INTERVIEW WITH GREAT CHEF STEVIE PARLE

Once in your life you have the opportunity to visit London and often one of the big doubts you have it consists of researching a good restaurant to eat something. With this interview I would reveal one of the most famous restaurant in London, DOCK KITCHEN, managed by the young and brilliant Head Chef STEVIE PARLE.

The restaurant is in WEST LONDON, opened in 2009 by the very young chef Stevie Parle who at the age of 27 is considered one of the most notorious chef in London, also winner of the OFM Award Young Chef in 2010. Another thing to note is Spice Trip, a six-part Channel 4 Tv series, follows Stevie and spice expert Emma Grazette as they visit some of the world's most exotic countries, including Zanzibar, Cambodia and Mexico, in order to delve deeper into the six spices they see as being key to cooking. The resulting TV series is being shown on UK's More4 at 8pm from Sunday November 25th and the accompanying book "Spice Trip: The Simple Way to Make Food Exciting" is on sale now. Here below the link to find the book on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spice-Trip-Simple-Make-Exciting/dp/0224095722

Lamb Biryani

Among pans and food chef Stevie Parle has found lot of time to answer the following questions.

I: Chef Stevie, actually you're owner and Head Chef of "Dock Kitchen" in West London. Where do you take the inspiration for your delicious food and what dishes or main course can you recommend mostly to clients?

S: I take inspiration from my travels and from reading lots of old cookbooks. My chicken livers cooked with 7 spice & pomegranate molasses and my lamb biryani are the two dishes I never take off my menu. There would be an uproar if I did!

I: I know also that your restaurant is particular, can you describe it and the location where it's set up?

S: The building is in an old Victorian warehouse next to a canal. The interior is a collaboration with the British designer Tom Dixon, so it's full of his robust, modern designs. I'm really happy with it.

I: You live in HACKNEY with your family. What are the most important things to do or visit in Hackney?

S: I'd recommend the wonderful food market, Broadway Market on Saturdays, and Colombia Flower Market on Sundays. Hackney has great pubs, cool, hipster coffee shops and lots of tiny restaurants.

I: Concerning your job I suppose you have travelled a lot around the world. Is there a city or a place that likes you most?

S: I'm particularly keen on BEIRUT, I've been few times both for work and pleasure. It's a really exciting city with a fantastically vibrant food scene.

I: Have you ever visited Italy? Do you like a city in particular?

S: I have visited Italy many many times. Whilst I really like the countryside, it's the cities the most. I love Rome in the springs, Palermo in the autumn, Turin in the winter. Whilst I don't cool all that much Italian food in the Dock Kitchen, the confidence and simplicity that you often find in Italian cooking is imbued into my food.

To have more information and book the restaurant "Dock Kitchen" click the link below:

http://www.dockkitchen.co.uk/

INTERVISTA AL GRANDE CHEF STEVIE PARLE

Almeno una volta nella vostra vita vi sarà capitato di visitare Londra e spesso uno dei più grandi dilemmi è quello di non saper bene in quale ristorante recarsi. Con questa intervista vi sveleremo i segreti di uno dei più accreditati ristoranti di Londra, il DOCK KITCHEN, gestito dal giovane e brillante cuoco STEVIE PARLE. 

Il ristorante è situato in WEST LONDON, inaugurato nel 2009 dal giovanissimo chef Stevie Parle che a soli 27 anni è considerato uno dei più noti cuochi londinesi, vincitore anche nel 2010 del premio OFM Award Young Chef. Questo innovativo chef ha condotto un programma televisivo "Spice Trip" assiema Emma Grazette e assieme hanno visitato alcuni paesi più esotici quali Zanzibar, Cambogia e Messico con lo scopo di assaporare al meglio le sei spezie che rappresentano la chiave della loro cucina. Le puntate di questa serie televisiva sono state mandate in onda in Inghilterra sul canale More4 a partire dal 25 novembre. Inoltre chef Stevie Parle è autore anche del libro "Spice Trip: The Simple Way to Make Food Exciting" ("Viaggio con le Spezie: il modo semplice di rendere il cibo eccitante"), attualmente in vendita su Amazon al seguente indirizzo:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spice-Trip-Simple-Make-Exciting/dp/0224095722

Agnello Biryani

Tra pentole ed alimenti lo Chef Stevie Parle ha trovato un attimo del suo tempo libero per poter rispondere alle seguenti domande.

I: Chef Stevie, attualmente sei il proprietario e cuoco del ristorante "Dock Kitchen" nella zona di West London. Dove trovi l'ispirazione per i tuoi piatti così deliziosi e quali sono le portate principali che raccomanderesti di più ai tuoi clienti?

S: La mia ispirazione deriva dai viaggi che faccio e dalla lettura di vecchi libri di cucina. Il fegato di pollo cotto con 7 spezie e melassa di melograno e l'agnello biryani sono i due piatti che non elimino mai dal mio menù. Sarebbe uno scandalo se lo facessi!

I: Chef Stevie, so anche che il tuo ristorante è particolare, puoi descriverlo assieme al luogo dove sorge?

