Friday, January 13, 2012
Friday Finds
I really must say that this isn't a bad way to spend a Friday afternoon - Highveld thunderstorm raging outside, Puccini on the iPod, bubs playing at my feet and me blogging...
I know I haven't listed a Friday Find in ages, and while it may seem I've completely forgotten about the series, I wanted to quickly tell you about Ottolenghi.
One of the amazing Christmas prezzies I received at the end of last year was Ottonenghi: The Cookbook from my parents-in-law. For those of you from Jo'burg or familiar with the city, Danielle Postma of Parktown North's Moemas patisserie used to work at Ottolenghi's in London, and you will recognise the frothy meringues the size of tennis balls, famous brownies and unusual salads.
Started by an Israeli duo, Yotam Ottoleghi and Sami Tamimi in London, the restaurant has expanded all over the city to Notting Hill, Islington, Belgravia and Kensington, offering fresh middle eastern flavours and decadent patisserie.
Their recipes are underpinned with the flavours of garlic, lemon, olive oil, fresh mint and coriander, yogurt, tahini and pomegranate. Not so exotic as to be unknown, but exotic enough to give your everyday cooking a special edge.
The recipes are lovely and very simple, using well known techniques but throwing in an unusual ingredient here and there to give it a refreshing twist.
After spending many hours with the book over the Christmas break and during our car trip back home (I even read the meringue recipe out loud to my husband and daughter, but I frankly don't think he was listening, and she fell asleep somewhere in the second paragraph) I am at a loss to which recipe I want to try out first.
I'm definitely going to make the passion fruit jam, pistachio shortbreads, will try my hand at the parsley and olive foccacia when I'm feeling brave (and have a dough hook) and the radish and broad bean salad.
For more, including recipes, visit the Ottolenghi blog, or their newest cookbook, Plenty.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Sounds like a great Friday.
ReplyDelete