There is a French saying that says: Trop de choix tue le choix , or “too much choice kills the choice”. At first glance, this seems rather paradoxical to people who have been brought up in a society where more choice is thought to equal more freedom and therefore be generally better for everyone. Surely nobody wants to return to the Crisp Dark Ages when the only flavours to choose from were ready salted; salt ‘n vinegar; or cheese ‘n onion?! Surely we would pine for our smoky bacon, prawn cocktail, Marmite, sweet chilli, ketchup, roast chicken, Thai green curry, or ham & mustard flavours? According to the Food Marketing Institute, between 1975 and 2008, the number of products in the average supermarket swelled from an average of 8,948 to around 47,000. Tesco stocks 91 different shampoos, 93 varieties of toothpaste, and 115 of household cleaner. Lattes come tall, short, skinny, decaf, flavoured, iced, spiced or frappé. Jeans come flared, bootlegged, skinny, cropped, straight, low-rise, boyfriend, dark-washed or distressed. But is the abundance of choice making us happier? Click here for a full portion
Exploring Grenada’s tree-to-bar cocoa estates
The islands of the Caribbean are a bit like a box of Quality street – everyone is somebody’s favourite, and every one is a little different. Mustique is know for being the playground of the rich, the famous and the royals. Jamaica is known as being the cradle of reggae music. Antigua famously has a […]
Click here for a full portionBeef, broccoli and udon noodle stir fry from “The Japanese Larder” by Luiz Hara
When I was six months old, my parents took a trip to Japan. I was my mom’s first child, but my dad’s fifth – so she was understandably worried about leaving me behind whereas he had learnt that babies are not made of pixie wings and are pretty resilient if left with loving relatives! And so for a few weeks I stayed with […]
Click here for a full portionThe Rosemary – an organic Hungarian restaurant in London
How time flies when you’re having fun, eh? I realised the other day that this May, Cooksister will be celebrating its fifteenth birthday! It’s a pretty significant milestone and seeing as I love a good milestone, I have already started thinking about what I want to do and say to celebrate this pretty momentous occasion. […]
Click here for a full portionThe Foyle Hotel Eatery: dining on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
I had awoken in my cosy hotel bed in Derry to the sound of raindrops pattering on the window. As I sat snuggled in my fluffy robe sipping a hot chocolate and watching grey clouds scud across the sky above the Peace Bridge, I did vaguely wonder if this really was the best day for […]
Click here for a full portion8 Rhubarb recipes you need to try this winter
April is the cruellest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. So wrote one of my favourite poets, T.S. Eliot. But I’m afraid I beg to differ! I think that if you like in the Northern hemisphere, February is the cruellest. December is jam […]
Click here for a full portionSaturday Snapshots #318
Bougainvillea – South Africa, 2014
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