Has it really been that long?

It's been over a month since my last post and boy do I feel sheepish... but I do have an excuse....

After two years of working in my current job, recent events have led me to drag myself of a rather comfortable rut.... It's all well and good paying the bills, but there's a certain sense of loss when you feel that you're not doing what you're supposed to be doing.

Back in October, I lost one of my best friends. He was 23. It's one of those horrendous wake up calls that makes you realise, you could be gone tomorrow and you do need to take that chance. I've compromised for long enough and now it's time to think about what's best for me!

Wow! I should be a life coach or something (my secret weapon of inspiration- The Jurassic Park theme which I'm listening to right now....don't tell anyone!)


My first steps in the right direction have seen me apply for positions all over the country- I'm not going to limit myself any more. If someone will let me write for money, I'd pretty much move anywhere... So after painstakingly filling in all the relevant application forms, I'm just waiting to hear back to see whether I've scored an interview. Is that too much to ask?

In the meantime, I'll continue cooking up creations for Bookitorcookit.co.uk (note to self: never used dried apples to make a pear crumble more interesting- it just tastes weird and has the texture of soggy polystyrene.....) and of course, you'll see me behind the deli counter at work too- but hopefully, not for much longer.

I'm back and bursting with ideas!

So, it's been a wee while since my last Goremet update and loads has happened which has inevitably stood in the way of me updating my beloved blog....

But rather than lay on the apologies, I thought I'd update with some fantastic foodie news and tasty tit bits of information.

Firstly, I'm re-thinking my relationship with food... It's what I love and am passionate about it, but it ain't doing my figure much good. I recently went on the look out for a bikini and found myself just about squeezing into my 'usual' size, but I'll admit it wasn't a flattering fit. I bought the bikini regardless and have given myself an achievable goal which must be reached before I go to Mauritius (at the end of August).... so it's bye bye carbs for a while....

Secondly, it's my birthday next week and I'm trying to decide what kind of cake I should make myself (sad, I know!)- I thought I might make a healthy hoeny and rose cake or something.... You may scoff, or even feel sorry for me, but I'd sooner slave away and make my own little labour of love than have a shop bought cake. Plus, it gives me the opportunity to show off my creative flair to all those lucky people I'm going to share it with!

Also, I'm trying to decide where I want to eat on my birthday... Matou? Etsu? San Carlo? Red Perilla? Piccolinos? I just don't know! Somewhere new and exciting that doesn't break the bank, but is just that bit extra special...

Oh yeah and I've got to start planning and financing my trip around Europe next year as well as sourcing ideas for my wedding... It's all getting a bit much! I want things to start arranging themselves, but I know that ain't gonna happen...

And finally, the time has come... in exactly one week, I'll be travelling down to the South-West to partake in the Arvon Foundation Food Writing Course and I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!

And that's just my social life..... work's been very busy with canape events and a fully-booked restaurant and with Delifonseca Dockside on the horizon, it's sure to get even more hectic... but do you know what? I don't think I'd like my life as much if there wasn't a million things happening at once, I just need to take a step back, along with a deep breath and FOCUS!!!!!!!!!!

With that in mind and Book it or Cook it's first birthday just a month away, I have plenty in store to whet the hungriest of appetites!

Let the feast begin!

Easter and all things Chocolate related...

Well, like most of the population, when the clocks went forward and the days started getting longer, I thought for a split second that spring might be approaching.... how wrong I was!

The freaky weather has made many of us (myself included) go back into winter (or hibernation) mode i.e hats, gloves, scarves and thermals! So whilst the weather limits us as to what we can do outside, I'm going to have fun reacquainting myself with my kitchen.

As my partner and I are working all through Easter, I thought it would be good to prepare some food in advance, so we could simply help ourselves, so I've stayed up past midnight baking pies and making some lovely Gammon and Lentil Soup (domesticated or what?)

I used the Waitrose guide on how long to cook the joint, using just plain water and I adapted a recipe I found on Not Delia. I added some bay leaves, parsley and oregano and replaced the carrot with some new potatoes and it's currently happily, bubbling away on my stove.

So after a hard day's graft at the Delifonseca stall (at the Chocolate Fair) in the unpredictable atmosphere of Liverpool One, I'll be glad to come home to a big bowl of homemade soup- yummy!

Sweet situation!

Good evening everyone!

After a crazy week at work, I thought I'd take a moment to step back for a breather and philosophise (if that's ok?).

