The Saltaire Festival

So me Old Man is planning a weeks holiday and the old git has been phoning round the kennels to see who's crazy enough to take me in......(and me that butter wouldn't melt in me little mouth).....he's off to The Saltaire Festival in September where....his words...there's an eclectic mix of art, entertainment and music with some great food on offer.

OK so I thought I'd better take a look see. 'cause you know me I like to make me own mind up.....so here's a taster of what's on offer.

With a varied list of events 2012 is the 10th Saltaire Festival, set to be the best yet!

They love celebrating the beautiful village of Saltaire and its UNESCO World Heritage status. Over the 10 days, the village buzzes with life, energy and vibrancy and they want you to be part of it!

They are already planning lots of exciting events and happenings but there’s plenty of room for more.  they’d like to thank all their sponsors and supporters plus their existing band of volunteers without whom none of it would be possible.  They will be launching the full 2012 programme in July but in the meantime catch their updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Now music wise which is my vibe there's The Broken Hearts Club Band who I will tell you now will play a stormer of a set.

Word from 'The Leeds Music Scene' is.....  

The Broken Hearts Club Band are an amazing mixture of magic, a smidge of skiffle, cheek and some funky driving tunes that will have you tapping your feet, dancing like a loon, and you are guaranteed to have a good time

Me 'n' Mr Snuggles

If you're feeling hungry on your travels why not drop in to the Vicars Cafe Bistro right in the heart of Saltaire where they provide high quality food prepared from locally sourced and fair trade ingredients.  

Alongside their busy café we run an evening Bistro on Fridays and Saturdays. A selection of seasoned dishes (including meat, fish, and vegetarian options) are available, with a menu which changes on a monthly basis. From a table for one to a group of 24, we can cater to your needs- if you’re planning a celebratory meal out, why not choose Vicars?

Now they're having an event that's very close to the heart of my old mate Mr Snuggles ....it's The Teddy Bears Picnic.....

If you go down to the Glen today.....

Join them for a family Teddy Bears' Picnic on Shipley Glen! Bracken Hall Countryside Centre will be providing 'teddy bear' activities and there will be prizes for the best dressed teddies.

Your special tram ticket for the Shipley Glen Tram Ride with your teddy will entitle you to a free ice lolly from the Old Glen House Tea Rooms! 

Can you count the teddies in the trees on the tram ride? Prizes for those who count them all! So come along, hope for the sun and dress up those teddies! Free if walking up to the Glen......bargain!

And if you're looking for a picnic for your little Teddy Bears why not get in touch with 
Piggy's Picnics.  At Piggy’s Picnics they love their food, and picnicking with some tasty treats and a few good pals is their favourite thing to do. Not everyone is as dedicated to the art of picnic making as they are, time inspiration and inclination are often limited. They want to bring back this good old British tradition by doing it for you.

Damion Elson

@SweetyGuyBfd 

Door to door SWEETY GUY - traditional sweets and retro style sweets, post on my Facebook Wall your 

requests and I will deliver to you :)

Bradford, West Yorkshire

One of Saltaire's premier venues for live music is The Caroline Social Club home of The Live Room  Bradford's newest venue for live music in Saltaire, the historic world heritage site. The Live Room presents the very best live music: it's our booking policy to feature a challenging and stimulating mix of artists, some with worldwide reps, some cult heroes, others up-and-coming, but all outstanding in their field.

Their aim is to make it the best Bradford live music venue. They believe that informal, intimate, friendly venues make the ideal environment in which to enjoy the artists  they present. Having spent nearly ten years as live music promoters, they are confident that The Live Room is a great addition to live music in Bradford. Join Caroline Social Club now for an annual membership of just £7 and you will get reductions on all Live Room gigs and your drinks!

                                                                                        
                                  

If real ale's your tipple then Ralph has just the place for you and he hopes to be visiting them in order to get his photo on the coveted Dogs in Pubs website!  It's The Shipley Pride on Friars Street in Shipley.

