Know me through food

Consider yourself tagged, as I was by Milo.

1. Can you cook?

Probably. If cooking means, putting a meal on the table, then the answer is indeed, yes.

2. Do you like to cook?

Yes, except when any of my relatives are lurking in or around the kitchen.

3. What do you eat for breakfast?

Lots of fruit of late, toast with lemon curd, little scarlet, fig or damson jam, soft-boiled eggs with soldiers, oeufs à la cocotte, a full English.

4. When, where and how do you eat on weekdays?

Lunch is usually at home, unless a lunch date. Anything from salads or a sandwich. Depends on my mood and the time frame. Evenings are usually at home, unless I'm too lazy to cook, and then I have a bunch of venues to choose from in a 2-km radius from our house. Always a hot meal in the evening, as it is the meal we share.

5. When, where and how do you eat on weekends?

Weekends always involve Turkish bread and the evening meal will have a little more oomph to it. It will invariably be preceded by prosecco or cocktails and some antipasti. I don't like eating in restaurants on the weekend, as I find that the double turnaround makes for hasty cooking. There are exceptions to this rule, of course. If out with friends, Japanese or at fusion restaurants. Always in the city. Same radius. We are fortunate that we don't have to stray too far to eat excellently.

6. How often do you eat in a restaurant?

I was recently told too often. But we do tend to eat out on Thursday or Friday evenings and we tend to be lazy.

7. How often do you order delivery/take-out?

Rarely. I do take-out from the Köfteci Doktor, because I have not succeeded in emulating the spices that he uses to make his meat.

8. Buffet, take-out or sit-down restaurant?

Sit down, of course.

9. What are your signature dishes?

Oy, good question. Bistecca Fiorentina or risotto, or a simple pasta?

10. Have you ever cooked for more than six people?

Yes, family meals.

11. Do you cook every day?

Yes, out of necessity.

12. Have you ever tried recipes from blogs?

Yes, often. Milo's beef stew, for example.

13. Do you cook totally differently compared to your mother/parents?

Yes. Both my parents are/were excellent cooks. My mother excels at French cuisine, my father cooked Italian food. Always from scratch. Always the best ingredients. My sister is a trained chef.

14. Are you a vegetarian or could you imagine being one?

Never. Beefeater.

15. What would you like to cook which you haven’t dared to make yet?

The range of ingredients and dishes exceeds this space.

16. Do you prefer cooking or baking?

I love both equally, but there is something very satisfying about the result of baking.

17. Home-made or store-bought?

Home-made as much as possible. Store-bought can also be good though, if the deli in question is of good quality.

18. What was your biggest cooking disaster?

I can't say I've ever had any but that's probably because I'm an anxious cook.

19. What is your number one comfort food?

White bread with young cheese and a glass of milk!

20. If you were on a deserted island, what one food would you want to have with you?

Bread. Hands down.

21. What is your biggest weakness when it comes to food?

Cold cuts.

22. What food can you absolutely not eat?

Eel. Squid. I've tried, in every possible form, but I just don't like it.

23. What is the most decadent dish you’ve had?

If decadent means expensive, it would have to be a meal at L'Ecailler du Palais Royal in Brussels many aeons ago, paid for by a client.

24. What is your favourite type of food?

Good food.

25. What is your favourite dish?

Fish and chips (haddock), a good steak, roast pork, lemon risotto.

26. If you could go to any restaurant you wanted, which one would it be?

Alice Waters' Chez Panisse in San Francisco.

27. Are you a soup or salad person?

I adore soup. I equally adore a proper salad.

28. What is the most impressive dinner you’ve ever made?

Christmas dinner last year.

29. Do you know what vichyssoise is?

A cold potato, leek, cream soup.

30. Can you name at least three TV cooking personalities?

And many more. Why?

31. Who is your favourite TV cook?

La Bella Nigella, of course. It's that little grunt that does it, every time.

A post on my Italian culinary experiences to follow soon.