Food + The Huffington Post

 
I keep trying to escape working with food, and yet, somehow, it keeps coming back to me. Ali got hooked up with a blog on the Huffington Post, and amazingly asked me to collaborate with her on the shooting and styling, and even some brain storming. The posts started last week, and will hopefully continue into oblivion. Follow us! 

Seafoam & Yellow.

Seafoam green and bright yellow are two of my favorite colors and last week my food matched my aesthetic taste. Why i decided it was a good idea to buy a Vienetta to eat for dessert is still a mystery, but it really paid off. £1.65 well spent. Last week also marked the discovery of bergamot being delicious in gin and tonic.

London Food Favorites.

I decided it was high time i compile all of my favorite food things once and for all on my website so that i could keep track of it mostly for myself, but also for others if they're interested. If you care to look, it's here. 

A lot.

(Grandpa on the far left, with his brothers and sisters)

A lot has been going on in my life lately, and now it's found me having to go back home to the states for the second time in the past month to attend my grandfather's funeral. He died last week on the 11th day of the 1st month of the year at 11 o'clock. Lots of ones, a number i've always been fond of, and a day i always remember because it's one of my best friend's birthdays and the inverse of my birthday, something we always got a kick out of -- 11/1, 1/11. Whenever i'm home and things are feeling hard i tend to hang around the kitchen more than usual, and nothing has been different this time. In the past 12 hours i've made an olive oil cake, brownies and chocolate chip cookies. But really, the thing i'm most excited about is Marcela Hazan's trusty Bolognese Sauce that is simmering away. Best after having bubbled for at least five hours, it's even more satisfying because it has a few more steps than your typical simple pasta sauce. Tomorrow we will eat it as a family, and there's not much more that could make me happier right now.

David Chang Knows What's Up.

David Chang's Lucky Peach is something i eagerly await each time it comes out. It's a magazine... but written in such a personal way that will have you sucked in and cracking up every few minutes. This spread is simple, but rings so true. Listen to him.

Juice.

Two guys and two crates of clementines made a whole lot of delicious juice.

Lately.

Here's are some things i've seen and done lately. The beginnings of red wine and brown sugar poached quince, a magnificent brunch, and a simple breakfast.

Good Start To The Day.

On the wish list.

Can't wait to browse through this.

Secret Ingredients.

As of late days have been whirlwinds and weeks and months go by in a flash. I can't keep everything straight, let alone, find time to do much for myself (this includes writing on here). London has decided to give winter a rest, the sun has come out to play and everything is in bloom. When night time comes and the day is over i've been finding reading Secret Ingredients calms the mind. I can't believe it's taken me this long to get this New Yorker compilation, but it honestly was worth whatever the wait has been. Whether it's little tidbits written in the 30s about meat gatherings or Bourdain writing about what days are best to eat fish it's been lulling me to sleep in the best way possible. If you have any interest in food, get it. Now. Hurry.

Sometimes...

Sometimes we do inexplicable things. Today i decided i wanted to make plum jam and for some reason had it in my head to just buy a whole box of plums. I'm not sure if i thought that they would reduce down a huge amount, or whether i was just forgetting that that is a whole lot of plums to make jam out of the blue. So now, i have many jars of plum jam, and maybe one of them has your name on it.

Forced Rhubarb.

Tis the season for beautiful Forced Yorkshire Rhubarb. There's something so alluring about eating something that is picked by candlelight so that it maintains it's bright pink hue and a certain sweetness. This also means it's time to break out one of my favorite Canal House recipes, because as far as i'm concerned they can do no wrong. Unfortunately, the recipe isn't on their site, but, almost exactly a year ago one of my favorite foodie bloggers adapted the recipe with white wine. I don't normally do it this way, but tonight it's all i had around. It still came out beautifully, and is amazing on its own, or with a bit of greek yogurt. Yay for rhubarb! I don't see getting tired of this any time soon.

A Week of Consumption.

(Photos via Sascha)

It's been a week of consumption and now it's time for a break. Back to normality and less eating and drinking.

Rochelle Canteen.

Again, i've waited far too long to go to Rochelle Canteen. I decided due to the imminent closing of the restaurant because of the council i had better hurry up and check it out. This morning i went for breakfast and realized it was the perfect place to start my day. It's just the right amount of quiet, the tea, porridge and eggs i split were amazing and you feel tucked in and like you're keeping a bit of a secret once you're inside; entering through the gate you feel as though you're entering another world. It made me hope that all of the letters people have written petitioning to stay open are heard, and this place isn't closed to the public. If you haven't already send a letter asap. I'll be going as many times as possible until a decision is made.

Pomegranate and Chocolate.

Food, food and more food.

This week has been food themed. Seriously, i don't think i've ever so many incredibly rich and delicious meals in one week. Some of them were more absurd than others, some were new places, some were old standbys. Some were sports joints with lots of beer and some were lavish prix fixe meals. It's time for a fast. (Not really though).

How Have I Never Been.

Until last night i'd never been to St. John Bread and Wine before, which to be honest, is ridiculous. It's been waiting there, just around the corner for me to go to for over a year. And let me tell you... i did it up for my first time and feel like i should basically never have to eat again. Hooray for having huge celebratory style meals for no reason. I think you'll understand what i mean when i break down the meal two of us consumed in list form.

+ dry sherry

+ razor clams

+ game terrine with damsons

+ butternut squash soup

+ one bottle of roussillon

+ venison pie for two

+ buttery greens

+ blood orange sorbet with vodka

+ hot chocolate pudding

+ grenache

+ calvados

+ coffee

Supper Club.

A few nights ago there was a supper club at Violet Cakes. I had never been to one and wasn't quite sure what to expect, but was excited because everything about the shop is always so on point. This was no different. The place was transformed, the company was lively and the food was incredible. James Lowe of St. John Bread and Wine fame was the guest chef and served up seven courses that consisted of things like foraged wild pea and runner bean salad and a rib of beef that had been slow cooked for 3 hours. I was completely blown away, and to top it off, there was a wonderful band that played as we drank elderflower champagne and ate dessert. This was a night well spent in the company of the friendliest of strangers.

At times.

Sometimes your days look like one thing, and the next day they're much the opposite.

Bibimbap Mondays!

I finally got around to making this Korean dish called Bibimbap that i've been craving for weeks. It's SUPER complicated, and takes a million and twenty steps, but it's so completely worth it and perfect for spring. The recipe i used was this one, i'd highly recommend it if you have some time on your hands. I adjusted everything a little bit to my liking, but that is the general gist.