Food of South West France supper at papadeli 5th March

So the next foodie extravaganza is the Food of South West France supper on the 5th of March.  A number of people at the last evening, where we sampled a superb Bollito Misto, have already booked themselves on to this next one - which really does go to show how much people enjoy these evenings.
Here's the lovely menu - see if you can resist this one!!

Canapes with Lillet blanc aperitif
White onion & gruyere tartlet
Devilled chestnut wrapped in bacon
Poached trout, horseradish &walnut cream on crostini

Starter
Salmon terrine, capers with a shallot, fennel & cucumber salad

Main
Cassoulet de Toulouse a la Menagere (lamb shoulder, haricot beans ) with duck confit, Toulouse port sausages and salade de pissenlit.

Pudding
Tarte tatin with bay leaf creme anglaise

Cheese
Southern Western French cheese  with walnut bread & grapes

Vegetarian option available. 
We can cater for for intolerances - please ask.

BOOK NOW - info@papadeli.co.uk  tel 0117 973 6569

SW France supper club 5th March booking now

Alexis has excelled herself this time with this delicious menu using some of the best ingredients from South Western France. You got to try it!!


Canapes with Lillet blanc aperitif

White onion and gruyere tartlet

Devilled chestnuts in bacon

Poached trout, horseradisn & walnut cream on crostini

Starter

Salmon terrine, dill, capers, with a shallot, fennel & cucumber salad

Main
Cassoulet de Toulouse a la Menagere (lamb shoulder ,haricot beans) with duck confit, Toulouse port sausages and salade de pissenlit.

Pudding
Tarte tatin with bay leaf creme anglaise



Cheese
South Western French cheeses with walnut bread & grapes

Vegetarian options available.
We can cater for food intolerances - please ask.

Book ow - info@papadeli.co.uk

Chococo chocolates arrive in time for valentine's day!

I first tasted Chococo chocolates at a networking event held by GWE Business West. Chococo founder, Clare, came to speak to us about her company and chocolate. It was a popular evening as we got to taste different kinds of chocolates (always a way to get my attention) and each and everyone of us went away with a bag of fresh cream truffles. As I munched away on them when I got home that evening (I let my husband sample a couple), we decided it was definitely some of the best chocolate we'd ever tasted.
We immediately made enquiries into stocking Chococo, but at that time, their range was mainly fresh cream based and so need to be stored in fridges - which we unfortunately couldn't do.
Then, some weeks ago, Judi, a friend who comes from Dorset, brought me a box of Chococo chocolates. I was reminded of their gorgeous quality and taste so looked again into stocking them - and found that they now have a larger range of ambient chocolates. We put an order in immediately! We have chocolate hears with golden cherubs on them, stunning boxes of chocolates, chocolate dipped fruit, and will soon have their exquisite range of Easter eggs which will delight discerning children and adults alike.

Italian Supper 29th Jan

This month's supper is going to really warm you up after all the grey days and snow - the main course is a bollito misto which is a fabulous Italian broth of sausage, chicken, beef and a host of delicious vegetables served with cavolo nero, pickled gherkins, capers, salsa verde and my very own favourite, mostarda fruits.
These evenings are always such fun - everyone congregates downstairs in the beautiful deli surrounded by tastily packaged fine foods. There will be a glass of prosecco and canapes to get the evening going - cozze gratinate (grilled mussels with garlic and parsley), mini pizzas and chicken liver parfait on tiny toasts. This is where everyone seems to get to know each other before climbing the stairs to the cafe and sitting down ready for the feast.

To start there's crushed cannellini bean, roasted garlic & rosemary on grilled bread with glazed candy beetroot, rocket & pecorino sardo. followed by Bollito misto which is sure to satifsy.

Hopefully you'll have a little space left for some tiramisu - luscious layers of mascarpone and marsala soaked savoiardi biscuits with a raspberry puree to give it a little zing.

Just to finish you off there's gorgonzola dolce with grilled pears and thyme infused honey and walnuts.

I can't find the words to properly illustrate how truly lovely these evenings are - they really must be experienced. Those that come once seem to return again and again and bring new friends each time.

