Places To Eat In Canterbury: The Granville, Lower Hardres

No Canterbury, I have not forgotten you! I know every time I've escaped the city recently I've spent my days barbecuing and lazing around the garden (and hitting up old favourites like The Compasses Inn and The Wife of Bath), but the other weekend I finally made it out to try somewhere new: The Granville. We must have driven past this pub just outside the city so many times but never been in, so when I was invited along for lunch I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to treat my Mum for a change.

Weekly Love: Week 202

I met Mary Berry this week. I think that is literally all that is needed to introduce this fortnight's edition of Weekly Love, but because I have obsessive tendencies about the formatting of my posts that I need a good few sentences that stretch almost the width of the post, I'm going to tell you that there are now less than three (!) weeks to go until Student Eats is published, and remind you to pre-order a copy. If you want a bit of a taster before you buy, be sure to follow me on Instagram where I have been sharing some of the recipe photos from the book (you can find these right away at the #studenteatsbook hashtag), and on my stories.

1. Testing a few recipes on the barbecue. | 2. Sunday morning Korean feasting at Bo Drake in Soho - full review coming soon! | 3. My parents new garden is full of hydrangeas at the moment and I'm slightly in love. | 4. I have found some excellent matcha soft serve in Soho by way of Tsujiri, be sure to check them out! | 5. In other soft serve news, Hotel Chocolat is serving up an incredible number from a lot of their stores nationwide (I went to Covent Garden): cocoa nib infused ice cream (which is so unusual, and so amazing) - be sure to get it with a to die for hazelnut drizzle! | 6. Celebrating all of Ebury and BBC Books' cookery authors for their 30 years of publishing cookbooks on Monday night, and Student Eats (which will be published in only 3 weeks time, have you pre-ordered yours yet?) with my amazing literary agent and editor, who really are both the reasons the book happened in the first place.

Recipe: Steak with Pickled Jalapeño Relish

Sometimes there are recipes that change your whole way of making something. In part, Julia Turshen's celebrated book Small Victories has given me two of these: I don't think I'll ever make a different veggie lasagna to her 'A Nice Lasagna' (even though it was the first lasagna I've ever made), and now I'm not sure I'll ever cook myself a steak without making some of her Pickled Jalapeño Relish to go on the side.

Recipe: Barbecue Pesto Prawns with Pea, Feta & Avocado Salad

While the inside of my parents new house needs a lot of work (seriously, as work is needed they've barely unpacked, so we can't find anything and there are entire rooms just full of boxes!), the gardens, so lovingly designed and tended by the last owner are in their prime at the moment, so I've been grabbing as many weekends as I can down in the country, sitting on the patio with a good book, and barbecuing for almost every single meal. So, when the team at Appletiser wanted to team up to throw a barbecue, I thought it made the perfect excuse to throw together something a bit more special (but just as easy as) our usual barbecued steak.

What Writing A Cookbook *Actually* Involves

The most common question I get asked when people find out I've written a book is not about the money I got paid to write Student Eats, or what qualifications I had to write a book: they asked how long the book took to write. So, for the third instalment of my posts about how this book now sitting on my bookshelf (and hopefully on yours this time next month!) came to be, I thought I'd delve into the actual process: what writing a cookbook *actually* involves. If you've missed them, click through for my posts on how I found my literary agent, and how I landed my book deal - make sure you've read those first!

Weekly Love: Week 201

Since we last spoke I've watched all 10 episodes of Sky Atlantic's Riviera. You need to get through the first episode that just sets the scene, but afterwards it is super addictive with a cliffhanger at the end of every episode, and an epic twist at the end. Watch it if you loved the glossy, super rich with a rotten core theme of The Night Manager last summer, and/ or if you have an interest in fine art. Also, if you're looking for a good deal mark your calendar's: the next Amazon Prime day will be on 11th July, where so many things will be on discount, basically a Black Friday for Prime users. From now until Monday you can get ready with a year of Prime membership for only £59, down from £79, which basically connects you with all of Prime's automatic streaming of movies, TV shows (including The Night Manager), music, books, and free next day delivery.

1. Soaking up the sun on the roof of the Palace of Westminster. | 2. Supporting some of my favourite vendors at Borough Market with my weekly shop. | 3. Weekend recipe testing: sea bass ceviche with lime, avocado, coriander, jalapeño and Kentish gooseberries. | 4. Drinking Frosé at Somerset House with the Sainsbury's press team. | 5. Traditional Brittany galettes at MAMIE'S in Covent Garden. | 6. Peonies and sunflowers outside Angel tube station.

