T’was a Saturday afternoon and the song “Hot stuff” by Donna Summer was blaring on the speakers at home and as I jiggled my hips to the song, inspiration struck. I had some habanero chillies I had picked up and wanted to make a hot sauce with them. Habeneros are an extremely hot variety of…
Purple corn and Butterfly pea flower Sourdough
Picking out interesting produce in a supermarket makes food exciting. I like playing with diversity in food to add an element of fun and a whole lot of health. My mother is an exceptional sourdough baker and I’ve finally convinced her to join me here! Sourdough bread is a bread leavened by wild yeast and…
Kumquat and Olive Crostini with Cointreau Caviar and Basil Oil
Been a while since I posted last. Its been a crazy past few weeks but I finally found time to play around and post this. Kumquats are something I’ve discovered a few years ago and I just love snacking on them. They’re these gorgeous little oranges that have the sweetest rind, no pith and a…
Roasted Pumpkin Soup, sage pesto, spiced pumpkin seed and hazelnut praline
Its fall and there’s squash everywhere! Big and small, tall and plump, they’re abounding. Pumpkins are one of my favourite veggies and to start off this season I decided on a warm, hearty soup. I love the flavour of roasted pumpkins and sage. There’s something so warm and inviting about a bowl of soup. It…
Moroccan Mandarin and Almond Cake
Can I just say? My avocado vendor is a hidden gem! She had the most gorgeous Moroccan Mandarins that I got over this weekend. Without a hint of exaggeration, these were the best Oranges I’ve ever had! My family is generally calorie conscious, but with these mandarins, it had to be a cake! Mandarins are…
Purple Potato Gnocchi in a Gorgonzola Lemon Thyme Cream
Walking around the isles of a gourmet store is one of my favourite things to do in the late mornings. It is literally like being on holiday in your own head! The variety of exotic ingredients from all over, takes my mind on a magic carpet ride! I’ve always loved dabbling with interesting ingredients and…
Spaghetti alla Chitarra con Ubriaco
My Chitarra pasta cutter finally arrived from Italy and I couldn’t wait to play around. Spaghetti alla Chitarra is a type pf pasta that comes from the Abruzzo region of Italy. Chitarra translates into guitar and it essentially means guitar string spaghetti due to the special pasta cutting tool called chitarra which a wooden frame…
Brioche Tarts
I’ve been ordering some of my veggies and herbs online and I found rhubarb! I’ve worked with them before and was soo ecstatic! This bold, crimson beauty brightens up anything you make with it. Its got this natural sourness that goes amazingly well in a pie or dessert. I love the tartness it imparts with…
Pizza Al Taglio
Pizza, what can I say? It’s heaven on a slice! Its everyone’s comfort food and I daresay the most popular food in the world. Its always been the thing I need on a rough day or on a day of celebration. These humble pies celebrate local ingredients and show then off gloriously. There are so…
Grilled Doughnut Peaches, Burrata and Heirloom Tomato Salad
My avocado vendor decided to drop off some gorgeous doughnut peaches. I’ve always seen these on Pinterest and Instagram and been enamoured by them. Biting into these, they’re juicy, succulent and sweet as nectar! I wanted to do my take on a classic caprese salad which is a combination of mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. I…
Gougères
A gougère is something that I have been fascinated with for a while. These delightful little cheese puffs are light as air and terribly delicious! Perfectly hollow in the centre and flavoured with a hard cheese like Gruyére, Emmantaler or Comté. You can also play around with other drier cheeses and fresh herbs. My favourite…
Carta da Musica with pickled blackberries, whipped feta, blackberry honey vinaigrette and herbs.
Carta da Musica is a house favourite and is often made at home as an hors d’oeuvre that we serve during a dinner for friends or family. Originally, Carta da Musica or Pane Carasau is a Sardanian crispbread. Its name literally translates into “music sheet”; because it has to be rolled so thin and transparent…
Scarpinocc di cacao con funghi
Making handmade pasta is something I’ve really taken to over the past few weeks. Good food is all about the soul and no one does it better than the Italians. There’s something so magical about a warm bowl of pasta coated in a luxurious sauce. I love how the shapes and flavours of pasta change…
Fougasse Provençal
The first time I chanced upon a fougasse, was at a boulangerie in Paris. I found them hanging off a rod, just above a basket. I couldn’t get my eyes off them! That leafy structure immediately caught my attention and I had to try it. I sat by the Siene and devoured this crusty, earthy…
Spiced Plum and Red Wine Caramel Galette
What better way to celebrate some spectacular produce than making a humble pie? Dark, blood red and moreish, these plums were just begging to be encased in some flaky pastry and baked into this evocative galette. Flaky and crumbly, with the perfect balance of spice, tartness and sweetness. A tiny slice of pie can always…
Love & Levain 