Disappointing Grub in a Field

Going to music festivals inevitably involves buying one's food from various vans and eating it on the go between gigs. It's something I actually look forward to as part of the festival experience, especially at events like Green Man where the catering is above average and predominantly vegetarian. Last year I was particularly impressed by a Moroccan café tent which offered a brilliant selection of meze - one of my favourite types of meal. Yesterday we were at the first ever Mighty Boosh Festival at Hop Farm in Kent, which was fun, but not as exciting as we'd hoped. The food on offer was nothing to write home about either, as you can see from these not very inspiring Mexican wraps. And yes, that is a wig Ant is wearing - we were dressed as Future Sailors in homage to the Boosh. Although Ant would have me point out that he actually wore this exact ensemble to our Seasick party last year, before that episode ever even aired! Hopefully I'll have some more inspiring festival cuisine to write about when I come back from Latitude in a couple of weeks time, or maybe even while I'm there, if I can get my mobile to play nicely and let me blog from a field.

Pre Gig Burgers

The perfect pre-gig rocket fuel, from the Gourmet Burger Kitchen next door to Komedia, this was not actually a burger, but a slice of deep-fried goats' cheese layered with gushy griddled aubergine and tart sunblush tomatoes. The chips in the background (shared between the two of us) were cooked to perfection - golden and crispy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside. As fast food chains go, this place is to MacDonalds what Pizza Express is to Pizza Hut - not exactly challenging cuisine, but comfortingly consistent. The Brighton branch is a great people-watching spot too, especially if you go on a night where something whacky is happening at Komedia, like last night's Born Bad vs Gypsy Hotel extravaganza.

The North Laine is teetering on the edge of night time café culture, which even in such busy thoroughfares as New Road we don't quite get right here in Brighton (perhaps beery leeriness is just part of British DNA). This particular Friday was better than most though, as an exotic blend of retro style icons, rockabilly vixens and the most preened quiffs on the south coast mingled before the Komedia soireé. Even in my slinky vintage-style halterneck (bought especially for the occasion), I felt comparatively under-dressed. How perversely fitting to be eating sophisticated burgers surrounded by people who have taken base Americana and turned it into a high art form. Well, what better way to observe the 4th of July than to gracefully hijack US culture and smugly improve upon it?

With thanks to Ant for his contribution to this post.

Lunch at Bill's

The inevitable consequences of Wednesday night's boozy dinner at the Sanctuary put me in need of serious restoration by yesterday lunchtime, and the only rational choice here in Lewes was to head for the legendary Bill's. Any self-respecting Brighton foodie will be familiar with the branch in the North Laine, which is permanently rammed, and a good place for spotting minor (and sometimes major - Kylie was once sat on the table next to me) celebrities. The original café/deli in Lewes opened in 2001 and has recently extended to accommodate its ever-growing army of devotees. Unlike the tranquil Sanctuary, Bill's is a buzzy, bustly place, brilliant for over-hearing snippets of conversation between bonkers locals. I often treat myself to a lunchtime smoothie from there, and if Mum comes to meet me for lunch, that's where we'll invariably end up.

I knew in advance what I'd be ordering on this particular visit - I'd been craving it since breakfast - scrambled eggs on toast. Bill's scrambled eggs are superior to most (including mine) - billowing and creamy, scattered with vibrant fresh herbs (basil and tarragon on this occasion) and piled onto lightly toasted, generously buttered rustic white bread - they are the ultimate comfort food. Even the cute tomato-shaped ketchup dispenser adds to the experience. Whether or not I want dessert (I didn't this time), I always spend a decent amount of time gazing into the awe-inspiring Bill's cake cabinet, the contents of which would not be out of place in a gallery. Decorated with fresh flowers and colourful hunks of fruit, these delectable creations really are works of art. Even my mango and raspberry smoothie was adorned with a single red rose - a romantic gesture for the lone diner perhaps? I'd like to think so.

