Skip to content
My Custard Pie
Home
About
Contact me
Media
Links
Privacy
Travel
Georgia
India
Italy
Jordan
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Two days in Riga – exploring the Latvian capital
Maldives
Mongolia
Nepal
Oman
Philippines
Syria
Switzerland
Vaud
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Sharjah
Visit Britain
G4G Lebanon Challenge
Gold for good
Your support
The Charities
The Challenge
Sponsors
Organic UAE
Food photography
Posts tagged ‘Vaud’
15
September 24, 2017
Belle Epoque jaunts: old-fashioned boating on Lac Leman
17
August 26, 2017
Peace at the end of the line. A trip to Rochers de Naye
Behind the pie
Keen eater of honest food. Love my life in Dubai but happiest in hiking boots & green hills. Wine nerd. Writer. Blogger. Dreamer.
Read more
Looking for something?
Get your slice of pie
Click to follow me and receive notifications of new posts by email. (Thanks for clicking)
Follow me!
Popular posts
Read the latest
A dessert from Brittany – how to make Far Breton
Favourite comfort food when nothing else will do? Some surprising answers revealed
A life dedicated to cheese. How to make organic Reblochon the hard way.
Honey, mustard prawns and spiced rice with loumi (dried limes)
Parsley, mustard and preserved lemon roast chicken
Find it here
Find it here
Select Category
Blog tips
Charity
Christmas
creativity
Culinary Tour Around the World
Drink
Cocktails
Coffee
Cointreau
Gin
Smoothies
Whisky
Wine
Monthly Wine Writing Challenge
Dubai
afternoon tea
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
Easter
Eggs
Fish and seafood
Crab
Oysters
Prawns
Salmon
Food
Baking
Biscuits
Bread
Buns
Cakes
Muffins
Pancakes
Pastry
Quiches and tarts
scones
Barbecue
breakfast
Cheese
chocolate
Come Dine With Me Dubai
Cook books
Custard
Desserts
Eating out
Mustard
salads
Food blogging
Food Blogger Connect
Food issues
Food Photography and Styling
Food photography with Meeta
Food producers
Food stories
Food tours
Fresh From The Oven
Fruit
Apple
Banana
Blueberries
Cherries
Cranberry
Dates
Figs
Grapefruit
Lemon
Limes
mango
Orange
Peach
Pear
Pineapple
Pomegranate
Raspberry
Fund-raising for charity
Giveaway
Grains
Rice
Gulf for Good Challenge
Charity
Hay, hay it’s Donna Day
Health and Fitness
Running
Spa reviews
Herbs
Basil
Garlic
Lemongrass
Mint
parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Hiking in the UK
Hiking the Lebanon Mountain trail
In my kitchen
Inspiration
Instagram
Kitchen kit
Meat
Beef
Chicken
Lamb
Pork
Middle Eastern Cookery
Iran
Lebanon
Morocco
Syria
UAE
Yemen
Nuts
Almonds
cashews
Hazelnuts
Pecans
Pistachios
Walnuts
oats
Organic
Packed lunches
Pancakes
Pasta
Personal
Self-development
Photoaday
photography
Preserves
Pulses
Buckwheat
Lentils
Reader survey
Recipe
Salad
Shopping for food
Simple and in Season
Simple starters
Slow cooker
Social media
Soup
Spices
Cardamom
Ginger
Loumi
Saffron
Turmeric
Sustainable living
Sweets
Training for a charity hiking challenge
Travel
France
Georgia
India
Himachal Pradesh
Jaipur
Rajasthan
Italy
Milan
Jordan
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Maldives
Mongolia
Nepal
Oman
Philippines
Switzerland
Vaud
Syria
Turkey
Izmir
United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi
Sharjah
Travel and walking
UK
Truffles
vegan
Vegetables
Aubergine
Beetroot
Butternut squash
Cabbage
Carrots
Cassava
Celery
Chard
Chillies
Courgette
Fennel
garlic
Green beans
Kale
Kohlrabi
Mushrooms
Okra
Olives
Onion
Peppers
Potato
Radish
Red cabbage
Rocket
Spinach
Sweet potato
Tomato
Vegetarian
Visiting Britain
London
National Trust
Vitamix
Walking in Dubai
Dubai doors
Whats in season in UAE
Writing about food
Yoghurt
Sniff, sip and slurp with me
Instagram
Happy December. I can really start thinking about Christmas now and rolling up my sleeves for all the edible traditions. The Christmas pudding, cake and mincemeat are already tucked away to mellow in their various boozy elements (the scent of brandy mmmm). I do love Christmas cooking but there is a lot of work involved. . . . {gifted} @jonesuae sent me pre-cooked Christmas dinner for 8-10 people to try. We sat out in the garden with very good friends; candles burning, a breeze rustling the palm leaves, red wine flowing. . . The quality of the ingredients was excellent - highlights were the potatoes roasted in duck fat, the deliciously sharp homemade cranberry sauce, the thick