cooking

I'd read about this lovely madamoiselle, Rachel Khoo, who was running the smallest restaurant in Paris. There was only room for two customers!

I was trying to reserve a table to coincide with my next trip.

Alas, she's become quite famous and is longer taking bookings because she's so busy with a TV show and books.

I feel she's one to watch. How brave and talented to have followed her dream to Paris!

Rachel  has the cutest kitchen - very typical of most Parisians who have such tiny spaces.

Why not invite your maman for for a feast?

I think we all need inspiration in the kitchen. That's why Karen Martini has come to our rescue with a special menu for Mother's Day which we'll share with you on our next post.

We'd like to present her wonderful book which you can buy online or in your local boutique: Cooking at Home.

Karen loves cooking traditional food - whether it's Mediterranean, Middle Eastern or comforting English baking - but these 150 recipes have her signature twist.

"Cooking for a family reminds me of my own childhood. My mum never made packet cakes, and was bemused if we bought them home from our friends' houses. Baking was a big part of life in our house, as was the Sunday roast. My mother was a very good cook, but she was not adventurous. She'd say. 'Oh no, we won't be using any of that coriander'. But now she grows fresh herbs in her garden, and is always asking for ideas on how to cook with them. I think she is typical of many Australians who are coming to understand how just one extra ingredient can turn a fairly ordinary dish into a special meal.

Mum taught me one of the most important things I know about food: sharing a meal with people you care about is what matters most. The table was always set, with the cloth, the bread, the water. Everything was ready so we could sit down to eat and chat about our perspective days. It would be wonderful to preserve these household traditions, and if this collection of recipes does nothing else, I would like to think it encourages people - family, friends, households - to share at least one meal together, two or three times a week".