August 2019 Favourites List

Meltdown Festival is a music festival with a difference. Starting on a Saturday and ending the following Sunday, it stretches luxuriously over 9 days. This means you never have to worry about acts clashing. You can see whoever takes your fancy. Because the festival is at London’s South Bank, there’s no camping or concerns about British weather or any need for wellies. Each year’s festivities is put together by a music icon, so you get to immerse yourself in their tastes and influences. 

This year, Nile Rodgers, songwriter, producer, guitar legend and king of disco was the “curator” of the festival. Naturally, there was a lot of focus on guitar music. But Nile is a man of varied tastes, so his selections took in jazz, blues, indie and, of course, funk. 

I was lucky enough to see Nile Rodgers speak about his career and his many fruitful musical collaborations. He even treated us to the earliest ever demo of David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”, having told us the most thrilling history of that particular song. Who knew Bowie originally wrote it as a folk rock song? And who would believe we would get to hear Bowie slowly appreciating how it could work as a funk rock song? Only Nile Rodgers could have been responsible for that sound and that radical change of direction. 

Nile Rodgers brought his band along with him, and seeing Chic is always a treat. They are a super tight band, with vocal power and tonnes of soul. They didn’t disappoint, with the whole of the Royal Festival Hall on its feet, dancing for all it was worth. 

Nile hosted some of his favourite musicians and I was able to catch shows by Johnny Marr and Songhoy Blues. Both have bands with strong guitar sounds, but could not be more different from each other. Desert blues and British Indie royalty. Again, only Nile Rodgers could bring those influences together. 

This month’s photos are from Nile Rodgers’ Meltdown Festival 2019. I wonder who will be running the show next year? 

Hope you enjoy the photos and my selections of my favourite things this post month. 

Recipes: 

Wear an apron when cooking. Don't wear a white shirt while eating. Laksa is a Malaysian/Singaporean institution: a colourful and spicy noodle soup. Here's Felicity Cloake on how to make the perfect Laksa: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/jul/24/how-to-cook-the-perfect-laksa-recipe

MiMi Aye's Red Prawn Curry (Pazun See-pyan) from her new Burmese cook book Mandalay!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/60Jms27YXZyyQt5p0h095HM/red-prawn-curry

Looking for an alternative to a Sunday roast? How about this Summery Lamb and aubergine stew with houmous served up with Mediterranean flatbreads?

https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/lamb-and-aubergine-stew-with-houmous/

 

Grilling aubergines brings out the best in them. Here are some recipe inspiration - with cute baharat parcels, a creamy dip and stunning salad.

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/jun/29/yotam-ottolenghi-smoky-aubergine-recipes-feta-parcels-cream-puree

Summertime cordial recipes: cucumber and lime, peach and basil, and strawberry and cardamom cordial:

https://www.olivemagazine.com/drink/summer-cordial-recipes/

Got a pint of milk you might not use? Already cooking with some chillis? The bacteria in the chilli stalks can be used to make your own yoghurt! https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/aug/10/homemade-yoghurt-recipe-chilli-stalks-waste-not-tom-hunt

Sushi rice has to be sticky, with a slight touch of sweetness. Here's how to make sushi rice with full instructions and videos: https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/how-to-cook/how-to-make-sushi-rice

Potato and chick pea masala:

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/indian-inspired-potato-chickpea-masala-143455932.html

Grilled portobello mushrooms and red peppers, in this rocket and couscous salad, suitable for vegetarians: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/easy/a33405/grilled-veggie-couscous-salad

Chicken, giant couscous and harissa broth. Use giant couscous, don't substitute. https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/healthy/chicken-giant-couscous-broth

Articles:

Food writer Sejal Sukhadwala picks out London's best meat free restaurants. List with map and reviews. Absolutely agree with Vanilla Black and Mildreds.

https://london.eater.com/maps/best-vegetarian-restaurants-london

Every Summer, legal geniuses Sean Jones QC and Dominic Regan go through the arduous process of tasting the Summer's new crop of wines. They suffer for their art! Here are their picks for this Summer. I definitely agree that the Aldi Cotes de Provence (with the bottle embossed with flowers) is a great value, great wine: https://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/articles/summer-wine-2019

As Chef Cyrus Todiwala prepares to open his new restaurant "Tandem" in Leicester, he took a few moments to talk to Seetal Savla about the restaurant trade, his faith and his rules for life: http://www.savlafaire.com/cyrus-todiwala-interview

TV:

Year Of The Rabbit

REM at the BBC

Catch-22

Film:

The Favourite

Music:

Johnny Marr – Call The Comet

Songhoy Blues – Music In Exile

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.

