Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2025 i Olive Magazine

Even if you’re not doing Valentine’s (or Galentine’s or Palentine’s!) Day, February feels like a good time to invite close friends round and get cosied up. Although it’s not the most exciting time in terms of produce, it’s officially the start of rich braise and stew season, and there are plenty of wins to be had with Sophie Wyburd’s indulgent entertaining dishes on page 26 – I’ve never met a meatball I didn’t love, so her spiced version with dates and chickpeas is going on my must-make list. Those looking to treat a loved one will be thrilled with our romantic getaways (p62), with luxe escapes to Sicily, Malta and Paris. But if you fancy something a bit closer to home, Cardiff is a foodie city that’s full of surprises…

Tiramisu pancakes with maple coffee drizzle MAKES 10-12 PANCAKES PREP 15 MINS | COOK 20 MINS EASY 250g mascarpone 100ml double cream1 tbsp icing sugar3 tbsp Kahlúa1 tsp vanilla extract butter, for frying cocoa powder, to dust chocolate covered coffee beans, to decorate70% dark chocolate, grated, to decorate PANCAKES plain flour MAPLE COFFEE SYRUP instant espresso powder maple syrup 1 To make the pancakes, put the flour, baking powder, golden caster sugar and espresso powder in a bowl, and stir together. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, butter and milk with a pinch of salt. Gradually stir the wet mixture into the dry to make a thick batter. Leave to sit while you make everything else. 2 To make the maple coffee syrup, stir the espresso powder into the…

1 Pistachio and blood orange cake SERVES 6-8 | PREP 20 MINS COOK 40 MINS | EASY 175g salted butter, softened, plus extra for the tin175g golden caster sugar3 blood oranges, zested and juiced3 eggs, beaten 100g natural yogurt100g pistachios, ground to crumbs in a food processor, plus extra to decorate180g self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder SYRUP golden caster sugar 1 Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter and line a 20cm square cake tin with baking paper. Put the butter, sugar and orange zest in a large bowl, and beat using an electric whisk for 5-6 mins or until very light and fluffy. 2 Drop in the eggs a tablespoon at a time, whisking until combined before adding the next tablespoon. Fold in the yogurt and pistachios,…

FOODIE NEIGHBOURHOODS Pontcanna and Canton A short hop from Cardiff Central Station, handsome inner suburb, Pontcanna, is a distinctive enclave of Victorian villas and splendid parklands which, with neighbouring Canton, is home to an easily navigable cluster of indie boutiques, cultural hubs (most notably, Chapter Arts Centre) and on-point food venues. In Gorse, Heaneys and Thomas, some of Cardiff’s best restaurants share adjacent Pontcanna streets. But options go deeper than fine dining. The excellent bakery-cafés, Ground and Scandi-owned Brød, for example, offer casual victuals in various forms. Café and bar, Milkwood, serves “the best brunch in Cardiff,” enthuses chef Leyli Homayoonfar, owner of the South Walian Mexican street food brand, Bab Haus. Over at Kings Road Yard, you will find the Pipes brewery, The Wardrobe Coffee Shop, Tom’s wood-fired pizza…

SPOTLIGHT Momo dumplings Momos are steamed Tibetan dumplings that are hugely popular in Nepal, Northern India and across the South Asian subcontinent. They’re typically filled with spiced meat or vegetables, and served in big steam baskets for sharing. Momos take centre stage at Indo-Chinese restaurant Fatt Pundit (fattpundit.co.uk) and head chef Huzefa Sajawal’s take stays true to their roots. “Momos were historically eaten by farmers trekking the Himalayan region,” he explains. “They’re made using a simple dough of flour and water, rolled into small discs and filled with meat (buffalo, chicken, lamb) or vegetables (cabbage, carrots, potatoes). Once filled they are then folded into different shapes with pleats, and either steamed or fried.” The spicing is what sets Fatt Pundit’s dumplings apart, as Huzefa elaborates: “Instead of using a typical…

Spicy sausage and kale gnocchi Sausage and kale are a great match in this creamy, warming bowl of comfort. SERVES 2-3 | PREP 10 MINSCOOK 30 MINS | EASY 100g kale, woody stems discarded, leaves choppedolive oil4 Italian-style herby sausages, skinned and broken into chunks2 garlic cloves, finely sliced 1 tsp fennel seeds, crushed good pinch of dried chilli flakes 1 tbsp dijon mustard100ml chicken stock 75ml double cream400g gnocchi30g parmesan, finely grated, plus extra to serve 1 Put the kale in a bowl and pour over enough boiled water to cover. 2 Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a frying pan and fry the sausagemeat, breaking up any large chunks with a wooden spoon, until golden and crisp on the edges, and cooked through. 3 Add the garlic and…

Sticky maple, soy and ginger fish parcels SERVES 2 | PREP 5 MINS COOK 15 MINS | EASY 2 tbsp soy sauce2 tbsp maple syrup or runny honey 1 tbsp shaoxing rice wine1 tbsp chilli crisp1 tbsp finely grated ginger2 skinless fillets of trout or salmon 1 pouch of jasmine or basmati rice1 lemon, halved3 baby pak choi, leaves separatedspring onions, to serve red chilli, chopped, to serve 1 Mix the soy, maple syrup, rice wine, chilli crisp and ginger. Put half the marinade in a shallow dish and toss with the fish. 2 Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tear off two large sheets of foil and two large sheets of baking paper. Lay the foil down and sit the baking paper on top. 3 Divide the rice…

