May 2018 Favourites List

This month’s pictures are from Brighton on the south coast (of England). It is often called “London by the sea”, which seemed rather apt to me. Brighton is fun and full of things to do. It is cosmopolitan, multicultural and cultural. Brighton has always been close to my heart, since I studied there…. ummmm… *some* (ahem!) years ago. 

I could have shared pictures of the seafront, Palace Pier or Brighton Pavilion. All are beautiful and worth visiting. But they are already iconic and you will have seen them before. I have decided to focus on the street art of Brighton, something which wasn’t around in my student days. There is street art everywhere in Brighton, bringing some fun and colour to the city. However, the North Laine is particularly rich in street art. Pottering around the independent shops, tripping up on the latest street art is a lovely way of spending an idle afternoon. 

I hope you like these pictures. The “Icons” mural and David Bowie with his 12 string guitar were two of my favourite works. 

I also hope you will enjoy my monthly collection of food writing, recipes and cultural bits and bobs. 

Recipes 

Chicken Shawarma recipe from Dan, The Curry Guy, for anyone looking for a barbeque dish to drool over: http://www.greatcurryrecipes.net/2015/07/17/how-to-make-shawarma-kebabs/

Pakistani Keema paratha, perfect for lunchtime weekend cooking: https://food52.com/recipes/76946-pakistani-keema-paratha-spiced-beef-filled-flatbread

 

Nobuko in Kawaguchiko makes a mean miso potato at her little Izakaya (pub/restaurant). This recipe comes close... but we are still trying to recreate the experience! http://justhungry.com/new-potatoes-with-sweet-spicy-miso

"Ruff puff pastry" - a quick homemade version of puff pastry with Spring asparagus and home caramelised onion. https://www.belleaukitchen.com/2018/05/asparagus-caramelised-onion-and-parmesan-tarts.html

Colourful ceviche with an unexpected crunch. I would substitute the popcorn with roasted whole corn kernels (corn nuts): https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/fish-and-seafood/popcorn-ceviche/

Summer is on the way... so here are some early Summer salads from Nigel Slater: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/may/14/nigel-slater-salad-recipes-for-early-summer

I haven't used my seed sprouting jar in a while. I've been looking for new inspiration. This noodle, prawn and sprouted bean and grain salad looks worth trying out! http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/food/recipes/thai-prawn-and-sprouted-bean-salad

Who's ready to try savoury porridge? This is a congee style porridge recipe, meaning it has quite a bit of fluid added. But you could also try a risotto or dahl style consistency. Sweet porridge doesn't seem right a lunchtime, so this is a bit of a change. (You can buy Chiu Chow chilli oil and Shaoxing rice wine from your local oriental grocers): https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/quick-and-easy/savoury-porridge-with-ginger-and-chilli-oil/

If you saw my blog post about Adam Handling at The Frog restaurant cooking with Kikkoman ingredients and you liked the look of the soy sauce "salted" caramel, this might be interesting: https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/chocolate-truffle-pots-with-caramel-sauce/

Michel Roux Jr made this dish part of his marathon preparation - fish cooked en papillote. Cooking fish in paper or foil is a great way of avoiding overcooking and introducing flavour: https://www.eatcookexplore.com/michel-roux-jrs-norwegian-haddock-baked-with-ginger-and-coriander/

In an effort to try to eat more wholegrains, I bought a pack of pearl barley. But it has been languishing in the kitchen cupboard, as the only use I could think of was to chuck it in a stew. So here's Nigel Slater to the rescue with a sort of Barley risotto... a "barlotto" if you will! https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/may/01/nigel-slater-pearl-barley-bacon-and-taleggio-recipe

I've always liked Yotam Ottolenghi's approach to flavours. So his collection of tray bake dinners - one cooking receptacle for a whole meal - is intriguing. Easy and tasty? Yes, please! https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/apr/28/yotam-ottolenghi-tray-bake-recipes

A highly original vegetarian and vegan grilled fruit and grilled corn salad with quinoa: https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/08/fiery-fruit-quinoa-salad-from-salad-samurai.html

Celebrate Spring with this menu for four people - Baked pork and saffron rice, Raw asparagus, fennel and ricotta salad, Smoked-haddock, radish and celery-leaf remoulade, Strawberry jelly with lime-basil syllabub: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/recipes/celebrate-arrival-asparagus-colourful-menu-four/

Food articles and food writing

"Curry". What smell is that, anyway? I've had a thousand assumptions made about my food, my cooking and the "smells" all my life. So much so I wear a shower cap when I cook Indian food to avoid getting the smell in my hair. So many resonances with this for me, but I say one thing: cook what makes you happy! https://www.buzzfeed.com/sharanyadeepak/you-smell-like-curry-youre-fired

I really enjoyed this thoughtful and eloquent piece of food writing from the fab Gavin Uren (AKA Le Petit Oeuf); why the politics of food is never simple and why "industrial" food deserves more love: https://medium.com/@lepetitoeuf/why-we-need-to-show-industrial-food-some-love-%EF%B8%8F-1013f7b0b1a

What you might have missed at Snig's Kitchen

Chef Adam Handling cooks Kikkoman at The Frog restaurant, London: http://snigskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2018/05/the-frog-cooks-kikkoman.html

 

TV

Raised By Wolves (Series 1)

Plebs (Series 3)

Films

Easy Money trilogy (Sweden):

Easy Money (Snabba Cash)

Easy Money II

Easy Money III: Life Deluxe

Music

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

Agnes Obel - Citizen of Glass

 

Please note: as with every monthly Favourites List, all of these items have been selected by me simply because I love them. I do not receive any money, benefits in kind or other incentive for posting these links or recommendations.