It is often said that you should never meet your heroes. I do not agree. This month I had the opportunity to meet a hero and it was an exhilarating experience.
Lady Brenda Hale came to my work to speak to the students this week, and even though the event was a careers event for students, I couldn't resist taking the opportunity to meet this pioneering woman in the legal profession, who even the Sun newspaper (not known for their recognition for strong and intelligent women) dubbed "The Haleblazer".
Lady Hale is the current President of the Supreme Court of the UK. This has often led to her being compared to Ruth Bader Ginsberg or "The Notorious RBG". However, Brenda Hale is very much her own woman with her own record of notable successes.
Lady Hale didn't come from a privileged background, yet made it to Girton College Cambridge. The press recently noted, with surprise that in her younger days she paid her way working as a barmaid. She later studied for the Bar, but rather than practice, worked in academia. She was a noted legal academic, who has done ground breaking work in mental health law. As Lady Hale told us in her talk, "I did not go from quadrangle to quadrangle to quadrangle" (from public school to a college to chambers).
Lady Hale was the first and only woman to be appointed as a judge in what used to be the House of Lords. Because it had been historically unthinkable that we would have women in the House of Lords, she was given the title of Lord of Appeal in Ordinary... A Law Lord!
The House of Lords' was reformed, split into the House of Lords (for its political function as an upper chamber) and the Supreme Court for its judicial functions. Lady Hale and the other judges were moved across to this new court and later, Lady Black and Lady Arden joined her, meaning there are three women in the Supreme Court.
Of course, the public's consciousness of Lady Hale was raised as a result of THAT prorogation case, where Boris Johnson's attempt to prorogue Parliament for 5 weeks was quashed as it had the effect of preventing Parliament from carrying out its constitutional functions. But those of us in the law will know Lady Hale's judicial work from the many landmark cases she has dealt with in the House of Lords and Supreme Court.
Lady Hale is a big foodie, as she told us during her talk. One of our students asked her about food, restaurants and Masterchef. She told us: "I don't think I ought to tell you what my favourite restaurant in London is. That would be advertising. But I definitely have one!"
But don't ask me to tell you about the Spider Brooch. We were told not to ask any controversial or embarrassing questions. So we will have to continue to speculate. I can tell you that on the day I met her, she was wearing a very fetching green gem encrusted frog. I was wearing a dragonfly. Don't worry, I behaved myself. Frogs eat dragonflies for breakfast!
Anyway, back to the stuff you actually come here for... my collection of food writing, recipes and lovely stuff I've been enjoying this month.
Food articles:
Lady Brenda Hale came to my work to speak to the students this week, and even though the event was a careers event for students, I couldn't resist taking the opportunity to meet this pioneering woman in the legal profession, who even the Sun newspaper (not known for their recognition for strong and intelligent women) dubbed "The Haleblazer".
Lady Hale is the current President of the Supreme Court of the UK. This has often led to her being compared to Ruth Bader Ginsberg or "The Notorious RBG". However, Brenda Hale is very much her own woman with her own record of notable successes.
Lady Hale didn't come from a privileged background, yet made it to Girton College Cambridge. The press recently noted, with surprise that in her younger days she paid her way working as a barmaid. She later studied for the Bar, but rather than practice, worked in academia. She was a noted legal academic, who has done ground breaking work in mental health law. As Lady Hale told us in her talk, "I did not go from quadrangle to quadrangle to quadrangle" (from public school to a college to chambers).
Lady Hale was the first and only woman to be appointed as a judge in what used to be the House of Lords. Because it had been historically unthinkable that we would have women in the House of Lords, she was given the title of Lord of Appeal in Ordinary... A Law Lord!
The House of Lords' was reformed, split into the House of Lords (for its political function as an upper chamber) and the Supreme Court for its judicial functions. Lady Hale and the other judges were moved across to this new court and later, Lady Black and Lady Arden joined her, meaning there are three women in the Supreme Court.
Of course, the public's consciousness of Lady Hale was raised as a result of THAT prorogation case, where Boris Johnson's attempt to prorogue Parliament for 5 weeks was quashed as it had the effect of preventing Parliament from carrying out its constitutional functions. But those of us in the law will know Lady Hale's judicial work from the many landmark cases she has dealt with in the House of Lords and Supreme Court.
