If anything was going to bring me back to writing, it was going to be a baked peach. Ever since the days of reading Jane Grigson in the greengrocers at my Saturday job, bundled up in knitwear and watching the clock on the wall tick laboriously by, I’ve dreamt of baked peaches. In the summer,Continue reading “Baked peaches”
Category Archives: Recipes
Beef shank with borlotti beans
Ah a recipe! And a distinctly un-springlike one at that. I hope you’ll forgive me. This is something that we cooked during our last couple of weeks in Venice: slow-cooked beef shin with borlotti beans. I don’t think I’ve talked much about our Venetian kitchen, and when I think of it now it doesn’t seemContinue reading “Beef shank with borlotti beans”
Venetian food: a beginning
It’s probably safe to say that Venice beat Walt Disney to the title of “most magical place on earth” by over a thousand years. But like so many things, The Most Serene Republic is a city built on compromise. The first people to settle on these damp heaps of mud didn’t do so out ofContinue reading “Venetian food: a beginning”
The sweets of Venice (frittelle, biscotti and Carnevale)
When I remember my first time au pairing, I think mostly of doughnuts. They were called bombe, and I was obsessed. For two months I ate one every single day. I’d wait impatiently for their delivery to the beach bar, then savour them while they were still warm and oozing sweet creme patisserie. After finding myself strandedContinue reading “The sweets of Venice (frittelle, biscotti and Carnevale)”
Baked branzino
I come to you this evening with possibly the simplest fish recipe in the world. In fact, it’s barely a recipe – more a gentle reminder of something we all know: that lemon, parsley and fresh fish are three things that almost always come together to create something wonderful. And I’m talking about really fresh fish here.Continue reading “Baked branzino”
Sarde in Saor
Sarde in Saor is a hard dish to sell. Made, as it is, of marinated sardines, vinegar, onions and sultanas – all served cold alongside polenta. If there was a marmite of the fish dish world, this would be it. It’s the type of food made for eating in a dark Venetian restaurant, mist risingContinue reading “Sarde in Saor”
Spice-Rubbed Cauliflower Steaks
Hello 2017 – and hello to all of you – sorry I’m horribly late. Everything’s gone by so quickly – Christmas, New Year, delicious food – and I’ve let them slip away because, with time, the thought of recording them all has become more and more tiresome. A job for a long afternoon of nothingness, and howContinue reading “Spice-Rubbed Cauliflower Steaks”
Laurie Colwin’s Bread
I didn’t mean to be gone for so long, promise. As always, must try harder. Anyway, let’s get to business – to the here and now: late November, deep frost, half-broken fairy lights, cup of tea resting on a pile of books, and a half-demolished panettone. That’s current-Alice in a nutshell. Nothing too exciting, butContinue reading “Laurie Colwin’s Bread”
Ravioli di Zucca e Amaretti
A few weeks ago, in our old village church, my twin sister got married. It was wonderful, and I was floating atop a fluffy wedding cloud for days afterwards. Not just because it was such a gloriously happy day, but because it objectively was the best kind of wedding. You know, the sort that sees you chauffeured to the receptionContinue reading “Ravioli di Zucca e Amaretti”
A charmed life
Hello there. Today I come to you from my bath, where I’ve been with Stacey Kent and a glass of wine for the past half hour. It’s all very relaxing. I just thought I’d check in – it’s been a while, after all. Everything’s going well in this little corner of the East Midlands – I’ve gotContinue reading “A charmed life”
To The Table 