We’re delighted to report that Edible London 2018 was a raging success and the feedback from our guests has been 100% positive.  As Edible London and other tours are a major fundraiser for the chapter this gives us a considerable input into our bursary funds.

As you’ll see from the many photos below, our guests managed to keep up with a hectic pace over the four and a bit days they spent with us in May.  Credit for the photos goes to Dame Chrissie Walker and Mike Mathes – husband of President Hayley Matson Mathes and First ‘Dude’!

Wednesday 16th May – Welcome Reception

We welcomed our US guests at Parabola Restaurant in the Design Museum – this gave us plenty of room for London Dames to join us and meet our dynamic guests.

L-R Hayley Matson Mathes, Jolene Kim, Sue Carter, Fern Yoshida, Valentina Harris, Julia Platt Leonard and Jacqui Pickles

L-R Ann Stratte, Barbara Hanley, Marilyn Chou, Susan Brennan and Paige Innerarity

L-R Jolene Kim, Jacqui Pickles, Anne Willan and Fern Yoshida

L-R Mary Pateras, Jolene Kim and Toni Manning

L-R Belinda Smith Sullivan, Dan Sullivan, Anne Dolamore, Jim Schachtscheider and Barbara Cook

Margaret Happel Perry (L) and Chantal Coady

On Thursday our visiting Dames went to the amazing School of Artisan Food at the Welbeck Estate in Nottinghamshire where they were the guests of Dame Alison Swan Parente (MBE). They were treated royally by the school, and ended their visit with a personal tour of private rooms at Welbeck Abbey followed by tea.  On arrival back in London we whisked them to the lovely Honey and Smoke where Chef/Patron Sarit Packer and her mostly female crew gave them an Eastern Mediterranean feast par excellence.

At King's Cross Station

Bakery Tutor Wayne Caddy with Hayley Matson Mathes and Tricia Gelles

L-R Tricia Gelles, Margaret Happel Perry, Belinda Smith Sullivan, Paige Innerarity, Marilyn Chou, Julie Chernoff, Drew Faulkner and Hayley Matson Mathes

Tea at the Abbey

L-R Tricia Gelles, Hayley Matson Mathes, Alison Parente and Nathalie Dupree

L-R Hayley Matson Mathes, Sarit Packer, Jacqui Pickles and Valentina Harris

Friday started with Culinary Tours of several areas of London – our visitors were split into groups to wander the streets of: the City of London (Leadenhall Market) led by City of London Blue Badge Guide Tina Baxter; Soho led by expert guide Peter Berthoud whose historical knowledge of the area was key; Portobello Road and surrounds led by local resident and London Dame Caroline Hope; and, especially for the gardeners, a tour of the Chelsea Physic Garden by docent Annabel Allott followed by a quick whizz around Fortnum and Mason.  All the tours included a lunch stop – the Lamb Tavern in Leadenhall Market, Brasserie Zedel in Piccadilly, GinTonica in Portobello, and Cafe Murano in St. James’.  Sadly we only have photos of the Portobello tour which included a pre-lunch gin tasting at The Distillery – lucky things!

The Chinese Tea Company

Time for a Gin Tasting

Heirloom Tomato Salad

Lunch at GinTonica L-R Mike Pav, Beth Pav, Hayley Matson Mathes, Caroline Hope, David Gelles, Tricia Gelles, Suzanne Fain and John Fain

Hayley Matson Mathes and Mike Mathes

A small selection of gins

After lunch the group headed to 67 Pall Mall, the Private Member Wine Club, where a comparative (blind) tasting of English Sparkling Wines and Champagnes was presented by Steven Spurrier MW – well-known to most of our US guests as the host of The Judgement of  Paris, the famous tasting where California wines were pitted against the wines of Burgundy and Bordeaux and won.  This time the Champagnes came out on top, though the English sparklers gave them a run for their money!

