Having just got back from my holidays in Europe I wanted to share with you some insights and recipes from around the continent all this week. This isn't just because I'm a fan of european food but also because our neighbours across the channel have lower rates of heart disease and obesity than in the UK so have some valuable lessons to teach us.
I'm a people watcher, especially when abroad, and love to watch how locals interact with each other and compare with how things are done back home.
Continental meal time rituals contrast markedly with the general trend in the UK. Rather than wolfing down processed meals either on the go, or in front of the tv, meals are a lengthy affair with a strong focus on the social and family aspect rather than just filling a hungry stomach.
Food is usually eaten slowly and at a table with friends or family. Attention is paid to the food and it's enjoyment - all the easier as the high importance placed on fresh quality ingredients leads to more appetising cuisine. Unpleasant/poor quality food is discarded rather than being eaten for the sake of it.
Fresh produce is often bought daily at markets, where customers reject poor quality produce, rather than grabbing whatever they can find at a tesco metro on the way home from work. It helps that non-UK europeans have shorter working days leaving more time for food shopping and preparation.
Through this slower and more thoughtful approach to food a healthier relationship develops with binge/comfort eating and drinking much less common than in the UK. A stressful day is counteracted with a whinge to a friend over a glass of wine rather than home alone with a tub of haagan daas.
Hopefully you'll enjoy this weeks recipes and when serving them up try and bring a flavour of the mediterranean meatime to your home.
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