One whole year of Essex Eating

It's one year ago to the day that I took the momentous decision to begin writing this blog.....It was a New Years Resolution (And unusually, it's one of the only ones I've actually ever stuck to). Looking back at my first ever post, I made this declaration....

"So, I'll be writing about eating and drinking in Leigh-on-Sea and London, the restaurants I go to, the bars I drink in (and pour myself back out of!) The food I cook at home, the triumphs, the disasters and the food poisoning - basically, whatever interests me (and hopefully you.)".

I think I've fulfilled that statement of intent pretty well I guess. There hasn't been so much about Leigh-on-Sea (The Blog is fairly Londoncentric - but I try) or the drinking (its a given), but there's been no food poisoning....thank God.
Yes, I'm pretty happy with the way things have gone.

This past year, I've met some fantastic people, from all walks of life, luckily even a few who I now consider to have become firm friends. I've attended some incredible events, I've eaten excellent and unusual food, drank amazing booze....and I've learnt loads...... it's been a real adventure that's for sure. I can honestly say, it's changed my life.

So, enough gushing - some highlights-

Best Food Blog event I attended in 2009
Toughy, but it's going to have to be the Coco book launch - an incredible evening, three excellent restaurants in one night and meeting the chefs as well! hard to beat.
A close second would be the Paul A Young chocolate tasting - fascinating, eye opening and Paul is hilarious....oh and his chocolates are bloody amazing.

Best meal I ate in 2009
I ate out a lot in the past year, in so many good places, but it's going to have to be Pierre Koffmann on the roof of Selfridges. There was such a buzz about it, and it was such a magical night....I'll never forget it, or look at a Pigs Trotter in quite the same way again. Other memorable meals were the always excellent Tayyabs (a few visits in the past year), Great Queen Street, Hawksmoor for the incredible burger, The Ginger Pig and Chilli Pickle in Brighton (Thanks Fran)....the whole "Coco experience" of Maze, Theo Randall and Launceston Place in one evening and the Fitzwalter Arms in Kent for such an excellent overall English countryside vibe.

Best Dish I cooked at home 2009
I cook A LOT. Every night in fact, and the best thing I cooked at home in 2009 without a doubt, is something that's quick, simple, hearty and cheap.....has to be the Brindisa Chickpea and Chorizo stew. I seriously love it with some rice and a dash of white pepper. I've probably cooked it more than any other dish this year. Runner up on the 'one off' front has to be the Moroccan leg of Lamb spiced with the Ras-el-Hanout that I brought back from Marrakesh.

Worst Dish I cooked at home 2009
Couple of contenders here....I've tried to block them out, but I seem to remember making a particularly awful courgette based Gordon Ramsay recipe which was seriously disgusting. I also cooked a Moro pilav recipe with broad beans, which just didn't work either.....but the grand daddy of all worst dishes of 2009 was the infamous Orange-Lemon tart......(Another Ramsay I'm looking at you moment).....abject dinner party disaster....it just didn't set at all.
I still seethe about it.

Best Booze I drank in 2009
Without a doubt, had to be a snifter of the £2000 a bottle Courvoisier L'essence Cognac at the Towards a Fluid State event. Nothing else to add....I love Cognac.....it was lovely. Oh, just remembered the dessert wine at Launceston place Jurancon ‘Syphonie de Novembre’ Domaine Cauhape 2004 was seriously good as well.

Worst Dish I ate out 2009
Overall the standard was pretty high, I rarely came across anything that was THAT bad....but one dish lives with me from last year as the worst I've ever encountered in a restaurant ever.....it was a local place *cough*SS9*cough* and it was "Pork Belly"......except this pork belly was a rubberised, dildoesque lump of gristle with zero crackling and zero nutritional value.... it was like chewing on a strip of fat.... I wouldn't have fed it to a dog. Without a doubt the most rubbish thing I've seen come out of a kitchen ever. I didn't blog it at the time, but I've never been back.

Best Dish I ate out in 2009
So hard.
But has to be the 'Monkfish with prosciutto, artichokes, capers, parsley and Charlotte potatoes'. at Theo Randall. It was bloody delicious, so simple, but the ingredients...... so, so nice. Other dishes I also really enjoyed, The famous Hawksmoor Burger, and an unusual dessert of peanut butter parfait, with marshmallow and praline at the Ginger Pig in Brighton. Parmesan custard with anchovy toast at Le Cafe Anglais was pretty special (haven't blogged that yet)....oh, the chicken liver and polenta dish at Pizza East was damn nice too.

Weirdest Google searches that have led to my Blog 2009
Pentagon shape of Hawksmoor in lud heat
my rioja tastes like butter
Why does my head hurt when I eat lemon pepper (My Fave)
Where is the pub in Essex that was used for the Orgy
Stomach makes grumbling noises after taking Bile salts

Best Recipe book 2009

Has to be The Eagle Cookbook. Although it's a bit older than last year, it was out of print and re-released to much fanfare in 2009....I've cooked from this more than any other. I love the whole ethos behind it and the rough and ready recipes. It's a Fantastic book


Strangest things I ate in 2009

Now this is one of the benefits of writing my blog, I'll eat things now that a year ago I wouldn't even consider trying....so this year...

Pigs Trotter at Pierre Koffmann
Duck Hearts at the Coach and Horses
Monkfish Liver at Aki

Must visit restaurants 2010
So many to choose from, and I tend to favour gastropubs over more formal dining....the list changes fairly regularly but if I get to visit a few of these this year, I'll be happy....

Anchor and Hope
Terroirs
The Ledbury
The Bull and Last
Racine
The Sportsman - Whitstable
The Kitchin - Edinburgh
Hix
Harwood Arms
Rules
Theo Randall

So there you have my take on the past year. I hope 'you', my readers have been entertained. I love reading your comments, so make sure to vent your spleen often.....I appreciate everything you have to say. (well.... almost everything).
Here's to another year of Essex Eating stay tuned for more thrills, spills, bigger portions, heavier hangovers, excitement, death defying madness.......errr....... basically more of the same, just bigger and better.

Mwah - Mwah
- Dan -Essex Eating