The Artist

A couple of months back I went to the Virgin Media Shorts Awards. It was a great evening with brilliant shorts to watch, music to dance to and photo booths to play with:

On top of all that we got goodies of delicious popcorn and two free tickets to any Picturehouse cinema. As someone who loves going to the cinema as often as possible this was a VERY exciting thing.

Due to not living super close to a Picturehouse cinema (one day I will) I had these tickets burning a hole in my purse for a while so when I found myself close to Brixton I got myself straight down the the Ritzy. The chosen film? The much anticipated silent film The Artist.

First things first, it is SO much more than just a silent film. Whilst there are similarities to 1930s silent films; with the words popping up every now and again when just body language doesn’t cut it and a perfectly composed score that brings you gently up and down as the mood changes, it is in fact a thoroughly modern homage to film making itself.  The costumes are particularly fantastic in The Artist, especially the incredible flapper dresses worn by some of the dancers and the beautiful hats worn by Bérénice Bejo who plays rising film star Peppy Miller.

The Artist is light, witty and full of joy – total must-see. Need more of an incentive? This little guy is one of the stars of the show:

Image from telegraph.co.uk

New Look

I have massively neglected my blog for a while now, so long in fact that I haven’t actually checked to see when the last post was actually written – I worry it was sometime in the Summer last year. Gulp. In fairness to me, I was going through a depressing spell of unemployment when my blog was slightly more cared for (more on that in another post) and now I that have finally landed myself a real job in a real company something’s have unfortunately taken a back seat.

Anyway, in the spirit of the new year and fresh starts I have given this little blog a much needed make over. Nothing too drastic, no plastic surgery here thank you but just a little clean up; out with the old and in with the new, that sort of thing.

Speaking of new looks, I recently purchased a skirt online (online shopping and lulls at work are the worst combination for a girl with a serious shopping habit) which is due to arrive any day now. I bought it on a bit of a whim and am not sure if it is entirely me…

We shall see. I love the forest green colour and I am a sucker for anything that you can make look a little less prim with a nice ankle boot. Maybe I’ll post a photo when it arrives, get a little feedback. I love to hear what other people like or don’t like to wear, and how they wear it.

Anyway, happy new year readers (are we still saying this?!)

Love,

Mama Jolene x

edit: I’ve just seen that Cupcakes and Cashmere has also recently bought this skirt! I love the internet for being a hub of style inspiration…

Plenty of Greens

I recently bought Yotam Ottolenghi’s second cookbook ‘Plenty’, a collection of vegetarian recipes taken, predominantly, from his Guardian Weekend Magazine column The New Vegetarian. Ottolenghi, hails from Israel, and his restaurants Ottolenghi and NOPI are best known for the freshest of ingredients, an abundant use of spices and simple and inspiring takes on creating healthy yet exciting dishes, where each ingredient takes on it’s own new lease of life – this passion shines throughout the entire book.

I was really looking forward to the arrival of this book in my life, not only because I think that Yotam Ottolenghi is an incredible chef, but also because (despite my love of all things Meat related) I can’t think of anything better than a rainbow coloured stack of gloriously dressed vegetables. I have already made 4 of the recipes from the book (split up into different categories of vegetables including ‘Roots’, ‘Capsicums’ and ‘Leaves Cooked and Raw’) and enjoyed making and eating all of them, particularly the Moroccan Carrot Salad whose fresh, light and delicately spiced flavour left me immediately hankering for a holiday.

It wasn’t until I spoke to a Vegetarian friend of mine whilst enjoying the obligatory Bank Holiday drink yesterday that I really fell for the book. Now this friend (and she won’t mind me saying this) is not much of a cook. Whilst living with her for 2 years I can safely say that her repertoire really only covered heating tomato and mascarpone sauce or covering soft noodles in broccoli and soy sauce. Suffice to say, Delia needn’t worry about her crown being stolen. However, this same friend purchased Plenty at the weekend and has already tackled 3 of the recipes and is absolutely loving it.

Have you bought this Recipe book? What about other books by Yotam Ottolenghi? I’d love to hear your thoughts…

Mushroom Risotto

I have come to the conclusion that there is nothing more soothing and satisfying in the whole world than making risotto. From the comforting smell of the rich stock to the gentle blips and bubbles that rise from the surface of the pan, each pop filled with its own promise of deliciousness – nothing gives me more joy. I relish the fact that Arborio rice can take any ingredient thrown at it, as long as it is given the time to envelope each ingredient into its gooey embrace.

The trick with any risotto is to let it do its thing s-l-o-w-l-y. The onions and garlic mustn’t burn and neither should the butter come to think of it. The rice should be pushed into the melted butter with care; what you are doing is massaging out the starch so if you do it too quickly you won’t get that delicious creamy consistency, plus nobody likes burnt rice. The white wine may sound like an extravagance but I would be hugely surprised if you didn’t have some floating around or weren’t planning to buy any at some point; come on, who are we trying to kid here? Finally, stock. Now purists will want you to use a delicious homemade stock, which of course I encourage but am also aware that it’s a pretty big ask (I’m not going to pretend I remember to make a stock every time I’m finished with a roast chicken) so use the best stock powder/cube you can afford. All I ask is that you check that it’s well seasoned, or you may as well use plain old boiling water.

This recipe is for a very simple Mushroom risotto. It follows no recipe other than the one that I am making up in my head as I go along, inspired by many of the risottos I have read about or seen made before. It serves 4 but if it’s just for 1 or 2 don’t try and reduce quantities. Risotto, in my opinion, is delicious cold. Or you could try out Arancinis. Form leftover risotto into balls, roll in a beaten egg, then breadcrumbs, then fry till hot and melty. Taste. Explosion.