Beth and Mike Pav

Hayley Matson Mathes

Blind tasting

L-R Tricia Gelles, Steven Spurrier and Hayley Matson Mathes

The Innholders Livery Company, with Chef Herbert Berger, was a special destination for dinner, so special transport was laid on – an original London Routemaster, complete with ‘clippie’, made short work of the journey from South Kensington to College Street, south of Cannon Street.  A perfectly executed dinner was accompanied by baroque music from a lutenist in the gallery and our guests were thrilled to be dining in such prestigious surroundings.

L-R Belinda Smith Sullivan, Margaret Happel Perry, Antoinette Benjamin, Barbara Cook and Hayley Matson Mathes

A perfect setting

L-R Drew Faulkner, Ann Stratte, Julie Chernoff, Hayley Matson Mathes, Stacy Zeigler and Beth Pav

L-R Julie Chernoff, Anne Dolamore, Jacqui Pickles and Stacy Zeigler

Getting ready to eat!

Ann Stratte and Hayley Matson Mathes

Saturday is always market day during our Edible London tours, and this was no different – on arriving at Borough Market our early birds split into two groups with those more intrepid Dames following Jacqui Pickles and Meredith Whitely to Maltby Street and Spa Terminus. While the groups were exploring, our London team was busy shopping the market for a special picnic lunch which was served at the Globe Tavern – as this was also a certain Royal Wedding Day, we’d gone to town decorating the space and staff with Borough Market had assisted with providing a tv screen and bubbles from Nyetimber to toast the happy couple.  There were a few tears and lots of laughter as all eyes were glued to the screen until the ceremony was over before tucking in to a veritable feast of seasonal fruit and veg, delicious cheese and charcuterie and a delightful cake from Luminary Bakery.

A selection of bread from Borough Market

The pre-show

A bit of fun with the 'Royals'!

Valentina Harris entertaining the crowds

Ahhh.

A feast for the eyes

Some of our London teaching Dames had agreed to share some their skills and expertise with our guests, so on Sunday morning we convened at Our Table, a multi-kitchen cooking school in Farringdon.  The US Dames cooked, learned some new dishes, and in doing so provided lunch for the group.  Dames Silla Bjerrum and Angela Malik started their group on making paneer – a completely new adventure for them – which was to accompany a lentil salad and samosas for the first course.  Meanwhile Dame Valentina Harris’ group, ably assisted by Dame Jacqui Pickles, were learning the finer points of pasta.  They turned out ravioli staffed with spinach and ricotta, tagliatelle with a classic tomato sauce and rotolo stuffed with wild mushrooms for the main course.  To close with a bang, Dames Miranda Gore Browne and Rachel Davies presented a triple layer sponge with fresh whipped cream and strawberries, and a classic Bakewell tart for dessert.

As the lunch drew to a close, Dame Julia Platt Leonard interviewed Honorary Dame Sheila Dillon about her lifelong love of food and how it led to her becoming the ‘voice’ of food on BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme.

Final instructions - L-R Miranda Gore Browne, Angela Malik, Sue Carter, Jacqui Pickles, Silla Bjerrum and Valentina Harris

L-R Drew Faulkner, Toni Manning, Karen Dar Woon, John Fain, Angela Malik, Suzanne Fain and Beth Pav

L-R David Gelles, Fern Yoshida, Valentina Harris, Barbara Cook and Tricia Gelles

Jacqui and Valentina making rotolo with Barbara Cook

Miranda Gore Browne

Rachel Davies

L-R Marilyn Chou, Tricia Gelles, Karen Dar Woon and Fern Yoshida

Sheila at Edible London 2018

Lunch! L-R Drew Faulkner, Suzanne Fain, John Fain, Susan Slack, Marilyn Chou and Beth Pav

Sunday evening was a time for thanks and farewells at Chef Phil Howard’s Elystan Street restaurant which he had kindly given us for the night.  Speaking eloquently of his culinary ethos – seasonality and sustainability – Chef Howard welcomed the group before letting his food do the talking.  The meal was peppered with a few speeches and presentations and then, suddenly, Edible London was over for another year.

