POLDARK COOKS

DEBORAH CROMBIE: As we often talk about food here on Jungle Red on Sunday, AND as it's traditionally Masterpiece Theater day for all of us long-time public television addicts, I wanted to share a recent discovery.

Last month when my novel No Mark Upon Her was released, I was (of course) scanning the reviews on a regular basis. I was reading a nice piece in Examiner.com when a name in the right sidebar caught my eye--Robin Ellis.

(Here's the Examiner.com interview.)

Robin Ellis played Ross Poldark, the dashing 18th century British army officer who returns to his native Cornwall after fighting in the American Revolution, in the television adaptation of Winston Graham's novels. The classic mini-series debuted in May, 1977, and is considered one of the ten most popular shows in the history of Masterpiece Theater. Acorn Media has now re-released the entire series in a boxed set, which Ellis is promoting.

But that's not all Robin Ellis is up to these days. He lives in the South of France with his lovely American wife, and he cooks.

Diagnosed a few years ago as Type-2 diabetic, Ellis, who had always enjoyed cooking, applied himself to controlling his disease with diet and exercise.

Ellis experimented with recipes he'd been compiling for years, adapting the traditional cooking of the south of France. The result is Delicious Dishes for Diabetics: Eating well with Type-2 Diabetes.

These recipes are not just for diabetics, but for anyone who loves good, fresh food. Robin also posts regularly on his blog, and the first entry I read sold me on the book. I love Mediterranean style food, and I loved Robin's easy, chatty, and interesting recipes, essays, and photos. It was like cooking with a friend, and a friend who lives in the south of France, no less!

I ordered the book as a little book-pub treat to myself, and I LOVE it! Not only are the recipes delicious, but the book is graced with charming watercolor illustrations by an artist friend of Robin and his wife, Meredith.

Best of all, there are recipes that my husband, an oh-so-picky and unadventurous eater, actually likes! So far the Salmon Fishcakes have been the biggest hit. Pretty amazing response from a guy who doesn't like fish, particularly salmon, to have told me more than once how much he liked the dinner.

So cheers to Robin, and I'm looking forward to many more recipes--and to a spot of indulgence with the Poldark DVDs...

PS: Robin and Meredith are on a month-long tour of the US, promoting the cookbook. Unfortunately, they aren't coming to Texas, but they may be in a city near you! Here's the schedule.

If you get to meet them, I'll be jealous!