Travel is one of the most important sources of inspiration for any home cook. For me it has become a bit of a drug; I spend my time scouring the internet for information about foreign food markets, festivals and restaurants. I always travel with a notebook and every time I see or taste something I make a note, sometimes even a little sketch to make it more memorable. Last week I was lucky enough to be in New York City where there’s a never ending source of inspiration when it comes to food fads and trends. While I can appreciate high-end cooking, getting all dressed up and spending large sums of money on food isn’t for me.
I prefer to seek out casual places with a great atmosphere and food that is simple, seasonal, fresh and delicious. We had some truly incredible meals, but one of the stand-out ones for me was a super spot in Brooklyn called the Buttermilk Channel, where we sat outside and enjoyed a warm lamb salad with roasted cauliflower, fried capers, black olive croutons and a soft boiled egg- total simplicity and truly delicious. One of my favourite breakfasts was one very much on the run, I grabbed one of these savoury and sweet Maple Bacon Buttermilk scones which are packed with amazing flavours, from a little bakery in Soho. Possibly not an everyday breakfast but a wonderful treat and very easy to make at home.