Cupcakes in Bed

screw street bento

2012-01-15T04:28:00.000-08:00

2012 is off to a 'blinding' start...

Evening rush hour, everyone at Liverpool Street station is grumpy, let's face it- the hustle & bustle, running to flag down your bus, dodging the drunkards at the pub (inconveniently attached to the station), while cranking up the volume on your iPod to drown out the old dingy cockney man, screaming..."EVENING STANDARD HERE, GET YOUR FREE EVENING STANDARD!" In summary, it's pretty shitty.
But last Thursday, there was one additional nuisance added to my Liverpool Street station experience, a blindingly white neon box was glowing on the street side. Seriously!? Do we really need more tasteless bento street-vendor pop-ups? NO. Let's not make this station any worse than it already is. Make the time to go to a proper Japanese restaurant and enjoy the real food.

Green Tea Cupcake

2011-11-27T10:13:00.000-08:00

I love green tea ice cream, so I thought I'd give the new green tea cupcake at Franze & Evans a try. It's OK, but the bitterness of the tea doesn't quite work. It's too medicinal tasting. Maybe they let the bags seep for too long? I'm not sure, but it just doesn't work quite as well as green tea ice cream, maybe it's the cake texture that puts it off, as ice cream is a bit more similar to tea in its liquidity...
Well, kudos for experimenting.

Rabanadas

2011-11-27T10:03:00.000-08:00

I fell in love with many things in Brazil, but warm rabanadas in the morning with coffee was top of my list. RB's daily quote, "anoooother rabanada?"
RB and I stayed in Sao Paulo's Edificio Copan, a beautifully designed landmark building by Niemeyer and just at the base of the building, there's a delicatessen/cafe, Santa Efigenia, serving fresh sweet and savoury pastries, cakes, melts and everything else. The counters are endlessly filled with tiny food treats and although I sampled many, I always walked back to my beloved rabanadas. Warm, crispy, oily, sugary and cinnamony, ahh, all of my five-a-day essentials. My Portuguese is quite poor, but with my decent Spanish speaking skills, I was able to find out the main ingredients of rabanadas: milk, crustless bread, one egg, oil and lots of cinnamon and sugar.

I later found out from my Portuguese colleague that this is typically only eaten at Christmas time as a holiday treat, which makes sense (sadly cinnamon only gets press during the holidays). But Christmas was the last thing on my mind as I was chowing down on my rapanadas in shorts and sandals, it was 30 degrees in Sao Paulo last week! So I'd say, you can enjoy it at any time of year.

The recipe can be found here.

Raspberry Pavlova

2011-11-20T14:54:00.000-08:00

I'm not a meringue fan, but the look of the raspberry pavlova at SOS has me willing to venture...

Antipasto fun

2011-11-20T14:49:00.000-08:00

A long weekend in Rome meant experimenting with traditional Italian dishes.
Who says you can only have one type of bruschetta?

Try these:
Bruschetta with fresh tomato and one bay leaf
Bruschetta with rocket and shaved Parmesan
Bruschetta with artichoke hearts
Bruschetta with prosciutto and balsamic glaze
Bruschetta (plain) with garlic & extra virgin olive oil
Bruschetta with fresh ground tomato and garlic paste

The Lunch Cave: 22-26 Farringdon Lane

2011-11-07T15:21:00.000-08:00

22-26 is a newly converted Clerkenwell lunch spot, which is rumoured to have been the Farringdon 'hooker hangout' nightclub. With its cavernous vaulted ceilings (formerly a section of the Metropolitan Railway) and Design Museum furniture, 22-26 is certainly the new place to be seen having a spiffy work-lunch meeting.
The highlight of the space is its unruly acoustical effects; since the cafe is shaped like an arched tube, unexpected sounds bounce from side to side and back to front with lightning speed. Sitting in the front of the cafe, you can hear conversations from the deeper recesses of the cave, which may not be the prime choice for a private lunch...but nonetheless...if you're up for a cheap and cheerful sarnie and an eavesdrop session, check out 22-26.
The space is quite cool and up for hire....shame they don't have a website, yet.

Lalibela- Ethiopian Restaurant in Tufnell Park

2011-10-12T13:59:00.000-07:00

I headed to this restaurant long before I started blogging, but last Friday night was my first post-blog experience. The good ole' days of living in Kentish Town/Tufnell Park, fill me with warm nostalgia. Why did I move East? Oh yes... I remember why, to satisfy my nomadic nature of endless exploration.

Lalibela is one of my fondest memories of eating out in North London, it is comfort food at its finest. All the dishes are authentic, rich and just delicious. The staff have the warmest hearts and there's always incense burning (frankincense I think).

Now that my cousin is visiting me from the US, I had to bring her to this old favourite and we ordered: The Lalibela Salad: roast potatoes and beet root seasoned with spices.
Cream Beg Tibs (Lamb), cooked with peppers in a rosemary, white wine and cream sauce
Doro (Chicken) Tibs with tomatoes, fresh herbs, onions and tomatoes are the main ingredients
last but certainly not least, the Injera- which is the traditional Ethiopian flatbread, which tastes like a sour dough crepe.

The best bit of the Lalibela experience, is that the main dishes are served in a burner bowl- the fire underneath keeps the food piping hot with each scoop.
Plop it on the injera and eat with your hands!

Doggy Bag? That ain't new

2011-10-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

Food action in Clerkenwell square? Let's walk over...
The dialogue:

T: What's all this about? Is it a pop-up food event?
L: Well, it's about the Restaurant Association helping to change the mentality of the British people, on not wasting food when they go out to eat. They are promoting take-away boxes for left over meals.
T: Oh really, that's old news!
L: 'look of surprise'
T: Ya, it's called 'Doggy Bags'.
Y: It's not a new concept.
T: Yes, we've been doing it for ages.
L: 'look of surprise'
T & Y: Oh okay, well I guess it's good the Brits have finally caught up.

Yes, I know Americans have always had portion control issues, hence the obesity statistics, but the 'do not waste food' message has always been present. Trust me, a late night re-heat or the next day's lunch, sometimes save the day.

true Greek Salad

2011-10-02T06:55:00.000-07:00

As every foodie knows, there's nothing like eating food in its native country. I've always been pretty indifferent to Greek salads, until I ate the real deal.
Rich and juicy tomatoes, which are too red to be true, cucumbers, olives, capers, red onions, olive oil and a huge slab of feta cheese on top, sprinkled with oregano- *sigh* Delicious. Individually, these ingredients might seem like the beginnings of a dish, but if it's fresh, that can simply become the main meal.

Side note on tzatiki: add extra dill (such an underrated herb) and extra garlic- it's what the Greeks do, and it makes all the difference.

I've been a bit let down with Greek restaurants in London, but here are a few decent ones:
Bacchus Greek Taverna (Hampstead)
The Real Greek (Hoxton Market)

Spend Bank Holiday season Foodie-ing.

2011-08-18T07:13:00.000-07:00

Some foodie festivals are going on which can't be missed.
Isle of White Garlic Festival: August 20-21. Who doesn't love garlic!?

Newlyn Fish Festival, Newlyn Harbour Cornwall: August 29- I know I'm allergic to seafood, but only mentioning this because of the accompanying samba and jazz music.

Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival, 1 September-4 October, Jubilee Square.

