Rachel Khoo's Kitchen Notebook: London Episodes
Fashion
London is one of the world's fashion capitals and it's fashion that inspires Rachel's food this time. Celebrating the quirkiness and individuality that London fashion embodies, Rachel takes that principle and applies it to her kitchen; proving it's more about creativity than the price tag when it comes to getting your food looking and tasting good. She samples some inspired cooking at a pop-up restaurant nestled in the back of a boutique and visits a hip rooftop venue to sample some food that's on trend. Back in her kitchen she revamps a classic 70's dessert, shows us how to make a salad the star attraction and transforms everyday pasta into a real head turner of a dish.
Crowd Pleasers
This time Rachel discovers ways that London's food scene is pulling in the crowds and thinks about some crowd pleasing food she can create in her own kitchen. She joins the party at a foodie gathering with a festival atmosphere in east London and discovers the simple secret to the success of a legendary 24hr bagel shop that she's loved since she was a student. At home she puts a twist on chilli & tortillas for friends to tuck into, creates some simple colourful canapés perfect for a party and creates a sophisticated jelly for grown-ups that will put a smile on all the guests' faces.
Nostalgia
Being back in London where she was born and bred has got Rachel feeling a little nostalgic; and remembering the food she enjoyed growing up inspires her cooking in the kitchen this time. She relives her childhood joy of ice-cream and discovers a very modern take on this treat at a unique 'ice-cream lab' in north London; and she seeks out a little Austrian Café to join the chef in the kitchen to create one of her family's favourite bakes, Strudel. Her memories & family recipes act as inspiration for her cooking; with a reinvention of her mum's weekday staple dinner, a colourful and cool interpretation of her grandma's traditional Austrian dish and a sophisticated twist on her childhood favorite, whippy ice-cream.
Fast Food
Almost everywhere you go in London there's 'fast food'; from gourmet burgers to high-end patisserie - it's ready to eat, delicious and tantalisingly easy and Rachel is happy to indulge; but she also proves fast food can be pretty effortless to cook at home too.... She meets Lisa, a young foodie, whose hot Taiwanese sandwiches not only bring back memories of Rachel's own childhood - but have also become a fast food sensation.... And in south London she gets into the kitchen with Trinidadian cook Brian to create some intense flavours for his Caribbean Jerk Chicken... Back in her kitchen Rachel takes on an icon of fast food and gives it her own twist; shows us how to create breakfast, lunch and dinner from one quick bread recipe - and proves that her ultimate fast food patisserie is easy to cook at home.
Lazy Days
London is a vast and fast city and life can be hectic - but sometimes it's important to take things easy; and this time Rachel is enjoying some lazy days, uncovering the city's quieter corners where she can wind down and take things easy. A peaceful bike ride along the canal melds into a lazy brunch and she meets with Tom who rustles her up a summery salad from his urban garden, a space that acts as his larder as well his sanctuary... Back in her kitchen she's cooking comforting food to suit a relaxed mood... With a cake perfect for a picnic, a melt in the mouth pork dish that practically cooks itself and a vegetarian twist on some traditional comfort food.
East Meets West
Rachel explores London's love affair with the east and reflects how this mirrors her own European and Asian family mix; her Austrian mum and Malaysian dad - so this time the food in her kitchen is a celebration of east meets west.... She revives a favourite childhood tradition with some friends, as they pick out lunch from Dim Sum trollies in China Town and discovers the skill behind her favourite dish; and she joins Andrew, a young chef in west London, who teaches her a spectacular noodle pulling technique... Back in her kitchen Rachel shows us how to use up the leftover meat from the roast in an Asian bun, makes her favourite Malaysian dessert with a traditional British twist and cooks an intensely flavoured chicken dish from her mum that captures the fusion of east meets west.
Traditional Values
London is full of tradition and while the new and creative inspire Rachel, dishes that have stood the test of time intrigue her, too. This time she explores some of her most loved culinary traditions and puts a twist on some time-honored favorites. She meets Austin to discover the family recipe that keeps generations of customers coming back to his traditional cafe; and she enjoys the great British tradition of going to the pub and finds out the secret to why this pub's bar snack of Scotch eggs are so successful. Back in the kitchen, Rachel puts her own mark on a traditional fry-up, cooks a no-fuss Sunday roast, so easy you could eat it any day of the week -- and creates posh patisserie from some traditional pudding flavors.
On the Move
London's transport systems are iconic and ingrained on the Londoner's psyche, not just as an essential part of life but part of the capital's identity; and it's London on the move that inspires Rachel's cooking this time. She's the guest at an unusual supper club -- all served up in a tube carriage; and she rolls her sleeves up to make sausage and mash for some hungry taxi drivers in one of London's historic cab shelters. Back in the kitchen she creates some food for busy people on the move with a posh packed lunch, a healthy soup to go and a sweet and colorful homage to the London Underground.
DIY
London is packed with chain stores and the mass-produced but for Rachel it's the individual quirky and homespun that catches her attention. People who do it all themselves, hand-crafting their goods with care, and the DIY craze she finds is alive and well amongst London's young food producers. She visits Ole, who has turned the basement of his north London home into a Norwegian style smokehouse for salmon. And she meets Lillie, a shopkeeper whose shelves are lined with bespoke preserves; all produced by hand her on her hob at home. Back in her own kitchen, Rachel gives us a cheat's guide to smoked fish; finds delicious success in salting her own beef and takes some home-baking to new heights.
The Pleasure's All Mine
Every now and then we deserve to treat ourselves and whether it is high end or humble there are many ways to indulge, so this week Rachel is pleasure seeking. A decadent champagne afternoon tea in Mayfair with her girlfriends, with a glance behind the scenes, does the trick; but it doesn't have to be served with fizz to be indulgence in Rachel's book -- a delicious treat wrapped in paper gets the thumbs up too, as she goes behind the counter to discover the secrets of a proper fish and chip shop. Indulgence is the order of the day in her kitchen too, with some finger-licking good ribs to get stuck into, a modern twist on the traditional treat of fish and chips and her own take on a bake for afternoon tea.
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