SouthseaScene

From 2nd – 4th July, Ports Fest will invite audiences to Remember, Reimagine, Reset with a festival of music, art, talks,  and workshops, providing something for everyone.   Ports Fest is Portsmouth’s most established annual curated multi-arts festival. This year, they are delighted to be able  to offer a reduced but varied programme to suit the current climate, featuring outdoor, online, and free events.  If you are hoping to seek out some artistic and cultural stimulation this summer, Ports Fest 2021 will be  your starting point!  The festival kicks off on Friday 2nd July with several events for Portsmouth schools, including an online live talk from  former children’s laureate Michael Rosen, and an opportunity for pupils to grapple with our theme of Remember,  Reimagine, Reset by debating whether we should reset to normality after COVID-19. In the evening, welcome  Slapstick Picnic to the beautiful gardens of Portsmouth Museum for a re...

Last weekend I was actually planning to make a crab and Gruyere tart, but unfortunately, there was no crab to be found apart from a small tub that will cost a fortune to make. Always happy to use ingredients that are at hand, I decided to make the tart with asparagus instead. Now is the season for local asparagus, that tastes slightly sweeter. For the pastry: 225g plain flour 110 g chilled butter a small glass of chilled water For the filling: 3 medium eggs, lightly beaten 200 ml double cream a pinch of nutmeg 100g Gruyere cheese, grated salt and pepper a bunch of fresh asparagus, about 12 stalks Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celcius and grease an 8-inch (20cm) baking tin with a removable base. To make the pastry, sift the flour into a bowl, then chop the chilled butter into small pieces and drop them into the bowl. Cover the butter pieces with flour and gently rub them with your fingertips until they resemble rough breadcrumbs. Add a pinch of salt and then slowly, a teaspoon at a ti...