Best of...
How the British ever developed a reputation for poor food when we conjured up these flavoursome delights is beyond us here at delicious.!
TV chef Simon's unique no-meat dishes are so great that vegetarians will rejoice and carnivores will forget why they ever needed meat.
Keep your fingers on the pulses with these delicious. recipes for beans, peas and lentils.
From tiramisu to torta di riso, panna cotta to panettone, you can taste the love in Italian puds. If you know a place that does better desserts then we'd love to hear about it.
No more the limp side dishes of ye olden days. In these modish times, salad recipes are versatile, inventive and tasty. And if you go easy on the dressing, you lose the fat but not the flavour.
Remember the old joke: "I'm on a seafood diet? I see food and I eat it." Er, hilarious, isn't it. However, there's nothing funny – only yummy – about these superlative shellfish recipes.
Best of... quirky food festivals
Ah, you have to love English eccentricity. Here's our favourite, erm, unusual food festivals taking place in Britain in 2008.
APRIL
Hocktide Festival
Takes place on the second Tuesday after Easter each year (1st April 2008).
Proceedings commence from 8.00am at the Town Hall, Hungerfod, Berkshire.
Tel: (01488) 685081.
World Dock Pudding Championship
The day’s events start at 8.00am, with the competition taking place at 1.30pm on Sunday 20th April 2008. Mytholmroyd Community Centre, off Caldene Avenue, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.
Tel: (01422) 883023.
MAYStilton Cheese RollingPictured here with Robbie Coltrane and Warwick Davis. Events start at 10.00am, with cheese rolling commencing at midday on May Day (5th May 2008).
Stilton, Peterborough.
Tel: (01733) 241206.
WebsiteCheese RollingTakes places from midday on Monday 26th May 2008
Cooper’s Hill, Gloucestershire.
WebsiteJUNEThe World Nettle Eating ChampionshipPictured below. Commences at 6.30pm on Saturday 21st June 2008
The Bottle Inn, Marshwood, Dorset.
Tel: (01297) 678254.
Website
World Egg Throwing Championship
Includes egg roulette, pictured top. Sunday 29th June 2008
Thorpe Latimer, Nr Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Website
SEPTEMBERThe World Black Pudding Throwing ChampionshipsCommences at midday on Sunday 14th September 2008.
The Royal Oak pub, 39 Bridge Street, Ramsbottom, Bury, Lancashire.
Tel: (01706) 822786.
Website OCTOBERThe World Pea Throwing ChampionshipsTakes place at 3.00pm on Sunday 5th October 2008.
The Lewes Arms, 1 Mount Place, Lewes, East Sussex.
Tel: (01273) 473152.