Girlie Dinner at the Sanctuary

In my opinion there are few better places to go for a decent hangover brunch in Brighton than the hippy institution that is the Sanctuary café . It used to be a regular haunt of mine when I lived just around the corner on Bedford Place, and would oft stagger round on a Sunday morning (ok, probably more like early afternoon) for a rejuvenating, body and soul repairing feast. Merely contemplating the brimming counter of vibrantly eccentric salads and hearty cakes is enough to soothe even the most jaded of souls. And though I'm not a coffee drinker myself, I have it on good authority that their mochas are among the best in town. The staff always seem to be in a worse state than you are, which is a comfort, and there is invariably some gentle music playing at an acceptable level. Apart from the odd grizzly baby (why can't they be confined to the downstairs, dammit?), there is a pervading atmosphere of calm, making the venue most deserving of its name. Having moved to the other side of Brighton a couple of years ago, I don't get down to the Sanctuary so much these days, and when I do it tends to be for Saturday lunch, or like last night, the occasional weeknight supper.

Pictured here is actually one of my companions' dinners - warm salad with sweet potato, aubergine, mushroom, goats' cheese and asparagus. Blinded by my inner food monster, I stupidly demolished mine (the same dish) before remembering that I needed to photograph it. Luckily Harry had been more delicate with hers and so I was able to capture the beautifully presented concoction in all its glory. The brilliant combination of sticky sweet potato and smooth, tangy goats' cheese was nicely complemented by that subtly verdant flavour of braised asparagus, and a generous drizzle of lurid strawberry and balsamic dressing gave the whole thing a zingy, summery kick.

I had fully intended to follow this rather virtuous main with one of the many inviting desserts on offer (the cheesecake looked particularly appealing, though I think I would have had to fight Jo for the last remaining slice), but the main course was more filling than it sounds, especially when washed down with half a bottle of organic wine. So instead of pudding, we popped down the road to my old local, the Lion & Lobster, for a nostalgic nightcap (or two). While we were settling up at the Sanctuary, I was slightly perturbed to notice that the sweet selection included several jars of cookies imported from Australia, which rather contradicts their mission statement of "Healthy hearty food prepared with mainly organic, locally sourced ingredients" (quote taken from their website). Surely there must be perfectly adequate biscuit suppliers a little closer to home? And what kind of preservatives must be in those cookies that they can survive travelling across the planet? It's madness I tell you! But apart from this one slight gripe, the Sanctuary was just as lovely as always, and if anything I'd say the quality and presentation of the food has improved slightly. Now, if only they'd open a branch in Kemp Town.

Simple Storecupboard Supper

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far here in the UK, so it would have been a crime not to dine outside on our beautiful deck and make the most of a balmy evening. This easy salad took me about ten minutes to assemble, and was just the ticket washed down with a refreshing Peroni. It was a happy accident that all we had in the way of fresh veg was an avocado and a couple of juicy tomatoes - together one of my favourite foodie combinations. The rest was thrown together with store cupboard staples, for which I make no apologies.

Ingredients

• 1 perfectly ripe avocado
• 2 medium sized tomatoes, also ripe
• Splash of lime juice
• Olive oil
• Tin of mixed beans, drained and rinsed
  
• Half a tin of spinach (well squeezed)
• Handful of olives
• Generous dollop of pesto
• Teaspoon of minced ginger
• Dash of tabasco
• Plain natural yoghurt
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Peel and slice the avocado and slice the tomatoes quite rustically, arranging both alternately around a plate or shallow bowl, sprinkle over a little lime juice and season with salt and pepper. Mix together the beans, spinach, pesto, ginger and olives, adding extra olive oil as needed to create a smooth texture. Season to taste, and for an extra kick, add a dash of Tabasco. Pile on top of the pre-arranged tomatoes and avocados and finish off with a spoonful of natural yoghurt. If I'd had some fresh basil, I would have used some as a garnish, but instead I swirled a little more pesto into the yoghurt to make it look pretty. Drizzle the whole thing with a little olive oil for that added Mediterranean flourish. Eat alfresco with good company and beer.

****

This morning's BBC Breakfast reported on a new study from the British Journal of Cancer which claims that following a Mediterranean style diet - specifically less red meat, and more peas, beans and lentils - could cut the risk of cancer by 12%. Now, you might think this is stating the obvious somewhat, but that doesn't stop me feeling quietly smug, as I've been doing just that for years!

