Hello. My name is Francesca, I live in London and here are some facts about me.
- I’m 4ft10. I have a special kitchen stool I stand on.
- If it’s on the menu, I will always choose the moules mariniere.
- I am fluent in British Sign Language.
- The cookbook I use the most is Leith’s Cookery Bible.
- I am in my late twenties.
- My two A* results at school were in Latin and Ancient Greek. I have a degree in Philosophy. I’m all for unpractical knowledge.
- I only started cooking six years ago. I grew up on fish fingers and pot noodles.
- I have never successfully made a hollandaise sauce.
- But I am quite good at pastry.
- I dream of organising the first annual London Pie Festival.
- I am curious who you are.
March 1, 2008 at 5:00 am
*I’m 5ft 11 – so I don’t need a special kitchen stool/
* I always choose Fegato Alla Veneziana if its on the menu. When I cook it myself, I like to add crushed juniper berries but these are quite hard to find in London. Last time, I got them from Tokyo.
* I enjoy Elizabeth David, refer to Mrs. Beeton, browse Larousse, but don’t really use any of them.
* I am just late
* I studied Latin but got a degree in Chemistry.
* I grew up on Lancashire Hot Pot, and enjoyed fish ‘n chips when they were wrapped in the Liverpool Echo.
* I have never made a successful hollandaise sauce
* but I’m OK with pastry, from Waitrose or Tesco
* I enjoy cooking with spices and often add different teas as an ingredient. Have you tried marinading beef in Lapsang Souchong or poaching Sole in a delicate jasmine tea?
* I am curious what you will cook at the pie festival and when it will take place.
March 5, 2008 at 12:27 am
March 10, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Pavlov- Alabama, USA
*6 ft. sans stool.
*A sucker for osso buco.
*fluent in pig latin and some dog latin “Gustatus similis pullus.”
*cookbook used most is not really a cookbook “On Food and Cooking” Harold McGee.
*I’m not in my late 20’s for about a decade now.
* You got A’s in School?! what’s an A?
*I’ve been cooking since I was 6.
*I have never made Borscht.
*I dream of bells ringing.
March 18, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Hi, my name is K, I live in the States and this is my response.
- I’m 5′6″-5′8″ depending on which measurement you use.
- I adore tom kha gai.
- (Mexican) Spanish was my first language. Now I have that, English and Mandarin Chinese under the belt.
- Most used cookbook is likely “Joy of Cooking,” ’cause it was always laid out on Ma’s kitchen counter.
- I haven’t gotten an A since my sophomore year in college and I still haven’t graduated after five years.
- I’ve been cooking off and on since I could (actually) help. There were dry spells, of course.
- I have never been able to make anything with seafood taste like it was supposed to.
- But I’m good with real meats.
- I dream of many things.
- I’m curious as to what you think of my verbosity.
April 2, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Thanks for the blog!
I’m 5ft5.5 and my special kitchen tool is my wooden spoon
I always pick the fresh steamed mussels if they are in season
I am fluent in German and doing my best at understanding Swiss Dialect whilst learning Italian at the local community college – English is my mother tongue
I pilfer ideas from many resources, but rarely stick completely to the recipe
I am in my late thirties
I don’t put much weight on grades since you have to be in the demographic the instruction was designed for to do well but I was lucky to be in that demographic
I’ve been cooking most of my life but have become more proficient at it recently due to the astronomical cost of eating out as well as lack of good restaurants
Hollandaise – I prefer to save the calorie bomb for dessert
I am quite good at preparing tasty broth based soups
I dream of travel
I have no idea how I came upon your blog, but I have included it in my Mozilla Firefox Daily Coffee
April 27, 2008 at 11:51 am
Hello, my name is Tiffany.
I live in Singapore, and I’m fifteen.
I am fluent in English, and so far I am only bilingual with Mandarin as my second language.
My grades in school are average.
So far I cannot cook much, but my mother is a talented cook, and I usually stand beside her and observe her cooking.
I came across this website while trying to find recipes for my mother, and my mother is a big fan of red meat. I bookmarked this page.
Although I cannot cook much as I am not skilled enough yet, I do well for Food & Nutrition theory, and someday I might be able to cook as well as my mother.
I love the sound and smell of sauteed butter, garlic and onions.
I dream of having a football team of children.
I will continue to read this wordpress as my mother is equally amazed by all the dishes you can cook up.
Thank you.
June 24, 2008 at 6:20 am
Hello, my name is Jodie. I currently live in Melbourne Australia but am about to come to the UK for a year.
*I am 5′4 so on the stool cusp especially when sharing a kitchen with 6′4 partner.
*The food I obsess about is Ipoh Noodles (Hor Fun I think)
*Am currently trying (not too hard) to learn Mandarin but so far can only say “Please I do not want any MSG”
*I don’t use cook books much but the website I cook a lot of recipes from is an Australian cooking program called The cook and the chef http://www.abc.net.au/tv/cookandchef/
*I have a degree in Philosophy also and other sundry useless things
*I would definitely come to a London pie festival!
