Cocona

On leaving the National Garden, the route I usually take through Kolonaki to Taresso was being dug up. Rather than retace my steps, I took what I thought was a shortcut.

Hence I stumbled across Cocona.

A street food outlet.

Curiousity got the better of me. I did not need to eat but decided to try one if the dishes.

Not pies. But what? I would describe as dosa. But not dosa.

A small pastry ball put through a pasta machine. Repeatedly put through until a thin sheet.

Cooked minced beef sciooped into the doungh. Folded in half, cooked on a domed hot plate, heated from beneath by a hot flame

Sliced into small pieces, served with yoghurt in a paper tray.

Delicious.

Junk food travelling circus

The junk food travelling circus is back.

My relief Tuesday, the Cornhill Cove finally dismantled, somewhat short-lived as already replaced by a junk food travelling circus.

Both are an example of Lincoln BIG squanders money squandered from local businesses.

The stench of junk food mingling with fumes from diesel generators.

Factory cheese. Visit The Cheese Society, too of the High Street, turn left.

Flavoured coffee. Visit Coffee Aroma or Madame Waffle

Meatballs with tomato sauce and rice

What to do with meatballs from Redhill Farm shop?

meatballs

Hot pan with olive oil. Turn frequently.

tomato sauce

Thinly slice lengthways red chilli, strip out seeds, slice into small pieces.

Chop two garlic cloves

Add chilli and garlic to a hot pan with a splash of olive oil.

Empty can of tomatoes, break up the tomatoes, add a little water to the can, empty in the pan, stir and leave to simmer. If wish, a handful of peas.

rice

Half a mug of rice. Mug of cold water. Bring to the boil and simmer.

thoughts

Too many mistakes.

Compared with meatballs in rice at Ole Olé last week, a disaster.

Meatballs nowhere near as good. That is probably down to my cooking.

Tomatoes sauce, did not not need half a can of water. A little water, of iNt.

Too much seasoning. Did not need added salt and pepper, and no eat paprika.

Pasta Evangelists psst wanna buy some cheap meat guv?

A strange e-mail from Pasta Evangelists offering a job lot of meat half price, well almost half price, £32 for what was claimed to be £60-60 worth of meat.

Pasta Evangelists psst wanna buy some cheap meat guv? https://t.co/4xUAP0BMln #pasta #meat #PastaEvangelists pic.twitter.com/OuW72VGJff

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) June 18, 2022

It was like a spiv during rationing in WWII offering me a job lot of meat. Or maybe down at the docks, laundered horse meat burgers.

But why was a company selling fresh pasta offering a job lot of meat?

• 8 Jumbo Pork Sausages
• 6 Butcher’s Pork Sausages
• 6 Chipotle & Cheese Sausages
• 4 Classic Seasoned Steak Burgers
• 6 Lamb Koftas
• 4 Extra Trimmed Rump Medallions
• 2 Aberdeen Angus Burgers
• 2 Fillet Steak Burgers
• 2 Pork Loin Steaks

And what was I to do with all this meat?

I let Pasta Evangelists know I was not interested. I buy quality meat from local family butchers.

I would rather buy from my local family butcher, which will be better quality. 

Their reply bizarre. Gibberish, does not address what I have raised, followed by unsubscribing me from their newsletter. It was news to me that I had subscribed.

Thank you for this valuable feedback.
 
I have looped in our Head Chef who will most certainly take your feedback on board and discuss with the CEO if changes need to be made. As a small business, your feedback is really important to us.
 
We often trial new dishes as we feel it is important for us to showcase the wealth and variety of Italy’s pasta heritage, as well as allowing our customers to taste lots of different dishes. Whilst this is something we’re proud of, we do understand that these don’t always match all of our customers’ tastes and preferences.
 
This will be taken seriously as an opportunity of improvement for us. We look forward serving you better and making 5-star meals in the future.
 
I have forwarded your email to our tech team and they will arrange the removal of your account.
 
I have removed you from our newsletter so you should not receive any more emails from us.

A few days later, another e-mail, invited to attend a butchery course. Stranger still, butchery and pasta making

My curiosity piqued, I clicked on the link to find it is not Pasta Evangelists offering the meat, I am directed to a catering supply butcher, Donald Russell, award winning butcher.

When you see ‘award winning’, always ask what award? The entirely worthless Great Taste Award, which pay for.

Donald Russell owned by food conglomerate Vestey .

Why is Pasta Evangelists pimping for a catering supply butcher, Big Business?

Do they also own Pasta Evangelists cf Mindful Chef owned by Nestle?

Pasta Evangelists claim to be a small business. They are not. They are a typical start up, hype, Vulture Capitalists, hype, then sell to Big Business.

Pasta Evangelists were sold in 2021 to Barilla for a reported £40 million.

I then asked local butchers to give me a ball park figure for this job lot. The first £36 the second £40.

What I do not know, shipping costs if any.

