General updates from Ian Baker http://www.ianbaker.biz Two Midlands friends have been showing off their culinary skills for celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo and award winning chef Luke Tipping of Birmingham’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, ‘Simpsons’. http://info.itvlocal.com/realcooks.shtml Many great reviews on this new tapas restaurant in Kings Heath. This one from Birmingham Mail. if you like Tapas, this looks like the place for you. Most tapas are mistakeably Spanish in influence. But others such as tabouleh, humus and taramasalata hint at exotic lands further across the Mediterranean - hence the name. A family foody has highly recommended this to me for its range of food, service and VFM. http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/food-and-drink/2008/06/19/byzantium-11-york-road-kings-heath-0121-444-5444-97319-21105313/ Glynn on the front page and heading for a Michelin Star.. http://www.purnellsrestaurant.com/press.php?item=12 After a two and a half year absence, Andy Waters is re-opening Edmunds restaurant... http://edmundsbirmingham.com/nostalgia.htm As a customer of Npower, I am appalled at the way that I have gone from being up to date and ahead with my power bills, to being in debt, and struggling to meet them, all within eight Months. Originally with Powergen (Eon) paying £130 PCM, I was happy with the supplier. However a doorstep salesperson from Npower turned up, and after scrutinising old Powergen bills for usage, quoted me at £83.00 PCM. An annual saving of £564.00.After transfer, I received no bills, and the first prompt for me was an online bill reminder in February this year. I regret now not looking earlier, but did not as the £83.00 PCM had been leaving my account O.K. To my horror in March, the Direct Debit went out at a staggering £205! Horror, I signed on as quickly as I could to find out that they had under quoted me dramatically, and the bill advised the following: a shortfall in my account of £515!!! They had actually under quoted me by 50%!! Now they are adding that debt to a revised - correct estimate to move my monthly DD to £205 PCM. This is annually £1464 MORE than I had budgeted, and a staggering £900 per annum more than I paid with Powergen. I e-mailed a complaint letter and did not even get the courtesy of a response...... my experience leaves me to believe that this supplier should not be your immediate choice, and many other consumers are in agreement...the following website warns against switching suppliers at the doorstep..They could be in your area now!!... http://www.nea.org.uk/Media_Centre/News_releases/?article_id=454 Simpson's head chef Luke Tipping tells me that he and Opus's David Colcombe are off to Chicago soon to show off Brummie cuisine. http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2008/06/02/chicago-welcomes-birmingham-to-the-sisterhood-65233-21008636/ Glynn has had the restaurant website enhanced with the "Purnell's Experience", an opportunity to scan around the restaurant and see the kitchen, with dialogue and overview information about Glynn and some of his staff. Well worth a look. Follow the link and select the "Purnell's Experience". http://www.purnellsrestaurant.com/ Arriving at 10:00, we met great friend Mr. and Mrs. "Bun" Hemming at the Bell Inn at Yarpole in Herefordshire. We met early and parked at the Inn to take a leisurely 3 hr walk around the Yarpole Loop Walk Circular from Yarpole via Bircher Common and Croft Castle, nice 5 mile walk taking in a mixture of habitats, commons and coppiced woodland. Once completed, we took the opportunity of lunch. Mary and Mr. Bun had a nice 70's prawn cocktail, but extremely well presented. Mrs. Bun didn't indulge, and I opted for a delicious Ham Hock terrine with homemade piccalilli which really was well made and complimented the terrine beautifully. Mains for Mrs. Bun consisted of a vegetable and Stilton quiche, Mr. Bun had a guinea fowl, Mary and I opted for a good old' Fish and Chips. What an understatement, the fish was fresh haddock in a fresh batter, crispy and delicious, with handmade potatoes and mushy peas (crushed petit pois). Mrs. Bun opted for a chocolate tart and vanillas ice cream for pud and we all finished off with coffee and teas. Drinks were at least 4 non alcoholic Lime and sodas with a pint of Hook Norton bitter and a pint of cider. The bill came to £77. Well priced, well presented and well received. I would recommend this pub (which also has a restaurant) to anyone who likes food and traditional old Tudor country pubs. Well laid out and with oodles of character. The link is to the Inns own web site. http://www.thebellinnyarpole.co.uk/Website-Home%20V3.swf Michelin-star chef Andreas Antona has sold his Bib Gourmand-rated Simply Simpsons restaurant in Warwickshire off an asking price of £950,000 http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2008/05/01/320641/antona-sells-simply-simpsons-in-kenilworth.html Enjoy a day at our Cookery School. We hope that you have a fun as well as informative day out. http://www.simpsonsrestaurant.co.uk/servepage.asp?page=2 What was the Challenge? The competition was to produce the best home made Chilli flavoured pickled onions. They were marked on four main qualities by 20 judges who volunteered. http://www.ianbaker.biz/Food/_chickled_onions_2007.htm Glynn beat his long time friend Sat Baines to reach the next round of the BBCs "Great British Food" competition http://www.purnellsrestaurant.com/news.php This is a really nice 3 bedroom mid-Terraced house. http://www.oulsnam.net/html/pdf.aspx?propertyref=MOY2888