Henrietta Replies
Henrietta answers your questions below
If you have a question you would like to ask Henrietta click here
Ask Henrietta - I have been lucky to buy a pile of artichokes, have you a nice recipe for soup? Thanks...Lesley, Denbighshire
Henrietta replies...Jerusalem artichokes make one of the most velvety soups imaginable. Buy them when they feel firm and moist to the touch and with as few knobbly bits as possible; their absence will not affect the taste but will make peeling far easier.
To prepare them, scrub them clean, peel them, then put them immediately into water acidulated with a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar to prevent them from discolouring. Drain and put into a clean pan and cover with a mixture of equal parts of milk and vegetable stock, flavoured with a sprig or two of parsley, a couple of peppercorns and a bay leaf. Simmer until soft, then whizz in a food processor with the cooking liquid until smooth. 2 February 2007
Ask Henrietta - Hi, I have a foodie/seafoodie Aussie friend (but lived here a long while), about to turn 50. I'd like to surprise her with something different, but food related. An outing - a restaurant, a visit to a great supplier... but she's seen and done a lot before - run a pub, restaurant, etc... so it'll have to be good. Any ideas?...Liz, Wiltshire
Henrietta replies...You don't give many details, so I don't know when her birthday is or how far you are prepared to travel, so here are two suggestions, depending on your preference. If you don't want to stray too far, why not order langoustines and oysters, fresh as a daisy, from Loch Fyne in Scotland to cook up at home and have yourselves a real food-fest.
However, if you're prepared to put in a bit of legwork and perhaps postpone the birthday treat, a visit to the Blackrock Lave Net Heritage Fishery is an absolute must for any fish-loving Food Lover. From the Blackrock Picnic Site, you can watch the fishermen as they head out into low tide with their traditional lave nets as they have done for hundreds of years. Look on their website for details www.blackrocklavenets.co.uk 29 January 2008