Mechoui - BBQ Lamb Roadside Extravaganza, Tunisia

Landed for a week with my brother, sister-in-law and nephew in Tunisia. My brother picked me up from the airport in the evening and we stopped for mechoui at a roadside barbecue on the way to his home in Kelibia.

A guy ushered us into a parking space. We then went to the butcher's counter (rather rough and ready compared to the UK or France), to select the cuts we wanted grilled. Bits of sheep were hanging up and barbecue smoke wafter around. It was still very hot outside, and already dark. We chose some kind of rib section, a few merguez sausages and a bit of liver.

Loads of families were eating mechuoi at plastic tables on a terrace set back from the main road. I sat at a table while my brother waited at the barbecue area with our big metal bowl of raw goodies. 'Salade mechoui' arrived ('mechoui' just means grilled, but implies 'over charcoal'), which is minced chargrilled peppers and tomatoes with loads of gorgeous olive oil. It came with flatbread to eat it with (no cutlery provided) and a bottle of water. No booze available here. There was a juice stand next to us, selling virgin fruit cocktails and mint tea.

Eventually, our meat got its turn on the grill. It arrived all crispy and had been dipped in a salt and cumin mix before its roasting, so was absolutely deeelicious. So tasty! So juicy! We ate an enormous quantity. I was still very full after more than an hour on the road, but still wished for a little taster more mechoui before bed.

Here I Go Again

Hi there.

Well, last year my meals could have been inspiring to anyone working 9 - 5 (and enduring massive commutes) in London. I did well with limited time to cook most things fresh and from scratch with a good variety and plenty of adventure - plus the odd meal out. I obviously should have done a dinner diary for 2015, which is precisely why I decided to keep one for 2016. But this year started off strangely, as I was splitting from a long-term partner, then living with my parents for a while, before moving back to France for the summer. That didn't last, as my lovely mummy died in early June, so I was back at my parents' again for a while. Being there means less meal control, more of my Dad's (very good) cooking, plus we were doing a lot of quick stuff as we didn't have the heart to make much effort. We did have some nice salads and meals though.

HOWEVER, I've just got back from a week in Tunisia, and the food was so inspiring and so damn tasty, that I feel the urge to record it ALL. I'm now back in France and have found that I want to keep a note of what I'm eating here as well, so it seems I might be getting back into my dinner diary habit...

This was written on the 20th July, but I've posted for the 11th, so that it's in sequence with the subsequent Tunisia posts.

Jerk Pork, Rice & Peas etc

I made a Caribbean meal for the family. My jerk 'seasoning' (marinade) is frankly outstanding and totally authentic! I put the pork in it the day before.

Creamy Sausage Parpadelle

I made a sauce by frying the insides of Sicilian style sausages (containing fennel) until browned, then adding onions and fennel seeds, then garlic, then dried porcini soaked in white wine. Finally, cream and loads of black pepper. Mixed in the pasta then served with plenty of freshly grated parmesan (PR natch) and a mixed salad with homemade basil dressing.

Roast Chicken

Dad made roast chicken with stuffing, roast spuds, fennel, leeks, mashed swede and gravy. Not even any room left for cheese.

Fire-Cooked Veal Chops

I cooked rose veal chops from the local farm over the fire. My dad cooked broccoli, leeks, sautéed potato, grilled tomato and garlic mushrooms to go with the chops. Had moreish melty gorgonzola and yummy reblochon for afters, with lots of red wine.

Indian Style Lamb Chops, Raita, Onion Salad & Homemade Naan

I just fancied it. Shame I didn't think to cook them over the fire for a more authentic flavour, like we remembered to do the next day.

I marinaded the chops in yogurt, chilli powder, cumin, ground coriander seeds, ginger, garlic, turmeric, paprika, fenugreek and asafoetida. Added salt just before grilling on high until blackened in places. Made the cucumber and mint raita and the onion salad (with tomato, coriander leaves, lemon). Also made the naan dough - basically like pizza dough but with some melted butter and yogurt. I cooked the naans in a dry frying pan, then brushed them with mixed spices in melted butter and sprinkled them with toasted sesame seeds.

