With the daffodils out and signs of cherry blossoms on the trees, a spring time theme seemed appropriate for this time of year. As luck would have it, a sunny Saturday afternoon too added to the occasion. Our very kind hosts for the afternoon were Pickles Deli in Baildon; purveyors of locally produced and home…
Author: Chez Shamwari
Afternoon Tea Saturday 7 March 2015
I have a very small select group of ‘regulars’ amongst my guests and today’s visitors were some of those lucky ones – not because people don’t want to come back I hasten to add. On the contrary. The challenge is my ever growing waiting list and the need to give those that have not yet…
East Meets West – Saltaire Clandestine Cake Club
I suppose you could argue that if you continued to travel east, you’d eventually end up back in the ‘west’! However, the idea behind this theme was to consider ingredients and flavours typical of Asia or those parts of the ‘eastern world’. Interestingly enough, a lot of Asian countries do not have ‘cake’ as we…
Lunch – Sunday 22 February 2015
Ah, the institution that is Sunday lunch. With winter hanging on outside, the inclement weather battering the windows, it really was most fitting to be enjoying the warming comforts of good food and genial company. A five course menu was the order of the day so I hope you’re hungry … To get things going,…
Afternoon Tea Sunday 25 January 2015
What better to do on a very wintery Sunday afternoon in the middle of January than indulge in a delectable afternoon tea? Warm and cosy inside, lashings of tea and cake, great company and conversation; there’s no better place to be. These were indeed the sentiments of my guests as they sat down to share…
Do Yourself A Flavour – Saltaire Clandestine Cake Club
No, it’s not a typo on the old adage, do yourself a favour … our theme was really was all about flavours and the sky was the limit. We had an exciting new venue at the hotel and country club, Hollins Hall to whom I am extremely grateful for making such a fuss of us;…
Christmas Afternoon Tea Sunday 14 December 2014
I always look forward to designing my Christmas afternoon tea menu each year. There are so many wonderful flavours and delicious food to match the festivity of the season. While there were the usual suspects of my signature Christmas cake and mince pies, I experimented a little with incorporating other seasonal flavours into the menu…
A festive lunch – Saturday 6 December 2014
‘Tis the season to be jolly and festivities began in earnest at Chez Shamwari with a lunch befitting any fat man in a red suit. The goal was to deliver a menu dotted with seasonal delights and not stick to everything traditional for this time of year; I’ve nothing against it but there’s only so…
Anything Goes – Saltaire Clandestine Cake Club
Here’s the thing, ‘cake club’ is exactly what it says on the (cake) tin; a cake club, not a baking club. It’s also about fostering the idea of sharing a whole cake into several morsels (several times over). Cupcakes, muffins, brownies, biscuits, pies and tarts are banished; their inclusion would redefine us as a baking…
Afternoon Tea – Sunday 16 November 2014
Autumn. What’s not to love? The distinct chill in the air. The golds and reds of the trees. The warming and comforting flavours of the seasonal food. An afternoon tea in November was just the ticket to enjoy this time of year. Beetroot, leeks and English apples were the seasonal ingredients putting in an appearance….