Jassy's bibliophilic lusts lead her to go Dutch... Of all the vices that spatter my soul, like toothpaste across a mirror, buying secondhand cookbooks is the one I find the hardest to give up. It might not seem that terrible a habit to you. Noble even – the pursuit of knowledge ... Read More...
Food
Go on a diet in January? Terrible idea! Jassy serves up a winter treat... The trouble with having curly hair is that I wake up most mornings looking like a bichon frisé that’s licked a socket. I have a halo of brambles that neither comb, mousse or hairspray can control. This Medusan tangle is ... Read More...
It's Boxing Day, and today marks the centenary of the birth of food writer Elizabeth David who, Toby Ash believes, still has more to offer the modern domestic kitchen than all of today’s celebrity chefs put together. I just can’t imagine Elizabeth David stealing from Tesco. No, not Elizabeth. She was ... Read More...
Got some horrible old milk in your fridge? Just turn it into something lovely!... There’s something smugly pleasing about turning an inedible lump of food waste that was destined for the bin into a slab of tasty sponge cake. Albeit, only smugly pleasing if I ignore the fact that I allowed ... Read More...
There was so much to admire about Fanny Cradock. And then it all went wrong... I can’t quite make up my mind about Fanny Cradock. I’m on the fence about this one. There are many things to admire: the innovative cookery programmes, the slick, ball-gowned cookery demonstrations presented to packed audiences ... Read More...
Today we're delighted to welcome top foodie blogger Jassy Davis back to The Dabbler. Here she makes a breakfast that's not for the easily flustered... A favourite pastime when I was growing up was driving around the new estates erupting like boils along the A3 and touring the show homes. Boxy ... Read More...
It has been a summer of festivals in Bristol. Well, it’s always a summer of festivals in Bristol, but this year it didn’t rain on them. The Harbour Festival, the Balloon Fiesta, the Kite Festival, Brisfest, Redfest, VegFest, Grillstock aka MeatFest, yes it’s a Festfest alright. My daughters have enjoyed ... Read More...
A real treat for us today as Luke Honey explores the little known link between super-macho action hero Harry Palmer and fancy gourmet cookery ... Colonel Ross: Champignons? You’re paying ten pence more for a fancy French label. If you want button mushrooms they’re better value on the next shelf. Harry ... Read More...
Dabbler editor Gaw explains his role in the popularisation of one of Britain's finest dishes, the Balti... Accompanied by a family-nan, there is surely no more restorative, tasty and cheap meal to be found anywhere than a Balti. It means 'bucket' in Hindi, and was invented in Birmingham. I gather it's ... Read More...
This week our intrepid style guru gets scrubbed, pummelled, prodded and poked on a trip to the countryside... Where were you on the day Margaret Thatcher died? It may turn out to be one of those occasions you will never forget – like JFK’s assassination, the death of Princess Diana, 9/11 ... Read More...
