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

July 2024 favourites list

Hello again my online friends!

I am back with this month’s list of things I’ve been enjoying. This is the week that British schools finish for the year, and as a result there is a real feeling that Summer has landed. Of course, we Brits will complain when it isn’t sunny, complain when it rains, and complain when it is hot. I am writing this on the opening day of the Paris Olympics where the weather difference couldn’t be more stark; south London has sunshine and blue skies and Paris seems to have another day of rain. My sympathies to all the torch bearers, dancers, performers and Celine Dion (making her first performance in years) for yesterday's washout. The opening ceremony was great to watch on screen, but probably was not fun to execute in the pouring rain!

My photos this month are from a delicious, fun, long, lazy, afternoon lunch at Barrafina, Drury Lane. The first article in this months’ list is from London’s Evening Standard, picking out the best London restaurants with terraces for al fresco dining. I wouldn’t have discovered this particular terrace without it. Bathed in the sunshine, drinking a glass of cold Txakoli, with these delectable tapas to nibble on made me feel like I was in San Sebastian, rather than central London. 

Gambas Rojas

 

I hope you enjoy this month’s collection.

Pan con tomate

 

Food writing

Eating out – London’s best restaurants with outdoor terraces. There are some hidden gems here: https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/restaurants/london-s-best-restaurant-terraces-b1168376.html

Croquetas

Food on film – a selection of evocative and gorgeous food and cooking scenes from cinema, from cakes, to French cooking, marmalade and beyond: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/best-food-scenes-film-cooking-b2310696.html

Travel and food – airports are usually dismal places to eat. This article attempts to select not just adequate but genuinely good airport food (the jamon and cava place in Madrid airport is definitely a solid pick!): https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-airport-meals-according-to-travel-editors

Platter of Jamon Iberico

 

Food and politics – some people say that food isn’t political. Restauranteur and author Asma Khan disagrees, saying who gets to eat and who does not is always political: https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/jul/21/asma-khan-darjeeling-express-food-is-deeply-political-who-eats-and-who-doesnt-interview

Stuffed courgette flower with honey

 

Kavey reviews Ed Smith’s fourth cookbook “Good Eggs”, a book devoted not only to 100 egg recipes, but also cooking techniques, quick hacks, tips on selecting and storage, and improvisation ideas: https://www.kaveyeats.com/good-eggs-by-ed-smith

Cooking at home – which are the cookbooks you should own? Always a contentious subject, but these are some fab (if US-centric) choices: https://www.vogue.com/article/cookbooks-that-everyone-should-own

Faletilla Iberica salad

 

Recipes

I love some cheeky chaat at home every now and then. Here’s a very American spin on the Indian snack tradition: hot dot chaat topping: https://www.eater.com/24175551/chaat-hot-dogs-toppings-recipes-chaat-dog

I love a lychee or passionfruit martini. Here’s something a little more grown up, a Green tea martini: https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/jul/05/cocktail-of-the-week-down-hall-green-tea-martini-recipe

Cod with salsa verde

 

Fiona Maclean of London Unattached shares her recipe for Porchetta, Italian style roast pork: https://www.london-unattached.com/porchetta-recipe/

Recipe for pancetta wrapped cod with fennel risotto: https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/pancetta-wrapped-cod-fennel-risotto-recipe

Tuna tartare

 

What you might have missed at Snig’s Kitchen

Snig’s Statler salad (Vegetarian, but not vegan) – a spin on the classic Waldorf salad in tribute to the Muppet show balcony curmudgeons. https://snigskitchen.blogspot.com/2024/07/snigs-statler-salad.html

Secreto Iberico (pork with peppers)

 

TV and Music

Phil Lynott: Songs for While I'm Away is a fascinating and affectionate look back at the life and music of Phil Lynott, legendary frontman, singer, bass player and songwriter of Thin Lizzy. The documentary seeks to focus on his life rather than his death, and puts his songwriting at the forefront. Exploring the links between the songs and the events of his life gives some illuminating perspective.

On iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0012bsy

Cheeky YouTube link: https://youtu.be/Ej5LJ6W339k

Milhojas - Spanish Millefeuille

 

We Are Ladyparts, Season 2

The all woman all Muslim punk band Ladyparts are BACK! This series, after a mammoth UK tour, the girls have created a fandom and buzz within the music industry. Will they achieve their dream of recording their debut? Will they achieve big label success? Will they play at Glastonbury? As ever, the songs are magic, and most people’s misconceptions about Muslim women are exploded. Watch out for Malala Made Me Do It.

On All4: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/we-are-lady-parts

Santiago Tart

 

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