It’s the return of our list of 50 people, place and trends that we love, and Stacey Dooley tells us about her childhood food favourites
The food and hospitality industry has had a tough time of late, but it does feel as if there is a lot of new energy and hope in the air right now. Each spring, here at OFM we publish our list of 50 people, places and projects we are particularly excited about and we have, as always, discovered much to celebrate: a new crowdfunded meat-free restaurant in West Yorkshire; a series of illustrated books by Irish food writers; a Glasgow eatery serving old-school favourites; and the mother of all sausage rolls to be found in Manchester. We applaud the rise and rise of the cafe, a rooftop kitchen garden in Stockport and an ancient, much-loved blue cheese from Dorset. Add to that oysters from Porlock Bay, winemaking in Wales and nut butters made in Dublin, and it does feel that there is a great deal to marvel at.
I’m loving the secret ingredient column, where some of our favourite cooks let us into their larders and spill the beans on the spice, herb or seasoning they have previously kept to themselves. This month, we have Lopè Ariyo to tell us about her fondness for uda pods. I can’t pretend I was acquainted with these – I had to Google – and it turns out the trick is a spice whose musky, faintly bitter notes it is worth getting to know better.
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