This was the year when food blogging came of age. Sometimes if feels like you can't enjoy a meal out without diners at the next table flash-photographing their food and posting a critique on the internet. In recognition of this phenomenon our panel sifted through a shortlist voted for by OFM readers seeking the most inspiring voices on the net. The judges settled on Salad Club, a blog run by Ellie Grace and Rosie French from Brixton, south London.
The name came from the meals they used to make each other to recover from strenuous soca aerobics classes. What began as a discovery of how much they enjoyed experimenting with ingredients harvested from Brixton's Electric Lane market soon turned into a blog. The enthusiastic feedback convinced them to try to meet their audience and organise a supper club, initially in Ellie's flat overlooking the market. From those early menus of cheese and crackers, white chocolate and cardamon mousse and Thai fishcakes they have now more than 30 dinners under their toques. The blog works as their "collective memory – it shows how much we have learned since then," says Rosie. And it's gone beyond documenting their suppers, detailing their search for the perfect harissa, the pastries of Baleal, Portugal, and recipes for sweet curried onion, chickpea and mackerel salad, as well as chocolate beetroot cake. All are illustrated by Rosie's impressive photography and brought to life by evocative writing. The worst comment they've received was from a guest who said that you could get a cheaper meal at Pizza Express. "It was a compliment but not very well delivered," says Ellie.
The girls are thrilled with their award. "It has set a benchmark for us; we can't slack, people will expect a certain quality from us, and we hope some readers will invite us to cook them supper."
RUNNERS UP