Real ale,good music,great people oh and did i mention real ale? That's what The Shipley Pride is all about! 

Now I can't put everything on here that's going on but check this out.....the legend that is Country music’s “King of Pain” Hank Wangford brings his trademark cocktail of misery, melody and raw emotion to the Saltaire Festival for the first time! 

Hank Wangford has been performing his special kind of 
Country music for nearly thirty years, inspiring the likes of Billy Bragg, and has helped make the genre more popular with his two groundbreaking television series, "Big Big Country" and "The A to Z of C&W".

Hank is appearing with his band The Lost Cowboys, which includes the mighty Martin Belmont (ex-Graham Parker), pedal steel guitar guru BJ Cole (played with everyone from Brian Eno to Richard Ashcroft) and drummer Roy Dodds (ex-Fairground Attraction).

"If you want originality, something that still has the bite and twang that drained out of so much Country, the sharp cutting wit and the rawness of hard Country, then there is only one man to see. His name is Hank Wangford."    New York Times

Key Sponsor of the event is Aagrah Restaurants and Event Catering who's Managing Director made the following statement.....

On behalf of Aagrah I  would like to say how delighted we are to be supporting the  10^th Saltaire Festival.

Saltaire has World Heritage status and is also Aagrah’s  proud birth place. Our head office is based there and its where Aagrah’s first restaurant was opened 35 years ago.

Aagrah has strong bonds with the  community and continues to  supports local  events. It’s great to see  diverse communities and visitors from a far coming together and enjoying a profusion of activities that take place during the festival climaxing in a spectacular weekend finish.

This year there is an addition to the  Saltaire Festival in the form of an Aagrah Food & Drink Festival,  incorporated in the finale weekend of September 15^th and 16th of the Saltaire Festival in Roberts Park, Shipley.   

Aagrah Festival will have stalls, Aagrah  Pop Up

Restaurant as well as an Aagrah Chef’s Theatre which will have Masterclass demonstrations throughout the day of Asian  and international cuisine from some of the best chefs in the industry as well as the skill and craft of Fruit and Vegetable carvings. All the masterclasses are FREE to attend, be sure to get there early to get your  seat.

We look forward to welcoming you with your family and friends.

Mohammed Aslam MBE

Managing Director

Aagrah Group of Restaurants

Other sponsors of the event are.....




Click on the Sponsor's links for further information.

So I've put a full list of the events on offer for your perusal as they are legion and far too many for my little paws to outline individally so you'll have to do the work and check them all out yourselves!