Seafood Risotto

Dad cooked this. Apart from wild Alaskan salmon and a seafood mix, it had all sorts in it, including dried cèpes and parmesan, both of which I thought would be a bit weird in seafood risotto. But it actually worked really well. It also had loads of lemon zest and asparagus in it. I liked it so much I had seconds and also had it for lunch the next day.

Cold Roast Beef with Bubble & Squeak

I love cold rare roast beef, thinly sliced with lots of salt :P  Had it with bubble 'n squeak (cold roast potatoes mashed up with the leftover brussels sprouts and fried), salad and pickles.

Roast Rib of Beef, Yorkshire Pudding etc

My dad made this. The beef was rare the yorkies perfectly puffed. Plenty of rich gravy, roast potatoes, brussels sprouts, green beans, mashed celeriac, horseraddish sauce.

Mother's Day Non-Meal - Fry-Up

It's Mothering Sunday, but my mum hasn't been well. She's got numerous health problems due to a reaction to treatment for brain tumours. Also due to all the meds she's on. At lunch, she ate like a monster, perhaps because of a suspected seizure this morning. She was then very sick - could be due to a seizure or due to eating like a monster or a reaction to meds or any combo of the three. Anyway, we were supposed to be having roast rib of beef and all the trimmings but now we'll probably just have a snack like bread and cheese or eggs. We'll have the beef tomorrow, which will be better anyway as my brother will be here then. I'm feeling a tad heartbroken today so wasn't really up for much anyway...

Update: we had a fry-up. Dad made poached eggs on toast, grilled toms, smoked bacon, sausage, black pudding.

African Peanut Chicken Stew

I made a yummy chicken stew with a Nigerian peanut suya paste. Fried the chicken pieces (cut up a whole chicken) until browned, added the paste, tomato purée, chopped onion and topped up with water. Simmered for about half an hour until the sauce thickened. Served with rice, grilled sweetcorn (I grilled on cob until black in some places to try to give it and Africany flavour. Still not the same without charcoal.) cucumber slices and 'tomavobanonion' salad - a recipe Perry brought back with him for Kenya years ago, made of tomato, avocado, banana and onion, squeeze of lime, pinch of salt.

Osso Buco & Risotto

Cooked by my dad. Everything was thoroughly delicious. Haven't had risotto for literally years. Served with purple sprouting broccoli and string beans. Cheese for after; lots of wine.

Megrim Sole, Mash & Samphire

There's a mobile fish stall every Thursday at the local award-winning farm shop, so I tried it out today. The stall owner advised against plaice (why was he selling it?) due to it being skinny this time of year, after spawning. He recommended the slightly more expensive megrim, which I hadn't tried before, so I took two. I Googled them, and they live in deep sea.

The fish man had good value samphire too some I took some of that, which I somehow overcooked but was still nice. I cooked the megrim perfectly! I floured them (well-seasoned), and fried them in loads of butter with lemon zest and a lots of lemon juice at the end to make a sauce. I served them off the bone with buttery mash, the samphire and some previously frozen petit pois. Megrim is really tasty and a very pleasant texture. I'd definitely buy it again.

Shop Pizza & Salad

This is usually something my dad makes for lunch, but as my parents had been out for a big lunch we thought it would save us having to go and buy something for dinner.

It's not one of my faves, but I do always end up enjoying it. My dad buys a basic supermarket pizza then loads it with a crazy variety and quantity of other stuff. It's so far from a traditional pizza I'm not sure it qualifies. The horrible hard base is never pleasant, but the mash-up of tasty bits on top are nice.

I made a salad like yesterday's, with rocket, red chicory, red onion, cherry toms and a mustard dressing. Added some little gem lettuce to it this time.

