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You are here: Home / 2008 / Archives for March 2008

Archives for March 2008

Leek-smoked-haddock-chowder

Leek and smoked haddock chowder

Kale with wholegrain mustard

Sauteed curly kale with wholegrain mustard

Beacon-island

WTSIM deadline extended… and guess where I’ve been

Cooksister-tomato

A multitude of memes

Marmalade bread and butter pudding

Marmalade bread & butter pudding

WTSIM_logo.gif

Waiter, there’s something in my… pulses!

Wining and dining on the Frontline

Quick pork chops with sherried mushrooms

Jeanne-keurbooms-sunset

I’m back – and here’s my scorecard

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Ever been to Palermo, Sicily? One of my favourite Ever been to Palermo, Sicily? One of my favourite things about this fascinating is the abundance of street markets. The alleys around the ancient Mercato della Vucciria are full of textile shops with the most amazing colourful fabrics - so hard to resist buying them all 😍😍😍 What's your favourite? Mine is right at the end... 🌵 

#palermosicily #sicilytourism #visitpalermo #mercatodellavucciria #textiledesigns #fabricdesigns #colourfulfabrics
Throwback to last week at @tasteoflondon where I h Throwback to last week at @tasteoflondon where I had the pleasure of drinking one of my favourite French summer wines:  @caveormarine ‘s Villemarin Picpoul de Pinet, a crisp and refreshing white wine made from 100% Picpoul grapes in the Languedoc-Rousillon AOC of Picpoul de Pinet, on the coast south of Montpellier. Did you know…
🇫🇷 the name Picpoul literally means “lip stinger”, a reference to this wine’s zingy acidity
🇫🇷 Picpoul was originally better known as a grape used to make Vermouth
🇫🇷 The appellation was granted AOC status in 1985
🇫🇷 The appellation is one of a tiny handful in Languedoc-Rousillon only allowed to make white wines
🇫🇷 65% of Picpoul wine is exported and the UK buys 75% of that!

So how does it taste? There is a lot of grapefruit, green apple and pear on the palate, balanced by a hint of salinity and minerality as a result of the vineyards’ proximity to the ocean - a perfect match for oysters and other seafood! Available for £9.99 per bottle at @majesticwine 

I also sampled:
- @maisonmirabeau rosé in an impressively large bottle
- @chef_francescomazzei ‘s amazing truffle & Parmiggiano pasta
- fabulous @remeogelato pistachio gelato
- @primetimelager gluten-free low calorie beer
- smoked nuts and olives from @belazu_co 

But the best part is always meeting up with fab friends old and new -  @eatcookexplore @thelondonfoodie @drgeraldcoakley @mecca.ibrahim and (briefly!) @elizabethwinegirl
When the London temperatures hit 30C, there’s on When the London temperatures hit 30C, there’s only one thing to do: grab a bottle of rosé and enjoy a braai (or barbecue if you are English!)

I am not generally a fan of the bland white Pinot Grigio examples that litter wine lists in London - but a Pinot Grigio rosé is a whole other kettle of… erm… grapes! One of my standby rosé wines for everyday quaffing is the Fiore Rosa Pinot Grigio rosé from the Lombardy region of Northern Italy, Provincia di Pavia, with its pale salmon colour and fruit forward palate of ripe strawberries and cherries. It nevertheless retains a crisp acidity and a pleasantly clean finish, and pairs well with charcuterie, cheese and chicken dishes. But it also worked perfectly with my barbecued pork belly strips, grilled courgettes and salads this weekend. And for around £8 a bottle, not bad value at all - almost worth buying by the case and keeping on hand for unexpected visitors! 

Looking forward to many more bottles over the summer. Cheers! 🍷
I am not an early morning person - but when the re I am not an early morning person - but when the reason for a stupid o’clock start is a private tour of the Chelsea Flower Show & a tasting of South African wine, how could I refuse? 🌸🥂🍷 (see more about our show tour in my previous reel!)

The wine in question was a selection of 8 wines by Franschoek estate @babylonstoren . The farm itself is over 150 years old and lies at the foot of the Simonsberg mountains. It is named after one of the peaks in the range - literally translated as the Tower of Babylon - and was for much of its existence a fruit farm before being purchased by owners Koos Bekker & Karen Roos. In 2007 they commissioned architect Patrice Caravella to lay out an extensive formal garden comprising 15 clusters spanning vegetable areas, stone and pome fruits, nuts, citrus, berries, bees, herbs, ducks and chickens, a prickly pear maze, and more. Every one of the more than 300 varieties of plants in the garden is edible or has medicinal value. They are also grown as organically as possible and in a biologically sustainable manner. The garden was the first RHS accredited garden in Africa. The couple also converted the fruit orchards to vineyards which now cover 150 hectares amd produced their first harvest in 2011.

