Sunday roast with decent roast potatoes locally?

[Phlox]

Might hear from some very confident roasties chefs, with pictures!

[Sue]

Help-Ma-Boab Wrote:

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> Sue, As I understand it Chefs are always looking

> for hints and tips. Why not send them a recipe for

> the most crispy of crisp spuds. They will surely

> thank you for it...

:))

[DulwichFox]

Was looking at some Sunday Menus.. Noticed one place advertising that they use 'New' potatoes for their roasties.

Can't help but think they would not be the best choice for crispy roast spuds..

Foxy

[spider69]

Auntie Bessies in duck fat

[jaywalker]

The secret is in the temperature. No fire risk, no good.

However, I think they are a little d?mod?. Much better is the Simon Hopkinson (as seen on tv) procedure: steam potatoes for 20 minutes, skin (oh how I despise potatoes with their skins on), and put in the roasting tin back in the oven with the gravy whilst the bird rests. They absorb the gravy and get a little brown. Edenic.

[Sue]

jaywalker Wrote:

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> The secret is in the temperature. No fire risk, no

> good.

>

> However, I think they are a little d?mod?. Much

> better is the Simon Hopkinson (as seen on tv)

> procedure: steam potatoes for 20 minutes, skin (oh

> how I despise potatoes with their skins on), and

> put in the roasting tin back in the oven with the

> gravy whilst the bird rests. They absorb the gravy

> and get a little brown. Edenic.

That just sounds like boiled potatoes in gravy, not roasties!

Very nice, but not what I'm after with my roast beef, demode as roasties may be :)

[HonaloochieB]

jaywalker Wrote:

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> The secret is in the temperature. No fire risk, no

> good.

>

> However, I think they are a little d?mod?. Much

> better is the Simon Hopkinson (as seen on tv)

> procedure: steam potatoes for 20 minutes, skin (oh

> how I despise potatoes with their skins on), and

> put in the roasting tin back in the oven with the

> gravy whilst the bird rests. They absorb the gravy

> and get a little brown. Edenic.

I get they're obviously better than demode (can't get the accent on the 'e' and right now can't remember whether it's grave or acute) 'dinner' poppies according to Simon H, but they're not roast murphies, are they?

They're what I reckon are 'soppy spuds' - there to soak up the juice, good enough.

Roasties have a little more mettle and intially take a wash in the moisture but won't breakdown completely until penetrated.

Let's hope Sue finds her burnt starchy grail some time soon.

[lavender27]

The white horse, Peckham Rye.

[Sue]

HonaloochieB Wrote:

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>

> Let's hope Sue finds her burnt starchy grail some

> time soon.

Crispy, not BURNT! Crispy! :)

[mancity68]

The Hope, Peckham does a decent roast potato - or at least, they have been the few times I've had a roast there.

[Grok]

Sue, you eat out more than Foxy! Wish I could retire and live a life of leisure.

[DulwichFox]

Grok Wrote:

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> Sue, you eat out more than Foxy! Wish I could

> retire and live a life of leisure.

That's not difficult... I eat out about once a fortnight. Only Curry.

Not had a Sunday roast out since 2010. at the Victoria Inn.

Have no idea why anyone with an oven would regularly eat Sunday roast out.

NEVER as good as home made.

Foxy

[Jeremy]

DulwichFox Wrote:

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> Have no idea why anyone with an oven would

> regularly eat Sunday roast out.

> NEVER as good as home made.

Maybe they don't enjoy the whole rigmarole of shopping, cooking, cleaning up?

Clearly, not everyone's idea of a relaxing Sunday lunchtime is the same.

[numbers]

Quite frankly, I've got no idea why anyone in possession of a saucepan or two and a cooker would go out for curry. Etc.etc.

[Sue]

DulwichFox Wrote:

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> Have no idea why anyone with an oven would

> regularly eat Sunday roast out.

> NEVER as good as home made.

>

We don't regularly eat out on Sunday lunchtime. We quite often have a roast at home, though not usually at lunchtime.

But sometimes it's nice to go out and have a walk in the woods or the park and then a meal and a pint and let someone else cook and wash up :)

Would be a dull old world if we were all the same, eh Foxy?!

[DulwichFox]

Sue Wrote:

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> DulwichFox Wrote:

> -------------------------------------------

> > Have no idea why anyone with an oven would

> > regularly eat Sunday roast out.

> > NEVER as good as home made.

> >

>

>

> We don't regularly eat out on Sunday lunchtime. We

> quite often have a roast at home, though not

> usually at lunchtime.

>

> But sometimes it's nice to go out and have a walk

> in the woods or the park and then a meal and a

> pint and let someone else cook and wash up :)

>

> Would be a dull old world if we were all the same,

> eh Foxy?!

I would not mind betting there will be more people (not just those on EDF) that make their own Sunday Roast

than go out to a restaurant / pub.

So makes it a dull world then.

Foxy.

Foxy.

[DulwichFox]

numbers Wrote:

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> Quite frankly, I've got no idea why anyone in

> possession of a saucepan or two and a cooker would

> go out for curry. Etc.etc.

Anyone can cook a roast.. It virtually cooks itself. Ok you may have to peel some spuds.

A decent curry takes a lot of ingredients... some preparation... some knowledge of Indian food. and more than a saucepan or two.

I think there is a difference.

Foxy

[Jeremy]

Anyone can cook a very nice curry given a recipe to work from. Nicer than most takeaways. It's not difficult.

It still boils down to whether you have the time and inclination to do it..

[Sue]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------

> Have no idea why anyone with an oven would

> regularly eat Sunday roast out.

> NEVER as good as home made.

>

We don't regularly eat out on Sunday lunchtime. We quite often have a roast at home, though not usually at lunchtime.

But sometimes it's nice to go out and have a walk in the woods or the park and then a meal and a pint and let someone else cook and wash up :)

Would be a dull old world if we were all the same, eh Foxy?!

[DulwichFox]

Jeremy Wrote:

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> Anyone can cook a very nice curry given a recipe

> to work from. Nicer than most takeaways. It's not

> difficult.

>

> It still boils down to whether you have the time

> and inclination to do it..

If you do not cook curies regularly, it is not cost effective to buy the ingredients that you need.

Basic curry. Coriander seeds, Cumin and Fennel seeds, Cardamon pods, Turmeric, Black Mustard seed(optional), Garam Masala to finish.

I do not follow recipes. Some people cannot follow a recipe, so no. Not everyone can cook a very nice curry.

Cooking rice can also present problems.. Making breads like Roti .. Chapattis .. Naan takes skill.

Making Bhajis require skill.

So not as easy as a Sunday Roast..

Foxy.

ETA. both a bit of a pain when cooking for one..

[Jeremy]

I think it's a reasonable analogy. The spices are not expensive - if you enjoy cooking, and like Indian food, then you'll have them in your cupboard anyway. Either a roast or a curry are fairly time consuming and will generate a fair amount of washing up. A chapatti is probably easier to make than a Yorkshire pudding.

[numbers]

I was being tongue in cheek but really it's a bit preposterous to be surprised that anyone with an oven would eat out regularly for Sunday roast.

There's truth in that if you like Indian food thrn it's not a huge leap to have most of the common spices already to hand, they last well in the store cupboard and are versatile. Perhaps this is a reflection of my cooking skills but I know Sunday roasts are not as easy as they appear. I think they are better made by more than one person. Someone skivvying over the veg whilst the other cooks the meat and gravy. Timing veg (as this thread demonstrates) and preparing it no matter how enjoyable can be a chore. cooking rice is easy. Pour enough boiling water over to cover it. Turn off heat. Don't stir. Bobs your uncle. Or get a rice cooker god knows there are enough recommendations on here ;)

Once you've ground all the spices for a curry paste you can freeze it for next time. Or cook the whole lot at once and freeze the entire meal. That's handy for one person.

[Sue]

You can also use Pataks curry paste.

Various kinds, and quick and easy.

Making an Indian meal from scratch with several different dishes can take a very long time, at least when I do it!

Poppadums take a minute in the microwave.

Rice, raita, chutney etc all easy.

So why eat out? Because it's a nice experience??

[Jeremy]

numbers Wrote:

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> Bobs your uncle. Or get a rice cooker god knows there are enough

> recommendations on here ;)

I you referring to the *Bob* rice-cooker thread? If so - well remembered...

[Mick Mac]

I think for many people, eating out is not a straight comparison of food quality and price as compared to what you could do at home, it's a neutral venue to meet friends, socialise, drink and enjoy being there and feel part of a wider social scene. And even to critique the food.... to hope to be surprised by food ideas and quality that you couldn't achieve at home, but also to be only occasionally disappointed.