Places To Eat In London: Mamie's, Covent Garden

As you can probably tell from my food diaries every time I visit my parents house in Brittany, I'm big on the local speciality: galettes, which are basically savoury pancakes made with buckwheat flour, and filled with all manner of savoury fillings. I usually consume these in Brittany with a few glasses of good French wine, and a crepe drenched in melted local salted butter and sugar. Mamie's in Covent Garden promised me all of these on a disastrously hot evening just down the Strand from my office, without having to sit in a car for six hours in order to reach my parent's French house. Needless to say, I was excited for the meal.

La Gelatiera x Mercante Summer Ice Cream Tasting Menu

So, you know that utterly deadly couple of days where everything was just simply too hot, there was no way to get to sleep at night, and basically if you stepped outside you were in danger of melting? Well, on Monday evening my friend Edward and I found the perfect way to escape it: by heading through Green Park in the direction of Mayfair to try Covent Garden's La Gelatiera collaborative ice cream pop up at Mercante. The concept is simple; a three course meal, put together by the restaurant chef, each dish featuring special editions of La Gelatiera's delicious ice cream and gelato. Just what you need if this weather continues!

5 Items I Travel With That Keep Me Balanced

For the latter half of 2017 (can you believe we're over half way already?) I'm going to be partnering with the guys at Yushoi (a delicious, healthy, pea based, Japanese-inspired snack) to talk about things that keep me balanced. The past few weeks have been pretty mental for me, what with almost losing my job at the polls, and things are set to get all busy again what with my book coming out in around 6 weeks, so I thought the best way to kick of my series of posts with the brand would be to talk about the things I kept around me when I was living out of a suitcase, working far from home, just to maintain a sense of normalcy and balance. 

Places To Eat In London: Bun House, Soho

I have the perfect spot for you in Soho where you can perch on a little table out in the street in the sunshine, enjoy a cooling pot of green tea and some fantastic (and cheap!) food and just relax on a Sunday morning. If you have not already been, Bun House is your new favourite weekend destination. They offer a small selection of things done well: steamed filled bao buns, imaginative sides, and Asian pickles, and if you're drinking tea not beer, two adults can easily fill themselves up for around £20. Oh, and they do takeaway too!

Weekly Love: Week 200

Welcome to the 200th edition (!) of Weekly Love! It seems like every fortnight when I sit down to write one of these something bad has happened, so today I want to focus on something positive, Borough Market (which not only is my local, but will always have a special place in my heart as my first ever paid column as a food writer, and my first print feature) which re-opened on Wednesday. Not only has the council pledged business rate relief for the businesses inside the police barrier zone who were unable to open until this week, I want to draw your attention to the Borough Market Relief Fund where you can donate to help the small traders who may be put at risk by the loss of stock and trading days. Please give what you can! 

1. Counting down, less than 7 weeks now until Student Eats is published! (Pre-order it here!) | 2. Happy to be back in my office taking in my beautiful view of the Palace of Westminster (in spite of all the scaffolding!) | 3. A superb (and super cheap) brunch in the Soho sunshine at Bun House - full review coming soon. | 4. Our favourite Rioja brand Campo Viejo has a fantastic Fiesta of Colour wine terrace in Waterloo Millennium Gardens - it's a sun trap with lots of great things to drink and a wonderful tapas food truck where we hung out after work last night - be sure to check it out, as it is only around until Sunday! | 5. Lazy Sunday Polpo Aperol Spritz. | 6. My new Deliveroo favourite: Arabica at Borough Market.

Cookbook Corner: Soy Rice Cakes from Our Korean Kitchen

As I said in the introduction to my Korean Prawn Rice Bowl with Sesame Pak Choi, the food I cook for myself when I don't have to work on any recipes for brands or the blog is Korean food. And the book that has been the most helpful to me in learning about Korean cooking and flavours, and in helping me re-produce some of my Koreatown favourites at home? The copy of Our Korean Kitchen I was gifted at the Observer Food Monthly Awards last year. So, today I thought I'd talk a bit about the book, and share a super simple, super delicious recipe I would not have even attempted if I had not been given an easy introduction to Korean cooking.

Wake Up To Organic: Bacon & Guacamole Breakfast Sandwiches

I'm back in London, and more importantly back in my kitchen where I've been enjoying over the weekend actually cooking myself some meals. However, today I'm finally back to work after the most mental 6 weeks I've experienced since I last had to fight a General Election, so it is time to go back to delicious, filling (and speedy!) breakfasts so that I don't entirely rely on Parliament cafeteria breakfast wraps for sustenance. My new favourite? Thick slices of organic bacon, stuffed in a crusty white roll with a good dollop of guacamole. And a cup of tea, of course. So much easier to eat than my old go-to of bacon and sliced avocado sandwiches.

