Archive For October 2012
This corner of London remains one of the most expensive and sought-after. Cheyne Walk has a mix of stylish houses, and has been the address of choice for the worthy and notable for the past couple of centuries, although it might be best remembered as the home patch of Rolling Stone Mick Jagger. It also…
This is the fourth volume in the Leon series, but it isn’t a traditional restaurant book. The clue is in the name, and then in the recipes. Leon – Family & Friends offers a diverse and eclectic collection of recipes in a book that has that old-fashioned feel of a Christmas Annual. You remember that…
Diana Henry is an accomplished food writer, and Salt Sugar Smoke does justice to her evident skill and passion. It’s a book you will intend to just dip into but you will likely find, as I have done, that it’s a culinary page-turner of inspiration and striking photography. This book is pertinent to the times….
This is an amusing book that offers tiny food. You will likely not have heard of that term, but think bite-sized portions of a whole variety of dishes, including some that you didn’t ever think could be reduced to one or two mouthfuls. Tiny Food Party offers suggestions for tiny food, but the party can…
Potli is a little over a year old and it has already earned a mention in the Michelin Guide so you might be expecting something over-priced and glitzy. But this restaurant is the sort you would want as your local, your regular haunt for truly delicious food and a pleasant evening with friends, and at…
We in the UK can now watch America’s Test Kitchen, hosted by Chris Kimball, on PBS. That’s a non-commercial TV station from the US and they are famed for their quality broadcasting. Yes, they offer programmes that will appeal to American viewers, but so much of that is equally pertinent to us on the right-hand-side…
There are several worthy Indian restaurant groups in London. I shrink from calling them chains as that tends to denote an overly-casual concept and perhaps a tendency towards iffy food. These prestigious Indian restaurant collections have over the past decade elevated our perceptions of Indian food beyond measure. Cinnamon Group is a trio of unique…
Catching a train isn’t like catching a bus. There isn’t going to be another one along in a minute. Stations are filled with folks who have a wait before departure or a wait for an arrival; and there are always local office workers seeking refreshment. Waterloo station in London has both trains and Underground, and…
Maria Elia is attractive, petite and has a smile that seems a permanent fixture. Her warm and relaxed demeanour is indeed a genuine facet of her character, but so is her consummate professionalism and thirst for excellence. She is a successful chef and she just happens to be a woman. I asked Maria Elia about…
One might suppose that Secrets of Indian Gastronomy is a cookbook. Yes, it is. One will assume it is packed with delicious and authentic recipes. Well, it is. One might be drawn to the conclusion that those secrets will be bizarre cooking techniques or the necessity to poach a particular exotic vegetable on a moonlit…