Blanched Spinach

The first time I ever bought and cooked spinach was in my very early days at the Old Compton Wine Bar. In those days it was not necessary to order food from wholesalers; half an hour wandering round the innumerable food shops and a stroll up Berwick Street market would yield everything necessary for lunch. This neophyte chef did not know how much spinach collapsed when cooked, or how dirty it could be and time-consuming to prepare. One small carrier bag full was expected to yield enough spi