May 28
Few places I’ve visited have struck me as more insignificant that the tiny village of Camembert in Normandy. Having travelled a considerable distance to visit the birthplace of the iconic cheese, I was incredibly underwhelmed. Read more
It would appear that life in Normandy revolves, gastronomically speaking, around three key ingredients – seafood, apples and cheese. Thankfully, I’m partial to all three. When we rolled off the ferry into Le Havre we headed straight for the beautiful fishing town of Honfleur, where I’d heard the seafood was fantastic. Read more
I don’t know what I expected a snail farm to look like, but I’m pretty sure this wasn’t it. As we rolled in the gates we could see a small, rustic farmhouse and what looked like a few raised vegetable beds covered with weeds. Read more
There are few things in life as luxurious as sipping a glass of sparkling wine on a sunny terrace overlooking a beautiful vineyard and reading a good book. It is an indulgence I have been looking forward to as part of our food odyssey. But we haven’t reached the Champagne region just yet. In fact, we’re not even in France. We’re in the beautiful Camel Valley in sunny Cornwall. Read more
My husband and I are on an ongoing quest to find the world’s best fish and chips. Our favourites include Beshoff’s in Howth, its sister on Mespil Rd. and Sharky’s in Wexford town. We’ve also eaten at the infamous Doyle’s in Sydney’s Watson’s Bay and at The Codfather in Cape Town. Along the road we’ve had some fantastic meals and also had some miserable experiences. Read more
Is 11am too early to start tasting cider? On a gloriously sunny morning in Somerset it seems like the logical and sensible thing to do. We plan on doing the cider / Calvados route in Normandy, so I feel it would be good to do some research here, for comparison. Read more
A few weeks after we bought our new camper van we finally set off on our first “food odyssey”. I had been packing the van with essential kit over a number of days, including bedding, pots, tableware and some fruit and vegetables, so that we’d be ready to go at a moment’s notice. On Saturday morning we awoke to see a bizarre mist over the hill in front of the house and took this as a sign that the weather would be glorious, so we decided that today was the day. Read more
I’m a confirmed omnivore and think I always will be. I love my vegetables and am happy to eat plenty of meatless meals, but I also love meat. As meat eaters, I think it’s very important to know where our meat comes from, starting with the simple fact that meat comes from animals. (Apparently there is a growing number of people who either aren’t aware that meat comes from animals or simply choose to ignore this fact because the thought is unpleasant to them.) Read more
In recent weeks we have seen the slow, steady demise of a faithful friend, a sizzling companion who asks nothing more of us than to be enveloped in a soft, squishy bun, smothered in a piquant or spicy relish and devoured with gusto. A friend who has been with us through everything – family gatherings, summer barbecues, late night munchies and lazy-day lunches. The humble burger. Read more
Finally we got the word that our awning and bike rack had been installed and our camper van was ready for collection. We drove away from the dealership like chattering children with a shiny new toy. We rushed home, grabbed some bedclothes and a toilet roll and took off on our first adventure. Read more
Homemade peanut butter is so simple to make and far superior to anything you’ll find in the supermarket. There are just two ingredients – peanuts and a pinch of salt. Once you’ve tried this recipe you’ll never buy processed peanut butter again.
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To celebrate the launch of My Food Odyssey (www.myfoododyssey.com), we are offering one lucky reader the chance to win a copy of Diana Henry’s wonderful book, Salt Sugar Smoke. The Irish Times Marie-Claire Digby has chosen Salt Sugar Smoke as “one of the food books of the year that got us talking, and cooking, in 2012”.
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February 28th 2013 is a very important date for me – it is the first day of a major new chapter in my life. After 13 years, I will give up my permanent, pensionable job to embark on a food odyssey.
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Why is it you never realise how much you like something until you can’t have it? While on holidays in Lithuania recently I found myself longing for green vegetables. Read more
There’ll be no turkey for me this Christmas. In fact, there’ll be no meat at all. I’m spending Christmas with my in-laws in Lithuania, where the main celebration is on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. Read more
My Food Odyssey 
