Regional, seasonal. Seasonal.regional. This the mantra most London restaurant chefs are muttering to themselves as they scurry round their kitchens. Vegetables are interrogated harshly. ‘Where do you come from? How did you get here? Show me your papers, bitte.” It has become a commonplace to say both that vegetables taste better the fewer miles they travel to get to the plate, and that the anticipation and consummation of waiting for each vegetable to be in season is a great part of the pleasure of eating them.
The Cooking Book. Editor in Chief Victoria Blashford Snell
This book is breaking my desk. It isn’t just heavy; it’s condensed neutron heavy and requires two hands to lift. Drop it and it might go through the floor like a cartoon grand piano and not stop till it gets to the boiler room. Its weight is in knowledge. A thousand ‘every day’ recipes that are easily achievable and remarkably varied and that can turn a non-cook into a chef and take a middling cook up a lot higher. Read more
‘Melt in your mouth’ takes on new meaning when choosing a Galler chocolate
According to Theresa Cheung, author of Chocolate Principles to Live By, the candy shape you choose from a box of chocolates can reveal secrets about your personality. “Circle people are warm, friendly, and welcoming,”
Learn the art of making squid ink pasta at Caldesi
La Cucina Caldesi, London’s family-run Italian cookery school, offers Italian-themed food and wine courses, as well as children’s activities. Winter 2008 courses include ‘Fresh pasta & sauces’,’30 Minute Italian Menus’, ‘Pizza Making & More!’ Several new courses include ‘Giancarlo cooks’ and ‘Sunday Market Kitchen.’
Funnel cakes prove to be a great success in Hampstead
Original American Funnel Cakes started to be imported into Europe last year and after a very busy summer at numerous events and fairs, many people have now started selling them in pubs, catering trailers and restaurants, across the UK, however Hampstead people seem to enjoy them the most. Funnel Cakes are popular around the United States at ballparks, fairs and festivals, markets, school fetes; essentially, anywhere people meet.
Tuck into these tasty little numbers: no guilt required
Life’s just too short to spend time totting up calories, so thank goodness for the new range of snacks and smoothies from Calories Exactly. Perfect for the pre Christmas diet, Calories Exactly is all about great tasting, pre-portioned, normal food and drink that counts all the calories for you and shows them clearly on the front of the pack, whether it’s 100, 200 or another exact amount.
I’m dreaming of a Booths Christmas
This year, celebrate Christmas in style with Booths. The foodies’ favourite food stores have everything you’ll need for the festive season, from Mince Pies and Stollen to Christmas Pudding and a range of Hampers.
Up box transforms lunch boxes into gourmet picnics
Say goodbye to boring box lunches filled with sandwiches and potato crisps. At UP Box, menu items from twelve different countries offer city-workers an alternative to high-carbohydrate fayre. This week, Chef Ron Laity is adding a Japanese food box to the global menu.
Neighborhood grocer to stock exclusive olive oil
Muswell Hill residents can find speciality foods in their own neighborhood now that owners of the Clissold Arms gastropub have opened a grocer next door. Sleepy commuters can stop by Clissold Grocer to pick up hand-roasted coffees and teas, breakfast pastries, homemade granola and freshly squeezed fruit juices.
Filippo Berio’s Unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil
If ever there was a time to really push the boat out and enjoy fine food at its best, Christmas is it. This year, truly satisfy the foodie connoisseur in you with family run Filippo Berio’s new Unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil – the crème de la crème of oils.