July 26, 2008 at 10:06 am
My name is Jonathan, I live near London Bridge and I am an academic who has branched out into all things web.
I used to be 5.8 until I got measured for a medical and was told that I had never been taller than 5.7
I love good food and wine and moved to live near Borough Market
I enjoy cooking and my signature dish at the moment is Loin of Pork stuffed with Rosemary and Sage
I got to know lots of the stall holders there and ended up running http://www.marketquarter.com
I would also come to a London pie festival!
August 31, 2008 at 2:13 pm
My name’s Tim and I left school 40 years ago!
I’m 5′10″ so I don’t need a stool either. I’m a private investigator. (That’s actually true – and it’s mostly boring).
I love cooking and came across this site because I just bought a chicken brick and I’m learning how to use it.
I do a mean stifado, with garlic and rosemary roast potatoes. Also a pretty good lamb tagine.
London Pie Festival? Good idea!
September 11, 2008 at 2:26 pm
*5ft 7.5 (when you’re five seven you gotta start counting the half inches
*I always order the steak or the summer rolls.
*I can speak a bit of French
* I have / do never use cookbooks, I use the internet for help though sometimes.
*I’m also in my late twenties
*I got an E at GCSE Art and dropped out of university when I was studying law.
* I’ve been feeding myself healthily for the past 10 years but I reckon I’ve only been ‘cooking’ for the past couple of years.
*I’d like to organise a big Chilli fest ike they have in the States
November 19, 2008 at 11:03 pm
I am 5′1″ and while I don’t need a stool to stand on while cooking, I need one to access almost everything else in the kitchen.
I started cooking less than three years ago, even though both my parents are fantastic cooks AND my dad owns a restaurant.
I work at the university and I am currently in the midst of organizing a week-long conference that will take place in 2010.
I am also in my late twenties.
I live with my boyfriend and our dog.
I’ve never been to London but I’m hoping to make a trip there in 2012 for the Olympics (my cousin is trying for a spot on the gymnastics team).
December 11, 2008 at 5:51 am
My name is Morandir. I live in Sydney, though I’m quite fond of London.
I’m 6′ 4″ in my shoes. But I’m partly paralysed, so I sit on my kitchen stool, quite a lot of the time.
I would always eat braised lamb shanks or oxtail, if it were on the menu. (It almost never is).
I’m only fluent in Standard English, South-West Sydney English and Inner-Western Sydney English.
I use Ken Lo’s “Chinese Food” and the “Commonsense Book of Sauces”.
It’s been a few years since I was in my late 20s.
I didn’t do much at school, but I have a BA in Studies in Religion and Mediaeval Studies, a Honours degree in Studies in Religion and about a quarter of a PhD in Studies in Religion. (Is that impractical enough for you?).
I learned to cook when I was 12 or 13, because my mother couldn’t cook to save her life. It was self preservation!
I make Sauce Hollandaise fairly often. (It’s VERY impressive).
I’m pretty OK at pastry, but my partner is better.
I’d come to the London Pie Festival. I am Australian after all.
December 27, 2008 at 2:47 pm
My name is David, and I live is Lee in sarf east London.
I’m 5′5″ so I sometimes need a stool.
Put me in a kitchen, with a glass of wine and some Broadway show CD, and I’m a pig in sh+t..!
Big sea food fan, whenever I visit my second home, Seattle, I always head for Elliots Oyster House. They always have at least 10- 12 different kinds of oyster, but my fav is Halibut cheeks…..yes….yummm.
Useless at pastry.
Doing Lobster Newberg for New Years Eve….with Australian Rock lobster tails.
And I plan on using your recipe for Ham/lentil soup….with the ham stock.
My 3 dogs lurv doing the pre-wash…what dog doesnt..?
January 12, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Hello there, I am Ann and I live in the North Riding of Yorkshire.
It`s been a long while since I was in my twenties (do they still exist!)
Am 5`4“ and sometimes use a stool.
My favourite dish steak and kidney pie and chips, with peas of course and plenty of good gravy.
I love the recipes of Margueritte Patten and enjoy the Australian Womens Weekly cook books.
Learnt to cook from an early age standing next to the cooker and asking questions.
Do a mean fish pie that has a combination of fish, onion, cheese, parsley, soy sauce, mustard in a white sauce topped with mashed potato – delicious.
Brilliant site, am trying the boulangere potatoes today, thanks.
April 17, 2009 at 6:17 pm
What a charming and interesting bunch of foodies you are.(what is the collective noun for foodies,a bake,a cobbler,a cuddle?)
You might be interested in my (mamma,s!) version of Pesto.
Buon appetito!
Roberto
April 20, 2009 at 10:49 pm
I am from Ukraine and now live in New York. I never use cookbooks and taught myself to cook by watching the FoodNetwork (not sure if you guys have it over there, probably not : /)
I am charmed by your blog and will certainly try out your recipes.
Lots of love,
Sasha
July 1, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Hello There
)
Just bumped into your wonderful website and love your “about me” so I will share aswell
-I am 5′3 but never use a stool just wear high heels while cooking.