L-R Valentina Harris, Hayley Matson Mathes, Jacqui Pickles and Chrissie Walker

Chef Phil Howard

L-R Olga Boikess, Tricia Gelles, Anne Dolamore, Karen Dar Woon and Suzanne Fain

L-R Mike Mathes, Fern Yoshida, Jim Schachtscheider, Barbara Cook and Toni Manning

L-R Valentina Harris, Margaret Happel Perry, Antoinette Benjamin and Olga Boikess

L-R Ann Stratte, Nathalie Dupree and Irene Moore

L-R Scott Bryan, Julie Chernoff, Tricia Gelles, David Gelles, Olga Boikess, Valentina Harris, Bill Stratte and Jacqui Pickles

L-R Hayley Matson Mathes, Leonard Joseph and Beth Pav

L-R Tricia Gelles, David Gelles, Bill Stratte, Ann Stratte, Jacqui Pickles, Scott Bryan, Stacy Zeigler and Drew Faulkner

Jacqui Pickles and Sue Carter

Asparagus and deep fried pheasant's egg

Jacqui Pickles and Drew Faulkner

Dame Hayley Matson Mathes and Dame Chrissie Walker

Asparagus, broad beans and sea trout

Dame Hayley Matson Mathes, Chef Howard and Dame Jacqui Pickles

With many thanks to all those London Dames who helped make this event possible:

Event Organisers: Sue Carter and Jacqui Pickles with much help from Valentina Harris

Volunteers: Silla Bjerrum, Rachel Davies, Sheila Dillon, Anne Dolamore, Miranda Gore Browne, Caroline Hope, Angela Malik, Giselda Parkin, Mary Pateras, Julia Platt Leonard, Chrissie (and Graham) Walker, and Meredith Whitely

Donations to Goody Bags: Dames Chantal Coady (Rococo Chocolates), Anne Dolamore (Grub Street Books), Clare Marriage (Dove’s Farm Oat Bars), Giselda Parkin (Home Made Fudge), Alex Robson (King of Soho Gin), Meredith Whitely (Food at Heart Cocoa) and Friends: Bonnie Brulee (MisoTasty Miso Soup kits)

Thanks also go to our hosts at many venues, especially Dame Alison Parente.

We’re delighted to report that Edible London 2018 was a raging success and the feedback from our guests has been 100% positive.  As Edible London and other tours are a major fundraiser for the chapter this gives us a considerable input into our bursary funds.

As you’ll see from the many photos below, our guests managed to keep up with a hectic pace over the four and a bit days they spent with us in May.  Credit for the photos goes to Dame Chrissie Walker and Mike Mathes – husband of President Hayley Matson Mathes and First ‘Dude’!

Wednesday 16th May – Welcome Reception

We welcomed our US guests at Parabola Restaurant in the Design Museum – this gave us plenty of room for London Dames to join us and meet our dynamic guests.

L-R Hayley Matson Mathes, Jolene Kim, Sue Carter, Fern Yoshida, Valentina Harris, Julia Platt Leonard and Jacqui Pickles

L-R Ann Stratte, Barbara Hanley, Marilyn Chou, Susan Brennan and Paige Innerarity

L-R Jolene Kim, Jacqui Pickles, Anne Willan and Fern Yoshida

L-R Mary Pateras, Jolene Kim and Toni Manning

L-R Belinda Smith Sullivan, Dan Sullivan, Anne Dolamore, Jim Schachtscheider and Barbara Cook

Margaret Happel Perry (L) and Chantal Coady

On Thursday our visiting Dames went to the amazing School of Artisan Food at the Welbeck Estate in Nottinghamshire where they were the guests of Dame Alison Swan Parente (MBE). They were treated royally by the school, and ended their visit with a personal tour of private rooms at Welbeck Abbey followed by tea.  On arrival back in London we whisked them to the lovely Honey and Smoke where Chef/Patron Sarit Packer and her mostly female crew gave them an Eastern Mediterranean feast par excellence.