Pesto Lamb with Garlic & Rosemary Roasties

I roasted lamb neck fillets in shop bought but luxury pesto. I bashed up some roughly chopped fresh rosemary and mixed it with the roast potatoes at the fluffing-with-fat stage, before they went into the oven, then stirred in some chopped garlic once they were cooked and left them in the oven turned off so they were garlicky but the garlic wouldn't be raw or burnt.

I made a salad with rocket, red chicory, gorgeous cherry toms, red onion and a vinegary mustard dressing.

Sausage, Mash & Fried Onions

I was thinking of getting sausages today, to make sausages stewed in red wine gravy. But my dad had already taken sausages out of the freezer to make grilled sausages with mash, fried onions and veg. Very nice but my stew would have been less ...dry.

Roast Belly Pork, Potato Gratin

Yep my dad again. I was planning to get pork belly to make jerk pork today, but he beat me to the shops and made slow roast pork (with crackling), some kind of sticky wine, onion and mushroom gravy, gratin and veg. Yummy.

Lemon Spatchcock Chicken

A difficult day. Went to clean flat for last time, BF (now ex) was supposed to come and help and take away the last bits of furniture among other things. He didn't bother. So I had the trauma of leaving the flat (and him) and of him letting me down one last time. My brother drove up to help (5 hour round trip for him). When we both got home to parents' my dad made me a very strong G&T which was much appreciated. He also had a late dinner on the go, of lemon spatchcock chicken (prep'd by local farm shop's butcher), roast potatoes and various veg. What a star.

Indian Takeaway

Moved all my crap to my parents' for storage. Dad paid for curry from local Indian; I went to collect it. Had chicken tikka masala for a change but it was too sweet. Also had lamb dansak which was nice. Plus chapati (no rice for me), popadoms, niramish and lime pickle.

Franco Manca Pizza

The day before the man-and-van arrive to collect all my stuff to move out of the flat. Me and BF went to the local Franco Manca in East Dulwich to save on hassle as everything's in boxes. Great prices, really decent pizza and love the natural wine. Service always excellent. Had the veggie special (truffle oil, mushrooms, romanesco) with added ham and one with old spot sausage and wild broccoli (I think this is actually turnip tops...?).

M&S Curry

It might seem like I have a lot of Indian curry, but it's usually my parents' influence. I would actually have it loads more, but my BF isn't that keen. So this eve I was on my way back from Amsterdam and went to M&S at Gatwick for dinner. Ready meals! This is the only exception apart from chicken kiev! Even though I keep having curry this year, BF had not had any Indian so I thought he could cope. Got Roganjosh or similar as well as sag aloo and a bottle of house rosé. It was fine.

Vegetarian Set Menu & Raw Herring & Jenever

It was my friend's 40th birthday meal. I was staying in Amsterdam with her and her boyfriend, so I booked a table at a French-inspired Mediterranean restaurant, La Vallade, that had been recommended by a someone I know who lives there (Amsterdam not Med). I was excited as it was a set menu, but we were all a bit disappointed when we found it was vegetarian night. It was very nice but nothing special, and I'm not sure it was worth €35 each for the four courses - spicy lentil soup (tasty), salad (OK but very forgettable and no enough acid), aubergine parmigiana (heavy, bit bland - not enough acid or salt), nice frozen hazelnut thing. Should have gone to the Ethiopian place we saw the day before.

Oh! And in the afternoon we had traditional raw herring with raw onion and gherkin from a stall by the flower market (should be called 'bulb' market), then tried jenever (precursor to gin) at the ancient and fabulous 'tasting tavern', Wynand Fockink.

