THE MODERN MINT BLOG
For those people who have followed this blog closely enough to have seen our 2017 updates about the best gin and tonic, we have found this rather odd complimentary product on the BBC….
GIN AND YOGHURT. TOGETHER.
Really. We know. Gin and YOGHURT!
Ridiculous. But then these food consultants (development chefs?) are suggesting there is more to come. We get Heston Blumenthal doing some wonderful things, but do you really trust Sainsbury’s with your food?
When Heston Blumenthal makes a weird mixture of a dish, it is so expensive – which is appropriate – because then it becomes an event. You pay a lot of money to eat something weird.
The price validates the dinner.
When Sainsbury’s make something weird, they try to make it cheap. So everyone can have a bit, everyone can like it, they can make money.
It is not an event, with Sainsbury’s, it is an assault on the senses!
Please don’t bother buying it, or trying it. It won’t be worth it.
Though we doubt that poor sales will be proof to Sainsbury’s that they should stop messing about with our grub. It will probably just make them work harder, longer hours, whipping and roasting their development chefs until they are steaming from the ears with new ideas for ugly recipes.
Pan-fried llama with a concrete topping?
Fish and Chupa Chups?
Leek and Annyong Soup?
Stick to what works well, especially when it comes to Gin.
Which means checking out our tried and tested recommendations for the best gin in the UK this year. Go now! Enjoy!
Michael Gibson, New York Topiary Art!
In the New York Times earlier this year was a lovely interview with Michael Gibson, who makes topiary and gardens in New York. The article is here but you may not have access… however, search the internet, find it and have a read. It is great! His philosophy of pruning is especially worth it… Sacred geometry in topiary? Yes please! What a phrase! I think (and speak) of balance, of major and minor, of leaf volume… but sacred geometry might well make it into my topiary teaching lexicon! And the idea of directional trimming? I realise I do this, but …
Topiary Library
I do a lot of teaching topiary. I had the opportunity from my mentor, Charlotte Molesworth, to work on her garden and experiment and test techniques and generally try making shapes without the worry of failure, or being fired, or being sued and run out of business for getting it wrong. This opportunity was essential (along with Charlotte’s insistance that pruning standards had to be high!) in becoming better at topiary. When I look around the world at our cultural vitamins, what we see in the media day in and day out, I see the stupidest and grossest of people …
Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue
With Chris Poole of the European Boxwood and Topiary Society we visited Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue in Rutland. Do you know it? Amazing place! Chris and I were teaching a topiary workshop in order to give local people the skills and technique, and tenacity! to help with the pruning of the avenue and elevate it to something even more special than it already is. Read more about the workshops here. We hope to run a further workshop in September 2026, as well as teach an advanced course too. Check the teaching page through the year as it will be updated …