Cross selling is one way businesses are now abusing customer data for profit.

• Barilla Acquires Pasta Evangelists, a UK-Based Fresh Pasta Delivery Startup
• Businesses seize on cross selling to counter inflation’s bite
  
  

Natura Well

A tiny, barely more than a kiosk, takeaway.

Natura Well #takeaway #Lincoln pic.twitter.com/pfhRj6gQks

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) April 26, 2022

menu Natura Well #takeaway #Lincoln pic.twitter.com/hLWOcfjRZe

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) April 26, 2022

Natura Well #takeaway #Lincoln pic.twitter.com/EbTvarRtfI

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) April 26, 2022

A classic Diet for a Small Planet: cornucopia of vegetables, fruits, seeds, pulses, grains, nuts.

Fake meat, ultra-processed crap, bad for health, bad for the planet.

Food for Thought in Covent Garden, sadly no more, would never have dreamt of insulting clientele with fake meat.

Superfood a meaningless claim.

Deliveroo, worker exploitation. Those who have taken the trouble to visit are treated as second class citizens. A long wait whilst Deliveroo serfs granted priority is not acceptable .

Staff trial half a day shift unpaid is one way of getting free labour.

When I visited, empty, a staff member emerged from the back, no customers. Contrast with common complaint, long wait for order.

Location not good. Ten minutes walk from city centre to Coffee Depot, a few more minutes down the road to the takeaway. A better location would have been a side street in the city centre.

If wish for a coffee, visit a coffee shop. If wish for vegetarian, try Bailgate Deli.

Super Lincs

Rough end of the High Street, large supermarket with excellent selection.

Super Lincs #food #supermarket #Lincoln pic.twitter.com/EfCXMydvvt

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) April 22, 2022

Super Lincs #food #supermarket #Lincoln pic.twitter.com/sJzxMH1FjO

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) April 22, 2022

Ronanian, Bulgarian, Asian aisles, bakery, fresh fruit and vegetables.

Excellent supermarket in an otherwise run down area of the High Street.

I wanted sauerkraut. The only place I could find that stocked

Polish owner very helpful. I wanted for Ukraine recipe slow-roast belly pork from Summer Gardens by Olia Hercules. Helpful owner recommended with carrot.

Dinner for Ukraine

Hosted by Jamie Oliver at Jamie Oliver HQ.

You are going to get to try some very authentic Ukrainian food. — Jamie Oliver

No more beautiful way to speak out against the war than through food. — Alissa Timoshkina

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alissa Timoshkina (@alissatimoshkina)

Chef @Olia_Hercules is Ukrainian, & chef @borschnotears is Russian.

The two have been friends for more than a decade — and in the midst of their countries' war, they've started a campaign to highlight the beauty of Ukrainian food. #CookForUkrainehttps://t.co/n5GJ7KfnKp

— CBC Radio: The Current (@TheCurrentCBC) April 15, 2022

The food writer and activist @Olia_Hercules on her parents’ escape through Russian checkpoints, with artillery fire just over the horizon. https://t.co/6jfni78vAt

— The New Statesman (@NewStatesman) April 15, 2022

After drinks on arrival, shown to our tables, Jamie Oliver welcomed everyone and explained Cook For Ukraine. He then passed over to Alissa Timoshkina and Olia Hercules co-founders of Cook for Ukraine.

Cook for Ukraine was founded by Alissa Timoshkina and Olia Hercules, with the help of Clerkenwell Boy.

Their aim was to celebrate Ukrainian and Eastern European food while raising awareness of the humanitarian crisis facing Ukraine as well as emergency funds.

Alissa Timoshkina expanded on the founding of Cook for Ukraine.

Olia Hercules gave an emotional account of relatives in Ukraine and her fear for their safety.

Dinner for Ukraine a fundraiser for Cook for Ukraine.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by #CookForUkraine 🇺🇦 (@cookforukraine)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by #CookForUkraine 🇺🇦 (@cookforukraine)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by #CookForUkraine 🇺🇦 (@cookforukraine)

By the side of each invited guest, a menu and cutlery wrapped in a yellow or blue ribbon.

The food prepared by Jamie Oliver and a Ukrainian chef Yurii Kovryzhenko, served by a team of willing helpers, all volunteers.

menu Dinner for Ukraine #CookforUkraine pic.twitter.com/6uz4WtjIi8

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) April 14, 2022

Dinner for Ukraine @jamieoliver #CookforUkraine pic.twitter.com/UQUaYv1aYI

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) April 14, 2022

Dinner for Ukraine #CookforUkraine pic.twitter.com/gLgeiGAlcv

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) April 15, 2022

Dima's vodka Dinner for Ukraine pic.twitter.com/OKuZdXRywg

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) April 14, 2022

Dima's vodka #Ukraine Dinner for Ukraine pic.twitter.com/aAsjFFHxtX

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) April 14, 2022

On the table a large plate of fermented vegetables. Help yourself, washed down with Dima’s vodka, a three-grain Ukrainian vodka.

