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Travel

Eating my way through the French Basque country, a paradise of food

Tooting Mama
27 Comments
April 24, 2017
4 Mins read
494 Views
Piment d'Esplette

We’re just back from our Spring vacation (look at me and all my Americanisms) a week’s sojourn in Bayonne, the heart of the French Basque country. I love my food, and living in France is like landing in heaven. Then to spending a week in the French Basque country, is like arriving in a paradise of food. Yes, I literally ate my way through this holiday, as well as lolling around on a beach or two. We even ventured into Spain and introduced the kids to Pintxos. If you love your food, the French Basque country is the place to be!

The French Basque country, a paradise of food

Here are just a few of the delicious delicacies I have discovered. Some have made their way home with me!

The Foire au jambon or the ham fair

Jambon from Bayonne

The city of Bayonne is famous for its ham, jambon de Bayonne. And they even have a festival to celebrate this wonderful charcuterie. The 555th Foire au Jambon took place 13 – 16 April honouring the production of this delicacy.

I have never been to a fair that celebrates a single food product, but this is France this is what they do! And we loved it. The town was buzzing, producers from across the region proudly offered us tastings of their goods.

The city was bursting with ham – slices, tranches, hunks, chunks and legs. In the excitement of it all, we bought a kilo of jambon de Bayonne which we will work through at our pleasure.

Gateau Basque

Now, this is scrumptious.

Gateau basque is a traditional dessert from the French Basque country and can be found in pretty much all the patisseries and is served up in pretty much every restaurant.

It’s buttery, a really buttery sweet pastry cake which is filled with either creme patisserie (vanilla creamy filling) frangipane (almondy creamy filling)  or Basque black cherry jam.

My favourite was definitely the black cherry filling. I can only really liken it to a munching my way through a particularly delicious Bakewell tart minus the icing and glace cherry.

I am currently searching out recipes to make my own gateau Basque at home.

Cerise noir confiture, black cherry jam

Tasting jam in Bayonne

Cherries from the French Basque country are grown in the high altitude of the Pyrenees mountains where they thrive in the cooler climate. And it’s these cherries that are used to make the famous French Basque cerise noir confiture or to you and me – black cherry jam.

ltxassou is the home of Basque cherry production, where recipes are passed down through generations of families. The cherries are harvested by hand in June and celebrated at the ltxassou Cherry Festival, Fete des Cerises.

A little jar of ltxassou black cherry jam has made it home with me. Mine incorporates a hint of piment pepper which just takes the edge of its sweetness, I’ll be using my black cherry jam to make my Gateau Basque.

Piment d’Esplette

I came across Esplette pepper during a cooking class I took here in Paris. It’s not a super spicy chilli but adds a nice warmth to your cooking. Piment d’Esplatte is used to make Piperade, a typically Basque dish.

Me, I like to add this chilli pepper to almost everything, it’s particularly great with a tomato pasta sauce, giving it an extra zing.

Piment d’Esplette or Esplette chilli pepper is probably one of the most famous exports from of the French Basque region. Chilli peppers first arrived in France in the 16th century from South America. Initially it was used for medicinal purposes before being added to food to flavour or preserve meats.

A bit like a fine wine this chilli pepper has it’s own AOC  (Appellation d’Origine Controle) and is grown in 10 villages in the region including, of course, Esplette. And at the end of October, over 20,000 people come together to celebrate this fine pepper at the Fete du Piment.

If you are visiting the Basque region, then drop in on Esplette, it’s a lovely little village, dripping with chillis and where you can buy a jar of Piment d’Esplette!

Bayonne chocolate, the chocolate capital of France

Chocolate from Bayonne

We end back in Bayonne.

Of course, France is famous for chocolate, but in Bayonne is where the story of France’s chocolate began.

The Portuguese Sephardic jews fled the 17th century Inquisition and  settled in Bayonne setting up the country’s first chocolate factories, and the rest they say is history.

Yup, you guessed it there’s a festival of chocolate. In May the annual Chocolate Days celebrates the city’s long chocolate heritage.

And is the chocolate good? It sure is, and my lucky kids got their Easter chocolate from Bayonne, but to them, chocolate is just chocolate, to be scoffed in a quick mouthful!