gravy (would have liked a bit more) and the golden turkey itself. I surprised myself by thinking how relaxed Christmas Day would be if all I had to do was a little reheating. A friend at the table, also well into the festive food prep, confessed to having his head turned by this low effort option. . . . I made custard to go with the apple crumble tart (swipe for pic) and everyone was more than happy. . . . Genuinely impressed by this (or I wouldn’t recommend it). You order online or in their branches and I think they have an offer on if you’re quick which includes one of their cheeseboards. . . Like me, do you love all the Christmas cooking or do you prefer someone else to take care of it (while you sip a glass of bubbly)? . . . . . #foodandflatlay #showmeyourfood #shareyourtable #foodstories #dubaifoodies #authenticfood #dubaieats #onmyplate #ourfoodstories #firstweeat #gatherandfeast #asimplechristmas #amerrywinterwelcome #notallbahhumbug #mycommontable #foodstylingclub #myopenkitchen #tablesituation #foodfluffer #saveurmag #kinfolktable #lr_taste #thesupperclubmag #greatbritishfood #rusticgamestrong #christmasturkey
What defines home? And if your home was threatened what would you do? . Soldier Huang Yung-Fu fled from his home of Hong Kong to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil war. Like many of the 2 million immigrants, he was given housing by the government. When his village became a target for developers and people started to leave, he refused to go. He started to paint. He painted a bird, he painted a flower, he painted animals. His canvas was the walls of the village. . . . Local students campaigned to save his home from demolition and now over 1 million people visit the Rainbow Village every year. It’s an Instagram magnet. . . . Born in 1924, Huang Yong-Fu is now known as the Rainbow Grandpa and still lives on site, often taking his paintbrush out very early in the morning to maintain his artwork. . . I’m usually drawn to more muted tones but being surrounded by the brilliance of his imagination and palette was a joyful experience. Sunglasses de rigueur! I went in search of a blue wall which is my favourite colour. . . Thanks to @voyageurchic for being a patient hand model. {Invite} And to the Taiwan Tourist Board for hosting the trip. . . . . . #colourinmysquare #shallowdepthoffield #lensball #handsinframe #handinframe #timefortaiwan #heartofasia #discover_taiwan #discovertaiwan #discovertaipei #iseetaiwan #rainbowvillage #taiwantravel #asecondofwhimsey #travelfolk #folktravel #wondermore #athomeintheworld #alwaysgo #lifeunscripted #peoplecreatives #thisismyadventure #thediscoverer #quietchaotics #recklessimage #pathport
Perched on a rickety chair at a Formica table, lit by the glow from neon signs, then the dumplings arrive. {invite} On one plate they’re round, white, neat like tied up Christmas puddings. On the other they’re wavy, corrugated and saucy. I grasp one with my chopsticks and bring it precariously to my mouth. Do I bite into it and risk losing the prize of savoury filling to my plate? Or do I pop it in whole, hand in front of mouth, and bite down to release the peppery contents? I glance at Eddie, our guide. Of course he chooses the latter so I dig in and am rewarded by a thin, smooth wrapper with the mellow, savoury, sweet, saltiness of minced pork. A source of deep joy. . . Dumplings were milestones on my tour of Taiwan. Fluffy ones, some filled with savoury liquor, some crinkled and slippery. We visited @dintaifungtw - which was founded in Taiwanbut most were eaten at little local restaurants or on the street. . . Xiao chi, or small eats, are found everywhere especially at the night markets and street corners. The throng around them is constant. The Taiwanese love to snack. . . Dumplings are a national Taiwanese dish now, but have evolved with influences from immigrants (from China) and occupiers (50 years of the Japanese). There are many different types and names but thankfully a lot of menus have pictures. . . . Shuijiao (Water Dumplings) are cooked in boiling water like ravioli. Zhengjiao are steamed in bamboo containers, Jienjiao, which resemble Japanese Gyoza in appearance, are fried. Xiao long bao, made famous by Din Tai Fung, contain a steaming spoonful of broth around the meaty stuffing; there is an art to eating them. . . This scratches the surface of Taiwanese dumpling knowledge (swipe to see more). I can’t wait to go back to finish my education 😉🥟 started by Taiwan Tourist Board. . . . . . #TimeForTaiwan #HeartOfAsia #discover_taiwan #discovertaiwan #iseetaiwan #taiwanfood #taiwanesefood #culinarytravel #culinaryexperience #worldcuisine #foodtours #foodtourism #foodtraveller #travelandfood #travelfoodie #travelforfood #travelfood #traveleats #foodculture #dumplings #dumplingsfordays
