FOOD & BOOZE NEWS
ASIAN COOKING SCHOOL
Hooray – a cooking school that focuses on Asian food. Instead of sweet or savoury, mains or dessert, Angela Malik’s new cookery course will focus on the tastes: hot, sweet, salty, sour and the fifth flavour, umami. Courses include Indian Express Lunch, Real Vietnamese Cooking, How to Create the Perfect Indian Dinner, Thai Food Made Easy, Brilliant Cocktails and Canapes, A Taste of Morocco and Simple Chinese Cooking. 6 Churchfield Road Acton, W3 6EG. Classes range from £65 to £125, www.angelamalik.co.uk.
NANNY STATE BEER
Scottish boutique beer-makers Brew Dog have just launched a rebellion beer. After producing the UK’s strongest brew, called Tokyo, at 18.2 per cent ABV, it was criticised by the Scottish parliament for being irresponsible and encouraging bingeing. In response, Brew Dog has launched Nanny State, a 1.1 per cent mild imperial ale containing more hops per barrel than any other beer ever brewed in the UK. Hardly a compromise, Nanny State is the ultimate light afternoon brew, with lots of body and mouthy feel. Low on ABV, but not taste, evidently. Nanny State is available now in limited quantities online at www.brewdog.com in cask and bottles for £2.49.
THE SILVER SPOON: PASTA
Pasta lovers should race to their nearest bookshop to pick up Silver Spoon Pasta, the pasta bible that follows up Phaidon’s 2005 bestseller The Silver Spoon. It’s got every pasta shape you can think of, from agnolotti to zite, and has 23 recipes of tagliatelle alone. In short, it accounts for pretty much every tried and tested method of pasta-making under the sun, from Venice to Verona; from fresh to dry. Think shells with gorgonzola and pistachios. £24.95 at www.phaidon.com.