Author Archives: sheg4184

An Old Casino and a Catalonian Thunderstorm

Posted on 20 June 2016 by sheg4184

It is a Thursday night in Pals, a small town in Catalonia, just a few miles inland from the Costa Brava in northern Spain. The bar down the road is celebrating its 50th birthday with bunting and beer and cheerful … Continue reading →

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“I can see clearly now…”

Posted on 11 June 2016 by sheg4184

Last weekend, in a bustling café on a boulevard in the south of France, I watched two trays of Aperol Spritz heading to neighbouring tables, where diners were keen to kick off with a little splash of sunshine before brunch. As … Continue reading →

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A Tale of Steak and Ceviche

Posted on 3 June 2016 by sheg4184

The Smith Butcher & Grill Room has been getting very good reviews by word-of-mouth and on the internet. So, as this month it celebrated its first birthday, we decided we were well overdue for a visit. Smith B&G is an unexpectedly  cavernous … Continue reading →

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“Fashion Fantasy”

Posted on 28 May 2016 by sheg4184

“Every day is a fashion show and the world is your runway” ~ Chanel Last night I was a super model. OK, well maybe not quite a “super” model, but I didn’t fall off the catwalk, which I consider a … Continue reading →

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Dream Kitchen

Posted on 15 May 2016 by sheg4184

“…But the kitchen will not come into its own again until it ceases to be a status symbol and becomes again a workshop… [and] you and I will know it chiefly by its fragrances and its clutter. It won’t be … Continue reading →

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The Dinner Party

Posted on 6 May 2016 by sheg4184

“Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.”  – Harriet Van Horne,  journalist Since the genesis of shows like Master Chef and the rise of Jamie, Nigella, Gordon and Curtis, who amongst you has … Continue reading →

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Highlights of Cebu City

Posted on 29 April 2016 by sheg4184

A weekend in Cebu City. A friend’s birthday. A room at The Henry. A table  at Anzani . A Sunday recovery barbecue by the pool in the friend’s garden. A recipe for a super weekend. Our hotel may be a good place to … Continue reading →

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Mother’s Milk or Mother’s Ruin?

Posted on 22 April 2016 by sheg4184

“Red meat and gin.” – Julia Child, on the ingredients for a long life. Ten years ago micro-breweries hit the market with ‘craft’ or ‘boutique’ beers, providing the world with interesting alternatives to the mass-produced European style lagers.  Today, word … Continue reading →

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A Host of Golden Daffodils

Posted on 12 April 2016 by sheg4184

Manila is the natural habitat of the small dog, given the proliferation of high rise apartments and limited green space. In our own area of Manila, I often pass herds of tiny dogs, sometimes dressed in slippers and jackets, occasionally … Continue reading →

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Dancing with Dolphins

Posted on 4 April 2016 by sheg4184

  Another March, another birthday, and finding I had no great inclination to party, we headed north to Subic instead, where rumour had it there were dolphins to be met. It’s a three-hour drive from Makati – about 120 km north-west … Continue reading →

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