OK, What's For Lunch or Tea Today?

[Marco]

Discovered these little beauties from Asda, they are so sweet and packed with a huge and fresh tomato flavour. I could eat them like sweets.

Nice, Ian. I'm a big fan of any variety of vine tomato

Marco.

[Roy S]

I just LOVE the size of your portions, Roy!

At least I know I'd never go hungry at your gaff.....

Marco.

Always better to have too much than not enough. Got enough salad left to have for lunch tomorrow.

[Marco]

Good stuff, matey... Do you ever make a nice vinaigrette for your salads, or some other kind of dressing?

One thing I can't really go is a plate of 'dry leaves' or just plain sliced tomato or cucumber, as I find it a little bland and unadventurous, particularly as the quality of bog-standard tomatoes here (because of the lack of sun) is quite poor, therefore they lack sweetness and flavour, so generally I find that they need a little 'perking up'.

It's the first thing you notice when eating salads abroad, as unlike so often in the UK, they're always (in some way) nicely dressed and seasoned!

Oh, and a dollop of salad cream or mayo doesn't really cut it.... Chilli-infused extra-virgin olive oil is a nice simple one (which you can keep inside a bottle to infuse), or even a splash of balsamic vinegar, which works particularly well with tomatoes.

Marco.

[Roy S]

Good stuff, matey... Do you ever make a nice vinaigrette for your salads, or some other kind of dressing?

The salad was tossed in the juice of a fresh lime and an equal amount of extra virgin olive oil with freshly ground sea salt & black pepper. I always take the seeds out of the cucumber as I find that makes the salad too 'wet'.

I also like to add chopped up pickled green chillies for added piquancy but didn't have any on this occasion

[Marco]

Nice one, mate. Good stuff. Bland salads are one of my pet hates. Probably my favourite simple salad is a good Greek one, as I love Feta cheese and Kalamata olives, plus I like how they also infuse theirs with herbs and lots of fresh lemon!

But my favourite salad is probably a really good Niçoise or Caesar one. Are you a fan?

Marco.

[Roy S]

Have to admit salads aren't my 'go to' dish on a menu, I'm tolerating them at the moment as I'm trying to lose some weight (lost 9 pounds since I was repatriated on 20th March).

I've had a Caesar salad with chicken and that was ok but is Nicoise the fishy one? Haven't tried that. Do like a greek salad with plenty of feta.

[Marco]

Lol - you have given the impression that salads aren't normally your 'bag'... I know you're a meaty boy, lol.

For me, it's a weather thing. My diet is largely governed by seasons, so during the spring/summer, when the weather is warmer, and I'm generally eating outside 'al fresco', nice fresh salads hit the spot! Conversely, during the winter, a nice hearty stew or soups, steak pie, etc, hits the spot. I can't really 'go' heavy or stodgy food, during the warm weather.

Also seasonality comes into the equation, in terms of the quality of produce (meat veg, fish or salads) available at the prevailing time, so I tend to buy what's nice that's in season

Yes Niçoise is with tuna and anchovies, plus other things, such as hard-boiled eggs, croutons, green beans and black olives. Done well, it's gorgeous.



Grab a nice crusty baguette, perhaps add a few slices of Jambon de Bayonne, on the side (https://www.google.com/search?q=jamb...FJcr_LVCXPOWM:) then open a chilled bottle of Muscadet, or rosé from Provence, and you're sorted!

Marco.

[struth]

had my Donald Russell delivery.. all squeezed into freezer.. a few new things to try and a few old favs.. chicken tikka is a new one as is goulash soup and fish cakes.

[Marco]

Good stuff, mate. Look forward to seeing pics of the 'finished articles'!

Marco.

[struth]

Goulash soup