The Slaughtered Lamb- you don't need meat

2011-08-07T06:09:00.000-07:00

Fish and chips with a side of rock concert aren't the only things available at The Slaughtered Lamb, you can order the spinach, goats cheese sun-dried tomato salad too.

TSL is a strange pub with a gothic twist. It has images of dead animals and dark furniture filling the space. However, there's a nice contrast with its floor to ceiling windows lining the pub.
Tucked away in the back streets of Clerkenwell, TSL is a great lunch and after work spot.

Sclater Street Market

2011-07-31T06:26:00.000-07:00

A nutty Shoreditch market, with artsy types galore, Sclater street has every bric-a-brac you can think of. For me, the best bit is the fruit & veg on Sunday mornings and the emergency pair of flip-flops that one might need after a shoe emergency.
Don't quote me on Sclater street being the market's official name, I'm not sure it has one. If it did, it somehow wouldn't be very Shoreditch, now would it?

Caravan- Exmouth Market

2011-07-23T12:47:00.000-07:00

Fresh and decent. Those are the only two words I can think of to describe Caravan.
The only thing I have a problem with is the menu- it's written in all caps and the descriptions are crammed in one everlasting line. It is incredibly difficult to read; by the time your eyes scan across, you've actually read three different food options. So here's a hint: vary the text sizes, insert some spaces and loose the 10 inch long descriptions please. That's betterrrr.
Caravan also needs to clarify the meaning of 'Small Plates' and 'Large Plates'. It's misleading. The large plate wouldn't even fill Kate Middleton, eh emm, excuse me, I meant the Duchess of Cambridge.

The food, once you get over the small portions, is fresh and flavourful.
Ells and I ordered the grilled asparagus served with a fried egg and chorizo bits. We also ordered goat's curd, butternut squash, shaved fennel, pinenuts and pomegranate dressing. My 'large' plate was veal schnitzel with lamb's lettuce- the chef uses minimal seasoning for the schnitzel, but the freshly squeezed lemon juice adds just the flavour you need. The best bit was the gypsy potatoes, which is a combination of Irish and sweet potatoes mushed in a cheesy cream sauce. Yum!
But honestly, I think Caravan is a little to bare bones for me to return.

Canal-side eats: Folly for a Flyover

2011-07-16T07:23:00.000-07:00

The same group of artists and designers who conjured up Cineroleum have ventured East, and created Folly for a Flyover in Hackney Wick. Tucked underneath the busy A12 and set alongside the Lea Canal, Folly serves up off beat films, workshops, and boat tours among other things. What's spectacular about Folly is that everything is hand-made, from the make-shift wood brick structure, to the funky furniture. Even the coffee is filtered though a bespoke wooden filter. It offers modest treats such as bagel sandwiches, teas, beers and cinnamon ice-cream.
A wonderful use of abandoned space, infused with happy outdoor Easters (my nick name for East Londoners), Folly for a Flyover is one of the reasons London is a fabulous and charmingly unexpected city to live in.

Cottons! Caribbean restaurant

2011-07-10T06:54:00.000-07:00

At last! I've finally found a fantastic Caribbean restaurant in central London.
Hallelujah....I will no longer trek out to the four corners of greater London for sub par Jamaican eateries. I don't have to tolerate the long queues just to sip my manish water out of a Styrofoam cup in Tottenham and Stroud Green Road. Nor do I have to suffer Victoria line closures at the weekends in order to head south to Brixton. I can wave goodbye to Notting Hill's pseudo Caribbean establishments with Jamaican 'fusion' dishes. And I can finally say NO! to beef patty take-aways and rude servicing in Dalston.

Found randomly in Exmouth Market, RB and I thought we should give Cottons a try. Admittedly, I was hesitant due to my unexciting Caribbean food experiences of late. But, feeling the need to prove to my English boyfriend that the food of my roots is actually superb, I took the risk.
A fairly luxurious interior, lots of lush greenery and Dawn Penn playing in the background, Cottons certainly takes you back to the smooth irie feeling of the Islands. One sip of their 'China Breeze' cocktail (Coconut Rum, Appleton White Rum, lychee juice and fresh lime juice), and I was back pon de island! RB didn't know what hit him either after drinking the 'Jamaican Mule' (Appleton Special Rum, Angostura bitters, fresh lime and ginger beer), he started rockin' to his own inaudible reggae beat.
The food was mouth-wateringly delicious. I ordered the Mixed Jerk Meat Grill-the meat was tender, falling off the bone and dripping with jerk sauce, spices and served with fried plantains. RB had the traditional curry goat dish with rice n peas, which tasted so authentic, my grandmother could have cooked it. Also, in order to satisfy all customers, Cottons has Ital options for vegetarians.

Did I mention Cottons owns a night club next door, oh yes, I shall be returning....

Since my wonderful dining experience, I've been spreading the gospel on Cottons, just to have people reply, "Oh ya, I've heard of that place." Ummm HELLO!? Why in the hell hasn't anyone mentioned Cottons to me before? You know I'm of Jamaican descent.

Rum infused sea salt!? "The Man With The Pan"

2011-06-04T11:44:00.000-07:00

Reading through a recent issue of Wallpaper magazine, it profiled a Dutch artist and experimental chef, Gertjan van Mook a.k.a. The Man With The Pan, (who should be titled, 'Food Artist').
With sea salt as his latest medium, van Mook has daringly infused ingredients such as; vodka, soy sauce and rum before placing it in a roasting tin. And as a result, a kooky range of new salts awaits our oh-so-eager taste buds. A flavour master at his finest, I'm looking forward to the experience.
I would like to order:
'Russia Mix': Sea salt roasted with vodka, beetroot, pickles, smoked chicken, dill, pepper and bay leaves.
and
'Coffee Infusion': Sea salt infused with red pepper, espresso, chocolate and Tia Maria.

The Lunch Lab- Clerkenwell Design Week

2011-05-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

Lunch Lab is hosting an event which explores the relationship between food and your mood....

Maybe I'll see you all at this interesting event tomorrow??

*Photo credit: The MRI Steak James King, 2006

no nuts

2011-05-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

A quick dinner for friends with nut allergies, made it impossible to make my staple penne & pesto dish. Desperate to use the last of my tagliatelle, I made a nut-free sauce which pleased my guests.
Garlic & Lemon Zest sauce:
2 knobs of butter
3 cloves of crushed garlic
200ml of double cream
1 tsp lemon zest
In a small sauce pan, melt the butter down with garlic, then add the cream. Bring it to a simmer with a pinch of sea salt, adding the lemon zest last.
Stir in the pasta and serve immediately.

Served with seasoned artichoke hearts, rocket, cherry tomatoes, shavings of parmesan and a glass of Chardonnay.
Enjoy!

J + A Cafe- Clerkenwell

2011-05-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

Tucked in a narrow passageway off Clerkenwell road, J+A (owned by two sisters) is housed in a former diamond-cutting factory, in which the stylish interiors of exposed brick and industrial lighting reflects building's history.
With a wide range of homemade sandwiches, soups and cakes, J+A is the new lunch spot.

I ordered:
1 Club Sandwich: (Chicken, Bacon, Avocado, Salad, Tomato Mayo)
1 Earl Grey cupcake: (wild I know! but it was delicious- and baked with whole wheat flour, which gave it a rougher texture)
1 Guinness Chocolate cake: (the waitress told me it's a "man's cake", so I bought a slice for my boyfriend- who devoured it)

Forgot to mention a major plus---- J+A actually has proper take-away cupcake containers...this is extremely difficult to come by.

