June 2023 favourites list

Welcome to this month's favourites list. 

This month's photos are from my recent visit to Darjeeling Express, Asma Khan's acclaimed and boundary pushing restaurant. With its emphasis on home style Indian food cooked by a team of women who would not usually be working in the commercial catering sector, it is great to visit upon its return to Kingly Court in Soho, London.  

Food writing

What's in season in June? Artichokes, asparagus, blackcurrants, cherries, courgettes and elderflowers. With recipe ideas. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/recipes/g42752918/june-recipes/

Three London restaurants make it to the list of 50 best restaurants in the world. They are British-Mexican fusion restaurant Kol, Ikoyi restaurant specialising in sub-Saharan African cuisine, and modern British restaurant The Clove Club. https://metro.co.uk/2023/06/22/worlds-best-restaurants-london-nabs-three-spots-in-top-list-18995104

An examination of sexism in wine culture: https://lithub.com/do-wines-make-women-giggly-on-sexism-in-wine-culture/

I've been Twitter chatting about instant noodles today, the lifesaver of workplace lunch when you are in a rush or didn't pack lunch in advance. Food bloggers Gingeybites reviews instant noodles, a helpful resource for noodle enthusiasts. https://gingeybites.com/guide-to-instant-noodles

If you love food and travel, then Kavey’s guide to Vietnam, complete with itinerary and top tips, is well worth reading. https://www.kaveyeats.com/3-week-vietnam-itinerary-food-culture-history-cities-nature

Can you increase your chilli heat tolerance, and what causes differences in tolerance in the first place – a fascinating look into capsaicin: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/spice_tolerance

 

Recipes

South East London’s Babur restaurant is a must visit for fans of Indian food. They have been lovely enough to share their recipe for Dal Makhani: https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/dal-makhani/  

From Su Scott’s book : https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/meat-and-poultry/korean-bossam-poached-pork-belly-wrap/

How to make Saag Paneer from scratch, including how to make your own Paneer: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/saag-paneer-is-the-luscious-indian-comfort-food-you-need

Algamja jorim are Korean soy sauce braised baby potatoes. A slightly time consuming dish to make, but one which is well worth the trouble. https://mykoreankitchen.com/gamja-jorim-korean-braised-potatoes/

 

Kitchen know-how

Many Instagram food posts include flowers. Please only use edible flowers. This article identifies them and how to use them. [NB Sweet pea flowers are not edible, but pea flowers are. Don’t get confused!] https://www.marthastewart.com/edible-flower-varieties-guide-7510570

How to make super smooth hummus with either dried chickpeas or tinned: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/super_smooth_hummus

A major study has found the Mediterranean diet could cut the risk of dementia in later lift by 25%. Here’s a summary of the findings, and what to eat and how to incorporate the Med diet foods in your diet. https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/diet_reduce_dementia_risk

13 alternative to wheat flour, from grain flours to bean flours and more: https://lifehacker.com/your-guide-to-13-alternative-flours-1850414480

If you love garlic as much as I do, you’ll love this. Kaitlyn from the Woks of Life food blog gives her guide on how to cook with garlic: https://thewoksoflife.com/cooking-with-garlic/ 

 

TV

Colin From Accounts

Offbeat Australian comedy in which an impulsive spur-of-the-moment piece of cheekiness leads to an accident which brings two unlikely people together as they struggle to do the right thing behind the innocent pooch they call “Colin from accounts”. TW – dog injury in a car accident. On iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0f255x9/colin-from-accounts

Glastonbury 2023

Gabriels: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0ft12mg/glastonbury-gabriels

Los Bitchos: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0ft1qtj/glastonbury-los-bitchos

Rick Astley & Blossoms play The Smiths: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0ft6w7z/glastonbury-rick-astley-blossoms-perform-the-smiths

Chvrches: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0fsyy41/glastonbury-chvrches

Hozier : https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0ft12v9/glastonbury-hozier

Caroline Polachek: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0ftbbbs/glastonbury-caroline-polachek

Kelis: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0ft0pdc/glastonbury-kelis

Music

Charlotte Gainsbourg – 5:55

Film

She Said

In the mould of investigative journalism films like Spotlight and All The President’s Men, I found this film documenting the investigation which exposed Harvey Weinstein and birthed the “Me Too” movement highly engaging. The performances are stand out. Good to see so many women in starring roles in a journalistic drama, although obviously the circumstances are horrible. [Available on streaming services].

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.