philipl

If the area gets a really strong reputation for superb food (which they are) then they grow the market between them. What is clear, the future for any pub not doing sensational grub in the Ribble valley area is zero. Unless it has a local crowd to support it by drinking a lot, it will be finished. There are many areas in France and Italy where there is a similar agglomeration of superb eateries in seemingly rural and not well to do parts and they do fine without having four million plus people within forty miles of their doorsteps.

I went to Quanjude in 1987 and was underwhelmed to say the least! Hopefully it has all improved since then.

Where to eat the 50 best foods in the world. Useful addresses for anyone going to New York, Barcelona or Paris!

Apparently Ince did and was playing RSC towards the end of his time at Rovers against the advice of a medic. That came from a pretty reliable source within the club.

Europa Cup. Rapid Vienna who did for Villa are two up in the first half against Hamburg. Is it only me but these Europa Cup games look much more like proper European encounters than the CL now they have amended the rules to give the likes of Valletta FC a decent chance of qualifying for the Group stages.

All four English clubs won- what a surprise.

Bashall Eaves' Red Pump gets a nod in the Times today for the best meat in Britain.

Back it comes tonight. The English clubs can use it like the Carling Cup until the knock out phase- their opponents are below the standard they normally face in the PL for the most part. Inter v Barca will be a bit tasty though.

Sorry to bang on about this but ending prohibition is easily the most sensible and painless way to cut unnecessary public expenditure. Now in Britain Astonishing statistic there- 75% of all Britain's acquisition crime (stealing in one form or another) is drugs related. Just think what can be done to cut prison population, redirect policing and, above all, slash car and household insurance premiums.

Yet another call to end prohibition

I believe Sergio Peter was (and presumably still is) just a complete headcase. Great shame as he is probably the most talented youngster to come out of the Academy from his cohort.

Boro will be significantly strengthened by this signing. He is a massive improvement over the player he is replacing.

Nicko reporting Zura moving to Boro I think this is a terrible move. I really rate Zura and believe we need him as back-up.

No far from it. The 'drog made the point that Nigel Haworth uses a lot of very basic ingredients. The foundation of French cuisine is the south west of the country where poor rough soils forced the peasantry to eat every bit of the animals they killed- from that and judicious use of local herbs, mushrooms and vegetables came the genius of French cuisine. Basically turning unpromising ingredients into the food of the Gods.

That is the key to the greatest cuisine everywhere. It is the foundation of French cullinary brilliance.

Guardian review of the Bull at Broughton

Esquire produces the stats.

LA Times articled- another sign that prohibition is nearing its end

Repercussions start

Scottish First Division is about three levels down from the PL.

If Freddie Sheppard had not "shot Bambi" NUFC would not have been the mess they are today. Not only a true gentleman by all accounts but was successful in pretty well everything he did. RIP

This article in the Times articulates my position exactly: Drugs are evil. They must be legalised. I will repeat, just as the depression did for prohibition of alcohol, so the sick state of public finances will drive the ending of prohibition on drugs. Like the author, I am close to a minority of one who has never popped an illegal pill or smoked an illegal spliff amongst the people I know.

Lucash likely to sign for Galatassary. One less to boo at Ewood next season then!

It is interesting that the two States in the biggest messes are the ones looking to end pot prohibition. California's prison system costs have doubled in ten years to $11bn anualy- pretty well all of that increase going on drugs convicts. Then there are all the costs of policing. At the end of the day with civic budgets stretched beyond breaking point, society is collectively going to decide that drugs prohibition is a luxury it can live without. Legalising and taxing pot is looking like a very attractive "get out of jail free" card now throughout the recession hit economies of the west. Just as the Great Depression did for alcohol prohibition, so will budget deficits bring drugs prohibition to an end now.

New York has similar legislation in draft.