That’s why I’ve set out to interview some of the most influential food bloggers around. I’ll be catching up with new foodies every month to see what I can learn from their approach to food.
First up is Becca, culinary custodian of the delicious vegetarian blog, Amuse Your Bouche. I’ve blogged about vegetarian and vegan Indian food before – being Indian, it’s a topic that’s close to my heart, seeing as nearly three-quarters of the Indian population don’t eat meat.
Becca’s blog is an absolute joy, pairing deliciously inventive veggie recipes with dazzling photography. Here’s what happened when we caught up for a chat:
Tell us about yourself (age, occupation, biggest pet peeve etc)
I'm Becca, I'm 26 and I live in Hertfordshire with my lovely husband and comically small dog. I am a full-time blogger and freelance recipe developer, and I hope to show people that vegetarian food can be just as tasty and exciting as meat! I blog over at Amuse Your Bouche, which has been named as one of the UK's top 10 food blogs. I love all kinds of veggies, plenty of pasta, and far too much cheese.
What is your food philosophy?
If it takes less than 30 minutes to make, if it makes you smile to look at it, and if it's nice and colourful, it's probably a good plate of food! I love cooking but I don't enjoy spending all day on a dish – quick and easy meals that taste great are my forte.
Do you have a secret cooking tip you can share?
Don't be afraid to experiment! There's nothing wrong with trying and failing.
What’s your favourite restaurant?
I don't have particularly expensive taste - anywhere cheap and cheerful is good with me!
What’s the most underrated ingredient?
Garlic! I use it in pretty much everything I make (apart from desserts!), and it adds so much flavour to every dish.
TV chefs – are they a good or bad thing?
I think if something gets people inspired and eager to experiment in the kitchen that can only be a good thing!
What would be your perfect Breakie, lunch & dinner?
I'm not big on breakfast, but when I indulge in a veggie fry up, it's always enjoyable – especially with halloumi, which seems to be becoming more common these days! Lunch would have to be an amazing sandwich served on thick, crusty white bread (preferably with a few crisps tucked inside to make it extra special!). And for dinner, it's very hard to go wrong with a cheesy pizza piled high with vegetables!
What excites you about cooking and motivates you to write your blog?
I love finding new ways to present my favourite flavours – there's nothing more exciting than sharing a recipe which people haven't seen before, but which they still know they will absolutely love because it's based on classic flavour combinations that can't go wrong. I also love combining dishes from different cuisines to create something new and exciting. Think pizza quesadillas, Welsh rarebit lasagne and Thai curry linguine!
How do you think the rise of blogs and recipe sites has changed our approach to food and cooking?
I think more people than ever before are getting creative in the kitchen and giving it a real go. It's hard to justify resorting to a ready meal when there are so many quick, easy and accessible recipes available online. There's a blog full of recipes for everyone!
If you could take one meal to a desert island what would it be?
It's very tough to choose between my two guilty favourites, pizza and macaroni cheese – but considering the pizza would probably contain a few more nutrients from the veggies, I guess I'd go with that!
Who do you aspire to in the foodie landscape? Favourite fellow food bloggers?
Honestly, there are so many people who have inspired me over the 4 years I've been blogging that it would be unfair to mention just a few. Every single food blog I've ever seen has taught me something, whether it be a lesson about design, writing, food, photography... I'm inspired by everything I see. I guess I aspire to be me, just a really awesome version of me!
If you were to describe Indian cuisine in three words what would they be?
Aromatic, luxurious, rich.
If you could create an Indian curry, what would be your three main flavours?
I adore paneer cheese, so it would have to include that. Perhaps a rich tomato sauce, and some garam masala too, as it blends together so many amazing flavours (is that cheating?).
What do you think the future of home cooking will look like?
Hopefully it will involve more people cooking from scratch, and recognising that creating healthy food at home doesn't need to be tricky or fussy. Just great ingredients, simply prepared and enjoyed in good company!
Follow Becca on her culinary travels
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