“I love reading recipes. To me they tell stories of happy evenings, perfect length fairytales to read at bedtime before my eyes droop.” – Joanna Weinberg
It’s not always easy to write about food, but food writer and Red magazine columnist Joanna Weinberg has a knack for it. Her How To Feed Your Friends With Relish is a joy to read – if Nigel Slater’s food writing is beautiful and poetic, Joanna’s is cosy, comforting and evocative. The flavours and colours almost drench the pages and she makes simple sound delicious.
Her writing’s sprinkled with “bites” full of food flashbulb inspiration…a quick gazpacho finished with a dash of vodka, mint on tomato salad (a change from basil)…or her South African granny’s quick choc-mint ice cream, just mix cracked mint chocolate into slightly melted vanilla ice cream and refreeze.
So what’s inside “Relish”? Beef Stew with Chilli, Chocolate and Giant Garlic Croutons, a Fennel Tarte Tatin with Goat’s Cheese and Thyme, Deconstructed Cheesecake and lots of “dippy” Greek and Middle Eastern mezze ideas and so much more – in fact Nigel Slater called the book “inspirational.”
So with the sun back in a blue almost autumn sky, and the BBQ still up for a few more grills, here are some of Joanna’s ideas from her column in Red Magazine www.redonline.co.uk - a few somethings for the weekend:
Garlic and Blue Cheese Mayo Dip – pound a small clove of garlic with a pinch of salt until smooth, mix into good mayonnaise along with crumbly blue cheese if you like.
Height-of-the-Season Ice Cream – Blend berries with good quality bought fresh custard, freeze in a tub, stirring occasionally to break up the crystals, and serve in waffle cones.
Vicar’s Shandy – Mix one part pale sherry with three parts of lemonade, then add lots of fresh mint and ice.
HOW TO FEED YOUR FRIENDS WITH RELISH by Joanna Weinberg
