Where to travel to in 2023. From quaint villages in the Netherlands to Italy and a bounty island in Malaysia. I suggest taking the path less trodden to get away from the big crowds, which I love to do. Of course, it can be challenging, but let’s give it a try! Here are my picks. Quant cities and car-free islands in the Netherlands Often referred to as Holland and known as the country of the vast fields of tulips, it has more to offer than just Amsterdam, canals and tulips. Did you know that Holland covers only two provinces of the eleven Dutch provinces of the Netherlands? The confusion starte ..read more

Are you looking to travel soon but don’t know where to start to create your dream holiday? Here are my tips for planning your trip from scratch. Seville, South Spain The drawing board There is nothing more exciting than to plan a getaway. No matter the destination, any trip is exciting. Exploring new countries, cities or areas in your home country. Every time I visit an area, even if it is a place I have visited many times, I find new hidden gems or things to do. One of my main tools is to follow my eye and move away from the crowds. It is amazing what you come across. Once you have establishe ..read more

Always fancied owning your own pizza oven? This is your chance! I am delighted to partner with Gozney to give you the chance to win the ultimate alfresco dining this Summer. A Gozney Roccbox pizza oven and a range of Seggianofoods products worth over £500! ⁠ I know, this sounds almost too good to be true! I have had a pizza oven for many years, and there is no better way to cook a pizza than in a pizza oven. There is more! These ovens are very versatile. Confit duck, roasted chicken, small appetizers or roasted salmon are just a few to mention who are perfect for cooking in a Gozney oven. DO ..read more

It’s finally summer and time to tuck into my version of venison salad! At least, we hope it will be glorious summer weather. In the Northern hemisphere, you never know how long it will last, but let’s enjoy it as long as we can.  Summer means to me is eating lighter food, and I love salads. My favourite cookery books for this time of the year are Ottolenghi’s, focusing on vegetables. Although the recipes can be complex, they are executed simply, which attracts me the most.  When I am out and about, it used to be challenging to get a good salad. Fortunately, times have changed ov ..read more

This ganache recipe of chocolate goat and cheese is sweet and refreshing at the same time. I am sure this might come as a surprise, but this ganache is rather delicious hits both notes! Ganache is popular as a basis for fillings or pralines and is usually made of chocolate and cream. In this recipe, I have added orange juice, honey and soft English goat cheese. An unusual combination, but it is rather delicious! Ingredients for 8 200 gr. of dark chocolate ( I used Madagascan) 300 ml double cream 40 gr. of honey 200 gr. of soft English goat cheese ( Perroche) 1,5 cup of orange juice How to mak ..read more

This salmon sashimi recipe is perfect for when you’re busy or don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen. Many people think that I spend a lot of time cooking on weekdays, and I always have a packed schedule, so I don’t have much time to mess about in the kitchen. I like quick, healthy recipes during the week, and this salmon sashimi is perfect on hot days as a starter or a main.  How to prepare it  Start with preparing the wasabi mayonnaise. Mix the wasabi and the mayonnaise. Grate the cucumber in a food processor. Put it in a sieve and squeeze the liquid out of the cucumber b ..read more

One of my favourite comfort foods is fish pie. I love the traditional creamy one, but the loaded one with spinach from Jamie Oliver is perfect if you want to add greens to your diet. I decided to rustle up a fish pie some time ago, but I didn’t have any spinach, only a bunch of coriander. I thought I’d give it a go, and it’s now my go-to fish pie recipe.  I was first introduced to a fish pie when I was training at the Holiday Inn Chelsea in Sloane street in 1985, and I thought it was a rather interesting dish. In the Netherlands, we eat a lot of fish, but a fish pie isn’t part o ..read more

My deep-fried duck egg recipe is a real MasterChef Creation. I’m sure you have been impressed over the years by the fine dishes the contestants of MasterChef have created. One of the most popular dishes seems to be duck egg in every shape and form, though the deep-fried version seems the most popular one.  The other day I decided to throw a surprise dinner for my partner’s birthday, and I wondered what I should dish up that day. The choice wasn’t actually that difficult. He loves the old-time favourite ‘ham, eggs and chips, which is a bit alien for a Dutchie like me. Although it ..read more

What have you prepped during the lockdown in the summer of 2020? Anything new or are you too busy as you are still at work? I have been planting up my allotment, trailing new recipes and delicious food meal kits and ready meals from another new company. Gourmet meal kits from Prepped About Prepped Prepped is delivering twice per week restaurant-inspired meals to Cambridge and Saffron Walden areas. With a shelf life of three days, you can cover the whole week if you order twice. The seasonal menu changes regularly, but the most popular dishes like lasagne will always be part of t ..read more

This slow-roasted porchetta is a real comfort meal, but perfect as a sandwich filler too. It brings back sweet memories. Many years ago, somewhere in Tuscany, I was sheltering from the rain in a porch clinging on to my porchetta bap. Many recipes advise you to use pork belly. However, porchetta is actually a certain cut of meat. It is pork belly and the loin of pork so not just pork belly, which makes it a lot fatter. Inspired by Jamie Oliver Over the years, I have tried many variations of preparing this lovely Italian dish. My version of slow-roasted porchetta is one of the families favourite ..read more