My Publishing Journey (How I Actually Got My Book Deal!)

Okay, so in my last post on how my upcoming book, Student Eats, was made we tackled the topic of literary agents: what they do, why you might need one, how to find one and how I found mine. In case you have not read it yet, I'd recommend heading back over there now to check it out before diving into this post (it also has a mini Q&A with my own literary agent on what agents are looking for in a potential author). Today, I want to move past the process of finding my agent onto the next big hurdle I had to face: landing a book deal. 

Places To Eat In London: Casita Andina

My friend Sherin and I love Peruvian food. My partner in crime for reviews of some of our London favourites such as Senor Ceviche and Ceviche, we met up for dinner after work to try out one of London's latest (ish!) Peruvian opening, from the Ceviche and Andina (another love of mine) team: Casita Andina. Peruvian, but with a few world influences (Japanese, Middle Eastern, French) if is just the place for unique sharing plates in Soho, stepping into a different world the moment you enter, transported until it is time to leave again.

Weekly Love: Week 199

So, I'm still down in Somerset working hard so that we can all keep our jobs come polling day on Thursday (do remember to vote!), so it is just a short one today! In other news, both Great British Food Magazine and Good Housekeeping have been kind enough to nominate me for 'Best Food Blog' in their food awards this year, and I'd really appreciate it if you took a few moments out of your day to lend me your vote (because, all I seem to do these days is ask people for their vote!) You can check out the Great British Food Magazine shortlist and vote for me here, and check out the Good Housekeeping awards and cast your vote here. 

1. Beautiful country walks around my parents new house. | 2. First barbecue of the season! | 3. Enjoying the sunshine with a good glass of French rose on the patio. | 4. A perfect (as always) lunch at my favourite pub, The Compasses Inn at Crundale. | 5. Celebrating British Tomato Week with these beauties. | 6. Stunning sunny afternoons in Canterbury.

How I Found My Literary Agent (By Me and My Literary Agent)

Ever since I was about 13 years old, I wanted to write and publish a book. When I was 16 (the year I finished NaNoWriMo for the first time, the challenge where every November you take part you write a 50,000 word novel in 50 days) I read, cover to cover, that years copy of the Writers and Artists Yearbook, which clued me in all I needed to know about publishing my first book. And the biggest thing I realised I needed? I needed a first rate literary agent. So, off the back of my announcement that I'll be publishing my first book in August (!) I thought I'd put together the story of how I found my literary agent, a list of resources I found helpful, and some practical tips from my own literary agent, the wonderful Diana Beaumont at Marjacq. 

Places To Eat In London: The Gladstone Arms, Borough

I've got an absolute gem of a pub for you today, just around the corner from Borough tube station that just so happens to also be one of my locals: the newly re-furbished and re-opened under new ownership (after a battle to save the historic building from development): The Gladstone Arms. It literally has everything you'd want from a local city pub (as opposed to country pubs, where I look for totally different things): good food, delicious small sharing plates, a selection of good, independent, local beers on tap, delicious cocktails, live music in the evenings, and a roof terrace set to open over the next few weeks just in time for summer.

Student Suppers: Easy Bruschetta Salsa with Tortilla Chips

When I lived in Los Angeles, there were a few items I always used to pick up any time I went to Trader Joe's across the street so they were always in my fridge/ kitchen cupboard. I always had a bag of their lightly salted tortilla chips to hand, a tub of their fantastic soured cream which is a bit thicker than the ones we can buy in British supermarkets (and therefore perfect for scooping), and a tub of their freshly made Pico de Gallo Salsa (which I have replicated in Student Eats). This golden trio, sometimes eaten in front of the television (usually episodes of The Good Wife) formed many a last minute meal when I've not needed much. Recently, without that wonderful sour cream, I've been enjoying an Italian/ Mexican mashup: herby, slightly garlicy bruschetta topping, scooped up with blue tortilla chips (which taste the same, but look prettier!)

Weekly Love: Week 198

Happy Friday everyone! I've been enjoying the beautiful sunshine down in Kent these past two weeks after a weekend spent in London, working from home in the garden during the day, then out working on the election in my home patch in the evenings, joining the team for way too many pints and curries once it finally gets too dark to knock on everyones doors (don't be surprised if I turn into a peshwari naan before I return to London!) This sort of thing is what I live for, but the weather has already got my so excited to properly get into my first summer in the city for a while: get ready for lots of outdoor dining posts, trips out to the countryside for picnics and barbecues, and of course the publication of my first book, Student Eats!