Followed by soup, borscht, a beetroot soup.

Followed by slow roast belly pork served with new potatoes.

Varenyky is an art 💙💛 Making some together with @jamieoliver for #CookForUkraine with sweet soft cheese and blueberries. #StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #Varenyky #ChefsForUkraine #UkrainianCuisine pic.twitter.com/qT8fd9mwuZ

— Yurii Kovryzhenko (@KovryzhenkoChef) April 14, 2022

Followed by dessert, dumpling filled with I think apricots, together with cream and raspberries.

Part way through the dinner, a lottery draw, with prizes which included a complete set of signed Jamie Oliver cookbooks. Myself and my guest twice missed by one number, then me by two.

I have never tried Ukrainian food before, I had no idea what to expect, the names meant nothing. Would I even like?

raffle prizes incl signed copies @jamieoliver #cookbooks Dinner for Ukraine #CookforUkraine pic.twitter.com/WqFXkZ5rru

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) April 14, 2022

Cook for Ukraine fund raiser for Ukraine #CookforUkraine @lesiavasylenko @KyivIndependent #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/XaAf5uZTcN

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) April 14, 2022

menu Dinner for Ukraine #CookforUkraine #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/hkpVQMun8A

— Keith Parkins (@keithpp) April 14, 2022

Menus wrapped in ribbons, alternated blue and yellow along the table and across the table.

The food was amazing. As was the white wine and vodka.

Special thanks to Jamie for an amazing evening, excellent food, and to all his willing helpers, who volunteered their time for free.

• PHOTOS Dinner for Ukraine

I had spoken to Jamie earlier, I have an idea. We like ideas, we must discuss later. But sadly did not see later to discuss or to explain the idea.

Last year I met Mad Heads, a coffee roastery in Kyiv. Excellent coffee. I have have been in contact with them recently. Yes, they can ship coffee to Ukraine.

i would ask, please talk to your local specialty coffee shop. Would they like to stock and serve Mad Heads as guest coffee?

• Cook for Ukraine: How Russian and Ukrainian friends are using food to raise money for Ukraine
• The Ukrainian and Russian Chefs Cooking for Ukraine

Risotto primavera

Pot of vegetable stock.

Chop and dice carrot and onion, fry in large frying pan for 15 minutes.

Add Arborio rice.

Splosh of white wine.

Asparagus, bend and break off wooden stems, drop into vegetable stock pot.

Slice tips off asparagus stems, slice stems into short sections.

Ladle stock into frying pan to stop drying out. Continue for twenty minutes.

Add last ten minutes, asparagus stems, sugar snap peas that have been topped and tailed.

Last five minutes, add asparagus tips and peas.

Add a knob of butter and Old Winchester cheese.

Serve, with a little Old Winchester cheese as dressing.

Accompany with glass of white wine.

Follow with slices of watermelon as dessert.

• PHOTOS Risotto primavera

Risotto primavera

Literally risotto with spring vegetables.

Pot with vegetable stock.

Slice and dice carrot and red onion. Fry in large frying pan for 15 minutes.

Add rice. Critical stage, do not let dry out.

Bend and snap off woody stems of asparagus. Woody stems crush, drop in vegetable stock.

Pod peas, top and tail sugar snap peas.

Splosh of white wine to stop rice drying out

Note: It should have been white wine, by mistake I used red wine

Ladle vegetable stock into frying pan.

Further twenty minutes for contents of frying pan.

Prior to last ten, minutes, add asparagus stems and sugar snap peas.

Last five minutes add asparagus tips and peas.

Add a knob of butter and sprinkling of crumbly hard cheese. I used Old Winchester. Save half to sprinkle on final dish.

Plate and serve.

Enjoy with a glass of wine, should have been white, but never mind, it was red, my mistake.

• PHOTOS Risotto primavera

Riverford delivery

Each Riverford delivery has proved to be different.

Order a recipe box late Wednesday at the latest and delivered Friday morning.

Order more than one recipe box and receive a discount.

I learnt recently, can also order fruit and vegetables, not restricted to a veg box, but a minimum £15 order.

More recently I learnt, can add to existing order for a recipe box, thus not limited by the £15 minimum order.

My first order, two recipe boxes to obtain a discount. One large box, partitioned in two. Top half the meat to go straight into the fridge, the bottom half two more boxes containing vegetables and other ingredients.

My delivery of fruit and vegetables, an open box with the fruit and vegetables inside.

My next delivery, an open box with fruit and vegetables, a smaller box with side by side, meat and a box with the vegetable and ingredients.

Overnight, leave out empty boxes, these are collected when delivery arrives in the morning.

Thursday night I did not leave out empty boxes due to heavy rain.

Friday morning, an open box with vegetable order, a bag containing a recipe box for a meal, Thai mushroom and peanut noodles.

• PHOTOS Riverford delivery