Archive For December 2009
You know by now that I have a love of all things subcontinental so it’s no surprise that I read and enjoyed Feeding the Gods – Memories of Food and Culture in Bengal. Chitrita Banerji has written a charming and very personal reflection on her life and the spiritual part that food has played in…
This is another fabulous volume from Lorenz Books. These truly are some of the best-written and most practical cookbooks published. Each edition has a wealth of step-by-step photographs. In fact there are 650 pictures that will show you cooking techniques and the finished dish. Even experienced home cooks appreciate a bit of graphic stimulus when…
It’s winter and we want to spend more time in our cosy kitchens. It’s the season for celebrations and indoor entertainment and cakes are often a big part of those events. Cupcakes are trendy and smart and Afternoon Tea has had a well-earned renaissance. Cake-making is back on the agenda. Baking is different from cooking….
The Mitre has a facade very much in keeping with its smart Holland Park surroundings. It’s a 1930s building that has been used to good advantage by the present owners. It has a surprisingly spacious and light interior thanks to some large windows that overlook a palm-planted courtyard garden. This space isn’t used by the…
I have chosen to be a cookbook and restaurant reviewer because I have a passion for food. Am I the best cook in the world? No. Do I write with the poetry and romance of The Bard? Almost. Am I an authority on ethnic Italian food? No. So why do I think that I can…
A culinary journey through Vietnam So, what does Koto mean? Is it Vietnamese for Brussels sprouts? No, it stands for Know One, to Teach One. This is a grass-roots charity that sets out to help street kids in Hanoi. It provides them with vocational training in cooking and hospitality. These children will hopefully find employment…
I do rather worry when I am presented with a vegetarian cookbook. So many of them in the past have been unappealing to all but the most committed vegetarian. Those folk who were at Glastonbury the first time around, wore multi-coloured, ill-fitting, voluminous knitted jumpers and were still in sandals in January. Thank goodness for…
Many thousands of tourists visit Turkey every year. They bask on the beaches, perhaps hire a boat for a holiday afloat and enjoy grilled fish in seaside restaurants. They have a glimpse of Turkey and its people but it is, in fact, just a meeting with the modern globalized facade – a shadow of a…
I started thinking about food on my journey to Le Colombier. I started thinking about engineering, haulage and transport when I arrived at Le Colombier. How did they manage it? Had they transported a bit of France to Chelsea? Was the original restaurant removed in sections from some smart Parisian street? Was the furniture stacked…
It seems to come around faster every year. Winter, that is. Should I bracket that along with policemen looking younger and Arial 10-point computer typeface looking smaller? Whatever it is, this is once again the season for soup. The Soup Book features over 250 soup recipes and it’s true that there are some designed to…
It might not be any longer the Biblical day of rest but it still tends to be the day we ear-mark for special events, loved ones and unwinding. We might treat ourselves to a bit of a lay-in, enjoy a delicious meal, have a read of the Sunday papers, catch up with family and friends,…
Yes, dear reader, I know that your natural inclination is to scroll on by this review because you will assume this book isn’t for you. No you are not a vegetarian, but anything called Game is the reserve of the upper classes, the rich and those who love the taste of overpoweringly strong meats. OK,…