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Jeremy Cherfas

Let’s go, microbes.

Let’s go, microbes.

Let’s go, microbes.

Jeremy Cherfas

First of the season.

First of the season.

First of the season.

Jeremy Cherfas

Found these in the Chinese supermarket and am enjoying a bit of the numb tongue sensation that is Szechuan pepper

Found these in the Chinese supermarket and am enjoying a bit of the numb tongue sensation that is Szechuan pepper

Found these in the Chinese supermarket and am enjoying a bit of the numb tongue sensation that is Szechuan pepper. Strangely pleasant.

Jeremy Cherfas

Nice to see violets in the springtime.

Nice to see violets in the springtime.

Nice to see violets in the springtime.

Jeremy Cherfas

Small detail from today’s Cultural Quickie™️ adorning a lectern in Santa Maria Maggiore.

Small detail from today’s Cultural Quickie™️ adorning a lectern in Santa Maria Maggiore.

Small detail from today’s Cultural Quickie™️ adorning a lectern in Santa Maria Maggiore.

Jeremy Cherfas

A finished nigella seed loaf

A finished nigella seed loaf

A finished nigella seed loaf.

It isn’t a naan, of course, but it has the smell and taste of one.

Jeremy Cherfas

Old man river

Old man river

Old man river.

First time down here in an age, and not much has changed.

Jeremy Cherfas

If they don’t have Nigella here, I’m stuffed.

If they don’t have Nigella here, I’m stuffed.

If they don’t have Nigella here, I’m stuffed.

Jeremy Cherfas

Jeremy Cherfas

A couple of weeks ago I was enjoying a Pink Lady apple and noticed that one of the seeds had germinated inside the fruit

A couple of weeks ago I was enjoying a Pink Lady apple and noticed that one of the seeds had germinated inside the fruit

I know that the odds of getting an edible fruit are against me, but so what? Same goes for the lemon.

Jeremy Cherfas

Jeremy Cherfas

Jeremy Cherfas

So good.

So good.

So good.

Jeremy Cherfas

Managed a bit of gardening.

Managed a bit of gardening.

Managed a bit of gardening.

Jeremy Cherfas

The makrut is waking up and has never had so many flower buds

The makrut is waking up and has never had so many flower buds

The makrut is waking up and has never had so many flower buds. But is has been a very mild winter.

Jeremy Cherfas

Saturday night special.

Saturday night special.

Saturday night special.

Jeremy Cherfas

Labour saving tip: if you’re roasting veggies in the oven, don’t bother getting a frying pan dirty for an egg

Labour saving tip: if you’re roasting veggies in the oven, don’t bother getting a frying pan dirty for an egg

Labour saving tip: if you’re roasting veggies in the oven, don’t bother getting a frying pan dirty for an egg. Five mins is plenty.

Jeremy Cherfas

Today’s cultural quickie ™️ to San Lorenzo and Verano and it was a truly glorious morning.

Today’s cultural quickie ™️ to San Lorenzo and Verano and it was a truly glorious morning.

Today’s cultural quickie ™️ to San Lorenzo and Verano and it was a truly glorious morning.

Jeremy Cherfas

Great day for a stroll.

Great day for a stroll.

Great day for a stroll.

Jeremy Cherfas

Spring is coming.

Spring is coming.

Spring is coming.

Jeremy Cherfas

A new personal best: 6.1 kg of bread dough, all to be worked by hand.

A new personal best: 6.1 kg of bread dough, all to be worked by hand.

A new personal best: 6.1 kg of bread dough, all to be worked by hand.

Jeremy Cherfas

On a night such as this, a soup such as this.

On a night such as this, a soup such as this.

On a night such as this, a soup such as this.

Jeremy Cherfas

Happy Valentine to my own true love.

Happy Valentine to my own true love.

Happy Valentine to my own true love.

Jeremy Cherfas

So many fine diagrams of how to make a martyr

So many fine diagrams of how to make a martyr

So many fine diagrams of how to make a martyr. First visit since the restoration, and it is glorious.

Jeremy Cherfas

Exploring terra incognita.

Exploring terra incognita.

Exploring terra incognita.

Jeremy Cherfas

Today, I will mostly be baking light rye sourdough with caraway seeds.

Today, I will mostly be baking light rye sourdough with caraway seeds.

Today, I will mostly be baking light rye sourdough with caraway seeds.

Jeremy Cherfas

This hibiscus has lost all sense of time, as have most of us

This hibiscus has lost all sense of time, as have most of us

This hibiscus has lost all sense of time, as have most of us. Also, there’s something odd about the intensity of hibiscus pigments and lower temperatures.

Jeremy Cherfas

Our attempt at pumpkin chilli ricotta ravioli from @letitia_ann_clark may not look like much, but they were absolutely scrummy

Our attempt at pumpkin chilli ricotta ravioli from @letitia_ann_clark may not look like much, but they were absolutely scrummy

Our attempt at pumpkin chilli ricotta ravioli from @letitia_ann_clark may not look like much, but they were absolutely scrummy. The sage, butter, Parmesan, pasta water sauce is a knockout.

Jeremy Cherfas

Ave Fornax!

Ave Fornax!

Ave Fornax!

@tavolamediterranea has decreed that today is the start of Fornacalia, which I am celebrating with a very un-Roman bread. At least, I don't think the Romans ever baked with rye. And certainly not sunflower seeds.

