October 2023 favourites list

Hello friends! Welcome once again to my virtual kitchen table!

I'm sharing photos from a very pleasant Tapas meal I recently had at About Thyme in Pimlico. The dishes there include firm favourites (gambas al ajillo is a non-negotiable tapa for me, and albondigas is non-negotiable for Him Indoors), but there are also some different dishes, as the courgette carpaccio and the scallops show. 

My delicious tapas were washed down by some Albarino. Him Indoors elected for some Spanish beer. We had a lovely half-term treat, as this week was the law school's reading week. To all my students, I wish you happy reading! 

Food articles

If you’ve known me for any time online, you’ll know of my deep love for garlic. This is an interesting read on *that* iconic garlic slicing scene from Goodfellas: https://tastecooking.com/what-goodfellas-got-right-about-garlic

Here is that iconic scene with the late Paul Sorvino concentrating deeply whilst lovingly slicing garlic with a razorblade: https://youtu.be/tm3GIRhT1To?feature=shared

This is a brilliant read from Ben Chadwick: all about potatoes, how they became accepted in France, a man named Parmentier, and a Paris Metro station. https://fabricofparis.com/2023/07/18/parmentier-potatoes-and-the-paris-metro.html

A fascinating long read, which is difficult in places. No place at the table for Indian women. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/longform/2023/9/1/no-place-at-the-table-indian-women-food-and-eating

Chaat is a particular type of Indian street food or snack food. Conde Nast Traveller asked Delhi foodies for the best places for chaat in the Indian capital: https://www.cntraveller.in/story/best-chaat-in-delhi-as-per-the-citys-foodies/

Kitchen tips and know how

Kitchen know-how: how to debone a chicken thigh - https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-debone-a-chicken-thigh-7775470

Recipes

Thanks to one of my Twitter friends (whose handle is @rankamateur) I have discovered this recipe for Hainanese chicken rice. I cheat and use a jar of paste from the Chinese grocery. But I might just give this a try. https://nonya.global/2021/11/sharons-version-of-chicken-rice/

Lamb chops, burnt aubergine and garam masala butter. Sounds utterly delicious!
https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/lamb-chops-burnt-aubergine-garam-masala-butter-recipe

This Thai green curry paste from Nagi at Recipe Tin Eats blog is full of fresh tasting aromatics: https://www.recipetineats.com/thai-green-curry-paste-recipe/

We used the green curry paste to make Nagi’s Thai green curry recipe, although she tells you how you can upgrade shop bought green curry paste to make her green curry with chicken and aubergine: https://www.recipetineats.com/thai-green-curry/

 

David Chang’s famous NYC restaurant Momofuku used to make a miso corn dish with bacon. Trouble was, everyone went mad for it, and no one wanted to eat much else off the menu. Here’s the recipe: https://shop.momofuku.com/blogs/recipes/roasted-summer-corn-with-miso-butter

In case the recipe ever disappears from their website, here it is, archived: https://archive.md/Jy1SX

What you might have missed at Snig’s Kitchen

Chorizo, orzo & sweetcorn summer stew; my take on a BBC Good Food recipe: https://www.tumblr.com/snigskitchen/731731519070191616/chorizo-orzo-sweetcorn-summer-stew-recipe-bbc

We made the famous David Chang's roasted Summer corn with miso butter recipe from Momofuku.
https://www.tumblr.com/snigskitchen/732183804490465280/roasted-summer-corn-with-miso-butter

TV

Ghosts Series 5

We have reached the end of the road for the original British comedy series of Ghosts. I don’t want to give you any spoilers, but this series has all of the likeability and warmth you’d expect from this treat of a show. Returning to the Captain’s back story and Kitty’s back story are particular treats.

Available on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0g5h8tk/ghosts-series-5-1-fools?seriesId=p0g5h855

Film

My Neighbour Totoro

Beautiful, quirky Studio Ghibli film directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Satsuke and her younger sister, Mei move to a new house in the country, while also trying to cope with their mother’s illness and hospitalisation. Enter neighbour Totoro, a huge cuddly forest troll to help them settle into their new home and cope with their distress and worry for their mum.

Available on Netflix, although likely to be available elsewhere. https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/60032294

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.