While sitting down with my family and friends this Palm Sunday we were discussing what we will be serving up next weekend for our Easter Sunday family lunch. The following recipes are what we decided on and I thought why not share them with those of you who are pondering on the same thought. Our menu is as follows:
Cucumber salad with creme fraiche dressing, Roast leg of lamb with pancetta, sage and rosemary, and Fresh strawberries with sour cream and brown sugar. (more…)

Our CBC Industry Launch party was a huge success with over 50 journalists from throughout the UK. This event was a great opportunity to meet top Chefs and passionate foodies in the trade.

Mark Edwards head chef of Nobu was cooking up his famous black cod, Anton Mossimann was book signing, Keith Hurdman (Master-Chocolatier, who holds the prestigious Truffe D’or as Swiss Champion Confectioner/Chocolatier) of Melt was creating and serving up outrageous chocolate truffles, and The Gorgeous Group (UK’s leading bar operators and
consultants) were teaching us how to mix and serve the perfect mojito.

And this is only a small taste of events we are cooking up. So now that we have the pot boiling, grab an apron and get in on the action at one of our up-coming events.

The CBC Cafe is cooking up all kinds of activities to satisfy the taste of foodies of all levels at their long awaited Launch Party!

True to CBC style, the festivities for the evening will include an interactive cooking lounge cafe. That’s right, it’s all about “hands-on” participation with activities including:
- learning how to make Black Cod with visiting Chef Mark Edwards from Nobu
- making your own signature to-die-for chocolate truffles with Keith Hurdman from Melt
- mastering the killer Mojito with Joel from CBC bar
- and learning to refine taste and perfectly pair champagne and wine with food through the skills of New Zealand born writer and Master of wine, Peter McCombie.

This private industry event has been designed to introduce the CBC’s unique interactive concept as a “foodie knowledge hub” and cookbook shop to the savvy taste-buds of London.

Now that our pot is boiling…check-in weekly to our calendar of events, grab an apron, and join the fun in this one-of-a-kind-full-on culinary experience.

We look forward to seeing you get down’n'dirty - and whip up something fantastic!

Join us in honoring your mum this Mother’s Day, Sunday, March 18th - as we have so many surprises in store!

While your mother relaxes with a Bellini or two, our kid’s event coordinator, Sivan, will help your children decorate a complimentary heart shaped cake for Mom to take home - a fantastic way to continue celebrating long after your family brunch is over.

If you are anything like me, you too have spent many a Sunday searching for the perfect spot to mix and mingle with family and friends. Well, I can certify that the Cookbook Cafe’s Sunday brunch does not disappoint. In fact, it just might be the best Brunch served in London! And next to the scrumptious food, I believe the best thing about the CBC brunch is that once the kids have exhausted themselves on the desert buffet, they can work their artistic magic at the supervised arts-and-crafts table which offers weekly children’s events (see our events calendar). This gives the adults ample time to enjoy the ‘unlimited’ consumption of Bloody Marys, Bellinis and Iced Tea Martinis. Or if you prefer to keep it clean - tea, coffee and soft drinks.

The Eggs Benedict is not to be missed - topped with salmon, caviar and sour cream - this dish is simply outstanding!

The Sunday brunch at CBC is catching on in popularity, so I suggest you make your reservation early to guarantee your seating.

My Austrian friend Barbara is not just known for her baking, but also for her ability to serve up simple and incredibly tasty meals. I do believe that Austrian girls are taught to bake, the same way many of us are taught to ride-a-bike. I will be posting some of Barbara’s baking delights from time to time as they are too good not to share.

After a day of high-altitude skiing, one does work up an appetite for a hot and hardy meal. This spicy chicken wing recipe was so simple and delicious - a real crowd pleaser. The kids couldn’t stop eating them! Equally delicious was the mango salad she served along side. Also fantastic served with sticky rice or just a pot of steamed white rice. (more…)

It probably seems a bit peculiar to be indulging in ice cream mid-February in London, but trust me that this is one find you want to be in on! After a couple hours on banana bikes in Battersea Park I must admit that the thought of a frozen delight did not put me off. So with a bunch of kids in tow we headed to Oddono’s in South Kensington.

Oddono’s is located at 14 Bute Street, off of Old Brompton Road (SW7 3EX for those of you with sat-nav, trust me you will want to program this into your destination history).
Being a chocolate lover myself, I thought I’d play it safe with a scoop of Valhrona chocolate. But putting that little sampling spoon to good use I began tasting everyone’s selections. One flavor was better than the next! The mango tasted like it just fell off the tree. The raspberry was equally spectacular! I started to get a little carried away and decided to go for a double cone of mint, mixed with pistachio (which is brown, not green with artificial dyes).

My enthusiasm prompted a dialogue with the local hairdresser who was stopping in for a little dessert before dinner, and he let me sample his banana. A few meandering customers commented on how I must really love ice cream! I always considered myself to be a savory gal but on this particular Sunday afternoon, it was all sweet!

Oddono’s was founded by Christian Oddono originally from Verona, Italy. Oddono decided back in 2004 to bring his native gelato to London, realizing there was a niche in the market for high quality ice cream. Since July 2004 Oddono has been one of the main suppliers to restaurants and catering facilities throughout the UK. In addition, in June 2005 he opened his second retail outlet at Selfridge’s food hall on Oxford Street.

Oddono’s philosophy: “Life’s too short to eat bad ice cream!”

This outstanding recipe comes from Chez Panisse Cafe Cookbook by Alice Waters and the Cooks of the famous Chez Panisse Cafe in Berkeley, California. The Chez Panisse Cafe opened in 1980 above the more formal Chez Panisse restaurant.

This pizzetta is perfect for a Sunday brunch where everyone can design their own pizzetta with their desired toppings. The Chefs make a few suggestions: try shaving a white truffle over the top (if available) or simply drizzle with some white truffle oil. Or add a layer of cooked broccoli raab, seasoned with garlic and hot pepper.

Chez Panisse suggests keeping it simple by starting with a mixed leaf salad!

The Chez Panisse Cafe Cookbook is available for purchase at our CBC bookshop. If all this seems like too much work, then try out our outstanding Sunday Brunch at the CBC where our chef’s have our own version of this pizzatta served up.

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First check-out this video link below. It is in Italian, so read the set-up.

SETUP:

An elderly Italian man is sleeping on the side of the road on a pile of hay. He is awakened by a wealthy man on a motorcycle who asks for the time. The old gentleman has a donkey next to him and by simply feeling the donkey’s testicles, he tells the man on the motorcycle the time… This gentleman on his return trip spots the old man again and, thinking the old man was just lucky, asks him again. To the wealthy man’s surprise, the old man is exactly correct again about the time. Now watch the video and see how the old man knows what time it always is.

howitalianstellthetime.wmv

Theo’s asparagus risotto

This risotto is simple to prepare and really delicious!

Ingredients: 200g carnaroli rice
1 bunch of asparagus
1 litre of chicken stock (homemade is best, but Knorrs sells a liquid stock which is quite good if time is an issue)
1/2 glass dry vermouth or white wine
3 tablespoon olive oil
1 shallot
1 clove of garlic
75g parmesan reggiano, grated
25g unsalted butter
Small bunch of basil