WINE & DINE WITH ANGELA LANSBURY

 A The word croissant means 1 Crescent, in French 2 Cooked, in French 3 Cross shaped in French 4 Crescent in Italian  B Spumante means 1 Sparkling in Italian 2 Sparkling in French 3 Spilled in Spanish C Rose means 1 Rose coloured in French 2 Rose shaped in Spanish 3 Rose perfumed in Italian D Whiskey 1 Comes from Scotland 2 Comes from Ireland 3 Comes from Native Indians E Whisky 1 Comes from Scotland 2 Comes from Ireland 3 Comes from Antarctica F Christmas Pudding 1 Traditionally contains a silver sixpence 2 Traditionally contains a penny 3 Traditionally contains a gold coin or gold foil wrapped fruit G Christmas Crackers 1 Are named after the sound they make when pulled 2 Are named after the two creases 3 Are named after their appearance when pulled apart H Christmas Crackers were invented by  1 Tom Smith 2 Tom Jones 3 Billy Bunter I In England at tea time you eat 1 Christmas cake 2 Mince Pies 3 Christmas cake or mince pies J The Yule Log comes from 1 England 2 Scotland ...

 

  Quaker Bookshop Cafe For ladies who lunch, sitting reading a book in quiet peace, the Quaker bookshop cafe on the ground floor of a huge building across Euston Road. The front door of the cafe is up a few steps from the pavement, facing Euston station whose forecourt is being rebuilt.  TheIt was nearer that expected. Beyond is a church with a cross on top. I thought that was our destination. My friend pointed out that Quakers don't do crosses. Between the Quaker building and the church is a grass area with outdoor seating. Quaker Cafe Lunch Food I chose a baked potato in its jacket, with 2 filings, cheese and baked beans. Filling. Just right. I followed this by an Blueberry Bakewell (marzipan and almond slice). Absolutely delicious.  Moist and flavourful. With a free glass of water.  My lunchtime companion chose vegetarian pie with new potatoes. She was as enthusiastic as I had been about the dessert cake. She said hers was described as frangipane, which must have ...

 If you are waiting for a train, several kiosks serve food and there is a communal seating area in a large alcove of the indoor part of the station with tiny tables.  On the balcony overhead, with escalator up and stairs down, is a coffee shop for a quick bite. Outside are two or three popular chains such as Pret with limited quick seating. To meet friends or wait with less hustle and bustle, on the forecourt of Euston is a pub with music and an outside area. Across the road, the Euston Road, is the Quaker cafe, described in the next post.

 The Hanukah festival is also known as the feast, the Festival of Lights, and was celebrated by Jesus, according to the New Testament, gospel according to John 10:22 (numbers of the sections, in case you want to look it up).  You might have seen Hanukah greeting cards in shops and supermarkets and online. Also the nine branch or candelabra symbol or a real one in shop windows and in synagogues and places serving or selling kosher foods or in Jewish areas. In modern times it is celebrated in homes for eight days. The festival starts at sunset on the first day with the lighting of the first candle with the helper candle. Hanukah & Christmas The festival moves around following the traditional lunar calendar, not in sync with the Gregorian calendar, so Hanukah sometimes overlaps with Christmas but other times is earlier. Children look forward to Hanukah when homes are brightly lit, in America decorated with banners, blue trees, table napkins and paper plates on the Hanukah the...

 Hatch End is a Hotspot for dining. The restaurants have spilt or rather built over the wide pavement of The Broadway and they have become ever more successful. Here are your choices in alphabetical order, with pictures of some of their Christmas trees and seasonal lights. B & K Salt Beef Restaurant & Bar The menu includes large and varied mixed hors d'ouvres. Chicken soup with dumplings or meat filled pasta pockets or both.  Main courses include traditional salt beef on plain bread, toasted, or rye bread sandwiches.  For desserts, in addition to cheese cakes and yummy chocolate cake, their specialities. Apple strudel. Lokshen (noodle) pudding.  We either eat in or take away.  At home, we eat leftover apple strudel with full cream milk.  Their smaller take away plus simple restaurant in Edgware was our regular until we moved, and they expanded. Now their Hatch End branch had became our family favourite for filling food.  Coriander Indian - migh...

