Stevie Parle burst onto the London scene in 2009 with the launch of a new restaurant, Dock Kitchen, earning him the Observer Food Monthly Young Chef of the Year award 2010. The opposite of the usual ‘chefy' restaurant fare, Stevie serves an eclectic mix of dishes that in their countries of origin would all be described as home cooking. Ranging from Mexico to Morocco, from Catalonia to Kerala, taking in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, here are simple, wholesome and perfectly balanced recipes for dishes that will warm the heart in winter and cool the palate in summer.
Arranged seasonally, rustic soups are followed by little plates to share as appetizers or starters, then robust main dishes featuring the cheaper cuts of fish, poultry and meat as well as an abundance of seasonal vegetables. Each season contains a feature on little toasts to share, each has a ragout of seasonal vegetables and each boasts a thoran - a simple spicy seasonal vegetable dish from southern India. The desserts section includes no fewer than 11 superb ice creams; a chapter on ‘new basics' (spice mixes, pickles and breads) completes the book.
