World Cup 2014 dinners

Um. What?

During previous major football tournaments I've occasionally played a game of "choose something for dinner that represents a country playing that day" with my parter in crime, @robertlait. I know... pretty genius/restrictive, right?

This site documents my quest to play this even more beautiful game throughout the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Like all good things it was built rather rapidly to allieviate commuter boredom during a couple of train journeys, and happens to use Jekyll. Images are from Instagram, where you can find me as sjenkinson.

When I'm not cooking, Instagramming food, or watching football, I work to help people make bits of the internet better. You can find out more about that on my actual website.

The rules

Each day, pick a team that is playing that day. The aim is not to cook in support of a team, or to pick the winning team; it's to cook as wide a range of new dishes as possible. Aim to avoid repetition of teams as much as you can. Do not repeat meals.

Match day stats (provided by Opta*)

18 distinct countries eaten

9 wins eaten

3 draws eaten

13 losses eaten

*possibly not provided by Opta

  • Sunday 13 July 2014

    (Faux) Schweinshaxe mit bratkartoffeln, und Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte Germany v Argentina
    1-0 (AET)
    WIN

    (Faux) Schweinshaxe mit bratkartoffeln, und Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte

    And finally...

    Efforts to buy pork hocks were sadly thwarted, so instead a leg of pork had to be used. Otherwise a mix of this recipe, this one, and this were used. They're all pretty much the same; you get the idea.

    Served with bratkartoffeln and gravy made from the pork/beer/veg mush in the bottom of the pan.

    And because it's the final, and it's been bloody great, I thought it deserved a ridiculously large cake. So for pudding we have Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, complete with artisan Post-It note flag.

    Thanks, World Cup. It's been brilliant. Until the Euros...

  • Saturday 12 July 2014

    Churrasco de Porco com Queijo Ralado Brazil v Netherlands
    0-3
    LOSE

    Churrasco de Porco com Queijo Ralado

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    A snack meal, due having been sat grazing on a massive picnic in a park all day. Recipe

    Served with a dipping sauce made from the remainder of the beer marinade.

  • Friday 11 July 2014

    No match played :(

  • Thursday 10 July 2014

    No match played :(

  • Wednesday 9 July 2014

    Erwtensoep and bitterballen Netherlands v Argentina
    0-0 AET (2-4 on penalties)
    LOSE

    Erwtensoep and bitterballen

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    A bit of a strange mixture of a meal, this one, especially on a summer evening. Erwtensoep, again adapted to be a bit more speedy, plus a side of Bitterballen made with veal. Unorthodox panko breadcrumbs were used because I happened to have some. Mustard for dipping.

  • Tuesday 8 July 2014

    Feijoada Brazil v Germany
    1-7
    LOSE

    Feijoada

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Served with rice, spring greens, and a ridiculously large portion of goals.

    Adapted slightly from this recipe, basically by introducing all sorts of shortcuts to make it possible as a last-minute evening meal rather than an overnight prepped meal.

  • Monday 7 July 2014

    No match played :(

  • Sunday 6 July 2014

    No match played :(

  • Saturday 5 July 2014

    Leffe in a field Argentina v Belgium
    1-0
    LOSE

    Leffe in a field

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Pre-planned Leffe, due to the limited cuisine of a Silverstone campsite.

  • Friday 4 July 2014

    Moules marinière, & raspberry crème brúlée France v Germany
    1-0
    LOSE

    Moules marinière, & raspberry crème brúlée

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Moules (recipe), served with giraffe bread and a bottle of Demoiselle de Portillon wine, locally bottled in Flaujagues, near to where my dad lives in France and brought back in my suitcase earlier this year. Along with an Indonesian gong. A story for another day.

    Raspberry crème brúlée (recipe) because yay fire and tools!

  • Thursday 3 July 2014

    No match played :(

  • Wednesday 2 July 2014

    No match played :(

  • Tuesday 1 July 2014

    Steak with chimichurri sauce Argentina v Switzerland
    1-0 AET
    WIN

    Steak with chimichurri sauce

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Steak was 'fed' with smoked paprika and salt dissolved in warm water. Served with a salad made mainly of leftovers (cucumber, red onion, watercress, crispy chorizo, goats cheese), and an Argentinian Malbec.

    Chimichurri recipe

  • Monday 30 June 2014

    Currywurst with potato salad and watercress Germany v Algeria
    2-1 AET
    WIN

    Currywurst with potato salad and watercress

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Non-creamy potato salad with onions, bacon, and a kind of mustard vinaigrette sauce.

    Curry sauce recipe

    Potato salad recipe

  • Sunday 29 June 2014

    Open chicken and bean tacos, with dips Netherlands v Mexico
    2-1
    LOSE

    Open chicken and bean tacos, with dips

    Chicken and bean mix with lettuce in tacos, chipotle lime yoghurt, guacamole, Sol beer.

