UK Restaurant Guide

I have coeliac disease and the wheat- and gluten-free pasta goes very gluggy and like mush. Can you tell me what I could be doing wrong. I love pasta but not like this. - Barbara Mulholland

I suggest placing the pasta in salted boiling water and cooking only a small amount and only for a short time. If you cook too much pasta together in one pan it will stick.

Being a Muslim, I am prohibited from drinking or using alcohol such as wine in cooking. What is the alternative? - View Answer

I cannot find a recipe for orange sauce to go with duck and I can't find it in a sachets either. Please can you help me? - View Answer

Nigel, I've just bought a pasta making machine. Do you have a gluten-free recipe for making fresh pasta? - View Answer

What is the secret of a perfect poached egg? When I drop mine into boiling water and white wine vinegar it splits up and I'm left with just the yolk and a pan full of white mess. Can you help please! - View Answer

When making chicken korma and adding the cream it always separates, how can this be avoided? - View Answer

My risotto is always crunchy despite following the instructions explicitly. Please help. I use a good brand, not the cheapest ingredients. - View Answer

Every time I make a mug of cocoa (one mug of near boiling milk plus one rounded teaspoon of cocoa powder) I am left with half the cocoa in the bottom of the mug when I have finished. Is there a science to this? - View Answer

Please help me with a stunning creamy rice pud recipe. My last attempt looked like a gravel path when I got it out of the oven! Someone told me to try cooking rice on the hob? - View Answer

Have you got an easy but tasty Chocolate Brownie recipe and can you make them in cake cases or a muffin tin? - View Answer

How do I make a really concentrated passion fruit puree? - View Answer

I have a recipe for a curry that needs 4 stalks of lemongrass. I am unable to get it fresh but have a jar of Bart lemongrass in oil. Can you tell me the equivalent I would need as it doesn't state this on the jar? - View Answer

I once had a T-bone steak with caramelized mustard sauce. Do you have any recipes for this sauce? - View Answer

I love cooking. I make pastry or anything but the one thing I cannot make are dumplings. I have tried all different ways but they don't seem to get big. What could i be doing wrong? - View Answer

When I'm making a jam roly poly to bake the jam always seeps out. I do milk and seal the edges. Help! - View Answer

I love cooking now, but should have enjoyed it more whilst at school. Would you ever consider going into local Secondary Schools around the Blackpool & Fylde as well as other organisations for the homeless and learning disabilites like Gary Rhodes does with Primary Schools to help out with cooking? Educating people at a young age, believe me makes a difference. It is just a thought and I hope you do not mind me asking. P.S. I can never make great poached eggs naturally. How should I do it to get the best results? - View Answer

Simon Rimmer once said you cannot always trust a restaurant that puts a 'V' vegetarian symbol next to a dish as these dishes will often contain non-vegetarian cheese, stocks, sauces and oils. In my limited catering experience (sandwich shop and outside caterers) I do have to agree with Simon with the general opinion of my superiors being that as long as the dish doesn't contain "real meat" then it is suitable for all. How much care do restaurants take to ensure all vegetarian dishes are actually suitable for vegetarians? - View Answer

I made my famous chicken salad and I used fresh pineapple instead of canned. This was the only thing I did different. It turned out like mush and was the consistency of a dip. Could the acid in the fresh pineapple make it turn out like that? - View Answer

My crumble always goes soggy -- WHY?? - View Answer

I'm making some shortbread to give as christmas presents and i was wondering how many days before Christmas Day I should bake them? - View Answer

How do you make the perfect apple crumble, is it the hint of nutmeg that makes a difference? - View Answer

Having a BBQ at the weekend and a couple of the guests are veggies. Any interesting/unique ideas as to what to cook for them? - View Answer

Planted out a few courgette plants this spring and now I've got loads of courgettes and marrows and don't know what to do with them all. Can you suggest any interesting recipes for them? - View Answer

What's the secret to making a good omelette? - View Answer