27 December - squash and chickpea stew

We had a wander down to the harbourside for a bit of lunch in Bordeaux Quay. It was really busy and as we walked in, we didn't think we'd get a table, but the waitress said we could sit at one of the tables by the bar to eat. It was a bit of a mistake though as they'd clearly let too many people in for the kitchen to cope with. We waited an age for just our coffees, then nearly 45 mins for our eggs (it was a brunch menu). I'd gone for eggs Florentine, which arrived as two muffin halves with spinach, but with a very undercooked egg on one and a splodge of uncooked egg white on the other - yeuck! Tris's wasn't much better - clearly the result of a very rushed kitchen. I took it back to complain and they promptly offered to replace it, but I have to say the second plate wasn't that great either. Definitely a case of poor management.

For Christmas, I got Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage veg every day. I've already been using recipes from the TV series, so I knew I already liked it. This evening, I tried out the North African squash and chickpea stew - very substantial and pretty tasty.

11 December - eggs again and Tris's chilli

It was eggs again for lunch today, but this time poached on toast with a bit of spinach - kind of eggs Florentine, but without the hollandaise.

After huffing a bit this week about doing all the shopping and cooking, Tris made chilli for supper this evening with a bit of rice and guacamole. It's always good and all the better for not having to cook.

11 November - eggs florentine and dinner with friends

I quite like eggs Florentine for lunch, but it's such a faff to make fresh hollandaise sauce and there's always too much for one. I usually just end up having spinach and poached eggs on toast. Today I thought I'd try a dollop of hollandaise from a jar as an easy cheat. I suppose it did just add a bit of something to the eggs, but it was a bit sharp and vinegary tasting, so not completely convinced.

This evening, we went to visit some friends for dinner. Hannah always comes up with really good, tasty home cooking and tonight was no exception with a great dish of Catalan chicken (cooked with tomatoes beans, peppers and olives), followed by apple cake and custard - yum! And of course, a few glasses of wine and lots of good chat.