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Gravy stains and tall tales await you!

Embark on a real foodie journey with Julie Harris

Welcome to Gravy stains and tall tales: A real foodie journey, where every dish comes with a story, and every stain has a memory. This blog isn’t about perfectly plated food or spotless kitchens – it’s about the messes we make, the laughter that echoes around the dinner table, and the unforgettable meals that leave a mark long after the plates are cleared.

From pub grub to family recipes passed down through generations, we’ll explore the real, unpolished side of food – the mishaps, the triumphs, and the tall tales that make every bite worth savouring. Pull up a chair and dig in!

Book Launch!

Lies, Theft and Shit on the Ceiling

A brutally funny true story of pub ownership, kitchen chaos, criminal customers and one Canadian woman wondering what the hell she had done.

Part memoir. Part cookbook. Completely true.

Explore

The blog…

Dive into delightful recipes that blend Canadian heritage with British flair! Julie’s creations promise to tantalize your taste buds and spark joy in your kitchen.

The recipe collection

Get behind-the-scenes glimpses of pub life and learn how Julie transformed her dreams into reality, one dish at a time.

Sharp kit for cooking, travelling and surviving beautifully.

Travel partnerships, hosted experiences and story-led brand collaborations reaching a valuable female 45+ audience. View Julie’s media kit and work together.

The book…

Lies, theft and shit on the ceiling: A Canadian’s journey to pub ownership in England

Unleash the foodie within

Indulge in the authenticity of homemade meals and the warmth of shared tales.

Well, this just happened…

Well, this just happened…

admin Jun 13, 2026 1 min read

Well, this just happened. One of the first endorsements for Lies, Theft and Shit on the Ceiling has come from Scott Taylor, publisher of Esprit de Corps magazine. Scott has spent decades publishing stories from soldiers, sailors, journalists, adventurers and…

Let me tell you a dirty little secret about hospitality.

Let me tell you a dirty little secret about hospitality.

admin Jun 13, 2026 2 min read

The best meal you’ve had this year probably wasn’t cooked by a committee. It wasn’t designed in a boardroom by six people called Simon studying a spreadsheet and debating whether a mushroom should cost 14p or 16p. It was cooked…

The things I miss most about running a pub

The things I miss most about running a pub

admin Jun 13, 2026 5 min read

People assume I miss owning a pub because of the beer. I don’t. Beer is beer. You can buy it anywhere. What I miss are the people. Not all people, obviously. Let’s not get carried away. There are some people…

HOW I ACCIDENTALLY BECAME A PUB LANDLADY

HOW I ACCIDENTALLY BECAME A PUB LANDLADY

admin Jun 13, 2026 4 min read

Nobody grows up in Canada thinking: “You know what my future holds? A collapsing English pub, a screaming dishwasher, forty-seven drunk villagers arguing about cricket, and a giant sheepdog stealing Yorkshire puddings.” And yet… here we are. If you’d told…

Japan doesn’t give a damn about your bucket list.

Japan doesn’t give a damn about your bucket list.

admin Jun 13, 2026 3 min read

That’s the first thing you learn. You fly halfway around the world with some cinematic fantasy in your head…cherry blossoms drifting through the air like a goddamn Kurosawa film, monks whispering wisdom, Mount Fuji standing there majestically while you have…

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