Northern Exposure

Well, I can tell that I am not going to be a daily blogger! 10 days later I am back at the 'post' to update you on my Northern expedition...

Despite the occasional blizzards we made it to 'Cherry Burton' with one pit stop at an unusually 'attractive' (kind of) service station- Donington Park. Nothing really of much note other than I quizzed the baristas about the revolutionary new 'flat white' that Costa Coffee has spent £1 million developing. It was unclear exactly what the difference was / is between it and the myriad of other milky coffees gracing our world, but I think the bottom line is that it is stronger!

Now, my aunt who I was visiting is a key member of my Industrial Espionage ('R&D') team and regularly updates me on products she thinks are good or otherwise. So, Friday saw us beating a hasty path to 'Rolando's' in Beverley (really lovely old town with 12th Century minster amongst other interesting buildings) to sample their 'Chewy Almond Biscuit'. Blow me, it was pretty damn good. I did enquire about the ingredients and it's basically an Amaretto but with the whole egg used, not just the egg whites. I've done one experiment at home and think that I might just be onto the perfect next product...

Saturday saw me at Salvo's Salumeria (they also have a more formal restaurant two doors down). What a spot! Really lovely little deli / enoteca spilling over with yummy products and ambience, with about 10 tables of very happy punters! Sadly they no longer make their Amaretti (potential customer tasted these at Scalini's in London and would like someone (me??) to recreate them), but I bought a pack of not very exciting Italian Amaretti to justify my snooping around.

I have now got a grand total of 13 customers - ok, ok, ok it's not enormous but the point is that the number is growing. So, I spent a lot of the week baking to keep the world in biscotti! The really big news, however, is that I called Abel and Cole up last week and sent the Head of New Product Development (and how we love this fine man!) some samples on Tuesday, he called me Wednesday afternoon to say that they would like to stock 'nisi's biscotti' starting in November (bloody ages away but don't let that worry you oh faithful followers!)...Just nice to get a business like that interested.

Must now go and do a few little jobs before heading out to Mum's for Sunday lunch - the theme being 'Out of Africa'. The mind boggles!!!

PS Any top tips about good delis near you that might be potential customers for me would be most welcome...

Yorkshire bound

Despite forecasts of snow, sleet et al, Hector and I are off to Yorkshire tomorrow to visit friends and relatives. I am safe in the knowledge that I have samples of biscotti as well as the results of this week's R&D - a really good Amaretti and a not quite so good Brutti ma Buoni (tastes bloody delicious, but looks like a pancake). If we are snowed in on the M-whatever, we shall eat biscuits.

I am hoping to visit Salvo's Salumeria in Headingley (near Leeds) who are allegedly purveyors of fine Amaretti. Our other culinary hot-spot to visit is Weeton's in Harrogate. This incredible emporium blew me away when I first visited it, as it was everything I would want my imaginary deli to be. I am hoping to woo them with my biscotti - I'll keep you posted! Another new customer was posted their order today - De-Liz in Tisbury near Salisbury. The following is growing!

Supper tonight was simple as ever: Mackerel fillets warmed on the pan until they start to release their wonderful oil with a 'house' salad (round lettuce, watercress, spring onions, avocado and pumpkin seeds - minus the pumpkin seeds as we were out of stock). Just the trick with a glass of French white wine that was on offer at Tesco's!

Asta la vista amigos!