Welcome to the first post of my Jam Before Cream newsletter. It's an ode to my fondness for food, (obviously, which is where the name came from, but more of that in a minute) drinks, chefs, restaurants, producers plus a bit of UK travel, as well as it being a more creative space for me to write in.
A little more on me: I’m currently the Editor of IndyBest, The Independent’s product review section, where I mostly write about food, from cookbook and restaurant reviews to tried and tested roundups, longer form features on sustainable fishing, calorie counts on menus and the beauty of Iberico de bellota. I also write for other sections including the lifestyle desk where I wrote about my cancelled wedding and I’ve written about greenwashing, smoking, misogyny and the pinkwashing of Pride for the comment desk. In short, it’s varied. I’ve been the IndyBest Editor for over four years, and before that I was the Editor of IndyEats, The Indy’s digital monthly food magazine, which was shortlisted twice for “best magazine” at the Guild of Food Writers Awards.
Last weeks’ food articles on The Independent
Now on to the name of this newsletter: it's about getting a good cream tea right, which of course, is the Cornish way. I won’t hear anything else on the matter.
All of you who think the cream acts as a butter are wrong and are sincerely missing out on the pure decadence of a huge blob of cream, complete with its crusted top and whipped bottom. Don’t dare to spread it though, for its beauty is in its casually dolloped form. Jam, must be raspberry.
Perfectly illustrated how to layer your condiments
If you’ve not guessed after all that, I’m from Cornwall. Although now is a good time to insert my disclaimer on the matter: I am not born and bred (B&B), as there’s a clear distinction on the matter. My friends, mostly all are B&B and from farming families, accept me for who I am: an outsider, and Cornish at heart. It’s been my home for nearly three decades, although I’ve not properly lived there since I was 18, for me Cornwall's undoubtedly running through my veins, even as a newcomer.
Newquay, Cornwall. My photo, but not my hometown
This newsletter will be home to my musings, loves, dislikes and reviews on food, drink, chefs, restaurants and producers with a focus on my beloved Cornwall, London where I actually live and the newcomer to my life, Scotland. It couldn’t be further away from my homesake geographically, but in reality there’s a lot that draws parallels between these two Celtic nations. And since marrying a Scott, it’s fast becoming a second home to me too, as well as being another place where I'm an outsider. But I'm ok with that, too.
I hope you enjoy reading this bi-weekly newsletter (or perhaps it will be monthly?) and manage to revel in some of the nonsense. Please feel free to tell me about any places, people or food related things I should know about too.
Next time: I’ll be writing about my week on the west coast of Scotland, mostly about where I ate, the failed attempt to reach a seafood shack and the quaint village seafood festival that refused to let rain dampen its spirits.
You can follow along on my Instagram too: @emmahendy_
Happy eating,
Emma