Roast Goose for St Martin’s

St Martin’s, or Martinmas, is particularly popular with German children: in kindergardens, infant schools and at home we make paper lanterns to use for the processions that take place on the evening of November 11. This is followed by a family dinner revolving around a roast goose, which is the point where adults start enjoying it, too. Although I…

Chinese-inspired Pork Dumplings

Dumplings are part of most countries’ cuisines, and I have been making my own fair share of German, Eastern European and South American versions. What I had never attempted before were Chinese dumplings: with their intricate shapes and complex flavours, they seemed way out of my league. But this all changed – thanks to this…

Plantain

Ghana: Grilled Sweet Plantains

As the World Cup is coming to an end, I would like to present you with the perfect dish to round off my tour of all the participating nations: grilled plantains. Brazil is famous for its rodízios, the ‘all-you-can-eat-type restaurants where waiters come round to the tables with skewers full of meat. To pay homage…

Torta Rogel

Argentina: Torta Rogel

After last night’s rather comprehensive victory, the second semi-final tonight will decide which team is going to teach Germany a lesson or two about winning a match. Argentina will need some support, and I think a slice or two of this cake might just do the trick. Torta Rogel, or Alfajor Rogel, is a uniquely decadent concoction…