Inspiring life at the epicurean edge …
Freelance educator, writer and photo blogger in food, wine, sake and spirits—more details in my Bio. Also enjoy fly fishing and travel in pursuit of my professional and leisure interests.
On this website, you can peruse various Articles concerning all my passions, find out about the educational Courses and Masterclasses I run, and learn more about my previous and upcoming Trips. I hope you will also find my Instagram photo blogs interesting and inspiring—see my most recent posts below.
Another day another bunch of fab fab Asian Spirits at IWSC winning lots of awards. Four wonderful panels judging their utmost best. Thank you team @tengusake @bry.bry_ @ivan__dixon and @dawndaviesmw for leading your panels. A large number of entries in these up and coming categories with lots of interest. Really enjoyed tasting the golds, outstanding golds and finally choosing the trophy winners. Honoured to be the Spirits Judging Committee Member for this category. Thank you ISWC for the opportunity. It was a fantastic day and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. #shochu #baijiu #soju #asianspirits #judging #iwsc #iwscjudging #spiritcomitteemember #thelarderat36 #awards @dawndaviesmw @ivan__dixon @bry.bry_ @tengusake @qiqithedancer @andrea.dionori @natsukipim @58gin @antonygmoss @theiwsc
Working very hard today… terribly indulgent but it went down very well at break to clean and clear the palate. Thank you for the treat @joeldram our Spirit Judging Committee Member. Glad you agreed we were the hardest working team. It was such fun judging with experts. Thank you #iwsc #judging #spirits #brandy #thelarderat36 #chinaexchange #iwscjudging #hardwork @colinhampdenwhite @summerfruitcup @dawndaviesmw #krispykremedoughnuts @joeldram @iwsc @dimpsvinogirl @chazle76 @eliggins65
Lovely balmy evening checking out the new Shoreditch Bao and Noodle shop with none of than @tengusake. Food was great though crispy Tripe isn’t quite me - disguised or not. Caspar would have shared it happily! The rare poached Rump in 400 day fermented White Soya sauce broth Noodles was delicious with the bonus yolk dip. Crispy Iberico pork pattie Bao with black garlic and shredded cabbage was interesting. Pickles were great as with the pork chop and crispy fried egg. Smoked Eel and cucumber in a light Chili oil dressing was delicate. The Cull yow dumplings I thought were a little clumsy, swimming in aromatic Szechuan Chili oil Loved the Dou Fah tea - almond “tofu” in a lovely scented tie kuan yin iced tea. And YES the House Sake was delicious. Order lots cos it matches well with all the dishes. Thank you Ollie for a fab evening of laughter and catching up. #shoreditch #bao #noodles #beef #iberico #tripe #egg #eel #pickles #sake #tengusake #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw
#chinesefood #asianfood #noodleworship @tengusake @nattynibbles @ereladana @barnyardbollinger
The Wasabi Company’s Angel. David, a MASSIVE THANK YOU for giving us your precious time on a Sunday morning. Really appreciated it. You are amazing. And a MEGA THANK YOU to the very generous and kind Jon from ALL OF US for the very special boxes of goodies. It’s always so exciting visiting your farm. Always great seeing the subtle changes at the farm each time. Keep up the great work. Your Wasabi is just so addictively special. Return match in Barcelona or London with Sake and own caught River Test Smoked Trout! 😘Arigato gozaimashita. #wasabiclassics wasabi #farm #special #wasabiplant # #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #wasabigrowersuk #homecook #deliciousness #gfw @wasabigrowersuk @nattynibbles @ereladana @barnyardbollinger @gohan.london
You know what, life is GOOD. A million Heartfelt THANK YOUS to The Wasabi Co who have treated me like a Empress. You guys are phenomenal. Freshly grated wasabi in a salad of more Wasabi Co wasabi mayonnaise mingled in Jersey Royals, Green English Asparagus (big fat juicy ones) and spring onion salad. A perfectly broiled Wagyu burger topped with melting huge hole Emmenthal cheese and more freshly grated wasabi. All washed down with a marvellous 50% polished Hiroki Junmai Daiginjo from Fukushima.. Big and Bold 100% Yamadanishiki. Wasabi Co are great and heck, Life is great. The sun is up and I’m not complaining! #wasabi #wasabigrowersuk #thewasabicompany #wagyu #burger #jerseyroyals #asparagus #sake #junmaidaiginjo #fukushima #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw @nattynibbles @ereladana @al89188
