Joanie's interview

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Interview by Laurence

We interviewed Joanie!

Visit the blog: Spring, summer, autumn, winter.... and spring.

Hello Joanie, so tell us...

When did you begin your blog and what inspired you to start it?

I started it a couple of years ago. I had studied Ayurveda and spent three months in India doing an internship. I was always interested in the positive health side of Ayurveda and how what we eat creates our health. Most people think that eating Ayurvedic food is about eating Indian food, but the Ayurvedic approach is about fresh, local, seasonal food. I have always loved to cook and the blog was a natural platform to explore food from an Ayurvedic perspective.

If you could go back in time, what is the one piece of advice you would give your younger self as they started out on your blog?

Have fun, be creative and be open to where it takes you.

What is your favourite dish of all time?

I don’t think I have an ultimate favourite. The first time I went to India, I volunteered at a hostel in Maharashtra. All the meals were cooked by really remarkable women who had survived leprosy. The food was simple: rice, dhal, home-made yoghurt, vegetables which were grown in the grounds of the compound and chapattis which were still puffed up and proud when they arrived at the table. The food had so much flavour. It was my first real lesson that simple food, cooked with love can leave a lasting impression and be almost transformative.

Your photos are great, in your opinion what makes a dish beautiful?

Thank you! We eat with our senses, so for me, a beautiful dish is full of colour and aroma and not overly styled. I like to keep it simple and fresh.

Do you have a secret weapon in the kitchen?

I have a very vibrant pink spatula which has been seeing a lot of action lately as I seem to be constantly scraping pestos and dips from my food processor. It is very satisfying to get every last drop out of the bowl!

What is your earliest memory involving food?

I have a very vivid memory of my parents baking cupcakes and my younger brother and I being allowed to lick the bowl after the chocolate topping had been drizzled over the cakes. I was a regular presence in the kitchen after that. It started with baking and in my teenage years, Ken Hom was a big influence, inspiring experiments with noodle and rice dishes.

Are there any chefs that you admire in particular?

I love Jamie Oliver’s democratic and joyful approach to cooking. I also admire his campaign to teach children about food and provide healthy school meals. Denis Cotter who runs Cafe Paradiso in Ireland has an elegant approach to vegetarian food and his creative use of ingredients and flavour combinations is really inspiring.

In your wildest dreams where will your blog take you as it develops?

My blog is a work in progress. It is a platform for experimentation and an outlet for creativity and I am always learning new things. I would be very happy if it inspired others to start to look at food in a new way.

Which Gourmandize recipe would you recommend? (if none take your fancy add your own and share it with us!)

As it is the height of the courgette season, I am going to share with you a recipe for one of my favourite ways to eat courgette
Courgette soup with lemon quinoa
It’s refreshing and easy.

Any last words or message for our readers?

Line up your favourite tunes, get in to the kitchen and have some fun!

Thank you Joanie for answering our questions and see you soon!
Published by Laurence - 26/08/2013

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