1. When your hometown gets a Banksy. | 2. First lunch outside this year: a quickly thrown together Caprese Salad with both fresh and sun-blush tomatoes, served in the garden with lots of crusty bread. | 3. Ridiculously fragrant lilac in practically every garden I came across in Shepton Mallet, Somerset (and most of them here in East Kent, too!) | 4. Plump red strawberries coming into season at Borough Market. | 5. A good caramalised onion scotch egg and chunky chips outside The Morpeth Arms in Pimlico. | 6. Enjoying SPAR's new DOC and DOCG proseccos in the garden *ad*.

Places To Eat In London: Boundary Rooftop, Shoreditch

Summer is on its way, and as it is my first summer in the city for a couple of years, I wanted to kick things off over the last Bank Holiday with a couple of friends at somewhere I went for drinks the last time I was here during the summer months, and have kept on meaning to go back to so I could try the food: The Boundary Rooftop. Situated on top of the Boundary Hotel in Shoreditch (above The Albion Cafe, around to corner from Andina and across the street from Dishoom), aside from great views of the city, this Mediterranean-meets-Southern California space boasts a French menu, and plenty of pitcher cocktails and gin and tonic cups.

Places To Eat In London: The Stable, Whitechapel

I have found my current favourite pizza in London, and it is not where you'd expect to find it: thin, crisp pizza base lovers this one is for you. For the two years of my university degree I completed in London, I lived in Mile End, which I really disliked, which was a short walk from Whitechapel, which I disliked almost as much. However, one of my old university friends and I (who I dragged back to our old stomping ground to find that rumors of gentrification had greatly been exaggerated) have found an utter gem in the form of The Stable, the London outpost of this West Country inspired pizzeria and cider-house which is both utterly unique, and the best reason to hop on the tube (or the 20 bus) to Whitechapel/ Aldgate East.

Recipe: Korean Prawn Rice Bowl with Sesame Pak Choi

I've probably mentioned it before, but most of the food I cook for myself at home when I'm not working on new recipes is Korean food. People think this is a bit unusual (until they find out I lived in Los Angeles, then it totally makes sense), and then unattainable. Yes, learning how to work with Korean flavours can be a bit daunting (toasted sesame oil is the only core ingredient you can easily find in every supermarket), so today I thought I'd share a quick and easy weeknight I've had a couple of times over the past few weeks, that does not involve any specialist ingredients: Korean, pan fried prawns that take only minutes to do, sweet and sticky Jasmine rice, and slightly Japanese, slightly Korean sesame pak choi which is my go-to Asian side vegetable.

Weekly Love: Week 197

Hello from Somerset! Thanks to the General Election, my job has temporarily relocated to Somerset, and I've spend the latter half of this week in England's smallest city, the beautiful little city of Wells. I've already been totally charmed by all of the old buildings (it has the most intact collection of ecclesiastical buildings in Britain, making for a beautiful city centre around the Cathedral), and I'm already plotting a trip back here when I'm not working so I can truly enjoy walking around the moat surrounding the Bishops Palace and check out some of the cute looking cafes people who have found out I'm in Wells have been recommending to me. 

1. Trying out the delicious cocktails at The Gladstone Arms, just around the corner from Borough station. It just re-opened last week, and I'm super excited to try their exciting looking, Borough Market sourced small plates at my new local. | 2. On Wisteria watch walking through Borough. | 3. Exploring Vicars Close in Wells City Centre. Look familiar from god knows how many films? | 4. A Mediterranean inspired spread to celebrate the Bank Holiday at The Boundary Rooftop - full review coming soon! | 5. My first Aperol Spriz of the season at Mercato Metropolitano.  | 6. Visiting the Ebury team at Penguin Random House to talk all things publicity and marketing for Student Eats - don't forget that you can pre-order it here!

Places To Eat In London: Mac & Wild, Liverpool Street

Sometimes it feels like I have reviewed so many brunches that a restaurant really has to do something special to make it stand out. When Rosie and I were invited to Mac & Wild's City outpost the other weekend to try their new 'Wild Brunch', we just expected the usual London brunch-fayre, perhaps with a Scottish twist by way of some of the ingredients down to it being a Scottish restaurant. We did not, however, expect to find what I'm happy to call one of the best bacon sandwiches in London, alongside some rather excellent examples of those more standard brunch items: bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Mary's, fluffy pancakes and perfectly executed avocado toast. Seriously, go for the bacon, and make it a meal with everything else.

