Just add butter and season: Pasta from Burro e Salvia

A friend of mine has a young son called Max who as a child refused to eat anything but plain penne with no sauce; just a knob of butter stirred in with a bit of seasoning. Buttery, salty, melt-in-your-mouth delicious; it is easy to see why pasta is a favourite staple for kids and adults alike. So when I discovered that a new outpost of Burro e Salvia had opened in my vicinity, I couldn’t resist the temptation.

Unboxing the pasta from Burro e Salvia

The window was welcoming enough with the open kitchen showing how the staff kneaded and shaped the dough. Then inside there were nests of tagliatelle, coils of tajarin and fat ribbons of pappardelle dusted in flour and lying temptingly behind the counter on beds of light parchment paper. The filled pasta varieties were no less seductive either: tortelloni, ravioli, gnocchi, all looking like candies in a box.

Burro e Salvia is not just a pasta shop but also a small restaurant, supplying to selected stores around London and providing workshops and bespoke catering services. You can also buy Italian wines and preserves as well as rustic kitchenware to serve up your pasta feast.

I finally decided on the ravioli stuffed with ricotta and flavoured with parmesan cheese, lemon and orange zest. A delightful aroma filled the air when I unboxed the parcel back home.  The friendly staff in the store recommended that I cook the pasta in salted boiling water for 3-4 minutes and serve with melted butter and a little seasoning. I followed the tip and was smitten.

Fresh ravioli filled with ricotta and a hint of orange zest

It turns out that Max’s food choices were not bad at all. I’m not sure if he would have approved of the orange zest, but that, for me, was the delicate zing that was needed to cut through all the buttery savouriness.

Verdict: I’m definitely going back for more.

New cake on the block: Cutter and Squidge

No matter what, there is always room in my heart and my tummy for cake. And when it is as good as what is being served up at Cutter & Squidge, then I am prone to skip everything else to make room.

One of these Biskies has my name on it

Cutter & Squidge was founded by baking-mad sisters Annabel and Emily Lui. Here, if  cake is Duke and Duchess then the biskie is the royal baby.

Biskie? Yes, it’s a “thing”. This sweet creation of the Cutter & Squidge sister team combines the  softness of cake, with the chewiness of a cookie and the short, crispness of a biscuit.

The result is stacked like a sandwich filled with whipped buttercream and jam, resembling the structure of the whoopee pie and the delicacy of the macaroon.

Annabel and Emily make everything from scratch, using only the best natural ingredients from British producers and suppliers and real butter rather than hydrolysed fats.  Their specially created buttercream is made with just half the amount of butter and sugar normally used in baking and their  home made jams are packed with real fruit for maximum flavour.

Tempting new flavours of cake

I went for the Marathon Runner and loved every last crumb. Rich chocolate and peanut with a swirl of salted caramel; creamy and chewy and soft at the same time. It didn’t last long in my mouth, but I still can’t get it out of my mind.

Hurry and get yours while the Soho pop-up store is still in open for the summer. Otherwise, order online and drool while you wait.

You can find the Cutter & Squidge summer pop-up store at
No. 4 Brewer street, Soho, London, W1F 0SB

Cutter and Squidge – sisters of cake

Peckham Print Studio: A small idea grown wholesomely

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” These wise words, attributed to the Dutch painter Van Gogh, apply just as well to what is going on at Peckham Print Studio. This small enterprise, tucked away behind the Sunday Painter Gallery just off Peckham Rye Station is punching way above its weight in terms of influence and ambition in the design printing space.

Founded by Nathan Bryant and Hugh Barrell in 2012, what started as a simple idea to provide a working space and artistic support to designers and printers is now a thriving inter-disciplinary community of creatives with the studio as its hub. At the time they were starting out, both Nathan and Hugh found that nobody else seemed to be doing the kind of thing they where looking for. So they set out to develop their own concept; a courageous step which has proven to be a viable business model.

Some of the work benches at Peckham Print Studio

The business currently focuses on five core streams of activity: open access studio membership, weekly public workshops, events, commercial work and an online shop showcasing the work of selected artists.

In the spirit of the two founders, the approach and the management of each of these streams is supportive, welcoming and decidedly un-snobbish. And yet there is a sense of productivity and purpose in everything they do.

