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 Diane - how lovely to hear from you and such kind words! All the best to you in beautiful Quebec!
Good morning Anna! Here I am looking for a recipe to showcase our beautiful Quebec strawberries… then this recipe for Strawberry Cake pops up in my notes from 2021! From there I noticed you had a cornucopia of recipes and I am flipping out! This may be my all to, go to recipe holy grail! Thanks Anna!
Hi Janaina - thank you for such a kind message. And I'd love to at least visit Brazil!
Hello. I'm Brazilian and found your site.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and pleasure about food with the world.
I'm glad I found it.
I hope by now you have found a place to live.
Brazil is always a good option.
All the best.
Hi Mayte - thank you! I must admit I didn't think of Chile, probably because it's so far away but the idea sounds interesting. Also hope you enjoy the pistachio cookies!
Hi Anna, I'm a Chilean grandma transplanted to Upstate New York 27 years ago (for love).
I'm new to your recipes, but I like you have a lot of italian pastry, my husband was Sicilian and I love Italian Cuisine, who doesn't it ? :) I read that you're looking for a country where you can enjoy fresh produce, tons of fresh seafood and beautiful 4 seasons...that's CHILE...almost everybody speaks english too.
Well, I'm going to try your recipe for Sicilian Pistachio Cookies soon,
We have them in our last trip in a small Villa in Agrigento...I can still taste them thinking about them.
Love & The Best for you and hubby
Mayte
Ciao Cataldo, ti auguro buona fortuna. La ricetta del pan de cristal è facile da seguire.
buona sera,
sarei intessato al vostro pane de cristall
abito in Puglia italia nel paese turistico di Ostuni ed ho quattro attività , vorrei fare una cosa nuova usandoil vostropane
Hi Naomi - I don't have a specific recipe for that, but you can easily do it using the date and walnut recipe (also check out the Raspberry Meringue Roulade recipe for the method: https://www.cuisinefiend.com/601/raspberry-meringue-roulade). You can either add the dates and walnuts to the meringue, then just spread the meringue with cream before rolling up, or leave the meringue plain and add the dates and walnuts to whipped cream for the filling. Hope it helps!
Hello Anna,
I am on your website and particularly looking at your date and walnut meringues. do you have a recipe for a date and walnut meringue log ( made on a flat oplong tin) would love to hear from you.
Hi Rhona - I love that idea!
I just found your site and your mention of distinct climates. Come round the other side of the globe to South Pacific and New Zealand. The wee country underneath that punches above its weight.
Hi Greg - That's fantastic to hear! I completely agree that rye bread and butter is very close to food heaven. And Vermont is certainly appealing - especially in winter!
Greg Kauffman
@Cuisinefiend
Anna,
Your recipe for Borodinski bread is spot on. I slather salted butter on it. Heaven. That and a good beet salad is my idea of fine dining.
Try Vermont, USA for a place to call home. I've lived in many places and this is the one for me.
Hi Martin - I wish you full recovery and all the best, that must have been so tough to go through. I'll be delighted if my recipes help you enjoy life's pleasures again! Thank you for your kind words.
Hi Anna, just tried an eggplant fish from your site - fantastic! I'm recovering from chemo and exploring new tastes and ideas, I will enjoy exploring all the recipes here. The wonderful photo of you and your husband on a windswept beach, was beautiful and actually very moving for me, God bless you and your lives together. Martin
I'm very pleased you liked it! BTW you can also comment on the recipe pages.
Started with a simple dish tonight. Easy to follow instructions and we both thought with a delicious outcome. I poured the mushrooms over freshly cut toasted bread. Lovely x John and Julie
10/10 and will cook this again without doubt.
Hi John - happy retirement! Sounds like you won't be bored. And hope you'll find support for your cooking in my recipes. All the best!
Hi Anne and Weather man. Have only just found your blog and so have just registered for your newsletters. I have recently retired but ‘er indoors still has another 4 years to go. I have therefore taken on the role of chief bottle washer and cook so regarding the latter I am clearly going to need your help. Looking forward to a bountiful relationship going forward! Take care. John.
Hi Jane - I hope you like them! But, my word, 7 dozen eggs that's impressive!
I am about to try your date-nut meringue cookies. My mother used to make them and now that I have 7 dozen eggs in my frig, I need a good recipe for some of them!
Hi Michelle - thank you! And indeed, south of France is rather a dream land.
Your oatmeal biscuits are a winner with my husband so thank you very much. Will share your recipe with my polish friend Monika she a foodie too!
The south of France has a good climate but don't know how well defined the seasons are.
I love new and unusual food.
Hi Suzie - ha ha, I am indeed a person! And Puglia is indeed a beautiful part of Italy though I've only been there once. Thank you for the suggestion, worth considering!
Hello Anna!
I hadn't realised who CF is/was - I thought it was 'a thing' rather than a person ... sorry about that!
Anyway, reading your comment about warmer climes I can thoroughly recommend Puglia in the south of Italy. Food markets are thriving; very seasonal produce, a lot that is labelled '0 km' to show its just come out of someone's land; very sweet people .... and it's Italy!
Hi Catherine - thank you for such a nice comment. I have been to several parts of the US but not yet to Maryland, which sounds very well worth visiting!
Thanks for your fig recipes there are so many figs in the garden right now and I am going to try your labneh today as I have only bought it in the past. I live in the Chesapeake region of Maryland, many rivers off the bay and two growing seasons, very pretty and my father who was from Sussex said it reminded him of old land like England.
Cheers, Catherine
Hi Viv - thank you for a lovely comment. Hopefully you'll find some recipes to your liking here!
For some reason I wasn't expecting you to say UK !
IM going to try out one of your recipes this eve.
I like , so far that the pages aren't over complicated . This is a bonus. And easy to scroll through. I'll certainly be looking through the pages / site more. Viv , Midlands UK.
Hi Anne - thank you so much!
Love your writing style and recipes.
Hi Pat - thank you for a kind comment but you've made me green with envy: home grown asparagus! I've tried growing it once in the past with zero success. Enjoy them!
Hi,
I have just signed up for your newsletter, and have been looking at a lot of your recipes which look just great - the type of cooking I like to do myself. I have had to stop looking at your recipes as I need to get out to my veggie patch, pick some of my home grown asparagus, and will probably make the asparagus salad you posted.
thank you
pat
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.
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