Trials of being a Food Columnist
>> Saturday, 19 July 2008
On a weekly basis I can be heard saying any or all of the following: “What am I going to write about this week? I have nothing to say this week. I haven’t cooked for my column yet. Why is the sun hiding behind the cloud when I need it for my photo-shoot today?” And then of course there are the long moments when I sit at my desk and stare at the computer screen, my mind blank as the cursor blinks, willing me write, to say something, anything. Click here for the rest of the column.
When you read the column, you will understand how these dishes came about. This fruit is the West Indian cherry it is also known as Barbados Cherry and Suriname Cherry. Very rich in Vitamin C, it is grown and enjoyed throughout the Caribbean.
Here I made a compote with them.
Inspired by a reader, I made fish choka with Barbados's national fish - flying fish, by fire-roasting the fish for that roasted-smoky flavour. The next time I want to try oven roasting it with garlic, thyme and salt and pepper and then make it into a choka.
There are 2 ways that Flying Fish is prepared in Barbados, fried in a batter or steamed with lots of onions, tomatoes and herbs to be eaten with Cornmeal Cou Cou. Here, I twisted things a little, I oven-fried it with a panko crust.
Please email me if you need any of the recipes.
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Thanks Sheena of Melissa Libby PR for the samples of TSP Spices. They're great, and the most endearing quality is the convenience of having them pre-measured in their individual packets! I think that they'll make great gifts at anytime. Sheena also sent me some fat free, zero calorie, vegetarian, Kosher Bacon Salt. They come in three flavours - Original, Hickory & Peppered. These are great to jazz up veggies or to make spiced french fries. Use them this grilling season and you're sure to be the toast of the gathering.
I'd also like to thank everyone who took part and contributed to the donation drive put on for Bri. There were 362 contributions and we surpassed the target of US$12,000. A total of $17,000 was raised. Thank you! Click here for the fundraiser raffle winners.
Foodbuzz - I love the bag and the badges! Thank you!
This week at Forgive Me My Nonsense... Happy Birthday A Luta Continua
Have a great weekend everybody!
60 comments:
I love the look of those cherries, and the fish choka has me drooling. I would love the recipe for the choka...
Great column, Cynthia, I especially liked the ending because it was so heartfelt. I often wonder what on earth I'm going to write on the blog - sometimes it comes to me all of a sudden, sometimes it is a struggle.
Great post Cynthia. You make it sound as if it is easy, but I am sure it is not. You do a great job and lovely recipes. Thanks for the photography lesson as well. So that's why my photos suck. I always take them indoors, just a few minutes before I serve food. Last week I also did some cherries (preserved) which we call spoon sweets in Greece. I hope to post the recipe this week.
Hi Cyhnthia I love all of them but my favorite is Friedflyingfish3copy.jpg pics. Wonderful!
Interesting cherries... Nice pictures, gorgeous food, as usual!
cheers,
Rosa
Gorgeous pics Cynthia! I can imagine how hard it might be to come up with such interesting ideas and pics week after week... But you do such a great job of making it all seem so effortless!
i told ya. stand in front of cynthia, and she'll make you a choka. poor lil fish. :D
Lovely post Cynthis and the pictures are once again fantastic..You are a great columnist and do wonders always!!
In the compote these cherries resemble sultanas. The fish recipes, oh my it looks so good.
Flyin' fish and cornmeal cou cou! This sounds like so much fun. Just the sound of it makes me giggle. hahaha. I really need to move to the Caribbeans! :-)
Your pictures are delicious looking, as always!
My husband and I have been to Barbados three times, the first being our honeymoon. It is one of our favorite places. We just love the cuisine, especially all of the wonderful ways to eat flying fish. I used to eat it for breakfast with my eggs too.
I saw those cherries and wondered how it will taste in an icecream :) I have acherry icecream on my blog right now!
what you said down there, sounds familiar to me.... cuz, I was just asking myself, what to write for this week. :)
The barbados cherry looks like a small delicious apple on the inside...curious as to how they taste.
As for the flying fish, I've been seeing it this year at the fishmongers, surely to satiate our West Indies folks here.
flying fish recipe?! wow!! now you know why i keep dropping by your blog all the time, cynthia :)
hi cynthia,
Sorry I was away for some time :D.. but I'm back now. Your recipes and photos are yet still as lovely as they always were.. Good job :)
Cynthia,
What a wonderful and heart warming column... and the pictures are gorgeous as usual (natural lighting or otherwise). I admire your discipline to do everything week after week with no fail to your faithful readers.
BTW, I hope to see the picture and recipe of the soursop sorbet soon... I bet it is heavenly in a summer day :-P
Lovely post.. I love your pictures!! Wish you would post all the recipes:-)
Haven't cooked flying fish, but have the roe (tobiko) often. I'm wondering if Barbados has a particular dish using the roe?
I'm getting my own food column too for the newspaper that I write for, and am not looking forward to these trials. Hopefully I won't be gaining too much weight because of the extra cooking for the column!
Thanks for the beautiful food pictures and I will be asking for he recipes when I need them!
Stuuning pictures Cynthia...& love the compote. It's always a treat to come by here. I'm currently suffering from writer's block...no thoughts seem to flow out of the brain in an organised manner. *sigh*...take care dear girl...xoxoxo
Cynthia that fish choka has me drooling...may I please have the recipe. :)
i love fish dishes..coz less cholesterol
When I saw the title to your blog I knew I was going to love it - and you did not disappoint. I am dreaming of a holiday in Barbados, tasting all these terrific ingredients. This doesn't taste like my home, but I wish I was in yours!
Cynthia, I've never seen those types of cherries before. They look delicious and soooo pretty. I love the red color! You know, that fly fish choka looks sooooo good especially with the johnny cakes (bakes?). I have got to meet a Bajan up here where I am and have them make me some choka. lol!!