Members are selected on the basis of their work ethic rather than the style or taste of their work. The limited spaces, open to about 15 members at a time, are allocated to those who are committed to making best use of the opportunity. It is a flexible arrangement in which members are welcome to stay for as long or as little as they need. To support and develop local talent, one of the memberships has been set aside for an annual residency programme which offers one candidate free, all-access studio membership and the opportunity to assist the resident printer for a six month period.

Pots of paint waiting to give a splash of colour to the next print

The weekly workshops are open to all and provide a uniquely intensive learning experience. They are led by a qualified working printer and only four people are accepted per workshop so that each participant can get proper hands-on practice and the full attention of the tutor.

To enhance the creative community experience, the duo have started offering annual field trips to local places of interest to encourage people to look to their local community and surroundings for artistic inspiration.

And then there is the commercial work and the online shop. These have grown from building up a strong network of partnerships and collaborations with corporate organisations, creative agencies, artists and designers. Peckham Print Studios currently fabricate one-off fine art pieces and limited edition screen prints for emerging designers like Tal Dori or Kyle Platts, or for more established artists like Oliver Osborne. Some of these eclectic productions are available for purchase via the online shop.

Some of the tools of the trade

When you visit their studio in South East London, it is surprising to see how so much can be achieved within such a limited space. But as Nathan was quick to emphasis, starting small was a definite advantage, as it forced them to come up with creative solutions to develop their vision. I suppose that is something every business can learn from:

Start small, follow your vision, grow wholesomely, and success, as they say, will follow.

A walk into Aladdin’s cave: Bellore Rashbel

Some of you might already know that Hatton Gardens is the diamond district of London. You’ll find countless gem shops and jewellery boutiques of all kinds vying for your attention and your money on that one tiny strip. But diamonds and pearls were not the reason for my visit.

Instead I was on the hunt for a store that has been recommended as one of the best places to find supplies for jewellery making: Bellore Rashbel. I was not disappointed.

More variety and service than you can imagine

The tiny shop front reveals a surprisingly spacious and organised interior. Looping strands of beads arranged according to colour are draped along one wall; on another wall are rolls of wire gleaming in silvery, coppery and golden tones.

The centre island houses drawers of cut stones and cabochons ready for setting. Scrolls and posts, locks, clasps, end caps, rings, and a sundry of other essential bits and pieces of the trade are neatly arranged in boxes and shelves and cabinets throughout the space.

From simple tools to professional machinery, you are spoilt for choice

Downstairs is the world of tools. Here you will find everything from simple hammers and mallets, pliers and tweezers to sophisticated setting tools, polishing equipment and ultrasonic machines.

Ordinarily, you would have to shop around in different stores to find all these items, but Bellore Rashbel has it all under one roof.

With so much to choose from, just be prepared to leave with a stash of swag and your mind buzzing with inspiration.

A Smorgasbord of Flavours on Leather Lane

Holborn is not an area I am very familiar with, but yesterday, I stumbled upon the Leather Lane weekday market. It was lunch time and the three block strip of food stalls and coffee shops unfolded to a delectable smorgasbord of flavours and cuisines; many of them cooked before my eyes and served up on steaming paper plates.

You could easily find a different something from spicy to sweet, from succulent to crispy, from decadent to meat or gluten-free. Or all of the above.

The punters were a happy mix of office workers , tradesmen and accidental visitors like myself criss-crossing from stand to stand, all wondering which delicious choice to make. Queues of people waited patiently in line at the most popular stalls. But the best bit was seeing them walking off with their tasty trophies filling both hands and a jubilant smile on their face.

Here are some impressions of these food artists at work.

Life Lessons on Time with Priscilla Watkins

The 10,000 Hour Rule has apparently been debunked. However, this principle of practice makes perfect, which was popularised by Malcolm Gladwell in the 2011 bestseller Outliers, still fascinates me. And it is this life lesson which came to mind during my recent conversation with Brixton based artist Priscilla Watkins. Quoting Picasso who said, “It took me a lifetime to paint like a child,” Priscilla was keen to emphasise the importance of time, practice and perseverance in her approach to life and work.

Elizabeth Taylor’s violet blue eyes by Priscilla Watkins (sold)

Painting and drawing has always been a passion for Priscilla, but after the rigours of art school and immersing herself in a ten year career in magazine publishing, she felt had lost her touch. It took the birth of her first child to remind her of her true calling, and it was not to be found in an office.

