11 minute read
FOOD & DRINK
Orange and Soy Duck with celeriac purée
INGREDIENTS
1 orange, juice 1 tbsp reduced salt soy sauce 1 tsp clear honey 2 Gressingham Duck Breasts 1 tbsp olive oil 300g frozen Cooks’ Ingredients Diced Celeriac 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped 100ml whole milk 200g Savoy cabbage, shredded
WASTE NOT
Keeping diced celeriac in the freezer means you only use as much as you need. Add a handful to your favourite soup, stew or gratin, or roast with herbs and garlic for serving with a Sunday joint.
METHOD
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4. Mix the orange juice, soy sauce and honey in a bowl to make a dressing. Score the skin on the duck breasts and season all over. Heat a frying pan over a mediumhigh heat and, without adding any oil, cook the duck, skin-side down, for 5 minutes until golden. Turn over and sear the flesh for 1 minute. Transfer, skin-side up, to a baking tray. Drain the fat from the pan, then add the orange dressing. Bubble for 1 minute, then spoon the dressing over the duck. Roast for 15 minutes, until the duck is fully cooked with no pink meat and its juices run clear. Set aside to rest for 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat ½ tbsp oil in a medium saucepan. Add the celeriac and garlic along with a pinch of salt. Sweat for 5 minutes, then add the milk and simmer gently for 10 minutes or until the celeriac is soft. Season and use a blender to purée, loosening with 2-3 tbsp just-boiled water if needed; set aside until ready to serve. 3. Wipe out the frying pan and return to the heat with the remaining ½ tbsp oil. Add the cabbage, 2 tbsp water and another pinch of salt. Cook over a medium heat, tossing regularly, for 5-6 minutes, until tender. Slice the duck then serve with the celeriac purée, cabbage, and the orange and soy juices from the duck spooned over.
Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes Serves: 2
Wake up and smell the coffee
Out of Office
Probably the most well-known independent coffee shop among Milton Keynes’ locals, Out of Office has a very simple ethos: serve exceptionally tasty coffee and freshly baked goods and ensure that every customer leaves slightly happier than when they arrive.
As I type this (inside the Witan Studios branch of OOO!) I agree completely with their sentiments – as the coffee shop is now considered to be a ‘third space’ away from both the home and the office, it really does serve to be an anchor for the community, bringing together both those who wish to work and those who wish to play.
Out of Office was founded in 2017 in Milton Keynes from a passion of well-brewed coffee by Steven, Murat and Bennet. The three were lucky enough to have travelled the world, seeking quality coffee shops along the way and vowed to bring speciality coffee to the communities outside of London.
The first shop launched in Stony Stratford and, since then, Out of Office have branched out and opened in five more locations – all maintaining the signature ‘owl face’ branding, but varying the internal décor to fit with the local communities in which the coffee houses stand.
Out of Office work with award-winning coffee brand Colonna – who not only produce worldrenowned beans but also put in scientific research in order to create accessible and exceptional coffee, roasted to perfection. Out of Office, I would say, are some of the biggest supporters of local produce suppliers, selling freshly-baked goods from small independents such as: SAY doughnuts, Oh My Cakery, Hackney Gelato, among others. In their Witan Gate branch, they also serve some sensational brunch offerings, such as: fluffy pancakes topped with Biscoff sauce and Biscoff crumbs; the ‘Erin’ – a velvety espresso with dark Madagascan chocolate served in a jug for you to smother over your ice cream of choice; a selection of sandwiches and bagels including my personal favourite, ‘The New Yorker’ - pastrami, gherkin, mustard and cheese; and their legendary banana bread - banana and chocolate bread, served toasted with their homemade Colonna espresso butter.
My favourite coffee order anywhere is always an oat mocha and it is no different at Out of Office. They use no syrups or powders in their chocolate-based drinks, instead working with quality chocolate purveyors Cocoa Runners to melt down solid chocolate into a ganache, before blending it expertly with steamed milk to create a silky smooth and deliciously indulgent coffee with a bitter edge.
Out of Office offer mouthwatering pancakes for brunch Out of Office coffee
Locations: Wembley, Witan Studios, Stony Stratford, Newport Pagnell, Olney Instagram: @outofofficecoffee
Farthing Brothers
A tiny establishment in my home town of Newport Pagnell opened up earlier this year and has become one of my favourite go-to locations for a coffee on-the-go. Run (aptly!) by the Farthing Brothers Jack and Joel, Farthing Brothers Coffee House serves up quality coffee locally roasted by Wooden Hill roastery – an eco-conscious, plastic-free coffee company based in Bedfordshire which roasts a unique blend of Costa Rican, Honduran and Brazilian Fairtrade coffee beans.
Farthing Brothers also serve up homemade sweet bakes and savoury treats courtesy of Tracey Hollywell – I can definitely vouch for the deliciousness of the warm sausage rolls. In addition to this, they serve up a vast selection of iced teas, flavoured hot chocolate (including a nut-free peanut butter flavour!) and an excellent Monday-Wednesday Deal – a coffee and a cake for £5. Their loyalty card scheme is fantastic and well-worth getting if you know you’re going to be stopping by every now and again; in fact I am already on to my third! Although Farthing Brothers does have a very small outdoor seating area next to the street, it’s often very busy outside; the shop itself operates very much like a window kiosk so be prepared to take away!
Cornwall Place Kitchen Doorstep Toastie
Location: Newport Pagnell Instagram: @farthingbrotherscoffeehouse
Cornwall Place Kitchen
Situated just outside of Milton Keynes in Buckingham, Cornwall Place Kitchen is an eco-conscious coffee shop-cum-fine dining establishment in the lovely Cornwall Place mews off the high street. Head Chef George Spires and Restaurant Manager Sarah King are the masterminds behind this innovative dining venture. What started as a side project became a full-time undertaking during lockdown – George is the brains behind the kitchen while Sarah heads up all things front-of-house.