At King's Cross Station

Bakery Tutor Wayne Caddy with Hayley Matson Mathes and Tricia Gelles

L-R Tricia Gelles, Margaret Happel Perry, Belinda Smith Sullivan, Paige Innerarity, Marilyn Chou, Julie Chernoff, Drew Faulkner and Hayley Matson Mathes

Tea at the Abbey

L-R Tricia Gelles, Hayley Matson Mathes, Alison Parente and Nathalie Dupree

L-R Hayley Matson Mathes, Sarit Packer, Jacqui Pickles and Valentina Harris

Friday started with Culinary Tours of several areas of London – our visitors were split into groups to wander the streets of: the City of London (Leadenhall Market) led by City of London Blue Badge Guide Tina Baxter; Soho led by expert guide Peter Berthoud whose historical knowledge of the area was key; Portobello Road and surrounds led by local resident and London Dame Caroline Hope; and, especially for the gardeners, a tour of the Chelsea Physic Garden by docent Annabel Allott followed by a quick whizz around Fortnum and Mason.  All the tours included a lunch stop – the Lamb Tavern in Leadenhall Market, Brasserie Zedel in Piccadilly, GinTonica in Portobello, and Cafe Murano in St. James’.  Sadly we only have photos of the Portobello tour which included a pre-lunch gin tasting at The Distillery – lucky things!

The Chinese Tea Company

Time for a Gin Tasting

Heirloom Tomato Salad

Lunch at GinTonica L-R Mike Pav, Beth Pav, Hayley Matson Mathes, Caroline Hope, David Gelles, Tricia Gelles, Suzanne Fain and John Fain

Hayley Matson Mathes and Mike Mathes

A small selection of gins

After lunch the group headed to 67 Pall Mall, the Private Member Wine Club, where a comparative (blind) tasting of English Sparkling Wines and Champagnes was presented by Steven Spurrier MW – well-known to most of our US guests as the host of The Judgement of  Paris, the famous tasting where California wines were pitted against the wines of Burgundy and Bordeaux and won.  This time the Champagnes came out on top, though the English sparklers gave them a run for their money!

Beth and Mike Pav

Hayley Matson Mathes

Blind tasting

L-R Tricia Gelles, Steven Spurrier and Hayley Matson Mathes

The Innholders Livery Company, with Chef Herbert Berger, was a special destination for dinner, so special transport was laid on – an original London Routemaster, complete with ‘clippie’, made short work of the journey from South Kensington to College Street, south of Cannon Street.  A perfectly executed dinner was accompanied by baroque music from a lutenist in the gallery and our guests were thrilled to be dining in such prestigious surroundings.

L-R Belinda Smith Sullivan, Margaret Happel Perry, Antoinette Benjamin, Barbara Cook and Hayley Matson Mathes

A perfect setting

L-R Drew Faulkner, Ann Stratte, Julie Chernoff, Hayley Matson Mathes, Stacy Zeigler and Beth Pav

L-R Julie Chernoff, Anne Dolamore, Jacqui Pickles and Stacy Zeigler

Getting ready to eat!

Ann Stratte and Hayley Matson Mathes

Saturday is always market day during our Edible London tours, and this was no different – on arriving at Borough Market our early birds split into two groups with those more intrepid Dames following Jacqui Pickles and Meredith Whitely to Maltby Street and Spa Terminus. While the groups were exploring, our London team was busy shopping the market for a special picnic lunch which was served at the Globe Tavern – as this was also a certain Royal Wedding Day, we’d gone to town decorating the space and staff with Borough Market had assisted with providing a tv screen and bubbles from Nyetimber to toast the happy couple.  There were a few tears and lots of laughter as all eyes were glued to the screen until the ceremony was over before tucking in to a veritable feast of seasonal fruit and veg, delicious cheese and charcuterie and a delightful cake from Luminary Bakery.