- My choise used to always be a fine rare fillet stake but have not eaten meat for a year now due to stomach ulser so now its the seafood.
- I am Icelandic but fluent in English as I live in the UK also speak Swedish and Norwegian
- I’m addictied to cookbooks and spend lazy Sunday mornings studying them for inspiration. Rick Stein is in favorite now.
- I currently work as a manager for a shipping line whilst studying for my MBA but I love everything about food and cooking.
- I’m in my mid-thirties
- I’ve been cooking from a young age but only grew so enthusiatic a few years ago.
- I promised my hubby eggs Benedict for breakfast one morning but bought the Hollandaise ready in a jar as it was on offer (still have not cooked this yet
- I’ve never made pastry but plan to one day.
- Love London, Love pies, I’ll be there.
July 13, 2009 at 10:50 pm
What special stool do you use to stand on?
I am barely 5′ and I need one too but it seems dangerous to be standing on a stool while cooking.
September 1, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Ciao tutti,
I am from the UK but now live in Italy.
I am quite tall for my height so don’t need a stool.
I love cooking and believe its the way to feed the soul.
For many reasons the microwave should be banished.
Every time I make a roux sauce I still think of my cookery teacher and her words echo in my head “stir in a figure of 8 girls” that mantra has been going on for more than 25 years. So yes a bit older than my 20’s
I found your website whilst doing a search for chocolate profiteroles. I used to make regularly for dinner parties but not for several years so needed a re-fresh.
I now have an Italian boyfriend who is a fab cook and he does all the cooking but this week we have friends for dinner (about 15 people) and I said I would make the ‘dolce’ For him 15 people is nothing, he is a Napolitan.
We just came back from seeing his family, one night we went to his brothers for dinner, there were 35 of us! I said “why didn’t you tell me it was a party?” ” “That’s not a party, that was just my family having dinner!” Tonino replied.
Here in Italy, food is about bringing people together. It doesn’t have to be complicated, most dishes are quite simple. Fresh good quality indredients are paramount, always with what is in season. Staying with the rhythm of nature I believe is a valuable lesson for us all.
The only problem with Italian food is that 5 days later you are hungry again!
Buon appetito tutti!
September 5, 2009 at 8:11 am
What a terrific bunch of people! I was just looking for a butter recipe!
I am from San Pedro, California, a beach town south west of LA. I have a masters degree in clinical psych, masters in renaissance architecture and art history, and I’m a Phd candidate in clinical psych. I work as a family therapist, but primarily as a school psychologist. Cooking is my creative stress release.
Love the blog and all the comments…will continue to visit!
November 11, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I live in Cornwall.
I am 5′ 8″ so I don’t need a stool though I sometimes wish I had one as my kitchen floor gets very slippery … probably because I am a messy cook…
I’m in my mid 50’s. (sob)
I have an Hons Degree in Art History.
I found this site because I was looking for some inspiration for cooking sausages. I live near a farm shop and have bought have some very nice fresh ones from the shop that taste great when cooked on their own. Wanting to broaden my horizons I typed ‘things to do with sausges’ in to my search engine. Some of the listings had nothing to with sausages! Then this site came up which looks interesting.
I have only been cooking for about one year now. I lived on unmentionables before that.
My daughter started complaining after I became a single parent. In sympathy I bought Ministry of Food by Jamie Oliver which is absolutely brilliant and has inspired me to look further afield.
I love simple recipes with good quality ingredients. I am lucky as I live near a farm that sells home grown vegetables.
I have never cooked soups before and I cooked Leak and Potatoe soup the other day and it was wonderful. So easy.
I avoid supermarkets whenever possible and I am becoming interested in fresh fish. I have Cornish Devon Ray Wings in
the fridge which are making me nervous as i am not sure what to do with them.
Keep up the good work. In sympathy with ‘Terry’ above cooking is a great stress buster, and good for the soul.
Pies … mmm … sounds good.
November 13, 2009 at 6:52 am
* I’m 5′6″ and I can reach all my shelves in my kitchen, minus the top of the cupboards (I get my boyfriend to jump up and get the roaster pan!)
* I used to order the beef dip when out for lunch,… unless there is a good oyster poor boy on the menu… if no seafood,… then a reuben sandwich…
* I speak english
* The cookbooks I use the most is Joy, Betty Crocker, Katzen’s assorted vegetarians, Nigella, Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, James Beard, Mark Bittman ((all at once!!))
* I am in my late 30’s!!! WHOA!
* I did A’s in Biology, Physics, Chemistry, English, and Calculus in highschool. I have a BSc in Animal Biology and a MSc in Forest Ecology. I dropped out of PhD school.
* I cooked in highschool… dinners, lunches for my aunt, and lots of special coffees…
* I have successfully made a hollandaise sauce.
* I am still learning pastry. Lard is our friend. I never do vegetable shortening. Yeeuck! A food processor is my friend. Whizz whizz.
* I dream of cooking all day long in a restaurant. Cutting, prepping, cooking, cleaning,…
November 13, 2009 at 6:55 am
Dear Barnaby,
what are Cornish Devon Ray Wings?