Dreams of other places

The calendar doesn’t lie: Father’s Day is two weeks today. Don’t panic, loads of time! Will write a few posts for different options for different kinds of dads, and today is about dads who love food from beyond our national borders. Food passports at the ready!

* For Spanish food lovers, then I’ve still not found anything to top a hamper from The Spanish Food Company. The contents sum up the best flavours in a flash, and we discovered a few new ones too. Hampers start at £30, or you could make up your own selection. You could do him olives and nuts to go with a beer, go all out meaty with their cooking chorizo (my personal favourite) and some Ibercio ham, or show that there’s more to Spanish cheese than Manchego with a selection of more unusual things. I don’t think he’d be disappointed whatever you choose.

* If he’s a bit more “Vive La France” then try The Market Quarter. Based at Borough Market, but now available online so you can avoid the crowds, their gift selection starts at just £12. And £12 buys Dad almost a perfect night in, with a bottle of wine and a tin of rilettes.  If I was buying for Dr T, I know he’d be very happy to find the post lady delivering any of their saucisson sec, not to mention some good tapenade. Just needs some sunshine to really bring the taste to life!

* Scandinavian food is having a bit of a moment, so if he’s a trendy kind of food lover (or just spent too long at Ikea) then try something from Totally Swedish, like Dragsters or Salmiakki. No, no idea either but heck, it’s more exciting than socks! There’s also a lot of herring options, if that’s his thing. Moving round the region, you could also try Danish Food Direct, perhaps ordering him in a bottle or two of Viking Blod!

* If Dad likes it hot and flavoursome, then I really like Spices of India for everything you’d need for great Indian food except the meat. I’d also look at some of the interesting kit as well, like a Roti maker or the Tandoori pot. The Chilli Selection should give plenty of heat options but there are also things like Chai Lovers Indian Tea gift. If he’s seriously into curry, then I would just stock up his spices for him, and there is the most amazing selection here. And if he likes to experiment, then check out the Burmese Curry section.

* Heading further East, if he’s fascinated by the food of Japan, then I would try Mount Fuji or the Japan Centre for supplies for snacks, flavourings and great kitchen kit, from useful to kitsch. I mean, what dad would not want a star and heart boiled egg mould? A few boxes of Pocky, a shot or two of Shochu, and he’s all set for an evening in front of some classic Manga!

The world has shrunk so far, not just down to air travel, but so many of these great online food stores bringing the world to your postbox. So if that’s his thing, then make the most of some food exploration, even if sending him to those countries is out of the financial question.

Up next, finding some great British produce for home loving dads!

Photo by malias on Flickr.

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I’ve already written about the fact that I’m not mad keen on Valentine’s Day, and thankfully there aren’t that many cookbooks just about Valentine’s Day food. So I’ve taken five books about passion in food, about the subjects that the authors feel most passionately about.

*Baking with Passion by Dan Lepard and Richard Whittington – baking with love or passion is a marvellous thing, and this is a great book for those who love to bake. All kinds of bread are in here, as well as cakes, pastries, meringues, biscuits, baking out of here will produce great items that whoever you serve them to will surely love! I quite fancy pecan butter cookies and Roquefort and walnut fougasse, blissful!

*Chocolate Passion: Recipes and Inspiration from the Kitchens of “Chocolatier Magazine” by Tish Boyle and Timothy Moriarty – chocolate and Valentine’s Day go together perfectly, and this is a great book for a real chocolate lover. There are choices regardless of what kind of chocolate you prefer, from white to dark. And not just run of the mill recipes, try something like Ganache-Filled Fried Wontons with Ginger Ice Cream and Chocolate Sorbet. That I’d love to try!

* A Passion for Potatoes: Over 150 ways to enjoy potatoes by Paul Gayler – I’m not usually a fan of single subject cookbooks, but I do love potatoes. I think I could definitely enjoy a spud 150 ways, and then some!

* Chili Madness: A Passionate Cookbook by Jane Butel – so many possible cliches, about red hot, spicing things up, hot stuff! There’s recipes for hot stuff, plus some fire quenching salads. And six different kinds of margarita. My kind of book. I also like the fact that there is a section on using up leftovers, always a good idea!

* The Basque Table: Passionate Home Cooking from Spain’s Most Celebrated Cuisine by Teresa Barrenechea – give your tapas a very authentic twist with some of the great recipes in this book. The Basque region has some fantastic cooking, and Spanish food is about more than patas bravas and albondigas, and this book would help anyone to find some great new dishes to add to their tapas repertoire.

So, no fake hearts and flowers, this is about people cooking and writing about food truly from the heart. Which is worth a million times more in my book!

Passion photo by PinkMoose on Flickr.

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January was all about eating up the leftovers, and generally trying to waste an awful lot less food. It’s a theme that’s continued throughout the year as we adopt more frugal measures for economic reasons as well as just being more environmentally sound. Faux pastor has figured large in the year, I highly recommend it as a great standby recipe for using up leftover roast.

Ta dah! The finished faux pastor

I think I missed out on February’s best meal, as Dr T and MGG went to The Field Canteen at Riverford. There were lots of vegetable dishes, but MGG was most impressed by the puddings. One day I’ll get there too, just have to settle for the veg box deliveries and the great recipes that come in the box.

Anyone for seconds?

March was about getting ready for Easter, for which I wasn’t very well prepared on the marzipan front. But I did get a great recipe from Domestic Jules for a Simnel loaf.

In April, we skipped off to sunnier climes, and ate our way round Majorca. Lots of memorable meals, lots of good tapas, and something to show you why you should always keep your chefs busy:

When chefs have too much time on their hands

It was also the month that the bee hive, and the strange outfits arrived.

Beekeeping: it's all glamour

There was some glorious weather in May, and one of the hottest days saw us at the Derbyshire Food Fair. Plenty of good food, both for eating then and there, and lots to bring away for another day.

The spoils we bore triumphantly home!

June. Oh, I remember June. It goes down as the only time in my life that I have been served a starter that looks like an arse. Really.

By July we were heading off to France, and it was the usual couple of weeks of eating and drinking, still discovering new places and new things to eat. We had great breakfasts, and we had an amazing dinner at Sa.Qua.Na in Honfleur, which really was dining at the next level.

The amuse bouches

August was about barbecues, but obviously good ones, as no photographs exist. In September I was in Shanghai and Hong Kong, and discovering the joy of food courts out there.

What you get for HK$35

I might be heading back there in a few weeks time, great dim sum, and very cheap.

In October we had a great day at the East Midlands Food Festival, where it was all about wood fired pizza ovens, and particularly the great pizza from Hot Rocks Artisan Pizza. It disappeared pretty darn quick, hence no photo.

In November we were eating and drinking well, as I had a great hamper from The Spanish Food Company, which I did share with my friends. In return they had to help me out with tasting gin, so we had a comparison for the SW4 Gin I’d been sent. A good night was had by all.

And so to December, which always bring great food. Our Christmas Day was team cooking with BFF to turn out some spectacular beef, pretty decent soup and some great puddings. But most of all it was a chance to share a great dinner with great friends and family. Which for me is really what food is all about. So here’s hoping for lots more of the same in 2011, and the same for you and yours.

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Very hard to believe it’s very nearly the end of the year. Again.

Unbelievable to me, I’ve made 220 posts so far for the year, and featured a whole range of gifts for every kind of occasion, every kind of food lover, every kind of budget, even every kind of age. So, what would I say was really memorable, things that I think would make a food lover very grateful.

Hmm, so many choices…

In January, it would have been a selection of seeds from Seeds of Italy, for something different to have going on in the garden, that would produce tasty eating at some point in the summer.

In February, I was having a continuing love affair with dark, smoky tastes, so would probably give the vote to the Smoked Hamper from London Fine Foods.

In March, I had quite a lot of cookbooks on my mind and if you’re going to have a cookbook obsession you probably need something great to hold back the tide! I really, really loved the cook book ends, and would still happily give these space around the house.

April saw the sun thinking about coming out, and therefore the thoughts of BBQ were starting. And I really liked the idea of the Cobb Barbecue System, which seems to be taking portable BBQs to the next level.

