Formula One food with Honda at Hockenheim

The foodies among you have not had much to savour on this blog recently. With that in mind I took my trusty camera along to the Honda motorhome on Sunday for lunch just before the Grand Prix. Having to fulfil these sorts of appointments is part of the tough life we Formula One correspondents have to cope with.

In truth Honda is among the most hospitable teams in the paddock and their food is among the very best, if not the best(the Honda chefs certainly put Toyota, Ferrari and McLaren in the shade I would argue). What they need now is a car to match their culinary competitiveness.

Pictured is the red snapper(first class), the feta cheese, the apple and blackberry crumble(which got the thumbs up from Garside) and the brandy snap(which was pole position good). Time to go for that run...    

Comments

[J.S.]

Food blog heaven, you have done us proud, and in doing so have given us a little idea of how your Sundays pan(sorry no pun intended)out before the real business of motor racing takes place. Excellent mouth watering photos thank you Ed.

[Hank]

... and they pay you for this too Ed?

[IDR]

Well Ed,

Nice menu, at least Honda is leading something in the paddock. Not too bad achievement btw. Maybe Force India should take note and start thinking on beat Honda with wonderful and spicy menus!

Great pics, Ed. Your Panasonic is giving you good pleasure. But have you noticed that you are reflected in the plastic frame of the menu in picture one and picture two?

The “crap photographer” making self-portrait in a most subtle and innovative style! Darren, take note, “the crap photographer” is improving consistently!

Thank for this. It is like an “Oasis” in the middle of this “Storm of Sand” of your last threads, full complete of comments adding almost nothing but bitter.

When I wanted bitter, I had a Campari with natural orange juice on the rocks. Now, I come here, read the comments while having just sweet orange juice on the rocks.

I miss people here,

Kathryn-S with her insightful comments about people behaviour,

Kate C Jones with her “Breakfast at Tiffany’s, cappuccino style”,

D, telling us amazing stories about life, F1 history, or whatever he could imagine…

Or the most robust “F1 wikipedia´s” TIM, DEREK SMITH, AUGUSTO BAENA…

Some others as ANON or GARY M that previously where adding interesting things to this blog, are in the middle of this storm, and some of their comments have been (properly) edited by you…

DEAN RODRIGUES, he is a huge fan of LH and he doesn’t like F Alonso, but he knew how to behave…

And many others…

Where are all of them Ed?

I miss all of them...

[Ed Gorman]

To IDR

You do feel you get to know people here, I agree. Voices come and go but I've noticed that when a really good commentator drifts away, there is usually an equally good one waiting to take their place. Unlike me, the users of this blog can pick and choose how often they take part. I'm not quite sure what you mean by the "storm" or the "bitterness" - it all seems pretty fair-minded to me. All the best...

[IDR]

Ed,

Your blog, as the others, is like life, some goes out, others come in… nothing to explain, is clear for me.

And when I’m referring to a “Storm of Sand or Bitterness” It is just because I don’t like reading people calling others idiots, fanatics, rabid… or calling themselves “Most -whatever you want to put here-” or talking incessantly about the same thing.

And I have seen loads of this in your blog, lately.

Surely they should be fair enough, but I prefer the previous ones, (or every new one blogger coming here not to talk about LH/FA/McL raw).

Maybe is just because I’m a nostalgic. Nothing despicable on this, I suppose.

And, I know, if I don’t like it, nobody oblige me to remain here, I’m just one more of those who come in and goes out…

[Kathryn S]

IDR,

I agree that the "atmosphere" of the blog seems to have changed, which is why, although I continue to read the blog, I don't post as much. I have been thinking along the same lines as you have and have the same nostalgia for the earlier part of the season. Ah, well...

[D]

^
Fear not, Ig; I haven't deserted the Ed Gorman Formula One Madhouse!

I've been on a long holiday since the French GP, among snow-capped mountains, alpine lakes and then on sunny beaches.

Driving fast and sometimes leisurely; eating and drinking well. :-)

It has, for many years, been my wont to watch the British Grand Prix and everyone running around in Silverstone's puddles wrapped up in anoraks to protect them from the English summer, on a large television screen at a bar by a certain beach where the sun always shines in July and with a cold beer to hand, after an excellent luncheon. And then go for a refreshing swim in the sea to cool off and contemplate the race.

I appreciate that this will be regarded by some as a deplorable lack of commitment to the Ecclestone Road Show but it's a damned sight more pleasant!

Back now, with a huge backlog of stuff to work through but I shall return to the fray very soon.

Part of my holiday was a commitment to remain determinedly Internet unengaged for a month but I did send Ed a postcard so he knew I hadn't been secretly Mosleyed in the night (or even on a Friday afternoon).

Have missed you all and will try to catch up - but there's a hell of a lot to read!

Glad to see that you and the fair Kathryn are still here and have been valiantly holding the fort in my absence.

Thanks for your kind regards, which are warmly reciprocated.

D.

[D]

^
PS. I hope that wasn't a German red wine, Ed !

[Gary M]

Unfortunately Kathryn, the atmosphere of the blog has not changed. It has just returned to pretty much what was its normal state throughout last season.

A clear correlation can be made with the form and results of Fernando Alonso and the operating temperature of commentators on Ed's blog.

For the last couple of months, with FA performing well in the Renault Clio, his fans have been more restrained and certainly less vocal in their personal attacks on other teams and team members and concentrated on telling us how good Alonso was. Since Silverstone things have really gone back to how they were last year, and even more FA fanatics have joined us to voice their displeasure at young Lewis and McLaren in particular.

