The Hackney Butchers Association

MARCH: Brussels Sprouts, Beetroot , Broccoli, Crab , Carrots, Celeriac , Chicory, Clams , Cockles, Cauliflower , Eel, Hake , john Dory, Jerusalem Artichokes , Kale, lobster , Lemon Sole, Leeks , Mussels, Oysters , Parsnips, Purple Sprouting Broccoli , Red Chicory and Radicchio, Spinach , Salmon, Scallops, Skate, Swede , Salad Onions, Sorrel , Sea Bass, Rhubarb , Turnips, Trout , Winkles. Wild Foods: Garlic Mustard, Horseradish , Lime Leaves, Morel Mushrooms, Sea Beet, Wild Garlic . I made up a very quick & delicious side-dish/ salad last week with a few Jerusalem Artichokes. Peel & slice into thick coins, then gently fry for 10mins in a few tablespoons of olive oil until caramelized. Stir in a few finely sliced sage leaves & cook for 1 minute more.  Add the juice of a lemon to deglaze the pan, then remove from the heat & mix in a teaspoon of dijon mustard. Season salt & a few turns of black pepper. I had it with some left over pork & some s...

FEBRUARY Brill , Brussels Sprouts, Blood Oranges , Chard, Clams , Cabbages, Cockles , Celeriac, Cauliflower , Duck, Endive , Forced Rhubarb, Goose , Halibut, Haddock , Hake, Jerusalem Artichokes , John Dory, Kale , Leeks, Mussels , Medjool Dates, Oysters , Onions, Parsnips , Pears, Pomegranate , Potatoes, Red Chicory and Radicchio , Parsnip, Purple Sprouting Broccoli , Sea Bass, Scallops , Swede, Salmon , Turnips, Turbot, Walnuts. Wild foods in February: Alexanders , Chickweed, Horseradish , Hare, Venison.   Game birds everywhere can kick back and relax as the shooting season for Pheasants & partridges ended on the 1st Feb. Starting to appear now though are Red Chicory & Raddichio.  Recipes to follow... Also interesting is the arrival of an old forgotten vegetable called 'Alexanders' introduced by the Romans.  There's a link here It's not something I've tried, but is apparently very easy to find if you're anywhere near the countryside.  It i...

January Brill , Brussels Sprouts, Blood Oranges , Cauliflower, Celeriac , Clams, Cabbages , Celery, Chicory , Cranberries, Cockles , Clementines, Duck , Forced Rhubarb, Goose , Halibut, Hake , Haddock, Hare , Jerusalem Artichokes, John Dory , Kale, Leeks , Lemon Sole, Mussels , Onions, Oysters , Pears, Parsnips , Potatoes, Partridge , Pheasant, Parsnips , Purple Spouting Broccoli, Pomegranates , Sea Bass, Salsify , Satsumas, Shallots , Swede, Seville Oranges , Scallops, Turbot , Turnips, Venison , Whelks, Walnuts . Wild foods in January: Guinea Fowl, Hare , Horseradish, Mallard(until Jan 31st) , Partridge (until Feb 1st) , Pheasant(until Feb 1st) , Teal(until Jan 31st) , Truffles , Venison, Wigeon , Woodcock. Pheasants! That reminds me. There's this amazing Rick Stein pheasant recipe that I cook every year about now. The birds roast in a dutch oven on top of loads of bacon/fennel/leeks/carrots etc. & a small number of juniper berries. You end up with an incredible...

Brill, Brussel Sprouts, Carrots , Celery, Cockles , Cod, Coley , Clementines, Cauliflower , Chicory, Clams , Celeriac, Cranberries , Duck, Guinea Fowl , Grouse, Goose , Haddock, Halibut , Hazelnuts, Hake , John Dory, Jerusalem Artichokes , Lemon Sole, langostine , Leeks, Marrow , Monkfish, Mussels , Mackerel, Oysters , Onions, Pollack , Pomegranates, Plaice , Parsnips, Potatoes , Quince, Red Cabbage , Squid, Sea Bream , Skate, Scallops , Sea Bass, Tangerines , Turnips, Turkey , Turbot, Sea Kale , Satsumas, Swede , Salsify. Wild Foods for December… Chestnuts, Grouse (Until 10th December) , Hare, Mallard , Nettles, Partridge , Pheasant, Sea Purslane , Sea Beet, Teal , Venison, Wigeon , Woodcock, Wood Pigeon , Wild Rabbit, Walnuts . Rather wierdly, my daughter is mad on Brussel Sprouts.  There's a fight over lots of other vegetables, but never sprouts.  For years I had bad memories of them from school.  Grey, watery, cabbagey things.... ugghh.  But now I ...

Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts , Beetroot, Clementines , Cabbages, Celeriac , Celery, Chard , Chestnuts, Chicory , Clams, Crab , Cranberries, Dover Sole , Duck, Eel , Goose, Grouse , Guinea Fowl , Haddock , Hake, Halibut , Hare, Horseradish , Jerusalem Artichokes , John Dory, Kale , Kohlrabi, Langoustine , Leeks, Lemon , Lobster, Mallard , Medlars, Monkfish , Mussels, Nettles , Onions, Oysters , Parsnips, Partridges , Pears, Pheasant , Plaice, Pollack , Pomegranate, Pumpkins , Quince, Rosehips , Salsify, Satsumas , Scallops, Squid , Sea Bass, Sea Beet , Sea Purslane, Skate , Sole, Swede , Swiss Chard, Tangerines , Turbot, Turnips , Venison, Walnuts , Wigeon, Wild Mushrooms , Wild Rabbit, Winkles , Wood Pigeon, Woodcock Wow.  Lot's of good stuff in there...

The next one in my quest to start drinking a little less in the week...  This one is 0.5% alcohol, which will have no effect unless you drink a bathtub full. This is a nice drink that actually tastes like lager! I got it from Tescos, it's mass produced and should be readily available. A few of the other alcohol free beers I've tried have an unpleasant bitter metallic taste.  This one is clean, light, and refreshing with a malty taste.  Quite impressive considering how bad some of the others are! I might try one out on a friend and see if they can spot that it's low alcohol... Also recommended is the Bavaria Wit 0% (Wheat Beer)

I had a go at these recently.  I small cup of polenta goes a very long way!  You end up with 4-5 cups of polenta...