This is the 100% rye sourdough with a sunflower seed soaker from @raleighstreetbaker reduced to what is, for me, a more manageable quantity. Link to full recipe in bio.

Jeremy Cherfas

What an astonishing day it has been

What an astonishing day it has been

What an astonishing day it has been. 100% chance of rain tomorrow but right now, I don’t care. Tidying the terrace in shirtsleeves.

Jeremy Cherfas

Life is good.

Life is good.

Life is good.

Jeremy Cherfas

I’m always astonished that this will eventually grow into two 1kg loaves of @raleighstreetbaker ‘s fabulous 100% rye with sunflower seeds

I’m always astonished that this will eventually grow into two 1kg loaves of @raleighstreetbaker ‘s fabulous 100% rye with sunflower seeds

I’m always astonished that this will eventually grow into two 1kg loaves of @raleighstreetbaker ‘s fabulous 100% rye with sunflower seeds. One for Sunday and one for the freezer.

Jeremy Cherfas

These loaves contain enough whole buckwheat flour to give them a terrific extra wallop of flavour

These loaves contain enough whole buckwheat flour to give them a terrific extra wallop of flavour

These loaves contain enough whole buckwheat flour to give them a terrific extra wallop of flavour. Baked up bold, too. And, while this may be auto-suggestion, I do believe that a slice is better at keeping hunger at bay than my other breads.

Jeremy Cherfas

A fine Friday night supper

A fine Friday night supper

A fine Friday night supper. Brown rice ( riso baldo, which is superb) and cicoria topped with a crunchy-edged fried egg. Yum.

Jeremy Cherfas

Baking up a storm here.

Baking up a storm here.

Baking up a storm here.

Jeremy Cherfas

Doesn’t take much to transform my mood.

Doesn’t take much to transform my mood.

Doesn’t take much to transform my mood.

Jeremy Cherfas

Uh oh

Uh oh

Uh oh

Jeremy Cherfas

No sourdough discards here.

No sourdough discards here.

No sourdough discards here.

Jeremy Cherfas

@clinklucy magnificent supper to end a miserable day

@clinklucy magnificent supper to end a miserable day

@clinklucy magnificent supper to end a miserable day. Can’t wait.

Jeremy Cherfas

They don’t look like much, but they tasted great, ricotta with rosemary butter, because the sage has vanished.

They don’t look like much, but they tasted great, ricotta with rosemary butter, because the sage has vanished.

They don’t look like much, but they tasted great, ricotta with rosemary butter, because the sage has vanished.

Jeremy Cherfas

Just the thing after a full day in front of a screen.

Just the thing after a full day in front of a screen.

Just the thing after a full day in front of a screen.

Jeremy Cherfas

Grano arso is effectively smoked flour, although I don’t know whether they smoke the flour or scorch the grain, as history suggests

Grano arso is effectively smoked flour, although I don’t know whether they smoke the flour or scorch the grain, as history suggests

Grano arso is effectively smoked flour, although I don’t know whether they smoke the flour or scorch the grain, as history suggests. Either way it makes a beautifully dark loaf with a smoky aroma and sweetish crumb.

Jeremy Cherfas

Cultural quickie this morning to the lovely church of Sant’Onofrio on the Gianicolo.

Cultural quickie this morning to the lovely church of Sant’Onofrio on the Gianicolo.

Cultural quickie this morning to the lovely church of Sant’Onofrio on the Gianicolo.

Jeremy Cherfas

The internet couldn’t make its mind up

The internet couldn’t make its mind up

The internet couldn’t make its mind up. Cut an X. Cut a Y. Just a slit will do. Round the equator. Round the poles. Boil, steam, roast, microwave.

So, back to basics.

MTAOFC says to peel a strip (I cut a slit) put them in cold water, bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Then pull them out three at a time and peel. And by golly if it wasn’t pretty much OK. Better than boiling for longer and better than roasting.

Jeremy Cherfas

I’d really like to know what @rachelaliceroddy thinks of the great bucatini shortage and, even more, the great bucatini infatuation, which has been all over the internets and which I mentioned in the latest issue of Eat This Newsletter (link in bio).

I’d really like to know what @rachelaliceroddy thinks of the great bucatini shortage and, even more, the great bucatini infatuation, which has been all over the internets and which I mentioned in the latest issue of Eat This Newsletter (link in bio).

I’d really like to know what @rachelaliceroddy thinks of the great bucatini shortage and, even more, the great bucatini infatuation, which has been all over the internets and which I mentioned in the latest issue of Eat This Newsletter (link in bio).

Jeremy Cherfas

On the beach again.

On the beach again.

On the beach again.

Jeremy Cherfas

Probably mature enough.

Probably mature enough.

Probably mature enough.

Jeremy Cherfas

After the gloomiest and dankest of days, this!

After the gloomiest and dankest of days, this!

After the gloomiest and dankest of days, this!

Jeremy Cherfas

Such strange weather.

Such strange weather.

Such strange weather.

Jeremy Cherfas

Seen yesterday, while gathering winter fuel (pine cones), a trio of Earth stars

Seen yesterday, while gathering winter fuel (pine cones), a trio of Earth stars

Seen yesterday, while gathering winter fuel (pine cones), a trio of Earth stars. First time I’ve seen them in the wild. There were oysters too, on downed pines, but not enough to bother gathering.