Light Meals and Weekend Treats from an English Woman in Berlin
Summer is now in full swing over here in Berlin and I am kicking off the season with the perfect recipe for some al fresco dining – a Courgette, Feta and Tahini Dip! I am a huge fan of Middle Eastern food for its exciting flavours, use of fresh vegetables and it’s all things spice. I can eat Mezze all year but it feels that little bit more special during the summer months. I think it is because you can cook just a few items then pile a load of olives…
I have made no secret of my love for Middle Eastern cuisine. It is food that excites and uses some of the best ingredients out there. I was recently at Fes Turkish BBQ and while Germany has no shortage of Turkish delis it was a welcome surprise to be able to eat out at somewhere other than a kebab shop. And don’t get me wrong, I am not one to turn my nose up at a kebab! Many nights have been rescued with a late night stop off for a kebab….
The last month or so I have been blogging more and more Mezze recipes and sharing my love for this delicious style of eating. I am constantly influenced by Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours and I am always finding new ways and styles to cook with different and exciting ingredients. And while I am pleased that my list of Mezze recipes are becoming varied, meaning that we don’t have the same small plates each time we want a little of that fresh and vibrant influence in our kitchen, they can get a little on the heavy side when wanting to make all of your favourite dishes…
I am a huge fan of a Mezze. Lots of little small plates all gathered together with different flavours and ingredients ready for a feast to be shared with friends and family. And for me that is what food is all about. It is there to bring people together over delicious food, finding new tastes and flavours and experimenting with different ingredients. Yet while a Mezze is typically an Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern style of eating it doesn’t have to be just limited to this. Last year on a trip to San Francisco it was seen as a slightly more normal way to eat in downtown restaurants….
Last month I was in Paxos, a tiny Greek Island just one hour from Corfu. It was the most peaceful and beautiful of places with clear blue water and a choice of wonderful beaches. What I particularly liked about Paxos is that it is not full of package holiday resorts. In fact, it is mostly made up of villas and little apartments filling the tiny villages. We stayed in the smallest, yet most beautiful, of villages, Loggos…
The weather is still freezing cold and it feels like most of Berlin has been struck down with colds and flu! But I am already thinking of sunshine and warm weather by booking our summer holiday – we are heading to Paxos, Greece! A tiny island where we will have a car to easily access beautiful beaches, staying in a little apartment with a terrace overlooking the sea and a 10 minute walk to the nearby village, Longos, known as the most beautiful of the villages on the island….
This summer is already proving to be better weather wise compared to last year. The majority of July has been hot and sunny and it looks set to stay like this for at least the next couple of weeks! I shouldn’t complain, but the hot weather is getting just a little bit too hot now! We are set for 37 degrees over the weekend! This summer mezze platter is a great one for those warm weekends. Lots of different light things to eat that you can share with others. It is a great menu for a bit of al fresco dining this weekend on a warm evening!…