This is actually annoying many people who were no doubt enjoying taking part in a lively blog with some great discussion. Now it is full of tiresome posts that are clearly nothing more than attacks on McLaren and Lewis. They are written by people who feel the need to shift the blame for Fernando's downfall to other people, people who are unwilling to admit to Fernando Alonso's own flaws.

It seems last years events are never going to be forgotten until Alonso wins a championship again.

Yes it is getting tiresome, Yes it is getting boring. But we cannot sit on a beach all day hoping it will go away! My theory is that if you can drum the truth into someone enough times they will either stop being so childish, they will change their minds or they will just go away. Anyone one of these is a suitable outcome and will allow the blog to return to a more restrained and good natured form of debate.

Enjoy the beach D and Kathryn, I'm in the trenches! ;-)

[Gary M]

Sorry, Best wishes to IDR too!

A problem with adding my thoughts this early in the morning! Never meant to miss you out IDR.

Cheers.

[nicki, california,usa]

To IDR, i agree with Ms. Kathryn-S.
The previous blogs without you were
full of insults from a certain person who stated that those of us
"foreign born" shouldn't participate at all in the F1 blog. So i have taken a hint and i'm spending more time with the excellent blogs from Martin Samuel.
Ed, i love reading your blogs but
i am skipping the comments.

[Kathryn S]

Gary M,

I've been following this blog since shortly after the USGP last year, so I'm well aware of how things were last year--and it hasn't gotten quite that bad, yet.

Yes, I like the "beach" and sharing convivial conversation with others who enjoy F1. I have no truths I need to drum into others, feel no need to change others' minds or no need to force others from this blog who disagree with me...I am not engaged in combat here.

We all are free to support whichever driver we like regardless of the reason...and, yes, some fans are over the top. But there seems to be an attitude by some that if your driver does well you have a free pass to criticize other drivers...and if your driver does well that means you are somehow better (smarter, more insightful, cleverer) than others who support a driver who performs less well. I have always been amazed by fans in a stadium who high-five each other when their team does something special...as if their personal support influenced the action on the field.

I see Lewis's improved results as the turning point in attitudes here...as Lewis's fans can hardly attack Fernando while Lewis is not performing well either.

Anyway, I'll continue to enjoy Ed's excellent posts and join in when the conversation with my friends IDR and D moves to the beach.

[Richard]

Bravo Ed., You have outlined a devastating new competition, Racing and Gourmet compatitions alongside each other.

It reminds me of a bi-annual tennis fixture between the British & the French which developed into an annual tradition - A Tennis & Gourmet fixture played in Hardelot & Hunsdon, Herts for 10 years.

Now to determine the points structure awarded to the Racing & Banqueting

[Gary M]

Kathryn,

If I happen to see anybody attack Fernando then I will be sure to let you know, can't say I have seen much of that recently though to be fair but will keep a look out for you.

Far too much McLaren bashing though and maybe the Fernando Haters are finding it difficult to get a word in at the moment. Who knows? Maybe there are no Fernando Haters around at all, maybe just people getting a little tired of the children. Maybe we will never know.

Hope the weather is warm enough up there on the Costa Del Moral Highground?

Have fun.

[Evonne O]

Nice food..Shame about Mr Garside's choice of shirt!!!

[Anon]

IDR: I'm back from Germany and still here to stay!

[Anon]

"Some others as ANON or GARY M that previously where adding interesting things to this blog, are in the middle of this storm, and some of their comments have been (properly) edited by you… "

Yes, I realized one of my comments about Regazzoni and Hamilton got censored.. I was surprised it was, it wasn't that bad.

"And, I know, if I don’t like it, nobody oblige me to remain here, I’m just one more of those who come in and goes out…"

Aw! Don't leave! Are you leaving 'cuz Fernando seems a bit rusty right now and lewis is winning big? Don't worry, we'll weather out the storm! The stats will never be good again!

[IDR]

Gary, Anon, D, Kathryn S,

Thanks so much for your kind words.

In fact, I'm a little tired about all that LH hype combined with LH/FA hate.

Anyway this is what happens and one cannot do so much but wait a little.

D, glad to hear you have been "walk about" some days. I'm leaving tomorrow to my preferred place to expend my holidays: Cadiz. I will try to take some pics of the big fish I will surely be having, just to show you how one can have an excelent dinner :-) in this wonderful place.

A terrace on the sea is waiting for me, as the "Tierra Blanca", white wine from this zone that combines very well with the excelent fish one can find there.

I will be connected with my Mac, to post something about Hungaroring. I'm pretty sure there will be something interesting to comment.

Annon, thanks again for your kind words, but I never thought about leaving this blog. It's so great to participate, and there are very good comments. (Not always, but at the end, the average is so good)

Thanks again and hope to see you soon arround here.

[IDR]

Oh! I forgot to comment, as EVONNE O, the scary shirt of Garside!

Not everything is about money...

[Anon]

Enjoy your trip IDR!

[jlk]

To IDR
I am DEVASTATED by not being mentioned on your nostalgic ruminations! But I was not much of a contributor.
I have been to Cadiz a number of times and loved it. But if I were cruising around in Andalucia I would head straight for Cordoba and revisit the most beautiful cathedral in the world. I could spend a month there.
As for the tone of Ed's blog, I find it somewhat more civilized than last year although maybe I am a year older and (wiser?).
At mid season it looks like you all have a case of the blahs. Or maybe it is those mega-holidays beloved by you Euros!
Currently it appears to be all LH but it was only 3 races ago when it was all Scuderia. So buck up all you LH haters. Your day may still come!
JLK