Loved the snaps and your way of presenting the dishes...anyone would feel hungry having a look at them
Kosher bacon salt? Hmm... I'll have to think about that one.
Have you ever tried a product called Bakon Yeast? We usually buy it in bulk, because we love the stuff so much. It's just dried torula yeast that's been hickory smoked. That way you get the smoke flavor, but none of the added salt. You might check it out (it comes in smaller quantities, too, of course).
I think that the salt would have a definite advantage, when it comes to adding it at the table. The yeast isn't something that you'd just shake on (unless you were adding it to popcorn). The yeast really dissolves best in oil, so it's great for anything fried. We add it to beans by first mixing it into melted butter or oil.
Hope you're well!
Your fish looks delicious! And I can't tell from the photo how big the cherries are, but they certainly look luscious!
Hi Cynthia...u r the best of best food bloggers out there...lovely pics as ever...
ohhhh compote! i never think to do that, but what a great way to showcase fruit in a new way -- especially great summer fruit that's in season now! this all sounds awesome.
That compote looks really good!
You do an excellent job. I love your gorgeous food pictures.
Beautiful food and a wonderful column, as usual, Cynthia! I always like to learn a little more about you :)
Thanks to your blog, you've opened my eyes to so many new things. Keep it up, knowing that everytime you struggle to think of a new topic, there will be someone who sincerely appreciates your effort!
Your writing seems effortless Cynthia! Your food styling and photos always appeal to the senses, it's always fun to come for a visit here!
A great post Cynthia. Your photos are amazing - I want to eat all that lovely food!
With you there Cyntia! I'm now assistant editing a mag and it is a trial trying to get content then writing about it! Loving the compote.
Cheers
David
Those cherries look delicious. And no pit in the middle?
I loved reading about your process of producing your column and recipes. That's really interesting that you take the pictures first and then write. That explains why they're so good.
I LOVE cherries. Those look amazing.
Wow that cherry picture is gorgeous Cynthia - as are your flying fish dishes! I think we all struggle with what to write sometimes - I go on writing streaks a lot, where I will write a few pieces in one day because I am in a groove. Then later I will look at them better - edit and so forth.
Of all the people..can't believe you are at a loss of words...lovely pics as always....
Cherries Compote- that's a lovely idea. I wish I can try that.
Wonderfully written Cynthia, but then again, you always have an excellent way with words! Would love to try the choka as well as the oven-fried fish if you would kindly send the recipes my way. Keep the wonderful posts coming! Cheers!
I know what you mean about that moment of panic before writing your article. It's funny how that process works. And yet to the outside viewer you make it look so effortless!!
The compote looks amazing, and I love visiting here because I always learn something new--the fish dish looks amazing!
Hello Cynthia,
Interesting article. Although I am not a food writer, I can relate to many aspects of what you have written in terms of getting inspiration from several sources. You read a great deal indeed, my dear! That's what I would like to do more of now that I am done with my dissertation.
These dishes are so creative and mouth watering. I wish that I can taste the Barbados cherries. Do they taste similar to common cherries?
take care,
Nora
I feel your site to be very refreshing. After surfing so many sites on net i feel your site to be cool one. nice work. keep going.
Do the cherries taste a bit like apple (the core looks similar) or like the usual cherries?
Choka looks really good. Is it like fried rice but more moist? Could you please email to me the recipe, Cynthia? Thank you.
Cynthia,
Like you ,I too wonder what I will write..
and trust me ,I many times dont have much clue .But You have a Remarkable talent of putting things so Beautifully and Thats why taste like Home is a pleasure to visit everytime ...
Pics are so tempting and Gorgeous and You do a fab Job Always...
hugs and smiles
jaya
it is hard to think that you actually have those moments where you feel like you have nothing to write about because your ideas are all so interesting... oh those cherries looked like apples to me at one glance.. hahahha.. if you didn't say they were cherries, i would have thought they were apples of another species.
You are one talented writer, Cynthia. I am sure you'll alway find a captivating topic to write about:) My my, your pictures are mouthwatering! When is the book coming out? Can't wait.
Hi Cynthia,This is my first visit to your blog,you have a very nice one,I also read your article,I agree,I too cannot write a word until the dish is ready and the pictures taken.Cherries looks yummy :)
What a wonderful column--it really shows how much you love food and sharing this passion with people.
Cherries are jewels, aren't they? And that photo is gorgeous, Cynthia.
My dear, you will never run out of ideas for food. I always adore your creative food creation. Keep on with the good work! *hugs*
u r doing a gr8 job lady and i seriously donno how u manage it all. sometimes pictures are worth 100 words and ur post is the true example here.
i am on my way to read ur column.. catch ya later sweetie:)
(sorry for not dropping at ur blog since long, been caught up with very very hectic work scedule)
We'd like to invite you to participate in our July berry recipe contest. All competitors will be placed on our blogroll, and the winner will receive a fun prize! Please email me, haleyglasco@gmail.com, if you're interested. Feel free to check out our blog for more details: http://blog.keyingredient.com/2008/06/06/key-ingredient-cooks-kitchen-recipe-contest/
Thanks,
Haley
KI Blogger
I would just love to try those cherries.
And the spices are packaged so prettily.
Cynthia,I tried leaving a comment here last week but had some problem , so got bugged and left the page:P i was quite impressed with your column on "trials...columnist"...i loved the title and everything you wrote in the column......just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed reading it ...the trials....the thought process...and finally the pleasure of having written a great one :)
Lovely post.. I love your pictures!! Pics make me drooling....
Very interesting... never seen those cherries before :)
Have a good day Cynthia!!
M.
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