Beet & sweet potato chips (with a yogurt, harissa & lemon dip)

in Small bites, Taste -

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February is my second favourite winter month. It may be lacking December’s wow factor (what with Christmas, presents and general jollyness and holiness), but there’s something about it, don’t you think? Even though it often is much colder than January, the days grow a bit longer little by little, signifying the slow coming of spring. [READ MORE]

Quince paste with lemon & ginger

in Desserts, Small bites, Taste -

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Here’s the story of the quince and I: my parents dine out quite a bit and when I was in college,  when I’d come home for the holidays, we’d often all go for dinner at my parents’ favourite local restaurant. Everything about it was old school: the decor, the grumpy-looking, yet surprisingly friendly staff, the customers (mostly bachelors in their 50s, journalists, artists and writers, wolfing down their dinner, while reading the paper or spying at other diners) and, mostly, the food: simple, old fashioned one pot meat dishes, casseroles and seasonal salads served with red and white house wine. For dessert, my parents almost always ordered the baked quince, cooked with a sweet wine sauce and flavoured with cinnamon and cloves- or at least that’s how I remember it. [READ MORE]

Baked camembert with fresh & dried fruit

in Small bites, Taste -

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This weeks is all about cheese, only one of my favourite things to eat. I’m not a snob when it comes to it- I love almost every kind, in almost every form. Growing up, there was always a few different cheese varieties in our fridge (popular Greek ones, Stilton, parmesan and often a French one); that’s still the case with my fridge. I stock up on cheese almost every week and even though I don’t discriminate, I’ve noticed that here in London, I’m quite partial to French varieties. [READ MORE]

Squid ink pasta

in Savoury, Taste -

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When I was a teenager, I would decide whether I liked someone or not depending on how they answered a simple answer: what’s your favourite band? I think my answer was always ‘The Velvet Underground’ because I really, truly loved them- and still do; also, because I thought they were so cool, so me liking them would automatically also make me cool (I doubt that it actually worked- I’m pretty sure I was not considered cool in high school). [READ MORE]

Couscous with roasted beets, kale & feta

in Savoury, Taste -

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So the other day, my friend George requested some food inspiration to beat the January blues. I hear you, buddy. The weeks after the holidays suck. The tree is down, the presents have been opened and it’s time to put your party shoes away and get back to your normal routine. For me, it’s also time to stop having cake, cheese and wine with almost with every meal and get back to my less indulgent habits. [READ MORE]