April 2026 favourites list

Hello and welcome to my April favourites list! Spring is finally here. The clocks in the UK have changed, and as the seasonal flowers bloom and green shoots and new leaves appear everywhere, and cliché as it might be, I do have a spring in my step. Putting away my coat, scarf and gloves has brought me a delightfully good feeling. Once it is washed, I will equally gain joy from packing away the winter compatibility duvet, replacing it with the light summer quilt of minimal toggage. 

My photos this month are from a recent visit to Biang Biang X’ian Noodles in London Bridge. My thanks go to my Bluesky friend, barrister and mediator Jacob Gifford-Head for posting photos of the delectable “belt” style Shaanxi noodles a couple of months ago. He gave me the idea of trying these famous hand made noodles after posting a photo on social media. Commenting that he didn’t need to go to Whitechapel any more, Jacob also remarked on the “famously complex character” for biang biang noodles. Looking into it, the traditional Chinese symbol has 58 strokes! (If you are interested, there is a lot of explanation in the Wikipedia entry for Biang Biang noodles, to be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biangbiang_noodles)

We treated ourselves to the house dumplings, the signature pork dumpling in mild special spicy sauce, Xinjiang big plate chicken (on the bone) with hand pulled noodle, and hand pulled Biang Biang noodle with beef in special sauce. With a beer and a glass of wine, lunch came in at £53.27 (including service). Eagle eyed readers will notice that there was a plate of dumplings I forgot to photograph, such was my eagerness to get stuck in. There isn’t a dumpling I have met that I didn’t love.

The noodles, despite being made of just flour, water and salt, have both “bite” and chewiness because of the long and labour intensive process of making them. We did our best not to cut up the noodles, as noodles symbolise long life, but it was difficult to eat the meaty accompaniment with the noodle without a little trimming. We enjoyed the Xinjiang chicken, but preferred the beef (which we thought went better with the taste and texture of the noodle).

The London Bridge/Borough area is a well known foodie hot spot, and there are many, many options for both lunch and dinner. Biang Biang X’ian Noodles is a good option for a lunch which isn’t so expensive you need to think twice. Affordability in London is increasingly becoming an issue, not helped by the current cost of living, a problem which applies to diners and restauranteurs alike.

I hope you will enjoy this month’s selections and the food pics.

Food articles and writing

I always enjoy reading Kavey’s travel writing at her Kavey Eats blog, and this “postcard” from Obuse in Japan is no exception. Big love here for Katsushika Hokusai, the iconic woodblock print artist, and the gorgeous photos. https://www.kaveyeats.com/postcard-obuse-japan

Mexico City is a supersized city with bewildering choice foodwise. Chef Santiago Muñoz Moctezuma chooses his favourite taco places, market stalls and cocktail bars  to help you make your travel plans: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/where-to-eat-in-mexico-city-according-to-a-local-chef

Matcha green tea is having a moment. I am rather partial to a matcha latte or matcha cakes. Knowing that the green stuff is doing me good is a massive plus! https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/health/health-benefits-of-matcha

Daddies, or HP, a good sweet, tangy brown sauce makes bacon bounce and sausages sing. I can’t do without it in a bacon or sausage butty. Here is a brief history of the condiment with British heart and a more “exotic” soul. https://www.countrylife.co.uk/lifestyle/food-drink/a-very-brief-history-of-brown-sauce

From BBQ burgers and sausages, to salads, dips and picnic treats, BBC Good Food magazine has selected the best supermarket products for Summer 2026 for flavour and quality: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/review/summer-taste-awards

Do you like salady salads or salads with just a little bit of everything? The “maximalist salad” might just be for you – the salad that is like a cheeseburger, or fried chicken bucket, these are “Salads that aren’t here to keep you small, but to satisfy. To delight. To hand you back your appetite without apology. They straddle the line between indulgence and wellness, pleasure and penance.” https://www.salon.com/2025/05/19/in-praise-of-the-maximalist-salad

 

Recipes

We might be a nation of cod and chips lovers, but as the fish becomes less sustainable and consistently overfished, Nathan Outlaw wants us to look for greener varieties of fish. Here are his recommendations, with recipes: https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/food-and-drink/recipes/best-alternative-to-cod-nathan-outlaw-fish-recipes-b2958147.html

I am beginning to start thinking about salads and leaving behind soups. But before getting into the delicate leafy salads, I want to have some comforting and hearty salads. In her excellent series of recipe explorations, Felicity Cloake tests and develops the perfect potato salad. https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/may/11/how-to-make-potato-salad-recipe-felicity-cloake

While I am leaving behind soups, I am not yet ready to give up on stews (am I ever?). This chicken and white bean stew from Jose Pizarro is full of the flavours of Spain. I remember eating those shrivelled little potatoes with Mojo Verde in the Canary Islands, salty, herby, delicious.  https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/mar/17/chicken-and-white-bean-stew-recipe-mojo-verde-jose-pizarro

ICYMI

The Times this weekend has decided to bring back what I call “food poverty trolling”. This is where people claim that it is very easy to feed a family cheaply, with the implication that those who cannot are either profligate, or wasteful, and that there is no need for food banks to exist or welfare benefits to be increased. This time, the claim that it is easy to feed a family of 4 on £50 per week. I saw lots of this on Twitter/X and wrote something about it. So, ICYMI (in case you missed it), here it is: https://mediadiversified.org/2022/05/31/bad-enough-mps-are-gaslighting-us-about-food-poverty-will-the-trolls-please-just-stop/

Film

“Shhh!” is what you normally expect to hear from a librarian in your local library. However, in these troubled and troubling times, it is librarians who are safeguarding freedom of expression and free speech. This documentary from 2025 shows how America’s librarians have been protecting the availability of books, often at huge personal cost.

Available on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002kkmj/storyville-the-librarians (also available on PBS).

Music/Books

Celebrating 40 years of success, national treasures Pet Shop Boys have put together a career spanning photo retrospective. They shared some highlights with The Mirror. Relive your favourite Neil and Chris moments and looks here:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/gallery/pet-shop-boys-40-years-36933616

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.

March 2026 favourites list

Hello my brilliant readers! Welcome to this month’s favourites list, when we are really beginning to feel the literal spring in our step as the leaves are regrowing on the trees and the spring flowers are blooming.

This month’s pictures are from taking my Mum out for Mother’s day for some Thai food. She always enjoys the chillis and punchy flavours. We had a colourful, cracking lunch, with flowing conversation and laughs. 

 

I hope you enjoy this month’s selections, and that you find something here to tickle your tastebuds.

Food articles and writing

The Observer’s guide to the best places to eat noodles in the UK, with contributions from Angela Hui, Nicola Miller, Andy Lynes and the Observer staff writers: https://archive.ph/sply7

Weighing in at 1.83kg, The Complete Illustrated Guide to Japanese Cooking: Techniques, Ingredients, Recipes by Sachiyo Harada is an encyclopaedic work devoted to Japanese food. Kavey has given this highly tempting potential purchase a test drive, putting the book through its paces. https://www.kaveyeats.com/complete-illustrated-guide-japanese-cooking-sachiyo-harada

Thai seafood salad

 

A heavily US focus, but nevertheless, some beautiful and fascinating  brand new cookbooks here: https://www.eater.com/books/949453/best-new-cookbooks-spring-2026

Issue 2 of Vittles’ print magazine on Bad Food was an amazing collection of thought provoking food writing. This, reviewing the moral panic about parents' and childrens' rebellion against a Rotherham school ban on "fast food" is on that theme.  https://www.vittlesmagazine.com/p/bad-people-bad-food-bad-place

The world’s favourite noodle dishes from the Observer food monthly noodle special issue: https://observer.co.uk/style/food/article/favourite-noodle-dishes-from-around-the-world

Thai aubergine salad with roasted rice

My Bluesky friend Chris Bulow shared this, and as he says, keep reading, because the practical suggestions further in are well worth reading – 12 “lazy” ways to eat more vegetables: https://www.salon.com/2026/02/18/lazy-ways-to-eat-more-vegetables/

