I never really understood why people were so enthusiastic about sushi until I tasted it fresh and homemade. Thanks to a recent interest in Buddhism I was lucky enough to meet a lovely Japanese couple who live in our neighbourhood. Frank and I invited them over to dinner and they said they would bring some sushi. I expected a few snacks but they brought enough to feed a small orphanage! The sushi was truly delicious and also a feast for the eyes which is so important when trying new tastes. It was made with such precision and care, our guests must have spent ages working on these wonderful little taste parcels.

I made pea & mint soup, inspired by a visit to one of Raymond Blanc’s Brasseries last year, and Rachel Khoo’s, quiche lorraine. Summer pudding rounded off the scrumlicious and gezellig East-meets-West dinner. At the end of the evening our Japanese friends took home the remainder of the quiche and we gratefully accepted the remaining sushi. I love swapsies!

Mayumi and Tetsuya, June

Sushi, June