About me
I’m Anna, the cook, photographer and writer for Cuisine Fiend. I created it in 2014 and soon realised I enjoyed working on the blog much better than in my comfortable public sector day job.
I’m married to The Weather Man, the tech brains behind Cuisine Fiend, and we live in the south of England. We keep thinking about moving to a fairer-weather corner of the globe, but we don’t quite know where. Somewhere scenic, with clearly defined seasons and lots of good local produce. Any suggestions?
About these pages: the recipes are tried, tested and always eaten. My own mix with those created by people I admire, always acknowledged in the recipe story.
I don’t have any preferences for specific cuisines: I grew up in Poland but my passion about food and cooking transpired after I moved to England, so don’t think I’m an expert on pierogi!
I like to discover new flavours and ingredients, with full respect to the ethnicities whose cuisines I explore.
My food mantra is ‘local, seasonal and balanced’. I don’t believe in fads and trendy diets.
Vegetarianism and serious allergies aside, as Michael Pollan famously advised we should ‘Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.’
And why deprive ourselves of good things in moderation? Life’s more worth living with a little bacon in it.
Hope you enjoy what I cook and what I write. Feel free to comment, ask, query, rant, complain or praise. Especially praise.
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Hi John, buon Natale! Thank you for the suggestion - which we have seriously considered before, just undecided on the region to move to :-) Enjoy panpepato and other Italian delights.
Hi Anna, move to Italy! I have just come across your recipes for Italian baking, my passion, and just about to make the Panpepato for Christmas. As a vegan I get on well with southern Italian cuisine, various types of focaccia and torta salata. Buon Natale, John, Dorset
That's so interesting! You're probably the first person I've met who's so decisively negative about Mexican food. Perhaps, if you eat it every day it might indeed become samey. Thanks for your contribution!
Hi Anna and Bridgette, Sorry but I have to disagree about Mexico. I am sure this is personal preference but I find the food boring, tasteless , mostly lacking texture and repetitive. I have lived in several countries from France to India and cooked with and learned from superb chefs, local bakers and village grandmothers. Sorry but what I tasted in those countries far exceeds anything I have ever had in Mexico. Oh, guess I forgot to mention I live in Mexico at the moment….certainly not for the food.
Hi Bridgette - my sentiments exactly on Mexican food! And I'm envious because you must have grown up with those authentic flavours in Southern California.
Hello, I’m Bridgette and I live in S.W. Florida. Originally from Southern California I do love having been blessed with a multi ethnic food back ground and I too, have not any particular favorite flavor. I love all foods and appreciate yours. However if I had to pick only one, it’d have to be Mexican foods! I just love the flavors…
Loraine Ferrara
@cuisinefiend
Suggestion on where to move: Fayetteville, Arkansas, also known as the Athens of the Ozarks. four distinct seasons, but only snows maybe 4 times with one bad ice storm. Long growing season, at least 8 months. Many small fruits do well here. Overall, Arkansas is quite Conservative, with Fayetteville, being a college town, more open minded. A small eatery featuring local foods is always in demand. (I lived there for 20 years, had to leave for work, but its a nice place.)
Come to Australia. You get proper seasons in the South East, best weather in the word & the food is of the best quality. Very little pollution as well.
Hi Stephen - yes, I always quote temperatures for fan oven in bread baking, unless specified otherwise.
Hi Anna, please can you tell me if the oven temperatures quoted for bread baking are fan? I am just about to try your Poilane sourdough recipe. Thank you
Hi Susie - I really should consider that idea!
Hi Anita - thank you, that's a really interesting suggestion!
Hi Anna. Wil not limit to any country in particular but try searching in the continent Africa??, clearly defined weather pattern, lots of cynic views & obvious fresh farm local produce...you will enjoy your stay.
Door County in Wisconsin USA would be your Happy place to live! It is on the top of a peninsula along the shores of Lake Michigan. Rural, with many small lakeside communities, yet a seasonal vacation spot. Nearest big city is Green Bay, WI
Hi Daud - thank you! Clearly the southern hemisphere gets the vote.
YOU ASKED ABOUT MOVING FROM WHERE YOU ARE. WELL THEN DEAR GIRL. I CHALLENGE U TO MOVE TO THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD ???? I LIVE IN NEW ZEALAND NORTH ISLAND. BUT THE BEST PLACE IS IN THE SOUTH ISLAND AND I WILL FOLLOW U WITH UR RECIPES
Hi Ian - that's an interesting suggestion. And you clearly are a lucky (Tasmanian) devil!
Anna, I had lived and worked all over the world and can honestly say the only country that gave me a relaxed social life with internal travel taking us from the tropics to the deserts and the winter snow in Tasmania. I came here in 1988 and have not regretted a day. Good luck in your search. Regards Ian
Hi Diana - thank you! It’s great to hear that.
You sound like my kind of girl. I found you while researching scamorze and I like the way you talk.
Hi Bern - thank you so much for a lovely comment! Hope you find some recipes here to try out.
Hello Anna, new fan based in Vermont (please come visit if you do move to Canada). Started cooking as a young child but waited until our kids were all grown up and a pandemic made us all spend more time at home to try baking bread. Here is US, sourdough is a bit of a craze. Enjoyed seeing your Poilâne video and wanted to thank you for that. Look forward to exploring your site now that I know of it. Best to you, Bern
Aniu, I absolutely admire your blog! You are amazing, love you, Wanda
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