New on the bookshelf

My colleague almost saw me fall off my chair when she asked if I wanted to join the biggest kitchen hero of all time at the table. Jamie for president, then. As if that wasn't enough, right after that came: ‘And if you also want to cross out Friday because then Ottolenghi is your dining companion.’ I had to lie on life support for a few hours to process this amazing news, you understand. First Jamie, I interviewed him not long ago for his latest gem ‘5 Ingredients’ and now kitchen hero Yotam Ottolenghi in honor of his new sweet gem ‘Sweet’. And let me just be the one who gets to put the dessert on the table during the big Christmas spectacle this year. The lunch was finger-licking good, Yotam was a wonderful host, and the book that I got signed and placed in my hands afterwards was the cherry on top. Now the only question is: what am I going to make in five weeks (FIVE weeks)? Will it be the chai brûlée tarts or will it be the sticky fig pudding with salted caramel and coconut? Yoghurt panna cotta with basil and chopped strawberries or quark tarts with lime meringue? And yes, since you obviously can't serve coffee plain: almond tuiles with brown butter as a second dessert? That's going to be quite a few rounds in Vondelpark on Boxing Day…