A Whole Month of Foodiness, Yay!

Considering the amount of time and energy I spend thinking about, planning, concocting and consuming food, it has so far been rather feebly represented here in relation to my other interests. The problem is that I will often intend to record and share my culinary experiences, but then when it comes to the actual moment of preparing or ordering a meal, I am far too preoccupied with the task in hand to remember to take a photo or write notes. I was reading today over on Wordridden about NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) - an online community that encourages bloggers to write a post every day for a month on a given theme. This month's topic is Food, so I have resolved to follow Jessica's example and start chronicling my daily foodie activities here, at least for the next month. It'll make a nice change from gigs and fancy dress parties anyway! Meanwhile, as a sort of introduction to my culinary life, here is a little miscellany of foodie photos that I have taken on those rare occasions when I am not too busy tucking in...

From top left: Lunch at Mum's with cranberry muffins, Belgian waffles in Bruges cafe, get well cake made by Jo, Bom Bane's starter, German banana split with Advocaat

OK, so it's mostly cakes, but what on earth is wrong with that?

Found: Yoga Teacher with Own Sense of Reality

After Monday night's unsatisfactory yoga class, I did some homework to try and track down one that would suit my mental and physical needs, without being too preachy or esoteric. I came across a Brighton teacher who advocates a Humanistic approach to yoga, and whose teaching is informed by the needs of people in a modern context, stripping away all the ritualistic and mystical stuff that I find so off-putting. When I looked up the details of his classes, I realised that it was the same teacher who had been recommended to me some time ago by the lovely Sam Toft, my original yogi, when she stopped teaching. So I went along to a drop-in class last night with an open mind, and found that it was pretty much what I'd hoped for. The teacher was immediately likeable and approachable, guiding us through a series of asanas (poses), whilst occasionally provoking little philosophical discussions related to whatever we were doing at the time. This bit was a pleasant surprise, and the interaction gave the class a lovely friendly atmosphere. I came home feeling utterly chilled and resolving to go back next week with Ant, who I think would have really enjoy it too.

A Merry-go-round of Words (and a Picture)

A couple of months ago I met children's author and illustrator Sam Lloyd, to interview her for the book review magazine Carousel. Although I've been reviewing for Carousel for a couple of years, this was my first full article for them, and the cover story no less! Having worked in children's publishing for many years, it was strange to be on the other side of the fence - actually interacting with the interviewee rather than being the publicist/minder in the corner. Sam was a great subject, and we chatted easily about all sorts of things, from writing and illustrating, to the imminent arrival of her first baby. I was already a big fan of Sam's Mr Pusskins books, being myself the custodian of a cantankerous fluffy ginger mog, so it was a real pleasure to talk to her in person, and even meet Mr Pusskins (well, a stuffed version of him made by Sam). The above photo was taken (by me) in her studio during the interview, and appears in the published piece (in the Summer 08 issue - just out), which you can see here. The editors must have been happy with the finished result, as they've asked me to interview Kristina Stephenson for the next issue.

Keeping my fingers in as many journalistic pies as possible, I'm also busy writing reviews for The Detour and reviewedonline.co.uk, which is my excuse for having watched the whole of Weeds series three in a week. Well they are only short! I'm actually sorry that I had to carve through it so quickly in order to get the review done, as I'm now in withdrawal. There is so little television that captures my attention and makes me laugh, that Weeds is a rare treat. I won't go on about it though, because you can read my review here. But if I stay indoors watching DVDs too much I get restless, so it's just as well that festival season is almost underway, taking me all over the country in pursuit of live entertainment. This year I'm giddily looking forward to writing about and/or photographing BooshFest (Kent), Latitude (Suffolk), Kendal Calling (Cumbria), and of course the unmissable Green Man (Wales). And thanks to my fabulous new camera bag (both practical and stylish, oh yes) I hope to not look too conspicuously hack-like, unless it's in a Lee Miller vintage explorer/correspondent type way, which would be cool.

Photograph of Sam Lloyd Copyright © 2008 Rowan Stanfield - www.jadedladyonline.com