Mushroom and English Chorizo Minestrone

A Tribute to Rose Gray ……

Oh! the wind is cutting through my bones today! It’s grey, miserable and very wet. Well I know what you…

Braised Beef Rib Stroganoff, January King Cabbage and Carrot Crush

There is something really warming about eating good old classic recipes. I almost feel  nervous and get sweaty palms when I set myself the task of cooking an old kitchen…

Exquisite Lamb Moussaka

Cooking is my life but it does not necessarily mean that I have to reinvent the wheel every time I get the pots and pans out. As part of my…

Pheasant Ravioli with a Chestnut Sauce and Curly Kale Pesto

It’s amazing the lovely colours that we can still achieve even in the heart of winter. I always used to  imagine and think that winter food was dull, heavy and…

Duck, Onion and Date Pastilla

When it’s cold and miserable outside, my body does not seem to want to co-operate and function as it should. It feels as if I want to go into hibernation,…

Slow Cooked Pheasant Breast with Griddled Leeks and Pickled Mushrooms

A few weeks ago, the two of us took a week out from work with the aim to relax and try and do as little as possible….well that was a…

Pear, Quail, Walnut and Stilton Salad

Well what can I say, Pear, Blue Cheese and Walnuts, the height of food fashion in the 60’s and 70’s. I deliberately pushed myself (or  alternatively tried to antagonise myself) …

Momofuku’s Pork Buns Recreated by The British Larder

I have not been this excited about a book for a very long time! I always try to be enthusiastic and promise myself to read them as soon as they…

Orange and Honey Caramelised Brussels Sprouts

You might have thought that either Christmas has come early this year or I have completely gone crazy. No, no, neither is correct. I thought it’s about time that we…

Pheasant Forestiere with Wilted Wild Watercress

Saturday the 24th October 2009 was marked in my calendar with big red letters. A few of us like minded foodies booked a day’s wild food foraging with Polly from…

Pulled Pork and Pumpkin Pies perfect for Halloween

It was a bright and beautiful autumn day, perfect for a walk and picnic in the forest. I made these delicious pulled pork and pumpkin pies, packed my metal lunch…

Hearty Cavolo Nero, Borlotti Bean and Smoked Bacon Soup

The combination of cabbage, bacon and beans is very familiar to me. I actually hated it when I was younger working in a top London restaurant. The cabbage hearts along…

Guinea Fowl with Cep Butter and Creamed Brussels Sprouts

Roasted guinea fowl, sauteed ceps and creamed Brussels sprouts…..that’s what dreams are made of! We are in the heart of autumn, the trees  have the most glorious colours of burnt…

Creamy Parsnip Soup with Red Leg Partridge Sausage Rolls

The game season is now well under way and so is Autumn. It’s a fantastic time of the year especially the combination of game,the earthy root vegetables and the amazing…

Venison and Butternut Squash Canapes with Fried Quails Eggs

This recipe is another Aldeburgh Food Festival inspired dish and utilises the leftovers from the venison mince that I bought that day. I love the Aldeburgh food festival…

Wild Boar Bacon and Lemon Thyme Popcorn – My Tribute to Partick Swayze

This recipe is a bit of fun and yummy at the same time! The perfect Saturday afternoon recipe when you have  time on your hands, the weather is uninspiring and…

Venison and Smoked Pancetta Meatballs with Curly Kale and Parsnip Mash; Red Onion Gravy

Autumn is well and truly upon us and it’s time to indulge in the hearty and homely dishes that makes this season that little bit more interesting.The Game season has…

One £10 Chicken Three Meals – Part Three

Chicken Noodle Soup

There is something rather magical about chicken noodle soup, a feeling that’s it’s all going to be just fine. Did your mum give you chicken…

One £10 Chicken,Three Meals – Part Two

Chicken and Mushroom Ballotine with Pan Roasted Figs and Crushed Cobnuts

It’s day two of my posh chicken challenge which was to cook three meals for…

One £10 Chicken, Three Meals – Part One

Sunday Roast with Butternut Squash Anna

Doing the weekly shop has become significantly more expensive and  sometimes  I almost feel forced to purchase meat that has been reared…

Sous Vide Belly of Pork with Soy Bean and Udon Stir Fry

Thanks go to James who has kindly reminded me of this sous vide belly of pork dish that I’m always going on about. He called last week in search for…

Classic Beef Wellington

The classic Beef Wellington, what a stunner of a dish! It’s almost like a complete meal as you have the carbohydrate, protein, sauce and vegetable all in one, I think…

Pan-fried Chicken Livers and Cobnuts on Toast

This is what I call a typical wholesome autumn breakfast/brunch dish. Perfect on Sunday morning after nipping out to buy the paper, hopping over the frosty front lawn and in…

Picnic in a Jar, Orzo Pasta and Greek Style Meatball Salad

First of all a big apology to everyone that  received a version of this recipe which had  lots of spelling and grammar mistakes, it was ugly and unforgivable!!. I have…

Finger Licking St.Peters Ruby Red Ale Sticky Pork Ribs

The wonderful sweet aroma of caramelised onions is filling the air. In the oven I have pork ribs cooking at 160°C for two and a half  hours  while I’m making…

A Glut of Beans and a Cold Summers Evening, Comfort Food!

