With Nigel Slater away on holiday again, Joe Trivelli stepped in to the Observer's cookery column for two weeks over Easter, serving up a plethora of springtime treats as well as a feast for an Easter gathering. My money's on the Rabbit with Wild Garlic, although a chocolate version of pastiera can't go ignored...
Kitchen delights
Rounding up the best kitchens seen on Instagram - working ones only, no designer showrooms here - the Guardian Cook supplement included that of Anja Dunk, known as @cocoinmykitchen, who 'makes an artform of organised clutter'!
Back to the source
Teaming up with her olds pals at the place where her appreciation of quality food began, Shu Han Lee and London Farmers' Markets are running a cookbook giveaway - see Shu's latest blog post and mummyicancook for further details, and meanwhile, you might just want to try out her claypot mushroom recipe while you're there...
The knot thickens
Entanglement continues to pique the public interest, with Emma receiving requests for radio interviews from Texas and Ireland among others, and pieces in the Big Issue and the Smithsonian magazine. Elsewhere the book has been picked up by US Elle magazine and Flavorwire as one of their top books of November, and in the Literary Review Wendy Moore writes that 'Entanglement unravels a story that is by turns surprising, unsettling and disturbing, but never anything less than absorbing.'
A good hair day
Thursday night saw the launch of Emma Tarlo's Entanglement at Covent Garden's Ena salon, where guests participated in lively discussion of all subjects hair-related while sitting round in hairdressers' chairs.
Reviews so far include Nicola Shulman in the Oldie, who describes Emma as 'a writer as intrepid as she is intelligent', commenting that 'it's not often a book gives you new eyes for your everyday world'. Meanwhile, Lucy Hughes Hallett, writing in the New Statesman, sums it up as a 'clever, idiosyncratic book'.
Sophia Cannon on Sunday Morning Live
Following Lady Barbara Judge's comments about long maternity leave being bad for mothers, Sophia Cannon took to the sofa of Sunday Morning Live, BBC1's flagship interactive moral debate show. Also discussed on the sofa with Naga Munchetty was the question of whether celebrities should get involved and politics and should we care.
Emma Tarlo on Radio 4's Woman's Hour
Entanglement author Emma Tarlo began a flurry of pre-publication publicity with an appearance on Radio 4's Woman's Hour on Tuesday, talking to presenter Jane Garvey about the many aspects of the hair industry that remain almost unknown to most of us. A busy day then saw Emma on London Live TV, calling for better regulation of the hair industry, followed by a 90-minute interview for BBC online news. Meanwhile, the first reviews are coming in on both sides of the Atlantic, with the Oldie referring to Entanglement as a 'wonderful book' and Emma 'a writer as intrepid as she is intelligent'.
Red Trees to be a feature-length documentary
Leena Telèn, along with her husband Brian Eley, is now confirmed as joint scriptwriter for Marina Willer's documentary Red Trees. Having started life as a short film about Marina's grandfather's escape from the Holocaust to Brazil, Red Trees has now been financed as a feature-length documentary, scheduled for release in 2017.
Far Eastern Entanglement
Korean publisher Yiyaginamu has secured rights to Emma Tarlo's Entanglement, which it plans to publish in the next 18 months - a very fitting deal given Korea's central role in the recent history of the hair trade. And in China, the book will now be published by SDX Joint Publishing Company of Beijing.
Ballymaloe Litfest
This year's Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food & Drink saw Joseph Trivelli returning to cook one of his legendary sell-out lunches. With fellow guest speakers including April Bloomfield, Alice Waters, and Honey & Co's Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich, he was in fine company for one of the jolliest wee festivals in town.
The morality of business
Speaking on Radio 4's The Moral Maze as an expert witness last night, John Morrison put forward the argument for how far businesses should take on and operate with a certain level of moral responsibility, beyond what is imposed by the law, in his trademark calm, considered and confident style - not even Melanie Phillips could unnerve him...
In or out? Sophia debates Brexit
Sophia Cannon will be arguing the case for staying in Europe as part of a Channel 4 News debate on the subject taking place on Tuesday 17th May. With Kwasi Kwarteng among her opponents, it'll certainly be a lively discussion - tune in to see the subject being argued by someone other than the overprivileged white men at the centre of this historical struggle...
Chicken and Rice - what a shout-out!
How exciting that on the publication of Shu Han Lee's Chicken and Rice she got an Instagram shout-out from none other than Jamie Oliver! With endorsements also coming from Diana Henry and Ed Smith (of Rocket and Squash), among others, it's clear that Shu is set to lead the way in Southeast Asian cookery.
Spring is upon us
After the success of his autumnal recipe columns in October's Observer, it was great to see Joseph Trivelli invited back to fill the Nigel Slater-shaped gap, this time anticipating the arrival of spring with a celebration of broad bean recipes.
Hühnchen und Reis?
German publisher Dumont has secured publication rights to Shu Han Lee's Chicken and Rice, along with De Fontaine in the Netherlands. We won't even try to guess at what the Dutch title will be, but watch out for Chicken and Rice in all its many worldwide forms!
Sophia live on Radio 5
Sophia Cannon's been braving the airwaves again, this time as a guest on Radio 5Live's Stephen Nolan show. Always a great and entertaining contributor, her next outing will be on Saturday 12 June at 11pm.
Our Daily Brød
February's edition of Jamie magazine featured a wondeful piece on the rise of Scandinavian bakeries in the UK, including a double-page spread about Daniel Karlsson's Bageriet. Wonderful to see the growing appreciation of Scandinavian baked goods in the UK, and not only in London - Bageriet is in great company when it comes to fika up and down the country!
Chicken and Rice predicted hit for 2016
Fantastic to see that the Telegraph's wonderful Diana Henry already has her eye on Shu Han Lee's Chicken and Rice. Writing an early round-up of what she predicts will be the culinary hits of the year, Henry describes the book as 'a feelgood blend of simple recipes and touching memories'.
Sophia Cannon at the Oxford Union
Following on from the controversy surrounding the Rhodes Must Fall campaign, Sophia Cannon last night took the opportunity to oppose a motion at the Oxford Union concerning the removal of the controversial Oriel College statue, alongside Professors WIlliam Beinart and Nigel Biggar.
Chopsticks Brunch Club
Turning the supper club idea on its head, Shu Han Lee has decided to start her very own Sunday brunch club. But before you start thinking of eggs, bacon and avocado toast, think again. Nope, this is all about good and simple Southeast Asian cooking, with several courses, often involving congee or noodles, different vegetables, and always a touch of spice. For more information, visit Shu's website.