If Music Be the Food of Love: “Memphis Soul Stew” King Curtis & The Kingpins

I would book these guys to play my wedding in a heartbeat!

Cocktails, Hen Nights, Mother’s Day and more.

We’ve been busy as ever here getting geared up for a number of events over the month of March. We’ll be in the field, in the hills and by the river over this month with our cocktail barmen doing some exclusive parties, our private chefs delivering fine dining in some amazing Country Houses and our events team serving the hungry hordes at the Point to Point races.

Gill and Michael have been enjoying some relaxing time with my Brother and his family in New Zealand. They’ve brought me back some amazing spices like Horopito – a lovely peppery bush plant. They’ve also placated me with some excellent Patagonia Chocolates from Queenstown – Wasabi flavour… you can see I’m a fan of the spicy end of the flavour spectrum.

We’ve also recently been reading a couple of handy cookbooks:

Essence: Recipes from Le Champignon Sauvage,  David Everitt-Matthias

Letters to a Young Chef: The Art of Mentoring – Daniel Boulud 

I’m in the midst of building up a fresh young team of waitresses, commis and admin staff who have joined us as part of our recent expansion. Both these books are fantastic documents that aid in personal development but the first book I ask young chefs to read is:

Kitchen Confidential – Anthony Bourdain 

If only because I found it so inspiring personally and Bourdains writing is engaging and incendiary. Maybe not the worlds best chef but he really know’s how to bing to life the hustle and bustle of a busy kitchen.

So Mother’s Day is upon us and Ochiltree’s Dining is fully booked. We have a great menu on and complimentary Bucks Fizz for Mother’s to enjoy upon arrival. It promises to be a great day!

If music be the food of love: Junior Wells – Chitlin Con Carne

So here’s another food related track. I like the vibe of this one – I listened to it whilst making a nice “three alarm” chilli con carne as well… how apposite! I went deep into the umami cave and developed a pretty tasty batch with chipotle, birdseye and habenero peppers as well as some sweet pointed and bell peppers. Throw in some of my colleague’s husbands smoky paprika and chilli mix and some other wee flavour bombs and I’m half way to heaven.

Wish I had some of The Tempest Brewery’s Cascadia Blonde beer to wash it down!  Another favorite of mine. Whilst on that note a big well done to them and their brewery tap The Cobbles  on yet more CAMRA award success!

Life on the Farm… for Caterers

The great thing about working here on Newton Don Home Farm is that we have so many amazing resources right on our door step! Whether it’s great beef or smoked produce over the hill at Hardiesmill or super rich Jersey Cream from Stichill Jerseys we don’t have to venture far to come across some unique food stuffs from which to take inspiration.

In the past year we’ve held wine tastings at our unit, trained new staff and prepared food to feed thousands of hungry customers. You can check out some of their feed back on our website here.

If Music be the food of Love: Soul Kitchen – The Doors

“Soul Kitchen” by The Doors from their self titled debut album The Doors is a tribute to the soul food restaurant Olivia’s in Venice Beach, LA, where Jim Morrison often ate as it reminded him of his home.

We love this ditty in the office, it’s lunch time now so we’re off to sample some of our home cured gravadlax.

Tasty!

If music be the food of Love: Champion Jack Dupree, Cabbage Greens

Champion Jack Dupree, an inspiring figure who sets up this friday for us in just the right tone.

If Music Be the Food of Love: What’s Cookin? by LRG

Conventional wisdom tells us not to talk with our mouth full, but no one ever said anything about pieces of food rapping along to some of the best culinary lines in hip-hop history. The latest short from production duo BankShot with music by DJ Nick Castle finds a stop-motion film that shows everything from pancakes and bacon to a green pepper with a platinum grill lip-synching along to classic lines from Biggie Smalls, Guru, Raekwon, Q-Tip, Action Bronson, Method Man and a whole lot more notable emcees. Dinner is served.