Food Bloggers Unplugged

Well, as some of my regular readers will know, I feel a bit ambivalent about this tagging lark. Sometimes I've participated and sometimes I've given a heartfelt "thank you" and left it at that. However, Susan of the wonderful A Little Bit of Heaven On A Plate (and if you haven't yet visited her blog, you'll know why this name is so apt when you see her header) has just started Food Bloggers Unplugged - #foodbloggersunplugged - with the aim of getting to know a bit more about fellow food bloggers. She has tagged me as one of the very first five to be chosen - how could I resist that? In fact I'm really touched.

The idea, of course, is to learn a little more about the folk behind the blogs - hmmm, I think this is what I'm afraid of! Questions to be answered:


1. What, or who inspired you to start a blog?
Amazingly, it was work! In an attempt to make us a little more net savvy, we had to create a blog to record our progress in social media. I knew virtually nothing about blogs at this point, but when I understood a) how easy they were to set up and b) their potential, I rushed home excitedly to get one started for CT. I thought it would be a good platform for his Andean crop research. He'd only been doing it for a month when I began to feel left out.

2. Who is your foodie inspiration?
Now this one is virtually impossible to answer. My inspiration changes like the wind and has come from literally hundreds of sources. There are some big names there, like Andrew Whitley who finally got me baking sourdough bread on a regular basis; Rose Elliot who saw me through my early days of cooking for myself; Sally Fallon rallying us to the call of real food and dismissing the diet dictocrats and the anti-fat police; Dan Lepard with his adventures in all things baked. There is also family and friends. There are restaurants and cafes. There are cookbooks. But these days, I have to say it is other food bloggers who inspire me most with their wonderful writing, ideas and photographs.

3. Your greasiest, batter - splattered food/drink book is?
Once upon a time, it was The Bean Book by Rose Elliot, but the stains are now old and faded. It was superseded long ago by Gaia's Kitchen by Julia Ponsonby - a great book for real everyday home vegetarian cooking.

4. Tell us all about the best thing you have ever eaten in another country, where was it, what was it?
I've travelled a lot and eaten so much amazing food in so many amazing places, but the best thing I remember was sitting down by the side of the road in France, during a long cycle ride and eating a hunk of bread, a lump of cheese and a beautifully ripe pear - those three flavours live on.

5. Another food bloggers table you'd like to eat at is?
Actually, I want to eat at all of them. Couldn't I take it in turns? To choose one, seems mean, so I'm ruling out turning up for tea. That would just be too difficult, so I am plumping for dinner instead. As a vegetarian, it would have to be a toss up between Tinned Tomatoes, Allotment 2 Kitchen and Green Gourmet Giraffe, all of whom cook splendidly delicious and interesting vegetarian food.

6. What is the one kitchen gadget you would ask Santa for this year (money no object of course)?
Does a nice big kitchen with loads of work surfaces, cupboard space and a table count? No? Oh well, a Global knife would be very much appreciated.

7. Who taught you how to cook?
My mother - from as early as I can remember. And this delightful book.

8. I'm coming to you for dinner what's your signature dish?
I do a mean Shakshuka and over the years many have wolfed down my Surprise Cheesecake with delight.

9. What is your guilty food pleasure?
I've just scoffed a box of Maltesers (with only a little help from CT)!

10. Reveal something about yourself that others would be surprised to learn?
I live in Cornwall ;-) Oh, you mean you already know that? OK, my grandparents (who sadly I never met nor inherited any money from!) once owned two department stores, one in Alexandria and one in Cairo.

I am also just about to go on a journey and in fact need to leave now in order to catch my train. I'm off on a massive Food Bloggers weekend, two events, two lots of people - not something I've done before, so I'm feeling excited and a bit trepidacious!

So, to the five blogs I am tagging:

Kath of the Ordinary Cook - far from ordinary and one of my absolute favourite blogs.
CityHippyFarmGirl - highly enjoyable and poetic style (and I wouldn't mind eating her food either).
Chele of Chocolate Teapot - my partner in Cocoa.
Liz of Feasts & Festivals - delicious food in the context of seasonal and traditional celebrations
Laura of How to Cook Good Food - a relative newcomer to the world of blogging with some delicious looking recipes which I'm keen to try.

Update 30 Nov 11 - I have subsequently been tagged by Sneige of Orange Thyme. Strangely, she was at one of the food blogging events I attended a couple of weeks ago and, err, still haven't written up. In fact she played a starring role by winning one the Sweets category in Venessa Kimbell's Let's Make Christmas with her Mincemeat Pops. Sadly, I didn't get to try one or a chance to meet up.