March Food News with Eat With Ellen

I’d hoped by the time I was writing my March round-up that we’d be basking in warm temperatures, eating fresh, spring food and getting close to thinking about sitting outside. Not so, I’m afraid. The Beast from the East finally seems to have shifted, but it’s kept me – and most of the nation – holed up eating one-pot winter warmers and thinking about mulling some wine. As I write this, I’m heading down to the seaside for a few days, hoping that it will be full of blue skies and fresh fish and long walks on the beach, even if I will have to wear my coat!

And don’t forget it’s Mother’s Day this Sunday (11th) – I know I’ll be treating my own wonderful mummy to a foodie treat. Let me know whether your Mother’s Day is all about the food! In the meantime, I’ve found some fun things to get you through the big thaw and hopefully to some slightly more spring or summer-like days so we can all crack on, open the gin and fire up the barbecue

 MUST GO

Pizza Brunch at Radici

At the end of last month Radici in Islington launched a new bottomless weekend brunch centred around sharing pizza. The Brunch Pinsa is for two to share and features a few classic combinations like smoked salmon and yoghurt, poached eggs and avocado, prosciutto and mushroom. Other Italy-inspired dishes including: pappa pomodoro, burrata and anchovy; Cannellini bean stew with poached eggs and sausage and Ciambotta, grilled pumpkin, mushrooms and torpedino tomatoes. Or you would go sweet and try grilled pineapple and pancetta pancakes with, mascarpone, honey and orange.

Try all this, plus bottomless prosecco for £15pp on Saturdays from 11am to 2.30pm, and Sundays 11am-4pm.

Radici, 30 Almeida St, London N1 1AD. Nearest stations – Highbury & islington, Angel, Essex Road

Guest Chef Series at The Game Bird at The Stafford

Some of the nation’s top talent is coming to The Game Bird at The Stafford as part of its new guest chef series. The series starts with Michael Wignall on Friday, March 23, who will be creating a unique five-course menu celebrating British ingredients, with dishes including torched eel, cod, aged West Country duck, and hazelnut praline parfait.

The second dinner in the series will be held on Thursday, June 7, with Lisa Allen, Executive Chef of the Michelin-starred Northcote in Lancashire, who will bring her innovative twists on classic Lancastrian dishes.

Michael and Lisa will cook alongside the team at The Game Bird and the newly-appointed Culinary Director of The Stafford London, Ben Tish. There will be more guest chef appearances later in the year – watch this space!

Tickets for the dinners are £80pp, including canapés and Moët & Chandon on arrival, followed by the guest chef’s menu.

The Game Bird, The Stafford London, 16-18 St James’s Place, London SW1A 1NJ. Nearest station – Green Park 

MUST TRY

British Pie Week

British Pie Week is on RIGHT NOW! It starts on March 5, running until March 11 so make sure you get at least one down you over the next few days.

If you’re after something a bit different, how about Pieminister’s Pork Pie-Scream – soft-serve vanilla ice cream laced with free range British bacon & Bourbon maple syrup, served in a waffle-cone ‘pie crust’, finished with a free range British pork scratching and plenty of apple sauce.

It’s currently being trialled as part of a full soft-serve ice cream menu in Cardiff and Pieminister’s brand-new restaurants in London and Sheffield ahead of potentially being rolled out across all its restaurants in the summer.

Don’t worry, if you fancy something a bit more traditional, there are plenty of other options on offer. If you can’t get to a Pieminister, they’re doing a special Pie Week bundle on the online shop and chances to win boxes of pies on twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

To find out more visit www.pieminister.co.uk/pieweek.

OUT OF TOWN

Billy and Jack’s Supper Club at Weston Supper Club in Northamptonshire

Their supper clubs in London are always a big success, and Billy and Jack are now venturing out of town to cook at cook at one of William Sitwell’s legendary Supper Clubs in his family home, Weston Hall in Northamptonshire on Friday, March 23.

In case you haven’t heard of them, Billy and Jack met on MasterChef in 2016, teaming up as a duo after the show came to an end.

William Sitwell is one of the longstanding critics on Masterchef and it seems he liked enough of what he saw to invite Billy and Jack to cook at one of his acclaimed summer clubs..

For tickets, visit:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/william-sitwell-13713261552

Weston Hall, Nr. Towcester, Northants, NN12 8PU. Nearest station – Northampton

Mother’s Day at Ye Olde Bell, Barnby Moor, Nottinghamshire

Okay, so it’s a bit of a hike, but as well as lovely spa their food is rather fab – check out my review here. For Mother’s Day they’re offering a series of special spa breaks and foodie offerings for mummy friends, mums or other fabulous mums in the family.

It might be too late to book in for Mother’s Day, which includes spa, dinner and stay, or a three-course lunch or afternoon tea, as well as dinner and stay, but the ‘All About Mum’ package is available for the whole of March and April and as well as a spa day, includes lunch in the Herb Garden Brasserie. There’s a whole load of food-related fun to be had – on top of a lovely spa!

Ye Olde Bell Hotel, Barnby Moor, Retford DN22 8QS. Nearest station – Retford