It’s the beginning of August and the weather is not good. It’s been dreary,cloudy and simply cold for the past two or three weeks. I need a proper summer to…

Char-grilled Balsamic Rump Steak with Heirloom Tomato and Bobby Bean Salad

It’s a pretty miserable  rainy day, not much to look forward to considering it’s supposed to be mid-summer.

However I  should look on the bright side,at least my tomatoes and…

Barbecued Pomegranate and Coriander Lamb Kebabs

The summer is good! Good for my garden and good for my soul. I like pottering outside in the garden, plant a few vegetables, herbs, fruits, shrubs and trees. If …

Potted Pigs’ Cheeks with Pea Custard

The inspiration for this dish came from the Great British menu. I liked  both Nigel Haworth’s approach to create a taste of home with a slight twist and the little…

Malay Chicken Curry Kebabs

After such an appalling summer  last year, it took some time for me to realise that we are actually having a brilliant one this year. I grab every opportunity to…

Pea and Slow Cooked Ham Tarts

As you have most probably gathered, we are pea fanatics, especially fresh new season garden peas from our own garden. Here is another pea delight that is delicious and perfect…

Cape Malay Curried Lamb and Apricot Sosaties

It was a joy to make these sosaties,as it evoked the wonderful memories of home  life in South Africa. Sosaties is an essential dish to accompany every braai (barbecue) in…

Rare Roast Lamb and Lebanese Cucumber Delights

I used to live in Fulham for many years and North End Road was my local foodie heaven. The attraction for me was the different cultures and influences.

I moved…

Spiedini Toscana

I could not wait for summer to arrive this year just so that I could dust off the barbecue and make this dish again. Spiedini in Italian means meat on…

Coconut and Coriander Half Roast Chickens

It’s nearly the barbecue season or braai weather, as my family would say.

Cooking the chicken on the bone is the best way for me as the bone helps keep…

Restaurant Sat Bains presents Beef Cheeks, Seaweed, Oyster, Sprouts and Radish

Last year,for my birthday, Ross took me to Nottingham to stay and dine at the Restaurant Sat Bains. We were given one of the beautifully furnished and very…

Crispy Quack Eggs with Radish Mayonnaise

The inspiration for this dish came from Stephen Williams,the chef at the Harwood Arms. We went there last week to take photos of the pub and Stephen served…

Slow Cooked Duck Leg with Sweet Tamarind Pickled Rhubarb

The outdoor rhubarb season is in full swing. The combination of rhubarb with duck is a match made in heaven.

I have made the pickled rhubarb twice ,once with forced…

Slow Cooked Shoulder of Lamb, Greek Style Salad and Warm Lamb Vinaigrette

Shoulder of lamb is level pegging with belly of pork when it comes to my favourite meat rankings. I simply love the flavour of the shoulder when cooked slowly for…

Sweet and Sour Pigs Cheeks

Yum yum is the thought that spring to mind when thinking about these lip smacking delicious little gems. Packed with natural gelatine, and when cooked for a few hours they…

Pot Roast Pork Belly

I love pork and only buy British pork. It does make me angry when I see supermarkets stocking pork from alternative origins. I can’t understand the reasoning behind it as…

Ham and Egg Salad

Eggs, ham and chips is one combo that makes Ross a very happy man. As my digestive system does not appreciate this combination I took the challenge to refine Ross’s…

Coq-Au-Vin with Parsnip Cream

Coq-au-vin is an old classic and one of my favourites. The beauty about this  dish is that it can be cooked in so many ways and  presented in various styles…

The Ultimate Cottage Pie

The inspiration for this dish came from my very first couple of weeks working in contract catering. At first, the change  from restaurants to the contract catering world was fierce…

Gorgonzola and Smoked Bacon Polenta Breakfast Muffins

The warm aroma  of melting cheese mixed with smoky bacon is enough to make anyone salivate. There is something magical about these Gorgonzola and smoked bacon breakfast muffins. The tiny…

The Celebration of the Pigs Cheeks

Ever thought of eating pigs cheeks? If the thought ‘oh no not for me’  enters your mind then I advise you to think again. Once we cooked this dish, Ross’s…

Pork Belly Croquettes with Roasted Corn Cream

Pork Belly is food for the gods in our home.

I use the sous-vide cooking method for this recipe of Pork Belly Croquettes . It does take 12 hours but…

Jerusalem Artichoke and Haricot Bean Soup

This Jerusalem artichoke and haricot bean soup is rich, velvety and highly perfumed. The distinctive perfume of the Jerusalem artichoke is not everyone’s cup of tea but it certainly makes…

Hog Shank and Savoy Cabbage Terrine

Boiling ham is time consuming but nothing beats the taste and flavour of freshly boiled ham. Working in restaurants I have had my fair share of making terrines of all…

Oxtail and Roasted Onion Broth

Oxtail is a classic old British favourite and I found a recipe from 1922 in Mrs Beeton’s  New Edition cookery book. It is one of the forgotten cuts that should …

Pheasant, Aegean Prune, Girolle & Chestnut Pie

The Game season and autumn is in full swing. The joys of walking in the woods on a crisp autumn day, seeing the chestnuts falling from the trees and a…