Snacks/Tapas

Garlic Bruschetta

These slices of crusty bread are rubbed with olive oil and lightly toasted, then rubbed with garlic and seasoned with sea salt.  Grilling the bread on a barbecue or grill plate will add a delicious smoky flavour that's hard to beat.  Toppings are optional - my favourite is thick slices of juicy, sun-ripened tomato and some fresh basil, but you might like to try semi-dried tomatoes with shaved Parmesan or moist buffalo mozzarella with fresh herbs.

Glazed Pork Ribs with Southern-style Barbecue Sauce

On my visits to the southern United States, I have tasted a range of smoky barbecued dishes. The secret of many of the ‘barbecues’ is the rich spicy sauce that is an essential accompaniment, and is often the cook’s personal recipe. This particular sauce is made, like many southern-style sauces, with thick tomato purée and a good shot of strong dark coffee. It can be made ahead and will keep for a couple of weeks if it is refrigerated. I’ve never had wine with a...

Green Olive Croquetas

Genuine Spanish croquetas are filled with a creamy béchamel mixture and fried to a crisp outer shell and they are delicious!

Makes 12-15

Spain – San Sebastian

Guacamole

Always popular and so easy. Serve as a salad topping, with fresh vegetable sticks, with corn chips, or on fresh crusty bread.

Makes 1-2 cups

Hanoi Prawn Cakes with Nuac Cham Dipping Sauce & Table Salad

Chopped ginger, fresh coriander, spring onions or thin slices of carrot can be also added to the dipping sauce as well as chopped roasted peanuts, so that it can accompany numerous types of dishes. 

Makes 20 cakes.