The Botanical Kitchen
Recipes, travel and the occasional rant
I am ashamed to say that prior to a couple of weeks ago I had never really thought about the different varieties of UK ‘Early Potatoes’. I’d grouped them all under ‘New Potatoes’ which is to be honest the only variety I tend to see mass marketed in the supermarkets. Jersey Royales in the main. I’ve discovered a […]
I tried my hand at growing broccoli last year. I ordered some seeds and put them in the propagator. Nada. Not even one little sprout. So as I was a little late to the party now, I planted some rather limp looking plants from the garden centre – six to be precise. I watered. I weeded and […]
I first went to Boulogne as a teenager with secondary school. We travelled in a hot and stuffy coach to Dover, then on an ugly ferry into an equally ugly concrete port. I barely spoke enough English back then let alone French but I remember vividly asking an elderly lady for directions, understanding them and then giggling hysterically when […]
There is no doubt that foraged food is on trend again in the UK. I’m seeing wild garlic ideas all over social media and the young nettle crop is proving popular too. But how readily available is it, how easy is it to find if you’re not an expert and is it really worth it? I […]
As you have no doubt guessed by my last post, I am a fan of the warmer climate. I tolerate the cold because it’s a necessary season to get to the spring but holidays to anywhere North of England are few and far between. Never actually until a few weeks ago. I was randomly searching for ‘holidays’ […]
Aspall is one of those brands that you see everywhere and think they must be a huge corporation. The branding is just so slick. They’re at a lot of festivals, they’re in ‘those’ trendy pubs, do cool stuff on social media etc etc. They must have a lot of people behind them making all that […]
I think September really is the best time to visit New York. The first time I ever went that side of the Atlantic was about eighteen years ago and it was in September. What I remember most was walking. I loved the block and grid system. So easy to get around. Street level was fascinating. There […]
My husband tells me that one of his favourite memories of us is in Essaouria, Morocco. The sun is setting and we are sipping cheap rose wine and stuffing ourselves with freshly grilled sardines at the edge of the port. I have sardine juice running down the sides of my mouth and a look of […]
I am a big fan of Seinfeld. It’s a silly US sitcom about the life of Jerry Seinfeld and his friends George, Elaine and Kramer. There is one episode in particular which makes me giggle even at the thought. It’s called ‘The Rye’ and the plot centres around a loaf of marble rye bread which […]
On a recent trip to Amsterdam by car, we stopped off at a service station to fill up and get a spot of lunch. I’d never been to a Dutch service station before and wasn’t expecting anything above and beyond the usual fast food offerings we get here in the UK – especially as the […]
My trip to Morocco was led by food and our base in Ouarzazate afforded us many day trips in search of traditional dishes and ingredients. On learning of my interest in food, our host at Dar Daif, Jean Paul, sent us along the Dades Valley in search of dried rose petals and rosewater. Eastwards along […]
I was rather frightened when my lovely friends suggested a night out at The Grand Central Oyster Bar. I’ve only had oysters twice. Once in a very loud bar whilst very drunk which resulted in me being very, very sick and once in Whitstable Harbour – a much more pleasant experience that I can actually remember. Anyway, it […]