toast, kippers, mushy peas and orange jelly, for less than you'd expect, in their ultramodern booth-style restaurant. Very efficient and most mains cost under a tenner.
Otherwise, try The Reliance in Leeds (North Street, 0113 295 6060) – a more-gastro-but-still-pub restaurant which does the usual hearty bangers and mash and pie options, and even has a pub quiz on Sunday nights.
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Jan 08, 08
Question from jeronimo
I want an unusual, personally designed cake for my 4 year old daughter. Where can I get one?
Jan 09, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Fiona Cairns produces 120,000 cakes a year, selling to Selfridges and Waitrose amongst other places – and although they're not made to order, they are perhaps the most unusually designed flour based treats you'll find in a supermarket. Bestsellers include the sugar flower laden fruit cakes and football themed cupcakes.

Or... Kate of Pat-a-cake-pat-a-cake bakes, designs and sculpts a vast selection of birthday cakes and does so to order, so designs can be tweaked accordingly. Favourites are her girly sandcastles and anemone decorated cakes, as well as her Russian themed stack of cakes (www.patacakepatacake.com).
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Jan 07, 08
Question from peanutgirl
I want authentic pizza cooked in an authentic pizza oven, but I want to avoid Italian-inspired chains such as Pizza Express. Any ideas?
Jan 08, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
In terms of budget and quality, you'd be hard-pushed to beat Soho's Italian Coffee Company (ICCo's) cafe/restaurant. Where they scrimp on decor – the restaurant (if you can call it that) is chilly, stool-seated and made entirely of aluminium – they make up for with their absurdly low prices. Their huge margaritas cost just £3.
Otherwise, the family-run Salvo's in Headingley (reservations: 0113 275 5017) serve astonishingly good pizza-ovened pizzas for slightly over £7.
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Dec 28, 07
Question from marsha6
Is Alex James's cheese any good or is it just a pop boy playing in the country?
Jan 01, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Believe me, Blur's ex-bassist is very serious about the art of cheese-making. He works with one of the best cheesemakers and cheese gurus in Britain. The result is Little Wallop which you can buy at Harvey Nicks, and it's delicious. Trust me.


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Dec 18, 07
Question from Mimi Spencer
How can I get a table for 2 when all the London restaurants seem to booked solid before Christmas?
Dec 20, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Easy, darling. Just ask for two stools at the bar. Quite a few restaurants (like Le Caprice, Scotts, Moro) will let you book a 'space' at the bar last minute.
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Dec 17, 07
Question from sinita83
I want to impress a food snob this Christmas. Any ideas?
Dec 18, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Manni olive oil is the most expensive in the world. It is a single estate oil and the vanity project of an Italian film director. Now available from Selfridges - two teeny weeny bottles cost £40 It's bling in a bottle.
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Dec 17, 07
Question from peanutgirl
Where can I get good gifts for veggie foodies?
Dec 17, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Ottolenghi is a brilliant café-cum-cake-shop, with branches in Islington and Notting Hill. Right now it has some fantastic Christmas gifts like white chocolate rasberry brittle that is as delicious as it looks. Worth making a trek for. Ring for opening times 020 7937 0003.
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Dec 17, 07
Question from peanutgirl
I want to treat my parents to lunch before Christmas when they come to London for the theatre. Any ideas?
Dec 17, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Bibendum is where I take my parents for birthday lunches. The room is beautiful, the staff are brilliant and there wil be at least 10 things they will want to order. At lunchtime go for the set lunch at around £30 a head.
Over the years it has received mixed reviews. Ignore them. Your parents will love it. And after lunch you can take them shopping at the Conran Shop (below the restaurant).

Bibendum, 020 7581 5817
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Dec 13, 07
Question from sinita83
Do restaurant critics actually pay for their own meals?
Dec 14, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Yes and no. They pay on the night but then claim the bill back on expenses. They wouldn't hand over their own hard-earned cash at 90 per cent of the places they review. The other 10 per cent - ie the ones they will actually pay for - includes St John (Fergus Henderson's nose-to-tail restaurant in Clerkenwell, EC1); Moro, Exmouth Market, also in EC1; Le Gavroche for a special supper; and the Royal China in Queensway for dumplings. And that is about it!
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Dec 12, 07
Question from mrjones
Where can I get decent olives from that doesn't involve a trek to some posh food hall?
Dec 13, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Order great olives from www.olivesetal.co.uk. They come in jars and really taste delicious.
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Dec 12, 07
Question from Minxy Sue
I love peppermint tea but can't seem to find anything other than the watery rubbish sold in packs of 20 for under a pound. Does anyone actually make decent peppermint teabags?
Dec 12, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Teabags are obviously infinitely inferior to the real thing. However, there is one company that actually make peppermint tea which sure as hell beats having leaves and twigs floating around your mug. Summerdown mint use black Mitcham mint which actually tastes of something and doesn't need 20 minutes in the pot. You can smell the box even when the cupboard's closed. Summerdown mint comes in boxes of 25 and costs £2.95, exclusively (at the moment) from Harvey Nichols (www.harveynichols.co.uk)
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Dec 11, 07
Question from peanutgirl
Who makes the best ready-made food?
Dec 11, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
The Grocer On Elgin is streets ahead of every other brand. Look out for the distinctive vacum-packed pouches. The Thai/Indian/Moroccan-influenced dishes are the best.
www.thegroceron.com


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Dec 07, 07
Question from Minxy Sue
Who makes the best Christmas puds?
Dec 11, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Tesco's Finest is really good. And Daylesford.
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Nov 30, 07
Question from marsha6
I heard that Gordon Ramsay runs a gastro pub on top of all his Michelin-starred restaurants. Where is it please?
Dec 07, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Not content with owning over 20 restaurants worldwide, Ramsay has indeed forayed into the world of gastropubs – he now owns 2 of them and he has plans to open The Warrington in Maida Vale in the new year. This is of course good news for those who'd rather spend under £50 a head... The Narrow sits on the river, hence the name, and serves up a familiar range of British dishes for distinctly un-Ramsay prices. Pie and mash start at £8.50 and there's a rather good wine menu to boot. He also owns The Devonshire in the slightly more bustling area of Chiswick. The menu is similar, featuring fish and chips, lots of animals parts on toast and a cracking bread and butter pudding.
The Narrow, 44 Narrow Street, E14; 020 7592 7950.
The Devonshire, 126 Devonshire Road, Chiswick, W4 2JJ; 020 7592 7962.
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Dec 03, 07
Question from queenpen
My husband is a foodie, and I'd like to take him somewhere great, ideally within an hour or two drive of London for his birthday lunch in January. Fat Duck is all booked up already (!) Any other suggestions?
Dec 07, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Assuming you avoid rush hour, Cambridge's Midsummer House can be reached in under 2 hours. And where else can you guarantee a table which overlooks either the glorious Midsummer Common or the chef's herb garden barely outside the M25? Set by the river Cam, it's really rather more idyllic that Fat Duck, and while the food is somewhat more de rigueur than that of Mr Blumenthal's, Michelin-starred Daniel Clifford has kept his menu in a similar vein – the tasting menu features pig's trotters and roasted grapes among among other distinctly Anglo-Franco dishes.
Midsummer House, Midsummer Common, Cambridge, CB4 1HA; 01223 369299
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Dec 01, 07
Question from Paul
Where can I get a decent fish and chips that won’t break the bank?
Dec 02, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
The Magpie café in Whitby is quite famously the finest purveyor of fish and chips in north Yorkshire and perhaps the UK. They sell the usual range of battered sole, cod and plaice, as well as a mean poached cod and lobster thermidor (14 Pier Road, Whitby , North Yorks, 01947 602058). Otherwise, there’s Rock, Sole and Plaice (47 Endell Street, London 020 7836 3785) which is London’s oldest chippy and offers colossal portions for
slightly above average prices or the recently dolled up West Beach Restaurant (Pier Approach, Bournemouth, Dorset 01202 587785) which serves inexpensive fish and chips till midnight from its spectacular pier-view, open-plan restaurant.