Ortigia, Sicily, Italy Fans of The White Lotus will recognise Sicily’s ubiquitous testa di moro head statues, which represent the myth of a young couple in love (albeit the story’s ending isn’t a happy one). History, architecture, folklore, coastal beauty and grazing opportunities on every corner make the island of Ortigia a romantic choice. Browse the Mercato di Ortigia with its murals, cafés and fishmongers, before a pitstop at salumeria Fratelli Burgio for smoked chicken, scamorza and herb panini. Wander the narrow streets around the duomo to discover more of this ancient city’s foodie riches. At natural wine bar Enoteca Solaria, walls are lined with bottles – try the Terzavia Metodo Classico, a dry sparkling white made with grillo, a Sicilian grape. Nearby is the quirkily named MOON (Move Ortigia…

Venice, La Serenissima, is arguably the most beautiful and charismatic city of Italy. Its history as a maritime republic and its trade with the east have both helped to shape its culinary arsenal. In many of the seafood and other dishes, there are little touches of the exotic – the highly peppered sauce that accompanies duck and game dishes, a hint of cinnamon in risotto or gnocchi – which are rare in the rest of Italy. In Venice you should eat seafood, which is brought in fresh every day from the lagoon. Try sardines in an Arabic-influenced sweet and sour marinade; or moleche (soft-shelled crabs); or bigoli in salsa, pasta with an anchovy sauce. There are a few meat and poultry dishes worth trying, such as calf’s liver with onions,…

Detroit-style pizza SERVES 4 | PREP 25 MINS PLUS RISING AND PROVINGCOOK 20 MINS | EASY 350g strong bread flour7g sachet of fast-action dried yeast100g cheddar,grated 200g block of mozzarella, diced 90g pepperoni SAUCE finely chopped tomatoes 1 To make the dough, mix together the flour, yeast and 1 tsp salt in a large bowl. Gradually stir in 200ml of lukewarm water until you have a soft dough. 2 Knead for 10 mins on a clean worksurface until the dough is smooth – try not to add any extra flour, just keep kneading until it comes together. 3 Put the dough in a clean oiled bowl and cover. Leave in a warm place for 1 hr 30 mins-2 hrs or until doubled in size. 4 Mix together the sauce ingredients…

CHUNK OF DEVON ULTIMATE STEAK PIE This hearty pie is packed with chunks of steak, smoky bacon and baby onions in a rich red wine gravy, and a melt-in-the-mouth shortcrust. A perfect winter warmer. £34 (box of eight), chunkofdevon.co.uk CANDIED JALAPEÑOS Also known as cowboy candy, these sweet and hot chillies from GingerBeard’s Preserves are pickled in sugar syrup – and they’re seriously addictive. Perfect for pairing with strong cheeses or for adding a kick to homemade hummus and nachos. And you can use the syrup in cocktails. £4.99 (200g), gingerbeardspreserves.co.uk DEVAGIRI ESTATE TEA Devagiri aims to transform the way tea is sourced, produced and enjoyed, ensuring fairness, sustainability and exceptional quality from farm to cup. Choose from infusions such as vanilla, cinnamon or cardamom chai, or go for a…

Crispy duck with port-braised lentils This dish is inspired by cooking found in the south of France. Confit duck would be a dream here but, honestly, I can rarely be bothered with the lengthy ritual of this process. Crispy roasted legs nestled into the sticky, port-rich lentils do the job just fine and with far less effort. I’d serve this up on a cosy evening in the depths of winter when I’m already firmly aboard the hearty food train and follow it up with lots of games and silliness. SERVES 4 | PREP 10 MINS COOK 1 HR 45 MINS | EASY olive oil 4 duck legs 1 large onion1 large carrot 2 celery sticks 1 tsp coriander seeds 1 tsp cumin seeds 2 garlic cloves2 rosemary sprigs3 tbsp tomato…

What are hormones? Hormones are chemical messengers produced in the endocrine glands which are secreted into the bloodstream. They impact your emotions, appetite, weight, libido and mental health. They play an integral role in many of your body’s major processes, including growth and development. Hormones have the power to impact gut health and digestion, liver detox, dictate how your hair grows, how clear or glowing your skin is and influence how anxious you feel. By learning to work with our hormones and eat mindfully, we can start to balance ourselves from the inside out. What does a hormone imbalance really mean? A hormone imbalance, put simply, means having too much or too little of a hormone. Sometimes, even a small imbalance left untreated over time can cause issues. Our hormone…

1 New opening FANTOMAS, CHELSEA Every inch of this beautifully designed and lit restaurant is intriguing, from its intimate cocktail bar, open kitchen and wine wall to the private dining space behind a prominent curtain. There’s fascination on the plate, too. Chris Denney’s menu shows influences from Europe, Asia and beyond. Snacks range from a robust focaccia with a sublime chicken liver pâté for the table to a dashi broth spiked with mustard oil. There are savoury, salty and tangy flavours in veal sweetbreads with bulgogi and sour cabbage; and a delicate wild sea bass carpaccio with jalapeño and kalamansi; iberico pork chop with quince and lime is topped with black radish; celeriac is made into something special with hollandaise and shaved truffle. And more surprises on the wine list…

I’m Amy Poon, founder of Poon’s London, a Chinese heritage food brand, descended from a Michelin-starred legacy. We rent a small, terraced house in Notting Hill, which is home to my husband and two daughters, and occasionally my two step-daughters. The house was renovated at the beginning of our tenancy, very much for rental so the kitchen is tidy, minimal and neutral. It was designed by an architect who believed that living in London with its abundance of restaurants, a kitchen was needed only for making tea, toast and eggs! The kitchen has wonderful light. As the whole ground floor is open plan, the kitchen table is very much the place where everyone gravitates to. We don’t have a dining room, so kitchen suppers are how we entertain, but we…