Paper Palate

Contrary to my previous post Fresh magazine has not closed; they just switched owners and went into a couple of months suspension. Good news for the magazines fans.What seems to set Fresh apart from market leaders Delicious and Olive is the preponderance of buying guides - this issue has a Mother’s Day Guide (create your own box of chocolates from Thornton’s, naff liqueur bottles from Vom Vass, Susie Watson Ceramics), a Gadgets Guide (a plastic teabag remover, pyrex kitchenware, a KitchenAid in Black Caviar), a New Food Guide (Rapeseed Oil, Veetee Goan Red and Wild Rice), New Drinks Guide (Orchid Liqueurs, Godminster Vintage Vodka, Welsh Toffoc Vodka) and a Organic and Fairtrade Guide ( Organica Chocolate, Fruit Hit Fairtrade Smoothies).The Book Reviews section recommends In The Mood For Food by Jo Pratt (Amazon.co.uk £11.91) “this book is so special that you’ll want to buy two copies: one to be your constant kitchen companion and the other for the coffee table. It’s full of mouth-watering, easy-to-follow recipes and beautiful food photography and design. Jo Pratt has captured a niche in the cookery book market with this inspiring, informative (and pretty book(. We all eat according to our moods, whether we’re conscious of it, or not. So whether you’re In The Mood for Being healthy or In The Mood for Being Lazy, Ho has chosen her favourite recipes for you to indulge in”

Another book they recommend is Seasonal Food by Susannah Blake. It’s now on my wants list as they state in their review it is hard to know exactly what actually is in season - what with the cornucopia of exotic fruits for example weighing down the supermarket shelves. “This beautifully designed book is divided into four seasons, and the clearly laid out recipes are accompanied by gorgeous photographs. Whether you fancy fish pie topped with creamy celeriac mash [ed - perhaps for Waiter There Is Something In My… Pie] or cherry clafoutis, there’s something in here to suit every day of the year, plus a handy ‘what’s in season’ chart.” Available from Amazon.co.uk for £11.21 Amazon.com for $16.47.

A big section in fresh is dedicated to matching food and wine. This month they recommend four Sauvignon Blanc’s (details on Wine Sediments) and offer five Sauvignon-friendly recipes - Spinach, bacon and Goat’s Cheese Salad, Shellfish Spaghetti, Tomato Risotto, Herby lemon Chicken and Spicy chicken Skewers. Perhaps not the most adventurous of foods but good for some quick inspiration as you uncork a bottle after a hard day at the office.