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An Ox-picious start to 2009

KATE Moss, George Clooney and Barack Obama have the perfect excuse to deck their homes with red and gold paper decorations, eat long noodles and take to the streets with colourful lanterns.Read

Ingredient of the Week

IF YOU thought chicory was just a coffee substitute, think again.Read

Locanta, 31 Ludgate Hill, Birmingham. 0121 236 7227

NOTHING but admiration fills my heart as I watch Nick Owen and Suzanne Virdee bring professionalism, sophisticated wit and intellectual rigour to Midlands Today.Read

Punjab Kebab House, Dudley Road, Winson Green

WITH its red, blue and green exterior this was already going to be one of the most colourful chippies I’ve been to.Read

Shop around to snap up a grape bargain

THERE is plenty to drive you to drink in the present economic climate.Read

Relief for that sore throat

EVEN those who are a bit sceptical about the health claims of various herbal teas might want to check out Dr Stuart’s Extraordinarily Good Teas, created by medical herbalist Malcolm Stuart.Read

Sampling the poetry of scotch and haggis

ROBERT Burns would surely be a little perplexed if he could see how his countrymen celebrate his birthday 250-odd years on – a bunch of tipsy blokes worshipping a haggis, drinking copious amounts of whisky and struggling to remember the words to his finely-crafted poems.Read

The Junction, Alcester Road, Moseley

IT’S taken longer than planned, but three visits and nine months after The Junction replaced Drift – remember that doom and gloom brown colour it had been painted outside? – I finally got to have a meal here.Read

It's a chippie, but it's batter by far

IF rock gods were taken into account when judging the nation’s best chippie, the Merchant Fish Bar would be a shoe-in.Read

Bewdley fish-and-chip shop used by Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant in running to be named best in Britain

IF rock gods were taken into account when judging the nation’s best chippie, the Merchant Fish Bar would be a shoe-in.Read

Dolphin Fish Bar, 1225 Warwick Road, Acocks Green

THIS popular corner shop has been refurbished to a very high standard since my last visit in April, 2006 when 280g of chips cost me 75p.Read

The Oak, 8640 Stratford Road, Hockley Heath, Solihull. 01564 785 252

WOMEN are frail creatures who shy away from offal, perhaps indulging in the occasional wafer-thin slice of calves liver if they must.Read

Put red cabbage on the menu

IF ONE of your New Year resolutions is to eat more veggies in 2009, then it’s important to find new and imaginative ways of cooking with them.Read

Cocktail of the Week: Gentle Sea Breeze

After all the excesses of the party season try a healthy non-alcohol alternative.Read

Perfect Partners: Onion Soup and dry cider

A steaming bowl of onion soup is a good way to banish Jack Frost.Read

This is not a sellers market

The credit crunch is all very well, but when it comes to having to sell off the contents of the wine cellar at a knockdown price you know things are really going badly.Read

Windmill Inn, Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon

AFTER more than 400 years in business, this town centre boozer has more than just a wonderful atmosphere.Read

Jimmy’s bringing home the bacon

IT’S been a whirlwind few weeks for celebrity pig breeder Jimmy Doherty, best known as the star of the BBC TV show Jimmy’s Farm.Read

Family Christmas meal is no hassle for top NEC chef

THERE’S a mountain of veggies to prepare, the turkey’s drying out, the bread sauce is burning and the relatives are restless.Read

Bringing out the flavour with slow cooking

IF YOU get home from work and spend 10 minutes staring despondently in the cupboards before throwing some bread in the toaster or ripping the top off a ready meal, you need to slow down.Read