FrugalFeeding “Unplugged”

Earlier this afternoon I received an e-mail from one of my favourite bloggers – The Dusty Baker. She asked me whether I would like to participate in the “Unplugged” chain, which is essentially an interview in blog form. Usually it is against my sensibilities as a writer and food blogger to take part in any such self-indulgence. However, for now I shall set aside any such critical self-awareness and proceed with the faint suspicion that this will be, for most, a rather uninspiring and rather uninteresting post.

It so happens that this is the week leading up to the first anniversary of FrugalFeeding. This does, in truth, mean that such an e-mail arrived at a rather opportune time. Most of my readers will know very little about me and it only seems right that a little more information be divulged after the best part of an extremely successful year. So thank you, Dusty, for prompting me to take part in such a previously unenticing chain. Here goes nothing…

Who or what inspired you to start your blog?

I honestly can’t answer this question with any amount of certainty. People often ask me this question and the reply they always receive is that the inspiration suddenly came to me one morning. The urge to blog then overcame me and I have not indulged in a backward glance since. The reason my blog is about eating frugally is simply because my girlfriend and I wanted, as students, to eat well while maintaining a reasonable level of spare money.

Who is your foodie inspiration?

I don’t think I have a personal ‘foodie inspiration’. I love reading the various and numerous recipes across WordPress and they fairly regularly give me a few ideas. However, while I read many recipes written by a plethora of inspiring cooks, no one really inspires me to do specifically what I do. Though, perhaps Katherine has pushed me to fulfil my potential.

Your greasiest most batter splattered cook book is?

This may sound ridiculous, but my very first cookbook was given to me last Christmas – Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s new book. As such, none of them are particularly greasy or splattered. I’ve always enjoyed cooking, but none of the cookbooks I’ve used have ever belonged to me. To be honest, I try not to use too many recipes written by other people. Though, if I am looking for some quick and dirty inspiration, my first port of call has and always will be BBC GoodFood.

The best thing you have ever eaten in another country, where was it and what was it?

A single dish may be a little hard to single out. However, I can narrow it down to place and situ. It will come as no surprise to hear that some of my favourite meals have been eaten during my annual visits to Madrid. This was taken a step further when my girlfriend and I visited the family of her brother’s fiancée in a village two hours west of the capital. Over the course of the short time we were there, I ingested an almost disgusting amount of food, all of which was rather incredible. The olives were especially delicious, though the steak was similarly exceptional.

Another Food Blogger’s table you would like to eat at?

Yet another difficult and awkward question! I suppose the answer would have to be the table of Rosemary (Cooking In Sens). She makes such a delectable array of food and takes such incredible photos of what she creates. Her blog is truly inspiring, as is her food. However, it should be said that there are many other bloggers with whom I would more than happily share many a meal.

What one kitchen gadget would you like Santa to bring you? (if money were no object)

Kitchen gadgets don’t interest me that much. What I would truly cherish is a decent camera. Then perhaps my photos would achieve the standard set by Sens and so many others.

Who taught you how to cook?

Though the cooking bug does seem to run along my mother’s side of the family, I am almost entirely self-taught. Of course, a lot of what I know has been garnered from here and there – Ready Steady Cook and the like – but I appear to have gone through a rather unexpected process of culinary development.

I’m coming to you for dinner, what is your signature dish?

Who knows?! These days, due to time constraints, I rarely cook anything more than once. However, I can always turn out a jolly good curry or slow-cooked melange of meat and vegetables.

What is your guilty food pleasure?

I, like Dusty, never really feel guilt about food. Perhaps this fact is a downfall, perhaps it isn’t.

Reveal something about yourself that others would be surprised to learn?

I suppose I’ve already divulged something rather unexpected – that I received my first cookbook a mere month ago. Oh and that I’m a guy – most of you bloggers seem to be of the female gender. This has become a constant source of both mild annoyance and entertainment for Katherine, my girlfriend.

My next job seems to be choosing other bloggers whom I would love to know more about. This is particularly difficult since most food bloggers are a lot more forthcoming than I. However, someone I know very little about is Sens. Though, I don’t expect that she’ll want to divulge too much more. Once again, here goes nothing…

1. The Big Fat Noodle – I adore Noodle’s blog. Her writing, photography and recipes are, more often than not, to-die-for.

2. Cooking in Sens – In addition to the reasons above, she appears to have rather good taste and a jolly good sense of humour. Not to mention the fact I know next to nothing about her.

3. Fork and Beans – Me and Cara appear to have developed a rather banter-filled food-blogging relationship over the past weeks. I always enjoy her posts. As such, she should take a step into the breach and do this.

4. Cooking-Spree – This wonderful blogger will have to be my penultimate choice. She is the proud owner of a truly spectacular blog. I wish mine looked even half as good. Give us a little insight.

5. Movita Beaucoup – For some reason I often think of Movita and Cooking-Spree together. Perhaps this is because Movita also has a truly beautiful blog. Though her blog doesn’t like to keep me as a follower for longer than a few days, I’d like to know a little more about the woman behind the words and photos.

I do hope that this insight into FrugalFeeding, or Nick, has been adequate. I’m unlikely to do anything like this again for rather a long time. Please enjoy this post for what it is. Please return to wish my blog a happy birthday in just a few days’ time. It feels odd not ending a blog with a ‘cost’ section. In lieu of economic achievement, here are my chickens: