The Grande Dame of Dining - The Star at Harome

It is 12 hours since I heard the shocking news that has rocked the area. I have thought about "her" all day and still cant believe it. I woke to news that the Star at Harome was on fire and the devastating damage which had been done to this C13th building. The Star is like an old friend having been welcomed through the doors for over half a century.Yes I have been 14 when I first went in. Into a place like no other. Pimms served in pint pots, huge stiltons filled with port and fox masks hanging from the beams dressed up like people with neck ruffs and horn rimmed spectacles sat on the end of their snouts. In those days it was owned by Dick and Jenny Dresser who won the very first awards for this fine eatery, not much bigger than Guillivers House. A few years later I used to go up the stairs to the flat where the Dressers lived and do Granny D's and Jennys hair and a quick snip round Dick. Another era and it was the wild time,our hosts were Tim Gascoigne Mullet and Tony Bowron who had a beautiful St Bernard dog called Solomon. Drinking Pimms into the early hours made by Ernest "Polly" Pearson. and still the red croquet placemats graced the dining tables. Enter the girlfriend of another, who had been in the advert, the girl floating down the river eating a chocolate Flake.... if only the walls could talk. We have celebrated births and marriages and a few too many wakes here. Christening parties and divorces. Had Christmas parties, 18th,21st 30th and 40th birthday parties and so on - there is nowhere better. When we went on holidays we would always eat at The Star the night before ..to keep us going for the journey ahead on wondering what the food might be like. Memories of long ago Friday nights that were domino nights for Wilson Barker and his cronies who sat on the table near the bar and were served ham sandwiches. The Sinnington Hunt meeting outside, the end of season shooting parties. Whether you were dressed in your finery or in your work clothes, the welcome over the years has always been the same ,the warmth the walls hold, the atmosphere that has been created with love over the centuries. Photos didnt matter like they do today you went out to enjoy yourselves not to show the wide world what you were doing Even on the night of the present owner ,Andrew Pern, turned 40 to enjoy a slice of a chef'hat shaped birthday cake. The time when Jack thought he had found a truffle and it turned out to be a morel. The Star is the heart of the village. And for the villagers and locals around, holds a star in most peoples hearts. A place where the local poacher would rub shoulder with a Lord or Duchess. I talk of the Star in the past tense, but these are memories. I am sure Andrew Pern, his wife Fran, his family,friends and staff will not let The Star slip into the past tense, but will do everything they can to make the Star shine again. She has not held the crown for all this time to fade away now. Time will bring her back to shine again and be the diamond she has always been. And we have a 70th and a 100th birthday birthday for 2022 to celebrate. I have a little piece of the Star that was given to me by Dick and Jenny for my 21st birthday. I dont know what the damage is yet,but when the time comes when the Old Lady open her arms again I will take it along and if it is needed it will stay there. T

Halloween next week and Christmas around the corner

 So have you got your pumpkin ready. 

Looking to find yet another pumpkin soup recipe and usually revert to an old faithful.  It isn't that many years ago that Halloween was more celebrated in America than here . Pumpkins were treated a bit like wild mushrooms as if they were only the food of witches on broomsticks and that Pumpkin soup was boiled in a cauldron. 

As social media fills our pages with photos of pumpkins , their bright orange skins seem to brighten many a dull day . I wish I had planted my seeds earlier but I am desperate to keep the one and only plant I have as it has a bit more of sentiment to it than normally . It was 5 years this week since my Mum died  and she was always saving seeds . I found some in a cupboard this year which she had dried and saved me from 2013 in an old pill bottle. Recycling isn't a new word to us . And blow me, I now have a  pumpkin plant  with lots of flowers on.

I was in Helmsley yesterday for a quick shop and parked just over the bridge as you go . I saw "Pip" on his bike heading towards his shop/workshop, but was too far away to shout Hello . I thought I hadn't been in for a while and I really must when I had got my groceries. Pip is Paul Garbutt, who along with his lovely wife Henny have owned and run Bridge Street Framers for over 35 years. Pip formed a band and still plays  and every Thursday in lockdown he cheered up many folks not only in Helmsley where he lives but others too as it went on social media as he stood in the street and with his guitar strummed away belting out the favourite songs many from the 60s. Interesting enough Pip was the front man singing  and playing the guitar, but in the gallery guess who I spied ? Dave yes it was Dave Cook the drummer in the band who was busy making frames . Dave in his young days ran CC Racing and was known for his precise maintained racing cars. So no wonder the frames they build are so noticeable and well made when they have craftsmen like Dave making them. 

 It doesn't matter what time of year you go in there is always something to tempt you . I had heard they had moved from local gossip but was relieved to know they still where they have always been , next to the brewery  and a few yards up from the butchers. 

So why not a bit of early Christmas shopping ..no point in not being organised . You may say we all have our own tastes and it is true .So you either know exactly what would excite someone and snap it up ,tuck it under your arm and feel proud as punch you have ticked the box on the first Christmas purchase for 2020... or wonder. No need to wonder anymore, why not buy a gift token and then they can choice their own and love it forever. Even suggest a trip with them and enjoy a lunch out too. Helmsley is that sort of a place. With being next to the brewery and if you have a husband like mine who hates shopping you could always leave him to sample the local beer and browse the gallery in peace. 

I didn't see any framed works with pumpkins on but I did find this one find this one with an owl on which I thought was very apt for the time of year. As well as buying originals and prints from BSF you can take your own masterpieces in to be framed . 

Reading my way through the Coronavirus

I hoard books ... probably 180 cookery books along with stacks of others. Jilly Cooper to Mary Poppins.  Peter Walkers Heartbeat books and Dick Francis novels sit along side James Herriot volumes.  .What I don't like are when they change the covers and I end up buying the same book twice.

 I love Andrew Perns' Black Pudding and Foie Gras ..the feel of it all velvety... just wish it wasn't brown .Just dont like the colour brown ,it is a bit like grey, so depressing. Maybe Andrew Perns' choice of colour for his magnificent book came from his equally delicious brown of a creme caramel ..that is the only brown I like so I will forgive him.
When it isn't lockdown you will find me in Christine and James Bentley's Castle Stores up Church Street in Helmsley opposite the church. Bunting hung up in the windows will catch your eye and make you want to go in.

 It is my favourite shop in Helmsley and run by proper Helmsley locals. So once you have chosen your wool, knitting pattern, buttons and anything else that takes your fancy you mustn't stop there you must keep on exploring deeper into  the back room..... full of books ,big books little books ,war books ..not for me thank you,,,spy books again too scary ... cookery books, village life books the books you buy 6 at a time to take on holiday and read them before you even start to pack .  Christine's books are only a pound each as they are much loved books... and sold as gently read. I like those Agatha Raisin ones too. Pretty yummy mummy covers too. As for Harry Potter I read the first one but as I said before I dont do scary. Oh and I mustn't forget gardening books . Just Looooove gardening books but why you may ask do I buy a book with a title my 3ft by 3 ft small space garden or one as grow your garden on your balcony ..when we have over an acre of garden.
As you head down towards the market place is Claridges yes I am still in Helmsley as the given name is  usually relates to the one in London. But I am not looking to take afternoon tea but for more books .This time to give as a present well if I buy one for my Dad or Jack I can read it too. The books in here are more to do with local ,sports and country life as well as a host of other things. Over the year I have bought most of the Tales of Countrymen here. Beautifully hard backed books which would grace the finest of coffee tables. Upstairs they have an amazing collection for children including 3 versions of Alice in Wonderland how truly wonderful in wonderland is that.   Here you see when I took the Mad Hatter exploring. Tomorrow I will tell you what book I pulled form under the bed ...yes I keep running out of space to put them ...and what I did with what I read inside.

Adam Jackson and his amazing Chocolate Brownies

With thanks to Adam Jackson who is executive head chef at the Feversham Arms in Helmsley . As it is the weekend .. it is time for a little treat and the only advantage of self isolating by yourself is you can eat them all. But isnt it nice to share so please save this recipe for when we can all be out and about again. I am happy to visit you when this is all over if you make some of these. 

Please still heed #StayInStaySafe as hard as it is.  To put it bluntly it is only ignorant ,selfish people who flaunt the rules.

  Chocolate brownies . Can we gluten and dairy free . 4 med eggs beaten

200g green and blacks 70% choc it’s got no dairy no soya and only a tiny bit of sugar .
250 g pure spread or other dairy soya free spread
130 cocoa powder make sure it’s dairy free some are not .
300g
Caster sugar
60 g of s r flour or gluten free s r flour .
Weigh out all ingredients with the kids sift the flour and cocoa .
Pre heat oven 180 deg f
1 melt spread and chocolate in a bowl over simmering water . Leave yo cool enough that the kids can touch bowl .

2 add beaten egg mix well

3 . Add sifted flour and cocoa
Mix in
Put in to lined sandwich tins and cook for 10 mins at 180 drop temp to 165 and cook for a further 10-15 mins . Not an exact science but you looking for a risen mixture crusted and slightly cracked on top gooey In the middle . If it rises and soufflé up and cracks it’s too cooked .

Leave to cool and eat 😋😋😋 this makes 2 x 8 inch cake tins . Make with kids easy 

When you see acts of kindness like this we will win Coronavirus

When you see acts of kindness like this ,we know the we will beat Coronavirus . Adam Jackson recently became head chef at the Feversham Arms in Helmsley and today this is what he posted

Lamb shoulder pasta on the go for n h s front line workers at York district hospital . To be delivered later today . Immensely proud of all you front line workers 💙❤️ we all rely on your bravery and hard work x
Not only did he do this but he also created a pudding for them . It is deeds of kindness like these that will all help us get through this time and together as we #CaringAndShare we will beat Coronavirus  

Shopping, Coronavirus and Helmsley and Kerrianne

With been isolated for the last few days and feeling quite safe I decided I had better make a quick trip to Helmsley ,which is our local market town and mainly where I shop .

Shopping in Helmsley to me usually means popping in to see friends on the way and a mooch round. "I wont be long" I said to Jack as I usually do .. and he replied "See you tomorrow, have a nice time" as he usually does as he knows I am often waylaid and away for several hours returning just in time to get his food ready .. When Jack goes "shopping" it is usually to get something for the dogs ,a new tyre , fuel for the pick up ...that sort of stuff and is back before I realise he has gone him .
I went with a scarf wrapped my neck and big enough I could pull it up when I got to Helmsley ,I wore a face mask the other day when I went further but thought I wouldn't go that far today but I did wear my plastic gloves.

Fortunately there was not a lot of people about and the ones I came across I gave wide berth too. I went to Barclays and the girls there are always pleasant and it was good only one person was allowed in the bank at a time. Then I scuttled down the street to the Post Office and our local little supermarket ,Costcutters, which are in the same building . A special mention to Kerrianne Linning and the young man who served me. He is new and I apologised for buy 2 of most things, but one lot was for my dad Kerrianne would have known this, but he was so pleasant and was so calm as I had a job to get the money out of my purse with my rubber gloves I got one of them stuck in the zip...Talk about Bridget Jones .
 I managed to get tomatoes, oranges, lemons, gravy salts, a newspaper for my Dad and some cow[milk] and a few other bits and bobs .I always shop here so I didn't feel bad about filling my basket. I wonder how many people are using this lovely little shop now ..I just hope they are going to use it after the crisis is over.

And then tonight I got an email from Kerrianne to apologies, yes apologise ,that I couldn't use the Post Office as they had just had 6 deliveries and needed to get it on the shelves.  What a kind but unnecessary gesture.  There was a man the young man had to deal with who had quite a bee in his bonnet  because the Post Office wasn't open ... we will get through all this if only we al pull together. So lucky to have shops and people around us like her.
Jack couldn't believe I was home so quick. I pushed all my clothes and scarf into the washing machine and I drew a bath and hopefully if there was any germs I have done enough to keep safe.

New top class chef on the block - ADAM JACKSON at The FEVERSHAM ARMS

Delighted to say there is now another place we can suggest to guests to go to eat. It is in the Weathervane Restaurant at the Feversham Arms in Helmsley. Adam Jackson is now head chef there and his food is amazing.
I have know Adam a long long time .Firstly when he was head chef at the Black Swan in Oldstead where he got a Michelin star for his food.  More recently he has returned from the bright lights of York to take the Feversham Arms to another level .
I was very honoured when he made time to attend the Ryedale Business Awards last week when I announced this great talent was in the area had arrived. It had all been very secretive up until only a few days before.

I went along last night with two friends, Mary who drink Prosecco, Tracy who has a liking for Vodka and Cranberry ..I must try that it was a new one to me and as I was driving I stuck to tap water.
A 2 or 3 course a la carte menu . Chef Jackson certainly worked incredibly hard to keep all 36 diners happy. Nearly a full restaurant  on a freezing evening yes it was 0 degrees when we later ventured out into the late night air.  Please note it was only freezing outside and I had a prime view of everyone cooing and oohhing over their food as I was sat with my back to the wall with a good view of the room.
To start not just bread homemade of course with my favourite of favourites marmite butter and a sea salted version too but a cup of the finest lightest french onion soup I have ever drank . would be pot washer for a week to learn how to make this. I have ever drank . It also came with little balls the finest of choux filled with whipped goats cheese

There is a very detailed version of this blog written up on our FACEBOOK PAGE - JACK PECKITT/ANNA LUPTON if you wish to read it more deeply . I will say what I choose I couldn't have bettered .Sea Trout with hispi, wasabi and apple to start -that was my favourite , my main course was Cod, loveage, ratte potatoes and potted shrimps with the latter catching my eye to make the difficult decision a little easier to know which course to chose. Topped off with Chocolate ,blood orange and pecan.
Mary and Tracy had the beef which they said they had never tasted beef like it .
 We were given extra surprises in store along the way as nice places do . You know it is a "nice "place when you finish with a cheese board with not only has orchard chutneys, crackers and walnut and treacle bread but honey and walnut on one of  cheese as well . 

Ampleforth Beagles Centenary Dinner

Friday night saw 160+ people, representing 11 hunt from all over the countryside, turn up in the posh togs to celebrate 100 years of the running of Ampleforth Beagles.  The evening was arranged by Kate Mould who turned the Feathers Hotel in Helmsley into a very glitzy affair. Well done to this young lady who in the coming season will be the first female to wear the green jacket  to run with the beagles.
We were sat on the ever gracious Lady Clarissa Collins table who you can see having a word with Richard Waind - a local butcher.  We had a very enjoyable evening with Jane and John Cranage, their son Tom blew us in for dinner. This is his last season with the beagles and next season he leaves to to to the Zetland and ride with the hounds. Later in the evening Tom was presented with a silver horn which he blew without taking breathe for 25 seconds.
The welcome address was made by Michael Spencer QC followed by Grace said by Fr Hugh Lewis- Vivas.
We then tucked into a roast beef dinner was down of quantities of liquid refreshment. There was the Loyal toast and a toast to the Hunt. Tom was presented with his horn and also a book from the Zetland by Ian Kibble MH followed by the Guest Speaker -Martin Vander Weyer -who is the business editor of the Spectator and lives in Helmsley.
There was dancing until dawn and carriages at 1am. We had as you can guess left well before then.  Not our usual Friday night but so pleased that we went to celebrate this milestone in the Ampleforth Beagles history as Ian Kibble said we wont be around for the next one ! I took the obligatory selfie -dont know if that was a good idea but it is one for the album.

The Result of the World Knitted Cake Festival

It will be nearly 9 months since Christine Bentley of Castle Stores in Helmsley and I joined together to discuss how we would go about having A World Knitted Cake Festival. Many thought us crazy. "Have faith" I said .So with lots of hard, hard work from Christine and her band of happy knitters - Maud,Winnie,Magda,Gillian and me flitting in and out. The Mad Hatter from the Mad Hatter Tea Company came along with Mrs MH dressed in fine regalia.Last week saw it all happen .We raised £875 to press which will be split between The League of Friends for Malton Hospital and Sheffield Childrens Hospital. We were bowled over by the efforts of the knitters and the generosity of people from all walks of life. Entries came from all over the UK . Here you see The Official Mad Hatter with his favourite,the Battenberg cake which was designed and made by a local lady,Jenny Austin from Sproxton.

BIG SECRET REVEALED.......

At 10.30am GMT on Friday 20th March 2015 we can finally reveal what is happening around the North York Moors ....... this news is hot off the press so I hope it reaches you all very quickly... Susan Briggs has come up with another great idea . First it was yellow sheep in the Dales, then we had pink sheep here in the Moors. Now there is a website you may like to take a look at www.cakecapital.com .AND we are part of this .After you have read it through you will see that cakes and buns are been served all over the area. Melton Mowbray have the pies. Newmarket has sausages and we have cakes and baking Some people have a particular cake they serve up. Others like me serve up what came out of the Aga a few hours before. This varies on the time I have and as my icing skills are very moderate please dont expect sculptured iced creations here. Each to their own. Now when the idea of cakes came up I immediately piped up "Well we could have fish cakes too" .. I will leave that to the fishermans wives and those who live on the coast. If you read a previous blog of mine you will read about Castle Stores opposite the church in Helmsley. Two things are happening in the Ampleforth/Helmsley radius as businesses are joining together. FIRSTLY- anyone who stays as a guest with us are invited along to Maud and Christine's on a Tuesday night. I will drive so you can sit back and relax and on lighter nights enjoy the view and maybe see a deer or two on the way as we cross over Wass Moor on our way to Helmsley. You will then experience 2 happy hours making buns or even setting off to make a cake. There is only one thing, these are not edible but dont worry we are treated to tea and cakes half way through. You can either KNIT a bun or CROCHET a cake -. Below you will see some examples of what you can make. SECONDLY - As Tour de Yorkshire announced recently having the Sheffield Childrens Hospital as it's official charity we wanted to raise their coffers too .Only one of 4 hospitals in the country to have specialist care for children. I have passed the idea to their fundraising staff and we are being well supported with our second idea. We are hoping to make this an annual event. We are going to hold a WORLD KNITTED CAKE FESTIVAL. It is in its very early stages. Just send your knitted bun to CASTLE STORES WOOL SHOP, HELMSLEY ,YORK along with £3 entry money . On the 25th September 2015 the winners will be announced. All buns will be donated and later sold in the shop. So for every bun that you knit you will raising funds for 2 Yorkshire charities . We are delighted that we are going to be helping our local hospital at Malton .- www.maltonhospitalleagueoffriends.org.uk. From birth to death you couldnt wish for a friendly better place to get treated. Over the last year Christine has been treated there and her mum too .Anna's grandchildren have been there and her dad. So this hospital is very close to our hearts. towards the Sheffield Children's Hospital. They are currently looking to raise money to enable them to buy a fully digital intraoperative 3T MRI scanner. Currently ,this specialist piece of medical equipment cannot be found anywhere else in the UK and is only available in three countries worldwide. -www.tchc.org.uk. The first prize will be an afternoon tea for two at the famous Ampleforth Abbey Tea Rooms followed by an evening's knitting experience with Maud and Christine.Trust me this is something special. Also included -a night stay with us at Carr House Farm. A prize for the best dressed Alice In Wonderland character - take a family visit to the International Centre for the Birds of Prey in the magnificent grounds of Duncombe Park. So please spread the word and get your knitting needles out . There will also be a prize for the best dressed "Alice in Wonderland" character. The official Mad Hatter will be announcing the prize winners . The website to read more about the KNITTED CAKE FESTIVAL is www.worldkcf.co.uk

Fridays are market days in Helmsley

There isn't many Fridays when I don't get down to Helmsley market. My first memories are going on the bus with my Grandfather before I was old enough to go to school. We went to the bank -it felt a bit like the bank you see in the Mary Poppins film. We went to the fish stall.Grandfather had a magic little bag made of oil cloth that was rolled out and was just for fish. He bought Whitby cod and some fishcakes EVERY week.And then we went to the bakery for bread and iced bread buns. 55 years on it is basically the same routine -bank and go to get some fish along with other visits too. The butcher van is laden with meat -we supply this butcher and have done so down the generations. Near to it is the most amazing cheese stall - I think this is probably my favourite stall not only do they have lots of delicious cheese they are the most wonderful local,cheerful people I have known all my life -well Cathy is a bit younger. Nigel was brought up at a farm just over the hill from us and we were both born in the same vintage year.

Silver Wedding Party.

Looking back at the photos it doesn't seem 25 years since Philip Nicholls made an honest woman of Shirley Bowes. Over 100 friends and family joined the silver pair along with their 2 sons David and Robert. It was held at the Feathers in Helmsley. Simon Parker and his staff did a sterling job to make sure everyone had a wonderful night. Shirley looked amazing, Philip made a great speech and David and Robert looked after "the show" very well. The food was superb.For our main course we choose the beef. Simon spoilt Jack bringing him some beef right from the middle of one of the 3 joints.It nearly looked as it was still alive but that is Jacks favourite. We were sat with Doreen Davenport-better known as Fawcett and before that as one of Philip Robinsons daughter -there was 5 of them. Her son Edward was on our table too and all made for good company. Apparently my mum taught Doreen to knit. We all had plenty to talk and remiss about. It was Doreen's late husband ,Anto's car that son Tony drove Shirley to the church in. All too soon the night was over. A wonderful night for a wonderful couple who were so busy looking after everyone else that I disappointedly didn't get a photo of them together. Shirley dazzled in a sparkling blue dress as I caught her talking to Faff who we would both go to school with. Philip looked very dapper in his d.j. The two ladies in the photos are Philip/s mum on the right and Aunty Ada -Shirley aunt of the left. A photo also of Shirleys sister Sandra with her two sons and daughter Jenny just behind her.

Calendar Girls descend on Helmsley

Yes that's right those nude W.I. ladies -well two of them - Angela and Miss October. HRH Prince Charles may have come along but we didn't have Miss July to tempt him. These two ladies had us all in stitches - an evening organised by the Yorkshire Cancer Research was held in the Town Hall. The Calendar girls have raised nearly £4m, still had time to sign calendars and pose for me on the way out. Maybe you don't recognise them with their clothes on.What I would say if you get chance to hear them give a live talk make time to go.Although I have seen the film it is just so interesting to hear their story of how it grew. There was a lot of brave people in the audience too.Mums,sisters,wives and grandmas who had tragically lost loved ones.They were all their to give their support .Cancer is terrible at any time but must be heart breaking if your child gets it. The girls told us that when they began only 1 child in 10 survived now it is 9 child out of 10 are cured.What an achievement.These girls should get halos

Views from Scarborough Southcliff

We are only 34 miles from the seaside so it takes less than 45 minutes. A nice drive out through pretty villages like Thornton le Dale and the market town of Helmsley. If the day is nice to get over there and take in the sea air. For the more hardy go for a paddle. For me I like to go to find mussels and whelks and other edible bits and pieces on the shoreline.I took these photos when I went to get an ice cream -see previous blog.The gardens are still looking very colourful They talk about Harrogate for its gardens - the autumn flower show is on at the moment. Harlow carr is another drawing point to Harrogate.I think Scarborough gives other towns a run for its money any day

Alex's Indigo11 and the Wasp Catcher

You will find Indigo 11 in Church Street in Helmsley. An amazing shop run by a very friendly Alex. She also has shops in Malton and Yarm. Her wares which are sourced from as far away as India and also just across the channel from France. With the chic that only France provides. Items you want to buy for the house,the garden,your best friend not forgetting yourself. Alex also has a thriving on-line business for those people like me who cant decide there and then. Hummm that's me I left behind a stone plate with 4 candles on it and a trio of little milk bottles ...I was intrigued to know what this glass bottle without a bottom was. It is a wasp catcher which I couldn't resist. Alex told me to put Irn-bru in as wasps are most partical to this. Although it is not wasp time I am going to do my girl guide bit to be prepared.