spring in winter

Skye Gyngell's Spring at Somerset House.

Cime de rape with chorizo, mandarin and tarragon.

 

 

a tavola

New designs for cooks & lovers of food



"Velvet Peony" print from my Garden Botanic collection

kinfolk friday

Flowers for the table, lunch with friends. 

Homemade ice-cream (caramelised apricot, toasted almond praline) with rosemary peaches and vanilla tuiles

quench

White Peach Soda from the recipe pages of Quitokeeto 

ice-cream

ice-cream for a sunny afternoon

photo from This Is Glamorous

pom-pom

A souvenir from Paris, tender little cakes or "mini-financiers" from artisan baker Eric Kayser

grow your own

A trug of home-grown beans, greens and courgettes.  A gift from my sister, lovingly grown, simply cooked and tasted delicious!

feast

We had a family get together recently, my sister made this plate of kedgeree with home-grown beans and pullet eggs...

and the most delicious home-made plum and almond cake to follow!

bellocq

These painterly photographs from Bellocq Tea Atelier are so evocative and beautiful.

I'm looking forward to experiencing a cup of their hand-crafted blended tea.

souvenir

My sister gave me this delicious souvenir from Lisbon today, a box of Pasteis de Belem.  Soft vanilla-scented custard held by ribbons of crisp pastry with a sachet of powdered sugar. 

I've missed this daily treat since I moved my studio from South London where there is a large Portugese community.  Since then I've been searching for the perfect recipe.  My homemade vanilla custard is passable (brightened with a little lemon zest) but the pastry has to be authentic, whether homemade/good quality puff or even filo it's no match for the real thing!

She also gave me this beautifully wrapped parcel of tinned sardines!

butter

I found a pair of butter pats in my local antique shop today, perfect for making homemade butter. 

Traditionally butter would be churned by hand, water wheel or even using a dog!  I used a recipe from Jamie Oliver to simply over-beat double cream in a mixer until you're left with butter in a pool of buttermilk.  Squeeze any extra moisture from the butter and pat into shape. 

Lovely on sourdough toast with apricot jam.



flavour

I finally purchased a copy of "The Flavour Thesaurus" by Niki Segnit.  It's a little book of inspiration, beautifully written, designed and bound. 

The flavours are divided into themes including "Woodland", "Green and Grassy" or "Bramble and Hedge".  Many of the flavour pairings are classic combinations like fish/anise or ginger/rhubarb, then there are surprising combinations too.  It's a good read and her flavour descriptions are so precise, you can taste them!

 



little plates

A dish of clams, one of many delicious plates at barrafina

There's limited seating and queues wrap around the bar.  The "chipirones", "gambas al ajillo" and "pimientos de padron" are worth the wait.

wrapped

The best gifts are thoughtfully selected and a joy to unwrap.  My mother gave me this souvenir from Paris.  Layers of paper, crisp tissue and beautiful ribbon. Inside, an aromatic packet of earl grey and a glossy tea caddy from Mariage Freres. 

This little package from a kind friend made me smile.  Scattered with ladybirds and " a rose tinted spectacle" from Peyton and Byrne

taste

A midweek pick-me-up.  A glass of tiramisu on a cocoa-dusted plate from Beatrice Peltre at la tartine gourmande.

Her food photography is often styled with colour/pattern.  I love this image for the sense of taste she inspires.  I've scooped spoonfuls of dense tiramisu with bitter-sweet cocoa and left the empty glass!

top drawer spring

"Looking forward to Spring" was the message of my show top drawer, London.     Sailor with a perfumed posy of scented hyacinths and blossom.

Designs for Spring include jewelled birds, pretty florals, Valentine's and new Easter handmade card designs. 

Sugared almonds wrapped in layers of coloured tissue.  A little handmade gift to thank everyone who visited my stand! 

tradition

A sweet slice of Panforte from Corsini with a cup of earl grey tea is my perfect Christmas pick-me-up.

My family traditions include spiced Panforte at Christmas, Pandoro dusted with vanilla-sugar for New Year and dove-shaped Colomba for Easter.  I've enjoyed these cakes as part of the festive celebrations and believed they held a traditional and historical significance.  As discussed on radio 4's Food Programme today, they may simply be a modern marketing dream! 

uptown girl

Sailor prefers rambling woodland walks to city life. Looking for a new adventure, she took a trip to Belgravia today.  A beautiful winter's day, she dressed for warmth in a new handmade coat.

Elizabeth Street is home to the delicious bakery of poilane and many other pretty boutiques.  Sailor made a dash for mungo and maud where she was kindly welcomed with dog biscuits.

Next stop Pimlico Farmers Market in Orange Square where Sailor  discovered delightful scents, tasty treats and the company of new friends!