French Basque country food festivals 2017

  • 13 – 16 April 2017 Foire au Jambon
  • 26 & 27 May Bayonne Chocolate Days
  • 4 June 2017  Itxassou Cherry Festival
  • 28 & 29 October 2017  Fête du Piment à Espelette

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27 Comments
  1. Hannah Jane

    April 30, 2017 11:00 pm

    That chocolate looks incredible, definitely wouldn’t last long in my household. Thank you for sharing with #bigpinklink x
    Hannah Jane recently posted…What My Kid Wore Wednesday #7My Profile

    Reply
    1. Tooting Mama

      May 1, 2017 8:50 am

      That chocolate is now all gone!

      Reply
  2. Zena's Suitcase

    April 28, 2017 3:09 pm

    I love European food, and it’s one of the best parts of going on holiday. My mouth was literally watering reading this post
    Zena’s Suitcase recently posted…Summer Holiday Wardrobe Ideas With Nutmeg @Morrisons #KidsFashionMy Profile

    Reply
    1. Tooting Mama

      April 28, 2017 8:56 pm

      It’s an amazing place to visit, so much to see, do and eat!

      Reply
  3. Lindsey

    April 27, 2017 5:21 pm

    The pepper and choclate look delicious, not something that i would eat, but to keep as a decoration.

    Reply
    1. Tooting Mama

      April 28, 2017 8:57 pm

      Noooo! Must be eaten – that chocolate has already gone in our house!

      Reply
  4. Fashion and Style Police

    April 26, 2017 1:51 pm

    I like the sound of that pepper. It sounds like what I need in my kitchen.

    Reply
    1. Tooting Mama

      April 27, 2017 10:47 am

      It should be in everyone’s kitchen! Thanks for dropping by!

      Reply
  5. clairejustine

    April 26, 2017 11:01 am

    What a lovely range of foods. The chocolates look good 🙂 I love to look around stalls like this where you get to see something different.
    clairejustine recently posted…Superfood Strawberry and Pine Nut Salad…My Profile

    Reply
    1. Tooting Mama

      April 27, 2017 10:47 am

      The chocolate shops in Bayonne are divine!

      Reply
  6. Musings of a tired mummy...zzz...

    April 26, 2017 10:44 am

    Looks like a food paradise! Lots of different flavours and things to try 🙂
    Musings of a tired mummy…zzz… recently posted…#20factsaboutmeMy Profile

    Reply
    1. Tooting Mama

      April 27, 2017 10:46 am

      Definitely a fiesta for the tastebuds!

      Reply
  7. Cath - BattleMum

    April 26, 2017 10:25 am

    All that food sounds amazing. I’d love to try the dessert with the black cherry. I bet it tastes amazing!
    Cath – BattleMum recently posted…Dragon Hunting at Tretower Castle near CrickhowellMy Profile

    Reply
    1. Tooting Mama

      April 27, 2017 10:46 am

      The food was brilliant, but hey it’s France! They take food very seriously there. I’m looking into recipes for gateau Basque with black cherry jam. Will keep you posted!

      Reply
  8. yvonne

    April 26, 2017 10:18 am

    This is my idea of heaven, food heaven 🙂 #BloggerClubUK

    Reply
    1. Tooting Mama

      April 27, 2017 10:44 am

      Oh yes a heavenly experience!

      Reply
  9. Jo

    April 26, 2017 10:08 am

    I am a vegetarian so sometimes struggle a little with French cuisine. It sounds as though they’d be plenty of choice here though! I love the sound of the chilli pepper 🙂 #BloggerClubUK
    Jo recently posted…Picture PerfectMy Profile

    Reply
    1. Tooting Mama

      April 27, 2017 10:43 am

      Yes the French aren’t very forgiving when it comes to vegetarians and vegans, but things are slowly starting to change. Yes, the chilli pepper is rather yummy!

      Reply
  10. Suzy Mccullough

    April 25, 2017 9:09 pm

    Ah the lovely Bayonne. The lovely french food. We lived in France for 14 years. I miss the fresh tasty food. You’ve taken me right back thank you.

    Reply
    1. Tooting Mama

      April 26, 2017 9:27 am

      Ahh glad I could help you revisit a few fond memories!

      Reply
  11. Lyndsey O'Halloran

    April 25, 2017 6:40 pm

    This all looks so interesting! I’m not sure I’m brave enough for the chilli though
    Lyndsey O’Halloran recently posted…Colour and Fun Children’s StationeryMy Profile

    Reply
    1. Tooting Mama

      April 26, 2017 9:28 am

      It’s not the burning kind of chilli just a pleasant warmth and glow!