    Adapted smoky bean recipe for chicken

    Chipotle lime yoghurt recipe

  • Saturday 28 June 2014

    Chilean Merlot Brazil v Chile
    1-1 (3-2 on penalties)
    LOSE

    Chilean Merlot

    Another batchelor meal. Result potentially clouded by ordering a 'Samba' pizza for takeaway, plus the Brahma beers.

  • Friday 27 June 2014

    No match played :(

  • Thursday 26 June 2014

    Francesinha Portugal v Ghana
    2-1
    WIN

    Francesinha

    Horrific batchelor meal for one back at home whilst I was in Brighton for Responsive Day Out 2.

    Recipe was apparently a mix of recipe 1, recipe 2 and recipe 3. I cannot be held responsible for any resulting heart attacks.

    Accompanied by Torre de Azevedo vinho verde.

  • Wednesday 25 June 2014

    Joojeh kabab, dolmeh-yeh felfel and borani esfanaaj Bosnia and Herzegovina v Iran
    3-1
    LOSE

    Joojeh kabab, dolmeh-yeh felfel and borani esfanaaj

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    This was also an exceptionally tasty meal, though the Dolmeh-yeh mix would be better on its own as the peppers diluted the flavour somewhat.

    Joojeh Kabab (chicken kebabs)

    Dolmeh-yeh Felfel (peppers stuffed with beef mince and rice)

    Borani Esfanaaj (cold spinachy yoghurt)

  • Tuesday 24 June 2014

    Mafé Greece v Ivory Coast
    2-1
    LOSE

    Mafé

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Mafé recipe, served with plain boiled rice.

  • Monday 23 June 2014

    Tongfilets met stamppot en asperges Netherlands v Chile
    2-0
    WIN

    Tongfilets met stamppot en asperges

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Sole inspiration from Sole with Hollandaise sauce

    Stamppot recipe

    Dutch apple cake for pudding. Not homemade.

  • Sunday 22 June 2014

    MEAT & BEER USA v Portugal
    2-2
    DRAW

    MEAT & BEER

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Once again, social plans got in the way. Claiming meat and beer as American.

  • Saturday 21 June 2014

    Malbec Argentina v Iran
    1-0
    WIN

    Malbec

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Got asked out for dinner, which meant this was the backup.

  • Friday 20 June 2014

    Hand-made ravioli Italy v Costa Rica
    0-1
    LOSE

    Hand-made ravioli

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Ravioli with a chicken/pork/salsiccia/parma ham filling, cream and pepper sauce, parsley, and samphire because I like samphire.

    Birra Moretti, Pinot Grigio, Peroni.

  • Thursday 19 June 2014

    Lamb kebabs, tzatziki, griddled halloumi, semi-Greek salad Japan v Greece
    0-0
    DRAW

    Lamb kebabs, tzatziki, griddled halloumi, semi-Greek salad

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Not a typical greek salad because raw tomatoes are bad and wrong. What you may mistake for them are actually leftover peppers from a previous meal.

  • Wednesday 18 June 2014

    Chorizo rolls Spain v Chile
    0-2
    LOSE

    Chorizo rolls

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Griddled chorizo sausages, rocket, piquanté peppers inside a garlic toasted roll. Rioja.

  • Tuesday 17 June 2014

    Spicy pork & rice Russia v South Korea
    1-1
    DRAW

    Spicy pork & rice

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Robert forgot the lettuce for the pork so we had to improvise.

  • Monday 16 June 2014

    Spätzle mit rouladen Germany v Portugal
    4-0
    WIN

    Spätzle mit rouladen

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Spatzle recipe from Spatzle with chicken

    Rouladen recipe from German Rouladen

  • Sunday 15 June 2014

    Carne Colorada, rice, cucumber & red onion salad Switzerland v Ecuador
    2-1
    LOSE

    Carne Colorada, rice, cucumber & red onion salad

    This is quite possibly my favourite of all of the meals to date. Carne Colorada recipe

  • Saturday 14 June 2014

    Tori karaage, chashu, sashimi Ivory Coast v Japan
    2-1
    LOSE

    Tori karaage, chashu, sashimi

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Salmon from the fishmonger at The Food Company in Colchester.

    Chashu recipe from Japanese Chashu

    Japanese Chashu

    Tori karaage from a mix of recipe 1, recipe 2, recipe 3

  • Friday 13 June 2014

    Enchiladas, chilaquiles, mojitos Mexico v Cameroon
    1-0
    WIN

    Enchiladas, chilaquiles, mojitos

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Yeah so mojitos aren't necessarily Mexican, but I drank a lot of them when I went there.

  • Thursday 12 June 2014

    Moqueca and caipirinhas Brazil v Croatia
    3-1
    WIN

    Moqueca and caipirinhas

    A photo posted by Sally J (@sjenkinson) on

    Moqueca with monkfish and prawns.

    Recipe was a mix of these:

    Moqueca 1

    Moqueca 2

    Moqueca 3