I recently learnt the true meaning of the word 'starstruck'. I met my hero of heroes, Nigella Lawson, at a book signing in Dublin last month. I queued for about an hour and a half in the freezing cold just to get my book signed and to have a glance at the woman who made cooking sexy. I absolutely love her! Her books have provided the Ramirez-Foran household with many happy meals and countless friends have enjoyed the wonderful fruits of my working with the recipes in her books.
At the queue I met this two very nice ladies who had gotten up at 5 am to take the train to Dublin from Galway to meet Nigella, and when they asked me what my favourite book of hers was, I couldn't honestly tell them! My love affair with her books started about 8 years ago during a trip to the Aran Islands, off the Galway shore. A stunning unspoiled part of the country at the time. At the bottom of the hill to Dun Angus and its magnificent cliffs, there is a small tached cottage converted into a cafe for the hungry hikers. I sat there and took a slice of the cake on offer, Chocolate Guinness Cake. My life was never the same again! I tracked the recipe for weeks, finally leading to Nigella and her book 'Feast'. The cake has become a classic in my household and I have shared it with many as I think it is, by far, the best chocolate cake ever!
In a recent visit to Mexico, I baked the cake for my father's 70th Birthday. He had two slices, which is amaizing for a man who does not like chocolate at all! All the Mexicans loved it too! On the down side, it took me three days to find Guinness Stout and when I finally did, I paid an exorbitant 12 euro for one small can!! The end result was worth it though! Check out the recipe of the cake in Nigella's website here. If you make it, you won't regreat it, it's absolutely stunning!
Feast also features many other wonderful recipes, I particularly love the Easter cake one in the chapter 'Cake Hall of Fame'. I have now bought all of her books and I eagerly await her TV programmes and future books. She makes cooking simple and enjoyable. Her 'Nigella Christmas' book is a dream and a must for all the jolly season's lovers. I have used it countless of times to get me through a few Christmases with the Irish family.
It was a true honour to meet her; she was everything I had hoped for her to be; glamourous, normal size, down to earth and really nice. She took time with each fan and talked to everybody! She said to me she's a big fan of Mexican food and asked me a few questions about it. Apologies for the dodgy photos, I asked a person behind me to take the pictures and they came out a bit fuzzy!
