Learning the Art of Fish Cookery with Annie Seabourne How many of us home-cooks think we know our way around a fish? Really know it, I mean, so that we can clean, gut and fillet any kind of swimming creature that is about to bless our dinner tables? My guess is there’ll be a smallish number who’ll feel confident when confronted with any kind of raw seafood, but also a majority who will look at different kinds of fish and wish they were at the chip shop buying something deep f

Dimos Balopoulos is a chef based in eastern Crete, and I remember him telling me how each winter his bosses send him around the world to work for short spells in top kitchens so that he could expand his kitchen’s repertoire. And if it’s good enough for a leading light like Dimos, it’s good enough for an amateur like me. Indeed, one reason I was in Crete was to learn a bit more about how the Greeks in general — and the Cretans in particular — centre all their culinary practice

An overview of an excellent hike at Lansallos on the south Cornish coast

Discover a wonderful walk around the coastal parts of Mawnan Smith in Southern Cornwall

Magic Moments and the Joy of Travel Magic moments… That’s not only the name of a famous Perry Como song, it also represents a kind of ambition. At least for some of us. The kind of people who would like to enjoy at least one magic moment every time they leave their front door. Magic moments are partly what these articles are about and they are certainly a thing most of us want to experience while we are travelling or on holiday. Exploring Northern Sri Lanka Which is why I was

Learning to Cook Cornish Fish with Annie Seabourne of My Fish Kitchen This week we were in Cornwall for a few days so that I could attend some fish cookery classes led by my new pal, Annie Seabourne, of My Fish Kitchen . In short, she is a walking encyclopaedia of anything and everything to do with British seafood . The excellent instruction focused on basic seafood preparation techniques and I will be writing all about the experience in my Hesp Out West feature in the West

It is as tasty as it is healthy, as exotic as it is diverse." Join Martin Hesp as he explores the vibrant flavours of Sri Lanka—from the coconut-infused curries of the south to the sun-dried wild prawns of the northern lagoons.

The secret is to know the moment." From a life-changing encounter with a Buddhist guru in a remote jungle cave to a 2,000km journey across "the road less travelled," discover the spiritual and wild heart of Sri Lanka in part one of this extraordinary adventure.

Rediscovering Batik in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka's embrace of batik, a craft with a rich and colourful history, is undergoing something of a reawakening. From the coastal towns to the island's verdant interior, the sight of wax and dye, once a fading echo, is now to be seen just here and there. Having recently witnessed this resurgence firsthand during a British Guild of Travel Writers tour, an extensive and interesting journey into the heart of Sri Lankan creativity, the depth of

Exploring Sri Lanka by Road: 1,000 Miles of Magic With diesel at 30 pence a litre you can afford to go a long way. And that is exactly what I’ve been doing since we last spoke. I have travelled well over 2000 kilometres on the roads of hot, humid, mad, bad, beautiful and totally magical Sri Lanka. Wildlife, Landscapes and the Wonders of Sri Lanka There have been hills and mountains, forests and jungles, flat-lands and seascapes. There have been elephants, monkeys, tuktuks, bu

The Enchanting Landscape of West Dorset Certain corners of the landscape somehow hold or retain a greater air of mystery and intrigue than others. There’s no real reason for this - maybe something to do with the curvature of hills or a sense of intimacy promoted by the lay of the land. But somehow, when the contours combine and the geology and the flora and fauna all come together in one glorious orchestration, you can find yourself in a place that is not only different from

What Makes a Classic English Tea-Garden So Special? If you were playing host to a foreign guest who had never been to the UK before, which unique British delight would you be tempted to show them at this sunny time of year? A country pub with a garden, perhaps? Well, you can never go wrong with a country pub, but other countries have bars or restaurants that are similar to pubs in many ways. The classic English tea-garden, however, represents a little corner of earthly paradi

A Quintessential British Food Dispute: The Cream Tea Conundrum Over the years I have written a great many articles about the classic Engish cream tea - mainly based on the big row that goes on between Devon and Cornwall concerning whether it’s cream or jam first? It’s all a bit silly really - something made up by journalists like me who needed good stories and head-lines during the slack period of high summer. In my Hesp Out West series in the Western Morning News and Western

Why don't we have an ancient rural tradition of gleaning food for free in the countryside?" From wild garlic to the elusive St George's Mushroom, join Martin Hesp on a revelatory foraging expedition through the hedgerows of the South West.

Rushy Porth: One of the Whitest Beaches In South West UK One of the whitest, most beautiful beaches to be found anywhere is Rushy Porth on the eastern shore of the island of Tresco. On a bright day you need ski goggles just to walk across it, the sand is so white – but here and there the whiteness is punctuated by that natural treasure trove of all beaches, a scattering of shells. The Irresistible Beauty of Seashells on the Isles of Scilly Why do we like shells so much? After

Indulging in Indulgence Catering : A Culinary Gem in West Cornwall Private Chef Experiences in Cornwall That Feel Like Home In another article ( https://www.martinhespfoodandtravel.com/hespfoodandtravelhome/the-fallen-angel-a-luxury-hideaway-above-mousehole-cornwall) we describe a stay at the Fallen Angel, an amazing architect-designed holiday villa in Mousehole, West Cornwall - and in it we mention that while there we enjoyed a fabulous dinner delivered and cooked on the sp

The Fallen Angel : A Luxury Hideaway Above Mousehole, Cornwall A Cornish Holiday Invitation That’s Hard to Refuse Here’s an invitation few could resist: “Why don’t you and your wife try out a beautiful little hideaway property for two, perched above a famous Cornish fishing village? When you’re there we’ll cook you a meal so memorable, you’ll be talking about it for months!” Okay, I’m in. Who wouldn’t be? Controversy Versus Reality: Is the Fallen Angel an Eyesore? Oh… until y

Authentic Italian Cuisine at Masseria Il Frontoio, Puglia Slow Food, Farm-to-Table Dining, and True Puglian Hospitality I’m in the mood to talk about proper Italian food. Partly thanks to an old Rick Stein programme I’ve ust watched. Not just any Italian food, but the kind that makes you want to pack your bags and head straight for the heel of Italy's boot. I'm referring to Masseria Il Frontoio , a place that's not just a restaurant—it is something of a shrine to the Slow Foo

Exploring Malmö, Sweden: A Scandinavian Gem Just Minutes from Copenhagen Malmö is in Sweden—but it is what you could call a cross-border destination. That’s because the region encompassing both Malmö and Copenhagen sometimes markets itself as a single, seamless travel experience. At least, that was what happened a few years ago when I was planning a press trip to Copenhagen and I was put up in Malmo. And why not? With one of the most efficient train services in the world conn

Cornwall is famed for its beaches, but inland lies a mysterious, lush ravine steeped in history. From the breathtaking 89-foot granite arches of the Treffry Viaduct to the quiet ancient woodlands of Prideaux, the Luxulyan Valley is one of the county's best-kept walking secrets.