What defines your perfect day?Arriving in the dark and pulling on a warm fleece because of the cold mountain air. Putting on the fire in my room and crawling under two duvets. Then the surprise when dawn light wakes me and opening up the curtains to this view.... and a cup of tea of course 😊 . . . A beautiful day in Alishan scenic area, Taiwan, walking through mountain trails, oolong tea tasting with a couple who grow it (and meeting their three lovely daughters and dog) and then screeching to a halt on the winding road to enjoy a breathtaking sunset. Happy seems an insufficient description but it will have to do. . . . Swipe for sunset pic. I’ve never seen one like it. . . Thanks for all your direct messages about my stories. They’re in highlights if you want to catch up. Huge gratitude to the Taiwan Tourism Board for letting me dip a toe into the many things to experience in Taiwan. It’s the best kept travel secret. . . . . . #timefortaiwan #heartofasia #discover_taiwan #discovertaiwan #discovertaipei #iseetaiwan #taiwanfood #taiwanesefood #taipeifood #adoremycupoftea #gowildlyandslow #quietinthewild #lovelycornersofhotel #myhappyviews #momentsofmine #travelfolk #quiettraveller #quietinthewild #folktravel #simplepleasure #sundayvibes #asecondofwhimsey #lifeslittlestories #thehonestlens #cupsinframes #iphone
We did have a more traditional style brunch of pork bun, pickles and a soy sauce egg in @saltpeanuts.cafe But we also dug into one of their famous cinnamon buns doused in caramel, while sitting in the quiet shady courtyard at the back of their building built in the late 1800s. . . {invite} On our first day in Taiwan, It took me and @voyageurchic almost two hours to explore Dihua street in Taipei’s Dadaocheng district. The food market is fascinating, and you breathe in the aroma of the spice stalls, Chinese medicine shops and incense from the temple. The architecture is an intriguing mix of baroque, Japanese style and red brick. . . Everything is clean, the people are friendly and we strolled along the cobbles avoiding the whizzing scooters. Cool little eating stops like this cafe and @thepeacockbistro branch off the oldest street in Taipei. I’m not sure what I thought Taiwan would be like but can already recommend a visit. Swipe to see more. . . Really looking forward to the next week. Keep up with my discoveries on my Taiwan story highlight. . . . I’m a guest of the Taiwan Tourist Board. Honest opinions only. . . . . . #TimeForTaiwan #HeartOfAsia #discover_taiwan #discovertaiwan #discovertaipei #iseetaiwan #taiwanfood #taiwanesefood #taipeifood #adoremycupofcoffee #culinarytravel #culinaryexperience #worldcuisine #foodtours #foodtourism #foodtraveller #travelandfood #travelfoodie #travelforfood #travelfood #traveleats #foodculture
Sorry to mention the ‘C word’ in November. But mince pies were already in UK supermarkets when I was there in September. It’s a retail bonanza that seems completely out of kilter with the state of the world and the planet. How many decorations and presents will be discarded and put into landfill? How much food waste? . Does commercialised Christmas sum up everything that’s wrong with how we live right now? Or is the excitement around it a symbol of the good things that remain? . While trying to ignore the hype, I still like the ritual of Christmas. The cosiness (even though I live in the desert!) St Nicholas day on 6th December and Christmas Eve have their own traditions - my Dad was Polish. Bringing family and friends together means the most to me. The table abundant with everyone’s favourites, even if it’s frozen peas or tomato ketchup with their roast potatoes. . A slow build up in the kitchen, spending time over things that I wouldn’t normally cook is what makes it special. Taking care so they taste as good as I can make them for the people I love. . What are your feelings about Christmas (and