a day in food

Have you ever done a food diary? Well I can probably guess that you might have missed half the things you ate that day. We like to forget the little things. 'They don't matter...do they?' Well they do and they all add up. This isn't for the purpose of a food diary, but I thought it would be a rather good idea wouldn't it? To photograph everything you eat in the day? Then you really can't get away with it...
Breakfast

Scrambled egg on toast with green pesto

Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day. My very good flat mate told me of this tip. A dollop of green pesto. Added at the end of cooking really livens it up. I use 2 eggs and I always cook in a little bit of butter.

supper with...

...Sarah Fox, London W6.

It's always nice going over to a friend's for supper. Food (like a cup of tea) always tastes better cooked by someone else, assuming that they can cook in the first place!

The drink: red wine
The snack: The Food Doctor roasted beans
The meal: spaghetti bolognese
The side: salad
The afters: ice-cream with (flash back) 'Askey' sauce

The boys: On the sofa. Why? To watch the football of course (apparently a couple of teams called Chelsea/Man U were playing).
The girls: In the kitchen. Well it's our place isn't it?

Spag bol made with (according to Sarah) L.O.V.E plus the usual offenders. Garlic, onion, minced beef, tinned toms, mushrooms, herbs, spices, Heinz tom ketchup etc.. Salad with mixed rocket/watercress leaves, avocado, cherry toms, spring onions. Cheese, grated by moi.

Can I just say on a side note, how amazing the The Food Doctor roasted beans were. I got them from Waitrose, but I'm sure any other large supermarket will sell them. You can also buy them online.

A non food related tip: Caudalie Eau de Beauté

I stayed over and used this amazing facial spray that Sarah had. I am like single white female when it comes to products. All my favourite foundations, moisturizers and lipsticks come from friends' suggestions. The spray is to be used after washing on a clean face like a toner. It has grape, rosemary, orange blossom, rose, myrrh and organic balm mint. It's so refreshing and it smells heavenly. The fragrance helps you drift peacefully into sleep and it also does WONDERS for your skin. Facial gold. 

a year in my kitchen

Australian head chef at Petersham Restaurant/Cafe (based by Richmond Park) and food writer Skye Gyngell says 'My kitchen is my garden. Everytime I step outside, I am inspired.'

This is food I love. She uses locally sourced, seasonal produce. Everything changes month by month, and is always bursting with colour and flavour.

Meatballs with a twist. Recipe below...

They taste sooooo good. Regular meatballs are extremely dull in comparison. The sour cherries are a brilliant touch to add a tangy sweetness to the spicy mix. Delicious with anything you fancy. We had polenta. They are a little time consuming to make, so perhaps best left to a saturday!

sunday lunch @ brunswick house

Brunswick House, 30 Wandsworth Rd, Vauxhall Cross, SW8 2LG

Another Sunday and what a great one. A special celebratory day, organised by a great guy for a lucky little lady (he obviously also organised for the amazing weather). We were requested to gather ourselves at the listed Georgian mansion, Brunswick House (acquired by LASSCO), located in Vauxhall...

Blink and you'll miss it. It's strange how such a magnificent house, could so easily be missed. It must be on one of the busiest roads in London, but somehow manages to hide away in 'the lion, the witch and the wardrobe' kind of way, standing peaceful and still. Once inside the gates, the world behind is forgotten!

We started outside, soaking up the sun with oodles of prosecco, and then we made our way inside for lots of little sharing plates. 

Thinking about it now actually makes me salivate a little!

Wild garlic, barley & mushrooms. Spinach & goat's curd frittata. Black pudding, bramley apple & maple cream. Pig's cheek, fennel & lentils. Confit Old Spot bacon, beaten eggs & apple chutney. Blood orange & Zucca jelly.

My god, the food was good. Ravenously hungry after all those bubbles, we all wolfed into it, hardly pausing for breath. The crackling on the pig's cheek was to die for. The bacon was melt in the mouth and more like generous tearings of ham hock and most surprisingly, considering I haven't eaten it since I was 8, the black pudding was my favourite, and amazingly accented by the sweet baked apple.

Here's their ploy though. As you tour the nooks and crannies of the house, decidedly happy on food and drink, there is some serious danger of spending some serious cash. Brunswick house is awash with antiques and artifacts and it takes some major coaxing to leave the place empty handed!

heartbeet superfood

It was 22 degrees out today, so I took the opportunity and treated myself to 1 hour sitting in the sun. I bought my lunch today from pod and it was crunch tastic.

Easy enough to make yourself. The ingredients are below...

market love

Borough Market

Le Marché du Quartier

Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday and located in London Bridge. I'm such a fan of this place. Once in a while, I used to walk here on a Saturday. A big walk, a big lunch! But now I have the pleasure in being able to eat here on a work day. SO much better on a work day.  Little gatherings of crowded suit wearers getting their teeth into a lamb burger, and snap happy tourists flittering from stall to stall. It's people coming together all in the name of food and drink. Word of warning: Saturday is very overcrowded.

Borough Wines

There are so many parts, too many to cover. So here are a few of my favourites...

A family run business, Le Marché du Quartier sources fine French food and wine. Large jars of cassoulet, confit, goose fat and bunches of lavender. I'm all for everything French. Heavenly.

Arabica Food & Spice Company

Arabica Food & Spice Company

Arabica Food & Spice Company

I've tested the tortelloni, the falafel wraps, the lamb burger, the beef burger, the chicken burger, the thai green curry, the melon/mozzarella salad and much much more, but I ALWAYS end up coming back to the Arabica Food & Spice Company. This Eastern Mediterranean delight has plenty of amazing dip tasters. The best taramasalata in town (p.s. proper taramasalata is white), delicious smoked courgette. The salad box is £6 for a choice of 3, but I try and fool them and ask for half and half and get 4. So full of flavour and moreish. Simply the best.

Brindisa

Brindisa

Brindisa

Still running after 20 years, and with some superb restaurants in SE1, SW7 and W1, Brindisa is still one of the best importers of high quality Spanish foods. Their shop is something of a treasure trove. Delicious membrillo and excellent for snacks in the form of padron peppers and salted marcona almonds.

The Cinnamon Tree Bakery

The Cinnamon Tree Bakery

The Cinnamon Tree Bakery

Baked in Camberwell, The Cinnamon Tree Bakery has fast become my favourite seller. High quality ingredients and many things wheat and gluten free. They won me over with the 'tweet tweet' biscuit. Using rye flour, raisins, dates, tahini, seeds and cinnamon, they are INCREDIBLE. To be honest they're filling enough as a breakfast! I tested their rocky road last November, but they took them off the stall to refine. They are now back and are chocolatey rich with vegetarian marshmallow.

Go there and see what takes your fancy!

simple supper for one

Goats cheese and beetroot salad

Whilst waiting for a friend to get ready, I dawdled about in the kitchen where my oldest and dearest friend was just sitting down to supper with her boyfriend. On her plate, beautiful colour and temptation, on his plate, a microwave shepherds pie (he insisted!). I couldn't help but fork it and tonight, I couldn't help but make it myself...