Thomasina Miers

3 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Thomasina Miers

I don’t know about you, but I’m revelling in the asparagus, early strawberries and new potatoes that are flooding the local farmer’s market. Traders are no longer wrapped up tightly to withstand the cold, and there is a spring in everyone’s step. At the fish stall, some dressed crab caught my eye, and while I love nothing more than crab on toast with thick aïoli or a nutty salsa macha, there was a nip in the air on the night in question, so I was drawn to this rich, warming dish instead.

1 month ago | theguardian.com | Thomasina Miers

Spring is here in all its glory, as the birds testify with their ebullient chitter-chat. But the weather is wilful and the air can turn chilly in a flash, and it’s this in-between time when soothing braises made with lighter ingredients are just what’s needed. I recently found a recipe for an Iranian chicken stew recipe that paired carrots and yoghurt, and its sunniness really appealed to me; I added cardamom for its evocative scent and chickpeas for body, and it was demolished by the troops.

2 months ago | theguardian.com | Thomasina Miers

One of the things I love about cooking is how the simplest ingredients can be transformed into a feast. Recently, we went round to see a friend who is an Italian chef. He cooked pasta and a tomato sauce (amatriciana); we had a salad of shaved fennel, orange and olive oil; and a piece of delicious cheese, some good crackers and a few squares of chocolate to finish. It was a sensational weekend lunch.

Mar 8, 2025 | theguardian.com | Thomasina Miers

Our neighbourhood farmers’ market comes every Sunday, and brings with it a stunning range of seasonal fruit and veg, affordable fish, good-quality meat with cheap cuts galore, plus cheeses, breads and much more. For me, going there and chatting to and supporting the stallholders and farmers (many of whom I have now known for years) feels a bit like going to church; there’s something soulful about it, wrapped in community spirit.

Feb 1, 2025 | theguardian.com | Thomasina Miers

Thirty years ago, my mother-in-law set sail on an around-the-world trip that would see her land on Antigua,where she has remained to this day. On a recent visit, I once again fell for the fish and conch rotis, and mouthwatering jerk chicken, and I particularly love the use of spicing, with turmeric-stained curries scented with allspice, coriander seeds, fenugreek and cinnamon.