BBC Good Food Magazine June 2021

‘The pleasures of a well-set table, the clink of cutlery and glass, the buzz and sense of occasion, the theatre of it all’ – Joanna Blythman sums up what many of us have missed about restaurants. We’re celebrating being able to eat out and support the hospitality industry this month by revisiting our favourites. How wonderful, too, to invite friends and family over for a meal. Melissa Thompson’s family barbecue recipes (p63) and our bursting-with-berries cover story (p31) are the best ways to enjoy a sunny weekend and make up for lost time. It’s also a chance to show off the skills we’ve had time to perfect, like cocktail-making (try our banana daiquiri on page 125). We’ve also gone all out on bold flavours with smoky chorizo sausage rolls (p100)…

At Immediate Media, publishers of BBC Good Food, we respect and value differences. We understand that when people from different backgrounds and with different points of view work together, we can create the most value – for our readers, our people and society. We always strive to be inclusive, but we need to do better. We have been taking time to listen and understand how we can make positive changes, and how we can better support and increase diversity across all our brands. We have begun work on a comprehensive plan to create and drive authentic change.…

Vanessa Bolosier Cookbook author Vanessa shares French Caribbean recipes from her homeland, including Creole pork ragoût (page 94). Melissa Thompson Embrace the sunshine with our columnist’s family-friendly barbecue recipes on page 63, which are all quick and easy to make. Liberty Mendez Combine two classic treats – chocolate cake and crunchy rocky road bars – in Liberty’s ingenious bake on page 110. It makes an ideal weekend project. Sai Deethwa The founder of Buddha Belly shares her foodie memories of Thailand (on page 136) and a traditional suki hot pot recipe (p138).…

your letters Earlier this year, I found out that a dear friend was suffering from the after-effects of Covid. I wanted to do something to lift her spirits and help her feel better, so I started leaving boxed home-cooked meals on her doorstep. She absolutely loved them! I left cakes, casseroles, curry with naan bread, vegetable soups, homemade bread, pickles and jam. It was all freshly cooked in my kitchen, and the main meals and soup only needed a quick heat up in a microwave. I know there are lots of people who read your magazine and love cooking, and this is such an easy thing to do to help out a friend or neighbour recovering from Covid – it’s like giving a hug in a box. So, I’m sharing my idea…

1 GET ORGANISED MAKE ROOM IN THE FREEZER Clear out your freezer ready for warmer summer days. You’ll need to make space for ice cream, ice lollies as well as any barbecue items. Try using up any odds and ends in simple dishes, like whizzing half a bag of peas into a soup, blitzing frozen berries into breakfast smoothies or making a round of fish finger sarnies to avoid food waste. 2 FAST FIXES GRAB-AND-GO PICNIC Heading out on an impromptu picnic? Ditch the soggy sandwiches and make a quick al fresco lunch: • Spread hummus on a plate, scatter over sweet pickled baby beetroot, toasted mixed seeds and scoop up with warmed pittas. • Toss cooked cannellini beans with cooked king prawns, pesto, rocket, lemon and olive oil for a quick salad. • Slice focaccia, spread with…

Compostable sponges and cloths You can buy packs or rolls of absorbent cloths for wiping up spills and cleaning kitchens. These can be washed until they start to disintegrate, then can be composted at the end of their life. Washing them in the dishwasher rather than a washing machine can help keep them going for longer, too. You can also buy sponges with textured scrubber sides made from natural fibres like jute, coconut or luffa for getting rid of tough deposits. You could even try growing your own luffa – they’re a type of gourd and grow like cucumbers (the young gourds can be eaten). In all cases, make sure your sponge is clean when you compost it, otherwise you might add chemicals that aren’t compost-friendly. Reusable coffee filters If you’re a fan…