Chilli Beef Short Ribs

Short ribs are one most forgiving things in the world to cook.  You have to really fuck up to ruin them; otherwise the results are always awesome.

This is a really easy but delicious way of cooking them that involves very little preparation or effort.  I’d technically call this a Mexican inspired dish but I wouldn’t call it authentic...

Start by putting your short ribs in a deep oven tray, sprinkle on the smoked chipotle, Mexican oregano and chopped habanero.  Pour in the stock, the tomatoes, and then cover with foil.

Put it in the oven for three or so hours; I’d check on them every now and again and top up with a little water if necessary.  At the end of the cooking process you’ll have a nicely spicy and thick sauce for the now very tender and juicy short ribs.

Serve them however the fuck you like but fight the urge to just eat them straight from the oven tray as it can get a little messy.  Believe.

Ingredients for two:

4 short ribs

5 habanero chillis

1 teaspoon of smoked chipotle chilli 

A palmful of Mexican Oregano

1 litre of beef or chicken stock (enough to almost cover them at the start of the cooking process)

1 tin of chopped tomatoes

Oysters, Huitres, whatever...

If Oysters be the food of love basically I’m fucked. I can still vividly remember my first one; an experience etched deeply in my memory.

It was at Borough market many years ago and a man that looked like a homeless Santa crossed with Captain Birdseye handed me a single quivering bivalve on its pearlescent plate of a shell. He began to smile as I eyed it warily and belly laughed as I knocked it back.

The Daniel Johnston Show - 18 Hewett Street, EC2

I had the pleasure of going to the opening of the Daniel Johnston show last week at Protein on Hewett Street. Johnston, for those who don’t know, is an American artist and songwriter whose work has been popular in cult circles since the early 80’s.

Anyone of my age who loved the grunge scene will no doubt be aware of the album Hi, How are You? Made famous, in my mind at least, by Kurt Cobain’s support as he was often seen wearing Johnston’s t-shirts.

Wilderness Festival Preview

I’m really quite excited to have been invited down to the Wilderness Festival this year. It really didn’t take much convincing for me to agree to come down and write a few words...

I cannot wait for the spangly folktronic sounds of the Crystal Fighters, twangy guitar tapsters Rodrigo Y Gabriella, and the local boy indie folksters Stornoway. As you can guess the emphasis is on the arty, the lo-fi, and the creative.

There will be banquets and food from Fergus Henderson, Yotam Ottolenghi, and Valentine Warner! Late night parties, outdoor theatre, and cricket?

Generally wtfuckery in the form of socktopus, immersive theatre, and roaming opera. In short it will be a feck load of fun.

I hope to see you there; if you see me dancing in a field don’t forget to say hello.  Tickets are on sale now so get involved!