      Reply
  12. S2ubeautyblog

    April 25, 2017 6:20 pm

    I’m definitely a chilli person I only just had chilli for dinner today xx

    Reply
    1. Tooting Mama

      April 26, 2017 9:28 am

      Me too! Love, love chilli!

      Reply
  13. Lucy | Real Mum Reviews

    April 24, 2017 7:49 pm

    My other half loves chilli so he’d love those! He literally adds chilli flakes to everything!! #MarvMondays

    Reply
    1. Tooting Mama

      April 25, 2017 12:00 pm

      We’re chilli lovers too!

      Reply
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Ranji Thangiah

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I'm Ranji! I am a food photographer, recipe creator, lover of Sri Lankan food which I want to share with you.

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That'll be a full Sri Lankan for me.​​​​​​​​​
@cynthia.uma I want to say good luck as you welcome your first guest to your new Sri Lankan restaurant @rambutan_ldn.

I know this project has been in gestation for a long time, and I can only imagine the excitement you are feeling as you welcome your first guests to dine with you. 

I also know you're going to smash this while putting Tamil Sri Lankan food on the map!

If you can't wait that long, grab a  copy of Cynthia's awesome cookbook Rambutan. 

This is the roasted butternut squash curry, perfect for soaking up fragrant spices that pack a punch. 

My husband and I, we are hooked on seeni sambol toasties. This was something my mum used to make, and you'll find it in the book. Think cheese toasties with an onion jam on acid! Try it, you'll be hooked too! 

🍀Good luck Cynthia, I'm rooting for you! 👊🏾

Recipe: Sri Lankan butternut squash curry, recipe from Rambutan cookbook
Photography: Moi 
Food styling: Moi

#srilankanfoodrecipes #srilankanfoodphotograher #srilankanfoodlovers #srilankanfoodiesaroundtheworld #srilankantraveldiaries #srilankantravel #foodandflatlay #foodstylingandphotography #foodstylingphotography #foodphotographymagazine #restaurantphotographer #londonfoodphotographer #seedifferently #sonyalpha #sonyalphafemale #seedifferently #sonyalpha #sonyalphafemale
My creative juices are feeling drained, and I’ve My creative juices are feeling drained, and I’ve sucking up the last dribbles from my creative well.

I did a shoot for two recipes I had created. 

I loved the recipes, hot spicy traditional Sri Lankan curries, kalupol chicken and a side of sambar. The flavours that had depth, the kind of flavours reach into you and touch your soul! 

But, I hated the pictures.

It was frustrating. 

Even though I had meticulous planned my shots, they just didn’t work.

It sometimes happens, especially when you feel sapped of your creativity. 

Creativity is a muscle that has to be exercised, and then there are times when it simply needs a rest.

I gave my brain a break from food photography, and embarked of a photo walk in the fascinating company of @step_hen_les_lie, a brilliant and insanely knowledgeable street photographer.

I needed to engage and see the world, in a different way.

With street photography, the shot comes you. If that sounds easy? Think again. 

Street photography tests your mental sharpness, your power of seeing the out of the ordinary. 

It’s a case of walking, waiting and watching, waiting for something unusual, out of place or something just plain old god damn bonkers to happen. 

And you need a truckload of patience, and be ready to catch that shot! 

