Salade Niçoise Our youngest son is back from his final term at university and has been trying to kill off his dissertation like the most lackadaisical of executioners. He is vegan, which has necessitated a few culinary tweaks, but nothing to keep anyone awake at night. Happily, (for me if not for him) we've been […]

Salmon Fillets with Masala Sauce, Basmati Rice and Green Beans The inspiration for my masala sauce comes from Madhur Jaffrey's excellent 'Curry Easy' that was published in 2010 and proved a culinary game changer for our household. It is very clearly and well written and contains terrific photographs to boot.   Ingredients: (Serves 3 to […]

One of the most pleasurable parts of my vocation is getting the chance to visit some of our winemakers in situ. Although sadly curtailed over the past couple of years, these visits are invaluable to gain first-hand knowledge, and provide an in-depth insight into the unique terroir, micro-climate and vinification techniques of individual vineyards. They […]

Burgundian Bonhomie After almost two years of enforced isolation three of our sales team made a whistle-stop trip to Burgundy last week to sample some new bottlings, secure some much needed stock and catch up with developments at diverse domaines. We based ourselves in Beaune for our three night séjourn due to its proximity to […]

Roast Lamb with Gratin Dauphinois and Brussel Sprouts Whilst I always aim for a minimum of fuss when cooking I am sufficiently enamored of gratin dauphinois to think it merits an additional 10 minutes or so preparation time. Purists – especially French ones – are horrified by the idea of adding cheese but I’ve tried […]

Top Tips for Wedding Wine Planners With three-quarters of weddings postponed in 2020 and a mixed picture last year, 2022 is set to be the biggest year for nuptials since 1982. Three (out of 20) Yapp colleagues, alone, are tying the knot in the next six months. We've been advising on and supplying wedding wines […]

Stewed Beef with Mashed Potato and Celeriac and Watercress Happily, I'm now at an age when I seldom need to refer to texts for stalwart dishes. I rely on a combination of knowledge accrued from reading the likes of Elizabeth David and Nigel Slater as well as from eating with my parents and siblings, coupled […]

'Clos Montmarte' – A Marvel in a Metropolis Invitations from various vignerons to attend 'Wine Paris' a sizeable and diverse wine fair held at the 'Paris Expo' exhibition center in Porte de Versailles, that attracted 2,900 exhibitors, provided a perfect excuse to jump on the Eurostar and make for the City of Light. Held on […]

Vegan Spaghetti Bolognese or ‘Ragu’. I recently cooked this dish for two friends who are both mothers of hungry teenagers and they both asked me for the recipe so it can't have been a bad rendition. My original inspiration came from Claudia Roden's superb 'The Food of Italy' (Vintage) but it is years since I've […]

Kalamata Olive and Chorizo Rigatoni with Onion, Peppers and Passata.   Ingredients: (Serves 4) Pitted Kalamata olives x 70g Spicy chorizo x 40g (peeled & sliced to 4-5mm rounds) Durum wheat rigatoni x 250g Passata x 540g p Spanish onion x 1 (finely-diced) Fresh red chilli x 2 Large garlic cloves x 2 (thinly-sliced) Red […]