Rather than spelling the death of creativity, having children awakened her muse and reminded her of what had led her to study art in the first place. She was drawn to capturing her life and environment in sketchbook diaries and on canvas. But it wasn’t until she was in her 30s and 40s that she felt she had something relevant to say.

Her signature style emerged during a chance experiment with a throwaway camera in the lido pool one summer. The play of shadows and contrasts beneath the water’s surface, the light embracing each figure like a web of white mohair, the shapes and movements of the swimmers evoking different moods and reflections; all these impressions triggered her fascination and have now become a recurring motif.

For Priscilla, painting is about communicating the life force, celebrating the joy of an innocent childhood when all the adventures of life are yet to be discovered. Based on photographs taken in the pool, her paintings do not depict a choreographed sequence, but instead capture a  piece of frozen time; the most moving shot in a series of random takes.

Over time, the light effects in her paintings have evolved from being quite mosaic-like to becoming more fluid and abstract and emotionally real. In her experience, the years of meticulous practice have not only been about perfecting her technical skills as a painter, but more importantly about unlearning old habits and inhibitions; consciously painting in an unconscious way.

Zoom by Priscilla Watkins (commissioned)

After our conversation, I couldn’t help thinking that these lessons could just as well be applied to other areas in life. You need time to find your vocation, time to develop your voice, time to perfect your skills and time to become yourself.

To see more of Priscilla’s art, check out her website or see her works on display at the Turning Point Group Show at the Brixton gallery Studio 73 until August 2, 2015. Look out for her solo show at the same gallery from 12 October 2015.

Out of This World! Goat’s Cheese from Narnia

Goat’s cheese is very much an acquired taste. I didn’t try it until quite late in life and somehow the experience was always disappointing. I disliked the chalky texture, the sharpness and the gamey aftertaste of supermarket cheeses I’d tried in the past. For me, goat’s cheese was only tolerable with lots of sweet accompaniments to mask the flavour.

Noel Brooks of Narnia Natural Foods at Herne Hill Market

So when I came across Noel of Narnia Natural Foods at Herne Hill Market this past weekend, I was pleasantly surprised. What struck me first was his passion for his product and the integrity of the whole lifecycle from how the goats are kept, to production and the creative process behind all the different flavours.

After starting out in South Africa, Noel and his fellow cheese maker Zoran emigrated to the UK and now run a small creamery in Hertfordshire.

They currently source their milk from a supplier in the Cambridge area and are now in training to be able to manage their own herd in the future.

Noel invited me to try the ash-coated classic cheese: creamy and rich with a pleasant tang. The fresh goat’s cheese tasted like ricotta with a rich, bright aroma. The cranberry coated version had a lovely citrusy sweetness with mellow hint of cinnamon.This was the cheese I finally chose, along with a nutty walnut version I couldn’t resist.

Lots of lovely goat’s cheeses and condiments

The cheeses were to be the final course of a dinner I was hosting and went down really well with some plain wholemeal rye crackers and a drizzle of heather honey.

Out of this world!

A Walk Along Rye Lane

I wrote a couple of days ago about Soho’s fabric and haberdashery stores in Berwick Street. Today, it is all about Rye Lane in the heart of Peckham.

As one of London’s most West-African influenced districts, Peckham is a riot of colours, impressions and encounters. Especially in summer, this where you can appreciate African prints being worn with pride. Rye Lane is great for people watching, but it is also where you can source all the materials.

During my visit, three stores in particular stood out for me.

Oyin’s Textile & Fashion

Oyins’s huge range of fabrics and haberdashery is very popular

On the outside, Oyin’s looks tiny; its windows, jam-packed with rolls of fabric and trimmings, concealing the view to the interior. If you can get into this popular shop,  you enter a narrow valley dwarfed on either side by mountains of colourful stock. This leads on to a wider area with a cutting table and a back room where a tailor is usually busy at work. The inventory is full of glitzy embellishments, lacy details and intricate embroidery. This looks like the perfect place to source all the bling to turn your ordinary into extraordinary.

Roya Textiles

Mohammed giving customers a warm welcome

Shopping here is a more structured and calmer affair. You enter through a bright pink doorway into a cool, muted interior. Muhammed welcomed me with a smile and showed me proudly around the expansive store with its dazzling range of wax prints, kente and ceremonial cloths. Roya is a real treasure trove; anything you can’t find here, Mohammed is able to source for you through his extensive network of contacts and suppliers around the world.

