SouthseaScene

This is a recipe find that's great for cooking when you have had a long day at work, but you want something fancy and tasty. this takes 30 minutes to cook. Ingredients (to serve 4) 6 boneless chicken thighs quartered 6 rashers, smoked streaky bacon cut into short strips 1 tbsp oil 2 onions roughly chopped 2 tbsp flour 150 ml red wine A sprig or two of rosemary or thyme - I prefer rosemary for this myself 250g white cup mushrooms 200 ml hot chicken stock a pinch of parsley chopped - as a garnish, but hey you're short of time! Heat the oil in a pan and cook the onion and bacon for 2-3 minutes. Dust the chicken with flour, shake off any excess, add to the pan and cook for 5 minutes until golden brown. Add the wine and herb and bubble vigorously for 5 minutes, then add the mushrooms and the hot stock. Cover and simmer gently for 10-15 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender and the chicken cooked through (no pink meat). Sprinkle with parsley and serve with st...

I'm most excited about today because we will have world renowned pianist Melvyn Tan performing on the Portsmouth Guildhall stage as part of the Portsmouth Chamber Music Series. You don't get to hear Melvyn Tan in concert normally unless you go to London, in concert halls like the Wigmore Hall. We're fortunate to be able to listen to him in Portsmouth! Melvyn Tan at the Wigmore Hall, 5 October 2014 Tan’s easy asides to the audience matched by his ingratiating engagement with the music, the beautiful sound that he produces, and the moments (…) of visionary grandeur – he is quite the shaman-showman. This exceptional recital cooled down with a dip into Debussy’s ‘Poissons d’or.’ Peter Reed / Classical Source The Portsmouth Guildhall puts on some exciting musicians for their concert series, whether classical or the popular kind. Only last week we had a foot-tapping concert by the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. It was smashing to see so many people intere...

Southsea has a monthly farmers market which I really love because Palmerston precinct where it's held becomes even more alive and buzzing. It is also a perfect opportunity to find some fresh or unusual local produce, that's not available in the local supermarkets. I also love meeting the vendors and chatting with them online, anticipating the next market. So I decided that I should really feature some of them on this page. Before the last market, I received a sweet tweet from @BubbleandMarita which prompted a conversation about bubble and squeaks, suitable toppings and the idea of this posting. So let me introduce you... Bubble& is a local street food phenomenon that has redefined bubble and squeak as we know it. They have created gourmet, gluten-free bubble and squeak cakes in a range of flavours that you can eat hot on their market stall with a soft poached egg, bacon and hollandaise sauce. They are so good, you may also want to take them home. So they have designe...

Article as it appears in the April 2015 edition of Portsmouth View: April showers bring May flowers so the saying goes. The next two months are the best time of the year for gardeners. Have you tried gardening? It is a good activity for any age. It can be rigorous or gentle, depending on what you want to do and it gives much pleasure, especially when all the plants are blooming or bearing fruits. It is a relaxing activity that is probably good for your health. I recently attended a mental health networking meeting at the Central Library. Those who were there agreed that it is important to maintain good mental health much as we maintain our physical health. Hobbies such as gardening, cooking or singing, may help you relax and give the mind a rest from thinking of stressful things. The long Easter weekend was also a good chance to rest and refresh. At the university we also have an Easter break for three weeks. While the students are away, members of s...

We really enjoyed our trip last week to check out the newly refurbished Brasserie Blanc restaurant in Gunwharf Quays. Generally I'm a bit skeptical about refurbishment and somehow we already liked the decor in Brasserie Blanc and we were not sure how it could be improved. Once we stepped into the new place, we immediately liked the warmer grey based theme. The low-light and darkened feel made it more intimate and modern somehow. Somehow they have managed to strike up the balance between vintage, retro and farmhouse style by the combination of the furniture, colour and accessories. This reflect the eclectic but homey feel of the menu. We like how they have set up a cheese bar in the corner. A nice casual way of staying in for a drink and light bites. I will use that area more! The staff at the Gunwharf Quays branch are always very friendly. So it's nice to feel like we were there seeing old friends in their new house. There was more fun and laughter and on a Friday nig...

The British Science Week is also held between 13 and 22 March and t he University of Portsmouth will once again be involved in organising science events for the city. As much as I hate the cliche title, the festival is all about how we apply science to every day life. On Monday 16 March, we welcome back the Ig Nobel team, who will give us research from around the world that will make you laugh and then make you think.  It is fun and funny, so come along to the University of Portsmouth on 16 March, 6pm, at the Richmond Building. One of Portsmouth scientists, Professor Mike Tipton, will look at how science is used in the court room, at a free lecture on 18 March in the Portland Building on Portland Street at 6pm. Then join astronomers from the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation in the Guildhall Square to view the partial solar eclipse on Friday 20 March, 8.30-10.00am. Ask questions and find out more about this amazing natural phenomena. If you are worried about how much...

March often makes me think of the March Hare and Alice in Wonderland.   This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of this book by Lewis Carroll. The Centre for Studies in Literature at the University of Portsmouth has partnered with Hampshire Library Service to run a few events to mark the occasion. On 12 March well-known author, Gaynor Arnold, read from her new book After Such Kindness, a reimagining of the relationship between the author and his muse; a little girl called Alice Liddell. Alice Liddell lived most of her life around Lyndhurst and was later buried in St Michael and All Angels Church.  Come along to the free lecture on Thursday 12 March, to be held in the Portsmouth Business School, Richmond Building, Portland Street, Portsmouth PO1 3DE. The event starts at 6.30pm.