Places To Eat In London: Firezza, Soho

Pizza is the answer to most problems, so naturally 48 hours after life got turned upside down by the announcement of another General Election (am I going to have to go to a part of the country I've never been to before to campaign? Will I still have a job after June 8th?), all I wanted was pizza. Thankfully last Wednesday I was booked in to attend the launch of Firezza's first central London location on Dean Street, where they're serving up 1/2 metre, social pizzas designed for sharing, antipasto, and some delicious cannoli.

Cocktail Hour: Grapefruit, Basil and Peppercorn Gin & Tonics

I enjoy two different types of drinks at home. There is the glass of wine from an already open bottle I pour myself after work while I'm trying to throw dinner together, the hastily mixed G&T after a very long day, and whatever Asian beer is on offer in the off-licence around the corner to go with the Chinese food I ordered as I was leaving the office. Or, there is the slightly slower, more leisurely drink I take my time over at the weekends, or on a warm and sunny evening when I've made it home early. This gin and tonic serve is one of those leisurely drinks, inspired my my all time favourite gin to serve with my tonic: Gin Mare.

Weekly Love: Week 196

So, unexpectedly, it's that time again. If you've moved house since the EU Referendum (I think that is the last time we all went to the polls, it is happening so often these days I'm losing count!), or you're not already registered to vote, do so here so you get a chance to vote in the June 8th elections. The deadline is 22nd May. I know if you look at the polls or the news the result sounds like a forgone conclusion, but looking at this surprise election from inside politics, and from my experience working on the past two general elections, it really is not the case. Those of us in politics need to fight for every vote, and you really need to make your vote count. Oh, and be sure to follow me on Instagram if you don't already. I promise to keep the campaign off of my feed, but I'm going to be spending some of it in Somerset, where I've never been and I've been promised is very beautiful, so I'll be sure to post any pretty landscapes/ buildings, and delicious food I encounter!

1. Enjoying the sunshine on a weekend trip to Hoxton. | 2. Lunchtime jaunts to Chinatown for sweet barbecue pork buns and to replenish my kimchee supply. | 3. Saturday brunching at Mac & Wild - full review coming soon! | 4. Sunday mornings at Columbia Road Flower Market. | 5. Enjoying my parents beautiful new garden in Kent. | 6. Bringing the smell of spring into my bedroom with hyacinths for the top of my bookcase.

What Does Your Favourite Tea Say About You?

Today is a day that is rather special to most Brits (including those of us like me who are strictly into fruit and herbal): National Tea Day. I know it is a bit of a stereotype that every British person loves a good cup of tea, but things have been a bit of a roller-coaster over the past month, and I know at some of the most stressful moments, we've all automatically offered to go and make a brew, and it has made us feel so much better. So, as the guys at English Tea Shop have sent me a selection of their teas to mark the occasion, I thought I'd reflect on some of my favourite teas, and what our love of tea says about us as a tea drinking nation! 

How To Spend A Sunny Sunday In Hoxton

Now I've settled back into life in London, I think it is time to change things up a little bit here on the blog to reflect my life now. I've been thinking a lot about this, and while I'm still going to posting the usual easy recipes and restaurant reviews, I think it makes more sense for things to go back to being more like my diary of things I get up to again. I've finally settled into working a 9 to 5 (well, 9 to 6 if I'm lucky most weeks!), so weekend plans have become a bigger thing for me. I make sure I have fun things planned with friends, and not just meals out, but little adventures to the part of town I love, or that I simply have not explored before. So, to kick things off I wanted to share my suggestion for how to spend a lazy, sunny weekend in Hoxton, where my friend Sophie and I enjoyed a wonderful Sunday lunch at Beagle after a trip to Columbia Road Flower Market, followed by a wander around one of East London's hidden treasures, Geffrye Museum of the Home.

A Sustainable Spring Supper with The Mindful Kitchen

Just how I can't really do yoga because I simply don't have the temperament for it (I tried it for a whole term and I just could not get past thinking how stupid it was or other things I would be better of doing - I'm actually quite jealous of people who can enjoy yoga and get something out of it), several people looked at me askance when I said I was going to an evening about food and 'mindfulness'. Having any interest whatsoever in anything associated with the 'mindfulness' movement is so contrary to my personality, I'm surprised I even accepted the invitation to join The Mindful Kitchen for an Easter dinner last week. But do you know what? I came away from that dinner feeling truly happy and calm, but still intellectually stimulated for the first time in a long time.

