Recently I dined at the Ottolenghi Spitalfields restaurant with two of my longest-known food blogger friends. We talked about the huge influence Ottolenghi’s style of cooking had been since the early 2010s, and how his signature salads and baking set the tone for many food writers and cafes since. In this post I am compiling […]
My Paris Guide: A Frequent French Visitor’s Tips
From buzzing pavement cafés on boulevards, to the beehives in Parc du Luxembourg, from the noisy chimes of Metro doors closing, to gazing at éclairs through a patisserie window: Paris is a feast for the senses. Out of over seventy trips I’ve made to France, at least ten of these were to Paris. Whether you’re […]
Smoked Salmon Potato Salad With Hearts of Palm
This elegant little smoked salmon potato salad doesn’t look like it was thrown together from the store cupboard but it came about after foraging in my kitchen for a light lunch option. It would make an excellent party platter or a good picnic or lunchbox dish; the pink slivers of radish and green fronds of […]
Apple Pound Cake With Pine Nuts
The Classic Recipe – Version Using Up Old Apples For a quick easy dessert you can throw in the oven at same time as something else, apple pound cake is my regular favourite. That classic quatre quart formula of same quantities of butter, sugar, flour and eggs is one I can remember by heart and […]
Dill Mayonnaise with Rapeseed Oil
This homemade dill mayonnaise gets its bright yellow colour by using golden rapeseed oil. It looks a lot like Hollandaise sauce but the consistency is thicker. First Time Making Mayonnaise This may surprise you, but I had never made my own mayonnaise before. I wasn’t scared or put off by tales of splitting, I just […]
Rouen City Break: Weekend Itinerary
Normandy’s Compact City is Full of Surprises Why isn’t a Rouen city break closer to mind for city breaks? Packed with narrow streets filled with medieval houses, stunning Gothic buildings and the Joan of Arc factor. There are interesting shops and museums to explore, and rich Normandy cuisine to sample. All within seven hours’ drive […]
Paris to London Flixbus Review: Overnight Coach Experience
How I Ended Up Taking Flixbus From Paris to London Train may be the quickest way to Paris from London, but if you’re booking late, and time isn’t a factor, the coach can be far cheaper. After a spontaneous concert at Bercy Arena, right by Bercy-Seine coach station, I tried out the Paris to London […]
Easy Leek and Potato Soup – Inspired by Classic French Vichyssoise
For weeks when I wasn’t just throwing fridge bottom veg into the pot, this easy leek and potato soup was a favourite. It feels traditional, like making a proper soup flavour instead of a lucky dip. The French serve soup similar to this cold and call it Vichyssoise – but we wouldn’t want to scare […]
Banoffee Bread and Butter Pudding – No-Waste Rich Comfort Dessert
Use Up Leftover Bread and Overripe Bananas in This Easy “Pain Perdu” Style Baked Pudding. A twist on the British classic, this banoffee bread and butter pudding uses up leftover ripe bananas and buttery bread, baked in creamy custard with generous spoonfuls of smooth dulce de leche for a rich caramel flavour. Use either dulce […]
How to Spend 3 Days in Lille: Culture, Shopping & Food – An Honest Travel Report
Planning 3 days in Lille or a long weekend in Lille? Here’s how we packed a long weekend exploring museums, food and charming cobbled streets. I return regularly for French pop concerts – the reason for this latest Eurostar trip from London – but Vieux Lille‘s lively atmosphere would entice me back anyway. Our busy […]
One-Pot Pesto Spaghetti with Broccoli, Spinach & Peas
Packed with green veggies, my one-pot pesto spaghetti with broccoli, spinach and peas takes barely fifteen minutes to make. It’s my go-to supper for lazy Sunday evenings and a fast healthy vegetarian dinner to boot. The few minutes of preparation time are mainly spent boiling the kettle (or bringing saucepan up to boil) and getting […]
Spicy Pork Pancakes With Rhubarb
This delicious savoury mince filling tastes fantastic in Spicy Pork Pancakes with Rhubarb. This recipe was originally lost in the bottom of a post commissioned by Morrison’s back in 2010. But I’ve dug it out to show it off properly! Rhubarb is often paired with ginger. This spicy pork pancakes recipe uses this traditional flavour […]