Check out my photographs and let me what you think. 
#streetphotographylondon #londonphotographer #documentaryphoto #londonrestaurantphotographer #foodphotographerlondon #visualstorytelling #candidstreetphotography #streetphotomag #streetlifeworldwide #seedifferently #sonyalpha #sonyalphafemale #capturestreets
We connected over fish. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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After connecting on Instagram and following her foodie adventures around the world across Australia and India, I finally got to meet Sohini, who runs the fabulous food account @smokeandlime.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Sohini creates inventive menus for her line of supper clubs inspired by her Kolkata heritage.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We met, in South London, in the Elephant and Castle.I’ve worked around the Elephant for almost twenty years. With jobs that took me down the Aylesbury Estate; I’ve seen tea dances in the Elephant & Castle shopping centre where I played ten pin bowling when I volunteered with a cub troupe from Peckham. This was at a time when the Elephant was a no-go for gentrification.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
How it has changed. Sprouting out of the earth like giant stalagmites are these huge glass towers with apartments commanding eye watering rents. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Like the old housing estates, the old carbuncle of a shopping centre has been bulldozed; In its wake are small eateries and boutiques. The big brands aren’t here yet, but it’s only a matter of time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
At Sohini’s suggestion we met at a little Peruvian place, @saborperuano_elephant, just under Strata Tower in a brutalist concrete parade of shops. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This restaurant is old school, no frills, white vinyl tablecloths, giant-screened TV. Yet the food is…..EPIC!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The ceviche, marinaded in tangy cheeksuckingly good leche de tigre, succulent beef hearts threaded on to skewers, fresh crispy deep fried squid, and I’m pretty sure we ate vegetables to. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And, for two hours straight, we spoke about nothing else but food. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It’s was great. And my heart is lost in Peru! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#londonfoodphotographer #Londonfoodie #restaurantphotographer #commericialphotographer #stilllife #stilllifephotography #stilllifestories
Thai aubergines. It's hard to believe these are ve Thai aubergines. It's hard to believe these are vegetables.​​​​​​​​
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That green, they look like little semi precious stones, or marbles, the ones I used to play with when I was a kid.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
I saw these in my local Sri Lankan grocers, and had to grab my phone and snatch picture!​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
They're almost too cute to cook!​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
#pinkladysnapsfeb23 @pinkladyappleuk @davidloftus​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
 #myediblecaptures monochromatic bliss by @andreakoever judge @eli_and_co sponsor @blueberrybackdrops ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
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When I was a kid, we always made thin, French-styl When I was a kid, we always made thin, French-style crepes. And our topping was only ever lemon and sugar. 🍋​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
The American fluffy pancakes were, well exotic. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
We only ever saw them on American kids' shows. And they always seemed to have pancakes for breakfast. And they always covered them in syrup! I'd watch wide-eyed agog at these pile of delicious pile of pancakes.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
When I was a kid, pancakes were a once-a-year thing.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
The excitement and build-up was almost too much as we approached Pancake day, aka Shove Tuesday, gobbling up all the good stuff before we headed into Lent and abstinence before we crack open the Easter eggs. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Now, I can make whatever pancakes I like. And I like to make fluffy American ones. Perhaps it reminds me of those Saturday morning American kids' shows, and those hearty American breakfasts, served by all-American moms to their all-American families.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
There's something indulgent about a pile of fluffy buttermilk pancakes, ready and waiting, drenched with something delicious and to be devoured by a brood of hungry mouths. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
What pancakes did you make this year? And more importantly, what was your topping? ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
#pinkladysnapsfeb23 @foodphotoaward @pinkladyappleuk @davidloftus ​​​​​​​​
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February open theme #foodphotobiteswithritu @foodphotobiteswithritu @happytummybyritumbhara judge: @ferraronierica ​​​​​​​​
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American pancakes: Recipe @marthastewart, Food styling: Moi​​​​​​​​
Photography: Moi. Syrup: @lylesgoldensyrup​​​​​​​​
Inspiration: @louisehagger - an incredible food photographer with so much wit & creativity 🤩​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
#buttermilkpancakes #americanpancakes #pourshot #pancakeday #pancakeday2023 #foodstylistlondon #londonfoodphotographer #foodphotographylondon #londonrestaurantphotographer #commercialphotography #editorialphotographer #beautifulfood #f52community #hautecuisines
Making my mother Sri Lankan Love cake has become a Making my mother Sri Lankan Love cake has become a tradition. I like to make it about this time of year, you know, love and #Valentines and all that.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
The recipe I bake yields a hefty portion.  Love Cake is dense, it’s not designed to be wolfed down in a single session. It’s a cake to savour and relishes to cherish while sipping a cup of Sri Lankan tea.​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Having made it so often it's only now that I am digging into its provenance.  Sri Lankan Love Cake has an interesting backstory of colonialism, culture, and personal stories of migration.​​​​​​​​
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If you want to know more about the history of this delicious cake, hop to the Tooting Mama website, there’s a link in my bio. You’ll find the recipe there too. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
Because, the only way to experience Love Cake is to make it. ​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​
#lovecake #srilankancuisine #srilankanfood #restaurantphotographer #londoncommercialphotographer #foodstylistlondon #saveurmag #bonappetit #londonfoodstylist #srilankanfoodphotographer #Londonfoodphotographer #editorialphotographer #beautifulfood #f52community #hautecuisines #raw_sweets #raw_sweets_
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That'll be a full Sri Lankan for me.​​​​​​​​​
@cynthia.uma I want to say good luck as you welcome your first guest to your new Sri Lankan restaurant @rambutan_ldn.

