So I was watching The Great British Bake Off and thinking to myself.....that's a lot of work and hassle to make a pie, so as is Ralph's way here's a vegetarian pie recipe that's easy, relatively quick to make and is delicious hot, warm or cold so it can be made well in advance too..... Ingredients:
Put the potatoes in a large saucepan of cold, salted water, then bring to the boil. Turn down and simmer for 5 mins, add the sweet potatoes and continue to cook for 8 mins until just tender. Drain really well. Fry the onion in the oil until soft, add the cumin seeds for 1 min, then stir in the garlic, chilli and ginger with the remaining spices. Cook for a further 2-3 mins, then turn off the heat and stir into the potatoes with the peas, lemon juice and coriander.
Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Halve the filo sheets, and use two-thirds of them, overlapping, to line a 22cm loose-bottomed cake tin with a little overhang. As you lay in each sheet, brush with melted butter and keep the rest covered with a clean tea towel. Spoon in filling and press down lightly. Cover with remaining filo, then fold up overhanging sides and scrunch up pastry near the edges. Poke several slits in the top of the pastry and brush with more butter. Sprinkle with the poppy seeds. Bake for 40-45 mins until golden brown. Serve either hot or at room temperature with lemon wedges. Recipe from Good Food magazine January 2011
So you've heard about the Edinburgh Festival.....you're planning to go, have a few days in Edinburgh and take in some shows.....but where to stay? Well your accommodation couldn't get any more Fringe friendly than The Grassmarket Hotel located in the hub of The Old Town at 94 - 96 Grassmarket. It's in an historic location second to none, populated with shops, bars, cafes restaurants and Fringe venues not to mention that it's a stones throw from Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street and Waverley Station (890 steps away apparently, but who's counting).
Needless to say you don't have to wait until Festival time to visit Edinburgh, it's one of the worlds premier tourist destinations and with the great value for money accommodation on offer at The Grassmarket Hotel there's no excuse for not planning a visit at any time!
The hotel has recently been refurbishing rooms and they've been shortlisted for the laterooms.comBest Kept Secret Awards in the Best Interiors category and it's easy to see why.....
.....and not only is it luxurious, it's probably Edinburgh's most family friendly hotel.....with Tunnocks Teacakes and a copy of The Beano and The Dandy coming as standard in every room!
Even when the Festival and Fringe aren't on, Edinburgh at night is an absolute delight with a host of pubs clubs and restaurants to choose from and many of the best are within a short walk of the hotel.
The Witchery Dining Room
If it's dark, delicious gothic splendour you're after you have to visit The Witchery just a few yards away from the entrance to The Castle for a dining experience you'll never forget. It has developed a world-wide reputation for its exceptional dining experience, showcasing the very best of Scotland's produce in the most magical of settings. Now in its fourth decade, the Witchery is a Scottish fine dining landmark, much loved by loyal locals, its celebrity fans and visitors to the city alike.
You wont get stung here.....
If it's a great pub you're after situated in the historic heart of Grassmarket, The Beehive sits in the shadow of The Castle and boasts a history going back around 400 years. With a drinks license thought to have existed since it was a 16th Century coaching inn, the present building replaced The Beehive Hotel in the 1860's. It incorporates a main bar, a satellite bar (The Honeypot), a 100 seat dining room, a meeting room and one of the best gardens in the city centre.
You wont have a ghost of a chance
For an unforgettable, scary and spooky experience don't forget to book an award winning Cadies & Witchery guided ghost tour. Established in 1984, the Cadies have been scaring people from all over the world almost every single night since, and their walking tours have become one of Edinburgh's must-see attractions.
For a truly inspiring shopping experience, look no further than Edinburgh’s Grassmarket. From The Castle come down the Castle Wynd or Upper Bow steps to the Grassmarket for some retail therapy that gives you a true taste of modern Scotland.
The area is full to brimming with Scottish designers, artisans and independent merchants selling everything from gourmet food and drink and luxurious knitwear to cutting edge fashions, antique books and unique gifts. Most shops are owner operated; adding to the feeling that your shopping experience is truly special.
So have I convinced you yet.....not only is The Grassmarket area of Edinburgh a joy for the avid tourist, The Grassmarket Hotel is the jewel in it's crown.....and if you are heading to Edinburgh for The Festival I can only offer you this piece of advice from past
experience.....
BOOK EARLY!
For the best rates it's always better to contact them directly through their websiteand if you're really lucky you'll catch one of the monthly offers of 10 'Mates Rates' rooms at £1 (are they mental) which you can find out about when you subscribe to their mailing list.
Just to prove they're not afraid of The Trip Advisor they even have a live feed to it on their website.....
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
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.
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.
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 Clubhome 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".
"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 Cateringwho's Managing Director made the following statement..... On behalf of Aagrah I would like to say how delighted we are to be supporting the 10th 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 15th 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!
So I was watching The Great British Bake Off and thinking to myself.....that's a lot of work and hassle to make a pie, so as is Ralph's way here's a vegetarian pie recipe that's easy, relatively quick to make and is delicious hot, warm or cold so it can be made well in advance too.....
Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Halve the filo sheets, and use two-thirds of them, overlapping, to line a 22cm loose-bottomed cake tin with a little overhang. As you lay in each sheet, brush with melted butter and keep the rest covered with a clean tea towel. Spoon in filling and press down lightly. Cover with remaining filo, then fold up overhanging sides and scrunch up pastry near the edges.