Student Suppers: Baked Eggs with Chickpeas, Tomatoes & Basil

Because there are a stupid amount of cookbooks on my wish list, a few months ago I started taking cookbooks I wanted out of the library so I could flip through them and perhaps try a few dishes before I committed to a purchase. This was short lived as the cookbook selection was not all that in Sandwich (my local library in Kent), but moving to London, it turns out the branch of Southwark library I pass every day on the way to work has a frankly amazing collection. My most recent cookbook love from the library that I've actually really enjoyed cooking from the past few weeks? Jamie Oliver's Everyday Super Food.

Weekly Love: Week 195

Remind me if I ever suggest I may want to move house that I never, ever want to do it again? I never want to pack, unpack or shift another box ever again! I've been lucky that I've managed to go 24 years without every doing it, but on the other side of the coin, that is 24 years worth of stuff to get through! While it has been overwhelming at times, it has been fun to find old photographs, newspaper cuttings and toys that were forgotten until I opened up their cupboards. I think I had honestly even forgotten that I used to draw and paint before I took up photography, until I started sorting out different grades of pencil, soft and oil pastels from charcoal, gouache from oil paints. We have such beautiful gardens full of flowers at the new house, I think once we're sorted, I should try picking up a paintbrush again to try to capture the world around me in a way that requires a bit more investment than choosing and framing a shot, then simply pressing a button. 

1. Tulips are blooming in our new garden in Kent and in St. James' Park. | 2. Delicious lunchtime Poke bowls from Island Poke. | 3. Meeting the new neighbours at the new house. | 4. Beautiful, ornamental magnolia in full bloom. | 5. Post-work prosecco, lemonade, mint and peach liquor spritzers at Borough Market. | 6. Emptying out the freezer for the big move with a Full English.

Places To Eat In London: Island Poké, Soho

While sit down restaurants and street food are all well and good, at lunchtime when you're hunting for something yummy, filling and nutritious to take back to the office, to enjoy on the train home, or for an impromptu lunch hour picnic in the park (when we have a few warmer days!) may I please introduce you to the humble Hawaiian poké bowl? Brown or sushi rice, cubes of plump, rich raw salmon or ahi tuna, plenty of fruit, veggies and crunchy bits, and a zingy dressing. What is there not to like to cure your mid-day slump?

8 Podcasts I Like To Listen To In The Kitchen

Podcasting is having a 'thing' at the moment. Ever since my first year as a student I've loved to listen to podcasts in the kitchen, or while I'm doing chores like laundry or cleaning said kitchen, it is only recently that my list of podcasts I like to listen to has grown substantially: there was a time when the only things I had in my queue were episodes of my all time favourite (the now sadly defunct and removed from iTunes) Joy The Baker Podcast. So, as some of my favourites I've found through recommendations rather than a random browse of the 'New And Noteworthy' section, I thought I'd share 8 of my favourites that I'm binging on at the moment!

Recipe: Skinny Buttermilk Ranch & Crispy Bacon Wedge Salads

Thankfully, we've got warm weather again(ish!) From some of my colleagues I know that in true British style people are already starting to break out the barbecue, so I wanted to share an All-American inspired side that is equally as enjoyable with a steak done in a griddle pan/ a rack of ribs done in the oven, versus the same finished on the barbecue. It's a salad that will suit everyone, a big hunk of juicy green, topped with a (skinny) homemade version of that favourite creamy American ranch dressing, crispy bacon bits and fresh chives.

Places To Eat In London: The Chiltern Firehouse, Marylebone

After waking up, taking a lovely hot shower and watching the morning news in a fuzzy bathrobe at The Marylebone Hotel, we wrapped up and miraculously managed to dodge the rain and escape the London grey to snuggle up at The Chiltern Firehouse for my birthday breakfast. I'd heard some mixed things - I really wanted to go, and as it is a bit pricy it needed to be saved for a special occasion, and while I know a lot of people who love it there, when others heard I was going to celebrate my birthday, they urged me to cancel my reservation (which had to be made far in advance) and to book a table somewhere else. I'm really glad we didn't.

