News
Food Revolution Day
Today is Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Day; the day for everyone to have a think about food education and sign up to put a plan together so that all kids have compulsory food teaching around the world. Last year more than 9,000 schools got involved with themed lessons and cookery challenges, this year promises to be even bigger. 'Worldwide, there are more than 42 million children under the age of five who are overweight or obese' - sign the petition, sort this out. If you're still not convinced, watch Jamie's all star music video with a slightly cringey Hugh Jackman.
Marks & Spencer own-brand wine triumphs at international awards
The supermarkets are really upping their game in the wine world, having been awarding 33 gold medals at this week's International Wine Challenge. Take a look at this article for a list of the winners, prices starting at just £6.99 from Aldi. M&S have a massive 169 wines that have been awarded a medal so get along to pick up a bottle for the weekend.
SoleShare
You've heard of veg boxes, maybe even caught some chat on meat boxes, but a fish box? This is a newbie on the scene. Soleshare cut out all the middle men and go straight to the British small-scale fishermen to collect a brilliant range of fish to bring you every week (or fortnight). This means that the fish is super fresh (often only hours out of the sea) and seasonal which is double bonus points. You choose how often you want a box, which size you're after, then go and pick it up from one of seven hubs across the capital (only in London at the mo). Recipe suggestions are provided, perfect if you get a fish you're not familiar with. So not only are you supporting British fishermen, you'll also get to try new types of sea creatures and feel very virtuous for eating healthy fish.
National Vegetarian Week
I've rattled on about the virtues of adopting a more vegetable based diet so I won't bore you with that again; instead have a look at this link to National Vegetarian Week which takes places 18-24 May. There are lots of opportunities to get involved as an individual, community group, school or business, plus if you might be able to grab a piece of free pizza if you find yourself in the right place at the right time. Eat more veggies - you'll be healthier and help save the planet! It's a brilliant plan.
Local News
Beer & Cider Festival at Hilltop Farm
Situated just outside Leamington Spa, Hilltop Farm is the home of a lovely farm shop and cafe which will play host to a beer, cider, food and music festival on 5-7 June. The tickets are cheap (£2 or £5 depending on when you buy them) and you can camp on site for only £10 for the weekend. Under 12s go free. The music lineup looks good, particularly the brilliant girly trio The Pips. The farm shop has a great range of local products so it's guaranteed the quality will be high in the food stakes.
Recipes
Palm sugar-griddled chicken with radishes, cucumber and vermicelli rice noodles
The flavour in this dish is IMMENSE. Those capitals are not used lightly, come with me on the culinary journey of the palm sugar chicken. First there's the crunch of the radishes and cucumber paired with the skinny noodles slick with lime juice; then you bite into the tender garlic, coriander and soy marinaded chicken with a slightly caramelised crust; finally, when you think you can't take any more, there's the dressing, oh, the dressing is insane - think hot, punchy, salty, sweet, sour - it's basically a massive rave in your mouth. Diana Henry has done it again, another sublime chicken dish. Try it, try it!
10 easy prosecco cocktails that everyone should master
These are dangerous tipples; the kind of drink you could quite happily sip for a few hours on a sunny Saturday afternoon until you stand up and suddenly realise you're not on a P&O Dover-Calais rough sea crossing but in fact are pissed as a newt. Bring me the Blushing Bellini (that's prosecco, pomegranate juice, crème de cassis AND vodka). Drink responsibly kids.
Linguine with Lemon, Garlic and Thyme Mushrooms
This is a perfect recipe for National Vegetarian Week (or in fact any week) as mushrooms have that meaty texture carnivores crave plus it's super quick to put together. The only cooking is the pasta, feel free to use spaghetti or linguine. Every time I make this dish it always surprises me how simple the ingredients are, yet how much flavour the final dish has - the garlic, oil, cheese, lemon and thyme create a delicious punchy marinade for the mushrooms which then wraps itself beautifully around the lengths of pasta. Good old Nigella. If you're a proper veggie and not just faking it for the week, then you'll want to find an alternative to Parmesan. Many shops now stock great substitutes (Twineham Grange is supposed to be a good pick).
Food for Thought
Artists Cut Raw Food Into 98 Perfect Cubes To Make Perfectionists Hungry
This is very cool; you're looking at 2.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm cubes of raw food which were painstakingly cut out for a food art piece by Dutch artists and filmmakers Lernert and Sander. It makes your eyes go a bit crazy, or maybe that's just me...Fascinating to see the various food stuffs reduced to a cube, so much detail and texture and beauty.
Upon collating this week's newsletter, I realised that it's quite booze heavy. It's obviously been that kind of week. Enjoy the prosecco, wine, beer and cider. Hic.