Tabbouleh - Moroccan Bulgar Wheat Salad

Day two of the new diet, I suddenly realise I can eat Tabbouleh, something I could gorge on until kingdom come and a perfect spring dish full of zest and fresh flavours! Based on bulgar wheat and parsley, the ideal proportions are 2 parts parsley to one part bulgar, but I need sustenance and am eating this as a main dish, so I've upped the quantity of bulgar wheat somewhat. You can play around and see which you prefer!

To make enough for four people:

2 cups bulgar wheat (or about 200g)

one massive bunch of flat leaf parsley

one bunch of fresh mint leaves

two lemons

a lime

olive oil

3-4 spring onions

1 red onion

1 fresh red chilli

box of cherry tomatoes or 4 fat tomatoes on the brink of going soft

salt and pepper

dash of cayenne pepper

First prepare the bulgar wheat. Add two parts boiling water to one part bulgar wheat. Cover and simmer gently until the bulgar has absorbed all the water. let it rest and cool down, then fluff up with a fork, like making couscous.

Whilst the bulgar wheat is simmering, chop your parsley, mint, onions, chilli and tomatoes into tiny bits. Mix together in a bowl with the lemon and lime juice and the olive oil. Add the bulgar wheat to this mixture in a large salad bowl. Season generously. Taste, add whatever you think is missing, especially if the mixture is too dry. Finish off with a spot of cayenne pepper. If you're not on a wheat free diet, serve with pita bread and my garlicky hummus for a spring meze...

La Trouvaille - A Great Find in the Heart of Soho

A friend of mine introduced me to La Trouvaille a few months ago and since then, I seem to have wound up here once every two weekends, as if a large magnet lay at the heart of Carnaby Street and I was dressed in metal.

A slice of France in the heart of London there is nothing phoney or twee about this cosy retreat. The staff are all French, the wine list is serious, the food is simple and good with proper French dishes and they do a lot to promote organic wines from the South West regions of France through organised wine tasting evenings which are always very well attended.

I have only eaten in the downstairs wine bar which has a short menu perfect for sharing with friends. Prices are perhaps a little over what you'd normally pay but the food is of a high standard. £10.50 gets you a delicious and abundant assiette de charcuterie and two kinds of fresh baked bread. Or choose from a cheese platter served with truffle honey. The tartiflette, an indulgent oven-baked dish of potato slivers topped with creamy, pungeant reblochon cheese and cubes of bacon is perfect for winter.

The wine list offers plenty of choice by the glass and the staff are knowledgeable about the regions and types of wine and how to pair them.

If you drop your business card in their box at the entrance you're in for a chance to win an evening of wine tasting. However, you can also simply book a spot, although places go very quickly as it is an especially popular event. Hosted on Monday nights, each month will explore a different region or vineyard which specialises in biodynamic, organic wines. You'll learn about organic wine production as well as the characteristics of each tipple.
£15 gets you six wines and canapés.

This is a great place to take a date, or for a wine, cheese and charcuterie sharing with friends. It's perfect for unwinding after a heady shopping session on Oxford or Regent Streets as it is literally around the corner, but quiet and removed from the rush. One to add to your "slow food" London restaurant list.

La Trouvaille

12A Newburgh Street
London W1
020 7287 8488

Last of the Summer Lunches

Just a few happy snaps I took of a couple of lunch parties we cooked for chez moi. The dishes more or less speak for themselves, simple, fresh, colourful and tasty. Just a few tips to make your buffets a success:
a) Ensure at least two vegetarian options as well as a fresh leafy salad.
b) Offer one hot salad - maybe a variety of steamed veg with a soy/lime dressing and one cold salad with as many different leaves you can find, some fresh herbs and juicy olives.
c)Don't offer cheapo cheese, it's easy to make an impressive cheese platter with two or three good choices and some freshly baked bread, sliced pears or figs and a pot of homemade chutney or honey.
d) If you don't want to serve alcohol, then instead of the usual orange juice, water or coke as alternatives try making a fruit punch, home made lemonade or pomegranate and elderflower spritzers. You can find exciting juice mixes in almost every supermarket now! e) If you want to serve bubbles but don't have a lot of cash, try a supermarket brand Cava. Bottles are generally around the £5-6 mark and the quality is high. Sainsbury's Cava is a good choice, as is the 2004, Best Vintage Cava by Morrisons at £6.99 a bottle.