EATING OUT: The White Swan, Swaythling, Southampton

I'm not going to deny it I am seriously skeptical when it comes to eating a roast out. Whether it's just because I have been lavished by amazing roast dinners by my parents when I was a  child I will never know but for some reason when I eat out, roasts just don't seem to cut the mustard.

My boyfriend's sisters birthday came around recently, and as she was busy the majority of the day with rehearsals on a Sunday daytime, he thought what better than a sunday at the pub with a carvery. At the time we were on holiday in Cornwall and mooted the idea for a fair few days whilst away, and then it came. The more I thought about carvery's the more I had an insatiable urge for one. Each night we went to bed and it came again, so when the Sunday arrived I was literally gagging for some roasties and slabs of meat with a slathering of gravy and sauces.

Living close to the pub we opted for The White Swan in Southampton, and despite the disappointing reviews I had read online about eating here, we ignored them and set off. This pub, is what we would call our 'local' so we visit here on a regular basis. We worried that seven of us would have to wait a while and linger until seated, but we were noted immediately and offered a high seated table or a twenty minute wait to sit in the crowded restaurant area. High seated table thanks! The boyfriend's younger sibling is slightly adverse to veg but opted for a delicious looking fish and chips kids meal. We were told when to order our carvery's in order to time it with her meal coming out. Top marks on service!

 GET IN MY BELLLLLYY!

Meats on offer included Gammon, Beef and Turkey. Being the glutton I am I opted for all three, topped off with a generous yorkshire and stuffing and sausage trimmings. I had about 20 parsnips and a load of broc, but felt seriously let down by the roasties; I'm sorry but NOTHING comes close to my dad's. NOTHING.

Still mega good carvery and the reviews online proved to be total tripe. Looking at the photo above is making me want to go back for another now, and at a reasonable £8.99 for all day Sunday, I can see no reason why not to ;)

8/10

White Swan
Mansbridge Road, West End
Southampton
Hampshire
SO183HW

Telephone :(02380) 473322
Email: whiteswan@orchidpubs.co.uk

WATCH IT: Julie and Julia

When it comes to cooking sometimes a tv programme just doesn't cut the mustard (sorry, pun intended!) I've been a Nora Ephron addict for years, and Julie and Julia is no exception. Based on two true stories this film is centred around two women and their two loves of all things food.

Centred on Julie Powell, a woman disgruntled with her day to day depressing job whose brainchild (sorry again, intended pun) is to create a blog, recording her plight cooking all 524 recipes from renowned chef Julia Child's cookbook in a single year.

Everything about this film is joyous. Whether you are watching Julia Child and her husband Paul eat their way around France or Julie Powell struggling with the Lobster Thermidor you can't help but fall in love with their stories and their united passion for cooking.

The story follows two stories, flicking from Julia's muched loved days in Paris, learnt cooking and creating her cookbooks, and Julie's desperation to find a purpose in life and her career, by doing the only thing she knows best, to cook.  It's hard not find a soft foodie spot in your heart for the characters portrayed by Amy Adams and the irrepressible Meryl Streep, who as Child is nothing but faultless. You'll find yourself in utter buttery coated food heaven with this ones my friends!

The best part of this update? I picked up a copy of the DVD with Julia Child cookbook for the bargainous price of £7 in Tesco. A steal. Not only do I own a heartwarming story that tantalises my tastebuds and makes me, let's face it, downright ravenous, I now am the proud owner of 30 of Julia's best recipes from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. (available in full hardback version, see right) Hoorah! Now I get my chance to perfect the art of Boeuf Bourguignon et La Tarte des Demoiselles Tatin. Bliss!

If you're like me and you love your grub and nothing more than a film with a happy ending then this will be right up your cooking street. If you want to find out more about the film then check out the trailer below. Guaranteed winner!!