Author: Wansteadium

Wansteadium’s food blogger Suki Orange writes: Here is the fourth of Karen Poole’s excellent Wanstead dinners – as ever, seasonal, healthy and where possible locally sourceable. If you know what I mean.

Blooming tasty curry
New potatoes are bursting into the shops and we should make sure to use them while they are at their best and most beautiful. We tend to forget the health benefits of the humble potato so this recipe celebrates them along with cauliflower, which is often seen as a side dish and not a main attraction. This dish is easy to prepare, economical and can be sourced on our very own high street.

Potato and Cauliflower curry
Serves 2-3
Ingredients:

• Tbsp vegetable oil
• Tsp cumin seeds
• Tsp mustard seeds
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 500g new potatoes, quartered or cut into large dice
• Half a large cauliflower broken into florets
• A handful of chopped coriander – leaves and stalks separated.
• 1tsp turmeric
• Clove of garlic, finely chopped
• 1cm knob of ginger, finely chopped
• 2 chopped tomatoes
• Squeeze of tomato pureé
• 2 tsps garam masala
• 1 red chilli pepper, finely chopped or shredded
• Salt and pepper

Method

1. In a large saucepan, fry the cumin and mustard seeds until they begin to pop.
2. Add the chopped onion and fry gently for about three to five
minutes.
3.Add the potato and cauliflower, the coriander stalks, turmeric, garlic and ginger, stir to coat the vegetables in the spices and carry on frying
for a minute or two, adding more oil if necessary.
4. Add the tomato and tomato pureé and a little water, stir, season
and reduce the heat right down. Put a lid on the pan and cook gently
until the potatoes are soft and the sauce has reduced and coats the
vegetables.
5. Just before serving, add the coriander leaf, chilli and garam masala.

This dish goes well with a pea or mushroom pilau, cucumber raita and mango
chutney. Or, as it is a Punjabi dish, it complements tandoori chicken or fish.

Healthy aspect
Potatoes
• Chromium- facilitates the function of insulin and aids glucose metabolism
• Vitamin C- helps blood cell formation and regulates cholesterol metabolism
• Fibre- keeps the bowel healthy and can aid digestion and elimination

Cauliflower
• Vitamin C – protects the mucus membranes of the mouth, lungs and throat
• Selenium- regulates the thyroid hormones and supports growth
• Indole 3 carbinol- aids the elimination of carcinogens before they can damage DNA so may reduce the risk of some cancers
• Sulphur- supports liver function and the clearance of toxins

Nutritionist Karen Poole BA Dip Nutrition CNM MBANT can be contacted at k.e.poole@hotmail.com Or www.karenpoolenutrition.co.uk

More fine work by ace photographer Richard Chambury (http://www.richfoto.com)

This was the scene on Monday lunchtime on Spratt Hall Road, on the southern side of Christ Church Green. You might be wondering where all the cars have gone – at that time of day it is usually chockablock.

New residents’ only parking restrictions there (and on Addison, Chaucer and Dangan roads) came into force on Monday, superseding the 0930-1030 bar which was designed to prevent commuters parking and riding into London.

On the one hand, you can see why people living on Spratt Hall Road are so happy.

And on the other, you can see the frustration of people who work nearby and want somewhere to park.

It would however be interesting to hear what people who had previously parked in those roads are doing now. Have they started using alternative transport methods? Or are they just parking elsewhere? In which case, could this be the start of a round of what in American is termed Whac-a-Mole? Drop us a line the usual way (either comment below, or e-mail wansteadium[at]gmail.com).

George C Parker writes:
Thanks so much to everyone who has expressed enthusiasm for the idea of an open air film for Wanstead. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can catch up here. As I kind of suspected, there are all sorts of well-informed, talented, creative people in Wanstead who are eager to do something for the common good. (There’s also one person whose response is “Bah. You’d better not disturb me,” but I think that’s our own fault, really… we shouldn’t have made it one of the default options.) Personally I’m rather keen on this suggested name – Open Kinema – for our campaign, which was one person’s response.

Our next step, I think, is for some of those who have said they are keen to get together for a half of mild or even perhaps a Tequila Sunrise to talk it over. I’ll be dropping people a line to arrange something. If you like the idea and would like to be involved, express support, pledge a huge sponsorship cheque, or join the solitary Bah, please use the form below.

[gravityform id=”4″ name=”Open Air films for Wanstead!” ajax=”true”]

Wansteadium’s food blogger Suki Orange writes:

I thought I’d mention a few items of mutual interest.

• Firstly, congratulations to Provender, which was given a glowing review in Time Out  thanks to the reputation of chef Max Renzland, who apparently had a string of somewhat eponymous restaurants in the 90s. The review says:

His bistros were always fabulous, and his latest venture –  in Wanstead High Street, at the opposite end of London to his old stomping ground – is brimming with his trademark style: excellent French bistro food, borne of the very finest ingredients, served in a charmingly Franglais setting. Book before the rush begins.

• Interesting to note that Nice Croissant is applying to extend its opening hours until 11pm. What a great idea – could make for a pleasant spot in summer evenings.

• I haven’t had chance yet to eat at the Larder’s new-ish branch at Butler’s Retreat in Chingford (map), but I did visit for coffee last week. Feels like a home from home – and I can see plenty of times when we will be combining a bracing walk with a spot of lunch.

Let the record show that, following the introduction of a hosepipe ban, Wanstead received eight consecutive days of rain. That is all. (No 2 in a series.)