Burger Bar! Amsterdam

One of my brothers once mentioned having the best burger he'd ever tasted in Amsterdam. He was in the Peruvian mountains, but I managed to get hold of him to ask for the details. It was from a burger bar called Burger Bar. A few hours later (and after much iphone map faffing), and I had an Irish beef pattie (served pink) with their normal toppings plus Old Amsterdam cheese and jalapeños. Sooooo delicious, juicy, tastymerlasty. But my bun disintegrated. The rise of the decent burger in London and the passing of time (Bro went about 10 years ago. European burgers have grown up.) meant that it was not the best burger I've ever had. However, it might have been if the bun had been less crumbly - and if I hadn't had a MEATliquor burger a few days before (for lunch, with beer. Shit yeah!).

Chips, Mayonaise & Chopped Onion

First day in Amsterdam to celebrate my friend's birthday. We read about Dutch specialities before going out to meet a load of her other friends for a night on the town. There don't seem to be many Dutch specialities. Everything seems to be beige and processed. And fried. But we fancied the chips topped with chopped raw onions and mayo (and a little vinegar), so after wandering around in a big group for ages not finding anywhere we could all fit in to eat, me and birthday girl saw a chip shop and got out chip fix. They definitely hit the spot. That was dinner. Probably not a bad meal for before a whole night of drinking and dancing. We didn't even drink that much by our standards and we managed to dance at Paradiso until morning - at our age! I'm quite proud of that.

Hake in Breadcrumbs

Shop-bought. Clearing out freezer before the move, on my own and going away tomorrow. Served with frozen petit pois and grilled cherry toms. Also had a bacon sarnie as a starter!

Cheese on Toast?

I can't remember this day very well, as I just had some kind of snack dinner. I was on my own. I think I had cheese on toast and maybe a boiled egg.

Duck Breast with Red Wine, Five Spice & Cherry Sauce

I griddled the duck breasts and served them sliced up, pink in the middle with crispy skin. The sauce was really simple to make, but heavily reduced. As well as the red wine, five spice and cherry conserve, it also contained soy sauce, a little chilli, garlic and spring onion. I strained it to make it smooth. It was a triumph! Served with.... hmmm what was it again? Probably roast spuds and broccoli.

Migrane - Donner Kebab & Chips

Woke up in the night feeling extremely sick with an intense headache. Still felt terrible in the morning. My first migrane in years. Managed to eat a tiny amount of wholesome things at lunchtime and felt immediately terrible again. BF ordered a large portion of donner meat and chips for dinner, saying I could have some. I tried out a little bit and let it go down for a while, then felt better so had some more. It was yummy and then felt better again! Cured by kebab. Well, kind of. I still felt quite fragile and had a headache for the next couple of days, but the kebab definitely perked me up.

Moussaka Leftovers

Reheated the moussaka from Saturday and had it with salady bits and the rest of the spinach from yesterday.

Chicken & Ackee with Pumpkin Rice and Rice & Peas

More Caribbean. We don't normally have this much, but BF picked up some more from the dread at the barber shop. We had spicy fried chicken with rice and peas, a seriously tasty chicken and ackee stew with yummy pumpkin rice, dumplings, yam and green banana. I cooked some spinach to go with it.

As I'm leaving London very soon, I'm making the most of the Caribbean food while I can. It was also convenient because we went out raving last night so am feeling a bit delicate. (Brilliant garage event in Peckham, with DJ Flava and Zinc. Flava was flippin fabulous.)

Moussaka & Salad

I'm pretty good at making very delicious moussaka. I prefer it without potato but put it in for my BF. Had it with watercress, spinach and rocket salad from a bag and sliced vine tomatoes.

Caribbean Oxtail with Rice & Peas and Plantain

From the barber shop rasta. Caribbean style oxtail stew is better than any other. European styles can be unctuous and wonderful, but Caribbean is richer and tastier somehow, and the spice makes it addictive. My mouth is now watering from just thinking about it.

Go-To Spicy Pasta & Poached Egg

I hate the "go-to" phrase, from working in consumer media. So cheesy and clichéd and irritating.

But anyway, this is my go-to pasta that I often have when I'm on my own. Another Perry dish.

