Eating all winter with Nigel Slater
Among the Jamies, Nigellas and Ottolenghis, someone like Nigel Slater may not always stand out to the general public, but there is no food writer whose books I would rather read. His latest cookbook Culinary Winter Diary has just been published, and that is exactly what you want to curl up with on the sofa now that it’s cold outside.
Don’t worry if you’ve never heard his name before; you’re not the only one. Nigel has never really broken through in our little country, while this English food writer is very rightly acclaimed in his homeland. He is known for his short ingredient lists and simple dishes. Something entire books are based on nowadays, but Nigel doesn’t make a big deal of it. It’s simply the way he cooks. He uses fresh produce that he somehow always manages to transform into a revolutionary dish. When friends ask me which cookbook they should start cooking with, I invariably recommend something by Nigel.
Kitchen diary
He already has countless cookbooks to his name, as well as many publications in The Guardian, and this is his third culinary diary. The first two are permanently on my sofa armrest, always within reach. They are not standard cookbooks divided into starters/main courses/desserts or meat/fish/vegetables. The cooking diaries read like stories, because Nigel writes down every day what he does, what he eats and, fortunately, also how you can eat it. Because of course they contain recipes too.
Your best friend
Nigel tells you about his trips to the local supermarket, the plants in his garden, how the weather changes and how that makes him crave different food. His books are always on my sofa so I can read a few of his narrative passages whenever I feel like it. His writing style is almost quaint, but in the very best sense of the word. After a few recipes, you get the feeling that Nigel is your best friend sharing his recipes with you, while you’re lying on the sofa under a blanket.
Christmas inspiration
This latest book covers only the winter months. That means you can get plenty of inspiration for Christmas dinner; for example, have you ever made your own Christmas stollen? There are also enough recipes for the rest of the season. I’m going to try the gnudi (a kind of Italian dough balls) with ricotta and Parmesan very soon, and the roasted pumpkin with dukkah and pomegranate could easily become part of the weekly routine.
A gift
This book is the perfect Sinterklaas or Christmas gift for your mother-in-law when you don’t really know what to buy her. All the recipes are manageable, but interesting enough for someone who cooks a lot. And if she can’t cook at all, she can at least dream away with all the cosy stories. And buy one for yourself too, okay?
Title: Culinary Winter Diary
Author: Nigel Slater
Publisher: Fontaine
Price: €29,99