Another lovely brunch with my best friend

2011-05-08T03:20:00.000-07:00

Franze & Evans is just delightful, this delicatessen is stealing my heart one meal at a time.
A side salad of steamed asparagus, sun dried tomatoes and courgettes adorned the plate of my eggs benedict, with homemade hollandaise.
One FT Weekend read and a life conversation later, I was hoping to get a slice of their infamous courgette cake, but they made fresh red velvet cupcakes instead- which was almost as good.

funky garlic

2011-05-08T03:06:00.000-07:00

I've seen old garlic before, it just turns into a dark and slightly rotten colouring, or has a bit of mould on it.
But when I peeled this old clove I was surprised to find the texture rubbery and piss-coloured. What happened? Any garlic experts out there?

Spring picnic

2011-05-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

In celebration of London's recent bout of lovely weather, a Spring Latin style picnic was in order.
Menu:
Cuban style fried round steak. Seasoned with black pepper, sliced red onions, 1 clove of garlic and lime juice.
Fried ripe plantains
Fresh garden salad with round lettuce, rocket & cherry tomatoes.

look mum no hands! A great pit stop

2011-05-02T06:20:00.000-07:00

I've noticed this little cyclist haven many months ago but always felt a tad unwelcome, as I'm not the grungy messenger type. But as the sunny days of London grew strong, outdoor lunch spots became a necessity.
Located in the former Architecture Foundation Yard gallery space in Old Street, Look mum no hands! is the answer to the ultimate urban junkie's 'park & fill-er-up' ethos. Hundreds of bikes and bike parts fill both the inside and outside spaces of the cafe. The food served is a health nut's paradise, with a plethora of crazy salads, hot pies and soups available. Although the cafe smells like bike tyres, I suppose it all helps to add to the ambiance and theme of this quirky biker's joint. I'd say, it's certainly worth a visit.

pork at Hackney City Farm

2011-05-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

Although I'd already been aware of what pigs do, this was my first time seeing it in action; rolling around in fly infested mud pits...
My attitude towards pork has certainly shifted for the worse.
Thank you Hackney City Farm for an urban food education.

Food for Hair

2011-04-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

Kids, don't try this at home.

Because I've been so run-down lately, (hence my delayed posts), everything seems to be slightly lacklustre, especially my hair. So...
I made the deadly mistake of taking advice off the Internet for a natural food hair mask. The one thing I didn't research is its effect on Afro/Caribbean hair.
I found a great hair mask (or so I thought) made of 1 mashed banana, 2 tbsp of natural honey (warmed) and 3 tbsp of almond oil. Easy, simple and fabulous.
NOOOO.
Once I made the mixture and applied it to my hair, it felt great. But when it came to rinsing it out, the banana chunks remained! I shampooed and conditioned a million times but the banana pieces wouldn't budge. 3 days and 1 enormous water bill later, my hair is finally in decent condition.
Ya, life sucks.

Amazing Cakes at Franze & Evans

2011-04-03T05:18:00.000-07:00

Did I mention I love East London? There is always a funky discovery on every corner and Hackney has such a palpable vibe, everything is truly an experience you can sink you teeth into, whether that's good or bad.

After strolling through Columbia Rd flower market with my French counterpart, we had a coffee/cake craving and decided to wander the area. Miraculously, we happened to stumble upon the best cake spot in London. Honestly, it could give Ottolenghi a run for its money. Franze & Evans is a slice of foodie heaven. What really blew me away was the uniqueness of its cake menu. Beetroot cupcakes! Lemon & Courgette cake (which was a MUST for me to try)! It was too good to be true- spongy, moist with a natural taste earthy texture. I've never had vegetables in cake before, but it somehow absorbs the sweetness, allowing you to taste all the ingredients. Also, there was a hint of lemon zest, where you could get more flavour of the bitterness in the rind, not lemon juice in the actual cake mixture (which most people go overboard on). Topped with creamy, non-sugary icing, the cake is perfection.

If I have to recommend a wedding cake in the future, this would be it.

Loafing

2011-03-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

The Loafing in Victoria Park Village is a great tea room and serves delicious coffee, however, the cakes are disastrous. Dry, sickly sweet and run of the mill- the cakes are presented on old-fashioned stands, tempting passers by, but once devoured a cash refund might be in order.
It should stick to what it knows best- baking loaves.

Street style

2011-03-27T11:59:00.000-07:00

Eating churros con chocolate street style.

Eat Bees

2011-03-22T13:14:00.000-07:00

A fantastic new honey-crazed pop-up has opened on Leather Lane.
The Robin Collective, in partnership with other London creatives, has built a crawl-in bee hive!
With faux grass flooring and real bees, one can only sit in awe of the enclosed space. The low hum of the bees also adds to the experiential aspect of the make-shift hive.
Be sure to check out their events and crafts this week, before it ends on Sunday, March 27th.
And don't forget to purchase a few pots of English honey.

The Flavour Thesaurus: my new food bible

2011-03-16T16:19:00.000-07:00

Jumping onto Daunt Book's forever long roster of eager foodie book snobs, I finally received The Flavour Thesaurus by Niki Segnit.

I'm in love with it. She has brilliantly invented a bespoke flavour wheel, grouping different foods into broader flavour categories. To give you a few examples; under "Sulphurous" she lists: Onion, Garlic, Truffle, Cabbage, Swede, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Globe Artichoke, Asparagus and Egg.
"Brine & Salty": Anchovy, Smoked Fish, Bacon, Prosciutto and Olive.
"Creamy Fruity": Banana, Melon, Apricot, Peach, Coconut and Mango.
What's fantastic about this book is that Segnit, in her own special way, encourages readers to become experimental cooks. She inspires you to throw two random flavour categories together and just see what happens.
She explores uncharted food and flavour pairings, but also educates us on more 'traditional' (which can be unusual) flavour pairings from around the world.
Written with gusto, sincerity and lots of humour, Segnit is definitely the kid in the kitchen who got busted licking the cake batter bowl one too many times.

My favourite line: "...after 20 years of cooking I should surely have been well enough versed in the basics to let go and trust my own instincts. Had I ever really learnt to cook? Or was I just reasonably adept at following instructions?"

Dessert night at Su Sazzagoni

2011-03-12T17:15:00.000-08:00

A wonderful Sunday of food food and more food. To be honest I felt like a gluttonous beast.

For dinner I picked up fresh chicken breast from my local butcher, The Ginger Pig, and seasoned it with ginger, shallots and smoked paprika. For side items, I thinly sliced two large red peppers and sauteed those separately with basil and sea salt and also made sticky coconut rice.
After this heavenly dinner my friend and I walked to Victoria Park Village to stuff ourselves even further with desserts. Since most English pubs stop serving food early as hell on a Sunday, our only choice was the local Sardinian restaurant, Su Sazzagoni. Pushing the gluttonous trend to the maximum, we ordered Panna Cotta, Pecorino Arrosto con Miele and of course, I just had to try out their Tiramisu. Every bite was mouthwateringly rich and creamy. You could tell that fresh ingredients were used. *eye closing moment*
As for the Pecorino Arrosto con Miele, (for the record, pecorino is my all time favourite cheese), I have never experienced such delight. Traditionally Sardinian, a large slab of pecorino is grilled to perfection, served with a warm pouring of organic honey on top.
Cheese and honey pairing-can you hear the angels singing yet???

