Sunday 14 August 2011

Strawberry and Passion Fruit Meringue Roulade

So I’m back from my holiday! Whilst I recover from jet lag and organise my photos, here is a post I wrote earlier (Blue Peter styley). A few weeks ago, on a rare sunny London summers day, my Mum and I visited Books for Cooks in Portobello Market. Books for Cooks is – as the name just about suggests ;) – a bookshop containing pretty much every cookery book you could imagine. Sweet and savoury, old and new, American authors and English authors, books for every country’s cuisine. But not only is it a fabulous place to browse and discover new gorgeous books (whilst trying not to buy everything you see) the shop also has a tiny restaurant at the back. From Tuesday to Saturday the resident chef chooses a three course menu from different books in the shop. You don’t know what will be served until you get there and you have to turn up early in order to bag a highly coveted seat. The day I went, the menu was this…IMG-20110721-00339 The trip really gave me a chance to try new things that from a bigger menu it is unlikely I would choose. The soup was amazing. I’d never tried prawns and still found their texture a bit strange for me, but the actual soup broth was so unbelievably full of flavour. There was garlic, lemongrass, chilli, tomato, kaffir lime leaves, all manner of different sauces – it was incredible! I’m gutted I was too busy eating to photograph it. Next came the chicken – again IMG-20110721-00341delicious, bursting with flavour and different to what I normally eat. Then, the puddings. There were four cakes to choose from: Chocolate Caramel Pecan Cake, Elderflower and Lemon Cake, Raspberry and Almond Cake or Mango and Passion fruit Roulade. I went for the roulade and, yet again, was not disappointed. The meringue was crisp on the outside and marshmallowy on the outside and there was plenty of bright fresh fruit tucked inside. The best lunch I have had and will have in a long time! IMG-20110721-00349 Once home, I knew I wanted to recreate the pudding. I also want to attempt the fabulous soup – but am nervous it just won’t live up to the Books for Cooks version! I swapped the mango for strawberries because whilst I love mango I wanted to take advantage of some fresh English produce. On the way home from Portobello Market we passed a grocer selling large bowls of 12 passion fruit for just £1 – bargain! This meant I could be much more liberal with the number of passion fruit I used in the roulade which was great as I adore their sweet scent and tropical flavour (I think in the end I used 8-9). Meringue is so easy to make that I’ve vowed never to let a spare egg white go to waste again. Whilst the actual rolling of the roulade was a little tense, the finished product was delicious. I used this recipe, but used all cream (not cream and yoghurt) and added passion fruit. Enjoy!DSCF8729
DSCF8736

8 comments:

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Mmmhhh, it looks and sounds absolutely divine!

Cheers,

Rosa

Maggie said...

I would love to go to Books for Cooks. The roulade looks stunning and one of my very favourite desserts of all time too.

La Table De Nana said...

It looks delicious! All those passionfruit for that price?

Great!

Can't wait for the trip pics..
Soo nice you get our with your maman:)

Kate@whatkatebaked said...

I've just come across your blog and really enjoying reading all the lovely posts and recipes! We live not-a-million-miles away from Portabello Road and perusing Books for Cooks is one of my favourite weekend past times- I could spend hours there! I haven't yet been lucky to grab a a table there (they always seem full at the weekend not too surprisingly!) but your descriptions sounds absolutely delicious!

Gloria Baker said...

Look absolutely delicious love roulades! gloria

Mary said...

This sounds delicious. I like everything in the recipe, so how it not be wonderful?

Faith said...

I love the concept behind Books for Cooks -- it sounds like so much fun! Your roulade is gorgeous, Lucy!

Dewi said...

Passion fruit is truly luscious fruit, even a little goes a long the way. I can only imagine the delicate flavor it gives on a fruit meringue.