Weekly Love: Week 194

I meant to ask you all to go and vote for me as Best Food Blogger in the Great British Food Awards, but from all the messages I've had, I know everyone wants me to talk about Wednesday. I work in the Houses of Parliament, and as everyone who follows me on Instagram will know, I have a beautiful view of New Palace Yard and the Palace of Westminster out of my office window. While I've had so many questions about what I saw, what I want to talk about is the police, from the security guards who wish me good morning as I clear security every day, to the officer I was joking with in the Yard a few hours before, to the amazing team who led us out of Parliament and took our witness statements late into the night. The police and security services sacrifice so much to keep us all safe, and on Wednesday PC Keith Palmer died protecting the rest of us on the Parliamentary Estate. That is something I'm not going to forget for the rest of my life.

1. Beautiful blooms on Bermondsey Street. | 2. Taking our interns up onto the roof of Parliament on a sunny day for the best view of Big Ben in the city. | 3. Brunching at Village East in Bermondsey. | 4. Sunday lunch with my parents at The Roebuck in Borough. | 5. Team bottle of wine after work on the House of Commons terrace. | 6. Words to live by at Islington tube station.

Places To Stay In London: The Marylebone Hotel

My cousin held her wedding reception at The Wallace Collection at the weekend, and at the time we RSVP'd I did not know that I'd be living in London, so on Sunday night I got to enjoy a little stay-cation with my family at The Marylebone Hotel. We'd been looking for somewhere with a bit of luxury (but not too expensive!) within walking distance of the gallery and some next-morning breakfast options, and while we were Googling around I remembered that one of my favourite places to eat in the area, 108 Brasserie, was actually part of a hotel. 

Recipe: No-Knead Rosemary & Black Olive Bread

As one of the most popular recipe posts here, month on month is this No-Knead Anywhere Mug Bread, today I thought I'd bring you a loaf that is just as easy without the need to knead, but is a bit fancier than your everyday, and will be perfect going into the warmer months to serve alongside things like my Mediterranean Roast Chicken to mop up the juices (if you're after a more precise, up to date version of that chicken traybake, there is one in Student Eats): my No-knead Rosemary & Black Olive Bread.

Places To Eat In London: Village East, Bermondsey

One of my favourite things about being back in London is that I'm back to brunching most weekends. While I have a massive list of places I want to try all over town, I'm trying to be intentional about getting to know my local area a bit better. As a result, I've pushed everywhere in London Bridge, Borough, Bermondsey and Southwark to the top of my list. Village East (from the same people who brought us The Riding House Cafe) on Bermondsey Street has been on my list for a while, se we decided to book ourselves in for brunch on Sunday. Also, how lovely is Bermondsey Street? It's like South East London's answer to Abbot Kinney Boulevard.

Cookbook Corner: Warm Roasted Butternut Squash & Rocket Salad with Whipped Feta + FODMAP Friendly Kitchen

I don't believe in following a restrictive diet if you don't have to. I find people who insist on being gluten free without any medical basis whatsoever exasperating, and while I respect someones right to make their own choices on ethical grounds, my first thought recently when a close friend admitted that their boyfriend was a vegan, my first thought was how on earth am I supposed to feed this person and still keep everyone else happy at the same time? So, when the publishers behind Emma Hatcher's (from She Can't Eat What?!) new book The FODMAP Friendly Kitchen got in touch offering me a review copy, usually my first thought would be no. However, up until recently I actually lived with and cooked for someone who is supposed to follow a low FODMAP diet (my mother), and I was curious if the book would find us some delicious for the whole family.

How I'm Learning It's Okay Not To Be Perfect

Sometimes when brands come to me with sponsored post ideas I have to go through that agonising 'it's not a very good fit, but look at the money they want to pay me' before I have to turn it down. However, when the guys at Higgidy got in touch asking me if I wanted to write a post about how perfect has it's place when it comes to food, but sometimes things are better if they're a bit rustic (or in their words, 'higgidy' to help promote the super pretty new packaging on all of their pies, quiches and sausage rolls over British Pie Week, I though it would be a great opportunity to share a bit more of a personal post, because letting myself know it is okay not to be perfect all of the time is something I struggle with pretty much on an everyday basis.

Weekly Love: Week 193

So, I'm back in London. In a very crazy quick, stressful, emotional, but very exciting turnaround I was offered a new job in Westminster in the middle of February, signed on a lovely place to live that week, and I've just finished my second week at work and living back in London for the first time since I was a student. I'm living in a great foodie area, so I can't wait to get stuck in! For those of you who love my Kent content, don't worry! I'm still a country bumpkin and I'm still passionate about highlighting local food, and I have a massive list of places I want to feature in East Kent (so many new Canterbury openings I'm behind on!) 