The story starts nearly two years ago when I started working at Delifonseca.
My original job was to work in the kitchen (helping out with prep and anything else that needing doing) and the shop (as a knowledgeable sales assistant), as well taking over the role of outside catering manager (which involved me marketing the business, designing menus and answering enquiries) which was all well and good in principle...

After being told my hours would be split down the middle between the shop and the kitchen, I thought, great, variety's always good! But this was not quite the case.... I found my hours in the shop increased as my hours in the kitchen dwindled and I yearned to be back in the warmth of the galley....

Months passed, and I was content to get excited when jobs for canape events came in, as I got to spend time preparing ingredients and garnishes and finishing them onsite. It gave me a sense of pride, something physical and beautiful that I could be proud of... my fortunes were changing.

Sadly in November, our pastry chef decided it was time for to retire, and so the reigns were passed to another member of staff and I, simply slotted into our regular working hours, cranking up the pressure and adding another element to my expanding job title.....

But this hasn't entirely been the case. I have found that because I'm doing so much right now, I'm much more organised, I can bake good quality products for sale in the shop, as I'm calmer and more focused, and I can get inspiration to create something a bit different for the restaurant upstairs.

I finally feel like my creativity is beginning to flourish. I'm working somewhere I love, with something I love and at the end of the day, I go home to my fiance whom I love with all my heart and write about the other massive love of my life.... FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thirsty work!

Last night I attended the first session in an eight week Wine tasting course at Vinea, located at the Albert Docks.
I was joined by a number of colleagues from Delifonseca, as well as people from various local establishments, business owners and novices alike.

To start off with I felt a little intimidated, like I was back in school again. But seemingly, even though I was in a room full of adults, when a question was asked, there was silence. Answers seemed a little hard to come by, maybe people were nervous, a bit like me? Perhaps not...

After the first hour passed, my habits from school came back to me... I bridged the gaps of silence, and answered many questions right, and many questions wrong, but the point is, I learnt from my mistakes.

Why is it so painful for people to get an answer wrong? Do they think that we'll judge them harshly and label them a plebian or something? This course is all about learning, and if people aren't willing to dip their toes in the water, then they're simply learning how to pass a test.

I can say with some confidence, that I think this is a great investment in my future, another skill to add to my expanding repertoire! Maybe I could be the next Jilly Goolden...

A true taste of summer @ Esteban

Well hasn't the weather these past few days been glorious? It feels like mid-summer, with the intense heat and beautiful sunsets (and the amount of wasps and bees still buzzing about).

So, in the spirit of summer, my partner and I decided to have a late lunch on Lark Lane (try saying that 3 times without tripping over your tongue!) and we headed to our favourite little tapas restaurant- Esteban.

We frequent this restaurant quite regularly, and it's always a casual affair, usually starting with a refreshing bottle of beer with a chunky wedge of lime.

Sure enough, we were seated outside in the courtyard, sipping our cerveza and perusing the menu, and I honestly felt that I was on holiday somewhere in the Mediterranean. Had it not have been for the congregation of mums with their kids clad in Liverpool football strips!

But then, you always meet English people when you're on holiday, right?

As it was a late lunch in the blazing sun, we kept it light, opting to share the Bruschetta, which was crisp, drizzled in Olive oil and stacked with chunks of fresh tomato, feta and herbs.
We also had two other dishes to ourselves. I had my favourite- Mussels in a cream and white wine sauce, a simple classic. It delivered on taste and texture, the sauce was thick and had lovely chunks of red onion running through it. The only disappointment was that a couple of the mussels hadn't opened!

My other dish was aubergine topped with sun dried tomato, Serrano ham and mozzarella. Greedily ploughing my way through the succulent slices of aubergine, the contrast between the creamy cheese and salty ham cut through the sweet tomato, and was very pleasing to the palate!

Obviously we chopped and changed our tapas- as is the way... and we decided to have Cheshire Farm ice-cream for dessert from the new Moon and Pea Deli on Lark Lane. The perfect finish to an endless summers day! This place is usually packed, so my advice is Book it!

F-ing Hell!

After voting on the F-word website many months ago, for Delifonseca to become Britain's favourite restaurant, I'd heard nothing back and thus assumed the worst.
We may not have won the privilege of sharing a kitchen with Gordon Ramsay himself, but I certainly don't feel like a loser- as I might have tickets to dine in the F-word restaurant! How cool is that?

So not only will I get to meet Gordy himself (if I get through), but I'll actually get to critique food on television!
My plans for world domination continue...