An Edible Voyage

June 2021 One of the pubs at the top of my list for visiting post lockdown was The White Horse in King's Sutton.  I first went the day I went to look around the house I ended up buying in a nearby village, and the horsebox cafe they had going over lockdown reminded me what a great place it is.   Set on the green of a quintessential village, just over the Oxfordshire border in West Northamptonshire, it draws you in with its inviting village pub looks.  And once inside, it gets better and better.  A traditional bar, cosy wood panelling and squishy arm chairs in front of log fires mean you'll never want to leave.  The food is exceptional.  Kicking off with home baked loaves, warm from the oven and served with home made butter, the small but perfectly formed menu showcases the best of the seasons.  With an emphasis on reducing food miles and supporting local producers, dishes are as inventive as they are flavoursome.  Pies seem to be a particular...

April 2021 Before I set off for Scotland, a friend told me that under no circumstance could I leave until I'd tried a Macaroni.  Being a big fan of macaroni cheese, I happily accepted this challenge.  My main issue was finding one.  Although they are widespread, they're not the kind of item to frequent the shelves of the kind of sourdough bakeries and coffee micro roasteries that I gravitate towards.  What I needed was one of those traditional, family run since 1964 bakeries full of sandwich loaves and iced buns.  Fortunately there are plenty dotted around the streets of Aberdeen, including Thain's which is rumoured to be open 24/7 for all those mid-night pie cravings. It was exactly as expected - gooey, stodgy macaroni cheese in a pastry case which seemed to serve no purpose other than to make it holdable.  I decided I couldn't leave without sampling another Aberdeen essential - the buttery, or rowie.  Described as a savoury roll, it lives up to it's ...

November 2020 What could be more comforting than a handmade pie on a cold, drizzly, blustery day on the coast of the Highlands?  Fortunately, Lochinver Larder specialises in just that.  Perched on the edge of the loch with commanding views, it's famous for its delicious pies, homemade recipes and warm hospitality.  There's a huge choice of pie fillings, ensuring both carnivores and vegetarians get a pie banging with flavour.  From Highland venison cooked in a red wine gravy and topped with cranberry, to butternut squash and goats cheese, there are even sweet fruit pies - I won't judge if you opt for a 2 course pie dinner. Lochinver Larder are currently offering their pies by post for delivery across mainland UK, and they freeze well for up to 3 months, so why not stock up your freezer ready for your next pie craving?