Christmas cooking?) Have your attitudes changed (several people I know are going away to escape it this year). . (And if you want a recipe for homemade candied peel, and how to make a delicious Christmas cake by steeping your dried fruit in bourbon, whisky or brandy now, links are in my bio.) . . . . . #morningstories #simpleandbeyond #foodandflatlay #firstweeat #authenticfood #greatbritishfood #gatherandfeast #mycommontable #onmytabletoday #showmeyourfood #shareyourtable #infoodwetrust #eatseasonal #bbcgoodfood #foodstories #onmyplate #eattheseasons #ourfoodstories #fellowmag #teaandseasons #adoremycupoftea #regionalfood #actforfood #foodwaste #futureoffood #stopfoodwaste #christmascake #dubaifoodies #dubaieats #foodandtravelblogger
However Michelin starred your taste, when you’re feeling distinctly under the weather what food do you crave? For me it’s toast spread with butter and Marmite (swipe left), which is a taste of my childhood. It seems I’m not alone and when I asked this question to a group of my favourite people online, their choices were distinctly down-to-earth. . . Hop over to my blog to discover @thecutlerychroncicles @dianahenryfood @me_and_orla @foodtoglow @fryingpantours @weekendcandy and @foodiva revealed. You might be surprised. . . And I’d love to know what you turn to when you stumble into the kitchen looking for something to comfort you, preferably to take back to bed on a tray. To use a phrase, what do you eat when you feel a bit meh? 😉 . . Big thanks to all the above. Really very thrilled to include your candid replies . . PS Cup of tea and maybe a biscuit nonnegotiable ☕️ #adoremycupoftea
Being at the top of a mountain, looking out at spectacular views while eating cheese might be my idea of heaven. Would I like to work every hour from dawn until dusk, hard physical labour in all winds and weathers for little reward? Probably not. But who defines what a reward is? For Mathilde and Fabrice of Ferme de Pézières it’s working closely with nature, living the life of days gone by, being satisfied with what they have and utter dedication to making the best organic Reblochon possible. . . {invite} Visiting them in August to meet their cows and slip inside the cheese room for a couple of hours taught me a lot about cheesemaking but also how obsessed the French are with fromage. . . There’s more (a lot more!) on my latest blog post. If you read it I’d love to know what you think. Would you ever contemplate this way of life? And what’s your favourite French cheese? . . Thanks to @saycheese.me for hosting me on an exploration of cheese in the Haute-Savoie. See the French 🧀 highlight in my stories for a few more snippets. And swipe to see whether I enjoyed it 😉. . . . . . @reblochondesavoieaop #saycheeseme #cheesesofeurope #cheesesofeuropearabia
So much delicious food is brown. The best homemade cake, fresh bread, baked potatoes in their skins crackled from the oven, steaming hot chocolate, truffles rooted from the ground, tea and biscuits.... . . But it can be hard to make brown food look good in pictures. So for the @eatcaptureshare brown challenge with @thelittleplantation I used blue in the props and the background. It’s complementary to the brown tones and means you don’t have to go wild with irrelevant garnishes (my bugbear). I find this works well, especially as I like brown food so much 😉 . . This could be my favourite brown food of all.... Marmite. Glossy in its dumpy, round jar, scraped delicately onto hot toast where the butter has just started to melt. . . I’ll confess that I set this shot up and took it quickly. When I’m taking food pics at home I want as little food waste as possible. I made this for my lunch and I was hungry, that’s why I didn’t hang around! . . So Marmite lover or hater? And if you take pictures of food have you got any other tips for tackling brown things or food waste? Let me know. . . . #cblbackdrops
Past posts
Past posts
Select Month
November 2019
October 2019
June 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
September 2018
August 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
May 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
Featured in
© All text and photos are copyright My Custard Pie.
All rights reserved. Please ask first.
Post to
Cancel
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here:
Cookie Policy