Buen Ayre-Argentine Grill, Broadway Market

2011-03-12T15:28:00.000-08:00

This is a much delayed post because I realised that I actually wasn't scrutinising the restaurant. I was more mesmerized by the company (or I shall say, the 'at long last reunion') and engrossed in conversation with the two Aries in my life.
All I can say is that Buen Ayre is a cosy yet vibrant late night eating experience. Friendly Latin American staff, open kitchen grilling and Celia Cruz blaring in the background, all await you.

My choice slab of meat: Churrasco con guarnicion

Did I mention I can walk to this place from my flat!? I love Hackney.

raw presentation: Bourne & Hollingsworth

2011-03-07T14:54:00.000-08:00

Gate crashing on a fellow friend's work do, Yar and I entered this funky Alice in Wonderland themed bar, north of Soho.
In an effort to describe the atmosphere, I'd say: ripped wallpaper, un-scaled furniture, Hall & Oates, low red lighting, obnoxious Americans (not us of course), ghettofied tempers and lots of tea cups.

The best bit- strong cocktails served in original Italian Bormioli Rocco glass jars. Brilliant. It gave the drink and pub a 'special' twist, especially seeing hundreds of empty antique glass jar scattered throughout the bar.
What can I say? It's all about the details.

Exmouth Market

2011-02-26T13:01:00.000-08:00

So sad I haven't yet blogged about Exmouth Market, since it's practically next door to my office.
Home to some of my favourites like Moro, and Cafe Kick, Exmouth can be relished any time of day or night.

Rammed with individual stalls and restaurant street extensions, Exmouth is a vibrant and varied lunch spot.

Paul's hot chocolate

2011-02-19T09:51:00.000-08:00

Who knew the French bakery chain, Paul's, would have London's best hot chocolate!?
Ultra rich, thick, milky-sweet hot chocolate. It reminded me of my 'churros con chocolate' days in Barcelona- although Spain's hot chocolate is much thicker and primarily used for dipping, Paul's is almost as good.
A branch just opened up in Farringdon and it was a welcomed work break treat.

Beigel Bake

2011-02-13T06:05:00.000-08:00

I typically make it a point to avoid most food joints on Brick Lane, as it's become ultra trendy. Sadly, the hyped trend factor is sliding the quality of food downhill....but who cares about food snobbery in the middle of night?
Facts of life in London-a drunken night out calls for 24 hour eateries and sometimes you just can't stomach another kebab. The Jewish run Beigel Bake is the answer to your prayers/tefilah.

At 3am: Intense fluorescent lighting(exposing your make-up failures), crummy interiors, shouty but lovely staff and a hefty salt beef bagel smothered with English mustard, is exactly what the doctor ordered!

The Book Club and the pancake dilema

2011-02-08T14:31:00.000-08:00

Why does food drama always happen when I'm around!?! I'm not a diva...am I?
A beautifully organised reunion brunch was held at The Book Club last weekend and I was super excited to not only re-hash fun memories with friends, but also to check out this ultra trendy eatery/events space in Shoreditch.
After mulling over the menu for 10 loooong minutes (there were many good choices; poached egg & smoky bacon, Scottish smoked salmon & artichoke salad, omelets, muesli....) I opted for a good-ole fashion fruit-topped pancake. But priced at £3.50, I swore the pancake would be itsy-bitsy. Who the hell charges £3.50 for brunch in this city! No one!
In a slight state of confusion and stress over my order, I approached the bar where scensters and shoreditch-types were hustling over latte orders, and I asked one guy, "Eh, I would like a pancake for brunch, but how many pancakes come with the order?" Stoic, he replied, "One."
"Right, yes, of course, singular, as it states on the menu. Thanks for your clarification, I'll make that 2."
Ten minutes later the waitress came over, practically stumbling with the massiveness of my order, cradling two GINORMOUS plates of 'the world's biggest pancake'. That douchebag barista could have warned me dammit!

eat with the stick

2011-02-06T11:11:00.000-08:00

Some Saturday mornings, I get into a little bake-ish mood and with had loads of apples to use up, I decided on apple crumble.
As I was layering up the crumble, some sort of instinctual food spirit came over me and I jabbed the cinnamon sticks into the crumble and baked it exactly so. It infused such a wonderful spicy/sweet flavour into the crumble and I just couldn't get enough of this new 'hardcore' cinnamon taste!

Needing to take the sensorial twist even further, I served the crumble without cutlery. I made my lunch guests scoop it up and eat it using the broad cinnamon stick as the utensil. They absolutely loved the food experience and so did I.

Blood Oranges. Where's the blood?

2011-01-30T03:40:00.000-08:00

Hailing from the sun-shiny State of Florida, oranges are our most popular crop, but having grown up with almost every citrus family fruit available, I'd never tried the famously sweet blood orange. A relatively recent crop for traditional citrus growers in Florida, California and Texas, blood oranges aren't nearly as popular in the States as they are in Europe (native to Italy and Spain).
To my excitement, Whole Foods had them on offer and I decided to give these strange mutants a try.
Smaller and softer skinned to it's older cousin the blood orange holds up to its reputation. It's deliciously sweet, not too acidic and the flesh, of course, has an appealing blood colour.

Admittedly, after my initial slice, I felt that there wasn't enough blood. Maybe I bought a funky hybrid.
O-well, cheers to a happy breakfast discovery!

'Roast Chicken with Preserved Lemon'

2011-01-27T04:47:00.000-08:00

One of my lovely birthday gifts this year is the oh-so-delicious, 'Casa Moro' second cookbook.
Being a huge fan of Moro, I couldn't wait to tuck into its recipes.
The first dish I conquered was the 'Roast Chicken with Preserved Lemon'.
Admittedly, I slightly panicked when I read that preserving lemons take 2 months! After whinging to a Moroccan colleague, she kindly obliged me with a jar. Phew!

I'd never cooked with preserved lemons before and I was surprised to find the initial smell and taste bitterly off-putting; the skin was mushy and the pulp difficult to pull out. I wasn't having too much fun at this point, but when it came to massaging the marinade ingredients on, around, and inside the chicken, I was loving it. Following Moro's recipe quite closely, the only ingredient switch I made, was to opt for smoked paprika instead of the suggested sweet paprika.
The final result- the chicken was nothing short of perfection.

Although the chicken and its lemon gravy was the main star, I served the meal with fried (until crispy- almost burnt), chunky potato wedges, sprinkling some of the same seasonings from the recipe.

Quinoa and Beetroot

2011-01-21T05:10:00.000-08:00

I came across quinoa about 6 months ago at Whole Foods, it's a soft grain-like edible seed that you can eat hot or cold and it's quite universal. I prefer my quinoa warm and mixed in different types of salads, although this may qualify me as a super uber health nut, I'm not (please refer to the title of this blog).

I have a liiiiitle tiny problem with food shopping, where I buy different types of food based on my mood each day and as a result I end up having leftovers of random foodstuff every week. In an effort to cure my 'disorder', I've decided to throw my random items into either a soup or salad...and just 'see' how it turns out. Dangerous territory, yes I know. But sometimes it actually works.
Yesterday for lunch I threw in my left over quinoa, pickled beetroot, feta and cherry tomatoes and guess what- it actually works! Quinoa can be a bit tricky, but treat it as a base to add upon.

p.s. I know that eating at my desk is the ultimate NO NO for true foodies- please accept my apologies-it's deadline week.

