Jamie Oliver’s latest venture takes him to cities in Europe and North Africa. In one programme he visits Marrakech. I have never visited Morocco and my only impression of the city came from this programme. It seems a city of narrow alleys and markets with plenty of colour, spice and aromas and the guide books Lonely Planet and Fodor back this up.
In one scene a young boy around 12 years old knocked at the door of Jamie’s small apartment early in the morning. He then hurried off along the road with Jamie hot-footing it behind him – demonstrating he was much less nimble than the youngster! The young lad carried six dough balls on a large tray. Eventually they arrived at a baker’s and the boy left the tray behind and went off to school. Other children had also done the same and each mum had marked her dough balls so that they could be differentiated. The children would collect their breads, now cooked, on return from school for lunch. This was the most efficient way of each family obtaining hot, fresh bread. On top of this the children are given a responsibility not to mention exercise. That’s three things many UK children miss out on chaperoned back and forth in cars and coaches with their Monster Munch and string cheese!
Jamie also demonstrated how young single men sort out their evening meal. The men go with an earthenware pot to purchase meat, spices, fruits and vegs plus some olive oil all from the same vendor. The vendor puts everything in the pot together and the ingredients are then slow cooked. And we marvel how Waitrose and Sainsbury’s now offer some lemon or herb butter and parsley with their fish!
Later the young single males can enjoy this “stew with attitude” as Jamie puts it in his inimitable style. Add some of the wonderful bread and a glass of wine and the Moroccan bachelors’ dinner compares extremely favourable with the supermarket ready made meals or the greasy kebab favoured by many of their counterparts here in the UK.
Jamie’s tagine recipe can be found at http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/beef-tagine. The special tagine pots are not needed – a casserole dish or even a saucepan is sufficient
Thursday 29 April 2010
Wednesday 14 April 2010
Healthy electioneering
Have you noticed something that David, Nick and Gordon (not to mention Presidents Obama and Sarkozy) have in common? Or at least appear to have. They all apparently do regular exercise and are keen on keeping fit and healthy.
Barack Obama of course makes no secret of the fact that he takes time out of his busy schedule to exercise. David Cameron famously cycles to work, runs in various charity events. Both do so without causing themselves embarrassment.
Nick Clegg’s spokespeople say he doesn’t have time for a fixed regime but he does take exercise when he can and he follows a “healthy diet”. Interestingly I had noticed myself that each time you see Nick eating, albeit staged managed breakfasts with his wife or cosy elevenses in the garden with his deputy, there is no sign of him succumbing to anything which could be delicately described as an “unhealthy option”. And then there he was again taking fruit from the spectacular bowl on his campaign battle bus in full view of the camera and mid-interview. Is that necessary?
Gordon Brown was photographed jogging recently and chatted about his love of exercise on breakfast TV. Not so convincing perhaps - but nevertheless, gone are those openly smoking, drinking, portly men of old. They, like Bill Clinton with his love of hamburgers, are yesterday’s man.
Once you’ve got over the sight of the security guards and other paraphernalia surrounding them, it makes a lot of sense. Certainly the arduous campaign trail is no place for the unfit with long hours of travel and schedules with no let-up. Those embarking on it should physically prepare themselves well with sound nutrition and exercise. This supports mental strength too. It is exactly the same for us lowly constituents. Managing our commutes, relationships, studies – not to mention all that mental anguish as we decide who we can possibly vote for - is sure to be far harder with a lack of nutrients and a clapped out body.
But the question intriguing me is this. Some of these politicians convince me that they would be following the same fitness regime whatever their status – just without the bodyguards in tow - but for the others it’s less believable. Goodness, even Boris Johnson has jumped on the bandwagon huffing and puffing along in Bermuda shorts like he’s just spotted the last free sunlounger! President Sarkozy went so far as to collapse after a run. Don’t do it guys: it’s not worth it – even for a swing seat! So why are they doing it?
Is all this jogging and public shunning of junk food just a PR stunt because somewhere, somehow it’s been shown we want our leaders to be healthier than the population in general? Well, in my case, yes I do. If they do not have the sense to look after themselves, how can they be expected to take care of anything else to a competent standard? But am I typical?
As a nation we are fatter and unfitter than ever so what is it all about? Gordon Brown’s trainers one journalist remarked were suspiciously “unworn” even though Nike had supposedly not sold them for 5 years. In some cases at least perhaps it’s an almost touching attempt to keep up with what’s required, with what others are telling us to do, when in our heart we don’t want to. Even Obama admits to the odd ciggie. How many can relate to that? And then I wonder how subtle the PR has become.
Barack Obama of course makes no secret of the fact that he takes time out of his busy schedule to exercise. David Cameron famously cycles to work, runs in various charity events. Both do so without causing themselves embarrassment.
Nick Clegg’s spokespeople say he doesn’t have time for a fixed regime but he does take exercise when he can and he follows a “healthy diet”. Interestingly I had noticed myself that each time you see Nick eating, albeit staged managed breakfasts with his wife or cosy elevenses in the garden with his deputy, there is no sign of him succumbing to anything which could be delicately described as an “unhealthy option”. And then there he was again taking fruit from the spectacular bowl on his campaign battle bus in full view of the camera and mid-interview. Is that necessary?
Gordon Brown was photographed jogging recently and chatted about his love of exercise on breakfast TV. Not so convincing perhaps - but nevertheless, gone are those openly smoking, drinking, portly men of old. They, like Bill Clinton with his love of hamburgers, are yesterday’s man.
Once you’ve got over the sight of the security guards and other paraphernalia surrounding them, it makes a lot of sense. Certainly the arduous campaign trail is no place for the unfit with long hours of travel and schedules with no let-up. Those embarking on it should physically prepare themselves well with sound nutrition and exercise. This supports mental strength too. It is exactly the same for us lowly constituents. Managing our commutes, relationships, studies – not to mention all that mental anguish as we decide who we can possibly vote for - is sure to be far harder with a lack of nutrients and a clapped out body.
But the question intriguing me is this. Some of these politicians convince me that they would be following the same fitness regime whatever their status – just without the bodyguards in tow - but for the others it’s less believable. Goodness, even Boris Johnson has jumped on the bandwagon huffing and puffing along in Bermuda shorts like he’s just spotted the last free sunlounger! President Sarkozy went so far as to collapse after a run. Don’t do it guys: it’s not worth it – even for a swing seat! So why are they doing it?
Is all this jogging and public shunning of junk food just a PR stunt because somewhere, somehow it’s been shown we want our leaders to be healthier than the population in general? Well, in my case, yes I do. If they do not have the sense to look after themselves, how can they be expected to take care of anything else to a competent standard? But am I typical?
As a nation we are fatter and unfitter than ever so what is it all about? Gordon Brown’s trainers one journalist remarked were suspiciously “unworn” even though Nike had supposedly not sold them for 5 years. In some cases at least perhaps it’s an almost touching attempt to keep up with what’s required, with what others are telling us to do, when in our heart we don’t want to. Even Obama admits to the odd ciggie. How many can relate to that? And then I wonder how subtle the PR has become.
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