meemalee

Coconut Prawn Curry I stockpile cans like there's no tomorrow . Chopped and plum tomatoes, baked beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, cannellini beans, sweetcorn, pilchards, sardines, corned beef, condensed milk, random meat products which I bought partly because of their amusing names, and even a forlorn tin of Libby's pumpkin, waiting, always waiting, to be turned into pumpkin pie some (Thanksgiving) day. The other tin which stares at me reproachfully is one of coconut milk. "You only ever use me to make ohn-no khao swè ", it says to me. "I am so versatile and exciting. DO SOMETHING WITH ME. LET ME LIVE". So I made up this dish. Coconut Prawn Curry Recipe Serves 4 500g large raw prawns 3 tbsp oil 1 large onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, chopped 1 lemongrass stalk, trimmed of woody bits and finely chopped OR 1 tsp lemongrass paste 1 tbsp Marigold bouillon 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes 1 x 400g tin coconut milk 1 tbsp fish sauce Sm...

Much as I love Iceland when I visit earlier this year, it's responsible for the single most disgusting eating experience I've had in my life. And no, I'm not talking about that sheep's face . I've heard about hákarl , or to give it its proper name, kæstur hákarl (Icelandic for "fermented shark"), as being an unmissable and unique part of Icelandic cuisine, so on my arrival in Reykjavik, I'm determined to track some down. Like svið, hákarl is traditionally served as part of a þorramatur , the Icelandic banquet served at the midwinter festival þorrablót . Luckily for me however, it's available in Icelandic supermarkets throughout the year. In fact I find a packet of rotten shark in a freezer store (Iceland's Iceland) and nearly buy some to take back home, but then realise it might be considered a bit anti-social on the plane. Made from a type of shark which is actually poisonous when fresh due to a high content of uric acid and trimethylamine ox...

" Take one camel hump and mince finely. Add diced shallots, capers, Tabasco and a raw egg and mix thoroughly..." I have a morbid fear of being the first person to arrive anywhere. It's nothing to do with being fashionably late - more to do with awkwardness and not knowing what to say. And so it is that my husband and I find ourselves overshooting Number 1, Somewhere Street*, London as we're 10 minutes early and there's no way in hell I'm walking through that door till it's at least 5 past the hour. As we trot past, I turn and see someone go up the steps, and I hiss to the hubby, "That's Henry" and he replies, "Who?" and I say, "The guy from Leon " and he replies, "Oh, Dimbles - you should have said" (sorry Henry - it's that Harry Hill's fault ). And then I begin to laugh, embarrassed, and my husband says, "He's going to hear you and spot us and think we're mentals. Pretend to be on the phone...

I used to work on Chancery Lane, and whilst there were a few nice places to lunch (I'm looking at you, Vanilla Black and the Chancery ), I never got round to going, as I couldn't get anyone to leave their desks for long enough, and frankly dining solo seemed a bit sad in such elevated surroundings. And evenings seemed unattractive, as by then I felt I'd much rather get away from the office and head further into town. Then I fell into a bad crowd - they called themselves the Clerkenwell Lunchers. Their mission - to seek out nice places to eat in and around the Clerkenwell area and to colonise them one by one, by having a proper, sit-down lunch at each of them. Crazy business. Of course, I was in like a shot. We did the rounds in Clerkenwell, visiting Cellar Gascon , Cafe VN , Tohbang , Tajima Tei, Giant Robot , The Gunmakers, Banh Mi Bay. The only problem was that all these places were a bit of a distance from where I was based, so I risked indigestion and a massive stitch ...

Dear Waitrose, Here is my entry for your Pumpkin Carving Competition . Hope you like it! Lots of love, meemalee xxx ps follow the further adventures of Pumpkin Gregg here .

I went to Chocolate Unwrapped last week. Still debating whether or not to write about it. You see, although most of the wares were a delight, a few of the vendors were less so. This isn't just the case with chocolatiers - there seems to be a strange type of snobbery (or maybe complacency) prevalent in certain producers and restaurants where they think customer service is irrelevant if their goods are renowned for being the best (regardless of whether they actually are or not). This attitude is unwarranted and also rather short-sighted. I couldn't care less if they're selling me rainbows - if people are dismissive, or they act like I should be lucky to taste their food, they can take a running jump - they won't be getting repeat custom from me. And then, there are those who make up for everyone else. Bray's Cottage of North Norfolk is one of them. Now, Bray's Cottage are known in food circles as being one of the best pork pie purveyors in Britain. Their pies h...