Happy New Year! Best Bits 2008.
A very Happy 2009 to you all! I’ve already been recipe planning for the year ahead but before all that, here’s a few of my favourites from 2008.
From top left: Spring quiche - steak with salsa verde (a strong ‘death-row meal’ contender – well, last year anyway..) – fennel and orange salad with raspberry vinegar – wickedly indulgent omelette cake with ricotta, smoked salmon and greens – brussels sprouts with chorizo – rainbow chard and parmesan tart with carrot and oat crust – Stilton and pear tart with walnut pastry (which I since discovered is from 2007, oops) – thinly shaved asparagus with cheese and ham – watermelon, feta and olives with poppy seed dressing (I couldn’t get enough of poppy seeds last year) – Earl Grey smoked duck – smoky, sweet and spicy red pepper soup – rabbit lasagne with sage bechamel (now my ‘signature dish’ and featured on the Channel 4 website!) – beetroot, squash and halloumi – lavender and honey lamb – amaretto scallops – stargazy pie – crab cucumber rolls – Polish cucumber soup.
And some favourite moments….Scotch eggs at the Heston Blumenthal food and sherry pairing – developing a serious taste for Stinking Bishop – eating dried fish with butter and drinking beer in Iceland’s national park (I also loved smoked eel in 2008) – discovering Brew Dog beer and wet garlic and the most amazing buttery olives (and then finding out where we can buy them!) – eating more oysters than ever in 2008 (although I will try to top this in 2009) – winning The Tipped Chilli cook off – discovering I love rosemary in cocktails- a very unsuccessful but hilarious attempt at growing potatoes on our balcony and finally – 2008 was, without doubt, the year of the cupcake. To top it all off, Food Stories got a little bit of love with an article on the Channel 4 website and my cottage pie got a mention in Simon Majumdar’s ‘school-dinners’ classics article for Word of Mouth. All of this aside however, the best part about food blogging in 2008 was undoubtedly meeting so many other bloggers face to face. Here’s to meeting many more of you in 2009. Cheers!
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Category: Uncategorized 15 comments »
January 1st, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Happy new year Helen!
Gingers last blog post..New Year’s Eve 2008
January 1st, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Great round-up Helen! Happy New Year and look forward to meeting you this year (next week I think!)
Helen Yuet Ling Pangs last blog post..Second Helpings 2008
January 1st, 2009 at 4:05 pm
It has been an exciting ride over the past year. It has been so enjoyable following your blog with all its inspiration. I am really looking forward to 2009!!!
Bellini Vallis last blog post..BLOGGERAID: BECAUSE WE CAN COOK
January 1st, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Happy 2009 to you, Helen! Looks like it was a very good year for food, for you. Hope 2009 is as good or even better!
Ys last blog post..2009 : To Christie, with love
January 1st, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Happy New Year! Here’s to a great and food filled ’09.
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:30 am
Happy New Year, Helen!
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:36 am
Happy New Year, Helen – more of the same in 2009, please!
aforkfulofspaghettis last blog post..another year over… and here’s to 2009!
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:37 am
Thanks all for the New Year wishes! A very happy and food-filled one to all of you too
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:11 pm
A lot of great dishes in 08 and looking forward to many more in 09! Happy New Year!
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Happy new year Helen!
Julias last blog post..A Year in Pictures
January 5th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Looking at all photos and food from 2008 I realized just how very talented you are. I cannot wait for the creations of 2009!
ninas last blog post..A blessed Christmas to everyone!!!
January 7th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Happy New Year Helen! Great round up, looking forward to the 2009 postings!
Nicismes last blog post..Goodbye 2008!
January 12th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
wow, this roundup is making me seriously hungry! happy 2009! looking forward to more stuff this year!
we are never fulls last blog post..Victory = Fish Soufflé
January 23rd, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Wow – quite a year! I love that stargazy pie…
All the best for 2009 and we look forward to many more wonderful posts!
Jeannes last blog post..Cranberry, pistachio & choc chip cookies
June 4th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I’ve been lurking about so just wanted to let you know I enjoy your blog.