I spend about half of the year without tomatoes. It’s a hell of a lot of time, if you ask me. But it’s always worth it. Come late spring, when I’m finally able to get my hands on the first ones of the season, I remember why I need to wait. [READ MORE]
Strawberry & tomato bruschetta with balsamic reduction
in Small bites, Taste -
I always think of May as the most charming month. It brings with it warm, long days and breezy nights; it calls for lighter clothes and an even lighter frame of mind; it’s filled with a strong sense that the anticipation for summer is almost over. Every year, right around this time, my mind is gone. Gone, all over the place gone. And I love it. It makes me feel like a teenager again, but you know, a wiser, cooler, tougher teenager, one that knows what’s up. Actually, scratch that last part- May comes and I really don’t know what’s up for the first few days. Like I said, gone. [READ MORE]
Perfect guacamole
in Small bites, Taste -
A while ago, I came across a fascinating read: Jack White (or at least his crew) apparently requires guacamole to be available when touring. And not just any ol’ guac: there’s specific instructions and measurements sent to venues, so that the humble yet delicious dip is made to their liking. Now, if that’s not proof you’ve made it, I don’t know what is. [READ MORE]
Sichuan pepper, mustard & nigella seed deviled eggs
in Small bites, Taste -
I have a love and hate relationship with eggs; up until a few years ago, it was just a hate one. Any eggs I’d buy would always go bad- the only good thing that came out of that egg-hating period was that I mastered the technique of how to know if your eggs are still edible, after all the time they’ve spent in the fridge, looked down on and condemned to obscurity. I have this down to a t. [READ MORE]
Date & olive spread
in Small bites, Taste -
Let’s talk snacks; I have an endless love for them (which has well been documented here, here, here, as well as in various conversations I’ve had both with myself, as well as with others- often without being asked) and an overwhelming need to constantly come up with new recipes and ways to sneak them in my daily schedule. For example, when I’m watching a film or TV, there needs to be snacks around. Sometimes they are as simple as popcorn or homemade spicy nuts, but often they’ll be slightly more elaborate, like a small selection of cheeses or hummus, along with crackers and crudités. You see, Mike and I disagree almost always on what to watch, but we’re always, and I mean always, on the same page when it comes to snacks: the more the merrier and the tastier the better. [READ MORE]
Dinner party appetiser: hummus & mini flatbreads
in Small bites, Taste -
Appetisers are my favourite thing to prep for a dinner party; they can be as simple as the hummus featured here- or even a little different, such as this fragrant quince paste, perfectly paired with cheese. You don’t have to go all out on appetisers; make sure there’s enough for your guests to nibble on while enjoying some drinks and get in the mood for dinner and plate them in a simple, yet appealing way to set the tone for the rest of the night. [READ MORE]
Fennel, pink grapefruit, radish & prawn salad
in Small bites, Taste -
My sister is the best at making salads; she loves using different vegetables and herbs, often adds fruits and nuts and always comes with up the best dressings. Her salads have bold, but not overpowering, flavours and always look so damn pretty! [READ MORE]
Beet & sweet potato chips (with a yogurt, harissa & lemon dip)
in Small bites, Taste -
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]
Comté, sable grape & prosciutto grilled cheese
in Small bites, Taste -
Here’s what’s on the table for my last cheesy post (for this week): grilled cheese. Not just any grilled cheese, but a super simple, yet super delicious one, with comté cheese, prosciutto and sable grapes. [READ MORE]
Quince paste with lemon & ginger
in Desserts, Small bites, Taste -
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]