Top 4 cookware finds during my Christmas hols

Whilst I was contracting nasty bugs of the bronchial variety and experiencing that extremely rare sensation i.e. a lack of appetite, I was still able to enjoy the non-eating foodie opportunities presented by my homeland – namely, perusing the funky cookware.

Here’s my top 4 roundup of food bits and bobs that tore a hole in my finances:


Serving platter
Mr Price is South Africa’s answer to Primark, but their homeware department seems to have undergone some kind of revamp - I could’ve literally bought the whole floor (luggage restrictions held me back). This plastic number caught my eye just before I paid for my other booty, meaning I had to lose my place in the queue. But it was worth it. Durable, dishwasher friendly and perfect for everything from crisps to garlic bread to salad.


Serviettes
Gorgeous, bright napkins chock-a-block with sunshine and local South African imagery – just the thing to help you wipe away your cold weather cares (and sticky messes). Another Mr Price (locally poshed up to Monsieur Pricé) special.




Tin bowls
Traditional African tin plates, mugs and bowls are suddenly ‘in’ in South Africa - they’re everywhere! I picked these up in Johannesburg – couldn’t resist the funky South African words plastered across them and fun ‘airmail’ look to them. Road tested them on my first night back in Lambeth with takeaway burgers from Firefly pub in Clapham – the burgers fit like a glove, with a little room left for a tactical splodge of tomato sauce for chip dipping.


East Coast Tables cookbook
Rammed with recipes from local s’lebs such as former South African rugby captain Jon Smit and, erm, an ex-Miss South Africa, this is a beautifully shot book of nostalgic food memories from my childhood. The curries and seafood will definitely get an outing, but first off I’m attempting the Pecan & Ginger Cake for my next gathering – watch this space.

South African Watermelon Salad

28 hour trip door to door to get back to the family for Christmas = bad start to the holidays. Diagnosis of bronchitis upon arrival = extremely bad start.

Yes, after many snow-delayed hours, I finally made it to Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, South African east coast. After a course of antibiotics, my appetite came back with a vengeance, meaning I could tuck into the national dish: Braai. I could also start prepping re my contribution to the annual Christmas shindig. This year, salads were on my list, and I went for a festive looking Green Bean Salad With Yogurt Dressing & Pomegranate Seeds, and a [locally] seasonal Watermelon & Feta Salad.

I can report that the watermelon went down a storm. The green beans, not so much. Seems South Africa isn't quite ready for a garlic, cinnamon and blanched legumes combo. So here's the step by step to creating your own melon magic:

Watermelon & Feta Salad
Quarter watermelon, de-seeded and chopped into chunks
250g feta, cubed
2 celery stalks, chopped finely
10 kalamata olives, de-pipped and sliced finely
10-12 mint leaves, chopped finely

Dressing:
3 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1-2 tsp Dijon mustard
Salt & freshly ground pepper

Instructions:
Pile up the watermelon, feta, mint, celery and olives.
Mix the dressing, seasoning to taste as you go.
Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving.

Christmas – just like in the bible

To me, the typical London household is rarely comprised of London-born Londoners, of London origin. In fact, in my experience, members generally hail from everywhere but London. And our multicultural house is no exception. All of which is a roundabout way of explaining why my partner and I decided to celebrate Christmas last Sunday instead of on the more traditional December 25th i.e. before heading off west and south to our respective familial homes.

The Abbeyville Pub in Clapham South was our chosen festive location – table for two, 1pm sharp, for the Christmas menu. On arrival, we were quickly seated and greeted by shiny crackers on the table – so far, so festive. But almost immediately we were descended upon by the manager, who aggressively informed us that another table would be arriving for our table at 3pm – which took a bit of the shine off the crackers. Nevertheless we turned to the menu for yuletide inspiration – only to be told that the a la carte menu was the Christmas menu (albeit with the addition of turkey and a Christmas pud option).

The non-Christmassy Sunday beef and yorkies were fab as always, service was excellent and the wine was superb. But we never quite got over the shock of the table turnaround attack. So much so, in fact, that we headed home right after pud to retire in front of the TV for an X Factor repeat and some elderly bubbly we had stashed in the cupboard (accompanied by some cheese we picked up from the fabulous MacFarlane’s on Abbeyville Road – highly recommended).

Direct me here forthwith!
The Abbeyville
67-69 Abbeville Road
London
SW4 9JW
Tel: 020 8675 2201

The Brixton Burger (not a euphemism)

Tuesday night saw me getting back to my rock chick roots (I have some somewhere, down the back of the couch) to get down with the kids at an Interpol gig. Brixton Academy was calling, I had donned my 'urban' attire and I was ready to rock. Then my ticket-holding co-rocker called to say he was stuck in Reading, would have to miss our pre-dinner plans and would only make it just in time for the band – cue panic due to loudly rumbling stomach.

With no time to get home, defrost some of the weekend’s batch of soup, slurp it down, and then make it to the venue, I plumped for a fortifying pint of Guinness in a Brixton pub while I waited. My companion soon arrived, equally starving, and concurred: We have a food emergency.

With just moments to spare before the headliners hit the stage, we searched in vain for quick snack, but were only met with the bland stare of a Nando’s. Defeated, we decided to push on through the gig - only to be greeted by this welcome sign on our way in…

And did this place deliver. One of the juiciest, honest-to-goodness best burgers. I have no illusions as to the source of the meat, or its non-existent organic, fairtrade or local sourcing credentials… but it was hot, the bun was soft and it was chokka with gorgeous, caramelised onions. Three bites and it was gone – best £2,80 I’ve spent in a long time. So what if it wasn’t the best food match for an Irish stout and my stomach continued to grumble in another way altogether for the rest of the night – The Kitchen at the Academy is OK by me.

The eternal half price pizza

As a Lambeth newbie, I couldn’t help but be struck by the plethora of eateries available. But one caught my eye immediately and became a ‘must visit’. Behold… Pizzeria on the Green.

You just know it’s a one off when the venue has ‘1/2 price pizza’ actually stencilled on the awning. Hurry while stocks last!!

But undeterred by false advertising, I decided to test the waters of this intriguing trattoria. We called and ordered a Hawaiian pizza and penne pasta with a tomato-based sauce (watching the calories) and chicken. (I must add here that this was off menu, I repeat, off menu – let that be a little challenge for my budget-friendly Italian friends). As promised, it was ready to collect in 12 minutes and the price was reasonable, as quoted.

The pizza was thin, crispy and bursting with flavour. Glorious in colour and texture, with just the right amount of pineapple as to add sporadic bursts of sweetness without turning the entire ensemble into a fruit salad. The pasta, however, was a massive half assed, let alone half priced, disappointment. Lacking in both sauce and flavour, the dry, brown bits of chicken left me less than impressed. Challenge – fail!

Overall, lovely service and to-die-for pizza convinced us this was a place worth making a regular haunt. But I’ll stick to what they know best on the menu from now on.

Post script: A foodie friend pointed out that Mr Masterchef guest judge himself, Michel Roux Jnr, recommended this place in delicious. magazine as a ‘local favourite’ a few years back. No matter how famous you are, you clearly can’t resist a bargain.

I want a pizza of the action!
Pizzeria On The Green
4 Cavendish Parade
Clapham
London
SW4 9DW
Tel: 020 8673 3227