Amazing asparagus, Royal fun and really great tomatoes!

If I said Sonya wasn’t too busy in my last blog, maybe that was a mistake, because she’s certainly been busy ever since! But then, what with the Jubilee weekend – Sonya’s parents had come to visit – busyness was expected, and for Eco Cuisine that meant lots of catering for great people who know what fine organic food is all about.

It began with the Thames River Pageant – an event which so many of us got to see through the BBCs coverage, and one which Sonya and co were lucky enough to witness first-hand. After all the excitement, there was more food to come, when the neighbours came over on Monday and enjoyed all kinds of excellent food. We’re talking things like handmade burgers (so much better than the processed ones!) and spatchcock chicken. Not to forget Mario’s contribution, which consisted of pastourma – something Sonya explained to me was “Mario’s Cypriot sausage contribution”. After that there were yet more delights to come, with New Jersey Royals served up (they’re amazing potatoes), rice and mixed salad. And not just any mixed peppers, but ones straight off the BBQ…followed by that sweet thing we all know and love – that thing they call Eton Mess!

After that, Sonya had a brief pause – very brief, you know how it is! – before going back to term with the School of Economic Science. Those lucky people were more than satisfied with the food they were served, which included some deluxe couscous with roasted vegetables, and Jerusalem artichoke with puy lentil stew. Yum!

If you thought that was it, then you obviously haven’t been following our blog! One of the things Eco Cuisine does a lot of is tasting-sessions, and this was exactly what was on the agenda next, as Sonya flew over to see Louise Martin of Generation Investment Management near Piccadily. Keen to show off some simple seasonal food, there were all kinds of treats on offer, including asparagus tart, filo pastry with spinach & feta, and individual tortillas too! On top of this assortment of goodness there were a few more things which just can’t be beaten. This extensive list began with smoked mackerel pate and ended with a green leaf & asparagus salad, broccoli and black olives, sautéed red peppers and that most excellent of things: English Heritage Tomato salad.

And if you’ve heard of Heritage Tomatoes and not tried them yet, we insist you do! The ones Sonya had tracked down were some of the best. Direct from the Isle of Wight, the beauty of these is the amazing variety on offer. There were plum cherry, yellow, stripy and beef as well! “When you have tomatoes like these,” Sonya said, glowing with enthusiasm, “you seriously only need a sprinkle of good Cornish sea-salt or a drizzle of olive oil added just before serving and a few scattered basil leaves.”

What else is there to say…oh, asparagus! According to Sonya, English asparagus is still going strong and so are strawberries. Just what we like to hear. Love asparagus as much as we do? Then, in Sonya’s own words, “Try steaming your asparagus for one minute only and making a simple vinaigrette to dip them in - heaven !! and so simple.”

Back soon with more delicious food news for you.