The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater. Read Along Thread 2022

[Dillidilly]

INTRODUCTION

Nigel begins his Chronicles proper on 1st November, but there is a lovely, quite lengthy introduction we can dip into during the second half of October.

Last year, posters were also kind enough to share where they had found cut price copies of CC, so hopefully anyone late to the party still has time to find a copy before we start the first chapter.

I had forgotten the lovely introduction. Together with the beautiful photograph at the very beginning of the book, flipping through it and seeing his headings reminded me of why I loved it so much last year!

@Dillidilly I wish you all the best. Take care of yourself.

I will pop up today’s chapter.

17 November
Pork and panforte
**

There’s a reason I don’t refer to him as TSN (the sainted Nigel) 🙂 - He’s not on some kind of moral pedestal for me, I just like the way he writes, his aesthetic and his approach to food.

I haven’t read the book nor watched the film, so I can’t address it specifically. But knowing some of it from reading elsewhere I think he did struggle and was maybe quite overwhelmed with the intensity of his feelings and reactions to things that happened in his childhood/growing up years. I give him the benefit of the doubt because of that, and because he didn’t do anything terrible. AFAIK.

He is clearly a bit of a snob when it comes to certain things, but my take is that people are allowed their opinions regardless of how unreasonable I might find them. And I suppose some people might call me a snob about some things too (because I generally have high standards and quite fixed ideas about what behaviour is and isn’t appropriate).

(Of course I know that those who do call him TSN have got tongue placed firmly in cheek!)

I broadly agree with that @TangledWebofMincemeatDeception - I did read the book many years ago when it first came out and don't remember much now, perhaps he has lashed out on paper unjustly in some respects but its hard to know the full story. He is a very private person even if we do see into his home on insta and TV and what we do see is very carefully curated no doubt. I like his writing style, his recipes, his images, his voice while acknowledging that he's probably not perfect. I like the tongue in cheek "Be More Nigel" tone of the thread, we are aspiring to his publicly presented lifestyle not to be him.

@Dillidilly sending you best wishes for the investigations and any ongoing treatment, the thread will still be here for you when you feel like dipping in and out.

We need to take care not to reproduce recipes by screenshot as I think that would be a breach of copyright, links to them online would be OK though.

I like the tongue in cheek "Be More Nigel" tone of the thread, we are aspiring to his publicly presented lifestyle not to be him. completely agree. I said something to DH the other day about being more Nigel and he said "You do know he's gay Lillian?" He undoubtedly is a snob about quite a few things, but that is all part of his charm. For me it's all about the way he writes - who else would have us all longing for the cold and bemoaning the fact that this year's is a long and golden autumn or buying ruinously expensive candles?

I'm sure he is a snob about many things but there is something about a man of his age that can get away with it. See also: Alan Bennett.
I read Toast some time ago and didn't like him better for it. But I think he writes beautifully about the things he loves and cares about and us winter-fanciers need to stick together against the unrelenting onslaught from people who want to fling off their clothes and sit in a beer garden!

Alan Bennett is almost 90. Bit harsh to class 66 year old Nigel in the same age group.

Only if one considers advancing/being advanced in age to be a bad thing! The principle remains true, tbf.

As with everything/everyone else, I take what I like/love/admire and discard what I don’t.

I’m looking forward to my session tonight - I will read previous chapter and today’s and hopefully get good and hyggelig. 🎄🎄🎄

I think most of us have things were our taste has become more refined (aka snobby), especially as we get older. I would now much prefer a square of good chocolate than a pile of cheap milky stuff. My younger self would have very much preferred quantity over quality. I can’t say the same applies to crisps though; the trashier the better 😳 although I don’t eat them very often 😀

@Dillidilly new to your thread this year and it is delightful. Hope your cardiac issue gets sorted soon

Don’t get me wrong I love the tongue in cheek Be More Nigel tone of the thread. I’m greatly enjoying reading the CC along with you lovely ladies, I felt like a weirdo for liking crisp autumns and winter and I also love his conversational style and aesthetics.

I definitely don't want any Nigel bashing. But I knew a lot of Joans and felt sorry for her

YWNBU at all @ABookAndCake 🙂 I completely understand!

LOL I didn't quite mean that. AB was being gently snobby, in a charming fashion, in the 1980s for sure and perhaps before then

That is true @bigbadbarry 😂

Halloooo! Mad wave! Thank you for enquiring, @noodlezoodle and @TangledWebofMincemeatDeception . I'm fully recovered but can't face my inbox! I'm going to restart tomorrow, then try and read backwards to catch up to where I was. It sounds perfectly logical in my head at least.

@Dillidilly I'm sorry to hear you are poorly. I hope the treatment goes well and hospital isn't too hard going.

I've been lighting my SN candle on a regular basis, just not looked at the book. Here goes...

I would like both, please! I've acquired appreciation for the finer things of life, but still can't beat a good chunk of dairy milk.

Mind, I suppose it depends on your starting point. My grandmother used to buy Kinnerton Easter eggs.

Oh my word.
I have just made NS aubergine with lentils and basil and it is a thing of beauty. Absolutely delicious.

@Trumpton I made it last year and really loved it too. Sadly DH doesn’t much like lentils unless it’s in dal so I’m not making it this year. Glad you enjoyed it!

@TangledWebofMincemeatDeception
Thats a shame. DH is fine with anything but garlic! It makes him feel quite ill the next day.
But that means that a lot of ready made food is off the menu.

I have yet to make this and ‘force’ it on DH. I can get away with the lentils, but he won’t eat aubergine, so I will have to think about an alternative.

Today has got me slightly concerned about my teeth. The Panforte is likely to take my fillings out and there would be a massive sugar overload from the mincemeat. I am liking the sound of the pickled pears though and as a vegan am wondering what I could have them with.

Luckily panforte is not for me and I’m not very keen on mincemeat either. I get plenty of sugar as it is so thank god there’s something I don’t like!!

I’m planning to make the miso pork and pickled pears. Hopefully on Sunday.

18th November- Surf and Turf

^Hot smoked salmon, new potatoes and dill
A new toad-in-the-hole^

Toad in the hole with Nigel's favourite tiny sausages, marmalade and cranberries - this is definitely a recipe for me. Yum!