July 2022 favourites list

Hello everyone! This month I would like to share my usual mix of foodie writings and recipes, with some photos from a recent visit to Rathfinny Wine estate, Alfriston, East Sussex. Rathfinny on the south coast of England, is fortunate enough to share the same chalk seam as the Champagne region of France, along with a similar climate. This of course makes it perfect for British sparkling wine. 

At the wine estate, set in the rolling Sussex countryside, you will find Turner Prize winning artist Nathan Coley's light sculpture "A Place Beyond Belief", which when you see them, sums up the stunning views. It is part of a major outdoor exhibition of his works, which will be on display until 29 August 2022.

We visited Tasting Room, the Rathfinny restaurant which overlooks the vines and hills, the perfect place to marvel at the English countryside and enjoy delicious food and good wine. We chose the lunch menu as we were visiting in the daytime. You can visit to try the wines, eat at the restaurant, or even to stay on site in the peace and quiet of the vineyards. 

I hope you enjoy my photos and my foodie picks for this month!

Food writing and articles:

What’s in season in the UK in July: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/whats-in-season-july

In defence of pre-chopped garlic – from Gabrielle Drolet. This is an important read on why pre-prepared ingredients being frowned upon is often unconscious ableism. https://thewalrus.ca/garlic-in-a-jar/

 

Which oil should you use when cooking – top chefs give their views: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/jun/21/which-oils-are-best-for-cooking-kitchen-aide-olive-sunflower-rapeseed

Kavey’s complete guide to using a wok, from seasoning it, maintaining it, cleaning it and storing it: https://www.kaveyeats.com/the-complete-guide-to-maintaining-your-wok-seasoning-cleaning-and-storage-tips

Glassy Junction in Southall is apparently the source of the phrase “feeling glassy” (meaning I’d love to have a proper drink). It is gone now. But there are other Asian (Desi) boozers out there. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/desi-pubs

Travel, food and art. A list of the 12 best museum restaurants in the world. https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/museum-restaurants

This is one of the most unusual cooking tips I’ve seen – using a cardboard egg box for baking meatballs. It seems it works very well. Do I dare try it? https://www.buzzfeed.com/christopherhudspeth/i-tried-alton-browns-meatball-cooking-hack-and-heres-how-it

Food and travel – the best streets for Tapas in Spain: https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/tapas-streets-spain

Smoked pork cheek, Sussex asparagus, lemon dressing, hazlenuts

 

Lifestyle:

Doing things in less of a hurry (like weekend cooking), taking your time, and "slowmaxxing". Could this be a new  self help technique to get us through these stressful times? https://metro.co.uk/2022/06/26/slowmaxxing-is-the-latest-self-care-trend-why-its-worth-your-time-16891165/

Risotto of garden peas, ricotta and mint

 

Recipes:

3 Summer salad recipes – a Kale chicken Caesar, a Smoked trout, egg, Jersey Royals and summer veg salad, and finally a Falafel rainbow Buddha bowl: https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/summer-salads-uk

A recipe for kabocha squash soup recommended for picky eaters and fussy children: https://thetakeout.com/quick-easy-squash-soup-recipe-for-picky-eaters-1849071330

We’ve all had red wine sangria, but what about changing it up for this white wine and elderflower sangria? https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/cocktails-and-drinks/white-wine-sangria/

Denver beef steak, kohlrabi, black garlic ketchup, broad bean, grelot onion

 

David Chang, founder of Momofuku, shows how to make his ever popular Corn Miso – a great lunch for Summertime. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNodneSjYW8

Pipian verde – a pre-Hispanic Mexican sauce for meat, fish or vegetables, made from pumpkin seeds, peanuts, sesame seeds, leafy greens, and spices: https://www.maricruzavalos.com/pipian-verde/

Broken sheets of lasagne form the basis of this vegan recipe from Meera Sodha with Summery broad beans and rocket: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/jun/11/meera-sodha-vegan-recipe-broken-pasta-broad-beans-rocket

Chefs in Schools is a food education charity, training kitchen teams to serve better school lunches. Here they share their recipes for kisir, corn salad and Moroccan chicken: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/apr/30/moroccan-chicken-bulgur-wheat-kisir-corn-salad-recipes-chefs-in-schools

Sea bass, spinach, braised fennel, carrot, langoustine bisque and nasturtium

 

What you might have missed at Snig’s Kitchen

Risotto primavera, a recipe post: https://snigskitchen.blogspot.com/2020/07/risotto-primavera.html

TV:

Depeche Mode at the BBC (a tribute to Andy Fletcher)

Avoidance

Outlaws (Series 2)

In Concert: Eagles 1973

Synth Britannia at the BBC

Mille feuille of English rhubarb, tonka and honey chiboust, sorrel ice cream

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.