Gently sizzle dried chilli, lemon zest, lemon juice and anchovies (in oil not vinegar) in loads of extra virgin olive oil. Add finely chopped garlic and stir before taking off the heat. Needless to say I use shitloads of all the ingredients, so it's really hot and rammed with flavour.

Meawhile, cook your pasta. I like linguine best for this.

Stir the pasta into the sauce. I pimp it with a poached egg but that's optional. Serve with lots of freshly grated parmesan and a green salad.

Chicken Kiev & New Potatoes

Shop-bought chicken kievs, but the ones made of whole breasts. Served with boiled new potatoes and green beans. One of the only ready-made things I really like. Must attempt my own one day...

Swordfish, Chips & Salad

Went to the local fishmongers and got two gorgeous swordfish steaks. I floured and fried them, and served them with homemade chips, salad, coleslaw and lime wedges. Alcohol-free beer with a lime wedge for me.

Steak & Gravy

This was actually beef from yesterday, thickly sliced and griddled. Had it with reheated leftover veg and gravy. No booze.

Roast Beef & Yorkshire Pudding

The beef was rare, the gravy was rich, the spuds crisped, but for some reason my usually fail-safe yorkshire was a bit claggy. It had fluffed up loads and was starting to burn at the edges, but didn't look cooked enough in the middle. I didn't want it to burn more so took it out, but now realise I should have left it in.

Fish, Chips & Mushy Peas. Again.

Now I know what it looks like, but I didn't have fish & chips for about a year before December. Then had it 3 times in 3 months. 2 of those times within 1 week of each other.

I'm at my parents', and my mum is always asking for f&cs. I'm looking forward to it, and I know the local takeaway (Station Fryer in Pulborough) serves perfect batter so I'm optimistic I won't have the soggy stodge ordeal of last week...

Oxtail Casserole, Jerusalem Artichokes, Cauliflower Cheese

A triumph for my dad again this eve. His ox tail stew was everything it should be. Mmm the texture of that sauce! He served it with shop-bought cauliflower cheese, roasted jerusalem artichokes and courgettes.

Then a cheese course.

Corned beef and tomato sarnies for lunch - retro.

Grazing & Leftovers

Spent the day grazing on cold chow mein. As soon as I'd put it back in the fridge my mouth would start watering as I knew the rest was waiting for me.

I was on my own in the evening so had a North African and Chinese leftover mash up, and finished everything off.

I hardly ever throw any food away, but the fried rice had to go, as I'm going to my parents' for the weekend tomorrow morning.

Chinese Takeaway - Aromatic Crispy Duck

What can I say. It's him not me. But it was actually delicious.

Crispy duck pancake kit, chicken chow mein, egg fried rice and crispy seaweed. The rice wasn't really touched sadly.

Delivered by the cheap n cheerful place 'round the corner, Golden Kitchen Express. They have an open kitchen, which is nice.

North African Style Lamb Hearts & Bulgar Wheat

I learnt this one from Perry about 18 years ago and have it about once or twice a year. I really look forward to it - so satisfying and tasty.

Stuff the heart ventricals (1 heart per person) with lemon zest, dried date pieces, garlic and pinenuts. Coat them with flour and in the pan you're going to use for the stew, fry them until browned on all sides in a little oil. Stir in a chopped onion and a couple of roughly chopped cloves of garlic. Then empty in some tinned tomatoes, a little squeeze of lemon juice, more pinenuts, a few more dates and top up with water. Stir in a desert spoon of good quality harissa. Leave to simmer on low for a few hours.

Taste when you're ready to eat and season accordingly. This time, to make it look less like hearts for BF, I sliced them up - the stuffed heart slices looked like a meat roulade - and put them back in the sauce before serving.

Served on bulgar wheat with mangetout. Alcohol-free wine today.

Leftover Roast Pork & Caribbean Fried Chicken

There wasn't much pork or crackling left from yesterday, but we had some other tastiness to add to the mix.

