Charlotte's Newsletter | Issue 17

Issue 17 | Friday 28th October 2022

Welcome to Issue 17

Welcome back.

It's been another busy couple of weeks for me, with lots of travel and exciting things happening. My first stop was Dublin, to present an award at the Irish Food Writing Awards, which I judged again this year. It was a joy to be back in Ireland for the first time in nearly a year, and to celebrate so much brilliant work. Do have a look at the website to see the shortlisted and winning entries - there is so much talent to discover.

After a few days back in Dorset, I headed west to Dartmouth for the annual Dartmouth Food Festival. I've been going there since 2015, and it is such a special weekend. My pop-up cookery School, Field & Fork School supported the cookery demonstration tent, and I taught all the cookery classes over the weekend, which was great fun. 

So, in this issue, I have some top recommendations for seasonal ingredients and recipes, as usual, plus top picks for visiting Dublin and Dartmouth, and some brilliant new cookbook recommendations for you.

I hope you will enjoy reading this week, and join me again next time. 

Very best wishes to you all,

Charlotte

Charlotte's Basket

We are well and truly into autumn vegetable season now.

I have been buying some fantastic squash from the shops - look out for Kuri and Crown Prince varieties. I managed to find them for sale in Aldi and a local farm shop. They are so much more interesting in flavour than the ubiquitous butternut.

Using the seasons as my guide, there are plenty of wonderful fruit and vegetables available at the moment that are home grown, in peak condition and best value for money.

Beetroot is one. I top and tail it, cut it into chunks and roast with olive oil and sea salt. I rarely bother to peel it (or squash) and give it a good wash or scrub first. Chard is also plentiful, but you're more likely to find it at a farmers market than the supermarket. It's so easy to grow if you are inclined to give it a try. And the kales and cabbages are really good, too. Cavolo Nero and January King are available to buy and growing well at the moment.

Fruit-wise, look out for some amazing apples and pears, and the last of the quince. For something more exotic, I like Crowd Farming, to buy amazing boxes of fruit direct from the grower - a great enterprise. 

Charlotte Loves

Where to eat in Dublin

• For relaxed but delicious Mediterranean-style food, try Etto on Merrion Row

• For great coffee and delightful service, try Vice Coffee or Kaph.

• For nice pizzas in a smart setting, try Cirillo's. Drinks are priced on the high side. Or, try Fallon & Byrne downstairs - great value and very reliable.

• Try Big Mike's out at Blackrock. Great Irish meat and seafood served with love and care.

• Murphy's Ice Cream, made in Dingle. It's so elegant and delicious, with very restrained sweetness. 

Charlotte Loves Discounts 

I'm so pleased to share a selection of discount codes are only available here, through the newsletter.

LittlePod, the supplier of organic, responsibly sourced vanilla pods, pastes and extracts have offered 10% off their entire range purchased on their website. Use CHARLOTTELOVES to secure your discount.

Peter's Yard crisp bread and sourdough crackers. Use CHARLOTTELOVES to get 20% off the entire range on their website.

Pipers Farm have kindly offered you all a 20% discount off your first order if you use the CHARLOTTELOVES discount code. You can use this link to join their points scheme, too. 

I also have an amazing 20% off for new customers and 10% for existing customers at the Bold Bean Co. who produce the most delicious jars of beans. Visit their website and pop in CHARLOTTELOVES to secure your discount.
 

What to cook this week

• With the weather taking a cold turn, I've been loving Jane Lovett's Swiss chard and Gruyère gratin. Aldi and Waitrose sell wonderful gruyère.

• It's time for a new recipe on my website, and I've shared the Za’atar Spiced Squash and Chickpea Traybake with Garlic, Tahini and Mint recipe I put on Instagram this week.

• Honey and Co's Chicken and Plum Traybake is another easy peasy supper dish to have up your sleeve.

• I have revisited Ottolenghi's prawn and feta orzo recipe, which everyone seems to love.

• This pasta bake is very delicious. Quite a lot of work to make, but looks and tastes lovely. It could be made vegetarian by skipping the sausages, too. Oh, and it makes a vast portion, so it feeds a crowd or gives lots of leftovers!

Where to eat in Dartmouth

• For the best fresh fish, try Rockfish - either the restaurant or takeaway. Very relaxed, but very good. Try their tinned fish, too. It is absolutely wonderful. Sister restaurant, The Seahorse, is good, for a more formal experience.

• Wild Artichokes is one of my favourite places to eat in this country. It's actually over in Kingsbridge, but I can't miss the opportunity to visit when in the area. I even drove myself over 30 minutes in the dark and torrential rain to go on my own!

• Andria is good - do book ahead though.

• Café Alfresco is very cosy and charming, with friendly staff and a real local buzz. I love that it's open really early, too.

• Woodroast Coffee is excellent and the staff are absolutely lovely. Their Curator coffee is excellent, too.

Something for the Weekend

As the weekend approaches, here are 
some of my top recommendations for a selection of
great new cookbooks.

Do, please, let me know if you try any of them, and what you think.

Brilliant new cookbooks

• Borough Market: The Knowledge is a brilliant new cookbook by my friend Angela Clutton. It's such a lovely book, full of excellent recipes, pictures and stories. I went to the launch at the market this week and can vouch for how delicious the recipes are.

• Motherland: A Jamaican Cookbook by Melissa Thompson, who is a brilliant writer and cook. I love her recipes.

• Bowlful by Norman Musa is a wonderful book, full of vibrant recipes. Norman is such a talented chef, there's lots to love here.

• Tava: Eastern European Baking & Desserts from Romania & Behind by Irina Georgescu is a beautiful and fascinating book, which has taught me lots about a cuisine little known to me.

• Moro Easy is a useful new book, by Sam & Sam Clark, full of good ideas.

Upcoming Cookery Classes

I don't have any more scheduled dates for this year, so if you'd like a private class, either one-to-one, or for your friends or business, you can find our more on my website, or please do get in touch.