liuzhou

Coconutty, fish curry (cod) and rice. There was a side of greenery which didn't get photographed.

Duck eggs and flatbread. Black coffee.

Leatherjacket or leather jack, filleted and fried. Served with black rice and wilted spinach with garlic.

Sad to hear of the death of Antonio Carluccio, one of the people who first turned me onto the pleasures of wild mushrooms, long before anyone had heard the term "foraging". More information on this topic.

This may not mean much to non-British members, but I'm sad to read this morning of the passing of Antonio Carluccio, the only "celebrity chef" I ever met and spoke with. Many years ago, I was standing outside his beautiful Italian deli in the northern fringes of Covent Garden, London admiring the wonderful fresh wild mushrooms on sale which were displayed by the open door and regretting that I couldn't afford them that day. As I was doing so, the man himself came out and stopped to chat with me. He was large of body and heart. At that time he was known mainly from his books and for his passion for (the then unfashionable) mushroom foraging, only later becoming a television star, too. Here are a few links. One to an obituary, one to a personal memoir from food writer Matthew Fort and one to a Q+A session with the maestro.

As I was typing "black", I was thinking "It might be dark blue". Thanks for the info.

I've been away from home for just over a week. Nothing interesting to report food-wise other than I had one evening meal with a couple of young Chinese associates at a roadside grilled oyster stand. I asked the woman in charge of the place to serve me some shucked, uncooked oysters. She looked highly suspicious but complied. Unfortunately she ditched all the liquid from them, though! I had been talking with my companions explaining that raw is my (and many others') preferred way of eating oysters. They didn't believe me. Most Chinese people are hugely nervous of eating anything raw. Rare beef? Forget it. Salad? Rarely. Anyway, raw oysters arrived and I scoffed the first plate of 10, then ordered another, to the amazement of my companions and the vendor. When the second plate arrived, each of my two companions decided they would risk trying one, on condition that I promised they wouldn't die. I explained that I had no ability to render them immortal and that one day they will pop off, but probably not any time soon. To my delight, they tried one each; proclaimed them surprisingly OK, but preferred the grilled ones (grilled with a little chilli, garlic and topped with vermicelli). Brave young women. But this all just a prelude to my saying that I arrived back home this evening about 7:30 and threw together a quick store cupboard dish of linguine with duck meat slivers (from the freezer), rehydrated dried shiitake, green chilli (from my balcony plants), pimiento-stuffed olives (from a bottle), and tomato. Lots of black pepper. Tomorrow, I'll go shopping and get back into cooking.

Love your black plate.

Why not?

I did a simple salad of spinach, scallion and crisp chicken skin "croutons" as part of dinner last night (as shown on the Dinner thread). Dressed with a simple lemon vinaigrette. The spinach wasn't as "young" as I would prefer, but it went down fine.

I can make an omelette, though. First thing I learned to cook. Taught by a master. Funny thing is that I seldom make or eat them. Occasionally, friends ask me to do them one, though.

Tonight, I skinned and boned some chicken legs then slow cooked the chopped meat with green pimiento stuffed olives, garlic, shallots, green and red chillies. Served with couscous and a simple salad of spinach with green onion and "croutons" made by crisping the chicken skin in the microwave. Salad dressed with a light lemon vinaigrette. Happy mouth.

No! Not at all! I was just teasing. The thread is to post what you have for dinner no matter whether you cook it or not. We occasionally get meals taken in restaurants, too. I don't think anyone will complain.

And no cooking. Not that we believe your moniker.

I didn't know this was called poke salad or that it is from Louisiana. I've been making something the same for years. In fact, I've even posted an example here somewhere. Probably in the Breakfast thread a while back. Much as I love spanakopita I can't get filo/phyllo pastry here and ain't about to be trying to make it. My late wife used to do a nice quiche, but it's not something I've attempted.

I've mentioned before on here that spinach is my favourite green vegetable, and when it's in season (like now) I use it many ways but I'm looking to expand my spinach repertoire. So, I'm wondering how you like to use it (or why you don't). My go to methods are to eat it raw in a salad if young enough (the spinach, not me), to just wilt it Chinese style with garlic and ginger, and to use in beef and spinach curry, a winter favourite. I'll throw some into omelettes, noodle soups etc, too.

Here's another sandwich book from1909.

Oh yes please. I remember that beer.

Yes, I was there for a month around Christmas 1970. I'm sure it has changed, but your fish market pictures match my memories.

The New Yorker A cartoon by Julia Suits.

Thanks for this. I visited Sri Lanka when it was still called Ceylon and fell in love with the place, the people and the food. Now I really want to go back. I'm looking forward to more posts.

500 years ago, Martin Luther started off the Reformation. In a way, this not only changed religious affairs in Europe, but also changed our beer. Article here.

What do you mean by "properly"? The word is used to refer to plants other than piper a lot more than just colloquially and has been for centuries.

I disagree. 'Chiles' or capsicums have been known as peppers in English for at least 200 years. So it is semantifally correct. They may not be from the piper species, but the word 'pepper' is not exclusive to that species.

This review is worth a read. I'll buy it.