Make It Your Own: the sexiest (in my opinion) looking craft book in The World!

I am very excited to report that the lovely Anna Alicia's beautiful craft book, Make it Your Own, is on the shelves! 
Anna is the artist behind eco-ethical homeware and jewellery label A Alicia. Her beautiful creations may be found here http://aalicia.bigcartel.com/
In addition to the 25 projects in the book, Anna also offers tips on using eco-ethical and vintage materials. Anna is committed to being an ethical, sustainable producer with minimal environmental impact. Wherever possible the materials used were ethically produced or vintage/re-purposed. 
For those of you who know me, I am generally not interested in making anything I can not eat, but working on this project has genuinely inspired me to contemplate attempting to make something for my home. Anna feels that, "working with limited materials inspires her to make the most of their possibilities." Hopefully you will feel the same.

Publisher: Hardie Grant UK
http://www.hardiegrant.co.uk/books/make-it-your-own/isbn/9781742705996/anna-alicia 

Cauliflower faux-fried rice

You might think I have lost my mind, but this is delicious and I wanted to share it! I actually like cauliflower fried rice better than the real thing. Yes, it's true.

This recipe can easily be adjusted to fit your taste. You can add more vegetables or spices. The recipe below is vegetarian, but please feel free to add chicken, prawns, Chinese sausage, or your preferred protein to make it a complete meal.

Cauliflower faux-fried rice

1 head cauliflower
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup chopped carrots
1 zucchini chopped
1 capsicum chopped 
4 spring onions chopped
1 chilli chopped (optional)
2 cloves garlic minced
1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce, or tamari.
1/2 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp vegetable or coconut oil
2 eggs beaten
Coriander
Sesame seeds

Garnish with coriander, sesame seeds, more chilli -- whatever you like.

Directions:
Rice the cauliflower in the food processor or blender on low until it looks like rice. You will have to do this little bits at a time. If you don't have a food processor or blender, a standard cheese grater works perfectly well too. 
In a large frying pan or wok, sauté the spring onion, garlic, chilli, carrots, zucchini, capsicum until cooked in a the oil. Add the peas. Add the cauliflower. Cook for about 8 minutes. Add the eggs, soy and sesame oil. Garnish with sesame seeds and coriander. Add more soy to taste. Serves 6.

The Pepperpot Club

Introducing Jonathan Phang's cookbook, The Pepperpot Club! 

Filled with stories, photos and recipes from his Family and encompassing food from all six races of the Caribbean, the book was a pleasure to work on. JP told me that his Mum had a theory: If you cook food people love to eat, you will gain all you want from life. Amen. Ps. The Jerk Chicken in amazing and all the recipes in the book were photographed by me! 

For the love of vegetables...

More great publicity for  Matt Wilkinson's cookbook, Mr Wilkinson's Favourite Vegetables, in the March edition of Australian Gourmet Traveller! Always happy to see my photos out and about.  

Milkbar : coffee has its perks for those who have bean so lucky

Coffee plays two main roles in most of our lives. It's either a break from work or a welcomed aide to keep us working. It's our right-hand man/girl. For me, it's also an opportunity to connect, see friends and hug a friendly Barista... And the most huggable of Barista's I know, works his magic at Milkbar. He makes great coffee too. 

Milkbar   3 Bateman Street   Soho   W1D 4AG

How was the coffee? Creamy, nutty, delicious.

Did they have soy? Yes.  

Should you go there? Yes. There is a great breakfast menu, which includes my personal favourite, homemade beans on toast with a generous slab of goats cheese on top. 

Would I go there again? Yes. And I have. 

Milkbar doubles as an art space, featuring works for sale which change with regularity. Oddly, they don't have a bathroom and this is a small space, so seating is also limited.

Along with its sister cafe Flatwhite*, Milkbar is another in an increasing number of Antipodean-run, quality, anti-chain coffee shops. Londoners are now finally seeing coffee as the social glue that those of us from that group of rocky islands in the Southern Pacific have known it to be for years. Coffee brings people together mate/bro. It's true. Milkbar brings people together too. In hugs and in coffee. 

* Flat White, 17 Berwick Street, Soho  W1F 0PT

Mr Wilkinson's Favourite Vegetables by Matt Wilkinson

Finally, it's on the shelves! Mr Wilkinson's Favourite Vegetables by Matt Wilkinson. Art design by Studio Racket, illustrations by Miso, chapter introductions co-written by Brydie Smith and styled by Caroline Velik. This was an incredible collaboration for me and I believe, the result is a beautiful and unique cookbook. A celebration of vegetables that even the most hardcore meat lover will love.  

Coffee@Goswell Road: she's no bastard child

NEWS FLASH! Previously blogged about Coffee@157 has a sister and her name is Coffee@Goswell Road. I'm very pleased to report that she is no bastard child! She's totally legitimate and we were introduced this morning. 

Me? Exhausted after my encounter with the nearby Indian Visa Factory. 

She? Effusive, over flowing with caffeinated goodness and ready to embrace me with genuine affection. 

Coffee@Goswell Road     154 Goswell Road     EC1V 7DT

She mirrors her sister's vibe. They could be twins actually. A selection of slow burning log (and the like) visuals are being projected onto the wall. There's a little kid in the corner trying to make friends with the complimentary bike pump. This place is very cycle friendly. There's even a spot to park your ride inside. Fairtrade coffee is their focus and just like Coffee@157, this feels like a place where I could spend some quality, paper reading/people watching time. 

How was the coffee? OK. Not nearly as good as Coffee@157, but certainly acceptable. 

Did they have soy? Yes. 

Should you go there? Yes. Not specifically for the coffee, but for the fun of it. And my soy flat white was only 2.50 which is a bargain in any currency. 

Would I go there again? Yes. Not specifically for the coffee, but for the fun of it. 

Oh Coffee@Goswell Road. I was having such a lovely time and then you felt compelled to torture me with the long, high-pitched complaining cries of Chris Martin. Before this moment, my answer to the  gorgeous glowing red neon question on the wall which asks "my heart is yours, do you want it?" would have at least given me momentary pause to ponder my answer. But now, after this unpardonable indiscretion, my answer is quick to come and absolute. Not today Coffee@Goswell Road. Not today. But tomorrow? Well tomorrow is luckily another day.