It is World Health Day today (Tuesday 7th April). We have so much common ground right now, because almost all countries are combatting Covid-19 in fairly similar ways. Some countries believe they have flattened the curve (cut the rise in cases), such as in Austria. We hope and trust the UK, will be there shortly.
WORDS: Jean Hill. With thanks to Ramsey and Jenny Campbell.
When we get there, we owe front line services: nurses, doctors, care workers, cleaners, delivery guys, refuse collectors, police, those who deliver the post, social care workers, volunteers and all health related workers, a debt beyond words. Apologies for any we might have missed.
We congratulate Timpson’s who are still paying their staff, though they are ‘in hibernation’. Marks & Spencer have given floor staff a 15% raise and are providing full pay for furloughed staff and are re-stocking their food-halls as we ‘speak’. Supermarkets continue to work through the night to re-stock shelves and create more online shopping slots. Pictured: M&S’s Easter Bunny Colin the Caterpillar, which has been dividing opinion on the internet!
Like You
I believe the world is beautiful
and that poetry, like bread, is for everyone.
And that my veins don’t end in me…
love, little things,
landscape and bread,
the poetry of everyone.’
Roque Dalton, translated by Jack Hirschman
Online grocery shopping has its own challenges
Online grocery shopping has its challenges. I know members of my family stayed up after midnight, very recently, to try and get on with an online grocery delivery service. Some more successfully than others.
Selfridges.com GB provide an online food delivery service. Buy in quantity and get 10% discount. This becomes quite impressive when you consider what you will save on a bottle of Bollinger. Check out their mood-boosting interiors. Invest in home comforts with an indoor smart garden or light up your life with some squishy looking, fun candles, or designer cotton cushions, or Alpaca throws.
John Lewis & Partners have 20% reductions on selected ‘Home’ buys. They do food and drink and seem to have discounts, on some fine wines, if you buy in quantity. Just saying.
Café Rouge are doing ‘Quarantine cuisine’ whilst their restaurants are closed. You can improvise with some similar ingredients. It really is, as Nigel Slater is wont to say, whatever you have in that store cupboard.
Update on restaurant deliveries
Il Forno, Liverpool, which is an amazing Italian restaurant is delivering in the Liverpool area, through Deliveroo. Their fresh pasta has so much more flavour and substance than the dried pasta, which we are all accustomed to, and weirdly became a rarity for a space of time. I read their menu, like poetry: ‘Stracetti di Manzo Piccante alla Romana’. Essentially: strips of beef tenderloin, rocket, Parmesan shavings, served with potato Dauphinoise. I love their sea-bass with tarragon sauce, which is a perfect match of tastes.
Akshaya, Liverpool offers beautiful Sri Lankan and South Indian food. Delivery through Mysore on Zomato.
Mother India, Hoylake, Wirral: access deliveries via www.motherindiakitchen.co.uk
Their menu includes: Tandoori chicken, Katmandu lamb and Calcutta prawn curry. This is a journey around a sub-continent: from Nepal, to Punjab to Calcutta.
Rumi by Bukhara, Liverpool do traditional curries , Kagazi kebabs and Karahi lamb beautifully. Access deliveries via: Deliveroo.
Sombrero Birkenhead, as you might guess is a Mexican bar and grill. Their breakfasts sound legendary. Delivery through: www.food-hub.co.uk and www.just-eat.co.uk
Indigo Greens has a reputation for great vegetarian and vegan food. I particularly like mushrooms, onion, and spinach in a basil and peanut pesto sauce. They are offering 20% off home deliveries (at time of writing). Order through: www.just-eat.co.uk
Casa Italia, Liverpool deliver through Deliveroo and Just-eat. We love their food. The bruschetta tricolore is simply gorgeous, with Mozzarella and home-made pesto. I would, almost, kill for their salmon and prawns in dill sauce right now.
Love and peace, and try and stay safe.
Related read: Latest updates on the food scene: takeaways, special offers and gift cards
