Too busy eating

It has been way too long. Everyday for the past few weeks I have been telling myself that I need to get my brain in to gear and update my blog but I have been so busy over the past few weeks. Busy working, busy playing and, not to fret, busy eating. I am trying to avoid baking too many cakes or too much bread as I need to lose a pound or ten but it is so difficult, I just can't help myself. I am off to cake club Sunday so will have a little binge and then give it a rest for a couple of weeks. The highlight of my cake eating since I last posted was an amazing peanut butter and chocolate cake by the brilliant Say It With Flours. It was gorgeous. I guess if I am going to indulge in baked goods then at least I am not going wrong if I choose good quality products, free from preservatives and all those chemicals in supermarket bakes. This is why I just love the bread from Baltic Bakehouse: a great family run business  providing freshly baked goodness to those in Liverpool who demand real bread.

I am still addicted to Ottolenghi's ' Jerusalem ' book, it is just so beautiful; I cannot put it down. As well as some lovely lamb dishes ( made with lamb from the fabulous Acorn Farm) I have been trying the fish recipes, with the sea bream with harissa and rose being my highlight. Another cooking highlight for me was my Tuscan style ribs, that were packed full of flavour and fell of the bone. I will post the recipe soon.When I have felt like a bit of treat I have been out and about at local restaurants, including sampling the BEST burger in Liverpool at Free State Kitchen. I realise that is a big claim but they really are so good and come with a huge jar of pickles, making them even better. It took me a while but I finally made it to Asparagus Patch, the brilliant pop up restaurant situated in Liverpool One, set up my the team at Claremont Farm. It is a simple, relaxing space filled with simply great tasting food.

Summer is a great time to get out and about, especially with the abundance of farmers markets and food festivals that pop up this time of year. I have already been the the lovely Scarisbrick Food fair, where I picked up some great local produce and have sampled some fantastic food from Moochers ; the wild rabbit burger with wild nettle pesto was fantastic. Hopefully I will be off to a lot more food festivals and fairs this year plus I will be spoilt for choice when I visit Tuscany later this month, I truly cannot wait for all that good wine and gelato!

See you soon, won't be so long this time

Club Pizza : Liverpool review

I am not a massive fan of pizza, I can take it or leave it really. My husband, however, could eat if everyday if he could. When I am in the mood, however, a really good pizza is always welcome when something quick and easy in order. You can't really beat a homemade pizza but sometimes it is just a little too effort and all you want to do is pick up the phone and have your food delivered. Now, here is where the problem starts: there are very few good pizza delivery places that offer that really good pizza.  I suppose a couple of the pizza chains offer a quick fix and fill a hole created by too much wine or beer but when it comes to authentic Italian pizza, that doesn't leave you feeling a bit dirty afterwards, they are hard to come by. That is until recently when the arrival of Club Pizza, the latest establishment set up by Liverpool favourite ,The Italian Club.

 

Situated in the old ' Deli Mama ' site on Newington, Club Pizza is an Italian American takeaway that offers something a little different, such as Bolognese nachos and pulled pork burgers, as well as regular takeaway favourites. We ordered the Signor Maurizio pizza, an authentic thin base pizza topped simply with tomato, mozzarella, Parma ham and basil, along with a portion of Parmesan and balsamic fried and ' Cheeky Nina's Arancini '. I couldn't resist adding on a tasty sounding chilli dog, after reading good reviews online. In fact all of the reviews I read were great and well deserved. The pizza base was light and crisp and was not overloaded with topping, which often puts me off. My only qualm was that the pizza was on the cold side, despite a rather impressive delivery time. It could also have done with a little more basil. I only had one slice of pizza as I had to leave room for the rather large chilli dog, that was very good and would have been even better with more of a spice kick. The highlight of the meal was without doubt the arancini; a large ball of risotto coated in breadcrumbs and deep fried. I am a big fan of arancini and Pizza Club's version was delicious. They also do a macaroni version so I will definitely be ordering one of those next time.

Takeaways are never going to serve food that blows your socks off but it doesn't have to be the kind that is only eaten because you are drunk or lazy ( think we have all eaten a dodgy cab along the way!) . There are a few great takeaways  in and around Liverpool for when you want to give yourself a break and, for me, Club Pizza could just the best Italian takeaway in town.