A selection of bread from Borough Market

The pre-show

A bit of fun with the 'Royals'!

Valentina Harris entertaining the crowds

Ahhh.

A feast for the eyes

Some of our London teaching Dames had agreed to share some their skills and expertise with our guests, so on Sunday morning we convened at Our Table, a multi-kitchen cooking school in Farringdon.  The US Dames cooked, learned some new dishes, and in doing so provided lunch for the group.  Dames Silla Bjerrum and Angela Malik started their group on making paneer – a completely new adventure for them – which was to accompany a lentil salad and samosas for the first course.  Meanwhile Dame Valentina Harris’ group, ably assisted by Dame Jacqui Pickles, were learning the finer points of pasta.  They turned out ravioli staffed with spinach and ricotta, tagliatelle with a classic tomato sauce and rotolo stuffed with wild mushrooms for the main course.  To close with a bang, Dames Miranda Gore Browne and Rachel Davies presented a triple layer sponge with fresh whipped cream and strawberries, and a classic Bakewell tart for dessert.

As the lunch drew to a close, Dame Julia Platt Leonard interviewed Honorary Dame Sheila Dillon about her lifelong love of food and how it led to her becoming the ‘voice’ of food on BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme.

Final instructions - L-R Miranda Gore Browne, Angela Malik, Sue Carter, Jacqui Pickles, Silla Bjerrum and Valentina Harris

L-R Drew Faulkner, Toni Manning, Karen Dar Woon, John Fain, Angela Malik, Suzanne Fain and Beth Pav

L-R David Gelles, Fern Yoshida, Valentina Harris, Barbara Cook and Tricia Gelles

Jacqui and Valentina making rotolo with Barbara Cook

Miranda Gore Browne

Rachel Davies

L-R Marilyn Chou, Tricia Gelles, Karen Dar Woon and Fern Yoshida

Sheila at Edible London 2018

Lunch! L-R Drew Faulkner, Suzanne Fain, John Fain, Susan Slack, Marilyn Chou and Beth Pav

Sunday evening was a time for thanks and farewells at Chef Phil Howard’s Elystan Street restaurant which he had kindly given us for the night.  Speaking eloquently of his culinary ethos – seasonality and sustainability – Chef Howard welcomed the group before letting his food do the talking.  The meal was peppered with a few speeches and presentations and then, suddenly, Edible London was over for another year.

L-R Valentina Harris, Hayley Matson Mathes, Jacqui Pickles and Chrissie Walker

Chef Phil Howard

L-R Olga Boikess, Tricia Gelles, Anne Dolamore, Karen Dar Woon and Suzanne Fain

L-R Mike Mathes, Fern Yoshida, Jim Schachtscheider, Barbara Cook and Toni Manning

L-R Valentina Harris, Margaret Happel Perry, Antoinette Benjamin and Olga Boikess

L-R Ann Stratte, Nathalie Dupree and Irene Moore

L-R Scott Bryan, Julie Chernoff, Tricia Gelles, David Gelles, Olga Boikess, Valentina Harris, Bill Stratte and Jacqui Pickles

L-R Hayley Matson Mathes, Leonard Joseph and Beth Pav

L-R Tricia Gelles, David Gelles, Bill Stratte, Ann Stratte, Jacqui Pickles, Scott Bryan, Stacy Zeigler and Drew Faulkner

Jacqui Pickles and Sue Carter

Asparagus and deep fried pheasant's egg

Jacqui Pickles and Drew Faulkner

Dame Hayley Matson Mathes and Dame Chrissie Walker

Asparagus, broad beans and sea trout

Dame Hayley Matson Mathes, Chef Howard and Dame Jacqui Pickles

With many thanks to all those London Dames who helped make this event possible:

Event Organisers: Sue Carter and Jacqui Pickles with much help from Valentina Harris

Volunteers: Silla Bjerrum, Rachel Davies, Sheila Dillon, Anne Dolamore, Miranda Gore Browne, Caroline Hope, Angela Malik, Giselda Parkin, Mary Pateras, Julia Platt Leonard, Chrissie (and Graham) Walker, and Meredith Whitely

Donations to Goody Bags: Dames Chantal Coady (Rococo Chocolates), Anne Dolamore (Grub Street Books), Clare Marriage (Dove’s Farm Oat Bars), Giselda Parkin (Home Made Fudge), Alex Robson (King of Soho Gin), Meredith Whitely (Food at Heart Cocoa) and Friends: Bonnie Brulee (MisoTasty Miso Soup kits)

Thanks also go to our hosts at many venues, especially Dame Alison Parente.

PLEASE NOTE – May 12-16 is SOLD OUT

ADDITIONAL TOUR DATE – MAY 21 -25 is now on sale   Itinerary content as below, timing may vary   

With Wendy Barrie & Fiona Richmond

Monday May 21 – Friday May 25

Monday 21st May

Travel by train from London to Edinburgh and to the lovely Dunstane House boutique hotel in the centre of the city.  This will be your base while in Edinburgh.  There will be time to explore the city before the first event of the tour.

Dinner at Cafe St. Honore

Tuesday 22nd May

Country Estates of the Borderlands

Carmichael Estate: here you have the opportunity to meet Clan Chief Carmichael. There will be a tasting and talk about his venison and estate with a light lunch in their tearoom … passing through magnificent countryside to….Mochrum Estate – this stunning castle is not open to the public and a private visit has been specially arranged with a rare opportunity to see the original and very rare Belted Galloway Cattle on Slow Food Ark of Taste.

Time to see pretty rural towns en route to dinner by Castle Douglas…

Reception followed by Dinner at Craigadam, cooked by the lady of the house, Celia, who, with her husband Richard owns the farm, shooting estate and country house. Dinner is served in their gracious dining hall with all the appointments one would imagine in a gracious Scottish country mansion.

Wednesday 23rd May

The Kingdom of Fife

We visit the multi-award-winning Ardross Farm Shop home to the Pollock family, by the pretty seaside village of Elie.

Meet Jane Stewart, of St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company and taste her award-winning raw milk cheeses using old heritage cultures that are on Slow Food Ark of Taste.

Following Jane’s lunch we shall explore Fife’s famous East Neuk fishing villages. 

Reception at Scottish Food Studio: Meetings & Greetings with a Feast of Produce.

Visit Wendy’s seaside studio on Fife’s Coastal Path  along with invited stars of Scotland’s Food & Drink. https://www.wendybarrie.co.uk

Thursday 24th May

The Incorporated Trades of Edinburgh is an organization steeped in tradition and history dating back to medieval times, led by an elected Deacon and Boxmaster. There will be a short presentation on the Baxters the original name for the artisan bakers of the city. This fascinating museum is not generally open to the public so you will receive a private viewing.

Visit to Prestonfield:  built in 1687 for Sir James Dick, whose grandson was first to cultivate rhubarb in Scotland. Prestonfield is now a glamorous hotel still with Prestonfield Rhubarb we shall see in their walled garden and peacocks on the lawns! Prestonfield Rhubarb is on Slow Food Ark of Taste. Luncheon will be served in their exquisite private dining-room.

Time to explore and shop in Scotland’s capital in the afternoon.

Whisky Tasting in Glengoyne Room followed by Dinner at Contini Cannonball Restaurant.

Friday 25th May

Depart Edinburgh after breakfast and return to London.

