Toad in the hole
Last week my recipe came from the exotic far flung reaches of Southeast Asia and this week, I am bring it back to ‘Good Old Blighty’ with one of the nation’s dishes, Toad in the hole. Yorkshire pudding batter enveloping as many plump and juicy sausages that you can fit into the dish, with a generous ladleing of meatylicious gravy.
Chicken and Vegetable Laksa
Comfort food, for me personally, does not always fall into the usual British ‘stodge’ categories of mash potatoes, stews and pies etc. I love Asian and Oriental dishes like noodles and soups and stews and this week my recipe comes from the farthest reaches of Southeast Asia, brimming with goodness and totally satisfying to boot.
Bella Vista, Blackheath,London
I do wish Bella Vista was a little closer to where I live, because it is just the kind of little Italian restaurant I would visit regularly.I wasn’t expecting our meal to be this good as there are so many poor-quality Italian restaurants in London that take advantage of our love of Italian food and perhaps our lack of knowledge of what authentic Italian food actually is.
Heavenly Hamburgers with Sweet Potato Wedges
Once in a while, we all just want to be a little naughty and indulge in one of our favourite foods, regardless of the fat/calorie content. Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but you can still do that and be healthy. I started making these burgers over a decade ago and they are just so popular in my family. I have made them for family everywhere from L.A. to Lausanne and it is a firm favourite.
Kenza, Devonshire Square, London
I can see why it appeals to the City crowd so much, with very few exciting restaurants in area, Kenza stands out and perhaps deservedly so. The interior design alone is well worth a visit. Well… it’s cheaper than a flight to Morocco, surely?
Persian Braised Celery, Herb and Beef Stew (Khoreshteh Karafs)
This week my stress levels have kicked in to an all time high and not only am I craving comfort food, but also need the kind of dish that can be made in a large batch and eaten for a few days. Who on earth has time to cook every night when your workload is beyond hectic?
Tandoori salmon with a fresh tomato and coriander chutney
It is week 3 of my healthy eating recipe series and I am pleased to say I have been sticking to eating sensibly (can I just say that I count good quality chocolate as ‘sensible’) and have been getting creative in the kitchen again to bring you something tasty, easy and incredibly healthy.
Rare Beef with Asian Crunchy Salad
With the spirit of a New Year detox in mind, here is my next offering to you proving to you that making healthy yet delicious meals, needn’t be a laborious task. I love this dish, the salad is zest, crunchy and bursting with flavour.
Warming Winter Lentil Stew (Persian ‘Adassi’)
Last week I mentioned that I will be staying off the naughty foods for a while and sticking to good, wholesome, deliciously filling and naturally low fat foods and so here is the first in the series of healthy, but lip-smackingly good meals perfect for this time of year.
Bumpkin London
It has taken me a long time to finally dine at Bumpkin, having made countless bookings in the past and had to cancel them for one reason or another. Having made it here at long last, it was perfect for a pit-stop for a comfort meal on a Winter’s day.
Galvin at Windows, London
Watching over London town, Galvin at Windows is situated on the 28th floor of the prestigious London Hilton on Park Lane hotel. We enter through the swish, polished-marble interior of the hotel lobby and the lifts whoosh you up to in a matter of seconds to the top floor where Galvin’s is located.
Lemon Drizzle Cake
When chocolate cake just isn’t doing it for me, this is simply the only choice for me. Something about moist vanilla sponge with a sharp citrusy sugared crust, satisfies my taste buds on all accounts.
Pistachio, White Chocolate and Orange Shortbread Cookies
This week, I dreamt up the perfect shortbread cookies studded with deliciously creamy chunks of white chocolate, crunchy pistachio nuts and perfumed with the grated zest of fresh oranges… They make for the most heavenly mouthful of crumbly, buttery goodness and a fabulous gift that anyone would be lucky to receive
Challah Bread
My wonderful friend in New York, Carrie (no, not the one from Sex and The City) very kindly shared this fantastic recipe with me and the results were so good, I just had to share it with you.
Whoopie for the Whoopie-Pie!
The Whoopie Pie is divine cake-like sandwich has already taken America by storm, where they are flying off the shelves at speciality shops and bakeries up and down the country. This week, The Whoopie Pie makes its British debut at Harrods and having had an exclusive taster, I can tell you that they are every bit as scrumptious as they look.
Coriander… makes the difference
In the swish ‘Poggenpohl’ kitchens of Harrods, I meet the very lovely Pinky Lilani OBE who is hosting an intimate cookery master class featuring dishes from her latest book “Coriander… makes the difference” Featuring a selection of Pinky’s favourite recipes using coriander as well as some charming words of wisdom from 40 of Pinky’s friends and colleagues, the book is billed as “Wisdom and recipes to feed your soul and warm your heart”.
Moroccan Spiced Partridge with Beetroot, Horseradish and Potato Cakes
Most people think partridge is for the rich and countrified folk of our great nation. Not so, my friends… Partridge, when in season, is widely available in good supermarkets and butchers alike. It’s not as strong and gamey as you would believe and its size means it doesn’t take long to cook, so it is perfect for a quick cook meal.
Laya'lina, Knightsbridge
Laya’Lina is not budget-friendly by any means… I balk at the £5.95 price tag of a portion of chips, as not even Gordon Ramsay charges that much for fried potatoes! The presence of chicken curry and coconut prawn soup on the menu baffle me greatly, I may not be Lebanese, but I think it’s safe to say that neither are these dishes.
Passion and soul - we talk to Francesco Mazzei at L'Anima
Francesco Mazzei is chef owner of L'Anima in the City, an Italian restaurant (natch) that's said to be one of the best, if not the best, in London. Never afraid to eat a bowl of pasta Sabrina Ghayour went to meet the man and be the first to hear his exciting news about his new restaurant, as well as watch him cook up her supper pronto.
Dark Chocolate ‘Moelleux’ Cake
I confess I don’t have much of a sweet tooth and would always choose savoury over sweet, however a honking great slab (notice I say ‘slab’ and not a girly ‘slice’) of devilishly good chocolate cake can always change my mind. Dark chocolate Moelleux cake is similar to a chocolate fondant cake, with a melting middle, but slightly less liquid than your average fondant, as well using only a little flour.
