OVER TO YOU

STAR EMAIL ★

Subject: Bringing food alive From: Maggie Brownlee

Mark Diacono’s interview with Ravinder Bhogal [Jun, p88] was startling for me. Kristin Perers’ photos of the golden coin curry and Ravinder with a huge bouquet of green veg and herbs were awesome. Although I love to cook, bake and eat out, for years I’ve had no sense of smell or taste. My food pleasures come only from the sight and texture of food, enhanced with my memories of how it tasted. I no longer mourn my loss, but I do indulge in the beautiful photography of dishes that, in Mark Diacono’s words, “dance off the page.”

Subject: How not to survive a holiday with friends From: Anon

I did chuckle to myself when I read Debora’s feature [Jun, p68]. We have friends who regularly want to holiday with us, which is great until we go out to eat. The problem is Mrs Friend. She will only eat chicken breast, chips, eggs, a burger. That’s about it. No fruit, no salad, no veg. We wanted to eat at a local fish restaurant but didn’t because, in her words, “I can’t believe they don’t serve chicken.” We don’t have holidays together any more...

Subject: Let’s champion British growers From: Kirstie

I was disappointed to read that Andy Lynes considers seasonality to be food snobbery [May, p130]. He failed to consider the growers whose livelihoods depend on the boosts in-season produce provides. I grew up on a smallholding and our fruit and veg producers are so often overlooked.

I take his point that in supermarkets such produce can be more expensive – these premiums are rarely passed on to the growers. I’ll even take his point that it’s not always possible to eat seasonally (citrus, bananas). But is he aware there’s an increasing number of UK farmers growing ‘exotic’ produce? I’ll leave the less flavourful Peruvian asparagus and queue for the local stuff, giving silent thanks for the suppliers’ hard work.

Jacob Smith stood up for paper in the kitchen [Jun, p130] and we asked – do you prefer gadgets or cookbooks? Debbie Kenyon replied…

Does this answer your question? I like the pages covered in splatters and those with handwritten notes the most.

Aprille wanted to share what she’d been rustling up…

I always cook a variety of recipes from the Make It Every Day section and June’s definitely gave us a taste of summer [p102]. Firstly, saucy romesco chicken with sautéed potatoes. Tomorrow, sticky peanut butter aubergines and lentils.

STAR PRIZE

This month’s star email wins a Magimix Le Micro Mini Chopper, worth £60

Small, powerful and easy to use, the mini chopper purées, grinds, blends, liquidises and, of course, chops. With an 800ml capacity, it’s compact and easy to stash away – ideal for smaller kitchens. The durable stainless steel blade makes light work of vegetables, nuts, herbs and spices, while the pulse function allows for control over texture and consistency.

magimix.co.uk

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A MAGIMIX MINI CHOPPER...

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PHOTOGRAPHS: ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES. *CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE EDITED FOR SPACE/CLARITY AND ARE PUBLISHED ON THE BASIS THAT CONTRIBUTORS HAVE THE AGREEMENT OF ANYONE MENTIONED FOR ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION TO BE PUBLISHED

Joanne Kennedy works in oncology and lives in Lansing, New York, with husband Robert, daughter Poppy, three cats, two dogs, two goats, a parrot – and lots of chickens

“My hope is our garden will become my pantry”

Food adventure? We took a leap of faith and moved to rural New York from urban Massachusetts in 2020, and now grow close to 75 per cent of our produce. Treasured food memory? It took me years to perfect yorkshire puddings. As a Yorkshire lass, the first time they worked I was ecstatic! Favourite family recipe? Lasagne with homemade pasta – anew skill since moving, made using our own eggs. Kitchen stalwarts? My Le Creuset pans, pressure canner and vacuum sealer. Your signature recipe? Duck breast in pomegranate and pinot noir sauce. Wish list? My hope is that our garden will become my pantry, so I can say “Hey, let’s make ratatouille” and go and pick the ingredients! Food hero? Julia Child. Food zero? Offal. I think it’s a nurse thing – we know what those organs do! Odd food combo? Peanut butter and pickled onion crisp sandwiches. Ideal weekend? In summer, going to Ithaca Farmers Market for foodie treats from crepes to samosas, on the edge of Cayuga Lake.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE INTERVIEWED? Email a few words about yourself to info@deliciousmagazine.co.uk

Scoops of joy

We asked you on Instagram: What ice cream flavour do you go for on holiday? Turn to p38 to meet our flavours of 2023

@hyggebliss Stracciatella in Florence

@sarahannmartin1 In Cornwall I discovered pear and elderflower made by a local ice cream maker – yum. That comes joint first with coconut

@kimgriggs1959 Zabaglione gelato and (a contentious one) liquorice – but not together!

@liz2734 Vanilla

@jennyjolley Strawberry with chunks of

@bakedwelldevon Mint choc chip always!

@boltanski_ Pistachio 4ever

@mungotwyford Tutti frutti

@chefblu19 Always cherry

@samanthabrown1749 Rum and raisin

@joruncooksleep Totally with the pistachio vote! First discovered it in France, aged 11. It’s held a glamorous appeal ever since

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CALLING ALL KEBAB LOVERS...

Flame-licked skewers sizzling on the grill are a thing of beauty – but eschew the shop-bought cubes. How about fragrant chicken and prawn koftas, South African sosaties with marinated lamb and dried apricots – or our take on the Turkish chicken shish kebab?

Visit deliciousmagazine.co.uk/kebabrecipes for more flavour than you can shake a stick at.