Lady Hale is a big foodie, as she told us during her talk. One of our students asked her about food, restaurants and Masterchef. She told us: "I don't think I ought to tell you what my favourite restaurant in London is. That would be advertising. But I definitely have one!"
But don't ask me to tell you about the Spider Brooch. We were told not to ask any controversial or embarrassing questions. So we will have to continue to speculate. I can tell you that on the day I met her, she was wearing a very fetching green gem encrusted frog. I was wearing a dragonfly. Don't worry, I behaved myself. Frogs eat dragonflies for breakfast!
Anyway, back to the stuff you actually come here for... my collection of food writing, recipes and lovely stuff I've been enjoying this month.
Food articles:
David Chang on his "Unified Theory of Deliciousness": https://www.wired.com/2016/07/chef-david-chang-on-deliciousness/
Are you a fresher? Here's a list of 21 foods to buy to survive your first term at university. Remember, your student debt will be skyhigh if you keep ordering take away online! https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/store_cupboard_essentials
What equipment should you have in your student kitchen? [I definitely agree that a tin opener will save you money in the long run, as cheaper tinned products don't always have ring pulls!] https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/student_kitchen_kit
Recipes:
Ed Smith's Fig and blue cheese salad brings together sweet figs, tangy blue cheese, fresh tasting fennel, orange and radicchio in a stylish easy single bowl dinner: http://boroughmarket.org.uk/recipes/fig-blue-cheese-salad
Russell Norman's Polpo brings real Venetian food to the UK. He shares four recipes: Spaghetti with onions, Fennel, mint and orange salad, Tomato and oregano bruschetta, Grilled ribbons of flank steak with field mushrooms and watercress: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/sep/14/four-venetian-recipes-from-polpo
Whenever I go to the Chinese grocery shop, I always buy a pack of air dried Chinese pork sausage. If you love them as much as I do, here's a Thai Stir fry recipe to make: https://praneesthaikitchen.com/2015/10/09/thai-fried-rice-with-chinese-sausage/
It's a little bit naughty, but definitely warming and nice. Autumnal mulled cider: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/mulled-cider
Pumpkins and squashes are in season and this time of year always makes me think of pickles. Here's a refridgerator squash pickle to make: https://www.afarmgirlsdabbles.com/spicy-squash-refrigerator-pickles-recipe-quick-easy/
Autumn means wild mushrooms are back - here is Felicity Cloake's masterclass on how to make wild mushroom risotto: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/sep/25/how-to-make-wild-mushroom-risotto-recipe-felicity-cloake-masterclass
Whilst the season has undoubtedly changed, I do still need to keep eating fresh veg, so I am thinking about freshening up my salad repertoire. These four Japanese style salad dressings look rather fab: https://www.justonecookbook.com/japanese-salad-dressings/
In China and the Far East, rice porridges are a winning start to the day. They are perfect to chase away the chill. Here is a recipe for Savoury Rice Porridge with Pork and Shrimp (Kao Tom Moo): http://smithsonianapa.org/picklesandtea/3660-2/
What you might have missed at Snig's Kitchen:
French country style pork chops, a recipe post: http://snigskitchen.blogspot.com/2019/10/french-country-style-pork-chops.html
Honey and sesame roasted parsnips: https://snigskitchen.tumblr.com/post/188587636874/honey-and-sesame-seed-roasted-parsnips
Tips on cooking and freezing dahl: https://snigskitchen.tumblr.com/post/188110789099/tip-for-freezing-dahl
TV:
French country style pork chops, a recipe post: http://snigskitchen.blogspot.com/2019/10/french-country-style-pork-chops.html
Honey and sesame roasted parsnips: https://snigskitchen.tumblr.com/post/188587636874/honey-and-sesame-seed-roasted-parsnips
Tips on cooking and freezing dahl: https://snigskitchen.tumblr.com/post/188110789099/tip-for-freezing-dahl
TV:
Defending The Guilty
Film:
Leonard and Marianne: Words of Love
The Talented Mr Ripley
Film:
Leonard and Marianne: Words of Love
The Talented Mr Ripley
Music:
Julia Holter - Have
You in My Wilderness
Leonard Cohen - Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen - Songs Of Leonard Cohen
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.
