In praise of rhubarb

[vernon]

They must employ a special class of chef to work in schools and colleges - someone who can take excellent, tasty, nutritious ingredients and completely ruin them ...

You'd enjoy our school dinners.

Today I had lamb tagine.

The other day I had Babotie Pie

Twice cooked belly pork is to die for.

Our kitchen service has been outsourced to Compass and the menu is rich and varied. A decent main course and pudding cost teachers £2.40 - the kids pay considerably less.

 

[vernon]

The best forced rhubarb comes from the Rhubarb Triangle of Yorkshire. If you are going to force one of your own clumps don't do it 2 years running, allow it time to recover.

I've been in a rhubarb forcing shed. The stuff is picked by candlelight. You can hear the rhubarb grow - it sqeaks.

 

[ttcycle]

mmm rhubarb!

My mum made me a dish when I was very small with beef and rhubarb.
My dad had some growing in his garden - they produced delightful loads of rhubarb but sadly a few years after I moved out of his place he got the garden covered in pebbles! The cooking apple tree and the rhubarb are now under piles of stones...very sad!

 

[XmisterIS]

You'd enjoy our school dinners.

Today I had lamb tagine.

The other day I had Babotie Pie

Twice cooked belly pork is to die for.

Our kitchen service has been outsourced to Compass and the menu is rich and varied. A decent main course and pudding cost teachers £2.40 - the kids pay considerably less.

Well now, that does make a change for the better from when I was at school! I'm glad to hear it! When I went to school, the food was absolutely miserable. I am sure that was in part deliberate - it was a protestant school and I am convinced that they made certain the food wasn't "too good", just in case we committed the sin of enjoying it ...

 

[Night Train]

I miss having a neighbour who had rhubarb growing but didn't like eating it.
Sadly both the neighbour and the rhubarb have moved house.

 

[subaqua]

used to have it in crumble as a kid. could just about cope with it if the crumble was sweet enough. i think my mam used to cook it for too long and with no sugar , but thast not surprising being she was growing up in the first age of austerity (50s) . the rhubarb pie was vile though.

 

[Fnaar]

Why is it that "rhubarb rhubarb" is actors' background 'mumbling' noise?

 

[slowmotion]

I had some very bad experiences with fruit at school before haute cuisine hit the kitchens. Rhubarb, apricots and prunes were served up as "stewed fruit" in battered aluminium dishes. They looked a bit like the slops from an operating theatre, and were quite ghastly.....but, I'll give rhubarb another chance if someone can show me where to find a recipe to eat with mackerel. That one sounds interesting. Rehabilitate me...thanks.

 

[vernon]

The cooking apple tree and the rhubarb are now under piles of stones...very sad!

That must be one hell of a big pile of stones!

 

[vernon]

but, I'll give rhubarb another chance if someone can show me where to find a recipe to eat with mackerel. That one sounds interesting. Rehabilitate me...thanks.

Google is your friend

A South African pal of mine used to make a great rhubarb and mackerel dish. Mmmmm....

 

[vernon]

I'm a fan of tinned rhubarb though it appears to be out of favour with Asda at then moment.

 

[slowmotion]

Thank-you vernon. Sometimes I can catch the fish, but it looks like I will have to invest in a sharp knife in order to fillet them judging by all the recipes that require that skill.

 

[John the Monkey]

Well now, that does make a change for the better from when I was at school! I'm glad to hear it! When I went to school, the food was absolutely miserable. I am sure that was in part deliberate - it was a protestant school and I am convinced that they made certain the food wasn't "too good", just in case we committed the sin of enjoying it ...

Mrs. Monkey works at a local school doing food service - the menu is excellent, although the kids only want to eat burgers, pizza and chips, in general.

 

[rich p]

OK so it seems I'm the only person in the world who hates the stuff. Rhubarb! It's evil - makes my teeth go funny. Eeuuurch!

Top Tip - put them in a glass of water overnight with a piece of rhubarb and they'll come out beautifully white.

 

[rich p]

Hahaha Rich - have you been experimenting with yours?

I prefer this method!