In May, I made it out into the sunshine to the Derbyshire Food Fair. And my prize would go to the Chilli Jam Man for May, for great products and absolute, sheer enthusiasm.

June has Armed Forces Day, so I would most definitely pick Caley’s Heroes Chocolate Bars, sold in aid of Help for Heroes.

In July, I was obsessed with trendy shopping trollies. I blame the French.

In August, I thought I might have found the perfect shopper for a foodie. So much so that I now have one.

September, back to school, and things, sadly, begin to gear up for the festive season. That said, my favourite gifts were an advance view of some of the Christmas gifts that would be on offer from Tea Palace.

October is all about the harvest, and all about the preserving, and I would say Jam Jar Shop are one of my finds of the year. Perfect for home preservers, I would say it was also a good gift hunting ground for a foodie with a bent for jam making.

In November I was in full on Christmas mode, and travelling a lot, so there were a stash of quick picks. And from that I would pick the Naughty but Nice teatowel. Apparently nice teatowels are the homewares equivalent of the lipstick index in a recession, and sales are on the rise. But I’d also be very, very tempted to pick any of the hampers from The Spanish Food Company, as I thought they got top marks for both taste and presentation.

By December, I was asking the question everyone wants the answer to: what does Oprah want? From her list, and in spite of being slightly gimmicky, I would go for the Edge Lasagne or Brownie Pan. Because you can’t beat a bit of extra crispiness around the edges!

If I had to pick one? Really, just one? If you really, really made me pick out of these, then I would go for the hampers from The Spanish Food Company, just knowing the enjoyment it brought to so many of my friends, who were blown away by the fantastic tastes. Great value for money for the quality of products, from passionate importers and small producers. And it looks like an amazing gift when it gets delivered too. Trust me, food lovers will not strike you off their Christmas card if you send them one of these!

Looking forward to seeing what 2011 has in store!

Great calendar shot by Alaivani on Flickr.

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Apologies to those who were reading my posts last year, as I did write something similar after the horror of finding the Kids Treat frozen food hamper, but hopefully a year on, a whole heap of other interesting options have materialised to write about.

The hampers I love are those that enable you to send someone something a bit different, or something they’d usually eat but a bit more unusual or premium than their usual. Here’s my choices for this year:

* I’ve already written about how wonderful the hamper was I received from The Spanish Food Company, but definitely worth a second mention, and having a look at. I certainly thought for £30 that it was a really good selection of things, and the quality is fantastic. We’re very sad to have come to the end of the chorizo, which is kind of the reaction that you’re going to want from any gift you send.

* Moving slightly further North and Bien Manger are a great source for French gourmet treats. Their little box of treats is more tin than hamper, but for just under £22 gives a French food lover some tasty morsels to tempt their tastebuds over the festive season. The fig chutney will be a fantastic accompaniment to the duck foie gras, and then there’s a ballotine of capon with saffron, that could be a whole Christmas meal in one! Which you can finish off with chocolate truffles or salted butter caramels.

* Lets not forget the brilliance of our own food producers, and BritishFineFoods.comis a great place to find beautiful produce. For something that brings together some great British additions to any pantry, then try their Christmas basket. Smoked salmon from Inverawe, some blue Wensleydale, and some great duck liver pate, and you could be snowed in on Christmas Day and not go hungry.

* Not so much a hamper, as a chest, but packed with organic goodies to keep the organic food lover happy. Some good stuff from Duchy Organics like Lemon Curd and Blackcurrant Preserve, as well as some coffee and pate to keep you going. If you want, and have the budget, then you also have the option to add wine or champagne to this. Currently this will set you back £65, without the wine, from Fine Food Store.

* For something packed with sunshine flavours, then try Maroque for flavours of Morocco. The Little Yellow Cookbook Ingredients Collection gives you the key spices and ingredients for the dishes in the cookbook (which can be downloaded for free). All the key flavours are there: rose and orange water, tahina, paprika, saffron…like sunshine in a box. Could brighten up Boxing Day leftovers, that’s for sure!