Midnight post-drinks nibble

2011-01-15T04:45:00.000-08:00

After a few caipirinhas, champagne & New Zealand liquor, RB and I were a bit peckish (among other things).
Realising it was too late in the night to cook a proper dinner, I decided to whip up a quick and flavourful toastie.

Ingredients:
Fresh foccasica
artichokes
sun-blushed tomatoes
red onion
goats cheese
sea salt

Spread the goat cheese on the bread and add all the toppings, drizzle with a bit of olive oil and put in the oven for 15 minutes on 200C.
Enjoy!

Guerilla Burgers

2011-01-10T14:12:00.000-08:00

At last! I've found American-style sweet potato fries in London!
Needing a food recharge before I hit more of the sales on Oxford Street and not wanting to succumb to Subway or greasy fake-Chinese food, I walked down a side street (James Street) with a fellow colleague and stumbled upon Guerilla Burgers. The minute I saw sweet potato fries on the menu I was sold. It brought me back to my Boston days...I haven't had s.p. fries since 2005 at the famous Harvard Square burger joint, Mr. Bartley's.

Purl London

2011-01-09T08:12:00.000-08:00

Transported back into an early 20th century bar scene, with Billie Holiday and swing jazz playing in the background, Purl certainly lived up to its reputation. The barmen wear bowler hats with ratty trousers held up by suspenders. The waitresses show lots of legs in black tights with lines drawn down the back seam. Transported back in time, indeed.
Cosied up with my girl Ells in one of the caved seating lounges, we ordered the signature 'Purl'- served steaming hot in a tea cup and saucer. Ingredients: Hendrick's Gin, Doom Bar Bitter, Hops, Cinnamon, with star Anise and Wormwood floating around in the cup. We also tried the 'Little Moscow', Ingredients: Smirnoff Black, Lime Bitters, and Fever Tree Ginger Beer.
Although these drinks may sound exotic, we actually played it safe. There were other tables nearby that had liquid nitrogen and smoke injected potion bottles with surprise drinks inside.
I will definitely be making a trip back to Marylebone....

*photo from website*

dinner tonight

2011-01-04T14:22:00.000-08:00

Tonight I experimented a bit with my traditional winter roastie of parsnips and sweet potatoes.
This time, half way through roasting, I added chunks of feta cheese and free range Hampshire dry cure smoked lardons. The belly pork has a naturally sweet flavour yet still savoury- making my new winter roastie even more mouth-watering than before.
Serve with rocket and a glass of Shiraz.

Recipe:
Wash and peel 2 medium size sweet potatoes and 1 large parsnip.
Slice into thin wedges.
Line the Le Creuset dish with olive oil, sprinkled with ample rosemary, thyme and sea salt.
Bake at 200 C for 30 minutes and stir before adding the feta and pork, then continue baking for 15 more minutes.
Enjoy!

deep fried Turkey

2011-01-03T09:45:00.000-08:00

My cousin's husband was in charge of the Christmas turkey and he had a very unique surprise in store...it was deep-fried!
At first it may seem like a southern nightmare, but actually when the turkey is cooked at such high temperatures, the outer skin gets crispy almost instantly, sealing the turkey and allowing it to remain tender and juicy inside its shell.
Excellent!

Tarte Tatin

2010-12-22T11:30:00.000-08:00

After trudging for hours in London's freshly fallen snow, it was comforting to enter a warm cosy flat with the smell of homemade tarte tatin.
ahhh, the oh-so-lovely upside down apple tart that my French friend (from Normandy to be precise), Anneso, has perfected!

Served with crème fraîche AND a scoop of vanilla bean ice-cream.

Sunday brunch at Ottolenghi

2010-12-18T04:30:00.000-08:00

I'm sad to report this, but my Ottolenghi experience has plummeted since my first post, especially considering it's the restaurant that inspired the creation of this blog.
I'm not sure if it's due to Ottolenghi's ever increasing popularity, but the space is absolutely stifling and the atmospheric quality has stumbled.
There is always a bustling crowd and hour long queues-which may be proof of greatness for any London restaurant, however, knowing that Ottolenghi's philosophy is to show extreme care and attention to detail, the same principle should be applied to its atmosphere. The layout of the Islington branch is extremely narrow and the queue of people are squashed between the two main counter- spreads of food, impeding take away purchasers.
Also, since the central dining area is a long rectangular banquette of face-to-face seating, the people in the queue are not only smack against the seated diners, but are also literally staring down at the diners. It's the most uncomfortable position to be in while eating.
The minute I picked up my napkin to wipe my mouth, one queuer said, "Oh, are you ready to leave now?" "No, actually I'm not you twat, I just waited 40 minutes for this seat!"
C'mon Otto, sort it out! Make it a reservation & take away only... or don't allow people to queue in the overly-cramped restaurant.
As for brunch...the food was still up to par, but the experience left a sour taste in my mouth... I won't be returning for quite a while... until I've been blessed by the Patience Fairy.

Moro

2010-12-12T11:57:00.000-08:00

As much as I love to plan and organise, it's the unscripted nights that become the most memorable. It was in this spirit that my bestie and I ended up having a long night in Exmouth Market.
Refusing to stick to the 'liquid' diet at our local pub, we opted for a nice holiday meal at the highly acclaimed restaurant, Moro. But who were we kidding!? Showing up on a Friday night without reservations was a bit ballsy.

As it's name means, Moro is a beautiful fusion of (Moorish) North African and Spanish cuisine.
Starting out at the Tapas bar, we ordered chilled red wine, grilled chorizo & mixed olive starters. With our first bite, our eyes closed as we let out a little moan. The chorizo was spicy, salty, oily goodness and served piping hot. As for the olives, unlike Jamie Oliver's restaurant, we received a proper selection and portion.
From its constantly fresh dinner menu we ordered: Wood roasted pork with fried potatoes, chestnuts, piquillo peppers and quince alioli. The balance of the salty pork and sweet quince alioli (garlic sauce) with smoky flavoured chestnuts, was just perfection! There were many eye closing and head shaking moments during our meal. As for dessert, do I even have to say it...Rosewater & Cardamon ice cream!!!!!

Moro, you make my heart smile...

Swan & Edgar

2010-12-08T03:58:00.000-08:00

Swan & Edgar exemplifies my love for London. Tucked away, nondescript, cozy and quirky are all the reasons why S&E makes the perfect setting for girls wine night out.
Unlike most pubs in London, it's run by proper thick-accented Frenchies, who have a hint of charm and sassy attitude. But it wasn't the bar women who won me over, it was the interiors. Downstairs, as if out of a scene in 18th century France, there's hand-made antique wooden furniture with exquisite detail. Large black and white drawings of swans and random forest animals line the walls with only candles for lighting, giving the small space a warm glow. Upstairs, even cozier, there's a roaring fireplace with newspaper lined wallpaper and books-stacked horizontally-from floor to ceiling. I couldn't help but think, "Who gets drunk in a library?" Nonetheless, my girlfriends and I tried almost every wine on S&E's impressive list and ordered platters of cheese, fruits and a selection of pâtés. Served on raw black slabs of slate, the food and wine were deliciously fresh and paired wonderfully. They must have a charcuterie in the basement...
The best thing: Swan & Edgar doesn't have a proper website. Why? Because it's about finding out and enjoying the experience there, not virtually.

