The Botanical Kitchen
Recipes, travel and the occasional rant
I made this cake for the WI tent at the Diamond Jubilee Pageant in Battersea Park on 3rd June 2012. It was part of a 12 ft tower of a 1000 cakes. Lovely to have been a part of these amazing celebrations in this way. It’s an easy sponge recipe and you can adapt the […]
Last week I was invited to lunch at the new Bukhara London Pop Up at the Sheraton Park Tower in London’s very posh area of Knightsbridge. I arrived to a beautiful flower display in the lobby… …and an elephant just outside the entrance as some of the proceeds of the pop up will be donated […]
This drink was created by Erik Lorincz of The American Bar at The Savoy in London and is being served from the hotel’s fountain at their Jubilee Street Party on 3rd June 2012. I just love all the edible flowers in it! You’ll need 30ml Bombay Sapphire 30ml home-made orange & grapefruit sherbet (150g caster sugar, 1 […]
I do love sunny, summer days – if only to sip wonderfully cooling long drinks like this one which uses the new Sipsmith Summer Cup. You’ll need 1 part Sipsmith Summer Cup 3 parts lemonade or prosecco works well too! Sprig of mint A few slices of cucumber and/or some other summery fruits Ice To […]
This is a wonderful, zesty martini – just perfect for a summer evening in the garden. You’ll need 125ml vodka 1 Kandula Earl Grey tea bag Zest and juice of a lime 3 tbsp sugar syrup Ice cubes 4 tbsp sugar Edible flower garnish To make 2 glasses Infuse the vodka with an Earl Grey […]
This pop up was paid for and promoted by Citroen to launch their DS5. All the proceeds went to Fareshare and the amazing menu below was created by the creative Tim Anderson – Masterchef Winner 2011. The 5 course menu cost just £5 per person with proceeds in aid of Fareshare but to be honest […]
Before travelling I do a lot of research. I plan. I make sure that I have read reviews so there is the smallest risk possible of eating somewhere rubbish. I guess it’s because I’ve got little ones with me now who are not so easy to uproot and go somewhere else. So, on a cold […]
This cake is a lovely moist everyday cake. The kind you want to make on a Sunday and keep in the tin for a little slice to cheer you up when you get home. You’ll need 200g self raising flour 1 tsp baking powder 100g ground pistachios 100g caster sugar 2 eggs 250ml plain yoghurt […]
I got a beautiful non stick madeline tray from my babies this year and I’ve been waiting for a really authentically French recipe. I found it in Michael Paul’s Sweet Paris. The addition of cardamom is my little bit of decadence and Indian-ness. I also added brown sugar for a slightly more caramel taste. This […]
The author of this book, Michael Paul, sums up exactly how I feel about Paris – “The more I roamed the streets, the greater my passion for the pastries, chocolates and desserts of Paris became.” I love gawping through the windows of patisseries as much as wandering around the Louvre and this book brings back all […]
I discovered rocket late in life – a few years ago when I was having lunch with a friend I noticed she was eating this green stuff that I had always thought was ‘garnish’. She told me it was Arugula. As you might have guessed she’s American. I’ve also heard it called Ruccola in some […]
I’ve been working in London for the last few months and will be for most of the Summer. There are plenty of downsides to this. First, crowded tubes where politeness is left on the platform. Next, streets covered with meandering tourists which make any walk twice as long as it needs to be. Onwards to […]