Grazing on ‘picky’ food is absolutely my favourite way of eating. It’s possible this stems from Sunday tea when I was a child, not being a character that enjoyed the rituals of 1970’s mealtimes or what they had to offer…I did love Sunday tea. This would be a selection of small plates of seafood, some salads, a little bread a little cheese and so on… or on occasion it would be some nice ham, and celery, always celery. Continue reading Meanwhile in London…
It is fair to say that we enjoy poking around in French markets when we are down in the Pyrenees and that our menu, when for the two of us, is dictated by what we find in those spectacular places filled with local seasonal produce. I make the distinction of the ‘two of us’ as often we are catering for masses of friends and family staying with us and that is a different kind of planning process! Continue reading Conceived in La Boqueria, Born in Borough…
Pan Roast Gnocchi, Cavolo Nero, Chanterelle and Walnut Cream Sauce, with aged Emmental.
(Otherwise known as Italian dumplings,London Cabbage, Scottish Mushrooms, French Walnuts and and Swiss Cheese!)
There are a collection of ingredients that evoke ‘the mountains’ for me. Despite huge cultural and gastronomical differences between the various cuisines of say the Pyrenees and th
e French Alps, the north of Italy and the majestic peaks of Switzerland, in my mind and experience there are some common themes and these are best characterised by cheese, cream and butter, mushrooms, and some sort of cabbage, at times sausage…but not this time. Continue reading Mountain Food
The thing I like, in particular, about shopping at markets is that you are confronted by seasonality. I don’t mean just British produce, but rather the time of year in the UK when the offer changes and the Man
goes arrive from far away or at Christmas time when it used to be traditional for the citrus fruits and pineapples to be ‘shipped’ in.
In supermarkets, it seems to me, very little respect is paid and the proposition remains more or less the same throughout the year. Continue reading Moody Fruits
I’ve been thinking a lot about Morocco this week, mainly because it’s coming up to a year since we were in Marrakech and when I woke today and peeped out…. There was a beautiful blue sky. It made me happy on a number of levels but in particular it made think of Morocco and those beautiful skies… Continue reading Autumn sunshine in a dish
I realise that my seafood blog has taken a meaty turn of late and I shall return to fishy things soon but for some reason the onset of autumn has brought out our inner carnivore! I think it’s the realisation that we are about to embark on a health regime that will prohibit such things from our diet… Continue reading Grilled lamb chops and a tale of Turin
Aitch, as well as standing for our family name, is also for ‘hundred’ and this will be my hundredth post so a few weeks ago when Number One called to ask if we thought a family barbecue would be a good celebration for her birthday and also for Rocket’s, I resolved that this would be a fitting subject for my next and ‘special’ post.
Further plotting and planning took place as Number One wanted a lazy, long afternoon and evening with some good food. The second requirement of many that were to develop was breakfast ‘out’ somewhere the next day. So the plan was hatched and we embellished it as we went along, as we tend to do… Continue reading The Aitch Team
The Bluebird Restaurant – Kings Road, Chelsea, London.
Anyone who knows me understands that I am a Chelsea girl, by which I mean I am a lifelong follower of Chelsea Football Club, along with generations of my family. It’s not a choice, I didn’t wake up one day and say I think I’ll like Chelsea…it’s something that was predetermined and “what is done, is done and cannot be undone”. Continue reading Chelsea Chelsea! Chelsea Chelsea!
Pan Roast Pollack with Crab Crushed potatoes, Lemon and Lime Chive Butter sauce.
This will be one of my favourite posts, purely on the grounds that it ticks a lot of my boxes: sustainable British fish that is bang in season, a subtle flavour of crab running through the potatoes and the delicious zing of the butter sauce. More than that though, it’s not extravagantly expensive due to a cunning cheat and it’s ridiculously quick to make. There is, unquestionably, a lot of butter in the sauce but the clue is in the name! Continue reading Never mind the Pollacks
Whole baked Brill with Clam Broth
I’m not a fan of Valentine’s day, on the grounds that it is almost entirely a commercial exercise, a recipe for rip offs, and most importantly kind of smug. When single you may feel like everyone else is in this loved up club and there are times in life when that may be a bit depressing…and I don’t like to think that someone might feel lonely or low.
However I don’t have anything against people enjoying themselves…loved up, single or otherwise.Neither do I think everyone who is single is sad and lonely, having spent many happy single years – and I am definitely not against romance. That’s my position, just thought I’d clarify it! Just to prove I am romantic, the soundtrack for our lives and the backdrop to our lovely Saturday was courtesy of Van Morrison – here you go…listen along while you read… Continue reading A Simply Brill day
Blessed are the cheese makers, and many, many others….
The Kennington farmer’s market in south London is a hive of activity on a Saturday (I am pleased to report) and when wandering through Rocket happened upon some delicious cheese.
I must open this post by saying that if ever you are fortunate enough to get the chance to travel to Marrakesh – DO IT!
We had planned our trip celebration for both Rocket and Mata Hari’s birthday’s although we kept the plan from Rocket for about a million years in order to heighten suspense. This decision caused me, in particular, to almost give the game away but we made it to his actual birthday without letting on so…. Continue reading We are riding on the Marrakesh express
I woke up suspecting that it had rained and would continue to do so, I rolled over and put the quilt over my head. The clouds had been gathering the night before and although the weather forecasts (literally none of them) have been accurate lately, this had been forecast.
I also felt a need for some seafood, we eat more meat and veg when here as we look for what is good and local in our land locked region, but we do get great seafood as the Pyrenees is flanked by the Mediterranean on one side and the Atlantic on the other. Continue reading Rainy Day Seafood Stew for 2, or more….
Gascony, is a very ducky area. Typical dishes such as Cassoulet, and Confit Canard are synonymous with the area. Friends and neighbours here make their confit, which has been used as a way of preserving food for hundreds of years.
A Cep Platter maybe, but this was the wholesome, honest and good kind…….no connection to the other bloke…!
Walking around the market this week we came across the mushroom man and being the correct time of year he was purveying an array of ceps. 
We had already sorted dinner that night but found ourselves diverted by the fragrant ceps along with some gorgeous golden Girolle purchased from a little old lady who collects them herself and then sells them on in the market place. Continue reading Cep Platter
This week sees the annual Wine festival for the Madiran wine producers, here in the southwest of France. Madiran is known for full bodied reds, although white wines, and a great range of pudding wines are also produced across the Madiran area.
We all jumped in the car and took a drive over to see the festival, which is free to enter on payment of your tasting glass at 3 euro’s. It’s a shame for the elected driver on these occasions… Continue reading Le Vin, Le Pain, Le Madiran
If you sign up to ‘give as you live’, when you shop online, the participating retailers, of which there are huge numbers like amazon etc, will make donations to charity on your behalf. I found out about give as you live through this blog;http://thejellychronicles.net/ you can choose any charity listed. It’s easy to set up and if you buy online anyway, it seems rude not to sign up.
You can rotate your chosen charities at will, I’m currently supporting Parkinson’s – you choose who you would like the contribution to go to.
So you shop, and they pay….once signed up you can see your total mounting up and IT HAS COST YOU NOTHING.
Visit their site at http://www.giveasyoulive.com/
In Search of the Catfish Café... 
