Pine Needle Tea

This is an ancient herbal drink from the most northerly parts of the planet. It’s refreshing and healthy and there’s something wholesome and satisfying about pulling it all together. This post isn’t martini-related at all, but if you’re going to enjoy the odd silver bullet, it’s worth trying to be healthy at other times. The Dark Times The winter months can be harsh and ancient … Continue reading Pine Needle Tea

A Martini with Kelp Chips / Crisps

This is the yin and the yang of healthy seaweed with (ahem) a slightly less healthy martini. Kelp is a super food, and very tasty. If you can (sustainably) forage it nearby, this is an easy way to enjoy it with a drink. The steps I don’t season mine. It has enough salt and iodine flavouring already. However, if you want to season it, I … Continue reading A Martini with Kelp Chips / Crisps

A Martini with Homemade Roasted Seaweed

I’ve previously mentioned my liking for seaweed so I thought I would make my own to go with a martini. After a fairly long walk on the Isle of Mull, I was looking around the beach for something edible to forage. The tide was fairly high but there were several rockpools containing thick gutweed, as above. This dark-green, grass-like seaweed lives in upper tidal areas, … Continue reading A Martini with Homemade Roasted Seaweed

Korean spinach – Sigeumchi-namul

Annyeonghaseyo.    This is a really tasty, easy and even healthy vegetarian dish that you can serve as a vegetable side, a starter or, most importantly of all, as an appetiser to accompany a martini (obviously). I first ate this delicious dish in Koreatown, Manhattan. Of all the wondrous and unusual dishes I gluttonously consumed that night (my favourite being a gigantic simmered squid, still … Continue reading Korean spinach – Sigeumchi-namul