High Heel Cake Server

2010-12-05T10:07:00.000-08:00

Saw this is the Stylist a few weeks ago and am loving it! Now if only I ordered this before my Almond & Rosewater cake...

Order it at Ziggi

Almond and Rosewater Cake

2010-12-04T03:27:00.000-08:00

Where do I begin?...
I almost forgot how baking obsessed I am until I went home. I remembered that mom's large kitchen island was my initial source of inspiration, and considering my year long absence-it was screaming for experimentation. (A feeling I don't usually get in my cramped London flat)
I decided to take advantage of the American spaciousness and bake something for Thanksgiving rather than cook. I wanted something nontraditional and unique, yet delicious and memorable.
After some research, I slightly panicked because I knew some of the ingredients would be difficult to source, until that is, mom shared her discovery of Patel Brothers. (That's another post to come soon!)

My Almond & Rosewater cake was such a hit at Thanksgiving, I had to bake it again for my family before I left for London-and with my brutally critical family, that's saying a lot!
Honestly, I can't give out the full recipe because my family has strictly asked that I keep it a secret. But I am more than happy to give you some essential Taj tips.

1. Always use 1 extra egg white (regardless of what the recipe calls for) to add extra fluffiness and moisture.
2. Traditionally Jamaicans use Rose Water in just the icing. If you want to take the title of this cake seriously (like me) substitute some of regular water for RW.
3. Never underestimate the power and flavour of cardamon!
4. The easiest way to de-skin almonds is to soak it in freshly boiled water for 15 minutes. It pops right out of it's skin! (a fun task for the kids)
5. I hate any crunch in my cake, so I finely grind almonds into almost dust! You get the best flavour this way- also makes it easier to sprinkle once you've iced the cake.
6. Use a freshly picked rose from your garden (or the shop) to add the final decoration on the cake.

*Excuse the mess in the photos...it was Thanksgiving peeps*

recent food reads

2010-11-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd fill you all in on some of my latest foodie reads.

I'm in love with 'The Joy of Eating'. It's fantastic because it's not a traditional cover to cover read, it's a compilation of excerpts from novels, poems, memoirs, letters, diaries and random female authors of throughout the centuries. Perfect for a quick recite or philosophical food meditation. The chapters are arranged by various themes, such as "Solitary Pleasures", which has excerpts from the diaries of Anne Frank, focusing on the physical attributes of starvation. This chapter is quite powerful; until you understand what it's like to endure a severe lack of food, only then can you fully appreciate it when it's in abundance.

A book after my own heart-exposing the sensorial aspects of food-"Midnight Feasts: An Anthology of Late-Night Munchies', perfectly captures the indulgent and sometimes guilty pleasures of nocturnal eats. Stuffing your face with chocolate-chip cookies and crisps at 1a.m. during a pyjama party is just priceless! Also a compilation book, it grazes on various late-night eating occasions such as chowing down sardines on toast in a dark bedroom or running naked on the beach after eating Brazilian cheese balls and beer. Some of the recipes however are a bit laborious, like Sophie Conran's Late-night Salad, first of all eating a salad after midnight defeats the naughty spirit, secondly, who wants to make a gourmet meal at that hour? Nonetheless, it's a great read.

My ultimate standby late-night munchie: (and please don't make fun of me)
Spicy chili noodle soup with a few dashes of white wine vinegar
Takes 7 minutes-
Boil any soup noodle you have around, drain most of the water, toss in chili powder, basil, salt and ground black pepper. Add vinegar as desired...

I would love to have a late-night cupcake, but I usually don't have those on standby...

Dinner at A's

2010-11-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love attending dinner parties, especially when I know the host is a fellow foodie!
The salad A. made was just gorgeous- a unique blend of flavours which deserved to be blogged.

A's salad:
1 thinly sliced shallot
a handful of rocket & spinach leaves
1 chopped ripe pear (deliciously grainy)
a sprinkle of raisins
Dressing: olive oil, cider vinegar and French mustard (stir vigorously)

A's meal:
sliced granary with melted Gruyere cheese-(toasted in the oven)
mushrooms stir fried with cream
place creamy mushrooms onto the cheesy toast and garnish with freshly chopped parsley

Beverage: chilled 2008 Chenin Blanc

Jamie who?? oh, Oliver.

2010-11-03T15:31:00.000-07:00

So that's it!? Those were the first words I uttered after finishing my mediocre 'Beautiful Bucatini Carbonara'. But it wasn't just the food that left me feeling disappointed, it was the entire experience. My friends and I arrived to a snarly hostess, who insisted that we had a 40 minute wait- did I mention this was a Sunday night at the CANARY WHARF chain. 40 minutes was absurd, but nonetheless, we waited at the bar before being seated. As I deliberated over the poor wine choices, I persuaded the barman to allow me to sample a few before deciding. Looking slightly annoyed, he poured one small sampler and it tasted sour and flavourless-as if it was off. I vigorously shook my head, "No no no, a different wine please." Four tastings later I decided on the least offensive bottle.
Finally seated, I scanned the menu and was speechless. THIS is the Jamie Oliver menu!? Prosciutto salads, burgers, spaghetti bolognese!? I can whip this shit up in my sleep. Why on earth is Britain raving about him!? Oh, maybe it's because Brits don't know good food!? I mean come on, Pizza Express and Strada are highly regarded.

We all decided on an easy starter of 'World's Best Olives on Ice'- which took 35 minutes to arrive-(wtf, did they travel to the Italian hillside and pluck the damn olives from a tree!?) Horrified, I saw 5, yes I repeat 5, olives on a bed of shaved ice. I was so upset I was silent. And for all who know me, my silence is deeply disturbing. As my friends and I ate one olive eachhhh, I was dreading my main course. The not-so-beautiful Bucatini Carbonara was edible, with the most interesting bit being the texture of the tubular spaghetti.
Completely scarred by my Jamie experience, when the waiter swung by to ask if we wanted dessert, I yelled out, NO thanks!

I can appreciate his efforts to teach the average bloke how to cook an average meal, but seriously Jamie, now that you've made a name for yourself- step it up.

"Food: What Goes in Your Basket?"

2010-10-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

I'm really starting to appreciate this show, although the startling facts are making me want to ditch the city for farm-life-, where I can be guaranteed fresh food.

Interesting tastes in Barcelona

2010-10-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

Tapas- buenissima tapas, churros con chocolate, y La Boqueria! Que mas puedo decir!?

Side note: Our host made a delicious blended honey-dew melon (cold) soup with fresh ground black pepper and chucks of ham. It was the most quirky soup I've ever tasted, but shockingly the flavours work well together. The melon brings out the full peppery taste and the sweet/savoury combination is really refreshing.
The only thing that didn't sit well with me was the chill of the soup- my Caribbean roots came out "I want to see steam rising from the bowl damnit."...

Ditto

2010-10-17T05:44:00.000-07:00

The same dish can be made with rocket on a bed of rice as well...however I prefer couscous....