Sonna African Textiles

The window display showing off some designs by Extrovert Creations at Sonna African Textiles

If I may compare Roya to the John Lewis equivalent of African fabrics, then Sonna would correspond to Selfridges. Smart and bright with a decidedly upmarket feel. So if you are looking for something truly special, and some design inspiration. then this is the place you will find it.

The owner Brendon allowed me to speak to customers and take all the photos I needed; just the huge Vlisco wall was out of bounds. As the European distributor of Vlisco fabrics, Sonna is obliged to protect the brand and design copyrights.

I have always wondered why African prints have not entered mainstream fashion in bigger way. There are so many ways you can clash and combine the colours, patterns and textures. After this visit, making my own African-inspired creation is definitely now on my to-do list.

By the way, when I refer to African prints, I’m using this term in the generic sense. There are countless different styles and traditions depending on which country or region you are in. Also, it’s fair to note that many of the prints associated with African style, actually originated in Asia and are not African at all. You can read more about it in this blog post I found on Beyond Victoriana.

Sew Awesome Soho

I have been thinking for ages about reactivating my dressmaking skills, but somehow, sewing never made it to the top of my must-do list. That was until last week when I couldn’t resist purchasing a beautiful 1950s dressmaker’s model. So I ventured across the river for some inspiration and found myself in Soho’s Berwick Street.

Now, London’s Soho district is rapidly gentrifying into a blander, more family-friendly place, but not so long ago, it was the go-to destination for a rather more adult kind of entertainment. Perhaps due to its proximity to the nearby theatre district, Soho also happens to harbour a cluster of fantastic fabric stores and haberdashers and that is where I found myself drooling over trimmings and ribbons and stacked rolls of fabrics. The prices may be a bit intimidating, but browsing doesn’t cost a thing.

The new store front does not over-promise on the delights inside

Established in 1902, the Grande Dame of haberdashers has to be the iconic MacCulloch & Wallis. The shop recently moved into larger, brighter premises on Poland Street and continues to serve customers with just about any tool, accessory or material the garment and hat designer could ever need. There was certainly more to see and feel and than I could ever need, but the knowledgable and friendly staff were great at navigating me through the wide selection. MacCulloch & Wallis definitely leads the way in both service and supplies.

The whimsical store front whets your creative appetite

Just around the corner is the Cloth House which has been around for more than 30 years, but looks as fresh and youthful as cotton candy. You can tell by the whimsical window display that this is where you can probably find a more eclectic selection of fabrics and vintage-style accessories. They have a large selection of cotton, linen, natural and handmade fabrics which can be purchased at their store in Berwick Street or online. They do not sell leather or suede.

Other suppliers in the area also worth a visit:

• Berwick Street Cloth Shop (leading supplier to the theatres and fabulous for faux fur)
• Kleins (A haven for trimmings, trimmings and more trimmings)
• The Silk Society and Broadwick Silks (An obvious choice for silks of all kinds, and also part of the Top Fabric group of stores selling a wider range of fabrics and haberdashery))
• Borovick Fabrics (The oldest fabric store in Soho and still run by the founding family for more than 80 years)

Honey Roars with a Twist of Basil

Apparently raw honey is a thing, a natural remedy for all ills and ailments. At least that is what some websites claim with capital letters and exclamation marks. And I heard a similar story when I met Stefan of Bee Mercy at his market stall on North Cross Road in East Dulwich.

Now, I am not usually one for hocus pocus health claims, but the honey looked amazing and I was carried away by the concept that, like wine, honey can be appreciated according to the specific Terroir. The flavours and aromas are influenced just as much by the soil and the climate of the respective region as they are by the primary flowers the bees call on for their pollen fix.

Bee Mercy sells 15 different flavours of honey, but my eyes fixed on rosemary and carob. Both are delicious as a spread on a slice of bread and butter, but I wanted to try something different.

I opened a pot of yoghurt, drizzled a spoonful of honey and then stirred in some chopped basil. The result: A-MA-ZING! The honey takes on a  surprisingly rich, citrusy spiciness and the creamy yoghurt balances the sweetness in a very pleasing way. With a combination as soothing and satisfying as this, I, too, am a believer.

What do you think of honey with yoghurt and basil? What are your favourite honey recipes?

I am always on the lookout for new recipes for this versatile natural sweetener. So please share your links and recipes in the comments below.