Hello visitor,
Welcome to our about page. Austerilicious is made up of several dedicated members of Britain’s lost generation (although strictly speaking we’re not all that British as a whole). Thrust into adulthood at the cusp of the financial crisis, we sure have known a lot of austerity and not all that much employment. We don’t like to let it bring us down though. Here are some introductions, because that’s what you do on about pages.
Jobseeker John
Hello! I am Jobseeker John. As my name suggests I am unemployable and am often searching for any sort of work no matter how poorly paid or demeaning. Through attempting to stave-off malnutrition, and not being particularly fond of gruel, I have had to devise some inventive ways of using cheap ingredients.
I grew up in Belfast so my earliest food memories are of fantastic Irish potato bread and soda bread (the key ingredients for an ‘Ulster fry’). Since then I have lived in England for seven years some of which I worked in kitchens. Alongside the tick which causes me to shout ‘Oui, chef!’ when anyone shouts at me this experience has given me invaluable knowledge of thrifty tricks to maximise flavour and use up leftovers.
My favourite style of food is hearty European peasant classics which are big on flavour but easy on the pocket. Anything from English pies to Spanish tortilla, French onion soup to Italian polenta alla ragu, if the finished dish is so much greater than the sum of its parts then I’m interested!
My food heroes would have to be Keith Floyd, who showed the naysayers that red wine is a perfectly acceptable breakfast beverage. Also Michel Roux Jr.; I’m pretty sure that man even puts butter in his coffee, yet stays skinny as a rake.
My food nemesis would have to be Rick Stein. If I wanted to watch someone swan around sunny places sampling delicacies and complaining about how British people don’t appreciate food… well… I don’t want to watch that; and nor should anyone.
Cutback Charlie
Hello friends,
I’m Cutback Charlie, one of the faithful Austerilicious team. Hailing from a family very keen on food (and featuring a food writer parent), I departed my home and native land many years ago, eventually to end up on British shores. After several years of being a student in Brighton I moved up to London for my first grown up job. Now two years on I’ve quit to pursue a masters severely curtailing my once precious income.
One of my favourite things to do is entertain. I frequently have wine soaked soirées with my friends and generally food is a centrepiece. Being a student again means that my budget is not nearly as robust as it once was and I’m having to learn to be creative on a budget in more ways than just swapping wine bottles with boxes.
Happily I’m beginning to figure out that it’s not essential to spend a shit load of dosh to eat well, particularly when you’re feeding a larger group.
My professional idols are Nigella Lawson (because gurl is well posh), Ina Garten (that barefoot contessa certainly knows her way around a stick of butter), and my mom (because she’s the first person I ever saw cook a dinner party for 25 and smile all the way through). I spend much of my life thinking about how I can become more middle class.
austerilicious 