The dog-friendly coffee shop downstairs serves a selection of local drinks, homemade cakes and street-food-style hearty breakfast and lunch dishes. On a weekend you can even find some fairly renowned lunch specials, such as their doorstop Toasted Sandwiches (their mushroom, cheese and chutney is without doubt one of the best I’ve ever eaten!) and mountains of flavoursome French Toast. Another supplier Of Wooden Hill Coffee, CPK offers an extensive drinks menu with both your staple options alongside some unique takes on coffee, such as: White Chocolate Mochas, Biscoff, Butterfly Pea and Charcoal Lattes and even Puppacinos for your four-legged furry friends.
In the evenings, Cornwall Place Kitchen hold occasional steak nights (with meat supplied from Smith and Clay Butchers just around the corner) and private events. They also host monthly ‘pop-up’ evenings; chef’s table taster menus which celebrate seasonal, quality, handpicked and local ingredients are the focal point, while pairing wines highlight English producers, brewers and distillers.
In fact, CPK supports local wherever possible, recognising the importance, as a small business, of supporting other small businesses. Their mission? Cooking good food in a welcoming environment with a lot of love – which they certainly manage.
Location: Cornwall Place, Buckingham Instagram: @cornwallplacekitchen
> If you would like your restaurant reviewed get in touch mkpulse@pulsegroupmedia.co.uk Follow Emma on Instagram: @emmaroseeats
Cocktail of the month: Cacao Awakening
If you love a classic Espresso Martini, but fancy creating something new, the Cacao Awakening is one to try. Using the traditional martini recipe as a base, this is a twisted classic which creates a deliciously easy-drinking cocktail. I’ve used Copalli Rum (@copallirumuk) Cacao-infused white rum in place of the vodka and coffee liqueur, and added a bit of my Homemade Chocolate
Coffee Syrup for some sweetness. Copalli are an incredibly environmentally conscious company and have a wonderful estate in Belize where everything is grown, harvested and processed. Their rums are all delicious and you can really taste all the individual flavour notes.
My cocktail cupboard staple Solo (@solocoffeeuk) Coffee Concentrate features here – it is, without a doubt, the best coffee for this cocktail, and hundreds of popular bars agree so, if you haven’t already started using it for your espresso martinis, you’re really missing out. The result? A coffee cocktail with flavours to rival the original.
Recipe
50ml @copallirumuk Cacao Rum 30ml @solocoffeeuk Coffee Concentrate 10ml Chocolate Coffee Syrup (Homemade)
To make the Chocolate Coffee Syrup: In a saucepan, combine 2 cups of granulated sugar, 1 cup of brewed coffee, a cinnamon stick and ½ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder. Heat and boil for 3 minutes (or simmer for longer if you require a thicker syrup). Remove from the heat and whisk in a pinch of salt. Allow to cool completely before using. Shake all of the ingredients with ice and serve in a martini glass. Top with chocolate-coated coffee beans and enjoy.
Follow Lewis on Instagram: @sundaycocktailclub
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Pic: Boom! Photography
The founder of Milton Keynes Music Academy explains the power of music to enable the young to develop their hidden talent.
Music has the power to transform lives, a catalyst for talent, success and positive values.
The ability to play an instrument or sing beautifully offers a lifetime of benefits, says Gabriele Baldocci, founder of the Milton Keynes Music Academy. Music lessons also foster personal, social, and academic development and the Milton Keynes Music Academy is the result of substantial investment in the creation of an elite faculty to provide an uplifting environment designed to foster creativity, confidence and joy.
“If you’ve been told you are tone deaf or uncoordinated, I’m here to inform you that everyone can improve their musical skills,” says Gabriele, himself an internationally acclaimed concert pianist.
“As a professional performer, composer and music professor, I’ve witnessed thousands of students transform their lives in ways they never imagined possible. We make it our mission to help Milton Keynes students explore and develop their talents, wherever their curiosity and interests lead them.”
Gabriele founded the Milton Keynes Music Academy during the pandemic in 2020. Since its inception, the school’s primary objective has been to create a vibrant musical community and Gabriele’s ongoing goal is to give all the students the opportunity to learn from active performers and qualified musicians.
“There is no better way to learn an instrument than to be inspired by those who are enthusiastically spreading music in concert form,” he says.
The Milton Keynes Music Academy offers music lessons to students of all ages and levels. The school’s curriculum currently includes one-to-one piano, electric and acoustic guitar, drums, singing and violin lessons, all taught by carefully selected professionals.
Any child who shows an affinity for music or any instrument is welcome to contact the
Any child who shows an affinity for music or any instrument is welcome to contact the school to schedule a consultation lesson.”
school to schedule a consultation lesson. Whether the student chooses to study an instrument to explore a performing career or simply in order to enjoy music as part of a holistic education, the school will imbue all pupils with a sense of musicianship and music interpretation that they can use throughout life.
As well as being a concert pianist, Gabriele is a professor at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and at The Purcell School. He is head of keyboard at Haileybury School in Hertfordshire and founded the London Piano Centre.
Studying music is all about sharing it, he says. To instil the love for performance, the Milton Keynes Music Academy regularly hosts free recitals with a grand piano in first class professional recital venues and currently collaborates with the Mercure Hotel and with the Chrysalis Theatre.
To celebrate the achievements of the students, the Academy offers a professional photo shoot on the day of the recitals, followed by a certificate-giving ceremony.
> The Milton Keynes Music Academy offers a FREE Trial lesson to all students that have an interest in learning an instrument. Find out more at miltonkeynesmusicacademy.com or call 07724 833 201.
