I’ve been having an extremely odd time lately, and last week I was unwell again (not seriously so) but last weekend I was in great need of cheering up. Usually comfort food for me might be of the stodgier variety but it was hot…man it was hot and I yearned for a Mediterranean beach, with seafood. Being at home and watching re-runs of Rick Stein on a loop had not helped this longing and let’s just say, I won’t be jetting off anytime soon so… it was one of those times when The Med needed to come to South London. Continue reading Beneath a Cerulean Sky →
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Postcards from the Pyrenees…again
The Mountains form a natural border between France and Spain, but more than that they traverse the historical regions with their distinctive traditions, culinary and otherwise. To the west on both sides of the peaks is the Basque country, wonderful people who are rightly proud of their traditions, food studded with Pimentón, and an incomprehensible language with lots of X’s and J’s. From the beautiful Atlantic towns to the tiny coves that pepper the northern coastline, semi-sparkling crisp white wines like Txacoli (you see, it is unpronounceable but very drinkable!) and dishes that ooze with the warmth of spiced sausage alongside classics such as bacalao (salt cod). Continue reading The borderlands →
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There is nothing like the flavour of crab freshly cooked. The sweet white meat contrasting with the buttery richness of the brown…
A few years ago, I decided the time had come to cook a live crab for myself, formerly having relied on the fishmonger to provide me with the ‘end’ product. I bought the crab at Brixton market and sat on the bus for my return journey, feeling slightly faint as Gerald (it probably doesn’t help to name them?) moved about within my shopping bag. Once home, I put the bag on the table and went away to seek counsel from the oracle that is Rick Stein for the required method of humane despatch, arriving back into the dining room I saw the bag ‘walking’ across the table (sideways of course). Continue reading Chilli Crab Noodles →
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I use to work near a pub where they did a comfort dish of penne in an Italian sausage tomato sauce. It was rich and very moreish – the sausage sort of melts into the sauce and enriches it in a delicious way. Continue reading Bang On! →
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I struggled upright, blinking in the brilliant Thai sunlight “does anyone want a beer?” and “yes” came the replies, almost in unison. Continue reading Searching for something… →
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Yesterday when we were at the shops, there were some beautiful Limande (Lemon Sole) so we pick a decent sized one and pottered home to prepare it. I thought about it for a bit, but the truth is I love flat fish baked whole, we had some leeks that needed to be used and so decided to combine the Eliza Acton/Rick Stein method with the ingredients we had.
As you may know, I am a great fan of Rick Stein’s dishes. I recently saw a re-run of a recipe he did with Dover Sole which was actually and old English Eliza Acton recipe. The original recipe is a great read and Rick had adapted it for modern times. Such is life, we have put our own spin on it too… Continue reading Sole Sister →
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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…. →
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This has been a funny week fraught with duty and domestic tasks. The first part of the week meant I could indulge myself in some leisurely cooking and the second half of the week has been exactly the opposite. Rocket arrived home from working abroad and so we were both shattered. Continue reading “Girls & Boys” supper for two →
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Hake is, and I shall have to be corrected if wrong as these things change, the UK’s most sustainable fish currently. However, it is not even close to being the most consumed fish in the UK. Hake reminds me of Spain, I’m told the Spanish adore it and so do I. If you’ve never had it, to me it’s like cod but with softer flakes.
Another thing I’m very keen on are padron peppers – being a mild, savoury tasting little pepper but with 1 in about every six being a knock you head off hot one, it’s like roulette. I love them. Continue reading I beg your Padron? →
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I love my kindle and I use it well. Always reading before I sleep, a habit developed throughout stressful jobs in the past. I am also trying to become a little more minimalist about the house these days, but…I could not do without cookery books. It is one of a few things that borders on a bit of a sickness within me, some of the others being table cloths, shoes, little dishes, Chelsea FC, second hand china crockery, and so on. Continue reading Bedtime Reading →
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Food, Life & Loves of a South London girl…
In Search of the Catfish Café... 