My BF goes to one of London's zillions of barbers aimed at afro-caribbean men. He goes once a week like the rest of the clientelle, and various vendors stop by regularly to sell stuff including dodgy DVDs. (The women's equivalent is the nail bars run by Vietnamese people - there's a constant stream of traders coming in with DVDs, clothes, shoes and bags.) A couple of guys cook Caribbean food at home and bring it in to sell to the men while they wait (for AGES) to get their trim, and my BF loves the food of one particular dread - "Rasta man cab COOK!", he said to the guy upon tasting some 'stew chicken'. "Me know" he replied.

So anyway, this time he got some spectacularly good pumpkin rice and deep fried crumbed chicken.

I heated the pork, crackling, chicken, roast spuds, squash etc in the oven and microwaved the rice. Also had broccoli from yesterday and fresh cauliflower with it.

Double carbs... after resisting all my life I've finally succumbed.

No booze.

Roast Belly Pork, Crackling, Five Spice & Aniseed

One of my trusty roasting methods that produces yummy, tender meat and plenty of gravy.

First I stabbed the meat a few times (not skin side) and inserted garlic slices. I then rubbed the meat and skin all over with Chinese five spice. The skin then got a little oil, some aniseeds and a load of salt. I placed the meat on a layer of stock veg (celery, carrots, onions, shallots, spring onions and garlic) and topped up with water and red wine until the veg was covered. Then into the lowish oven (140˚C) for a few hours. 

Half an hour or so before serving, put the pork on a plate while you sieve the liquid into a pan. Discard the stock veg, whack up the oven to max and put the pork back in. Add a load of soy sauce to the soon-to-be gravy and thicken with a little cornflour in milk. Add more wine or soy sauce or seasoning to your taste.

Let the gravy simmer away to reduce it down, while the crackling magic happens in the oven. 

Served with roast potatoes, brussels sprouts and broccoli. I also baked some halved shallots, chunks of butternut squash, and carrots in olive oil and salt to go with it.

Fish, Chips & Mushy Peas

My friend Biddy from France came to stay for the night. We went for drinks and nibbles at Toast ED/ Toaste.d. (Toast, East Dulwich - confusing and variable branding) which specialises in natural wine. Tried an amazing savoury Spanish white that had been left on the skins - intensely smoky with heavy petrol. The salted almonds were great. But we didn't fancy any of the food so we refilled bottles of their white wine sold from tanks and got fish and chips on the way home. The fantastic fish 'n chips place round the corner (Semas) was already closed at 10:30pm, so we took a special trip to the Flying Fish in Camberwell. I've been meaning to try it for years as it claims to serve the "The best fish & chips in South London". It doesn't. The chips were nice but the batter on the fish was horrible - there was a huge stodge of raw batter stuck to the fish that needed to be scraped off to make the fish edible. Shame.

Had left over Caribbean style chicken soup for lunch.

Harissa Chicken

OMG this is just sooooo delicious, my mouth is watering in anticipation of just describing it. I make it quite often, usually with a whole chicken and the marinade stuffed into cuts in the meat. Today was just legs and wings. I put a big dollop of very good, spicy harissa (bought by my brother at the market in Tunisia) into my pestle & mortar. I add a couple of cloves of roughly chopped garlic, a couple of roughly chopped spring onions, vegetable oil, lemon juice and Maldon salt, and pound and grind it to a rough paste. I often marinade the meat in the paste for a few hours, but also often don't get organised in time. Today I just smothered it on the chicken pieces and immediately roasted at 180˚C. With about half and hour left to go I pour in some red wine. Trust me, this reeeeaaaally works! You get crispy, very tasty, spicy chicken plus a most wonderful sauce. Had it with roast potatoes, leftover coleslaw, mixed leaves, cherry toms, and avocado with lime and salt. Far too much wine this evening.

This harissa mix works really well with lamb too.

