Birmingham Post

Resistance Is Futile ; the Temptations of a Very English Cake Shop

Bowled over Fill an Ashes hamper

A Perfect Little Slice of England ; a Frenchman and His English Wife Are Flying the Flag for Tea and Cake, Writes Richard Mccomb

When Keira Knightley is in town, this is where she pops in for a pot of tea and a slice of lemon drizzle cake. She may be pencil-thin but it's difficult to see how the Hollywood star, or anyone for that matter, could resist the temptations of one of De Grey's delicious cakes, pastries or iced fancies.

Edgbaston's Taste Test ; a Locally-Stocked Hamper Makes an Ideal Lunch for the Ashes, Says Richard Mccomb

Come rain or shine at the Third Test, diehard cricket fans can enjoy some fine deliveries over the next few days at Edgbaston - thanks to a first-class Ashes hamper. Picnics are one of the great joys of summer dining, whether they are enjoyed while relaxing on a rug under the dappled shade of a tree or eaten while sheltering from the elements in a rain-lashed pavilion.

Anniversary Menu Inspired by Musicians

Jam House, the popular Birmingham live music venue, has introduced an internationally-inspired new menu to mark its 10th anniversary. The St Paul's Square nightspot has taken influences as diverse as the worldwide lineup of artists who have performed on stage there to give popular classic dishes a contemporary twist.

Fruits of the Season

When a government report came out last week saying Britain had a "moral duty" to produce more food, Galton Blackiston barely blinked. To a chef who rarely travels further than the next village for his ingredients, a report encouraging sustainable living merely rolled like water off one of his locally-reared duck's backs.

Reductions for Wine Lovers

It's the wine-lovers' steal of the summer - cut-price bottles at one of Birmingham's top restaurants. Opus in Cornwall Street is repeating its successful January wine promotion by offering any bottle of wine from its extensive list for half-price during August.

Lobster with an Eclectic Touch

Diners in Birmingham can enjoy a selection of lobster dishes from Thailand, China, India and Europe throughout August. The new Mirage Fusion restaurant at Broadway Casino is giving seafood lovers the chance to enjoy fresh lobster at an affordable fixed price.

Beautiful Beast ; Driving the New Jaguar Xf Diesel S Was a Moving Experience for Edward Stephens

When Jaguar launched the XF at the beginning of last year it marked a dramatic change of direction for the Midland car company, both in terms of design and innovation. The new car won critical acclaim all over the world, with the 2.7- litre diesel - the best selling model - singled out for its performance, economy and driver enjoyment.

Latest Special in Subaru's Range

Subaru has introduced a special edition of its two-litre turbodiesel Forester. Called the SureTrak, only 150 will be on sale in Britain, based on the bestselling 2.0D XC version of the 4x4.

Causton Aims to Change Image

Volvo has joined Causton CID's leading crime-fighters in a mission to rid the fictional village of Midsomer of its murderous reputation. Two new Volvo vehicles are helping DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) and DS Ben Jones (Jason Hughes) with enquiries into the bizarre and gruesome deaths that continue to enthral viewers of the hit television series, Midsomer Murders.

'Don't Pay with Cash' Warning

If you are paying more than pounds 3,000 for a used car never pay with cash. That's the advice from vehicle information expert HPI as a number of buyers have fallen foul of fraudsters selling on stolen cars. All cases involved the swindlers using stolen DVLA V5s to accompany high- value stolen vehicles that had had their identity changed to match that of a similar legitimate vehicle.

Ferrari Offers Roadside Cover

Ferrari has announced a new roadside assistance service to be provided free to owners of all of its cars built since 1947 and not covered by existing warranties. Under the scheme, owners will get 12 months' roadside assistance if their vehicle breaks down and will be offered cover for expenses involved in returning home or reaching the Ferrari service centre to which their car has been taken. The service will also cover any hotel expenses incurred by the owner before returning home or continu...

Hot & Funky ; Anuji Varma Looks at Some Sizzling Summer Styles

Faking It ; Richard Edmonds Examines the World of Fakery and Forgery in Egyptian Times

Egyptian Fakes by Jean-Jacques Fiechter (Flammarion: pounds 22.50) It was Petronius (Nero's harshest critic) who once said: "The world wants to be deceived: so shall it be." This fascinating book - remembering Petronius - evokes the world of fakers, forgers and conmen who can get you anything from a Rembrandt or a van Gogh, a Chippendale sideboard or an ancient Egyptian statue, tomorrow morning. No problem at all - if you have the right money, that is!

Skeletons in the Family Cupboard

Half-truths And White Lies by Jane Davis, published by Transworld, priced pounds 7.99. It's just a normal day for Andrea Fellows as she waves to her parents when they drive off to celebrate their wedding anniversary. But hours later police turn up at her door to inform her they have been killed in a car crash.

Other Side of Peace Battle

The Twelve by Stuart Neville, published by Random House, priced pounds 12.99. With the Assembly sitting in Stormont, it is hoped that the worst days of the Troubles of Northern Ireland may be ending, but in Stuart Neville's The Twelve, the past never really dies.

Triumphant Climb Upstairs

No 1 Chesterfield Square by Nick Jones, published by Book Guild Ltd, priced pounds 17.99. Spanning 25 years from the turn of the 20th century to the mid- 1920s, No 1 Chesterfield Square is an enthralling story of one man's gutsy ambition to escape a life of servitude and poverty.

Guinea Pig Heroes ; Graham Young and Roz Laws Review the Latest Cinema Releases

G-FORCE Cert 12A, 88mins HHHIIIt's hard to believe that it will be 14 years this December since the release of Dick King-Smith's talking pig movie, Babe. Three months later it had seven Oscar nominations, losing to Braveheart as best picture but the four-man team walking off with the award for special effects.

On Piano ... And Blog ; Terry Grimley Looks at a Multi-Talented Musician (and Writer) Who has Enjoyed Considerable Success with the Cbso

Pianist Stephen Hough enjoyed a personal triumph at the Proms on Tuesday with an acclaimed performance of Tchaikovsky's rarelyheard Piano Concerto No.2 with Andris Nelsons and the CBSO. However, Hough - who is performing all of Tchaikovsky's concertos at this year's Proms - will be recording the piece in Minnesota rather than Birmingham. It's a pity, because he already has a remarkable record of success with the CBSO on disc.

Fine, Four-Fendered Friend Still has the Wow Factor ; Review

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton I don't know who was more impressed by the flying car, me or my five-year-old nephew.