Lovely seasonal food and wine

Papadeli really comes into its own at Christmas - this is when all the delicious treats arrive. Yesterday we received a shipment of freshly made panettone - this year we have imported them direct and have decided to have a bit of fun packaging them ourselves. Daisy and Aimee, who are sisters, are fabulously talented in the visuals department (and most other departments if I am to be truthful..) and have welcomed the opportunity to flex some artistic muscle.

So, we're going to experiment with felt flowers (thanks to another great artist, Judy of Ambadesign), dried out orange slices (which are in the oven at this very minute), lots of sparkly bits and pom poms. Can't wait to see the finished article!

The next challenge is what to write in the shop window - am currently leaning towards:
"Put the Quality back into Christmas". I think people this year are going to be buying carefully and considering what they are getting - the feeling is that if we are going to buy something, it needs to look good, taste good and not be mass produced. That's what we offer at Papadeli. I think food will once again be one of the most popular gifts - our sign in the window last year said "Give gifts that get eaten" and I think people love this idea. No wasted trinkets ending up in junk shops, but a gift that can actually be enjoyed.

What would be my choice of gift? I am seriously enamoured by the Bodrato red box of pralines - stunningly iconic in its design. The pralines inside are divine the flavours are so true - the mint is fresh and the coffee like a mini shot of espresso. Or a box of Prestat Champagne truffles would never fail to delight me. For those with less of a sweet tooth, I think a small of selection of cheeses with Fine Cheese Company biscuits and fruit paste or chutney would work wonders - and what a lovely thought that you will be mentioned as they tuck into their Christmas cheeses.

We also do a selection of bespoke hampers which always impress. Many people choose to pick their own items and then we wrap it up and make it look beautiful. Hampers can be so uninteresting - and this way the contents are truly personal. What better gift than a hand selected range of quality foods that can delight over Christmas and beyond.

The food of Northern Italy Nov 6th 2009

Papadeli supper nights really are special nights. Quite hard to explain or describe... They're pretty unique - a gathering of up to 40 people who all love food and they all get together for an aperitif in the beautiful deli whilst mouthwatering canapes are handed round. I always marvel at how, by the end of this short aperitif time, everybody seems to know each other and the place is buzzing.
Then everyone sit down and just enjoy themselves. The only decisions that have to be made are what to drink next and how much to eat. The food just arrives. Beautifully made, with all the tastiest, best ingredients. The atmosphere really is lovely - I generally don't like that word but it does describe these evenings so well. Lots of chat, lots of laughter, lots of delight. The last one, British night, offered the most wonderful dishes local to here and further beyond.
The next is really exciting - we'll be looking at Northern Italy and tasting some of their delicious foods. Take a look at the menu and see what you think!

Canapes with a Prosecco Cocktail

Porcini ragu & Taleggio on polenta
Smoked eel with horseradish cream on crostini
Rabbit loin with a sausage & sage stuffing wrapped in speck

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Starter
Boards of Prosciutto di San Danielle, Robiola, chestnuts with truffle honey, grissini & radicchio

Main
Osso Buco made with British Veal, served with risotto Milanese
To follow
Panettone with a chocolate sauce and vanilla gelato
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Pecorino with panforte and a glass of Vin Santo
£40

It is really like a secret supper club and something must be tried!

panettone puzzler

Having spent many years thinking panettone was an overrated bit of stuff that people felt they should eat at Christmas time, I can say with confidence now that I LOVE panettone. What has changed? I have become more adventurous in the world of the high rise, vanilla scented Italian treat and have left behind me those that were mass produced mountains of dryness. Gosh, I even think I have reached a climax with some of this year's samples - with the king of the cakes being the Loison cherry panettone. Made with real butter (you can taste it) it smells delightful - buttery, vanilla fragranced, fruity and well, cosy - if you can smell like that? It is moist, but not as a wet fruit cake can be, it is light - but not without substance... It takes me to a warm corner in a festive room and fills me with comfort. All that in a cake. Amazing.

What is challenging this year, is that with the EURO being so strong, and general prices being higher, we are finding it difficult to accept the prices - maybe we've been out of touch and refusing to face reality - but we're looking at £20 for a good panettone. I think as a centre piece for any Christmas table or tea, it will pay its way as the taste justifies the price. We have managed to persuade ourselves - but will we persuade our customers? I think so. I can imagine giving it to friends and family as a lovely gift that can be shared - and gifts like that, that give a warm feeling, are generally difficult to come by.