I know this project has been in gestation for a long time, and I can only imagine the excitement you are feeling as you welcome your first guests to dine with you. 

I also know you're going to smash this while putting Tamil Sri Lankan food on the map!

If you can't wait that long, grab a  copy of Cynthia's awesome cookbook Rambutan. 

This is the roasted butternut squash curry, perfect for soaking up fragrant spices that pack a punch. 

My husband and I, we are hooked on seeni sambol toasties. This was something my mum used to make, and you'll find it in the book. Think cheese toasties with an onion jam on acid! Try it, you'll be hooked too! 

🍀Good luck Cynthia, I'm rooting for you! 👊🏾

Recipe: Sri Lankan butternut squash curry, recipe from Rambutan cookbook
Photography: Moi 
Food styling: Moi

#srilankanfoodrecipes #srilankanfoodphotograher #srilankanfoodlovers #srilankanfoodiesaroundtheworld #srilankantraveldiaries #srilankantravel #foodandflatlay #foodstylingandphotography #foodstylingphotography #foodphotographymagazine #restaurantphotographer #londonfoodphotographer #seedifferently #sonyalpha #sonyalphafemale #seedifferently #sonyalpha #sonyalphafemale
My creative juices are feeling drained, and I’ve My creative juices are feeling drained, and I’ve sucking up the last dribbles from my creative well.

I did a shoot for two recipes I had created. 

I loved the recipes, hot spicy traditional Sri Lankan curries, kalupol chicken and a side of sambar. The flavours that had depth, the kind of flavours reach into you and touch your soul! 

But, I hated the pictures.

It was frustrating. 

Even though I had meticulous planned my shots, they just didn’t work.

It sometimes happens, especially when you feel sapped of your creativity. 

Creativity is a muscle that has to be exercised, and then there are times when it simply needs a rest.

I gave my brain a break from food photography, and embarked of a photo walk in the fascinating company of @step_hen_les_lie, a brilliant and insanely knowledgeable street photographer.

I needed to engage and see the world, in a different way.

With street photography, the shot comes you. If that sounds easy? Think again. 

Street photography tests your mental sharpness, your power of seeing the out of the ordinary. 

It’s a case of walking, waiting and watching, waiting for something unusual, out of place or something just plain old god damn bonkers to happen. 

And you need a truckload of patience, and be ready to catch that shot! 

