Drink

A gentleman of Bordeaux

7 April 2016 1:00 pm

There was a moment during the war when De Gaulle was being more than usually impossible. Roosevelt, furious, asked Churchill…

On the trail of a Holy Grail

26 March 2016 9:00 am

It was a scene evoking the first movement of the Pastoral Symphony. The evening sunshine was caressing the verdant woods…

On the trail of a Holy Grail

23 March 2016 3:00 pm

It was a scene evoking the first movement of the Pastoral Symphony. The evening sunshine was caressing the verdant woods…

A thirst for Justice

12 March 2016 9:00 am

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, a great common lawyer, was an adornment to the American Supreme Court. His wisdom is still…

A thirst for Justice

10 March 2016 3:00 pm

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, a great common lawyer, was an adornment to the American Supreme Court. His wisdom is still…

The grim irony of Walsingham

27 February 2016 9:00 am

As you came from the Holy land Of Walsingham Met you not with my true love By the way as…

The grim irony of Walsingham

25 February 2016 3:00 pm

As you came from the Holy land Of Walsingham Met you not with my true love By the way as…

Game show

13 February 2016 9:00 am

A few years ago, a distinguished cove in the diplomatic service was made High Commissioner to Australia. To prepare himself…

Game show

11 February 2016 3:00 pm

A few years ago, a distinguished cove in the diplomatic service was made High Commissioner to Australia. To prepare himself…

Border spirit

30 January 2016 9:00 am

There has been a gastronomic revolution in London. For some years, the Boisdale restaurants, often mentioned here, have featured Macsween’s…

Border spirit

28 January 2016 3:00 pm

There has been a gastronomic revolution in London. For some years, the Boisdale restaurants, often mentioned here, have featured Macsween’s…

The Battle of Brussels

16 January 2016 9:00 am

My friends divide into three groups. There are those who are determined to anticipate Lent. There is a larger number…

The Battle of Brussels

14 January 2016 3:00 pm

My friends divide into three groups. There are those who are determined to anticipate Lent. There is a larger number…

Commanding vintages

2 January 2016 9:00 am

As the bottles flowed, the talk ranged, to a serious vineyard, an awesome Field Marshal and a delightful restauranteur. For…

Commanding vintages

31 December 2015 3:00 pm

As the bottles flowed, the talk ranged, to a serious vineyard, an awesome Field Marshal and a delightful restauranteur. For…

Even great wine can’t quite give me hope for Lebanon

12 December 2015 9:00 am

Housman had a point. If men could be drunk for ever, the human condition would be tolerable. But thought always…

Even great wine can’t quite give me hope for Lebanon

10 December 2015 3:00 pm

Housman had a point. If men could be drunk for ever, the human condition would be tolerable. But thought always…

An overflow of bookshelves, a huge kitchen, a cellar, music, dogs, hens, donkeys children . . . all the ingredients for civilised life

5 December 2015 9:00 am

In the later 1850s, Palmerston was Prime Minister: Gladstone, his Chancellor. It was a successful partnership between two very different…

An overflow of bookshelves, a huge kitchen, a cellar, music, dogs, hens, donkeys children . . . all the ingredients for civilised life

3 December 2015 3:00 pm

In the later 1850s, Palmerston was Prime Minister: Gladstone, his Chancellor. It was a successful partnership between two very different…

Guinness and oysters — or beef and Haut-Brion — in deepest Ireland

21 November 2015 9:00 am

We were talking about the West of Ireland and agreed that there were few greater gastronomic pleasures than a slowly…

Guinness and oysters — or beef and Haut-Brion — in deepest Ireland

19 November 2015 3:00 pm

We were talking about the West of Ireland and agreed that there were few greater gastronomic pleasures than a slowly…

We celebrated a birth with a wine that will last decades

7 November 2015 9:00 am

Good Saturday, 2015, stepping westward. Autumn sunshine: autumn leaves, almost comparable to New England: pumpkins everywhere, very New England. We…

We celebrated a birth with a wine that will last decades

5 November 2015 3:00 pm

Good Saturday, 2015, stepping westward. Autumn sunshine: autumn leaves, almost comparable to New England: pumpkins everywhere, very New England. We…

Thanks to the rugby the Scots have a real grievance at last

24 October 2015 9:00 am

The Scots do not know what to do. For once, they have a justified grievance. In recent years, this once-proud…

Thanks to the rugby the Scots have a real grievance at last

22 October 2015 2:00 pm

The Scots do not know what to do. For once, they have a justified grievance. In recent years, this once-proud…