1. My new view from my new office window in the Houses of Parliament. | 2. Sunday brunching at Mildred's in King's Cross. | 3. New season daffodils piled up outside the greengrocers on Deal High Street. | 4. Doughnuts for breakfast from Bread Ahead at Borough Market. | 5. Beautifully bright blooms in the rain. | 6. Runny middle Scotch Eggs from Scotch Tails, also in Borough Market.

Places To Eat In London: German Gymnasium, King's Cross

I've got a really great London brunch spot for you today that serves up killer White Peach and Elderflower Bellinis, and is literally slap bang between King's Cross and St. Pancras stations (so convenient for out-of-towners like me): German Gymnasium. I've tried and reviewed so many different brunch places by now, something for me always needs to make a place stand out, even if everything else is on point. But sometimes, it is places like these where you just want a guarantee that you'll be able to find everything you're after on a Sunday morning to relax with friends that make for a really great weekend. This is one of these 'you can get everything comforting and familiar, but it will still never disappoint' places. 

Student Suppers: Honey Spiced Chicken with Indian-style Veggies

Would you believe me if I told you that this plate of gently spiced, honey chicken, sour and slightly crunchy Indian-style veggies and brown rice only takes 30-35 minutes to make? It's been a busy week, so I thought I'd add something else to your weeknight repertoire that is quick, easy, delicious, colourful and healthy. I know they all sound like meaningless recipe buzzwords, but who really cares when you've stayed late at work, your tube was delayed on the way home and there are literally no leftovers in the fridge for an instant meal.

Student Suppers: Roasted Tomato & Mushroom Pesto Rice

As you may have noticed, I like to talk. If you've met me in person, or even if you sit and read the rambles I dot in between recipes and photographs, I find it hard to fit all I want to say into small spaces. While the planning, testing and photography aspects of writing my upcoming book, Student Eats, were a challenge, one thing I had totally expected was the issue faced by fitting the whole story behind a recipe into the small paragraph space in the recipe notes. So, as I have the luxury of endless space here where - editorially - I'm only answerable to myself (and my current partnership with my pesto brand of choice: Sacla'), I want to tell you the story of how I discovered that pesto, mixed into cooked rice is the best student food ever.

Weekly Love: Week 192

I've got a pair of great foodie long reads for you today, so save these for the weekend, make yourself a cup of tea and pull up one of these to really sink your teeth into. The Guardian looks at who killed the British curry house. Not only does this piece explore why these great institutions are closing up all over the country, but also gives a wonderful history of curry and Indian food in Britain. Popping across the pond, Highline at the Huffington Post writes about school lunches in Huntington, West Virginia: the town where Jamie Oliver filmed Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Not only does it pick apart in great detail why he basically failed to revolutionise school lunches there, but it also gives a potted political history of why, and why school lunches in America are probably even more of a contentious issue in America than they are over here. 

1. Rainbow tulips outside Clapham South tube station. | 2. Egg Pots and Skinny Bunny Smoothies at The Skinny Kitchen in Canterbury. | 3. Brilliantly sunny afternoon walks through our local village to the postbox. | 4. Looking good, London. | 5. Valentines flowers from Bloom & Wild: use the code RACHELBLOOMS at the checkout for 15% off your order! | 6. My favourite duck confit sandwiches from French Quarter at Borough Market (they're right by the entrance as if you were coming from Southbank!)

Places To Eat In Kent: The Wife of Bath, Wye

While usually when I'm writing about restaurants outside of London and Los Angeles I usually stick to my Canterbury sandbox (and there are so many exciting new openings, from Kyoto to Happy Samurai (which I still don't believe I have not been to, and with The Naughty Egg coming soon), but sometimes there is something worth making the drive for. The Wife of Bath in Wye (near Ashford) is the latest venture from Mark Sargent, our friendly local Michelin starred chef (also found at Plum + Spilt Milk in London's King's Cross, Rocksalt on Folkestone Harbour and my favourite local food pub, The Duke William in Ickham), and it serves up some pretty wonderful Spanish style dishes: something wonderfully different for a Kentish fine dining restaurant.

High Welfare Meat Deliveries from the Gourmet Meat Club

When it comes to areas where I like to save on my food (supermarket own brand tinned tomatoes, bags of onions) I shop around for the best deal, but there are certain things, like my meat where I always feel better when I know what I'm buying, and I'm therefore happier to spend a bit more to find the very best. When the Gourmet Meat Club contacted me a couple of months ago to try one of their meat delivery boxes, I jumped at the chance to try a convenient way to get great meat (good local butchers are thin on the ground in my bit of Kent). What I did not expect was to find them such good value for the quality of what you're getting, too.