A traditional tagine is a North African dish named after the earthenware pot in which it is cooked. It’s a slow-cooked stew that typically includes a combination of meat, vegetables, dried fruits, and a mix of aromatic spices. I first ate this in Paris when I was a student. The accompanying sauce was the spiciest I had eaten at that point in my life.Since then, I have been to North Africa, with trips to Egypt, Somaliland, Tunisia and Morocco. It was in Morocco where I had my best tagines, which is why this recipe has a Morrocan flavour. We […]
Tag Archives: cuisine
Batu Ferringhi is a beach resort northwest of George Town on Malaysia’s Penang Island. It is known for water sports and seafood restaurants. We ate steamed fish in a seafood restaurant offering a choice of live seafood from its aquariums. After choosing a live fish from a tank, we waited for it to be cooked, knowing that it could not be fresher. After dinner, we visited the night market.This steamed fish dish is commonly known in Malaysia as “Ikan Siakap Tiga Rasa.” “Ikan” means fish, “Siakap” refers to the type of fish (often snapper or sea bass), and “Tiga […]
Beef Bourguignon, also known as Boeuf Bourguignon, is a classic French stew that originated in the Burgundy region of France. It is a hearty and flavorful dish known for its tender pieces of beef slow-cooked in red wine with vegetables and aromatic herbs. The first time I tasted the rich, smoky flavour of this dish in France, I realised that the stews I had eaten in England had been missing something important. This is a perfect winter dish.Beef Bourguignon originated in the Burgundy region of France, which is also known as Bourgogne in French. The dish has its roots […]
Eight months before my son was born, I was working on a project in Colombia. One evening, my local host took me and the team to a Parrillada in the hills overlooking Bogata. The meat was awesome, but the salsas that accompanied the meat were mind-blowing. This is one of those salsas.Here’s a recipe for Hogao, as commonly prepared in the Bogota region of Colombia:
Lagos grilled lobster is a popular Nigerian delicacy that involves grilling or roasting crayfish with a blend of traditional Nigerian spices and herbs. While it is not as common as other Nigerian dishes, it is still a cherished speciality, particularly in the coastal regions where lobster is abundantly available.On both my three-week visits to Lagos in 2008, our host, Jochen Schroeter, took us to a ‘bush’ restaurant somewhere in the outskirts of Lagos. This involved travelling in a convoy, with our two vehicles flanked by two police vehicles carrying policemen armed with AK47s. We were served huge lobster and […]
Tandoori chicken was one of the first Asian foods I tried to make in the early 1980s before I had travelled to India. At the time, using red food colouring was essential to produce something like the tandoori chicken seen in Indian restaurants. Since then, I have seen tasty chunks of chicken cooked on long skewers in tandoor ovens in India and saw no sign of red food colouring. Tandoori chicken is a popular Indian dish known for its vibrant color and rich, smoky flavors. Here’s a traditional tandoori chicken recipe for you: Enjoy your delicious homemade tandoori chicken! Tandoori […]
Taking the train from Bangkok in 1987, my good friend Nitza and I travelled down to Penang, in Malaysia. The journey took us through a verdant landscape dotted with small villages surrounded by paddy fields. One of the most memorable aspects of the journey was the Thai Blue Swimmer crab curry served in the buffet car – spicy, delicious and a million miles away from the ubiquitous stale British Rail cheese sandwich. Cooked in a huge wok in the tiny galley next to the buffet car, this was a symphony of flavours in every bite, with the sweet, spicy, and […]
Penang steamed fish is a delightful dish that is not only healthy but also bursting with flavors. Penang is a state in northwest Malaysia, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is comprised of two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city of George Town is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Known as the “Pearl of the Orient,” Penang is famous for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant culinary scene, and beautiful landscapes.The state is renowned for its diverse and flavorful cuisine, which reflects a fusion of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European influences. Some of […]