Calvatia Gigantia vulgus Puffball Mushrooms

look what i found at the borough market! mushrooms as big as a soccer ball!!!

«The Giant puffball (Calvatia gigantea) is a puffball mushroom commonly found in meadows, fields, and deciduous forests worldwide usually in late summer and autumn. Most giant puffballs grow to be 10 to 70 cm in diameter, although occasionally some can reach diameters up to 150 cm and weights of 20 kg. The inside of the mature Giant puffballs is greenish brown, whereas the interior of immature puffballs is white. The large white mushrooms are edible when young. Some claim the meat tastes very similar to tofu when cooked. To prepare, remove any brown portions and tough skin if necessary; do not soak in water. Puffballs may be sauteed, broiled, or breaded and fried; they do not dehydrate well, but may be cooked and then frozen.
All members of the true puffball family are considered edible, but be sure to cut the young ones open to make sure there are no gills hidden inside. The deadly amanitas have a volva or "universal veil" that completely envelopes the young mushrooms. Before bursting forth from the volva, they look like little round puffball mushrooms.»

now i just have to cook them!

red guinness

«Guinness is to break with its 250-year tradition of serving exclusively black and white pints by launching a "smoother, sweeter" red-coloured version of the Irish beer designed to attract new drinkers.»
my favourite beer in my favourite colour. i had to try it.
and my opinion: it is not red. in fact, it is hard to distiguish from normal guinness. the flavour is smoother and it lacks that strong bitter taste that i enjoy so much.
i welcome new inventions, but in this particular case i will have to stick with the original stuff.
the surger is another different story. it's magic!
http://www.guinness.com/gb_en/surger/home_f.html

a taste of portugal in kent

it´s outside the m25, but it´s worth a visit!

actually, it was one of the best bacalhaus i have ever eaten!
you can also try chouriço assado, pastéis de bacalhau (perfect!), steak on a stone (the house special), cataplana de marisco and molotof for dessert.
the wines are also portuguese. the service is relaxed and friendly and prices are fair enough. they also organize fado and folk nights.
i strongly recommend a saturday lunch under the vines while the sun is shinning.
it goes by the name of Lisboa Antiga.
check the website for more details:
http://www.lisboaantiga.co.uk/