Name	Date	Venue	Type
Celebrity photo exhibition	Thu 06 Sep 12:00 PM	Waterside Restaurant & Bar, Wharf Street, Shipley	Exhibition
Celebrity photo exhibition	Thu 06 Sep 6:00 PM	Waterside Restaurant & Bar, Wharf Street, Shipley	Exhibition
Revenant Sounds and Hidden Histories	Thu 06 Sep 7:00 PM	Caroline Social Club	Music
Wool Re-Fashioned	Fri 07 Sep 10:00 AM	Gallery 2, Salts Mill	Exhibition
Celebrity photo exhibition	Fri 07 Sep 12:00 PM	Waterside Restaurant & Bar, Wharf Street, Shipley	Exhibition
Celebrity photo exhibition	Fri 07 Sep 6:00 PM	Waterside Restaurant & Bar, Wharf Street, Shipley	Exhibition
Saltaire Festival Party – “Now We Are Ten”	Fri 07 Sep 8:00 PM	Caroline Social Club	Community and Heritage
Quick Sculpture for Children	Sat 08 Sep 1:00 AM	Salt Building	Children’s
Wool Re-Fashioned	Sat 08 Sep 10:00 AM	Gallery 2, Salts Mill	Exhibition
Aire Valley Arts at the Festival	Sat 08 Sep 10:00 AM	Exhibition Building	Exhibition
Aire Valley Waterways	Sat 08 Sep 10:00 AM	Exhibition Building	Exhibition
Makers’ Fair Festival Special	Sat 08 Sep 10:00 AM	Hall, Evans Room & Fluke Room, Victoria Hall	Arts and Crafts
Shipley Model Railway Society Annual Model Railway Exhibition	Sat 08 Sep 10:00 AM	Baildon Recreation Centre	Exhibition
Pottery Painting	Sat 08 Sep 10:00 AM	Salt Pots Ceramic Studio, The Butterfly Rooms	Arts and Crafts
Art Exhibition - Saltaire Art Group	Sat 08 Sep 11:00 AM	Saltaire Methodist Church	Exhibition
Writing a Novel and Getting it Published	Sat 08 Sep 11:00 AM	PACE Canteen	Community and Heritage
Rainbow Morris and Friends	Sat 08 Sep 11:00 AM	Saltaire Village	Dance/Film/Theatre
Saltaire Open Gardens	Sat 08 Sep 12:00 PM	Various locations	Community and Heritage
Anne Fine	Sat 08 Sep 2:00 PM	PACE Canteen	Children’s
Quick Sculpture for Children	Sat 08 Sep 2:30 PM	Salt Building	Children’s
Celebrity photo exhibition	Sat 08 Sep 6:00 PM	Waterside Restaurant & Bar, Wharf Street, Shipley	Exhibition
Life! Death! Prizes!	Sat 08 Sep 6:30 PM	Saltaire Bookshop	Spoken Word/Comedy
Tandoori and Tall Tales	Sat 08 Sep 7:30 PM	Half Moon Café	Markets, Fairs and Food
Wool Re-Fashioned	Sun 09 Sep 10:00 AM	Gallery 2, Salts Mill	Exhibition
Aire Valley Arts at the Festival	Sun 09 Sep 10:00 AM	Exhibition Building	Exhibition
Aire Valley Waterways	Sun 09 Sep 10:00 AM	Exhibition Building	Exhibition
Shipley Model Railway Society Annual Model Railway Exhibition	Sun 09 Sep 10:00 AM	Baildon Recreation Centre	Exhibition
Yorkshire Food Fair	Sun 09 Sep 11:00 AM	Evans Room & Fluke Room, Victoria Hall	Markets, Fairs and Food
Art Exhibition - Saltaire Art Group	Sun 09 Sep 12:00 PM	Saltaire Methodist Church	Exhibition
Saltaire Open Gardens	Sun 09 Sep 12:00 PM	Various locations	Community and Heritage
Games in the Park	Sun 09 Sep 12:00 PM	Roberts Park	Children’s
Extreme planet – to the ends of the Earth...	Sun 09 Sep 12:00 PM	Salt Building	Spoken Word/Comedy
Salts Mill Workers' Heritage	Sun 09 Sep 1:00 PM	PACE Canteen	Community and Heritage
Teddy Bears' Picnic	Sun 09 Sep 1:00 PM	Shipley Glen Tramway, Bracken Hall Countryside Centre	Children’s
Bandstand Goes to the Festival	Sun 09 Sep 1:00 PM	Roberts Park Bandstand	Music
