Month: February 2015

Next week is British Pie Week, celebrating all that is hearty and pastry wrapped in British society. While I don't cover most national food months, weeks or days - there are far too many to sensibly mention - British Pie Week introduces a nice event for Action Against Hunger, the international humanitarian organisation committed to ending child hunger.

Categorically not a reindeer, Blixen is a new European brasserie in Spitalfields. So new, in fact, that it still smelt of paint on the night we went in. The interior has elements of the grand European brasserie, but how such a brasserie might look when seen through Shoreditch shabby chic tinted glasses - obligatory distressed paintwork and vintage crockery. You get the picture.

The asparagus season officially starts in 54 days. In preparation for the start of the season, head chef Tom Fraser from the new Clapton local, Verden, has given Spear's a wonderful recipe for English asparagus with pancetta and crispy duck egg. You can practice with imported spears until the wonderful British crop comes through, or, if you would like to keep things seasonal, I can imagine this would work very well with leeks. Simply boil them whole, slice down the middle when done and sauté them for a few minutes cut side down in some salted butter. Perfect for Saint David's day this Sunday.