Charlotte's Newsletter | Issue 1
Issue 1 | Friday 11th February 2022
Welcome to my brand-new newsletter and thank you so much for joining me.
I’ve been thinking long and hard about creating a newsletter, and I’m really looking forward to writing to you all once a fortnight. My aim is to make this a useful resource, bringing together advice, recommendations and some news on what I’ve been up to all in one place. I hope that by writing twice a month, I won’t bombard you too much, and I will always try and share some of my most-asked food-related tips and advice.
I hope you like the look and layout. I have worked with Chloe King at Sloe Studio to create a bespoke design, using some of my favourite colours, my own handwriting and images based on pen and ink drawings by my father.
Life has been very busy and in a state of limbo for some months now. We have moved and much time is dedicated to house hunting. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that our new home turns up soon. I’m going to be talking about our house search in the coming weeks, and I will share links to the interviews when they are available.
I have been talking about other matters recently though, and I have recorded three podcast interviews which have just launched this week. The Food Talk Show interviewed me recently for a double bill about my favourite cookbooks (spoiler: Bacon and India: The World Vegetarian, amongst others), plus my voluntary work as Chair of the Guild of Food Writers. I have also recorded my first ever interview in French for La Crème Anglaise podcast, which has actually come out today. I had a lovely time speaking to host Sarah Lesage, about my favourite British dish and my experience of moving to Paris the day after my 21st birthday.
I have also been developing my palate with some training before I undertake a co-ordinating role again this year for the Great Taste Awards. I’ve been involved with some of the general and 3-star judging over the last few years, and it’s been a fascinating experience blind tasting up to 100 products a day. They're the only awards I'm involved in, and they're a really useful benchmark when looking to buy good food.
I’ve decided to touch on the questions I am most-asked in the following sections, which I hope will be a regular feature. I make recommendations, but for avoidance of doubt, they are and will be based on what I like and will spend my own money on. They are not bought or sponsored.
I do hope you will enjoy reading. Please do let me know what you think, and also if there is anything you’d like me to touch on next time.
Have a great couple of weeks, Charlotte X
Charlotte's Basket
I am deeply passionate about cooking from scratch with seasonal, British ingredients. It makes complete sense to enjoy fresh, local, seasonal ingredients in cooking. I look for the freshest seasonal fruit, vegetables, meat and fish when shopping and base my menus around what looks good.
I love the fresh produce available at this time of year. Citrus fruit is at its best at the moment. I love oranges in sweet and savoury dishes and find M&S and Crowd Farming good sources for oranges and lemons. I spent a long two days making around 15 litres of marmalade at the end of January. I have discovered a love for making preserves over recent years and try and make time to make a few special treats throughout the year. I have been taught by Vivien Lloyd and find her recipes faultless.
Forced rhubarb is also very good at the moment. I have a nice new recipe which will be published in the Farmer's Guardian next week. I also love the dark, leafy greens, and eat different varieties of kale almost every day.
Cauliflower is another favourite, in salads, or just roasted with a little olive or rapeseed (I am currently using Ogglio and Farrington's) and sea salt as an accompaniment to so many dishes. I have even been trying a new variety called Caulishoots this week. I'm hearing wild garlic is making an appearance near us, and I shall try and pick some very soon.
Charlotte Loves
Something sweet
I don't have that much of a sweet tooth, but I can make an exception for Lakrids liquorice. I spent a summer in Denmark a few years ago and discovered the joys of their chocolate covered liquorice. They make such a nice present to as a thank you or even for Valentine's Day. What is even more surprising, I think, is how successful the range of flavour combinations is. Passionfruit liquorice really shouldn't work, but it does. Try A, B, D and E varieties.
We've also been thoroughly enjoying a range of chocolate from The Chocolate Detective, the new venture by Chantal Coady (founder of Rococo chocolate). The bars are all outstanding, and the chocolate eggs are particularly charming and delicious. They make a very special gift.
Sharp knives
I've been back teaching again over the last few weeks. One of my most popular classes is my Knife Skills class. I am always asked for recommendations for kitchen knives. I recommend buying knives from either a specialist knife shop or a catering supplier, as they are usually much higher quality and more durable. There is really only the need to buy two or three knives to start with, rather than a set or block, as so often, they are not all useful. My personal favourites for home cooking are made by Zwilling. Even more importantly, perhaps, is that knives need to be sharpened almost every time they are used to keep them performing well.
What to eat
I really love trying new recipes, and as much as I can, I like to try something new every time I cook at home. Here are some recipes I've tried recently that I've really loved:
Did you catch these on the radio this week? Ottolenghi's mushroom steaks are really good
Rachel Allen's carrot, ginger and coconut soup is absolutely lovely for lunch on a cold day
These tahini, chocolate and banana cookies by Sue Quinn are really good
Rory O'Connell's wild garlic soup is excellent, and worth filing away for the coming weeks
This isn't new, but so many people have asked for my apple pie recipe, since I posted it on Instagram
Something for the Weekend
This is one of the features I really love in a newsletter. As mine will reach your inboxes every other Friday, I thought I'd include some nice ideas for things to read, do, look out for and enjoy over the days ahead. If you try any of them, please do let me know what you thought, and share yours with me too.
Something to read
Tacos by Lily Ramirez-Foran
Tools for Food by Corinne Mynatt
And for mains... by Gas Smith, Rick Higgins and Nicola Brady
Chilli and Mint by Torie True
First Catch Your Gingerbread by Sam Bilton
Something to watch or listen to
Call My Agent! on Netflix is very funny and reminds me of life in Paris
A Lake District Farm Shop on Channel 4, for a taste of the Lakes
The Kindness Economy by Mary Portas, for business inspiration
Life Lessons by Simon Mundie, for ideas on life
I am making imaginary plans for my future garden, with Stephanie Hafferty