The Wednesday Tipple – lemonade with thyme lemon syrup and patriotic ice cubes, and teenage oppression at the Liberty Bell

Lemonade for recipe Jon and I arrived in Philadelphia on a sunny Saturday. We sat on the top deck of the tour bus digesting our cheesesteak sandwiches, and watched selected highlights of the city glide past in the sunshine. Continue reading

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The Monday Treat – Homemade Crackerjacks and a night at the ball game

Baseball And Homemade Cracker Jacks

Last year my Mum and Dad were in town for 4th July celebrations and I was determined to show them some good ole American fun. To this end, tickets were purchased for a Staten Island Yankees home game, just a short ferry ride away, basking on the top deck as the Statue of Liberty glided by. Continue reading

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This Dinner Will Get You Laid – linguini with lemon and crème fraiche – the antidote to hotheadedness

Linguine Fork with lemon

It’s been a roasting hot sticky week in New York City. The kind of weather that makes people sleepy, then stupid as night falls and the temperature drops to merely baking. Continue reading

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The Wednesday Tipple – Elderflower Gin Jellies (and homemade elderflower cordial)

Elderflower Jelly illustration for recipe

In retrospect, it may not have been a good idea to open a bar tab at the hotel for my sister and I when we were kids.

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The Monday Treat – How to make chocolate swirls while considering philosophy

Soho Terrace And Chocolate Swirl

If you do something that can be vaguely classified as creative – in my case, writing – for a living, sometimes it’s good to put aside all practical concerns and embrace the idea that creating can be an end unto itself. “L’art pour l’art.” Continue reading

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This dinner will get you laid – grilling in style – salmon skewers with fresh pesto, and a roasted tomato couscous salad

Salmon Skewer with lemon and zucchini

You only need to remember that British Mother’s Day is about a month earlier than American Mother’s Day the day before British Mother’s Day once, and you pretty much have the date seared into your conscience after that. Continue reading

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The Wednesday Tipple – A Russian Scientist lives up to a radiation stereotype, and we all eat hot peppered walnuts to calm our nerves

Roasted Walnuts And Galaxies

I mentioned that I once had an exceedingly dull job working the day shift in a hotel bar. “Sure, we reused the lemon garnishes” I told a group of appalled New Yorkers. “And we were supposed to tip any un-eaten hot nuts back into the hot nut dispenser for next time.”

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The Monday Treat – Chocolate and Salted Caramel phyllo pie. For Real.

Phyllo Caramel Parcels illustration for recipe

My friends Jenn and Alan have invited us to a pie tasting party. And though I’d like to start a rumor that pie tasting is the new wine tasting in NYC, that’s not the case. They’re bravely pursuing the dream of owning a food truck, and this is their beta recipe launch. Continue reading

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Easy Summery Friday Night Dinner Party for 6 – gin chicken with roasted potatoes olives and tomatoes

Gin illustration for gin chicken recipe

My friend Dee invited me to be her plus one at the opening of the Churchill exhibit at the Morgan Library. “It’s a 2 hour drinks reception and Boris Johnson will be there!” Continue reading

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The Wednesday Tipple – sage advice for Submarine owners and a seriously stiff drink

Submarine cocktail illustration for recipe

Ingyin and Yosi, back for the summer from their 2nd year at NYU Abu Dhabi are now clearly masters of their new terrain. They know where to buy the best chocolate covered dates, they consider 104 and 80% humidity “pretty average,” they understand the rules of robotic camel racing. Continue reading

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