Zumba	Sun 09 Sep 2:00 PM	Victoria Hall gardens	Dance/Film/Theatre
Dog Show	Sun 09 Sep 2:00 PM	Roberts Park	Community and Heritage
Cinema Organ Concert	Sun 09 Sep 2:30 PM	Victoria Hall	Music
Caroline’s Jazz	Sun 09 Sep 6:00 PM	Caroline Social Club	Music
Live Music @ Don't tell Titus	Sun 09 Sep 7:00 PM	Don't tell Titus	Music
The Chair	Sun 09 Sep 7:45 PM	Victoria Hall	Music
Wool Re-Fashioned	Mon 10 Sep 10:00 AM	Gallery 2, Salts Mill	Exhibition
Live Music @ Don't tell Titus	Mon 10 Sep 7:00 PM	Don't tell Titus	Music
Shop History Trail and Talk	Mon 10 Sep 7:00 PM	Salt Building	Spoken Word/Comedy
Wool Re-Fashioned	Tue 11 Sep 10:00 AM	Gallery 2, Salts Mill	Exhibition
Celebrity photo exhibition	Tue 11 Sep 12:00 PM	Waterside Restaurant & Bar, Wharf Street, Shipley	Exhibition
Curry Fusion Night @ Don't tell Titus	Tue 11 Sep 6:00 PM	Don't tell Titus	Markets, Fairs and Food
Celebrity photo exhibition	Tue 11 Sep 6:00 PM	Waterside Restaurant & Bar, Wharf Street, Shipley	Exhibition
The Man who Invented the Daleks	Tue 11 Sep 7:30 PM	Salt Building	Spoken Word/Comedy
Chico and Rita	Tue 11 Sep 7:30 PM	Dale Room, Victoria Hall	Dance/Film/Theatre
Festival Special Diners’ Evening	Tue 11 Sep 7:30 PM	Half Moon Café	Markets, Fairs and Food
Curry Fusion Night @ Don't tell Titus	Tue 11 Sep 8:00 PM	Don't tell Titus	Markets, Fairs and Food
Wool Re-Fashioned	Wed 12 Sep 10:00 AM	Gallery 2, Salts Mill	Exhibition
Celebrity photo exhibition	Wed 12 Sep 12:00 PM	Waterside Restaurant & Bar, Wharf Street, Shipley	Exhibition
Wine & Food Tasting @ Don't tell Titus	Wed 12 Sep 6:00 PM	Don't tell Titus	Markets, Fairs and Food
Celebrity photo exhibition	Wed 12 Sep 6:00 PM	Waterside Restaurant & Bar, Wharf Street, Shipley	Exhibition
Pappy’s	Wed 12 Sep 7:30 PM	Caroline Social Club	Spoken Word/Comedy
Wine & Food Tasting @ Don't tell Titus	Wed 12 Sep 8:00 PM	Don't tell Titus	Markets, Fairs and Food
Circle Dance taster	Wed 12 Sep 8:00 PM	Saltaire Methodist Church	Dance/Film/Theatre
Wool Re-Fashioned	Thu 13 Sep 10:00 AM	Gallery 2, Salts Mill	Exhibition
Celebrity photo exhibition	Thu 13 Sep 12:00 PM	Waterside Restaurant & Bar, Wharf Street, Shipley	Exhibition
The White Rose Parade	Thu 13 Sep 12:45 PM	Roberts Park	Children’s
Celebrity photo exhibition	Thu 13 Sep 6:00 PM	Waterside Restaurant & Bar, Wharf Street, Shipley	Exhibition
Appalachian Dancing	Thu 13 Sep 6:30 PM	Victoria Hall gardens	Dance/Film/Theatre
An Evening with Stuart Maconie	Thu 13 Sep 7:30 PM	Victoria Hall	Spoken Word/Comedy
Continental Market	Fri 14 Sep 9:00 AM	Exhibition Road	Markets, Fairs and Food
Wool Re-Fashioned	Fri 14 Sep 10:00 AM	Gallery 2, Salts Mill	Exhibition
Celebrity photo exhibition	Fri 14 Sep 12:00 PM	Waterside Restaurant & Bar, Wharf Street, Shipley	Exhibition
Beer Festival	Fri 14 Sep 4:00 PM	Saltaire Brewery	Markets, Fairs and Food
Celebrity photo exhibition	Fri 14 Sep 6:00 PM	Waterside Restaurant & Bar, Wharf Street, Shipley	Exhibition
Bat Walk	Fri 14 Sep 7:00 PM	Canal bridge at the bottom of Victoria Road	Community and Heritage
Bossa Revista Jazz Evening	Fri 14 Sep 8:00 PM	Caroline Social Club	Music