How to spend a HOT sunny Sunday away from the stress of London Life. Old friends, fantastic food and lots of drink. Laughter, fun and fish. A massive THANK YOU to all for making it such a wonderful day. Thank you to the Wasabi company for the amazing surprise gifts and to Rob for putting monster fish into the lake! Food was bombastically DELICIOUS as always with “Team Yoshitake”. 😳😳certainly one of my best days so far in 2021!!! Return match in the Autumn!! #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw #flyfishing #trout #leckfordestate #sake #sushi #shishito #watermelon #wasabi #karaage @gohan.london @rie_yoshitake @ehochef_hama @ezojapanese @superskrup @robgolds.rg @wasabigrowersuk
So good we had to go again. Wasn’t planning to - it was on a whim!! Prawn and Chive dumpling only because they had run out of Siew Long Bao. But they were so delicate and delicious. Next up we tried their deep fried prawn wontons with the quintessential salad cream. It was so fresh, straight out of the oil the Nerdy Geek burnt his mouth! Crispy noodles with shredded pork and mushroom. A twist from the usual Kai See chow meen. Pretty good too. A side dish of sweet and sour pork rib which was excellent. Love the pickled garlic mingled in with the pineapple, pepper and onion piquant sauce. We weren’t so keen on the prêt/M&S style duck, hoisin and cucumber samosas. Ended the meal with salt, pepper and chilli deep fried chicken wings. They were finger licking good. #dimsum #dumplings #prawns #sweetandsourpork
#thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw
#eseaeats #chinesefood #asianfood
#islington #noodleworship @nattynibbles @dimsumandduck
Lovely evening teaching wine professionals about sake. Eager learners. Thank you @clementinecommunications for the opportunity! Kanpai!!! #sake #drinks #fun #thelarderat36 #thelarderat36drinks @gkpsake @jss.sakegraphy #thelarderat36 #teaching #masterclass #associationofwineeducators #sakelovers #sakeeducator
Supper tonight with @barnyardbollinger - home cooked food. Own caught brown trout oven roasted with a doubanjiang sauce. Crispy skin but succulent moist flakes. With plain steamed jasmine rice and some steamed green beans. Washed diwn with a fab omachi junmai ginjo sake. See @thelarderat36drinks for details. #browntrout #doubanjiang #peppers #sake #junmaiginjo #omachi #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw
#eseaeats #chinesefood #asianfood @nattynibbles @barnyardbollinger
Back to home cooking. A quick version of Laksa with chicken, pork, egg, asparagus and the quintessential herbs - homegrown Coriander and Vietnamese basil (thank you to @dolswongeats - yes it’s from last year and it’s still growing and aromatising dishes beautifully). Coconut cream and grandma’s curry paste in the chicken and pork stock. Of course one lucky friend got a take out portion on Casparoo (aka Caspar) delivery! 😘😘 made a rhubarb trifle too! Typically British desserts are amazingly delicious but tends to be served as “dollops of” 😳😳😳 so no pix!!!! #laksa #rhubarb #rhubarbtrifle #vietnameseherbs #coriander #chicken #egg #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw
#eseaeats #chinesefood #asianfood
#homecooking #noodleworship @nattynibbles @ereladana @helencompson @dolswongeats
His Lordship requested Linguine alle Vongole …. Obliged with a twist. Clams pan fried with a few chorizo bits, al dente Linguine and some gently steamed Razor Clams with homemade wild garlic, walnut and pecorino pesto. A glass of Japanese white Koshu Aruga Branca from Katsunuma. Clams from Hani of Pure Fisheries. #wine #japanesewhitewine #arugabranca #katsunuma #linguine #linguineallevongole #clams #razorclams #chorizo #pesto #wildgarlic #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw
@nattynibbles @ereladana @barnyardbollinger @guan_chua @dolswongeats @pure_fisheries
Oops forgot to post our simple supper with Ally and Erela on Friday night. Son must have enjoyed dinner. He replenished his plate three times. Hungry boy! Siew Yoke (Crispy Roast Pork) and Aubergine and tofu braised with doubanjiang. Washed down with sake. #sake #siewyoke #tofu #doubanjiang #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw
#eseaeats #chinesefood #asianfood @nattynibbles @al89188 @ereladana
It’s exactly 24 Hours since Le Gavroche and the tastebuds are still in work mode. Total flip side of the coin. It shows the diversity us Londoners are so lucky to have. One of the best wraps north of the River, in my humble opinion. Cheap, fresh and perfectly grilled to crispy “charredness” with their homemade tomato chilli and yoghurt sauces. So huge I’m still struggling with just half this. Nerdy Geek has wolfed his half and eyeing my bit which he can have!!! 🤣🤣🤣#turkishfood #donnerkebab #chicken #lamb #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw @nattynibbles