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Nov 30, 07
Question from Spiggie
My favourite organic grocery delivery company recently went out of business. Does anyone know a right-on, local, organic service that delivers everything from apples to toilet rolls in the Brighton area?
Nov 30, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
I think you mean Real Food Direct - such a shame to see it go. I know they are encouraging former customers to use the stalwart of the online veg scene, Abel and Cole, (www.abel-cole.co.uk), which will always come up with the goods, provided they’re seasonal – note their Christmas box containing chestnuts, clementines and parsnips.
Graig Farm also have an impressive range of organic dairy, meat and meals and are very speedy on the delivery. (www.graigfarm.co.uk). I understand that Brighton-based Infinity Foods is soon to add an online version of the long-established Infinity shop and bakery which specialises in all that is organic.
Online perks include their super-fresh bakery and an almost permanently available supply of duck eggs and local fruit and veg. They also have their own label grocery range, stocking over 4000 lines, which is one of the largest in the UK. Infinity shop and bakery, 25 North Road, Brighton, Sussex BN1 1YA; Tel:
01273 603563, www.infinityfoods.co.uk
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Nov 29, 07
Question from mrjones
Where can I get restaurant standard takeaway food in the UK?
Nov 30, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Under new management is Manchester’s Globe, which offers arguably the widest range of global, and fusion dishes north of London. Specialising in Thai, Mexican and Japanese, all freshly prepared using MSG and gluten-free ingredients, it has a remarkably low £1.50 delivery charge and
even stocks an award-winning Merlot. Also leagues ahead of its rivals is London’s Farringdon-based Deliverance. Unfathomably fresh salads, bhajis and truffles are among their bestsellers. Choose a multi-course feast from one of their ‘kitchens’ on the phone or via their very pretty website, www.deliverance.co.uk.
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Nov 29, 07
Question from marsha6
What is considered to be the best chocolate in the world and where can I buy it?
Nov 29, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Amedei, owned by the Tessieri siblings in Tuscany, is probably the best chocolate-making company in the world. Not only do they produce a quality of chocolate that has long proved to be insurpassable but they also really care about the provenance of their beans and pay well above the average for their Venezuelan crop. Most of the world’s top chefs use their chocolate. Their artisan tavoletta bars are sold in Harvey Nichols (£5, 55g, 020 7235 5000).
Another of my favourites – and still pretty unknown outside of London - is pastry chef turned chocolatier Damian Allsop. He’s actually a veteran on the confectionery circuit, and has been hand-making chocolate for over 5 years. As well as churning out the richest brownies in London, he also makes perhaps the only acceptable chocolate liqueurs using single malt whisky ( www.damianallsop.com, 01628 472 476). Online chocolatier Chococo looks tipped for success this year. They combine locally sourced fillings (honey, mint) with fresh ganache. And you can watch them at work in their interactive factory/shop in Swanage, Dorset, www.chococo.co.uk.
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Nov 23, 07
Question from wendymae
What in your opinion is the best vegetarian restaurant in the UK? Is there anywhere really special?
Nov 26, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
According to critics, Terre a Terre (71 East St, Brighton, 01273/729051) located a block from Brighton’s seafront, serves the best vegetarian food in the country, and has gained critical acclaim both here and in the US for its baked Spanish custard topped with passion fruit and vegetarian sushi. But there are a number of lesser known veggie dwellings
that have yet to be recognised, notably the pink-plaster walled Keralan
restaurant, Rasa (55 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0AR, 020 7249 0344); Covent Garden’s preposterously cheap and almost entirely vegan Food for Thought where you'll struggle to spend £10 on 2 courses (31 Neal Street, London, WC2H 9PR, 020 7836 0239) and quite possibly the most carnivore-friendly vegetarian café/restaurant Roots and Fruits in Leeds, which despite its shabby interiors, offers remarkably un-bland, un-grainy, veggie food.
