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.
Get behind-the-scenes glimpses of pub life and learn how Julie transformed her dreams into reality, one dish at a time.
Travel partnerships, hosted experiences and story-led brand collaborations reaching a valuable female 45+ audience. View Julie’s media kit and work together.
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. 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.
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
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
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 shit about your bucket list.
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…
Facebook Posts
Met a CAMRA director today at the Earl of Derby. J Mark Dodds
We discussed the future of British pubs, the challenges facing the industry, why good locals matter, and whether Britain can survive without them.
We also discussed my book.
Mainly because I kept bringing it up.
The thing about pubs is they’re one of the last places left where complete strangers can sit down, share a pint, solve absolutely none of the world’s problems, and still leave feeling better than when they arrived.
Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
Cheers. 🍻
This content isn't available right now
When this happens, it’s usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it’s been deleted.
After years of owning an English pub, this may have been a terrible idea…
Because I finally wrote it all down.
The floods.
The thefts.
The chefs.
The customers.
The pub dog who thought she was management.
The moments that made me laugh until I cried.
And the moments that made me wonder whether I’d completely lost my mind.
What started as a crazy decision by a Canadian to buy an English pub somehow became 352 pages of stories, recipes, disasters, friendships, and memories.
Today, Lies, Theft and Sh*t on the Ceiling officially launched.
Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to keep writing, shared my stories, bought me a drink, worked beside me, or simply survived the journey with me.
If you’d like to read what really goes on behind the scenes of a village pub, it’s available now:
🇬🇧 UK/EU: amzn.eu/d/09Fe064D
🇨🇦 Canada: a.co/d/02ix35FJ
🇺🇸 USA: a.co/d/0eK4UIpj
And yes… the title is based on a true story (and it’s in the book) #BookLaunch #PubLife #BritishPub #HospitalityLife #AuthorLife
Andrew Squires
Well…
I actually did it.
Three hundred and fifty two pages.
Years of pub ownership.
Hundreds of stories.
Dozens of recipes.
More chaos than any sensible person should ever experience.
Today, Lies, Theft and Sh*t on the Ceiling officially launches.
It’s the story of what happens when a Canadian decides buying an English pub sounds like a reasonable life choice.
There are floods.
There are thieves.
There are chefs.
There is a sheepdog who thinks she’s management.
And somehow, despite everything, there are moments that remind you why pubs matter.
Available now:
🇬🇧 UK/EU: amzn.eu/d/09Fe064D
🇨🇦 Canada: a.co/d/02ix35FJ
🇺🇸 USA: a.co/d/0eK4UIpj
Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to keep writing.
Now excuse me while I spend the rest of the day pretending I’m not terrified that people can actually read it.
Well, after years of pub ownership and months of writing, tomorrow’s the day. The book launches. I’m excited. I’m terrified. And I’ve just realised there’s no way to recall 352 pages if I’ve accidentally confessed to something.
#BookLaunch
#NewBook
#PubLife
#BritishPub
#Memoir
#LiesTheftAndShitOnTheCeiling