Friday 27 October 2017

October 2017 Favourites List



This month’s pictures are from the Italian city of Lecce, from my trip earlier this year. In the southern region of Puglia, Lecce is a historic and beautiful place, perfect for wandering around, gawking with your camera at the ready, followed up by fabulous food and drink. 

There is a fabulous, half buried sunken amphitheatre in the town centre, dating back from the 2nd Century AD. Other buildings were constructed on top of it, which is why you can’t see the full circle of the theatre which would have accommodated 25,000 people. 

Around the rest of the town, Baroque architecture picks up those classical influences, as the limestone columns, arches and decorative figures fill the town with style and grace. The imposing city gates would once have been guarded, keeping the people of Lecce safe, and keeping undesirables out. 

The wines of the region aren’t the most famous of Italian wines, but you will struggle to find bad wine. The seafood is spectacular (I particularly recommend Blu Notte, just by the Porta San Bagio). It’s a wonderful place to spend a few days, and unwind among the abundant culture.



Porta San Bagio



Food articles and know-how:


Foodie storytelling par excellence from Aaron. The life and times of a shipping container:  https://1-dish-4-the-road.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/smoke-salt-life-and-times-of-shipping.html


Chengdu, Sichuan, where "spice is life". Food meets travel: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/in-chengdu-a-fiery-introduction-to-szechuan-cuisine/amp




After the revelations that jars of supermarket pesto contain as much salt as a Big Mac, are there any other storecupboard products which appear to be healthy but might not be? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/nutrition/pesto-salad-dressing-cous-cous-unhealthiest-healthy-foods-kitchen/






Recipes:


Chilli, tomatoes, pasta. Arrabbiata sauce is a spicy Italian classic (although I have received the tip that perhaps the vinegar could be left out, for which I thank Linda Paulnott, a previous guest blog author): https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/05/how-to-cook-the-perfect-penne-allarrabbiata
 

Autumnal borlotti beans with lamb and a tangy salsa: http://boroughmarket.org.uk/recipes/lamb-rump-borlotti-beans-salsa-verde
 

I keep whole mung/moong beans at home for sprouting. But here's a dahl recipe which uses them, from Mamta's Kitchen: http://www.mamtaskitchen.com/recipe_display.php?id=10371
 

Cookwitch Lisa is exploring Autumn's produce with this Rye bread: http://cookwitch.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/more-adventures-in-bread-light-rye.html





New recipe from Food Urchin, Dan - Pearl Barley "risotto" with chard, mushroom and bacon: http://www.foodurchin.com/2017/10/pearl-barley-risotto-with-chard.html
 

Panch phoran is a Bengali spice mixed from 5 different whole spice seeds. Want to know how to use it? Here's a recipe from Romy Gill, which uses squash, which is in season right now. http://khoollect.com/eat-kitchen/recipe/panch-photon-squash-romy-gill-recipe/
 

Having been asked for uses for stale bread, I thought I would share this for you - some interesting links to other recipes at the bottom, such as a dessert, Exeter pudding: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/apr/09/20-recipe-ideas-leftover-bread
 

Venetian sweet and sour prawns and Venetian sweet and sour sardines; if you want to make the prawn dish, substitute prawns for sardines and follow the sardine recipe.

Prawn: https://chestnutsandtruffles.com/2017/09/29/mazzancolle-in-saor-venetian-sweet-and-sour-prawns-recipe/




Searcy's smoked salmon fishcakes with tartar salad: http://goodthingsmagazine.com/searchs-smoked-salmon-fishcake/
 

I love dumplings of virtually every description. Pierogis are just one scrummy example! https://www.kaveyeats.com/2017/09/pierogi-ruskie-polish-dumplings-with-cheese-and-potatoes.html




My other writing:


Blog post for law students - Evidence in chief tips from former BPTC students: http://snigsclassroom.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/evidence-in-chief-tips-from-former-bptc.html


Music:


Mogwai – Every Country’s Sun

The Duke Spirit – KIN

Julia Holter – Have You In My Wilderness


TV: 


The Vietnam War
BBC Introducing: 10 Years of Finding The Next Big Thing
BBC 6 Music Live: Mogwai

BBC 6 Music Live: Robert Plant