The mushrooms are dried porcinis (which can be bought from most supermarkets relatively cheaply and last well), with chestnut mushrooms quickly fried in olive oil and garlic stirred in at the end for good measure followed by my favourite, Parmesan. I honestly believe that you can never have too much Parmesan. It is the cheese of the Gods.

P.s Following the advice of the very wise Julie and Julia, I did not crowd the mushrooms.

P.p.s This is THE song to make risotto to. Trust me.

Recipe:

• 50g dried porcini mushrooms soaked in 250ml hot water
• 750ml of vegetable stock using cube or powder
• good slug of olive oil
• 1 onion , finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove , finely chopped
• 250g pack chestnut mushrooms , sliced and washed
• 300g risotto rice , such as arborio
• 1 glass white wine (175ml)
• 25g butter
• 50g grated parmesan or grana padano (cheaper option and just as delish)

Warming Polenta

Last weekend, in a rash and incredibly stupid moment, I decided to visit my boyfriend who is at university in Bristol. Despite the fact that he is in his last year and a good 5 years older than most of the Freshmen he decided to celebrate his first (and only) free week of his last year by painting the town red. It would seem that simply rubbing shoulders with the university newbies was enough to contract the dreaded Freshers Flu. What did he do then? What any loving boyfriend would do, he gave it to me.

You probably won’t be very surprised to hear that losing my appetite to Flu is probably one of the most nightmare enducing things that could happen to me and happen it did. I didn’t eat for 4 days straight, bar a grape here or there. When I was finally lucky enough to hear the smallest of rumbles from my now VERY empty stomach, I needed something comforting, gentle and warming.

I needed polenta. Delicious, warming cornmeal that looks like and has the texture of baby food, but don’t let that put you off. It is easy to make, (bear in mind I still had a raging fever at this point) and will do nothing but make you feel all toasty and glowing inside.

I had a small bag of cornmeal in my kitchen cupboard (I am aiming to one day own a Nigella style larder) and simply followed the instructions, or followed them as far as my control freak mind would let me. Instead of boiling water I used chicken stock and added rosemary, a knob of butter and a generous handful of parmesan towards the end – the package only suggests the butter.

As comforting and warm as porridge and as savoury and familiar as your favourite pasta dish, polenta is officially my ultimate comfort food. The other great thing about polenta? Cook as above and then spread onto a baking tray about 1cm thick and leave to set. When it is at the point where it is almost firm but gives a little when pressed slice it up and fry in olive oil until golden brown. Whilst hot sprinkle with salt, rosemary and parmesan and serve. Delish.

Banh Mi Oh My

Blogging from my phone is really hard but I just had to let you guys know about a sandwich I just ate! I am at Cabbages and Frocks Market in the grounds of Marylebone Parish Church in London, selling tops for the company I work for, Sotto e Sopra. Having worked from 7am I got hungry pretty early but luckily for me the stall opposite are selling Bahn Mi otherwise known as Vietnamese Baguettes. They are absolutely delicious, stuffed with slow roasted pork, pate, this crazy fibrous pork that looks like candy floss but tastes like the very essence of belly pork, topped with carrot, coriander and fresh chilli sauce. Apparently baguettes became extremely popular in Vietnam after the French colonization in the 19th Century and are now a culinary tradition! I love historical food facts like that, it’s so fascinating to find out how far a food tradition has travelled and how it has changed culture to culture. I’ve got no pictures as I was too busy devouring my Vietnamese purchase to think of sensible things like that.

Anyway, if you find yourself in the Marylebone area you should pop down! The stalls are lovely and sell a wide range of products from clothes to food and all that’s in between!

For the Love of Good Food…

Like the look of this? Yes? Whilst everyone is entitled to their own opinion I think you may be reading the wrong kind of food blog. This may be more up your street. No? Welcome dear reader, please read on…

I came across this ‘Bacon and Cheese Pizza Burger’ today via. my brother and his friend on Facebook. Have you ever seen anything so terrifying in your whole life? I suppose you have to give a little bit of recognition to the fact that the burger at least is handmade. What? You still think it’s completely disgusting? Thought as much…

This culinary monstrosity reminds me of a show on Good Food channel called Man vs. Food, an American show hosted by a greasy fat guy featuring greasy fat food. Whilst the premise behind the show is slightly more complicated than gross man eats gross food, I simply can’t be bothered to explain what it’s really about as it’s so bloody stupid. If you really want to know then check this out. I know, right? Bloody stupid.

I often find that edible creations like this really make me think about the way people consider food. We have on the one hand the real “Foodies” who know exactly how long a good Époisses de Bourgogne has to age for and have the sort of attitude towards food that would forgive you for thinking that they had sampled the world’s finest oysters before they had even said their first word. On the other hand there is the person who has little to no interest in food whatsoever and would rather nuke a Sainsburys Basics meal in the microwave than spend 5 minutes browsing the fruit and vegetable aisle for the season’s finest produce. This person would be the foodie’s arch nemesis in Superhero terms (I would love to see what these two would look like in a cartoon… your suggestions are extremely welcome!)

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not looking down on the micro-nuking tribe. If someone doesn’t like/have any interest in good food (in the foodie sense of course. I’m sure to the micro-nuker a Rustlers burger IS good food) that’s totally their prerogative. Understanding and enjoying good food, from growing it, preparing it to eating it is just as much of a hobby as train spotting, stamp collecting and papercraft and I’m sure I speak for many when I profess little to no interest in one of those activities.

So I am going to let this Giant Cheeseburger from Hell go. I’ve said my piece, expressed my feelings of horror and feel that I have accepted the ‘others’ with their lack gastronomic interest as friends, not foe – though don’t get too excited, I’m not about to run off to devour my body weight in plastic cheese and red meat.