Autumn dish for friends

2010-10-17T05:37:00.000-07:00

Potato Pepper Roasty:
1 kg of new potatoes
2 large sweet red peppers (sliced)
1 package of halloumi (chopped)
1 chopped red onion
Sprinkles of sea salt, lemon juice and basil

Boil the potatoes until they are slightly tender (not fully cooked), then place them in a Le Creuset baking dish (or any baking dish). Add all the chopped ingredients on top of the potatoes and bake for about 20 minutes at 200 C.
For the side dish: lemon & garlic couscous and a touch of garlic mayonnaise on the side-to dip the potatoes in.

Enjoy!

Innocent's "5 a Day" Cafe in Shoreditch

2010-10-07T14:28:00.000-07:00

Innocent has just opened up a pop up cafe in the historic Tramshed building.
A fabulous setting for a quick healthy lunch, you can order a starter and a main or a main and a dessert for only 5 quid!
My colleague and I shared the Beetroot and horseradish pierogi with sour cream, pickled red cabbage and paprika starter. And for my main, I had the tikka marinated halloumi with sweet potato Gobi curry.

On your way out the lovely Innocent staff guide you to a wall of finger prints- they ask customers to 'leave their mark' as proof of their healthy consummation and they also hand out take- away recipe cards of all the dishes they've prepared during the opening, so you can make the dishes at home.

It was a great experience, the only downside was that I left HUNGRY because the damn portions are so small- but hey it was only a fiver.

My new baby

2010-10-03T06:31:00.000-07:00

My new purchase from a culinary shop in Dalston: a super flat, super thin edgeless skillet.
When I spotted it amongst the rows and rows of 'traditional' pots and pans, I let out a little high-pitched squeal. "What kind of frying pan IS that?" The store manager told me that it's their latest stock item, and most customers are a bit nervous to buy it, as they fear the food might slip off the edge. I said, "I'll take it!"
Perfect for crepes, eggs, steak, boneless chicken breasts, and almost anything that has one mass shape. Also, because the diameter is so wide, it can accommodate small chopped items, like onions and peppers, as long as you stir towards the centre.

I know y'all are jealous...lol

Cox Cookies & Cake!

2010-09-29T11:22:00.000-07:00

I must say I'm very proud to see more cc shops popping up in London.
A new patisserie in SoHo, Cox Cookies & Cake adds a sexy spin to cupcakes (as if it needs it), with their 'Skull and Crossbones Which Rock' cupcake.

The best bit- they are open until 11pm....yes! Late night cc's is where it's at!
I'll have the Tim Curry Rocky Horror Picture Show lips please...

Hel Yes!

2010-09-22T14:29:00.000-07:00

Check out the latest London food & design scene- by yours truly.
http://www.livincool.com/eventi/hel-yes-finnish-designers-finnish-food

Syllabub

2010-09-13T14:20:00.000-07:00

In the European Ceramics section of the Ashmolean Museum of Art & Archaeology, a traditional Georgian Dessert Table was on display. Beautifully arranged for the upper middle classes of the mid 18th century, a new set of porcelain was laid out to enjoy a feast of sweet meats, fondants, jellies and syllabubs.
My eyes froze on the word syllabubs. What the hell are syllabubs?
In small print, below the curator's blurb, I read, "A mixture of wine, whipped cream, orange or lemon juice." Gross. Wine & whipped cream?
After a bit of investigation on the Jane Austen website (I know, I'm outrageous) I found this recipe.

2 cups of whipped cream
½ cup of white sugar
1/8 cup of white wine or lemon juice
1/8 cup of freshly-squeezed lemon juice and zest of lemon
Grated nutmeg
Sprig of mint
Lemon slices

Hmmpf, I must try making this 'typically old-school' English dessert.
Too be continued....

Columbia Road Market

2010-09-06T13:22:00.000-07:00

As if you needed another reason to love East London-Columbia Road Market on Sundays is where it's at!
And it's not just about the flowers, okay maybe it is, but there are loads of other interesting things to explore; fabric & craft shops, both antique and contemporary furniture stores, galleries, jumble sales and best of all, gourmet eateries!
Specialist coffees, exotic cheeses, fresh Chichester oysters, home-made apple cinnamon cakes and organic cocktails all await you...

"infuse-a-palooza"

2010-09-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

Pepper Vodka! Brilliant! After reading this fantastic NYT article on every-flavoured vodka, I was inspired.
Let the experimentation begin...

Honey on flesh

2010-08-31T15:39:00.000-07:00

Normally when I prepare meat dishes, I toss in all my spices, pull out a spoon and stir. But when I drizzled half a jar of honey onto the boneless chicken breasts, I instantly wanted to feel it, rub it, play with it. (Hmm, maybe there was a Freudian association floating around)
There's something about honey on flesh, it slowly glides over the raw meat, spreading its sweetness, while giving you a golden wink.
It wasn't enough to just witness, I had to get my hands in and I was completely slimed! There's a chemical reaction that happens when honey meets meat, (lol, 'meets meat'-that wasn't intentional I swear) it thins out almost immediately, making it more slimy than sticky.
I'm not a food scientist, so I can't explain this reaction, but it's worth getting your hands in-forget the spoon....

Lordship Lane

2010-08-29T05:52:00.000-07:00

I finally ventured south of the river and was very impressed by Lordship Lane. Dulwich village is absolutely charming, full of life, and surprisingly posh.
Quite a lengthy strip, Lordship Lane is a bit of a foodie paradise; specialist cheese shops, bakeries, fish mongers, organic butchers, wine joints and a range of restaurants, gastropubs and boutique shops.

Ells & I first tried to eat at Liquorish, which looked promising-with tempting cocktails and inspired brunches. But after 5 minutes with the waitress, all things started to fall apart. First they were out of Leffe Blonde beer (my favourite), then if you ordered a burger, it would take up to 35 minutes, because they were out of chips. What restaurant in London is EVER out of chips! Ells could see my temperature rising, and found the silver lining by saying "well at least you know that they'll be hand-cut and fresh." Sorry still not good enough. After re-scanning the short food menu, I told the waitress in an aggravated tone, "I'll have the french toast please". She said, "Oh, sorry, we are out of that too." Boiling at this point, I said, "well why don't you tell me what you DO have." She listed about three things and I got fed up, so we walked out. Being a foodie snob, I refuse to pay for a meal that I'm not thrilled about. If Liquorish gets their act together it could potentially be a great eating spot.

Onto the next option (plenty to choose from on Lordship L) we stumbled on Black Cherry Bar, after a quick look at the menu I was sold. Every bit of it delicious, we had the jerk chicken skewers with home-make lime sauce, deep fried mozzarella balls with pesto sauce, grilled halloumi wheat rice salad, rocket & parmesan with a balsamic glaze, and a chorizo hot-dog with caramelised onions and fiery mustard. HEAVEN.....I could hear angels singing with every bite. For drinks, I tried a new Swedish cider, Rekorderlig, with a strong strawberry & lime flavour.
My only regret, was not eating cupcakes at Le Chandelier as they were closed for a private function.

South London certainly deserves more attention.

Rockafella's Elderflower Gin Tonic

2010-08-23T15:46:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of our 'country' weekend was the fabulous summer cocktail Rockafella concocted.

Elderflower Gin Tonic
1 shot of Gin
2 shots of fizzy Elderflower Drink (any brand will suffice, but must have carbonation)
Shaken & stirred over ice.

The most refreshingly delightful cocktail I've had.
Enjoy!
And for the record, she came up with this before Gordon's did.

Country Grilled Pork Chops

2010-08-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

Had a lovely weekend in the 'country' and came up with a great new seasoning method for pork chops.