Recipes

The 15^th March is also known as the infamous “Ides of March” which Julius Caesar was warned to beware. He didn’t and his fate was sealed. Here is a cocktail recipe for “Bloody Caesar”: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/mar/06/cocktail-of-the-week-chet-hoxton-bloody-caesar-recipe

Corn cheese is a Korean BBQ restaurant side dish many of us grew to love after visiting South Korea. Here is how to recreate it at home: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/party-ideas/a69811768/korean-corn-cheese-recipe/

Wolfgang Puck’s famous Chinese chicken salad from his restaurant: https://archive.ph/HBRmH

Tamarind prawns

 

Malaysian-born chef and MasterChef winner Ping Coombes explains how to cook rice and shares her recipe for Baked honey and soy chicken rice: https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/food-and-drink/recipes/how-to-cook-rice-ping-coombes-recipe-b2918132.html

Gennaro Contaldo shares his recipe for a Sicilian inspired pasta with anchovies and breadcrumbs for a quick supper or weekend lunch: https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/recipes/2026/0304/1561643-gennaros-pasta-with-anchovies-and-breadcrumbs/

Life Kitchen’s Ryan Riley shares his recipes for comfort, joy and healing: umami noodles, French (pickled) onion soup, Kimchi salmon with ginger greens, Cauliflower and potato coconut curry, Black olive, feta and honey twists, Sweet and sour apple crumble with sweet basil cream: https://archive.ph/dTGgL

Kitchen tips

Why Yorkshire puddings go wrong (and how to fix them): https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/cly8zlpyydlo

It is back to school time in Japan, as the new school year starts. Here are some beginners tips for packing children’s lunchtime bento boxes (which are useful for grown ups taking packed lunches to work, too!): https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2026/03/18/food-drink/back-to-school-kids-bento

Pan fried fish fillets can be the basis of speedy weekday dinners, but how can you get that restaurant style crispy skin? https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/mar/10/whats-the-secret-to-crisp-skinned-fish-kitchen-aide

What you might have missed

I had a wonderful trip to South Korea last year which included a visit to beautiful Jeju Island. Here I write about my visit to the Osulloc Tea “Museum” on the island. https://snigskitchen.blogspot.com/2026/03/osulloc-tea-museum-jeju-south-korea.html

Thai chicken stir fry

 

TV

Boarders, Season 3

This is the end of the school careers of our South East London fishes out of water at posh boarding school St Gilbert’s. They still have to deal with dreadful racist headteacher (who demands to be called “mistress”, a red flag if ever I heard of one!) along with all the other traumas of taking A levels. Will they make it through? Will they get to go to their chosen universities? I’m not giving you any spoilers.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m001wjyk/boarders?seriesId=m001wjyk-structural-3-m002spbr

 

Golden bags or golden parces

Film

I Swear

Robert Aramayo’s BAFTA winning performance as John Davidson, leading British campaigner for Tourette’s syndrome awareness is one compelling reason to watch this film. Davidson’s story of his Scottish upbringing in the 80s when the UK had virtually no recognition, let alone empathy, for the condition is another. Finally, the ensemble of performances is a real treat, with Maxine Peake being particularly wonderful in her role.

Available on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/82681782

Massaman curry

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.

Osulloc Tea Museum Jeju South Korea

When I travelled to South Korea, one of my stops was Jeju Island, which is very popular with South Koreans for their holidays, honeymoons in particular. South Koreans rave about the produce of Jeju and it has a special place in their hearts. Putting it on our itinerary was a no brainer. 

Tea bushes trimmed into a large cup of tea

I’m a tea lover, so when I heard about premium Korean tea producer Osulloc having a huge “tea museum” on Jeju, I knew I had to visit. Having visited the Osulloc shop in Busan where staff let me sample some of the teas, I thought going to the source would be a worthwhile experience. Jeju’s volcanic soil and climate provide great conditions for growing tea.

