Tag Archives: rustic


Tagine


  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 […]

Beef Bourguignon


  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 […]

beef bourguinon

Colombian aji picante


  In South American cuisine, aji is the name for both a variety of chilli peppers and fresh salsa made with these peppers. This Colombian recipe is known as salsa de aji picante, and it features two jalapeno peppers, making it pretty spicy. 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 salas.

Grilled Portuguese sardines


Grilled Portuguese sardines make a classic dish, often celebrated for their simplicity and delicious flavours. Mrs F and I visited Portugal many years ago and found a small market not far from Lisbon. One of the staff was cooking sardines served on fresh, crispy bread. There is something particularly good about eating grilled fresh fish in the open air.

grill portuguese sardines

Kudu in cream sauce


  Having hired a 4-wheel drive vehicle, we were driving around Namibia. One night, we stayed in a remote lodge that only had Kudu meat on the menu. This was a problem as the only meat my five-year-old son would eat was chicken. The greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is found throughout central & northern Namibia and is the second tallest antelope on the African continent. Kudu bulls bear long, spiral horns which reach record lengths of up to 1.8m. Horns grow to their full length at the age of six years.As we had been travelling all day, he needed to eat […]

kudo in cream sauce

Injera


  In 1998, I visited Riyadh to run a project for a bank. The funniest part of the trip was taking our Ethiopian housekeeper to the supermarket to buy supplies. We lost track of her as she wore a burka, and we could not remember what her shoes looked like. We had to hang around the checkout until she found us. Lesson learned: we always noted her shoes on subsequent shopping trips.The most memorable meal was one that she cooked for us, as it included Injera.While I was there, Operation Desert Fox started. It was a major four-day bombing campaign on […]

injera

Goan fish curry


  Goan fish curry is a popular and flavorful dish from the coastal state of Goa in India. It is known for its rich and aromatic blend of spices that create a tantalising curry. My first experience of Goan fish curry was in Oman. I had been working in a location where we usually ate in a fine-dining restaurant located on the compound. At first, I went for rich dishes like Lobster Thermidor, but after a few weeks, I hankered for something else. Then I saw one of the Goan waiters tucking into a curry, which was not on the […]

Reindeer stoganoff


  Reindeer Stroganoff is a dish that puts a unique twist on the classic Beef Stroganoff by using reindeer meat as the primary protein. Reindeer meat is lean and has a slightly gamey flavor, making it an interesting and unconventional choice for this Russian-inspired dish. I first ate Reindeer stroganoff in a hut on the East coast of Svalbard. Outside, the temperature was a bracing -30C℃, but inside, it was a toasty 22℃. Our Italian guide prepared the meal, which he served with rice. It was delicious.It’s essential to cook the reindeer meat thoroughly, but be careful not to overcook […]

reindeer stroganoff

Warming baked butternut squash


  Baked butternut squash with ginger, garlic, and orange juice is a delightful dish that brings together a combination of sweet and savoury flavours. Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for you:This dish is not specific to any one region but draws on flavours that are popular in many culinary traditions. Butternut squash is a versatile ingredient that can be prepared in numerous ways, and the combination of ginger, garlic, and orange juice adds a delicious and unique twist to this dish.I first cooked this when I lived in Rugby