Duck Fesanjān

Went to my parents' for the night as my mum was discharged from hospital after a nine month stay. My dad had made one of his regular dishes, duck fesanjān, a Persian dish. During dinner he wondered where he could buy coot, as that's what he'd had in fesanjān in Iran. I said I didn't think that was necessary and there are not as many coot here as in the wetlands of Iran. Anyway, it is slow-cooked and the basis of the sauce is walnuts and pomegranate molasses - delicious. We had it with pak choi and gnocchi - it all went very well together!

In the morning before leaving London, I had made the chicken soup with the de-breasted, de-limbed carcass, which my BF had for dinner.

Grilled Chicken Breast

I bought a chicken and some Jamaican yam, specifically to make Caribbean style chicken soup for my recovering-from-food-poisoning BF chicken soup. Another of his faves, very nutritious and comforting. But he didn't want chicken soup tonight. So I griddled the breasts and we had them with salad, avocado (with lime and salt), coleslaw and smoked paprika-coated potato wedges. No booze for me.

Spiced Cottage Pie

Caribbean style spiced cottage pie with cauliflower and broccoli. The Caribbean bit comes from adding allspice and Trinny chilli sauce to the filling. Other things in the filling: Minced beef (fried until brown), onions, celery, carrot, garlic, lots of red wine, a little numeric, soya sauce, Lea 'n Perrins, thyme, bayleaves, mixed dried herbs, tomato purée, thickened with cornflour. Makes a really rich and super tasty sauce.

Bit bored of this one, as it's one of BF's faves. He always asks for it. However, he's recovering from several days of food poisoning (wasn't me!) and requested this as it's comfort food for him.

Breaded Haddock

On my own: shop-bought breaded haddock with roasted cherry toms, homemade garlic and lemon mayo, and salad of mixed leaves and grated carrot with lemon dressing. Sticky toffee pudding and custard - v out of character, but I always have a sweeter tooth if I'm not drinking wine. No booze again today.

(Last of the cold curry and spinach for breakfast; homemade vegetable soup with toasted and buttered homemade wholemeal bread for lunch.)

Chicken Curry - The Return

Curry (originally cooked on 13/01/16 then I froze the leftovers), with spinach, a dollop of Greek yogurt and a blob of a friend's homemade tomato & chilli jam. Alcohol-free beer from the bottle with a lime wedge. Rose tea and turkish delight for dessert.

Roast Pork & Crackling

Roast pork 'n crackling at the White Horse in Sutton with dad. Deeeelish! Excellent garlicky gratin spuds and lovely crabapple jelly. Home for cheese and more of that wine by the fire. Loads of tempting things on the menu but if crackling's on offer I have to have it. Dad had boudin noir and poached egg on brioche with truffle pesto. Keep meaning to have that but always attracted away by bigger dishes.

Salmon Steaks, Mussels & Treacle

Back at parents'. Dad cooked crispy-skinned salmon steaks (marinated in soy, treacle etc that then became yummy sauce) topped with mussels and dill, served with spinach and crème fraîche, asparagus and nice soda bread from Sainos. Then cheese with a lovely Cali wine that was twice the price my dad thought he was paying when he ordered it (received a selection of six when he we expecting 12). Had 1 scallop each grilled with butter, parmesan and cream followed by gezier salad for lunch, what I made.

Jacket Potatoes

On my own, London. Jacket spuds grilled with cheese and onion, served with salad and chilli sauce, and accompanied by cup of tea. No wine again.

Rabbit Stew

Dad's for one night. He made: Delicious rabbit stew with cauliflower cheese, green beans and potato wedges roasted in duck fat.

Leftover Lamb; Rib Eye Steak

Left over lamb cut into slices and griddled, supplemented by a rib eye steak divided between the two of us. I had roast sweet potatoes; he had left over reheated roasties and tagliatelle. All with gravy, cauliflower, and something else I can't recall (24/01/16).