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Nov 26, 07
Question from SylvieG
It’s my parents’ silver wedding anniversary this year and my father wants to take my mother out for a proper meal in London – the problem is he hates posh food. Where can they go?
Nov 26, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
You can get a cracking fish and chips in London despite being around 50 miles from Brighton. Why not try Tom Aiken’s Chelsea based, ethically-charged chippy which is due to open this month. It’s all very traditional, so there’ll be plenty of beer-y batter and local seafood – except that diners will sit en masse on recycled plastic tables, use cutlery made from natural fibres and eat the most sustainable fish available in London. But it is, like most of Aiken’s ventures, very relaxed and very, very British. Tom’s place, 1 Cale Street, SW3; open 11am-11pm.(Telephone: unavailable at present as not yet open)
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Nov 23, 07
Question from sinita83
Where can I buy the best Stilton in the UK?
Nov 25, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
It has to be Cropwell Bishop whose unusually sweet, extra marbled blue Stilton won the gold award at the World Cheese Awards this year. Run by brothers Ian and David Skailes from their history-steeped creamery just south of Nottingham, their’s is the last family-owned Stilton manufacturer in the UK – and you can buy it in Waitrose; £13.99/kg, www.ocado.com
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Nov 23, 07
Question from mrjones
Who holds the most Michelin stars in the world and can I eat at their restaurants in Britain?
Nov 23, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Since the publication of the Michelin Guide to Tokyo last month, Joel Robuchon has overtaken his fellow Frenchman, Alain Ducasse, to become, statistically, the best chef in the world, bringing his global Michelin star haul to 17. You can sample his famously modern/classic cuisine at his single starred restaurant, L’Atelier, in London’s Soho.
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon: 13-15 West Street, WC2; 020 7010 8600; Lunch,
Mon-Sun, noon-3pm; dinner, 5.30pm-midnight (except Sunday 10.30pm)
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Nov 13, 07
Question from mrjones
I saw Heston Blumenthal on TV talking about his special beef. I think I even saw the butcher on the screen. Where can I get some?
Nov 19, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
The butcher you saw lurking in the background was Jack O’Shea (020 7581
7771 www.jackosheas.com) who can also be found in his shop just round the corner from Harrods in London's Knightsbridge. His beef is tender, ‘bone-aged’ black Angus beef from Ireland, slaughtered at the family's abattoir. Also recommended are seaweed-fed lamb, organic and rare breed pork and wagyu beef.
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Nov 13, 07
Question from mrjones
When should I be ordering my turkey for Christmas?
Nov 13, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
You should order it at the beginning of December. Most good producers last order date is around the 8th of December. My favourites are Franklins of Thorncroft in Bedfordshire ( 01767 627644, www.franklinsfarm.co.uk). John Franklin’s birds are slow grown over a period of 8 months, twice the time of an intensively reared turkey. They are slaughtered at the farm’s own abattoir. Franklins also sells a delicious three-bird roast: a boned goose, stuffed with a chicken, a pheasant and apricot stuffing (£16.90/kg). Oven ready geese £9.50/kg; Turkeys Bronze £8.20/kg. If you prefer to order from a local branch of a supermarket, then head straight to Marks & Spencer. All M&S's turkeys this year are free range and British, from farms in Northern Ireland, Pembrokeshire and East Anglia (the name of the farmer can be found on packaging). The best ones to buy are its organically reared Devon Bronze turkeys which are fed on natural diets.
They cost £12.69/kg and you must order in advance. 0845 603 1603, www.marksandspencer.com (Mail order. Last order date: 12th December by midday).
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Nov 13, 07
Question from Vanessa Allen
I read that the Prince of Wales loves mutton. Can you actually buy it these days?