Edible Scotland Pricing

Includes all transport within Edinburgh and surrounding countryside, meals and beverages, room and breakfast for 4 nights. Maximum attendance – 14

Full participation x 1 single           £1900

Full participation x 1 couple          £2900

Dames sharing a room                  £1490*

*small supplement due to room pricing

Notes: it is expected that guests will make their own travel arrangements to and from Scotland.

 By Air: while airlines fly direct to Edinburgh from the US east coast, you should think about making this either an open jaw (ie inbound only and fly out of one of the London airports) or fly through London, connecting there for a direct flight to Edinburgh.  BA flies to Edinburgh from Heathrow and Gatwick, and flights can be as little as £70 one way. www.ba.com

By Rail: trains between London and Edinburgh run approximately every hour and take between 5 and 6 hours. www.thetrainline.com or www.virgintrainseastcoast.com

Because of the nature of this tour we are unable to offer a non-participating spouse option.

For any enquiries relating to the itinerary please contact Wendy Barrie at wendy@wendybarrie.co.uk

For all other enquiries, such as reservations and payments, please contact Sue Carter at sue.ldelondon@outlook.com

Edinburgh by night

Edible Cork and Edible London 2023

Now that we’ve caught our breath after 10 days of Edible Tours which ended on May 22^nd, it’s time to review the tours and share some photos – there will be more in-depth articles in the Summer issue of the LDEI member magazine, The Quarterly, which is now available on the ldei.org website – but here’s a taster.

Edible Cork

For 2020 we had lined up an Edible Galway tour but when we revisited the idea and realised the original programme had been compromised by the Covid pandemic, it was Anne Dolamore, having introduced Darina Allen to our Chapter, who suggested we switch our attention to Cork and the possibility of visiting Ballymaloe. Together with the fact that Cathy Sloman had attended the school for three months in the recent past and been invited back to teach there, it became the obvious choice for our first Edible Ireland adventure. Thus ensued months of research and crossings to and from Cork earlier this year and on May 15^th, Cathy and Jacqui Pickles welcomed 15 visitors from the US Chapters for the five day Edible Cork tour.

It became a real celebration of the achievements of (mainly) Irish women in food from start to finish.  A chance meeting with Rebecca Harte, manager of the Farmgate Café in The English Market resulted in our organising a celebration of such women at a specially arranged dinner there on our first night.   Rebecca had kindly invited six guests, all in our field of work, who joined to tell their stories and to set the scene for things to come.

From Thursday to Saturday, we covered the City of Cork, East and West of there with visits to special suppliers and restaurants.  From the market traders in the English market to sustainable fish smoking, buffalo farming and mozzarella making, black pudding production, oyster farming, whisky and mead distillation, we covered it all.  Other special dinners were held at the celebrated vegetarian restaurant, Paradiso, and at Goldie, with a fabulous fish menu devised by Head Chef Aishling Moore from the daily catch.  A rather special “pub” supper rounded off an afternoon in Kinsale at the Bulman Inn.

Our final day saw us headed for Shanagarry and the organic farm and gardens of the world renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School.  We were welcomed royally by Darina and Tim Allen who generously gave their time to our group – sharing stories, imparting their wealth of knowledge and guiding us around the magnificent gardens and grounds.   After an afternoon attending the May Fair up at the nearby Ballymaloe House, Darina and Tim were our guests there for a sumptious final supper.  Heartfelt thanks to them for the memorable visit to the school.

Edible London

A total of 22 US Dames (a few ‘Dudes’ included) and a new London Dame, Angela Dansby who lives in Brussels, joined us in London on Wednesday 17^th May – they met quite a few London members, and a couple of surprise guests at the Welcome Reception at No. 16 Hotel in South Kensington.

Thursday featured A Bespoke Tour of Fortnum and Masons hosted by a F & M ‘redcoat’, and a Private Tour of Berry Brothers & Rudd with wine tasting – the group was split into two with Jacqui Pickles and Fiona Richmond chaperoning the former, while Sue Carter with another new London Dame, Hermione Ireland chaperoned the latter.