Continental Market	Sat 15 Sep 9:00 AM	Exhibition Road	Markets, Fairs and Food
Saltaire Vintage Home & Fashion Fair	Sat 15 Sep 9:30 AM	Hall & Evans Room, Victoria Hall	Markets, Fairs and Food
Wool Re-Fashioned	Sat 15 Sep 10:00 AM	Gallery 2, Salts Mill	Exhibition
Aire Valley Waterways	Sat 15 Sep 10:00 AM	Exhibition Building	Exhibition
Pottery Painting	Sat 15 Sep 10:00 AM	Salt Pots Ceramic Studio, The Butterfly Rooms	Arts and Crafts
A Symposium on the First ‘Lords of Saltaire’	Sat 15 Sep 10:00 AM	Salt Building	Community and Heritage
Charity Stalls	Sat 15 Sep 10:00 AM	Saltaire United Reformed Church grounds	Markets, Fairs and Food
Saltaire Sing!	Sat 15 Sep 10:30 AM	Saltaire United Reformed Church	Music
Art Exhibition - Saltaire Art Group	Sat 15 Sep 11:00 AM	Saltaire Methodist Church	Exhibition
Aagrah Food & Drink Festival	Sat 15 Sep 11:30 AM	Roberts Park	Markets, Fairs and Food
Beer Festival	Sat 15 Sep 12:00 PM	Saltaire Brewery	Markets, Fairs and Food
Bradford City of Film	Sat 15 Sep 12:00 PM	PACE Canteen	Dance/Film/Theatre
Eco Centre	Sat 15 Sep 12:00 PM	Rance Booth & Smith Architects	Community and Heritage
Health and Well Being	Sat 15 Sep 12:00 PM	PACE Canteen	Community and Heritage
12 Bars From Mars	Sat 15 Sep 12:00 PM	Piazza Stage	Music
Do Miss America	Sat 15 Sep 1:15 PM	Piazza	Music
A Symposium on the First ‘Lords of Saltaire’	Sat 15 Sep 1:30 PM	Salt Building	Community and Heritage
Klonk	Sat 15 Sep 2:30 PM	Piazza Stage	Music
The Jon Palmer Acoustic Band	Sat 15 Sep 3:45 PM	Piazza Stage	Music
Crosscut Saw	Sat 15 Sep 5:00 PM	Piazza Stage	Music
Poison Pen	Sat 15 Sep 5:30 PM	Saltaire Bookshop	Spoken Word/Comedy
Celebrity photo exhibition	Sat 15 Sep 6:00 PM	Waterside Restaurant & Bar, Wharf Street, Shipley	Exhibition
The Rob Dylan Band	Sat 15 Sep 6:15 PM	Piazza Stage	Music
Planet Soul	Sat 15 Sep 7:30 PM	Piazza Stage	Music
Record Club	Sat 15 Sep 7:30 PM	The Kirkgate Centre, Bradford	Community and Heritage
Cabaret Saltaire	Sat 15 Sep 9:00 PM	Caroline Social Club	Spoken Word/Comedy
Continental Market	Sun 16 Sep 9:00 AM	Exhibition Road	Markets, Fairs and Food
Wool Re-Fashioned	Sun 16 Sep 10:00 AM	Gallery 2, Salts Mill	Exhibition
Aire Valley Waterways	Sun 16 Sep 10:00 AM	Exhibition Building	Exhibition
Aagrah Food & Drink Festival	Sun 16 Sep 11:30 AM	Roberts Park	Markets, Fairs and Food
Hot Aire!	Sun 16 Sep 12:00 PM	Piazza Stage	Music
Art Exhibition - Saltaire Art Group	Sun 16 Sep 12:00 PM	Saltaire Methodist Church	Exhibition
Bradford City of Film	Sun 16 Sep 12:00 PM	PACE Canteen	Dance/Film/Theatre
Eco Centre	Sun 16 Sep 12:00 PM	Rance Booth & Smith Architects	Community and Heritage
Caroline’s Jazz	Sun 16 Sep 1:00 PM	Caroline Social Club	Music
The Guiseley Brothers	Sun 16 Sep 1:15 PM	Piazza Stage	Music
Salsa Como Loco	Sun 16 Sep 2:30 PM	Piazza Stage	Music
The PlumHall Band	Sun 16 Sep 3:45 PM	Piazza Stage	Music
Rory Holl and the Men	Sun 16 Sep 5:00 PM	Piazza Stage	Music
Clayton West and the HotDogs	Sun 16 Sep 6:15 PM	Piazza Stage	Music
The Broken Hearts Club Band	Sun 16 Sep 7:30 PM	Piazza Stage	Music
Saltaire Festival Finale with Hank Wangford & the Lost Cowboys	Sun 16 Sep 8:30 PM	Victoria Hall	Music

