August 2024 favourites list

I hope you enjoy this month’s collection. There are some summer food inspiration ideas if you're planning a garden party, there are cooking tips, and cookbook reviews. I might have watched rather a lot of TV comedy this month, as the sunshine has put me in the mood for lighthearted entertainment. 

However your August has been, I am sure there will be something here for you!

 

Food writing

If you are headed to Paris for a Summer city break, here is David Lebovitz’s guide to the best bakeries there, because you know you can’t resist: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240717-david-lebovitzs-ultimate-guide-to-the-best-bakeries-in-paris-right-now

Dosas are heavenly lentil pancakes from South India made from a lightly fermented batter. They’re an obsession for many, including presidential candidate Kamala Harris: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20201026-dosa-indias-wholesome-fast-food-obsession

Hiroshi Nagashima’s Manga Guide to Japanese food isn’t just a cookbook, it’s an introduction to Japanese food culture, Manga, with cartoons and infographics. Kavey’s latest cookbook review makes me want to buy this book and share the fun: https://www.kaveyeats.com/manga-guide-japanese-food-hiroshi-nagashima

Sharleen Spiteri, lead singer of Texas shares her favourite foods, which includes a strong obsession with Chaat (a woman after my own heart!): https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/aug/17/sharleen-spiteri-two-slices-of-bread-proper-butter-a-pack-of-crisps-and-squeeze-it-down

Book review plus a recipe at London Unattached of Meera Sodha’s latest book on vegetarian and vegan cooking, “Dinner”: https://www.london-unattached.com/dinner-by-meera-sodha/

Food advice and kitchen tips

The new dietary advice is to eat 30 plants a week (rather than 5 a day). Sounds daunting? It doesn’t need to be, according to this piece, recommending a simpler way to get more plant based items in your diet: https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/dont-stress-about-eating-30-plants-a-week-follow-these-simple-tips-instead-3137498

How to make salad dressings with less oil: https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/jun/25/salad-dressings-less-oil-kitchen-aide-anna-berrill

 

Why you should always wash your fruit and vegetables before you eat them, and the best ways to do so, from Clinical microbiologist Primrose Freestone: https://theconversation.com/why-you-should-always-wash-fruit-and-veg-before-eating-them-and-the-best-technique-to-use-235987

Recipes

Recipes for Summer entertaining: Smoky Sweet Halloumi and Green Chili Black Bean Tacos with Coriander Mayo; Quick Lamb Pide; Thai Curry Style Chicken Wings; Spicy Gazpacho with Smoky Baked Tortillas; Lamb and Feta Orzo; Roast Tomato, Bean and Mozzarella Salad with Chilli Dressing; BYO Pork Buns with Cheat’s Apple Sauce and Spiced Slaw; Roast Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Gem Salad; Loaded Sweet Potato Home Fries: https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/9-easy-recipes-for-effortless-summer-entertaining-3084801

Felicity Cloake continues her series of recipe comparison at The Guardian. Here is her perfect fish with chermoula: https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/aug/14/how-to-make-the-perfect-chermoula-fish-recipe-felicity-cloake

With echoes of the Southern French dish Pissaladière, here is a recipe for an Anchovy pizza with a pre-fermented dough: https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/fish-and-seafood/anchovy-pizza/

Nigella Lawson’s recipe for Feta, black bean and clementine orange couscous: https://www.ocado.com/webshop/recipe/Nigella-s-Feta-Black-Bean-and-Clementine-Couscous/223061

TV

Daddy Issues (Season 1)

Gemma is young and carefree, living it large. Her Dad, Malcolm, is fending for himself (or at least trying) post-divorce. Then Gemma discovers she’s pregnant, and the two of them find themselves needing to rebuild their relationship and support each other. Malcolm is a tad hopeless, and there are moments it seems Gemma has to mother him when she’s about to be a mother herself, but his big heart means you realise he’s just a big sad, lost soul. The performances from Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education) and David Morrissey (playing against type) are wonderful in this very appealing and somewhat daft comedy drama.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m0021k8h/daddy-issues

The Young Offenders (Seasons 1-4)

Conor and Jock are two teenagers with a knack of getting themselves in trouble. School isn’t their thing, and other people’s bicycles are the itch they can’t stop scratching. Whilst the rest of Cork’s police force aren’t particularly bothered by bike theft, cyclist and policeman Tony Healy makes it his mission to catch the miscreants. The lads are idiotic, hapless, and ignorant. But they are also devoted friends, with a loveable streak. The comedy of the two lads’ goofy antics is balanced out by their interactions with the other members of the cast. Seasons 1 to 3 are unmissable.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p05v9qqg/the-young-offenders

Music

Delia Derbyshire: The Myths And The Legendary Tapes

“Music by The BBC Radiophonic Workshop” used to be found at the end credits of many BBC TV shows. But none were as iconic as Doctor Who. Delia Derbyshire was the electronic music trailblazer who, unfortunately, never received credit for arranging and co-composing *that* theme tune in her lifetime. This quirky docu-drama in tribute to Delia has moments from her life recreated, along with samples of her “legendary tapes” (found after her death hidden in her attic) repurposed by musician and artist Cosi Fanny Tutti. If you love electronic music, dance music, or rave music, Derbyshire is the precursor to all of these schools of musical expression.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000w6tr/delia-derbyshire-the-myths-and-the-legendary-tapes

Hannah Peel – Fir Wave

Inspired by Delia Derbyshire, and using her 1972 album Electrosonic (made with Brian Hodgson and Don Harper) as a source, Hannah Peel puts together an album which pays homage to Derbyshire and the patterns and cycles found in nature. This album is more than ambient, more than ambitious. But I don’t think I have the words to do it justice.

https://hannahpeelmusic.bandcamp.com/album/fir-wave

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