An Edible Voyage

July 2021 Cycling along the stunning, if hilly(!), coastal road from Ballycastle to Giant's Causeway, distracted by the arc of white sand against the sparkling turquoise sea that is White Park Bay, I almost didn't spot Bothy.  But something about the cosiness of the word must have registered with my brain so I stopped to investigate.  From the name, I was expecting small and eclectic.  Bothy is surprisingly large, although definitely has the eclectic factor, with a conservatory as well as a covered outdoors, complete with wood fired pizza oven. Taking inspiration from mountain bothies, they aim to recreate the comfort of "a roof over our heads; a shelter from the weather; a place to rest, eat and warm up; a haven". They want people to be able to " wander in, settle back and unwind. Curl up and read a book, or just enjoy the solitude". I found it a little busy for that - it's definitely a very popular pit stop. They roast their own coffee (bags of bea...

July 2021 With all this hot weather, I find myself craving the fresh, bright, juiciness of the season's best produce, and light, refreshing meals to keep me cool of the hottest of days.  I relish opportunities to browse the farm shop, selecting whatever takes my fancy, and then combining ingredients in to colourful patterns on my plate.  Here are some of my favourites. Chicory, Dolcelatte, Clementine, Pine Nuts This is my #1.  Bitter chicory is perfectly offset with creamy Dolcelatte and sweet clementine, whilst toasted pine nuts add a satisfying crunch.  With a simple dressing of olive oil, white wine vinegar and honey, this is quick to make and the flavours dance on my taste buds. Watermelon, Feta, Mint There's nothing quite like slicing through a watermelon and revealing that glorious red flesh, and biting in to cool wedges as the juice drips down your chin.  This salad takes seconds to prepare.  Toss a handful of cubed feta and a sprinkling of torn mint...

June 2021 When a friend told me that her latest favourite dish involved mashed up fish fingers, I was unconvinced to say the least!  Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of fish fingers.  But broken and scattered through a warm, Asian inspired salad didn't sound quite right to me! Bhorta is a Bangladeshi dish of mashed fish or vegetables and herbs, with mustard, chilli, onion and garlic, and this is Nigella's take on it.  It's fabulous. Quick, light and comforting, offering a myriad of flavours.  I switched the pickled onions for pickled carrot which worked equally well and added a delightful crunch. Find the original recipe here   Fish Finger Bhorta | Nigella's Recipes | Nigella Lawson

June 2020 Hidden away in a beautiful, quiet Oxfordshire village of a handful of thatched cottages set around a green, a cafe unexpectedly nestles.  Quince and Clover, originally an Events Catering company, planned to open a cafe this spring and, incredibly, have managed to make it happen despite the lockdown situation.   They make all of their own ever changing flavours of ice cream and sorbet - the pink grapefruit sorbet is so refreshing (and tastes almost guilt free!).  The coconut ice cream has a delicious sweet, yet nutty flavour which holds all the way until the end of the scoop.  They also make their own ice cream milkshakes, super thick and served in big, American style cups. Cakes are moist and not overly sweet - the coffee, chocolate and date cake is an inspired combination, and their weekly changing salads, tarts, soup and special are so colourful and fresh it's a near impossible decision to choose.  Highlights have been the courgette...

September 2019 To stock me up for my journey home, I wanted to find some good, solid Ukranian cuisine.  Puzata Hata was just the place - a cheerful canteen with a wide selection of Ukraine's most iconic dishes, decent quality, and big portions for a small price tag.   The potato vareniki were surprisingly flavourful for what it is effectively a potato dumpling, although, as expected, they were rather mono-textured.  The dill crepe cake was a bit like a salad in cake form.  The crepes gave it an interesting texture but it had a surprisingly overpowering flavour and the liberal mayonnaise made it rather rich. Find these, alongside many other Ukrainian specialities, at Puzata Hata.  There are many branches across the Ukraine, including several in Kiev.

February 2020 The name of this place caught my eye when I was reading the village newsletter. A yurt? At a garden centre? In Oxfordshire?! Would it turn out to be just a small wigwam serving typical garden centre fare? I had to find out! I walked through the garden centre to the outdoor area, preparing to have to hunt for it, when there, before my eyes, was a bonafide yurt!  Inside, it is beautifully decorated, a wonderful blend between warm and cosy, with a log fire and soft furnishings, to bright and airy, with a jungle of plants and a skylight.  I was in awe - this was a seriously cool find, and if the array of exciting cakes using local fruits and herbs was anything to go by, this was going to be a tasty lunch.   The menu was a complete mix, from homemade soup, to homemade beetroot gnocchi.  I went for the Mushroom Arancini Spring Salad.  I always love the thought of arancini but often find them a little bland.  These were a little dis...

And when you’re in need of some vegetables (a rare find in Argentina!)… Head to Viva La Pepa in El Calafate.    Specialising in crepes and with a great ethos behind them of wanting to create a place for people to be able to take a pause, they have every sweet and savoury crepe filling imaginable, from those stuffed with lamb, to aubergine and spinach, to trout with leek in lemon sauce, to stewed apples with calafate icecream.    And when I say stuffed, I mean stuffed.    Like their length of the table sandwiches on home-made bread, they are filled to bursting which was perfect when I was in need of a vegetable hit after weeks of meat.    With its flower filled garden, chirpy music and colourful wooden chairs, it makes you feel happy when you walk in, and just a couple of metres from the main street, it’s a tranquil haven from the hustle and bustle.    The staff are genuinely friendly, every table receives complimentary carrot stic...