The Babylonstoren Mourvèdre rosé was enjoying its third year of being the official wine of the RHS and we were fortunate enough to have winemaker @klaasstoffberg and cellar master Charl Coetzee on hand all the way from South Africa to talk us through the range. Here’s what we tried:

🥂SPRANKEL 2017 - 100% Chardonnay Cap Classique sparkling wine with a very fine mousse and notes of brioche, green apples and grapefruit
🥂 Chenin Blanc 2022 - ripe fruit palate of pears, quince & apples with a rounded mouthfeel & very long finish
🥂 2022 Viognier - baked apples and quince but with biscuits notes and  fresh acidity to balance the fruit - rounded mouthfeel and tarte tatin finish
🥂 2022 Chardonnay all matured in oak barrels but made in a restrained Burgundian style with buttery, toasty grapefruit and subtle spice flavours & beautifully integrated oak

[Continued in first comment]
[Ad/Press sample] Love beer? Love peaty Islay whis [Ad/Press sample] Love beer? Love peaty Islay whisky? Then you need to get your hands on this delightful collaboration between @innisandgunn (their original beer is billed as a beer for wine drinkers and is one of my all-time favourites) and @laphroaig (makers of one of my favourite super peaty whiskies). 

Innis & Gunn’s limited edition Islay whisky cask beer is a Scottish red beer which is double matured - first in used Laphroaig whisky casks and then in used port casks. The result is a deeply smoky beer with notes of coffee, dark chocolate, malt and rich toffee, all balanced by a clean and almost saline finish, much like Laphroaig whisky itself.  It comes in a limited edition gift box with beautiful artwork by @scottnaismithartist and is available from the Innis & Gunn website for £6,00 for a 330ml bottle while stocks last (it’s also vegan!). 

I paired it with crostini topped with cream cheese and smoked oysters - the salty, smoky, creamy oysters complemented the flavours of the beer very well. I can also imagine it working well with green olives or smoked almonds. A perfect gift for the beer or whisky lover in your life!

What do you think of combining the flavours of beer and peaty whisky? Let me know in the comments 🍺

#innisandgunn #laphroaig #islaywhisky #beerlove #beerloversofinstagram
This week I made a flying visit to the RHS Chelsea This week I made a flying visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in  London’s leafy Chelsea, courtesy of @babylonstoren and @thenewtinsomerset [INVITED] I was fortunate to have an early morning tour of the beautiful show gardens and by far the most inspiring was the Best in Show winner, Horatio’s Garden, designed by Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg. Horatio’s Garden is an initiative to provide spinal injury patients in NHS hospitals with an accessible garden and private respite rooms within the garden. There are 8 across the UK and the design we saw at the show will be rolled out in Sheffield once the remaining funds needed are raised. Have you visited the Chelsea Flower Show? Let me know in the comments 🌺🌷🪷🪻🌼🌸 #rhschelseaflowershow2023 #rhschelsea #horatiosgarden #horatiosgardenchelsea
Today is the official coronation of King Charles I Today is the official coronation of King Charles III and London is literally awash with red, white and blue flags, bunting and souvenirs. I don’t have bunting… but in celebration I can offer you this plate of red, white and blue deliciousness that is sticky toffee pudding with berries! I had this last weekend at the @bristolbarbrighton - the pudding alone makes the trip from London worthwhile 😍👑🇬🇧 Long live sticky toffee pudding!!
Happy Easter to everyone celebrating! My Easter ch Happy Easter to everyone celebrating! My Easter chocolates are from Ukrainian chocolate producer @roshen_ukraine - gorgeous hazelnut praline-filled dark chocolates, and how beautiful is the packaging? #easter2023 #easterchocolate #easterchocolates #roshen #ukrainiantraditions #roshenchocolate
Great exhibition on at the V&A Museum in London ri Great exhibition on at the V&A Museum in London right now for anybody interested in textiles, fashion or Africa. Such fascinating info about the cultural significance of various traditional African cloths (kente, kuba, bògòlanfini and many more) and a great display of modern African designers from around the continent. It’s on till 16 April so catch it if you can! #africafashion #thingstodoinlondon #londonexhibitions #londontourist #londonbylondoners #kentecloth #kubacloth #bogolanfini #chrisseydou #ladumangxokolo
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Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

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Bowls of broccoli and Stilton soup
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Cauliflower topped steak with melted cheese
Plate of potted smoked salmon with slaw and a glass of champagne
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