Ceredigion, a hidden gem in the heart of Wales

Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 24th February 2014:

Welsh sheep

If you’ve ever craved a simpler way of life, Ceredigion is the place to go. It’s not the land of the digital detox, or that things are positively stone age; it’s just that in Ceredigion, the cottage industry is king.

All over the county are small producers – often husband and wife teams, sometimes their children too – setting up shop in their homes and living off the land as small holders. Last year, Jenny Davies, owner of the Llwynhelyg Farm Shop, gathered together a few of these producers to create a Welsh food trail.

Just by visiting a few producers, you get a real sense of how wholesome food used to be – as I found out during my recent visit.

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A wine and truffle tour of Bergerac

Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 13th February 2014:

Château Thénac, Bergerac

If there were ever a group of people who talked more about the weather than the British, it would be the Bergeracois. And yet, as a region, Bergerac is as French as they come.

Located to the east of Bordeaux, Bergerac is often considered the lesser known cousin of the infamous wine region. For those in the know, Bergerac was the place to buy Bordeaux-style wines but at a significantly better price.

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What do the Chinese really eat during Chinese New Year?

Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 7th February 2014:

Chinese New Year at Yauatcha, London

A journalist friend of mine recently asked me what I was doing for Chinese New Year this year for an article she was writing. When I replied that we usually ate home-cooked foods and watched the Spring Festival Gala, like we did in China, she was surprised.

It seems that, from her experience at least, our way of celebrating Chinese New Year was very outdated and people no longer ate at home. It got me thinking, what do the Chinese really eat for Chinese New Year?

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Hunan cookbook, available for pre-order

Hunan book

At the beginning of last year, I found myself freelancing full-time and for the first time. It was unexpected and rather daunting to say the least. Suddenly, I couldn’t just write for pleasure (d’oh) but had to actually make a living (argh).

Good fortune fell on me early in the year when Dino Joannides recommended me for a book project – that turned into Hunan: A Lifetime of Secrets from Mr Peng’s Chinese Kitchen.

I was the co-author alongside the legendary Hunan Restaurant‘s chef/patron Yong Shuang Peng aka Mr Peng.

As my first book project, it was as much one for learning about Chinese food as it was about making words fit. Almost a year after the first introductions were made, I’m pleased to say that the Hunan cookbook is now available for pre-order on Amazon and will be available to purchase from 17th April this year.

Words – January 2014

Published this month:

On the blogs:

And some backdated photos: