This is a really delicious beetroot salad that comes from Ottolenghi’s book Simple. In his recipe you roast raw beetroot in the oven whereas I bought ready cooked beetroot from the supermarket here in France. Just be sure it doesn’t have added vinegar. I served it as a accompaniment to some marinated raw salmon but it would be equally good served with smoked salmon or smoked mackerel.
I’ve sent the recipe separately to you by email so you can print it off.
Last year I was invited to pick Chardonnay grapes with a lovely bunch of ladies. It was the initiative of Louisa Plou, wife of winemaker Fred Plou.
Here’s a seasonal spicy salad that is great on its own as a light lunch or perfect served alongside crispy pork belly or griddled salmon.
The Sein de Nounou appeals to the rather purile British sense of humour. It’s a rather delightful local goats’ cheese from the Cher.
If you remember 2011 was a hot, sunny vintage that saw rich ripe reds and luscious whites. We opened Mathieu Vallée’s Saumur Blanc last night.
For a really easy dinner try this really simple marinade. It works well on chicken thighs or breasts and is healthy and quick to prepare.
Downy mildew is indigenous to north-eastern North America where it spread from wild vines into cultivated vineyards. It probably came over to Europe during the phylloxera crises when native American rootstock were being tested for their resistance to the disease that wiped out around two thirds of Europe’s vineyards.