* Somewhere not necessarily renowned for its sunshine, but does produce some fantastic produce is Wales.  And I’m not just talking about Dr T. I would suggest for homesick expats then you might want to send them the Luxury Welsh Hamper from Gourmet Gifts. Everything from Welsh tea to laverbread, plus more tasty fare like oatcakes and Penderyn whisky. Sadly though, there is a glaring oversight, at least as far as Dr T would be concerned, as it is rather lacking in Clark’s pies and pints of Dark.

* Whisk are like the contemporary version of a hamper company, with some great choices. I wouldn’t object to finding my stocking stuffed with their Foodie Stocking Filler, which contains tasty treats such as spiced winter chutney, marmalade and a baby Christmas cake amongst other things. You could tuck into all of this before you even got out of bed on Christmas morning.

So I think it’s time to stop thinking of hampers as something a bit naff and old fashioned, and instead see them as a whole heap of fantastic foodie gift ideas all conveniently wrapped up in one box. Well, you’ve heard of bulk buying!

Festive food inspiration by Dano on Flickr.

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Feeling very lucky,  as the lovely people at The Spanish Food Company sent me the most amazing hamper to try. And what a hamper of fabulousness it was!

If you haven’t come across them before, they are specialist importers of great Spanish food, with great provenance from artisanal producers. They know all the producers, and have certainly selected some incredible ones.

We’ve been enjoying an Iberico, or Pata Negra, ham which is from the woodlands of Extremadura in the west of Spain. Made from truly free ranging animals that live happily on wild grasses, flowers and, of course, acorns. I have to say the words melt in the mouth were made for this, and it was definitely worth the money for a special treat.

I like chorizo, but I love the chorizo that came in this hamper. It puts all other ones I’ve ever tasted into the dark, and from the tasting notes this could be because it is cured over oak smoke. According to the tasting notes, this is made by Jesus.

Sorry, no, it says it’s made by Jesús in a little village in northern León. Great from the fridge sliced onto your tapas selection, or chopped up and added to all kinds of cooking.

Heading further south, and a beautiful goat’s cheese from Los Cameros. Naturally cured, crumbly and perfect for those not sure about goat’s cheese. A hint of grassiness as you’d expect but then smooth and ever so slightly nutty. It was also the perfect partner to the piquillo peppers they also included, and a bit more unusual than Manchego.

If you think all that slicing might be too much like hard work, then make sure to order the almonds, as these will keep you going whilst you get chopping! Perfect with a cold beer, a cold glass of rose, a glass of red, coffee, tea…well, put it this way, they haven’t lasted long around here!

The hampers start at £30, and I would say the presentation is as tasteful as the produce is tasty. If you don’t think you could bear to give any of this away, then you can shop by individual product as well. Worth checking out the honey, the olive oil and the whole leg of ham. If you have £400 to spare! But what a way to spend it! I’d also be tempted to add a copy of “Everything But the Squeal: A Year of Pigging Out in Northern Spain” to understand the devotion of that area of Spain to fabulous pork products. It’s also a cracking good read!

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Pan fried salmon with cumin

A not very Mallorcan dish to start, and not a very Mallorcan place to eat. In fact, my foodie heart sank slightly at the sight of the Scottish brunch on the menu. But La Font del Gall in Pollença is about good food, not just catering to Scots abroad. The Scottish brunch was followed on the menu by a salmon brunch, and a very decent menu of the day. A little off the main drag, but worth finding on Calle Montesion.

Hake served with taste and a view

Sometimes, simple is best, and this is the fresh hake and chips at Balada del Agua del Mar in Port de Pollença. Sit outside, under the fig tree, enjoy the view and some good simple cooking. The plate of Mallorcan cheeses with crudites made a great starter too.

Table with a view

Of course, you don’t go on holiday somewhere like this for rain, but on Easter Sunday I was grateful for it. If it had been dry, we might have got out and walked round Porto Christo to find lunch. Which means we’d have missed a great lunch in Porto Colom. We chose the place that was busiest, filled with Mallorcan families (18 at one table, with about 4 generations) and were richly rewarded:

Dates wrapped in bacon. Bliss

Peppers stuffed with tuna

Squid, simple

Not only did we get a great lunch, but the rain went away and the sun came out. An Easter miracle indeed.

