Pints, pasties and a lot of sausage rolls
trips can be planned, but let's be honest –
they'll probably change and it can be for the better or for the worse, I guess it depends on your attitude. When you think you're going to Scotland for a week on a Saturday as you pick up a rental car and then three hours later watch the news and realise that it's definitely not going to happen, what else is there to do but drink two bottles of prosecco, have a socially distanced dance party and eat a bacon cheeseburger at 10pm (the new midnight), wake up at 4am and suddenly decide to drive down to Cornwall?
Of course, being lucky enough to take a holiday before Lockdown 2.0 was a treat, and hungover (with a comedy of errors along the way, including not being able to open the petrol cap of our rental car, calling the AA and being stuck in Putney for 2 hours), we finally made it down to the Helford, the mist rolling in, the sun about to set and a cold, grey swim to finish off the journey.
This is place where memories are held in river swims, woodland walks, old friends, sea views and winding roads. Where returning feels like coming home, visiting feels abnormal, slipping back into the life we lived almost immediate. Where the water feels colder, hugs feel warmer and food just tastes better.
This was a trip full of new shared moments and learning about someone else's nostalgia; driving down new roads and hairpin turns; eating Cornish pasties and sausage rolls on low tide beaches, fish and chips on harbour steps; ferry rides with a tin of Red Stripe, half-price ales, Lidl pastel del natas, too many Guinnesses and a fair few whiskies; late night dance parties, hungover morning swims, more pasties and lighting fires; letting go of comparisons, swimming with wild abandon, sunsets, sunrises, pink skies and driving home the long way back. Also a lot of supermarket sandos, one secretly scoffed in the Bridgewater services car park, which upped my personal sandwich count up to seven in less than five hours.
We arrived home in the dark, the past four days almost a dream, hangovers gone and the only thing on our minds a plate of pasta pomodoro and a bottle of Malbec. The holiday is over, but the memories remain.
Here's to plans changing, making the best of new ones and of course, to a Biden-Harris win. Duh.
Cat x
john, meet dory.
There's nothing I love more than cooking in a small kitchen. Staying in a little A-frame cabin near my old shed brought back the memories of one hob and woodburner meals. Obviously being by the sea called for a fish supper, so we popped to Seabourne (the local fishmongers in Penryn) and picked up a couple of fillets of John Dory (expensive but worth it). John Dory has a lovely meaty texture and needs nothing more than a simple lemon butter sauce with capers, some crushed new potatoes and a big pot of tomatoes slow cooked on top of a woodburner.
You’ll need:
– 2 fillets of white fish (you could use cod, halibut, hake, bass or bream)
– 1 pack of cherry tomatoes on the vine
– Two handfuls of salad/new potatoes
– 1/2 bunch of kale
– 1 lemon
– 2 tsp capers
– Olive oil
– Butter
– Parsley (or herb of choice for the pots)
– Salt + pepper
Start by popping the cherry tomatoes in a saucepan with a splash of water, glug of olive oil, salt, pepper and a big twist of salt + pepper. Put them on a low heat (or a woodburner, if you're lucky enough to have one) and leave for about 30 minutes until they start bursting open.
Meanwhile, get the potatoes on a hob with salted water, boil them for about 10-15 minutes, or until you can put a knife through easily. In a separate pan, heat up a tbsp of olive oil (on high) then add the fish, skin side down. Fry for about 4-5 minutes then gently flip the fish. Add a knob of butter, a bit of lemon juice and zest of 1/2 lemon, capers and some seasoning. Start spooning the butter over the fish until it's cooked.
Drain the new potatoes, add another naughty knob of butter, herbs, salt and pepper and some lemon zest for luck. Stir the kale into the tomatoes, using the residual heat to wilt them. Serve everything up with a glass of crisp, dry white wine (a Riesling perhaps), making sure pour that sexy sauce over everything.
food stories.
– How following traditional Chinese medicine (and the 24 solar terms) can help you this winter, via Bon Appétit
– I loved this Vittles piece on The Bourdainification Of Food Travel by Joanna Fuertes
– A great interview with Nadiya Hussein – of Bake Off fame – for The Guardian
a few leftovers.
– Everyone needs some Heather Scott wooden plates/chopping boards/spatulas in their kitchen
– Block out winter with Trap Fruits' sunny fruit offering, delivered to your doors
– My wonderful pal Lucy Page is an amazing maker, YOU NEED HER BOWLS
– Shout out to my friend Grace Kingswell, a nutritional therapist you should be following on Instagram
– LA eatery Gjusta's brunch spread makes me want smoked salmon forever
– It's squash season and we should all be cooking Diana Henry's chicken/rice/squash situation
– Rachel Alice Roddy is the queen of Roman pasta: here's one I want to eat right now
– Always here for Quality Chop House's confit potato
– Hi, this is a porcini donut with truffle, you are most welcome (thank you Orasay)
if you like what I'm putting down?
Tell your friends! Tell your family! Tell your lovers!