Both tours were hugely popular and those at Fortnums went on to Brasserie Zedel for lunch while the Wine group crossed over to the wine private members’ club 67 Pall Mall for a private lunch and a tour of their cellars.

Dinner was at Darjeeling Express for a Royal Thali Feast hosted by Asma Khan.

Friday was spent either at the wonderful School of Artisan Food in Nottinghamshire or exploring English wine and culture in East Sussex.  Dame Alison Parente welcomed the group, with hosts Jacqui Pickles and Catherine Sloman, to SOAF where they visited the school, viewed a demo of how to make pork pies and scotch eggs, visited the farm shop and the Hartley Gallery within the Welbeck Estate grounds and ended with tea and scones (plus a tour of the gardens) hosted by Alison and her husband William.

Meanwhile in Sussex the group had a full day which was time-critical.  Fiona Richmond and Valentina Harris kept the time and started with a visit to the Ditchling Museum of Crafts.  Next, Ridgeview Estate for a tasting of sparkling wines before driving east to the Rathfinney Estate for lunch and more sparkling wines.  After lunch there was a private visit to Firle House (our Jane Austen fans were thrilled!) then on to Charleston Farmhouse for tour of the house and garden, the wartime residence of Bloomsbury members Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant.  The day ended with a wine and Sussex cheese and charcuterie tasting presented by Valentina Harris and Emma Rice (currently a consulting winemaker, previously head winemaker at Hattingly Valley Wines).

Saturday is Market Day and our traditional visit to Borough Market – while the visitors ranged through the market with various chaperones and Borough experts Jacqui and her kitchen team (Dames Andrea Waters and Catherine Sloman) were busy buying and preparing a classic market picnic.  Along with the delicious food, our guests were introduced by BM Communications Director and Dame Kate Howell to Mark Riddaway (Borough Market:Edible Histories) and Angela Clutton (Borough Market: The Knowledge). They both generously shared their stories of the market, and its history as they sat overlooking the Thames at Glaziers Hall.

Saturday night is Dine-Around night – Dames host small groups at their favourite restaurants.  The restaurants and hosts this year were Jacqui Pickles at Chez Bruce, Elisabeth Luard at Moro, Sue Carter at Myrtle, Fiona Richmond at Portland and Valentina Harris at Theo Randall at the Intercontinental.

Sunday morning was an early brunch at the Coachmaker’s Arms in Marylebone where the group were treated to kedgeree and bloody marys while they were entertained by Sheila Dillon and Carolyn Steel who spoke about her books, Hungry City and Sitopeia.  Clearly the best of friends, the chat was both informal and informative – Carolyn is a compelling speaker – check her on YouTube.

We re-grouped that evening at Elystan Street restaurant where Chef Phil Howard welcomed us with Champagne and canapes before serving a perfect English summer dinner.  London Dames and friends joined in the fun.  What a great way to wish everyone a fond farewell.

Our thanks go to all of those who helped to bring these events together:

First, the planning team – Jacqui Pickles, Sue Carter, Anne Dolamore, Valentina Harris, Cathy Sloman and Fiona Richmond

The additional London Dames who participated/hosted/chaperoned: Darina Allen, Sheila Dillon, Kate Howell, Hermione Ireland, Elisabeth Luard, Gina McAdam, Julia Platt Leonard, Emma Rice, Alison Swan Parente and Andrea Waters

The Friends of LDE London who helped: Rosemary Barron, Chrissie and Graham Walker

Donors for the Goody Bag: Fiona Cairns, Prue Leith, Borough Market

Finally, our guest speakers: Angela Clutton, Mark Riddaway and Carolyn Steel

Credit for photos go to Chrissie Walker (Elystan Street); Angela Dansby (Fortnum & Mason, SOAF, Borough Market and Brunch among others); Susan Slack other US Dames for Cork and other venues and Valentina Harris for Sussex.