Binny's Blog

Are you a fino fiend? Manic for manzanilla? Amorous for Amontillado? Or maybe you have no idea what any of that means. Whether you're a sherry vet or a sherry noob, this episode has something for you.

A crispy skinned roast goose is a long-standing Christmas tradition that has, sadly, gone by the wayside in the U.S. It’s a real pity since the succulent dark fleshed goose meat, coupled with the crunch of deeply browned skin remain as delicious as they have always been. Add a decadent Port sauce, amazingly savory goose fat roasted potatoes and a fruity, sweet, tart and spicy compote and you have a truly memorable meal. 

Last year on our Batch Cocktails episode, Pat and Chris made big batches of eggnog and aged them for 12 months. Now it's time to try them and hopefully not get sick. Additionally, Roger has cooked up a really easy cranberry simple syrup and has three cocktails to try out.

Sherry has long had an unfair reputation. Dismissed as the stuffy drink of choice for aging British aristocrats, or sickly sweet jug wine more suited to cooking than drinking. Fortunately the variety and quality of sherry is being rediscovered.

Each year the number of Christmas beers continues to grow. Cold winter weather and decadent dinner parties have inspired everything from rich roasty porters and stouts, to spicy winter warmers and barleywines.