 

The tea fields at Osulloc

We hired a taxi driver to take us on a day tour of West Jeju, and Mr Kim was a funny, thoughtful and helpful person, perfect to guide us and take us around. He made sure we arrived mid-morning, because he told us the place gets very busy.

The tea fields stretching out were the most bright and vivid green, the tea bushes evidently enjoying spring time. You can walk among them and bathe your eyes and soul in their natural splendour.

Another view of the tea fields at Osulloc

 

What of the museum itself? I have to say that this is not a true “museum”. There are no large displays of the history of tea, tea culture, Jeju tea history, or Osulloc’s history, bar a couple of cases of old branding and packaging. If you are wanting that kind of museum, I have heard that the Tea Museum of Korea (Boseoung) has that covered. But I still say Osulloc Tea Museum is worth visiting; for its café and shop. For a guide on visiting the tea fields in Boseong, please see Kavey’s post here: https://www.kaveyeats.com/visiting-tea-fields-boseong-south-korea

Mr Kim said I should have my photo taken with the tea bushes, thank you Mr Kim!

The shop area is huge, light, airy and well designed, and there are so many fabulous tea products. I’m not just talking about tea leaves, tea bags, and matcha tea powder, although they have plenty of those. I’m thinking tea biscuits, chocolates, and other dainty and delectable treats.

Tea themed treats in the Osulloc shop

Kavey (who writes Kavey Eats as mentioned above) recommended I should buy the Matcha Langue de Chat biscuits, and as ever, she didn’t miss. A light-textured and crisp biscuit with a gentle green hue, and a delicious matcha cream in the middle. We brought the packet home, but it didn’t last long, I’m feeling a little forlorn I didn’t buy 3 more boxes. The wafers I bought got battered in transit, so they all looked a bit ragged, with corners missing, but they still tasted gorgeous. My husband (Him Indoors) and I may have squabbled over what was a fair share of the Jeju Green Tea Chocolate Bar; dark chocolate and matcha tea perfection. The Osulloc signature biscuit, individually wrapped for optimum freshness, had delicate matcha white chocolate on top of a dark, cocoa rich biscuit crisp.

 

Some of the fine quality tea products at Osulloc

Shoppers browsing the products

There is such a variety of tea based products here

The café is the main reason to visit the Osulloc Team Museum. The cakes are works of art, the drinks span ordinary hot tea, matcha lattes, and iced teas, and there’s the matcha ice cream which, if it is not already legendary, ought to be! You can gawk at the selections before you buy, if you’re having trouble choosing, or you can go straight ahead and use the techy ordering system. Your order, when ready will buzz on a pager for you to collect.

Ordering at the techy menu stations

 

The food and drink collection point

 

The staff making up orders with care and dedication

Some of the tea based desserts

The tempting tea based desserts

As you can see, I opted for the crepe green tea cake. The skill involved in making so many paper thin crepes and stacking them so precisely, with a layer of matcha cream between each, is mind boggling to me. The taste? Out of this world. Creamy, delicate, with a gentle whisper of tea flavour. There are other Osulloc cafes in South Korea, but there are a number of exclusives both at the shop and café at Jeju. This awesome cake was one of them.

Crepe matcha green tea cake

 

Mr Kim was right, after we finished our shopping and treats, two huge coaches of visitors arrived. It’s a popular stop and getting early will give you the chance to sit on the terrace to eat and look over the tea plantation. Otherwise, the café is very large, and there is plenty of space for everyone.

Delicious matcha green tea ice cream

As for that crepe green tea cake… we still talk about it fondly. It might seem strange, but for me, it was one of my greatest food highlights on an amazing trip full of wonderful food.

If you love green tea, and want some products to take home or give people as gifts, Osulloc’s regular shops are worth a visit, but their flagship shop at the Tea Museum is something special. All the Juju exclusive products are labelled at both the café and shop. I would also suggest, if you want to discover K-skincare, the Innisfree shop next door is worth a visit.

This blog post represents the honest views of Snigdha, who was not paid by Osulloc to write this post in any way. Snigdha bought and paid for the Osulloc products mentioned in this blog post.