An ode to play – A painting by Pieter Bruegel
Recently I have been doing a lot of reading about mindfulness and what brings out spontaneous creativity in the individual – fascinating stuff and it has all been very helpful to me. One piece I read was by journalist and psychologist Otje van de Lelij in Flow magazine, where...
A return to your childhood is good for the soul
I recently read an article which said that returning to a favourite poem, story or game from our childhood, can help relieve stress and worry. To that end I have decided to share with you my favourite poem from my childhood and the first one I learnt to recite...
The Siege – Arturo Perez-Reverte
Sometime ago I provided a review of The Flanders Panel by Arturo Perez-Reverte. This time I bring you a review of another of his wonderful books, The Siege, which again comes with a five star rating. The Siege is based in Cadiz in 1811. Cadiz is under siege by...
A perfect flourless dense tart cake with caramelised slices of lime
If you are looking for a perfect cake/tart for a special occasion then I strongly suggest you try this delicacy from Phoebe Wood which was featured in Issue 32 of Feast Magazine, June 2014. It does take 2½ hours to prepare and approx 1 hour to cool, but it...
A wonderful Greek chicken dish to share – Kotopoulo Tiganito
I love this chicken dish – it is so Mediterranean and brings back wonderful memories of days spent in Greece, where one meal seems to slowly move into the next almost without notice. There are two keys to this dish: one is the marinade combination, and the second is...
Pacharán – the sloe liqueur from Navarra
Pacharán, the traditional sloe liqueur from Navarra, is regarded as both a sensual delight and as beneficial for the stomach and nervous system! Some resourceful medical practitioners claim that when consumed in moderation (of course), it is effective in preventing heart attacks and arteriosclerosis. Originally, this national liqueur of...
A miraculous potion containing dried wine lees…..
(Water colour by Domenicao Ramponi 1818 – Preparation in the courtyard of the Archiginnasio at the end of the 18th century.) Teriaca – a miraculous potion The legend goes that, in the second century BC, a physician-poet named Nicandre living in Colophon (Ionia) wrote a poem entitled Ta Theriaca....
A perfect Pea, Mint & Feta Crostini
I found this recipe in the October 2013 Feast Magazine and it has become a go-to dish for me – so simple but so incredibly tasty and refreshing. Perfect for a light mezze or tapas style lunch or brunch. This will serve 6. Pea, Mint & Feta Crostini...
Pollo Al Sugo Con I ‘Rocchini’ – A wonderful dish from Pisa
This is one of those rustic, simple, delicious dishes made for sharing. Served with Parmesan, ciabatta or Tuscan bread and a red like a Sangiovese, you have a dish made in heaven! This recipe will serve 4-6 and you need to allow around 1 hour 20 minutes cooking time....
Paklenica National Park, Croatia – rock-climbers paradise
The Paklenica National Park is situated in the imposing Velebit massif, with its entrance in Starigrad Paklenica, off the Magistrala coastal road. It was opened in 1949 and covers an area of 36 sq km (14 sq miles) and is formed by two main gorges: Mala Paklenica and Velika...
