Nigel Slater

Last summer we were lucky enough to meet Nigel Slater when the BBC came to film in our garden, for his new series of  Simple Suppers.  Nigel is very charming and we enjoyed showing him the plot.  It was great to meet him. 

We did not know what Nigel was going to cook for us but we knew he would need fresh produce.  There was a bit of a panic as we pleaded with the slugs to leave us alone until our VIP had gone.  In the end, Nigel cooked us ricotta pancakes, served with fresh rasberries, Japanese wineberries and blackberries picked from Mr McGregor's Garden.  But it was Nigel's suggestion to add a slug of Doc's damson gin that made all the difference.  It is a delicious dish and we have made the pancakes several times since then.

I read Nigel's books cover to cover. His cookery books are inspirational and his autobiography Toast is wonderfully written. 

For Grow Your Owners, I recommend Tender, Volume 1 for making the most of vegetables and Tender Volume 2, for fruit.  My copies are getting dog eared now which shows just how much I use them.  (I like it when cookery books are tatty, they seem to have more character with splodges here and there and notes in the margins!) 

If you ever feel that you can't face the rain, the slugs and the cold on your plot, just read some of Nigel's prose and it will lift your spirits.  Before long you will have your wellies on again and be reaching for seed packets.

I can't believe Nigel Slater ate my Victoria sponge cake - made with our eggs and our homemade raspberry jam.  He ate a large piece happily so he must have either liked it very much or perhaps he was just very very polite!