April 2015 Favourites List

Slowly the true joy of Spring has been revealing itself as we people here in England have enjoyed returning to Spring hours with our clocks going forward, the slow lengthening of days and retreat from the long nights of Winter. Spring flowers are bringing colour and joy to us all. 

As a very big music fan, I find that good music and amazing musicians also bring a ridiculously large amount of happiness into my life. Strange how these inexplicable sound waves can have such a unique emotional response. Perhaps one day we will be able to understand and explain it. 

This month my pictures are of a truly inspiring music hero and guitar legend. I was lucky enough last month to see the iconic songwriter, guitarist and super-producer Nile Rodgers play one of my most favourite London venues; Camden's Roundhouse. As Nile said himself; I guarantee you will know some of my songs. And what songs he has worked on! From the most magical songs of Sister Sledge (We Are Family, Thinking Of You, Lost In Music) to David Bowie (the Let's Dance album with its dalliance into funk), Madonna's Like A Virgin LP and the immortal sound of Chic (Everybody Dance, Le Freak, I Want Your Love, Good Times). There was a particularly touching moment as he told the story of his diagnosis and treatment for aggressive prostate cancer and his eventual declaration of being clear. Every phone (because we aren't allowed to use lighters now) was lit up for a poignant version of the mega hit he co-wrote and performed with Daft Punk and Farrell; Get Lucky. 

It is reputed that Nile's "Hitmaker" Stratocaster (a 1960 model with a 1959 neck) has been responsible for 100 million record sales... in other words the guitar has generated $2billion and counting. 

Nile Rodgers is a consummate musician, an influential figure and a force to be reckoned with. He has had to deal with the passing of his musical partner in Chic, Bernard Edwards as well as his own trials. Nevertheless he has come out of it all with creativity, positivity and joie de vivre. And in this fickle world we live in he has stayed relevant, such is the power of his unique musicianship. 

I hope you enjoy my pictures from his live show with Chic. It was a complete privilege to even be in the same room with such a hero.

Recipes:

Springtime packed lunch ideas for leftover lamb, leftover asparagus pasta, tortilla, crab salad and open sandwiches on rye: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/apr/12/packed-lunch-ideas-recipes-asparagus-wild-garlic-tortilla-lamb-pitta

Loads of you wonderful foodies are macaron mad, I know. But how about a Chai Masala Macaron? Let Angela of Patisserie Makes Perfect show you how... http://www.patisseriemakesperfect.co.uk/masala-chai-macarons-jour-du-macaron-macaron-day/

Speedy vegetarian supper: pappardelle pasta with cavolo nero, orange, chilli and garlic by Diana Henry:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/11522938/Pappardelle-with-cavolo-nero-orange-chilli-and-garlic-recipe.html 

"Monastery style lentil soup": a soup fit for an austere monk... until you whack in dry sherry. (Vegetarian). http://food52.com/blog/12740-a-very-sensible-genius-lentil-soup-until-the-sherry

Kavey's Black Garlic, Mushroom & Cream Penne Pasta with a full bulb of black garlic (ooh!): http://www.kaveyeats.com/2015/04/black-garlic-mushroom-cream-penne-pasta.html

Chicken, leek & prosciutto gratin. Cooking demystified for the nervous cook:  http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/apr/24/how-to-cook-a-chicken-gratin-meal-feasting-henry-dimbleby-jane-baxter

Simple supper dish which is quick to rustle up, a Cinnamon chicken bulgar wheat pilaf: http://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/cinnamon-chicken-bulgar-pilaf/3831.html

Beetroot and Jerusalem Artichoke Boulangere Gratin: http://kelliesfoodtoglow.com/2015/04/01/beetroot-and-jerusalem-artichoke-boulangere-gratin/

Articles/Know How:

How to make dumplings and expand your cooking creativity! http://food52.com/blog/12764-how-to-make-dumplings-without-a-recipe

Getting the best out of vegetables: http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zty2xnb

"Still or sparkling?" Unless it's not safe in the country in question, my answer is always "Tap, please". http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/21/bottled-water-multinational-companies-environment-consumers

What you might have missed at Snig's Kitchen:

My roasted vegetable salad recipe is my attempt at bridging the gap between Winter and Spring. Sustaining and substantial, but without the stodge factor. http://snigskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/roasted-vegetable-salad.html

TV:

Father Ted (Season 2)

Music:

The Charlatans - Modern Nature

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Chasing Yesterday

Tori Amos - From The Choirgirl Hotel

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.