Check out my photographs and let me what you think. 
#streetphotographylondon #londonphotographer #documentaryphoto #londonrestaurantphotographer #foodphotographerlondon #visualstorytelling #candidstreetphotography #streetphotomag #streetlifeworldwide #seedifferently #sonyalpha #sonyalphafemale #capturestreets
We connected over fish. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
After connecting on Instagram and following her foodie adventures around the world across Australia and India, I finally got to meet Sohini, who runs the fabulous food account @smokeandlime.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sohini creates inventive menus for her line of supper clubs inspired by her Kolkata heritage.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We met, in South London, in the Elephant and Castle.I’ve worked around the Elephant for almost twenty years. With jobs that took me down the Aylesbury Estate; I’ve seen tea dances in the Elephant & Castle shopping centre where I played ten pin bowling when I volunteered with a cub troupe from Peckham. This was at a time when the Elephant was a no-go for gentrification.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
How it has changed. Sprouting out of the earth like giant stalagmites are these huge glass towers with apartments commanding eye watering rents. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Like the old housing estates, the old carbuncle of a shopping centre has been bulldozed; In its wake are small eateries and boutiques. The big brands aren’t here yet, but it’s only a matter of time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
At Sohini’s suggestion we met at a little Peruvian place, @saborperuano_elephant, just under Strata Tower in a brutalist concrete parade of shops. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This restaurant is old school, no frills, white vinyl tablecloths, giant-screened TV. Yet the food is…..EPIC!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The ceviche, marinaded in tangy cheeksuckingly good leche de tigre, succulent beef hearts threaded on to skewers, fresh crispy deep fried squid, and I’m pretty sure we ate vegetables to. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And, for two hours straight, we spoke about nothing else but food. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It’s was great. And my heart is lost in Peru! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#londonfoodphotographer #Londonfoodie #restaurantphotographer #commericialphotographer #stilllife #stilllifephotography #stilllifestories
Thai aubergines. It's hard to believe these are ve Thai aubergines. It's hard to believe these are vegetables.​​​​​​​​
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That green, they look like little semi precious stones, or marbles, the ones I used to play with when I was a kid.​​​​​​​​
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I saw these in my local Sri Lankan grocers, and had to grab my phone and snatch picture!​​​​​​​​
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They're almost too cute to cook!​​​​​​​​
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#pinkladysnapsfeb23 @pinkladyappleuk @davidloftus​​​​​​​​
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 #myediblecaptures monochromatic bliss by @andreakoever judge @eli_and_co sponsor @blueberrybackdrops ​​​​​​​​
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#aubergines #stilllife #stilllifegallery #stilllifephotographer #raw_minimial #belightinspired #shotoniphone #foodstyling #srilankanfood #restaurantphotographer #londoncommercialphotographer #foodstylistlondon #saveurmag #bonappetit #londonfoodstylist #srilankanfoodphotographer #Londonfoodphotographer #editorialphotographer #beautifulfood #f52community
When I was a kid, we always made thin, French-styl When I was a kid, we always made thin, French-style crepes. And our topping was only ever lemon and sugar. 🍋​​​​​​​​
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The American fluffy pancakes were, well exotic. ​​​​​​​​
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We only ever saw them on American kids' shows. And they always seemed to have pancakes for breakfast. And they always covered them in syrup! I'd watch wide-eyed agog at these pile of delicious pile of pancakes.​​​​​​​​
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When I was a kid, pancakes were a once-a-year thing.​​​​​​​​
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The excitement and build-up was almost too much as we approached Pancake day, aka Shove Tuesday, gobbling up all the good stuff before we headed into Lent and abstinence before we crack open the Easter eggs. ​​​​​​​​
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Now, I can make whatever pancakes I like. And I like to make fluffy American ones. Perhaps it reminds me of those Saturday morning American kids' shows, and those hearty American breakfasts, served by all-American moms to their all-American families.​​​​​​​​
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There's something indulgent about a pile of fluffy buttermilk pancakes, ready and waiting, drenched with something delicious and to be devoured by a brood of hungry mouths. ​​​​​​​​
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What pancakes did you make this year? And more importantly, what was your topping? ​​​​​​​​
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#pinkladysnapsfeb23 @foodphotoaward @pinkladyappleuk @davidloftus ​​​​​​​​
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February open theme #foodphotobiteswithritu @foodphotobiteswithritu @happytummybyritumbhara judge: @ferraronierica ​​​​​​​​
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American pancakes: Recipe @marthastewart, Food styling: Moi​​​​​​​​
Photography: Moi. Syrup: @lylesgoldensyrup​​​​​​​​
Inspiration: @louisehagger - an incredible food photographer with so much wit & creativity 🤩​​​​​​​​
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#buttermilkpancakes #americanpancakes #pourshot #pancakeday #pancakeday2023 #foodstylistlondon #londonfoodphotographer #foodphotographylondon #londonrestaurantphotographer #commercialphotography #editorialphotographer #beautifulfood #f52community #hautecuisines
Making my mother Sri Lankan Love cake has become a Making my mother Sri Lankan Love cake has become a tradition. I like to make it about this time of year, you know, love and #Valentines and all that.​​​​​​​​
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The recipe I bake yields a hefty portion.  Love Cake is dense, it’s not designed to be wolfed down in a single session. It’s a cake to savour and relishes to cherish while sipping a cup of Sri Lankan tea.​​​​​​​​
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Having made it so often it's only now that I am digging into its provenance.  Sri Lankan Love Cake has an interesting backstory of colonialism, culture, and personal stories of migration.​​​​​​​​
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If you want to know more about the history of this delicious cake, hop to the Tooting Mama website, there’s a link in my bio. You’ll find the recipe there too. ​​​​​​​​
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Because, the only way to experience Love Cake is to make it. ​​​​​​​​
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#lovecake #srilankancuisine #srilankanfood #restaurantphotographer #londoncommercialphotographer #foodstylistlondon #saveurmag #bonappetit #londonfoodstylist #srilankanfoodphotographer #Londonfoodphotographer #editorialphotographer #beautifulfood #f52community #hautecuisines #raw_sweets #raw_sweets_
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About Me

Ranji Thangiah

PHOTOGRAPHER & BLOGGER

I'm Ranji! I am a food photographer, recipe creator, lover of Sri Lankan food which I want to share with you.

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