Nov 13, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Yes, you can. And not only does it taste good in a stew, one brilliant producer The Thoroughly Wild Meat Company (01963824788,www.thoroughlywildmeat.co.uk) produces mutton (the sheep are grazed on the saltmarshes of Bridgewater Bay on the Severn Estuary) that is so delicious that the legs can be grilled as mutton steaks.
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Nov 13, 07
Question from Vanessa Allen
What is the most glamorous farm shop in Britain?
Nov 13, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Without a doubt it is Daylesford Organic in Kingham, Gloucstershire (www.daylesfordorganic.com), where Lady Bamford oversees the most fashionable farm shop in Britain, if not the world. Everything comes minimally and beautifully-packaged, the produce is second to the none, and the prices are...well, reassuringly expensive. But the real reason to go is to watch the glamorous locals arrive in their Hunter wellies with their Boden-clad kids in tow. Think Notting Hill crossed with the Archers. Go.
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Nov 13, 07
Question from wendymae
I am having a dinner party, but I don't have time to cook. Help.
Nov 13, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Why are you having a dinner party if you have no time to slave over a hot stove for three days in order to present your guests with a 4-course Michelin star-worthy meal? Better to tell them to come for drinks and pie.
Let them know in advance that this is a casual affair not a full-blown dine party, then ring Two Fishwives in London (020 8537 1168 www.twofishwives.com) order a couple of large fish pies and stick them in the freezer.The pies taste and look homemade, £9.00- £10.80 for 850g pie
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Oct 31, 07
Question from marsha6
To celebrate their ruby wedding, I want to give my parents a gourmet weekend away in the UK. They will not want a trendy, boutique hotel but neither will like a stuffy, old-fashioned chintz palace. Any ideas?
Nov 12, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
The perfect place would be Gidleigh Park, in Chagford, Devon. It has recently been revamped and is now a boutique-trad hybrid hotel. So deep carpets, panelled wood and fireplaces but definitely no chintz. Mchael Caines, two-star chef, oversees the kitchen
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Oct 31, 07
Question from peanutgirl
I want to buy a really great olive oil. Is price important?
Oct 31, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
Most definitely yes. You should be expecting to pay no less than £10 for around 500ml. Brindisa's selection of Spanish oil (www.brindisa.com) are highly recommended. My favourite is Nunez de Prado, a fantastically rich oil which is almost a starter in itself served with a good bread. Another favourite is Carluccio's Il Fiasco extra-virgin, £19.95 for 750 ml, www.carluccios.com). When you are buying, look for extra-virgin, single estate oils. These are oils that have not been made from blended oils from various places (which is what most supermarket cheap brands are). Note: never use these for cooking. Heat will not improve the flavour of the dish or the oil, so stick to a basic, cheap olive oil for cooking.
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Oct 31, 07
Question from peanutgirl
Where should I take my design-conscious girlfriend for supper in New York?
Oct 31, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
The Mies van der Rohe-designed Pool Room restaurant at the Four Seasons restaurant at the Four Seasons hotel (also good place for posh cocktails). Then go a little more 'downtown' to the meat packing district and head for Pastis, a brassierie where the design and fashion crowds hang out (very good for Sunday brunch).
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Oct 31, 07
Question from sinita83
Can only celebrities get a table at The Ivy?
Oct 31, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
It is true that at certain restaurants tables are “held” in reserve in case an A-list face happens to jet in to town that day. At others, VIPs have actually got a different phone number from us civilians. But there are ways to get round this undemocratic system. You could try booking a table during the school half-terms (many A-list yummy mummies whisk their little darlings away to the sun or snow leaving empty tables) or the middle of the long summer holiday - although that does mean that there could be a celeb drought in your chosen restaurant. A better option is to ring up for a table on the day. The best time to phone is around 11am, before the lunchtime rush and after the staff have confirmed that night's no-shows.
For top celebrity action try Locanda Locatelli, Scotts and, of course, The Ivy.
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Oct 31, 07
Question from sinita83
Can you suggest a birthday cake with a difference?