S: La costruzione risale ad un vecchio magazzino vittoriano vicino ad un canale. L'arredo interno è nato dalla collaborazione con il designer inglese Tom Dixon perciò il ristorante ha un forte tocco del suo moderno e robusto design. Sono molto soddisfatto del risultato ottenuto.

I: Chef Stevie, tu vivi nel quartiere di HACKNEY con la tua famiglia. Quali sono le cose più importanti da fare o visitare ad Hackney?

S: Io consiglio il bellissimo mercato alimentare, Broadway Market ogni sabato e Colombia Flower Market ogni domenica. Il quartiere di Hackney ha anche pubs carini, coffee shops alla moda e tantissimi piccoli ristoranti.

I: Chef Stevie, riguardo il tuo lavoro penso che tu abbia viaggiato parecchio. C'è una città o un luogo che ti è particolarmente piaciuto?

S: Io sono particolarmente interessato alla città di BEIRUT, ci sono stato un pò di volte sia per lavoro sia in vacanza. E' una città molto interessante con una fantastica e vibrante energia riguardante il cibo.

I: Chef Stevie, hai mai visitato l'Italia? Ti è piaciuta qualche città in particolare?

S: Ho visitato l'Italia tantissime volte. Sebbene mi piaccia molto la campagna amo Roma in primavera, Palermo in autunno e Torino in inverno. Malgrado non utilizzi molto la cucina italiana nel mio ristorante Dock Kitchen, la fiducia e la semplicità che si trova nella cucina italiana regnano sovrani nei miei piatti.

Per avere maggiori informazioni e prenotare al ristorante "Dock Kitchen" di Chef Stevie Parle visita il sito: 

http://www.dockkitchen.co.uk/

INTERVIEW WITH TOP MODEL MICHELLE PUTAME

With the following interview I have the pleasure to introduce the young but very notorious top model 100% "made" in Swiss MICHELLE PUTAME. Her angelic face and her undoubted beauty have permitted to win the award of Miss Zurich in 2009 and in the same year she has partecipated to the elections of Miss Switzerland giving her the opportunity to be more considered in Swiss and having new job opportunity both as model and as showgirl.

Apart the fashion contest Michelle is so dynamic and dance lover, infact she actually practises and teaches Zumba and with her energy she decided to answer my questions about travels' world.

I: Michelle, you were born in Swiss but what can you tell us about your home city?

M: I was born in the beautiful city of LUCERNA, placed in Middle Swiss, at the foot of Mount Pilatus but it stands also on the Lake of Four Cantons.

The city is famous above all for its medieval wood bridge which unluckily it had been burning partially but fortunately it has been rebuilding some years ago.

Nowadays for job reasons I have been moving in Zurich where I lived for 4 years.

I: Michelle, how do you consider the perfect day in Lucerna? What do you advise a tourist to visit?

M: There are different solutions to have in this city. As I have already told I recommend surely to have an excursion onto MOUNT PILATUS and not to lost absolutely the KAPPEL'S BRIDGE (Kappelbrücke), the most ancient European covered bridge that brings straight through the city.

Besides I advise to take a ferry and have a trip round the LAKE OF FOUR CANTONS, so called because it is a natural lake that reaches at the same time four different Swiss Cantons.

Finally it's not bad to have a lot of shopping so I recommend to all tourists to buy typical swiss product which consist of swiss pocket-knife (Victorinox) and obviously of watches that have an international reputation (Swatch, Omega, IWC Schaffhausen, Rolex...). 

At least but not less important typical swiss speciality for the most gourment it's the excellent chocolate.

I: Dear Michelle, just now that you have spoken about chocolate I ask you what are other typical swiss food that you like to eat and it's normal to find in Lucerna?

M: Chocolate apart, other cooking speciality are cheese fondue or RACLETTE that is a cheese fondue to eat with vegetables, potatoes or other food. I add also RÖSTI that consist of potatoes chopped in little pieces and than fried or MONTANARA MACCHERONI.

One of my favourite restaurant in Lucerna where I can taste all the food I recommended is SCHIFFRESTAURANT WILHELM TELL (www.schiffrestaurant.ch).

This restaurant is so particular because it's placed inside a boat that is anchored in Lucerna's port.          

Trust me: food is excellent and prices are not so expensive.

I: Michelle, do you think there is a best period to visit Lucerna?

M: I don't mind there is a specific period to visit Lucerna and the same is for all Swiss. The weather is very variable with mild summer and harsh winter. Maybe for who loves winter sport I can recommend to visit Swiss in winter because there are many ski run on our mountains while in summer tourists can have relax spending time on our mountainous landscapes and stay in the luxiarant nature.

I: Michelle, considering the proximity between Swiss and Italy, do you like any place or city more than other?

M: I know very well Italy because I'm married with an italian boy! For this reason I have often visited it and apart Calabria that is the native place of my husband I have been very good impressed by Rome that I consider a very special city. Every time I am in Italy I feel at ease as I am at home.

Finally I admire a lot Michelle Hunziker because she is also from Swiss and lives in Italy and one day I hope to meet and know her personally.    

To know more about Michelle Putame please visit the links here below: 

www.michellemorand.com