Lemon Sole and Bobby Beans

Friday 7 September

Elizabeth's friends Maria and Tom from Perth, Australia came here as the last European stop on their seven-week tour. As we knew they hadn't had a home-cooked meal during the whole trip, we decided that we would remedy the situation.

We started with appetizers of carrot and courgette sticks, oatcakes, and tzaziki, taramasalata, and hummus dips.

Luckily, the Chapel Market fishmonger ("Angel Fisheries") had returned from Spain today, and had lemon soles at half the price of anything in Sainsbury's - so about the same price you could get them for in America, if you could get them, which you can't. We grilled two soles whole, while making a beurre noisette with capers. The soles were very large, so they overlapped. That meant that after the first filleting (smartly done by Maria), we had to return the lower parts of the soles for a second quick grilling.

As a side dish, we steamed "bobby" (green) beans (also from Chapel Market) and served them topped with a good knob of butter (hence the expression, "Yours with knobs on").

Maria and Tom brought wine and lovely cheese, so we finished the meal with a nice bit of Brie.