On 2 April 2020, just after lockdown, I went to a fancy private hospital in the West End to have my left boob removed. Because the NHS was overwhelmed with covid patients, a few fortunate people like me had surgery in the sort of hospitals normally only frequented by the very rich or those with exceptional health insurance. The hospital actually had a menu for each meal which was like a restaurant (and a proper chef). Not knowing how I would feel after the surgery, I ordered chicken, potato and leek soup with a crusty roll and lemon meringue Pie for dinner. Luckily the surgery went without complication and I woke up feeling hungry. This soup was like the nectar of the gods and don’t get me started on the pie. Lemon meringue is my all time favourite dessert… And because I had it in the hospital, I like to pretend it is really healthy.
I will never know whether that bowl of soup on 2 April tasted so delicious because I was just so relieved that the surgery was over, but I think this is a considerable improvement on a normal potato and leek soup. I have, of course, played around with it to get as much flavour out of it as possible.