Ralph on Tour.....Llandudno

Here's a little twist on Ralph's Life where I get to go on holiday and blog about it!  The Old Dear decided his batteries needed recharging so I thought he was going to take me to Maplin, however it involved stuffing more food and drink into a car than is physically possible and heading to some big kennel in Wales (which is actually a country and not a big fish).  

Bron Berllan Uchaf cottage is on the outskirts of Dyserth village which is four miles from the seaside towns of Prestatyn and Rhyl (home of the legendary 2p machines).  It has 5 bedrooms sleeping 12, with 2 sitting rooms a dining room, a large kitchen/dining area separate toilet and two bathrooms with showers and it is extremely well appointed throughout.
  




Bron Berllan Uchaf, Bron Berllan
Hiraddug Road, Dyserth, Rhyl
Denbighshire, LL18 6HS.

You can contact the owner Mr J Scott directly on either 07974875019 or 02476725423 and tell him Ralph sent you!








The views from the cottage to the 
surrounding countryside are stunning and from the upper area of the grounds you have a lovely sea view over towards Kinmel Bay. 


There's an extensive patio area leading to a well kept sloping lawn where you can go and talk to some very nice horses in the next field!  To the front there's another nice lawned area but beware of the steep drop to the roadway over the low wall.


Once all the stuff was unloaded from the car and the double fridge/freezer was full it was time for a chillax on the patio where drink was plentiful and thanks to the chiminena blazing away much fun was had late on into the night.

Now one of the highlights of the week was our visits to the lovely seaside town of Llandudno with it's pier and spectacular esplanade situated between the Great and Little Ormes with two wonderful beaches, the award winning North Shore and the quiet, sand duned West Shore and and which has kept its Victorian and Edwardian elegance and splendour, despite its modern attractions.  

Having wandered the town's extensive shopping area and in need of refreshment, one of Ralph's favourite eateries was Kava , a charming little coffee house and licensed restaurant just off the main drag.  The staff are as attentive and friendly as the coffee and food is reviving and tasty!  After only one visit (like the bar in 'Cheers') they'll not only 'know your name' but remember your drink of choice.  

The highlight of several visits to Kava over the week was 'Corrie's' Les Battersby (aka actor Bruce Jones who was appearing in nearby Rhyl) having a cuppa with me (ok he was at the next table).  Apparently he wasn't overly starstruck by my presence so we didn't swap autographs.....









Now next door to Kava is a little shop that is very dear to my heart as it sells chocolate, and not just any chocolate as Grumpys is a traditional sweetie shop where you can take a trip down memory lane with their fantastic retro and old-fashioned sweets!

They have an amazing selection of traditional favourites as well as a plentiful selection of modern sweets! Every product listed has been chosen by Grumpy himself, and because of this they can be confident that you will be completely satisfied with your purchase!

