Weekend (over) Indulgence

I haven't been a very good girl this weekend, diet-wise. I have had a weird week with the TV show being on every day and all that food has gone to my head. I have ditched my diet for a few days and set out to curb every single craving i have had of late. My first stop this week was at 'Wahaca' one of my favourite Mexican restaurants in town, offering authentic 'market style' tacos and an assortment of small dishes to suit every taste. This is one of the places in London where i absolutely cannot leave without having dessert (no matter how stuffed i am). Churros are my absolute favourite things to eat, when talking of sweets. Piped doughnut batter dipped in sugar, with a smattering of cinnamon and served with an unctuously indulgent slick of melted dark chocolate, into which you dip the Churros in. This is simplicity at its best! For someone like me, who simply isn't a dessert lover, this bowls me over everytime. No wonder its eaten everywhere from Mexico to Spain!

This morning (and when i say morning, i actually mean noon) i decided to make something that i have long been craving... a Masala omelette. Recipe is simple enough. Large frying pan with a little oil, lightly fry off half a small onion (finely chopped), with one whole green chilli and a fat clove of garlic (both also finely chopped) One golden, add a heaped teaspoon of Garam Masala to the onion mix as well as a heaped teaspoon of curry powder (of your desired strength). Add 3 good quality, medium sized eggs (i use Clarence Court eggs) and whisk in pan til mixed with the spice and onion mixture and allow to cook and set in the pan, turning (or flipping) it over to cook both sides. Once done serve straight onto a soft Tortilla wrap (or Naan bread if you prefer) season with salt, add some mango chutney, chopped coriander and chopped spring onions and wrap it up and eat it. No fuss, no muss... just full on creamy, spicy yumminess! Eggs really hold spice well, so the flavour is subtle and not as spicy or hot as you would think! Just something unique and very enjoyable! Perfect for breakfast, lunch or a lite snack and let me tell you, its asbolutely delicious.

THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL!

Come Dine With Me has been one of the strangest and most bizarre experiences of my life and it has finally drawn to a close. I won....! Who'd have thought it? I was lucky that my competition didn't size up, with the exception of Greg Basire, the host from the first night, who made heavenly Spanish Tapas dishes, followed by a fantastic Paella Valenciana. Perfect.

So what now? Well, nothing really. The winnings went towards my 1 month trip around Asia, visiting Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Shanghai, Bangkok, Phuket & Singapore. Ultimately to learn more about food! (of all things!) and i learned a lot!

So thank you very much Come Dine With Me... For lining my pockets with spending money which was spent (mostly) on eating!!!

SPICE ADDICTION

My name is Sabrina Ghayour. I am an addict. My addiction is spicy food.

The last 3 days has seen me semi-abandon Weight Watchers (temporarily) in favour of feeding my habit… Spice... Sweet and hot. Deep and earthy. Cool and fiery... Yin and yang on so many levels. (Is it getting hot in here????) I have had Indian food, Spicy Korean Food and am currently staring at a crusty country bread and Lincolnshire sausage sandwich with absolutely lashings of good old Colman’s English Mustard. Whole sausages just jammed into doughy-crusty-chewy fresh bread. My sinus are overwhelmed with the unapologetic fierceness of my penchant for English Mustard… and Wasabi and Horseradish and Chilli. You get the picture.

So many different kinds of spices are available in the world. Each unique with different tastes and textures, varying degrees of intensity and potency. Renowned for there medicinal properties, ranging from digestive to aphrodisiac qualities.

So why are they so damn addictive? For me personally, I crave spiced meats with a bland accompaniment, such as rice, which is a very common combination in cuisines of the Middle East and Far East alike. I want smoky depth from the meat, crusted in a your own personal choice of spices, seared to perfection. Even slices of spice crusted chicken with a tortilla wrap and some cooling thick yoghurt and, if you want to be extra flash, some freshly chopped mint leaves. How about char-grilled steak cut into strips, with spring onions and chilli and some chopped coriander in a wrap? Drizzle with a little good quality BBQ or steak sauce (I love ‘Sophie’s Steakhouse’ sauce at: http://www.sophiessteakhouse.com/sophies_steak_sauce.htm ) or just your favourite chutney.

Don’t forget that spice isn’t just for savoury food… Cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cloves, ginger, saffron and so many more are regularly used throughout the world. If you are feeling more adventurous, don’t forget chilli powder, rosemary, cardamom and even black pepper.

Now please excuse me as I have an S.A. meeting to go to. That’s “Spice-a-holics Anonymous”. Shhhhhh…. (It’s anonymous.)

A link to Channel 4's Come Dine With Me: http://www.channel4.com/food/on-tv/come-dine-with-me/series-5/west-london/sabrina-ghayour-s-menu_p_1.html

Today is the day my week long episodes of Come Dine With Me air on Channel 4. Am i nervous? Hell yes... Im only human after all. But my competitive streak always draws me to compete in such things as this... And the fact that i am and have always been completely addicted to the show is a bonus!!! Its on at 5:30pm on Channel 4 (or 6:30pm on Channel 4 +1)

So Bank Holiday weekend has been full of rich foods and Gastro-Porn for me. What is Gastro-Porn? Food that excites me to a level beyond the norm. I'm the kind of girl who likes all kinds of food... Anything from top restaurants to tiny little holes-in-the-wall that sell little-known incredible bites.... I am, however, a bit of a food snob. I can't stand fast-food, but don't judge those who choose to consume it. I just think that there are better options available than your average greasy burger... I love cooking and am pretty good in the kitchen. I have well over 300 cookery books (and counting) and have travelled quite a bit in search of recipes, strange ingredients and understanding culinary cultures and traditions. Food is my life. And not just the eating of it, but understanding tastes, textures, combinations and uses of things... It ignites a passion inside me that most find difficult to put out!

Career-wise, I have worked in Michelin Star restaurants, have set up Catering companies for Restaurants, have been lucky enough to have worked on events with top Chefs like Raymond Blanc, Gary Rhodes, Giorgio Locatelli, Michel Roux Jnr, Antonio Carluccio and Prue Leith to name a few, as well as with some of the countries top food critics such as Charles Campion, Bill Knott and Tracy MacLeod... My principle line of work is as an event organiser, which is how i have been so fortunate to have met all these people.

So welcome to my blog! This is my debut. Hope you stay with me for more rants, raves and culinary misbehaves! Hope you can keep up with me!