I first met Andy Waugh, founder of Scottish restaurant Mac & Wild, a few weeks ago at a work event. I was happily downing the prosecco and he was presenting a haggis masterclass. It was the evening before Burns night, the perfect time to be learning about haggis. While I know intellectually what haggis is,…
Tag: food
Temple of Seitan – Hackney
Towards the end of 2017 I agreed to a two-week vegan challenge with my friend. She had just watched ‘Cowspiracy’ on Netflix and was experiencing the after effects of having a perspective of reality slap her across the face. It was decided, she was going vegan and I was joining her in the quest. Months…
‘Mae’s Ancient Thai Food’ by Carole Mason and Ning Najpinij
The first thing I notice when I open Mae’s Ancient Thai Food is how vibrant it is. It’s exciting, brimming with colour, energy and undeniable joie de vivre. The book begins with a tribute to its inspiration, Gobgaew Najpinij, followed by a minutely detailed introduction to Thai herbs, spices and techniques, including a page devoted…
Fried Green Tomatoes and Po’Boys at Plaquemine Lock
For some time I worked down the road from an abandoned pub called the Prince of Wales. I’d always felt a bit sad for it. There it sat, on the corner in Angel, Islington, across from the Regents canal. It looked dilapidated, deserted and unloved. I had hoped some Good Samaritan would come and give…
Tortilla at Laxeiro Tapas Bar and another life lesson.
Here’s this thing, life isn’t always perfect. Sometimes it’s great, other times it can be stressful, disappointing, underwhelming. I’m going through a bit of a process at the moment. The more I live, get out of my own head and relax into the moment, the more I have a tenable understanding of how lucky I am…
Psyche of an Asparagus
Look at me, I’m green and long I’m not a beet, I am not corn, I’m classy, both raw and fried, there’s nothing wrong with that. Look at me, I’m white and fat I don’t care what you think, Of that. I have a tip, a crunchy end. I’m great with butter, oh, and…
Txotx – Finding my inner om with a green smoothie and mushroom toast.
I realized something at yoga yesterday. I really don’t like to om. I don’t even like listening to other people do it. I think I might associate it in my mind with the time my dad went through his weird Tibetan throat singing phase. Not quite as bizarre as the aliens that lived on the…
The process of cooking a lunch time feast, and what I did next…
Last week I cooked lunch for my office. For 10 people you might think… or even 40? No. I cooked lunch for 140 people. I should probably begin by telling you about the office tradition. I work for an Architecture company where every week, one of the employees has to cook lunch for the entire office. It’s a…
Saturday morning breakfast pizza – With a side of a hangover.
Saturday morning, I eat pizza for breakfast. I could have fried up some eggs like a normal person. But the pizza was calling me. I don’t know why exactly. It just was. I’d say it probably all started the evening before when I got hammered on Veurve Cliquot at the office, followed by a couple of…
The Bach – Banana bread, almond matcha latte and an attempt to get my groove back.
“Excuse me”, I say to the waiter walking past. “Is this Matcha latte made with cows milk?” “It is” he replies, “but that’s cool, we can make one of fresh for you, are you staying in? Sit down. Relax. Take a load off. Do you want soy, almond or oat milk?” “Almond milk please. You…
The fast disappearing sour cherry chocolate cake – and how to make it.
My favourite cake to bake is a sour cherry chocolate cake. It’s my go to cake for all occasions. Dinner parties, birthdays, bereavements. It’s a one (ish) bowl wonder. Chuck it all in, mix it up and Bob’s your uncle. It never disappoints, and is always a winner. Quick, delicious, and fairly idiot proof. I…
Padella – Where if you concentrate really hard, you can taste the sweat of the pasta maker.
A few nights ago I went with a friend to visit Padella. I had been meaning to pay them a visit for a while, but had always been dissuaded by the queue which snaked most nights in an orderly line down the street. Even on a Monday. I’m really not a fan of queues, and…
thatdayigothungry 