Roast Lamb

Slow-roasted lamb we were supposed to have last night. With roast spuds, loads of lovely red wine lamb gravy, 'flower sprouts' and carrots.

Takeaway Wood-Cooked Pizza

Had The Godfather's wood-fired pizzas delivered due to hangover rendering me uable to face cooking the roast lamb I had bought. Homemade salad with it though.

Seared Tuna Steaks

Griddled seared tuna steaks, homemade guacamole, coleslaw, homemade oven chips.

Thai Takeaway

Had takeaway Thai food at my friends' house; single glass of gewürztraminer (I was driving).

Caribbean Incl. Curry Goat

BF's Caribbean auntie's stewed beef, curry goat, rice 'n peas, plantain. I also added some salad and coleslaw to my massive portion of brown.

Chicken Curry

Chicken curry! Fiercely hot and fragrant. Left over gravy, spices (incl lots cinnamon and cardamom), loads of chilli, garlic and chopped onion, tinned toms. Cold roast chicken meat added near the end. Quite simple but possibly the tastiest I've ever made. Just had it with salad. One mistake: thought I was adding lentils to thicken the sauce but they were split peas, requiring hours more cooking. Lucky I was cooking in advance, and although I had wanted a quick, fresh-tasting curry, the flavours didn't need adding to at all during the long cook. Phew!

African Peanut Chicken

Leg from leftover roast chicken slathered in African peanut sauce paste, re-roasted on high temp with cherry toms. Served with homemade coleslaw and lettuce in e.v.o.o. and salt. No booze - decaf tea.

Cold Roast Chicken

Cold roast chicken with a chopped salad of: chickpeas, parsley, mint, cherry toms, toasted crushed almonds, spring onions, garlic, lemon juice, e.v.o.o, salt and pepper. Also for brunch had notably delish sandwich of chicken, creamy avocado, mayo, garlic & chilli sauce, lemon juice and salt & pepper.

Roast Chicken

Roast chicken, roast spuds, rich homemade gravy, cauliflower, carrots, shredded cabbage.

Salmon & Dill Baked Potatoes

A store cupboard meal - baked spuds stuffed with: potato, butter, greek yogurt, loads of dill, tinned salmon, lemon juice, spring onion and plenty of seasoning. Topped with cheddar that was allowed to brown slightly. Served with mixed salad.

Exclusive Wine, Squid, Lamb & Cocktails

Met brother and friend for 2 glasses of lovely wine each at the exclusive 67 Pall Mall wine club. Then went to Quo Vadis as friend had 50% off food offer due to membership. Squid & bergamot salad with Kalza cocktail (pisco, lemon, sugar, rosemary, pineapple, bitters), then obscenely tender lamb with fennel salad & pistachios. Finished upstairs with an old fashioned.

Azerbaijani Lamb Stew & Homemade Bread

Azerbaijani stew of lamb, chickpeas, potato, sour plums, onion and saffron. Served with homemade tendir bread topped with aniseeds, and a salad of griddled courgette, parsley, dill, mint, toasted almonds, pomegranate seeds, salt and pomegranate molasses.

Turkish Squid Meal

Griddled cuttlefish with moutabel, roast spuds, and chopped salad of cherry toms, cucumber, Turkish green peppers, parsley, mint, dill, lemon juice, e.v.o.o, tomato&chili jam.

Ham, Egg & Chips

London: Dad's ham refried, egg and homemade chips.

Roast Ham/ Gammon

Dad's roast smoked ham with oven chips, green beans, grilled tomatoes, grilled mushrooms (lunch), before driving back to London.

Roast Beef, Brasserie Blanc

Roast beef family meal at Brasserie Blanc, Chichester (lunch).

??

Relatives, help me out on this? Only the second day but I started this on about the 9th Jan and the dinner on the 2nd is a blank.

'Indian' Takeaway

Takeaway NYD lunch curry banquet - family meal.