  Sei Uno, Prosecco, white wine from Italy. Bellenda Prosecco My top favourite wines include several from Italy  Prosecco seems to be in every Italian restaurant in London and in European style restaurants, as well as in my nearest Tesco Express supermarket.  Here are two with the co-owner of a family winery. I tasted these at the Circle of Wine Writers Festive Party 2025, held early evening, the 4th wine event of the day at London Cru in London England. We started with English wines and ended with Italian wines. Sei Uno Prosecco Sei Uno is Italian for six one, or sixty-one. A significant date for that family. That's what this charming gentleman told me. Last year I was learning Italian on Duolingo. So reading a wine bottle label is like reading a signpost to the part of my brain storing Italian words. The Italians call Italy Italia. Prosecco is a protected name, so if this man is involved in a family business producing Prosecco, you know that he lives in North East Italy...

  I am sandwiched between Klara Lago left. And Martha Beale, right. They work for Phipps Relations. Their clients are Rioja, Wines of Germany, Beaujolais, Terra Organica, Jersey Royals and many others. Thisisphipps.com

English wines? If you have driven around the countryside in England you may have come across one or two. There are more than 300. I remember my amazement at the number when I saw a map in a wine shop in Brighton.  Denbies has a huge visitor centre with a supermarket style wine and gifts area and indoor and outdoor tours. I have eaten in their restaurant.  Nyetimber, meaning new timber, has occasional open days to big buyers, and occasionally others. Its beautiful setting made me think, perfect for a wedding.  The many others are vying for your attention. I went to a tasting where, thanks to the promoters, I had a chance to try several and compare them. As you see from this picture, England produces a range of colours and styles of wine.    My favourites were My favourites were from Knightor Winery,  Aromatic and tasty.  One on the list of seven wines which I tasted as a paying guest at an event organized by AWE, the Association of Wine Educators, ...

 At an event at London Cru we enjoyed sampling four different kinds of Champagne, three white and one rose, from the producers, Laurent-Perrier. A favourite of King Charles 3. White and rose coloured Champagnes. A lot of effort goes into making, marketing and promoting these Champagnes. At the start of the production process they taste the wines every day. Pink perfect for a pink theme wedding. To be recognized, they introduced a small plump bottle so if you are ordering in a restaurant the others can note you have a distinctive Laurent-Perrier Champagne. Everybody's tastes are different, although enough of those liking any style means the business is a success. I like the Champagne style with the distinctive bready aroma and flavour. If, however, you prefer something more subtle, and think that is superior, these sparkling wines, genuine Champagne, could be your choice. They are not mass market. Not tours for tourists. Although the wine press can arrange special visits. They are n...

  London Cru Urban Winery Seagrave Road, West Brompton London Opposite The Atlas pub. Near The Brompton Deli. Near West Brompton train station.

 This is Diana Thompson, owner of Wine Events Scotland. The next event is 100 Best Australian Wines Festival on 21st March 2026 in Edinburgh. This is an annual event. Useful Website Wineeventsscotland.co.uk Please follow me and share links to your favourite posts.

 Hatch End is a Hotspot for dining. |The restaurants have spilt or rather built over the wide pavement of The Broadway and they have become ever more successful. Here are your choices in alphabetical order, with pictures of some of their Christmas trees and seasonal lights. B & K Salt Beef Restaurant & Bar The menu includes large and varied mixed hors d'ouvres. Chicken soup with dumplings or meat filled pasta pockets or both.  Main courses include traditional salt beef on plain bread, toasted, or rye bread sandwiches.  For desserts, in addition to cheese cakes and yummy chocolate cake, their specialities. Apple strudel. Lokshen (noodle) pudding.  We either eat in or take away.  At home, we eat leftover apple strudel with full cream milk.  Their smaller take away plus simple restaurant in Edgware was our regular until we moved, and they expanded. Now their Hatch End branch had became our family favourite for filling food.  Coriander Indian - mig...

  Starter of smoked salmon and roe. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright. Traditional Xmas dinner in the UK, turkey, and stuffing, with Brussel sprouts, potato, gravy. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Christmas pudding with custard and cranberries.. Photo by Angela |Lansbury. The Cavalry & Guards Club In Piccadilly For a fine wine lunch, my husband Trevor chose a traditional Christmas menu from the menus offered by the club at various prices per head. The highlights of the meal were the starter and the dessert.  Please follow me and share links to your favourite posts. My books are on Amazon.com and Lulu.com Trevor had organized a half bottle of Chateau d'Yquem. from 2003 . However my favourite wine was the Spatlese .  I have other restaurant reviews in my blog travelwithangelalansbury