Oct 31, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
The buzzword here should be "cakes" not "cake". Everyone in the know is now serving piles of cute cupcakes (stick a candle in each one) rather than the usual boring birthday cake. Most of the better cake shops and food halls sell cupcakes (try Primrose at Fortnum and Mason, or Lola at Selfridges) but in a recent taste test Gary Rhodes (no less) gave top marks to Tesco's mini loaded chocolate cupcakes from its Finest range. At £1.85 for 9, it could be the chicest and cheapest birthday cake(s) on the market.

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Oct 31, 07
Question from jeronimo
Are children's cookery courses worth the money?
Oct 31, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
The number of courses targeted at kids is increasing each month. It seems every mother wants a little Jamie or Nigella at home. Whether they work on not depends entirely on the teacher. One I can recommend is Stephen Bulmer who runs a cookery school from his fabulous Queen Anne House in a village about 20 minutes drive from Milton Keynes (30 minutes fast train from Euston). Stephen and his wife, both ex-Le Manoir and Raymond Blanc-trained, positively welcome noisy, active children on the £65 a head course. It lasts half a day, and in that time, Stephen will have them making their own spaghetti, salmon fishcakes, chocolate mousse and biscuits and get them eating little bites of cavalo nero, celeriac, and fresh white crabmeat. You will get the best results from 8-11 year olds, although my five-year-old son loved it – and so did his mother! www.brookhall.net, click on cookery courses.
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Oct 31, 07
Question from jeronimo
Who makes the best bread in the world?
Oct 31, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal Guru
It is generally accepted among food critics, foodies and food snobs that Poliane is the best. The good news is you need no longer make a trip to Paris to buy one of the huge, round sourdough loaves – these days Waitrose sells it. It's not cheap (around £10 a loaf), but it's worth it.
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Jan 07, 08
Question from peanutgirl
Where can I buy proper Japanese sake?
Jan 08, 08
Answer from Nicola Jeal
The fantastic www.sakeshop.co.uk has diligently tracked down the finest sake in the world. Having stumbled upon an east coast brewery called Nozawa, they began importing it to the UK. They now sell it online and although based in Sheffield, they will deliver nationwide. The Japan Centre also sell sake from their online shop, although they do have a vast restaurant/shop right by Piccadilly Circus tube (212 Piccadilly, London, www.japancentre.com). Expect to pay up to £25 for their top-of-the range organic sake.
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Dec 01, 07
Question from mrjones
I’ve heard pear cider is making a comeback – are there any brands in particular to look out for?
Dec 02, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal
Pear cider has now become tipple of choice – as drunk by Kate Moss on location (at a festival) or warmed up during the winter months. Kopparberg is the most bar-friendly pear cider, a very sweet, Swedish reinvention of the country classic, sold at The Lock Tavern in Camden (www.lock-tavern.co.uk). After Glastonbury festival, Brother’s pear
cider became Lily Allen’s favourite, (available at Threshers, Asda and Majestic). But it’s possible to get the real stuff – Oliver’s (Oliver’s Cider and
Perry, Ocle Pychard, Herefordshire Tel. 01432 820569) still handpick their pears, grown in the three Counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, and have avoided the use of pesticides despite growing demands. Bravo. www.theolivers.org.uk
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Oct 31, 07
Question from peanutgirl
I want to treat my parents to a really good bottle of wine (money no object) to accompany an anniversary dinner I am organising. What do you suggest?
Oct 31, 07
Answer from Nicola Jeal
I asked the experts, and this is what they said: Gordon Ramsay's favourites are vintage Dom Perignon. "an amazing 1966 Cheval Blanc"; and "for a dessert wine, a Chateay d-Yquem". Nigella Lawson suggested Gavi di Gavi (good with pasta); Brunello di Montalcino (with chicken); and a "dark, deep Pedro Ximinez sherry" (with the cheese course). The amazing Heston Blumenthal chose just one: a 1985 Grand Echezeaux by Henri Jaillet.
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