Slice of Life 2007

By Peter Gordon - August 2007

I know the Brit’s have a reputation for talking endlessly about the weather, but as I write this I do wonder if we’ve actually had the last of the British summer. It’s a summer that’s been ‘plagued’ with torrential rain and floods, and more recently another Foot and Mouth outbreak that threatened to shut down farming around various counties across Britain. Thankfully it seems the outbreak has been contained, which is a relief to all of us living here in the UK, and we also managed to have a brief dry spell – which brought some respite to flooded areas – especially the residents of Tewkesbury which was the worst affected.

London didn’t escape it’s share of natural disasters completely though. The Portobello Road environs (made ‘famous’ in that dreadful film Notting Hill) suffered flooding in various basement kitchens, and some tube lines and trains were halted. So whilst we live in Europe’s largest city, it’s comforting to know we are also under the influence of nature’s ways.

As for me I’ve been trying to keep myself dry as well as finding some free time – which seems to be harder to come by these days. I’ve been filming a new tv show (along with various British restaurant chefs) which will air late October. Much as I’d love to give details, I can’t contractually, but come October I’ll fill you in. Let’s just say that deep-fried meat in fish skin is a chance discovery! I’ve also just finished a story on Auckland’s foodie scene for the UK’s delicious magazine, due to be published in the new year, and another story for them on extra virgin rape-seed oil (also known as canola oil). Whereby I got to ride in a NZ$700,000 combine harvester on a grey day in Nottinghamshire and chew the fat with a farmer and his wife who are adding value to their produce in a time when the public want cheap cheap cheap. Extra virgin rape-seed oil is being mooted as the new olive oil, but I think instead it needs to be seen as another versatile premium oil, much like avocado oil. The best of these golden hued oils are delicious, and it’s brilliant to cook with, but olive oil will continue to be a pantry favourite in its own right.

The Providores turned six on August 15th – which is really a milestone. So many restaurants in the UK don’t make it past one year, so to achieve this is lovely. Our staff, which includes many New Zealander’s, are a great team and it’s always a pleasure to turn up to work and move the menu along. Today I was told we make and serve the best coffee in the world. Much as I’d like to think that true, it’s great to be appreciated for the various parts of the business that we three owners put so much time and effort into.

Next week The Providores will partly re relocating to Warwickshire to cater a party at the family home of one of the nicest customers we’ve had at the restaurant in recent years. Said customer recently employed us to cater an event at the Steinway Piano Hall just off Wigmore Street for a show he is sponsoring at the Edinburgh Festival which combines music and painting. Sophie (our manager), Miles (our ex-Johnsonville head chef), Michael (my partner) and I will be looking after the guests, and rain notwithstanding, we’re looking forward to it. We’ll be serving Fusion style canapés in the walled rose garden, a dinner buffet of NZ inspired pies, Oxfordshire sausages, and a carvery from Chinese tents on the lawn near the lake. Breakfast, at the ungodly time of 6am will be bacon-butties and kiwi-café style muffins.

This month’s photos are from Nottinghamshire. The fields and the rape-seed and the endless grey skies of the summer of 2007.

Cheers, Peter