#INSPIREDBY ELIZABETH DAY
Elizabeth Day is the award-winning novelist, podcast host, journalist and all-round badass. Elizabeth started her career writing for the national newspapers before penning four novels including The Party, followed by starting her oh so popular podcast (and subsequent book and tour) How To Fail.
What was one of the very first dishes you remember eating?
Eating PlayDoh. I must have been about two or three and I just remember craving the taste. What a weirdo. But in terms of actual food, I think it would have to be Linzer torte - the delicious Austrian tart with a hazelnut crust and raspberry jammy centre that my mother makes for everyone's birthdays. I know I say it's from Austria, but I will forever associate it with Switzerland as my Swiss grandmother always made it too and her recipe has been passed down the generations. We even have a special way of cutting it: you have to cut a central circle and then the slices radiate out from that point. Once all the slices have been eaten, the birthday girl or boy gets the scrumptious jammy circle all to themselves. After university, I lived in a houseshare in Clapham and I remember being so outraged when one of my male house-mates took a slice of my birthday Linzer torte without telling me and had nabbed half of the prized inner circle. I've never forgotten it.
Who is your food hero?
My Swiss grandmother. She made everything indescribably delicious and was one of those cooks who could magic up a feast from very few ingredients. I still miss her ratatouille. And her fondue. And her cucumber and Marmite sandwiches (don't knock them until you've tried them).
What is your guiltiest food pleasure?
I love salad dressing so much that sometimes I lick the plate after eating.
Which restaurant to you long to return to?
All of them, to be honest. But if I had to pick a selection then Palomar on Rupert Street, 24 The Oval (near where I live) and one of those amazing Lebanese places in Shepherd's Market, London.
What would be your last meal?
I think about this question a lot, and I'm not sure it would be a meal as much as a greedy selection of everything I love. It would involve a vodka martini, excellent champagne, a margarita that is just the right kind of spicy, a bottle of Californian Pinot Noir and then a perfectly ripe avocado vinaigrette, a Globe artichoke, Lebanese aubergine stew with Persian rice, a roast chicken with bread sauce and roast potatoes, an exquisite cacio e pepe, my grandmother's ratatouille, an incredible cheeseboard and my mother's Eve's Pudding (no cream, I hate cream).
What dish do you cook the most at home?
Roast vegetables with feta and couscous. My boyfriend Justin shares it with me, when he's not taking the piss out of me for cooking it yet again.
What restaurant T-shirt would you wear?
Little Dom's or Musso & Frank Grill - both in Los Angeles.
Favourite vegetable?
Aubergine.
Most-used condiment?
Salt. I love salt so much.
Most over-rated dish?
Anything involving too much chili (it is not a substitute for flavour, people!) But also I actually think steak is pretty overrated. Most of the time it doesn't taste of anything other than the things you put on it.
Favourite restaurant not in the UK?
Argh! Too difficult to whittle it down. Some of my favourites include King in New York (the chef there, Jess Shadbolt, is amazing and runs an entirely female brigade. I loved the chickpea panise so much I ordered it twice). Cliff's Edge, Katsu-ya Studio City and Chateau Marmont - all in Los Angeles.
Favourite fast food joint?
I get cravings for Subway sandwiches.
Quick Fire
Breakfast in bed or Hotel Restaurant?
Bed.
English Breakfast Tea or Long Black coffee?
Neither. Jasmine tea.
Martini - Gin or Vodka?
Vodka
Ketchup or Mayo?
Mayo
Stella or Boli?
Boli, darling.
London or New York?
London
City break or Hideaway?
Hideaway
THE CONDUIT TO HOST THE NEW YORK TIMES' LONDON CLIMATE FORWARD
THE UK'S TOP RESTAURANTS ARE NAMED
COUNTERTALK TO LAUNCH BRAND NEW PLATFORM COUNTERTALK SPACES
CULT US BURGER SLINGERS LUCKY BUNS TO COME TO CAROUSEL
TOKLAS APPOINTS NEW HEAD CHEF AND OPENS TERRACE
DISHOOM TO OPEN NEW SITE IN CANARY WHARF
BEST SPOTS NATIONWIDE FOR AL FRESCO DINING
OTTOLENGHI ANNOUNCES BLOOMIN' BEAUTIFUL CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW PAVLOVA
CAROUSEL'S SUMMER CHEF RESIDENCY LINE-UP
ANGELA HARTNETT ANNOUNCES LASTEST CAFE MURANO BOOK CLUB LINE-UP
DISHPATCH LAUNCHES SPRING MENU SERIES
THE PLATINUM JUBILEE AFTERNOON TEA LAUNCHES AT FORTNUM & MASON TEA SALON
DISHPATCH TO DELIVER BBQ FEAST FOR FATHER'S DAY
COLETTE PARTNERS WITH GBBO ALUMNI MANON LAGREVE
WAREHOUSE LAUNCHES SPECIAL UBUNTU COCKTAIL
GODDARD & GIBBS TO LAUNCH BRUNCH
COLETTE’S PLATINUM PICNIC HAMPER
WILDFARMED: FIXING FOOD TO FIX THE PLANET
CELEBRATE CHAND RAAT WITH DISHOOM
SKYE GYNGELL IN CONVERSATION WITH ARIZONA MUSE
EASTER MADE EASY WITH DISHPATCH
CELEBRATE GLOBAL CUISINE WITH CAROUSEL
SPRING-TO-GO TO THROW A FINAL CELEBRATION
OTTOLENGHI LAUNCHES NEW MENU WITH DISHPATCH
JKS RESTAURANTS PARTNER WITH LUKE FARRELL
DISHPATCH'S SPECIAL DELIVERY FOR MOTHER'S DAY
#COOKFORUKRAINE
NOPI CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
CAROUSEL CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH ‘THE FEMALE CHEF’ RESIDENCIES
TOM KERRIDGE PARTNERS WITH DISHPATCH
PRAWN ON THE LAWN TO REOPEN PRAWN ON THE FARM
MARLE AT HECKFIELD PLACE AWARDED A MICHELIN GREEN STAR
DISHPATCH TO PARTNER WITH ST. JOHN AND FKA BLACK AXE MANGAL
THE BIB GOURMANDS ARE OUT
VINOTECA BOROUGH TO OFFICIALLY OPEN ON MONDAY 14TH FEBRUARY
GODDARD & GIBBS TO OPEN 3RD MARCH
CAFE MURANO BOOK CLUB
VALENTINE'S DAY IDEAS
ANNOUNCING THE COMPASSES INN
ZAYTOUN'S NEW SEASON OLIVE OIL
GOILA BUTTER CHICKEN TO LAUNCH
OTTOLENGHI TO OPEN A CHELSEA DELI
CAROUSEL 2022 RESIDENCIES
DRY JAN VS WET JAN