EAT

10 Brilliant Beer Gardens in Herts & Beds

The pubs are OPEN! (Well, just the gardens... but who cares) Woo hoo! Here's where to head in our counties to quaff rosé and wolf down some great grub that you haven't cooked yourself
Try this light but warming spring supper

Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's healthy take on this Scottish fish soup makes for a quick and hearty but healthy supper that's perfect for cool spring evenings.
48 Mother’s Day afternoon teas that deliver

Can't give mum a hug? This is a close second: tiny sandwiches, a lot of clotted cream, and an optional bottle of fizz. Here are the 48 best afternoon teas for delivery and takeaway around the country.
Comforting classics from The Pie Room

Ooh, is there anything more satisfying than good flaky pastry? These two tasty recipes from Calum Franklin's new cookbook The Pie Room are just the ticket.
Flipping good: four new pancakes recipes to try

Had enough of lemon and sugar? Spice things up a bit this Pancake Day with an Iranian cardamom pancake, shredded duck pancake, or vegan version with blueberry compote.
Asian-inspired healthy dinners for reboot February

January didn't quite live up to your healthy living expectations? Cosy food doesn't have to come at the cost of health. Try these tasty plant-based recipes made with warming ginger and miso.
Valentine’s date night delivered with love

Cupid’s in the kitchen! Here are 10 of Herts & Beds best takeaways bringing the food of lurve to you this Valentine’s Day, all wrapped up and sealed with a (socially distanced) kiss!
Fast and filling recipes for Feb

No time/energy to cook (let alone make it healthy)? Don't worry, we've got you. Here are two low-effort, speedy suppers under 500 calories to feel good about.
Eat Better Forever, Hugh? Oh, OK then.

Spent December scoffing mince pies? Whip up a veg-packed soup or hot pot from Hugh's new cookbook and feel the smug glow of a healthy New Year.
Speedy Supper: a vibrant Prawn Laksa

Healthy, hearty and faster than Dina Asher Smith with jet propellers, welcome to 2021's first Speedy Supper courtesy of James 'I'm A Celebrity...' Haskell.
There’ll be no guns at the table, please

Holland & Holland Shooting Grounds is loved by field sports fans and locals alike, but even some of them didn’t know about the reopened Dining Lounge. Clevercloggs Muddy did.
The best cookbooks to buy now

Sick of making the same seven dinners, week in, week out? Or just a sucker for tempting pictures of food? If any of the above apply, we’ve got you covered.
18 of the best festive afternoon teas

The only thing that can make an afternoon tea better? Mince pies and lashings of mulled wine. Here are 18 of our favourite festive options in Herts and Beds.
40 of the best indie coffee roasters

Can't function without your morning brew? Try one of these delicious artisan blends, from indie coffee roasters across the Muddy counties, to kickstart your day with a caffeine boost.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s winter warmers

Spent all of lockdown scoffing crisps and mince pies? Whip up a veg-packed soup or hot pot from Hugh's new cookbook, 'Eat Better Forever: 7 Ways to Transform Your Diet'
Tip-top takeaways to see you through lockdown

Restaurants, cafes and bars may be closing, but you can still support our brilliant local businesses by ordering a takeaway. Oh go on, if we must...
7 of the best places to eat vegan

With World Vegan Day on the horizon, we've rounded up the best places across the counties to try plant-based eating for size.
Review: New Al Fresco Menu at Paris House

Head over to the historic Paris House Terrace, sample the excellent new Al Fresco menu from top chef Phil Fanning. Make sure to take in the grandeur of the deer park while you're at it.
Launch review: The Pig, Harlyn Bay, Cornwall

On its opening day, Muddy's ed-in-chief Hero Brown was the first to eat lunch at the brand new Pig hotel in Harlyn Bay (what a trooper!). So what was the verdict - and is it worth a trip to North Cornwall?
20 zero waste shops across Herts & Beds

The eco shopping scene is thriving and there are lots of plastic free options. Re-style the weekly shop with guilt-free groceries, cleaning products, gifts and more.
Smokin’! The perfect summer burger recipe

The weather's pulling a blinder this week, so fire up the BBQ and rustle up this bad boy with homemade ketchup (fancy!) from Muddy favourite The Pig group.
Quarantini time! Heston’s Gold Rush

Looking to up your cocktail creds during lockdown? We've rifled through Heston Blumenthal’s cocktail bible, so perk yourself up with a Gold Rush.
Provençal fougasse with green and black olives

Lockdown is the perfect time to get to grips with our favourite chewy loaf: sourdough. Ready, set, bake with this savoury share-and-tear number (you can skip the sharing bit if you like).
Speedy supper, anyone? Make THIS tonight

Looking for healthy dinner ideas - take inspiration from Olympic gymnast Max Whitlock for a meal that's quick, tasty and packed with protein.
Ready, set, cook! 8 new cookbooks for spring

Looking to up your cooking creds whilst in quarantine? Then you'll be needing our curated guide to the most useful and inspiring cookbooks for spring. Yes, chef!
Cook THIS for dinner tonight

Running out of ideas for midweek meals? Yup, us too. Take inspiration from the hottest new cookbook on the block by pop star Jessie Ware. Yum!
Asparagus tart with quails egg and prosciutto ham

This super-simple tart recipe, from Cotswolds based Gluts & Gluttony, makes the most of seasonal ingredients and takes a mere 30 minutes. Count us in!
Recipe: A salad for sunny days

This peach and lentil salad with warm pork tenderloin by renowned chefs Kate & Giancarlo Caldesi, is easy peasy, looks amazing and tastes delicious.
Restaurants with rooms

Dreaming of a foodie getaway? We've scoured the Muddy counties for hotel stays with serious culinary credentials for when lock-down lifts. Tuck in.
The best brunch in town

The most lipsmackingly indulgent meal of the day and we have 47 of the best ones to tempt you with, from vegan to full English, flat white to green detox. Just add friends and a hangover.