36 hours so far - of crazy frenzy gastronomique experiences. As they say “from the frying pan into the fire” in the nicest possible way… 🤣🤣 next up was the 5 minute hop skip and a jump to try the @guan_chua recommendation. It was fabulous. Proper Cantonese speaking staff preparing house made dimsum. The Siew Long Bao were exquisite with the soupy stock perfectly flavoured and “slurpable” in one careful nip of the pastry. Siew Mai - plump and delicious. Kon Chow Gau Hor perfect as with all the other dishes. A must for the diehard old style dimsum lovers. My new “go-to”!!! #dimsum #siewmai #siewlongbao #squid #cheongfun #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw #dimsumandduck
#eseaeats #chinesefood #asianfood @nattynibbles @ereladana @barnyardbollinger @dolswongeats @guan_chua @dimsumandduck
One of London’s best Restaurants where the food, the service and the experience is always perfect. So lucky to get a booking before 15 June when lunch service will cease for a while due to staff shortage. Asparagus, barley risotto, cod, beef cheek and the amazing cheeses. Washed down with COTES DU ROUSSILLON “LE GAVROCHE” 2017
Michel Roux Jr & Michel Chapoutier and BARBERA D’ASTI “LA VILLA” 2017. A little surprise from Remi to start too. See the Larderat36 drinks. Merci Remi. #thelarderat36 #legavroche #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #asparagus #cod #beefcheek #cheeses #wine #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw @nattynibbles @ereladana @al89188 @barnyardbollinger
A very special lunch with very special people. Adventure to East London for dumplings at @myneighboursthedumplings with @nikkicompsoncooks and @helencompson. Super amazing food, super amazing service and super amazing sakes from @tengusake. Brilliant line up of sakes, awamori and gin!!! Thank you!!! #myneighbourthedumplings #siewmai #harkaw #hamsuikok #bokchoy #dumplings #sake #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw
#eseaeats #chinesefood #asianfood
#travel @nattynibbles @helencompson @nikkicompsoncooks @guan_chua
Another two persons one pot meal. Slow braised pork rib with Sichuan Doubanjiang - a hot and savoury Chinese bean paste made from fermented broad beans, chilli peppers, soybeans, salt and flour. Doubanjiang is characteristically used in Sichuan cuisine, and has been called "the soul of Sichuan cuisine." The added tofu and fresh edamame gives texture and fibre! Served with steamed Jasmine rice. #doubanjiang #sichuanfood #tofu #edamame #jasminerice #chilli #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw
#eseaeats #chinesefood #asianfood @nattynibbles @barnyardbollinger @dolswongeats @guan_chua
See Yow Chee Yoke in Cantonese, Tau You Bak in Hokkien. Soya Sauce Braised Pork Belly with Chestnut and the obligatory boiled Egg. Served with Jasmine Rice and a dollop of Penang Sambal Belacan. Tonight Dengaku grilled aubergine with @gohan.London’s special miso. So so delicious. #tauyoubak #bellypork #soyasauce #egg#dengaku #rice #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw
#eseaeats #chinesefood #asianfood @nattynibbles @al89188 @clemdecrecy
Bank holiday Pissaladière with friend. Washed down with an interesting Chenin blanc from Loire. Homemade. Insanely delicious. Haven’t made this in years. Alternative to the heavier cheesy pizza, this Ligurian speciality made its was into France through Nice and today is seen on many a canapé tray. Use good quality anchovies in oil. Makes a lot of difference. #pissaladiere #anchovies #onions #tomatoes #cheninblanc #loire #coteauxduvendômois #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw @barnyardbollinger @nattynibbles
Seechew gnauyoke - Black bean chilli steak for supper. One dish wonder.. flash fried ribeye with salted fermented black bean, sweet peppers, pedrons and the obligatory one birds eye chilli in the “Russian Roulette” tease. Totally delicious with plain steamed jasmine rice and tonight, a small glass of imo shochu to wash the “fat” down. #steak #blackbean #pepoers #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw
#eseaeats #chinesefood #asianfood
@nattynibbles
First evening out after over a crazy year of Covid. Good food, good music. “The Magic of Opera” was sensational. Chef Issa’s supper of crab, Osso Bucco with Milanese saffron risotto or Arancini was delicious. Washed down with A selection of GS wines and sake. #sake #opera #ossobuco #arancini #crab #cello #puccini #wine #thelarderat36 #foodphotography #thegfw2021 #igfood #yummy #tasty #foodblog #foodporn #instafood #thefoodwriter #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodporn #foodie #foodgasm #homecook #deliciousness #gfw @barnyardbollinger @nattypattieee @orlydog