It’s the end of the year, all we want to do is curl up with loved ones, watch the lights twinkle and remember all the good things that have happened over the past twelve months. Instead A and I ventured out into the sleet to the little village of Box, and a newly opened coffee house- Toast.

Toast Coffee House

As well as a delicious toast based menu in the day, it lends itself to Sara’s Kitchen- a Lebanese catering company for a few evenings a month, and it was in this intimate setting we found ourselves last night. Hand made paper chains, wooden carved ornaments and hundreds of tiny twinkling lights mingled with the mouth watering scents wafting from the open kitchen and felt like home.

We ate course upon course, courgette fritters, Kibbeh (the National dish of Lebanon), red pepper hummus, chicken with sumac, spiced lamb, rice pilaf, gaza salad, chocolate torte with orange and k’naafeh (crispy stringy wheat with creamy cheese and syrup). It was all utterly divine. So full of flavour and spice, but never over powering. The chicken was lemony and rich from the sumac, and the k’naafeh topped with rose petal jam that was so sweet and sticky we were rendered speechless. All we could muster were a few quiet appreciative mumblings that may have been translated into ‘yum’.

Ruz Hashweh- Minced Beef and Rice

After we ate, the equally talented and lovely chef, Sara came over and offered to read our Arabic coffee cups, a tip she’d learnt from her grandmother. Growing up in Kuwait, Sara learned how to roll vine leaves at her grandmothers table, the spices and scents of her heritage she now shares through her catering company.

It’s rare to spend a night in the company of strangers that makes you feel so at home. We shared our table with four other guests, each one as kind and interesting as the next and all Box locals. The owner, Lucy, dropped in to say hello, justly proud of her beautiful space. We left much later than planned, full and happy and pleasantly surprised at the evening we’d just had. We’ll be back.

AM.Y

Find Toast Coffee House and Sara’s Kitchen on Facebook, or twitter @SaraJobling and @Toast_coffee.

Sparkles

Onions are one of those things that make everything better. On a low heat, slowly caramelising onions in butter just soothes the spirit, so with onions being well and truly in season, these are a few of our favourite things to do with them!

1. Onion tart- grab a pastry case, fill with caramelised onions, and top with goats cheese/mozzarella/pine nuts/any cupboard leftovers. Or pour over a few whisked eggs to make a quiche. This is the simplest, yummiest, warming dish pretty much ever created, plus it makes your home smell like melted butter … Mmmm.
   

   Onion Tart ... before it rapidly disappeared into our tummies!

2. Onion marmalade- there are various recipes for this all over the Internet, but what’s great about it is it’s simplicity. It goes with cheese, meat, fruit or on toast, crackers or just a spoon! Try this Waitrose recipe for Red Onion Marmalade with Balsamic.  
3. Pickled onions- try saffron vinegar, or adding some star anise. Use pickling onions or shallots for a softer texture. Perfect to break out as a boxing day nibble with the leftover turkey.
4. Roasted onions (and Garlic)- halve the onions and the whole garlic bulbs, put them facing up in tray and sprinkle with salt, pepper, herbs and a fair amount of olive oil. Leave in a medium oven until soft on the inside and nicely brown on the top. Leave to cool for use in sandwiches, serve with cheese or as a perfect vegetable accompaniment to meat in itself!
5. Onion and cheese on toast- We’re not talking a few measly slices on top of some cheese, oh no! Try cooking a large onion in a little butter, some red wine and parsley until soft, top the toast with the mixture, grate a strong cheddar on top and pop under the grill for a quick and delicious lunch!