“Dry-Fried Sichuan Chicken” or “Gan Bian Si Ji (干煸四季)” is a popular Sichuan dish known for its dry, flavorful, and spicy profile. The classic dish in Sichuan cuisine originated in the Sichuan province of southwestern China and includes Sichuan peppercorns. The first time I enjoyed this dish in Chengdu was in 1987; it consisted of cubes of chicken, whole garlic cloves, peanuts, and red chillis stir-fried together in more or less equal quantities. I had arrived in Chengdu after a 63-hour train journey from Guangzhou. After having to eat the good but plain food served on the train, this was an assault on my […]
Tag Archives: cooking
Saigon summer rolls (Nem cuốn) often contain a combination of fresh vegetables, herbs, and sometimes protein, all wrapped in rice paper. Different variations may include the use of different herbs, vegetables, or protein choices based on individual tastes and regional preferences.When Vietnam, opened up in the 1990’s, I was in Hong Kong, so my colleague and I went to Saigon for the weekend. With the help of a photocopy of a hand-drawn map bought in a side alley, we tracked down the address of a building used by my father (then a British army intelligence officer) as his HQ in […]
Lagos grilled lobster is a popular Nigerian delicacy that involves grilling or roasting crayfish with a blend of traditional Nigerian spices and herbs. While it is not as common as other Nigerian dishes, it is still a cherished speciality, particularly in the coastal regions where lobster is abundantly available.On both my three-week visits to Lagos in 2008, our host, Jochen Schroeter, took us to a ‘bush’ restaurant somewhere in the outskirts of Lagos. This involved travelling in a convoy, with our two vehicles flanked by two police vehicles carrying policemen armed with AK47s. We were served huge lobster and […]
Having hired a 4-wheel drive vehicle, we were driving around Namibia. One night, we stayed in a remote lodge that only had Kudu meat on the menu. This was a problem as the only meat my five-year-old son would eat was chicken. The greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is found throughout central & northern Namibia and is the second tallest antelope on the African continent. Kudu bulls bear long, spiral horns which reach record lengths of up to 1.8m. Horns grow to their full length at the age of six years.As we had been travelling all day, he needed to eat […]
After travelling by foot and jeep between Chitral and Gilgit over Shandur Pass, I needed food to regain strength. I had been suffering from amoebic dysentery, which was not the best preparation for a walk of over 100 miles in mountainous terrain. The result was that my weight plummeted. I stayed in the Gilgit Tourist Cottage, where they served a wholesome meaty soup made with fine noodles and fresh coriander, which I ate most days, and gradually, I started to regain body weight. This Yakni soup recipe is the closest I can find to this soup.In the Gilgit-Baltistan region, […]
Taking the train from Bangkok in 1987, my good friend Nitza and I travelled down to Penang, in Malaysia. The journey took us through a verdant landscape dotted with small villages surrounded by paddy fields. One of the most memorable aspects of the journey was the Thai Blue Swimmer crab curry served in the buffet car – spicy, delicious and a million miles away from the ubiquitous stale British Rail cheese sandwich. Cooked in a huge wok in the tiny galley next to the buffet car, this was a symphony of flavours in every bite, with the sweet, spicy, and […]
Whelks are a type of sea snail commonly consumed in various parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, France, and South Korea. They are known for their firm texture and have a slightly sweet, briny flavour. In the UK, whelks are often enjoyed as a popular seafood delicacy.While they might not be as popular as some other types of seafood, whelks are appreciated by many for their unique taste and texture. If you enjoy trying different kinds of seafood, it might be worth giving whelks a try to see if you like their flavour and texture. Exports of […]
I was introduced to this ‘Norwegian’ Oyster Stew by an American friend from Wisconsin as a traditional Christmas Eve dish. The stew is a delicious seafood dish that combines the rich flavours of oysters with a creamy, savoury broth.However, while Norway is known for its rich seafood culture, including various preparations of fish, shellfish, and other marine delicacies, oyster stew is not a traditional or commonly known dish in Norwegian cuisine. Norwegian culinary traditions are more closely associated with dishes like various types of cured and smoked fish, as well as preparations of salmon, herring, and other seafood sourced […]
Aligot is a delightful French dish from the Auvergne that combines mashed potatoes with cheese, resulting in a rich, creamy, and stretchy texture. It’s a comfort food that’s perfect for colder weather. When I was seventeen, I joined some French friends from Rouen for a walking holiday in the Gorges du Tarn in southern France. In one small town (or was it a village), we ate dinner in a local cafe and were puzzled by the slowness of the service – not just for us but all diners. Just before the main course was served, the cook appeared with […]