The Man Likes Cooking In Winter

The best time to cook in the kitchen is winter. The man loves the cool air coming into the kitchen while the stove is on and pots are bubbling with gravy and whatnots. There isn't a need to turn on the heater in the kitchen at all. In fact, it's the only time he doesn't perspire while bustling about.

He had insisted on cooking many meals over 2 winters in London at home and at the aunts'. In Shanghai, he can't resist whipping up a couple of meals as well. The kitchen draws him like a magnet, especially when he discovered the rather exciting but pricey range of products at the both the local and so-called 'expatriate' supermarkets. There's plenty of stuff available in Shanghai that isn't available at home, and vice versa. The bff is rather nonchalant about it. She has no issues with handing him the kitchen as long as he doesn't burn it down. Ha.

Also, we didn't expect so many restaurants to remain open for business during this week. So we ate out a fair bit. We had a shiteload of good food everywhere till we're like...no more mega meals please! Each meal will mean either 7-8 dishes on the table or a 5-6 course degustation meal. I absolutely rejected the 12-course at Pelham's. Homecooked 1-dish meals are wonderful for the soul and stomach. And let's face it, eating out in Shanghai is an oily business. We don't have the stomach for it.

One meal, the man set about doing an easy aglio e olio with capellini. The friends had a stash of fabulous frozen German sausages and anchovies bought from Frankfurt and Madrid. That went onto the menu too. He couldn't resist topping it with a light tomato vegetable stew. The ingredients randomly complemented one another. The result was quite yummy.

Yes, you're not seeing things. I can help in the kitchen by chopping up a couple of zucchini. No sweat.