You  may find yourself praying for miracles and deliverance if you take the mountain roads up to Soller (or cheat and pay the toll to go through the tunnel). Worth it though, as Soller is beautiful, and the train journey down to Palma and back is atmospheric and memorable. It’s worth seeking out the bakers further away from the station, which is not as fancy but equally not as pricey. Both will provide you with good picnic goods though, with empanadas and different kinds or pies and pastries.

Perfect picnic for a train ride through the orange groves

Pies, Mallorcan style

Marzipan mountains and chocolate goodies

Of course, it wouldn’t be right to be somewhere like this without tapas. We had a chaotic tapas lunch at a place in Palma, that involved ordering twice, getting the bill for someone else’s table, no drinks arriving for ages…but pretty tasty fare being delivered.

Tapas, eventually

But like many memorable meals, it can be as much about the company you keep as the food you eat. We had a great tapas lunch, overlooking the sea in Port de Pollença with a family we had a met. It’s not often you sit down with a Falkland Islander and a recreational lobster pot man, a former air hostess and family, but we did and 18 different dishes arrived, most of which swiftly disappeared. Along with the wine.

Tapas by the sea

So, this wasn’t lunch at Son Brull’s restaurant, but it was memorable, tasty and fabulous. We weren’t ensconced in luxury at Reads Hotel, but if you’re travelling with kids under about 12, or are keen cyclists, then the Pollentia Club Resort is a great base. Although I think their chefs might need more to do…

When chefs have too much time on their hands

Needless to say, didn’t eat the cheese off the buffet next day!

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Everything but the squeal!

As you may know by now, we’re away for Easter and no, my housesitters don’t extend their duties to blog sitting! One of my favourite pre-holiday preparations is choosing my holiday reading. I always try to have at least one book based in the country or culture I’m visiting, as it adds something in my view if you’re reading it in situ. And, of course, I like it to have a fairly strong food content. So here are a few of my favourites, or hopefully soon to be favourites!

1. Everything But the Squeal – this is my choice for this trip, although it’s a bit of a cheat as we’ll be in Majorca and it’s based in Northern Spain. In fact, I should have had this for our honeymoon, which was all over Northern Spain and did involve a lot of pig derived eating. A very under-rated part of Spain, but this book promises to bring it to life, from both a cultural and a food perspective.

2. Eat My Globe: One Man’s Search for the Best Food in the World – if, by any remote chance, your destination doesn’t have a suitable book written about it, then I would add Simon Majumdar’s book to your suitcase. By the end, you may come to the same conclusion, that Simon has eaten stuff so you never have to. Honestly, I don’t need to eat dog. But do share his admiration for Mrs King’s pork pies. A great read, highly recommend it.

3. Hokkaido Highway Blues – I’ve been really lucky to have several trips to Tokyo with my work, and this has come with me each time. Whilst it’s based in places I haven’t got to, the culture it describes is familiar, and alien in the way that Japan gets you. Although this is a bit of a road book, being Japan eating also figures high up on the agenda. Not to mention drinking!

4. Confessions of a French Baker: Breadmaking Secrets, Tips and Recipes – not the obvious book by Peter Mayle, but I really love this little tome. Great stories, and great recipes, it really gives you a sense of the work behind your morning croissant or batard. It’s fluffy and not a difficult read, but really enjoyable.

5. Adventures on the High Teas: In Search of Middle England – if you’re having a staycation, then Stuart Maconie’s book is a great one to have along for the ride. There are so many laugh out loud moments, and I hadn’t really appreciated from listening to him on the radio that he was a bit of a foodie. Everywhere he visits is measured by its tea rooms and local delicacies. If you’re staying in the North, then buy Pies and Prejudice. Or just go mad and buy both.

So, I’m hoping to have made my way through number 1 some time very soon, and will be working up to some new ones for France and Cyprus later in the year. Although nothing could possibly possess me to reread The Olive Farm, or anything that followed it.

