As you turn into Crawford Street, a waft of scented shisha smoke greets you gently. I love that smell, because you know that, pretty much, there will always be very good food indeed nearby. I have a bit* of a love affair with scents and tastes of Middle Eastern food. Cyprus was invaded by everyone, …
Tag: proper
Dizi: Persian Lamb Stew, a variation
Since watching Nigel Slater’s Middle East, my poor brain's been utterly full of the foods cooked during the three episodes of that lovely programme. (Only 3. I WANT MORE!)To be honest, I think my grey matter has jumbled everything up rather, so the ingredients I bought last weekend became a dish 'inspired by' rather than …
From Mamushka to Kaukasis
The cookbook world can be a hectic one. It seems that every week there’s a New! Shiny! thing exploding on to our shelves and Kindles, each chef or cook with something to say about their own food, stuffed chock full of ridiculously pretty photos and sparkles.Many of these books also make the food seem almost …
Fenugreek Fried Chicken
There is a lady called Nisha Katona who has fast become one of my heroes. Not just as a food hero, but as a hero in general. Her food is stunning, and her attitude to business, people and life…well, it’s safe to say that I admire her greatly. She posted something on Instagram recently that …
Comfort Soup: Quick Fasolada
I have a feeling that cheap and cheerful comfort foods are going to be big on the menu for a while. It was so cold today, I couldn’t shake it from my bones, no matter how I wrapped up, and so some sort of soup was on my mind when I got in from work. …
Rock, Rolls and Hollywood
I’ve always had a difficult relationship with bread. Don’t get me wrong, I love eating it, but the baking of it was always a bit of a mystery, and a challenge. With regards to eating it, I like it rather too much for my own good, to be honest. I’m one of those lucky people …
Strut and Cluck
Last year I raved about Café Murano Covent Garden to anyone who would listen. (It has now become my boss's favourite restaurant.) On our visits we made friends with the flame haired Kelly, who was the Manager. She has the knack of making you feel like you’ve just dropped in for dinner with old …
Albert’s Table: a revisit
They say never go back, but when it comes to excellent restaurants I see no reason not to revisit again and again. Once such place is Albert’s Table, in South Croydon. I was first alerted to them by a Jay Rayner column, so we visited back in September 2011. We’ve been a fair few times …
Mabel’s. Maiden Lane, Covent Garden
I can’t remember now how I heard about Mabel’s. I think it might have been on Facebook, but I am ever so glad I did hear about it. I signed up to their site, and got given a 50% off voucher for my first visit. We booked it up for the 14th of May, there …
Bean cakes. Yes. Beans.
I have bought a lovely book by Tori Haschka. I bought it because I saw photos on her Instagram feed of Raspberry, White Bean and Rose Cake, and Chocolate, Black Bean, and Cherry Cake. I was hooked, there and then.CAKE. WITH BEANS. CAKE MADE OF BEANS.Of course I bought the book!Lowering your carb intake isn’t …
COOKWITCH'S CREATIONS 