Take a Stab
Recipes and images by Fiona Hugues In 1946 Rita Hayworth starred in a film portraying a character named Gilda who was beautiful, spicy and a little bit wild. Shortly after the release of the film, a bar in San Sebastian served a tapa that was salty, spicy and sharp, much like Rita’s part, and in […]
VERY SOUPERSTITIOUS
Words and Images by Fiona Hugues In a world seemingly obsessed with health and wellness, somewhat boring broths and savoury soupy elixirs are appearing in all the bourgeoise spots frequented by the bendy fitspo crew (those active wear types all freshly unwound and retreated). Each to their own, but cynical me (who prefers a wild […]
APÉRITIF – Cocktail Hour the Fiona Way
Words and images by Fiona Hugues I recently tragically lost my little terrier buddy Whinny. She’d been my faithful companion for 11 years and was my preferred company to spend apéritif hour with. At the end of the day we’d wander our grounds and ponder changes in the garden, and she’d flush out and promptly […]
Salmon Salad
Recipe and image Fiona Hugues Since the Middle Ages, humans have been smoking salmon to preserve the fish, enabling them to eat it over the long winters. Thousands of years later it’s rumoured Victoria Beckham eats salmon every day. It’s also said supermodel Elle MacPherson religiously eats greens everyday. So surely, I thought, putting these […]
ANTIPASTI SALAD
Recipe and image Fiona Hugues Just the word antipasti for me instantly conjures up a bucolic scene of copious glasses of wine on a lazy afternoon with friends, and platters of bountiful tasty wee things to slowly devour. This salad is that very notion but in a bowl, packed full of all the things, and […]
GREEN THINGS & GREBICHE
Recipe and Images by Fiona Hugues Just the word gribiche (pron: gree-beesh) conjures up fancy plates, plucked, peeled and poached green whatnots carefully laid out to be admired by wowed guests. It’s a swanky old French recipe for a saucy combination of basically cold egg and mustard but with posh add-ins like shallots, cornichons and […]
CAROTTES RÂPÉES
Words and images by Fiona Hugues Carrots weren’t found in Europe until the Middle Ages and at that time doctors only prescribed them to relieve problems ranging from sexual maladies to snakebite. Nowadays they’re known to be beneficial for a bunch of things, as they are a particularly good source of beta-carotene, fibre, vitamin K1, […]
WOODLAND SPINACH & MUSHROOM PIE
Recipe and Images by Fiona Hugues There was a French bakery in the big city a couple of decades ago that made great take home pies before imperious Francophiles appeared everywhere and ruined many of our gluttonous French gourmet secrets. Prior to being discovered by the masses, we’d whip into the tiny bakery and buy […]
APPLE OF MY EYE PIE
Recipe and Images by Fiona Hugues There’s something nurturing and comforting about a decadent, sweet and fragrant warm apple pie that makes it the delight of one’s life. She’s the welcome home dish one loves best in all the world. Some love it more than others – no one can easily forget that hilarious scene […]
POTATO BOLOGNAISE (NOT COTTAGE) PIE
Recipe and images by Fiona Hugues I’m not going to string you some bucolic line here, so here it is, my name is Fiona and I detest cottage pie. “Whatever,” I can hear you tutt-tutting. Call me a snob, but my aversion is with valid reason. It’s stemmed from this – I’m a mother of […]