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Beetroot Relish from Jamie Oliver

You’ve been making a list, checking it twice, you’ve worked out what’s naughty and what’s nice. And now you’re having a sudden panic as you’ve counted up the presents and you’ve forgotten someone! If it’s a foodie gift you’ve forgotten, then never fear! Here’s some last minute suggestions you can still order in, so no need to brave the High Street just yet.

1. Jamie Oliver has some great stuff, without his face on it, that I think makes a great standby foodie present. There are good preserves and oils and, lets face it, you’re going to trust these more than some awful flavoured collection from the corner shop. A duo of beetroot relish and red onion pickle, wrapped in a funky teatowel, or a mixing bowl, would make a brilliant gift. Or I suppose I should have said a pukka present. Order by Thursday this week to guarantee pre Christmas delivery, and benefit from free delivery. Perfect!

2. Treat them to a different foodie day. All of the major experience companies offer very interesting days, and most still seem to be guaranteeing pre Christmas delivery. From Virgin, you could buy the Cupcake & Cocktails Experience, or learn some new dishes at the Novelli academy or spend a day cooking fish with Keith Burke. Not quite doing it for your foodie? Try Red Letter Days or Buy A Gift or check out the fantastic courses for real artisanal food at The School of Artisan Food, from patisserie through to wild yeast baking.

3. Heal’s have some great foodie gifts, and you’ve got through till midnight this Sunday to order from them. Truly a

Love it or loathe it, it's a great gift

present of love if you hate the stuff, but if your foodie loves the stuff, then they have a great Marmite gift. I’ve featured the pate gifts before, and you’ve got a choice of game, meat or fish, so something for everyone. There’s some cool stuff in their barware section, like the Beer Cooler Zinc Tub, ideal for the beer and party loving foodie. Looking forward to warmer days ahead, then I like the Metrokane Wine to Go Neoprene Carrier, perfect for picnics.

4. For the serious foodie with expensive tastes, then London Fine Foods is perfect hunting ground for great gifts. They have everything from Beluga Caviar to White Truffles, milk fed Pyrenne’s lamb and fabulous Jamon Iberico de Bellota. There are gift boxes on offer or, if the choice is too much, gift vouchers! The provenance and quality will make any foodie’s Christmas morning!

5. For your pick of great foodie presents, it’s also still not too late to order from Natoora. For most of the UK, orders can go through up until 22nd December, some parts of London are the 23rd. There are beautiful boxes of macaroons (watch this space, I say 2010 will be the year of the macaroon) and panettone, and if the choice is too much there are some great hampers already put together. Check out the Pure Indulgence and Great British Christmas versions.

That should keep the foodies very happy with their presents come Christmas morning, and should keep you happy by shopping from the comfort of your own chair!

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If you spot a quince, grab it!

I had moments of pure envy this week! Thomasina Miers was tweeting that she was experimenting with quince, poaching them with vanilla pods, and then making them into a custard. Which all sounded delicious, but there’s been no sniff of a quince around here yet!

And I have such a hankering to try to make quince cheese, that Spanish delicacy known as membrillo, as there’s a piece of Manchego just winged its way into the fridge direct from Best Foodie Friend’s recent trip to Spain. I’ve never tried making it before, but have tucked into it quite a few times (a particularly good example served up at Iberico in Nottingham, always worth a lunch stop).

If I spot some, then I am buying as many as I can afford as soon as I see them. And I’m inspired by the quince jelly recipe over on The Cottage Smallholder. If you want something different, then have a try of some of the quince recipes over on Historic Food, or just read them as it’s fascinating!

Supply of quinces seems to be a bit hit and miss though, so the only way to really be guaranteed a crop each season is either adopt someone with a tree, or grow one yourself. Trees Online have a number of varieties on offer and not knowing anything else about them I would start with a Champion Quince Tree. Although may just find it has a high opinion of itself!

This option would mean a very long wait for Membrillo though, so I am tempted to order some from Bellota at Food Full Stop. If it’s for someone else, you could go the full hog (no pun intended) and order their gourmet selection which includes a whole host of other goodies such as Jamón de Trevélez, Salchichon Ibérico and Chorizo Ibérico, as well as the membrillo.

Quince photo by erix! on Flickr.

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