Their shop stocks over 300 variations of sweets that you're bound to remember from your youth, and we're increasing our online product range every day. Remember; If you don't find exactly what you're looking for then please contact them and let them know. They'll do their very best to accommodate your requirements and seek out what you are looking for and you can order from Grumpys online!

There were only two downers over the week.  The first was missing one of Ralph's favourite groups Catfish and the Bottlemen playing Llandudno the day after I was due to leave (gutted).  On the plus side they're playing Sneaky Pete's as part of Ralph's favourite musical event EH1 LIVE on the 16th September in Edinburgh.  In the meantime here's a wee look at the video for their latest release 'A.S.A' and you can check out all their tour dates, music and merchandise on their website catfishandthebottlemen.com 

Second downer of the week was a visit to Rhyl Sun Centre, which I won't dwell on other than to say it's an overpriced, overcrowded, dirty, disorganized waste of two hours that I can't replace.  On checking the Sun Centre reviews by way of being even handed in my assessment I found that I was far from alone in my disappointment at what should be the main attraction in the list of things Rhyl has to offer the discerning visitor by way of entertainment.

Enough of the doom and gloom though.....highlights of the week were.....a visit to Dyserth Waterfalls

A stroll along the promenade in Llandudno only to be confronted by a seagull that thought it was a Pelican Crossing.....

We enjoyed a brisk 4 mile walk round the Great Orme at first in drizzly rain but half way through the sun broke through with the ensuing spectacular views.  Onwards and upwards to one of two hilltop cemeteries looking out over the bay and Llandudno rooftops. I must give a mention to the mental goats (not the name of a band) who inhabit the narrow ledges of The Great Orme!
Finally a mention to the beautiful Happy Valley Gardens opposite the pier at the start of the walk with it's Ski Slope and Happy Valley Cafe selling a Gold Award Winning Welsh Ice Cream.  A great place to sit, relax and take in the view at the end of a hard days walking!

Well the upshot is Bron Berllan Urchaf Cottage is the ideal place to stay in order to sample the delights of the Denbighshire and Conwy coastline.  Don't miss out on a coffee at kava in Llandudno and remember.....tell everyone.....Ralph sent you!

Smoked Salmon Tarte Tatin

Here's another Tarte Tatin recipe but with a twist this time.....courtesy of those lovely food blogging people at..... JustLoveFoodLeith 


And that twist I mentioned... its muffin size  Shetland Smoked Salmon, Samphire, Herbs, Crowdie and potato Tarte Tatins with a duck egg and lime mayo served with seasonal leaves.

Ingredients:

Scottish smoked salmon slices

Samphire

Chopped chives

Spring onion, sliced finely in diagonal

Parsley leaves (not chopped but whole)

Waxy potatos simply boiled, peeled and crushed (Charlottes jersey Royals or Maris Peer are ideal)

Crowdie (you could substitute cream cheese)

Butter

Sea salt flakes

Freshly ground pepper

Preparation:

1. Line a muffin tin with butter.
2. Cover with smoked salmon slices to the brim, add the potato mix (potato, all herbs, Crowdie cheese, the samphire and season to taste).  Then overlap the ends of the salmon slices to cover the mix.
3. Top with a round of puff pastry (you can make your own, but as usual, Ralph says..... ready made works just as well).  Make sure to tuck in the ends of the pastry all around the edge of the tin.
4. Egg wash it and bake at 220 C for 20 minutes.
5. Take it out of oven and let rest for 5 minutes and then turn by placing a plate or board over before turning so they do not crumble (like they do on The Great British Bake Off).

Serve with seasonal salad, a nice mayo of your liking and a wedge of lime or lemon.

If you're feeling adventurous, for a delicious accompaniment make a Samphire Butter with white balsamic and the juice of one lime.

In a saucepan simmer the Samphire, some parsley and coriander stalks with butter, freshly ground pepper, add just a splash of white balsamic vinegar, the juice one lime, cook for about 5 to 7  minutes until tender, blitz and pass through a fine sieve, let cool and ready to serve.