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.
The 100 Foods You Should Be Eating – Glen Matten
Chirpily written packed full of useful information, clearly explained, and with 100 tempting recipes, this unassuming book can hold its own with the glossy fantasies we’re more used to seeing. It has practicality at its heart and it wants to help you look after yours. What’s not to like about that?
Kitchen Italia, Seven Dials, London
With an express pre and post theatre menu for £9.95 including some wine, all bases are covered here. It’s not the spot for a romantic dinner a deux, but for honest, flavour packed, well-priced Italian food I can’t think of anywhere that competes in London right now. Rush in and waddle out.
Kale – An Essential Green
Experts have long since known that a healthy diet should include five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, as studies show that enjoying ‘five-a-day’ can offer protection against a wide variety of cancers. But a new study indicates that some vegetables like kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts and cabbage may have greater cancer prevention properties than others.
Peter Avis, Babylon’s Restaurant Manager – leading a winning team
Peter Avis, Restaurant Manager of Babylon Restaurant, at the Roof Gardens, talks to Alan King about winning two awards in 2009 from the Academy of Food and Wine: UK Restaurant Manager of the Year in June, sponsored by Open Table and The Dalmore Award of Excellence in September. All this on top of Babylon winning Best Restaurant in London at the BT Visit London awards in November 2008.
Burns Night Himalayan Fling at Babur – 25 January
Back by popular demand, Babur’s Burns Night Himalayan Fling is an event you won’t want to miss. In aid of the Gurkha Welfare Trust, the evening begins with a Gurkha piper heralding the entrance of the Nepalese bhuton, a haggis like dish.
Wedder Scotch Lamb and Turnip Pie
A delicious winter warmer using wedder lamb (mutton) that is best served with buttered cabbage and mashed potato.
Mennula, London
Charlotte Street is second only to Soho for the number of Italian eateries in and around it, many long-established and semi-legendary. Mennula is a new kid on the block, squeezed by the surrounding buildings, but delivering cooking that is already flexing its muscles and threatening to kick sand in the faces of the local competition
Wedder Scotch Lamb Broth
A hearty broth using wedder lamb (mutton) ideal for warming you up on those cold winter evenings. Ladle generous portions into deep bowls (garnish with chopped parsley) and enjoy!
Haricot of Wedder Scotch Lamb
A warming and substantial dish using wedder lamb (mutton) that will leave you satisfied on a cold evening,