Taste Better #1

Lucian Freud's ‘Strawberries’ (1952)

Ok I’m on day 6, and juggling a blog that no one reads AND work AND life is proving hard.

So introducing, my new series Taste Better! Which I’ll post every Thursday.

A snappy quick read tackling how, why or what elevates food, at least for me personally.

First up, after the usual debate with my Swedish/Canadian half…

Things that taste better in the UK. Now we’re not known in the UK for having a particularly interesting or very good food heritage, and yes the fruit and vegatables are better in Europe, and yes France will always win on butter, but there are a few things that will always taste better if you enjoy it on our fair isle:

• Breakfast Tea. Always and forever. Specifically tea you make for yourself to enjoy in bed on a lazy morning (ideally with a cat).

• Chocolate.

• Mini eggs and Easter treats in general (this was the topic of the aforementioned debate)

• Coffee. I’m sorry but we have some of the best coffee shops in London.

• Eggs. Clarence Court or buy a chicken, make sure it’s happy and enjoy !

• Asparagus. It’s a wild season in the UK.

• Wild garlic. Ideally foraged, but if you’re in London buy it as it’s completely not worth the effort to fight a hipster chef for it.

• Rhubarb. Shout out to Yorkshire.

• Oysters. Ideally enjoyed by the seaside, outside, on a pretty cold and windy day, with a beer.

• Fish and Chips. Rogue but the seagulls make this too stressful to enjoy outside. There’s something joyful in the juxtaposition of having fish and chips inside at a restaurant. Top spot? The Magpie Cafe in Whitby.

• Strawberries. Those French Gariguette ones are also pretty great.

• Pork pies. From the butcher.

• Preserves. Homemade chutneys and piccalilli to have with the pork pie.

• Hot cross buns. M&S forever.

• Scones.

• Sausages. Again from the butcher.

• Baked beans. Even though they’re in a tin, they always taste a bit out of date when you have them abroad.

• Biscuits. In particular custard creams, digestives and bourbons. I don’t even know if you can get them outside of the UK??