Menus & Recipes
Welcome to my world of flavour
When I talk about what do I do for living, I always tell people that I have the best job in the world, I make people happy every day! Sharing joy through good food, hitting the right notes to elevate every meal to a personal gourmet moment is the most rewarding experience. Here you can glimpse at some of my menus that have been successful on different occasions. When it comes to casual meals with family and guests together, I usually just pick a country and cook up a feast based on a mix of traditional, lesser-known & popular dishes. I love Greek, Lebanese, Italian, French, Thai, Mexican, Peruvian, British and Indian cooking among many others. I find this way of food presentation a great opportunity for everyone to try new things but most importantly to cater for one group of guest's various dietary needs (vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian etc) at the same time. It is needless to say that I have the utmost respect towards my client's various cultural backgrounds and differences in taste. Therefore all ingredients are sourced and prepared following your exact requirements, including: organic, locally sourced, vegan, vegetarian, seasonal, gluten-free, kosher, halal or observing any other type of dietary or religious preference. I am here to make it all happen with flair and a smile! I hope that you get inspired reading through the list below! Please keep in mind that I am more than happy to cook anything on request while appreciating the opportunity to expand my culinary horizon. The only limit is the availability of specialist ingredients as I like to keep my food as authentic as possible.
Roast beetroot hummus
recipe
This visually pleasing dip is not just beautiful to look at but has the smoothest texture and a rich, earthy flavor. Roast 2-3 small whole beetroots in the oven. It is preferred to use roasted beetroots to cooked ones because of the lower water content. Once cooked and cooled, peel and place them in a blender with 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/2 cup tahini, a juice of a whole lemon, salt to taste, 3 ice cubes and blitz until smooth! I serve it with toasted pine nuts, edible flowers and a drizzlle of extra virgin olive oil along with crudites or flatbread.
Crispy Mongolian lamb
recipe
This is an absolute crowd pleaser, I serve it like crispy duck, with steamed rice pancakes, spring onions and cucmber slices. Place a de-boned shoulder of lamb in a dutch oven. Cover half-way with a mix of low salt soy sauce and Chinese rice wine. Top it up with water until it completely covers the meat. Add generous quantity of sliced ginger and Chinese 5 spice powder. Cover and cook in the oven at 160C for 3 hours. Drain and shred the meat into to thin stripes then grill in very hot oven for a couple of minutes until the fat renders down and bits get really crispy. It serves 4-6 as an entrée or a maximum of 4 as a main.
Healthy granola
This is a highly customiseable granola recipe which always gives me great results. Mix 4 cups of rolled oats, 1 1/2 cup raw nuts and seeds (pecan and pumpkin seed mixed works well) 1ts fine seasalt, 1/2 ts ground cinnamon, 1/2 cup melted coconut oil, 1/2 cup of maple syrup with 1 ts of vanilla extract. Bake on baking paper lined baking sheet at 175C for 21-24 minutes, stirring halfway. For extra clumpy/crunchy granola press the stirred granola down with your spatula. Let it cool completely then add 2/3 cup of dried fruit and break up the granola into pieces. It keeps in an airtight container 1-2 weeks at room temperature. Mae it gluten-free by using certified gluten-free oats. Variations: Orange&almond (2 ts orange zest, whole almonds and golden raisins) Honey&almond (with chopped apricots added) Triple coconut (coconut oil large coconut flakes, shredded coconut)
Canapés
Crunchy vegetable, fresh herb spring rolls (vegan, chicken, prawn)
Thai fish cakes
Mini feuilletés (quiche Lorraine, pesto, wild mushroom and truffle, feta and grilled peppers)
Trio of japanese bites (yakitori beef, teriyaki chicken, sesame crust seared tuna)
Coconut prawns skewers with lime and sweet chili dip
Crudités with trilogy of dips (fresh tapenade, roast beetroot hummus, carrot and miso)
Spicy avocado mousse, smoked salmon on chilled cucumber
Caviar, fresh buckwheat blinis, crème fraiche, egg condiments
Crispy Mongolian lamb, steamed pancakes, spring onion, cucumber, hoisin sauce
Selection of mini samosas (vegan, vegetable, beef), raita, mango chutney
Sweet potato, chickpea falafels with tahini dressing
Salt cod accras with West Indian pepper sauce
Sweetcorn fritters with avocado salsa
Fine dining
Eggplant & courgette mille-feuille, confit tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, basil oil
Iced tomato soup, king crab, basil granita
Seared scallops on tian of beetroot and celeriac, carrot emulsion
Purple artichoke carpaccio, freshly shaved parmigiano reggiano, lemon, parsley
Tuna tataki, soy & ponzu dressing, micro greens, edamame
Pan-fried foie gras, peaches, fresh almonds
Seared turbot filet, baked leeks, mashed potato, parlsey & lemon oil
Grilled seabass filet, ricotta gnocchi, mint oil, lemon confit
Beef wellington, parsley root purée, mini fondants, sautéed spinach and rosemary jus
Duck breast, sauce bigarade, aromatic polenta fries
Grilled octopus, warm potato salad, taggiasca olives
Herb and Dijon-crusted rack of lamb with Niçoise vegetables, potato gratin
BBQ
Vegan
Asparagus risotto
Turkish red lentil and tomato soup
Sun-dried tomato and confit lemon chickpea burgers, sweet potato fries, tahini dressing
Pumpkin, prune and zukkini tajine, fragrant cous-cous, flaked almonds, fresh coriander
Mexican three bean chili, coriander lime rice
Ajo Blanco
Thai vegetable curry
Falafel, hummus, baba ganoush, flatbreads, tabbouleh
Vanilla & star anise poached pears, pear sorbet, chocolate sauce
Cold peach soup with verbena jelly
Strawberry, basil and fresh almonds
Sticky-chili chicken pieces with lime&coriander
Lebanese lamb koftas with tahini
Ginger-lime tuna steaks with mango salsa
Jalapeño burgers with, cheddar, confit onions in home made buns
BBQ spare ribs
Moroccan harissa chicken kebabs, mint yoghurt
Tiger prawn skewers, with chili, garlic & parsley
Garlic rosemary lamb chops
Corn on the cob with herb butter
Green bean and sugar snap salad with orange and hazelnut dressing
Home made garlic bread
Sicilian caponata
Baby potato, crispy bacon, spring onion, dijon mustard salad with home made mayonnaise
Char-grilled broccoli with lemon, garlic&chili oil
Triple chocolate brownies with crème fraîche ice-cream
Lemon and poppy seed drizzle cake with zingy lemon icing
New York Cheesecake
Light & low carb
Snow crab, citrus fruit, avocado salad w. silky orange vinaigrette
Watermelon gazpacho, dill, feta
Peruvian ceviche, sweet potato, corn and plantain chips
Grilled peaches, San Daniele, pinenuts, basil & roquette
Turkey and courgette burgers w. spring onion & cumin, lemon yoghurt dressing
Watermelon, grilled haloumi, pickled red onion, pistachio & mint
Five-spice chicken, charred broccoli, fresh herb and peanut salad
Thai style steamed seabass in papillote, konjak "rice", sauteed greens
Crispy salmon filet with ginger soy glaze, buckwheat noodles, stir fried greens
Seabass in sea salt crust, sauce vierge, shaved fennel and citrus
Grilled tuna steak, mango salsa, coconut cauliflower "rice"
Crispy almond coated chicken salad with fromage frais "Caesar" dressing
Thai beef salad
Grilled john dory, salsa verde, caponata
Coconut chia pudding with mango and peach coulis
Vanilla and rum seared pineapple with pineapple sorbet
Spiced pear souffflé