2 tsp Cajun lemon pepper
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ground black pepper
a dash of salt (don't need much at all, as the pork is already salty)
In a separate bowl, add 4 tbs of olive oil, then add all the seasonings to it. Press and mix together with the underside of the spoon, until it turns into a thick-ish paste. Then massage the paste into the pork chops (both sides). Once that's done, slice 1 red onion and add to the seasoned pork. Let that sit for about 3-5 hours, or overnight. Then grill!
Enjoy!

Cerassie Herbal Tea

2010-08-08T03:24:00.000-07:00

Cerassie tea- the wretched tea of my youth (as every Caribbean child knows), is the purification tea, the ultimate detox that your parents give you twice a year. It looks harmless at first, in its quaint little tea bag, but the minute you add boiling water and take a whiff.....it will send you running for the toilet. Seriously, it's horrendous. It smells like chemicalised waxy urine; and the taste- ultra rank bitter bitterness. With every sip, you wince and force it down, like every inch of your body wants to reject it immediately.
The scary part is, you choose this suffering. But why? Because the end results are phenomenal. It cures so many things, and usually instantly: headaches, cramps, skin blemishes and weariness (a real energy booster-almost like a shot of espresso). Above all, Cerassie is known as a colon cleanser-ridding all those toxins out of your body. It's a great after effect, and you feel like a million dollars, but why does the taste have to be so BRUTAL.....

Simple, yet deliciously innovative

2010-08-02T12:14:00.000-07:00

Listen! With great dishes, it's not always about re-inventing the wheel, it's about that creative flair, that special touch, that little extra thought or experimentation that makes it memorable.
That said, two little starters peaked my interest and surprised me with killer flavour.
The first one, I ordered from The Young Vic-of all places- a deep fried slab of goats cheese, drizzled with organic British honey and sprinkled with pomegranate seeds and herbs. Simple, yet amazing, the honey and herbs added such a unique taste to the tarty goat cheese, and the spurts of pomegranate juice almost cleansed the palate with each bite. Fantastic combination.

The second starter-my new salad- is much simpler than the goat cheese canape, but also had a hidden flavour surprise. Chopped avocado on a bed of rocket, with only freshly squeezed lime juice for dressing. I, unlike my mom, almost never eat avocado on its own, I usually blend it into a guacamole dip. In hindsight, I should have followed her lead.
By adding the lime juice, it brought out the subtle flavour of the avocado- a tangy twist-much better than adding traditional salt.

Give these canapes a shot, but also try inventing your own...I look forward to hearing about it!

Brixton Market

2010-07-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

Rose Lemonade

2010-07-28T13:37:00.000-07:00

I came across this heavenly drink at the Natural Kitchen and was initially drawn to it because of its glammed up 40 oz appeal, all I needed was the brown paper bag and I'd be all set.

Fentimans Rose Lemonade is botanically brewed-a 7 day fermentation process-with pure rose oil extract and a hint of fizz. It's absolutely delicious and one of the best NADs (non-alcoholic drinks) I've had this year. Speaking of...it may make a great mixer..with Gin?....to be continued.

Garden Dinners-Cuban style

2010-07-25T05:20:00.000-07:00

One of the perks of my new crib is that the kitchen has french doors leading to a back garden. This garden is my haven. It has a curved concrete ledge filled with herb potted plants and wild flowers, making it the perfect setting for morning coffees, afternoon teas and of course, summer dinner parties.

Garden Dinner 1
Cuban-style steak
3 healthy red cuts of sirloin
4 chopped green onions
2 cloves of crushed garlic
a generous sprinkle of lemon pepper and a squeeze of lime juice
(marinate overnight)
With about 3 tbs of Olive oil in the frying pan, fry the steak on high heat, while sprinkling lime juice on both sides. Fry for a few minutes on each side until a nice charred colour comes up. (Medium is my preference)

Side Dishes:
4 chopped red peppers with 1/2 kg of chopped mushrooms. Place in a pot with olive oil, basil, and a dash of sea salt & chili powder, cook until tender and saucy. Approx 15 mins. Once it's almost cooked down, add about 75ml of cream or evaporated milk for a creamy sauce base, stir together and serve.

Seasonal salad with a sprinkle of lime juice

Dessert: Roasted almonds and walnuts.

According to my guests, the dinner was a summer hit.
Don't forget the chilled white wine and Sade's Greatest Hits in the background. haha!

Enjoy!

British Cider

2010-07-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

As part of the London Festival of Architecture, a dumpy portion of Southwark, Union Street, was converted into an Urban Orchard and community gardens. This successful regeneration project brings you to your hippie roots; with fresh cider (beware of the high ABV's), open grilled sausages, and tree adoption services, it's a London must-see/eat/drink experience. Catch it before September-the trees will then be dismantled and given to local estates to keep up the LFA legacy- awe isn't that sweet....

summer scoobie

2010-07-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

As my new flatmate calls it, scoobie snacks, are the quick whip ups you chow on right before you head out. And since I now live literally across from Vicky park (8 steps to be exact) I can enjoy my scoobie snacks amidst the vast greenery.
With the wicked packaging design of Marks & Sparks' new non-glass 'wine on the go', summers in the park are all set!

Today's scoobie snack:
Grilled red-peppers with basil and sea salt spread with little chucks of Boursin and rocket on the side.

East East East

2010-07-06T14:28:00.000-07:00

Hello folks, sorry for the mad delay in my foodie entries, life's been hectic of late considering I just moved to East London- Hackney Wick'ed' to be exact-and I'm loving every minute of it.
I'll now unload the arsenal...

The Spence Bakery

Spence is a two part institution, the bakery and the cafe. Both are separate shops on Stoke Newington Church Street, identified by the orange awning. They've mastered the art of homemade fresh breads, muffins, pastries, and Russian teacakes- and that's just the beginning. It's the perfect Sunday morning treat, with a flat white and The Observer of course.

Mirch Masala

I hate to admit it, but Mirch Masala is a chain, but a damn good one- if it can make it in Southall, you know it can stand up to the rest of London. BKizz, mum and I hit up the Commercial Road location, a first for us all...We ordered butter chicken, tikka, kebabs, a minced meat with heavy spice and a vegetarian bowl of tofu-like cheese chunks soaked in a spinach sauce. (Sorry don't remember the technical Indian names) But the food was amazing...BK's mum is the ultimate guru and critic of Indian food/cooking/tasting techniques and even she gave it the highest form of praise. We were all impressed and kept shoving our faces..seriously, I've never had garlic naan so fresh, fluffy and tender. I kept spooning large portions of butter chicken onto my naan....BK can we go back again soon please!?
Side note: I don't recommend this place for anyone who can't handle fiery spicy food.

Cirrik

After randomly bumping into my cuzzo, she suggested that we quickly pop into Cirrik in Hackney Central (Amhurst rd) for takeaway lunch. After seen Turkish granny in the window making lahmacun from scratch, I new the joint was authentic. And to no surprise, the cheese lahmacun and chicken shish wrap was zesty and full of light spices. Good choice Lisi.

I love London's food variety, and I love my new local joints....more East explorations to come...stay tuned...

Indian Zing

2010-06-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

Indian Zing is a fabulous gourmet style Indian fusion restaurant in south west London, Ravenscourt. It was the restaurant of choice for the wild Polish hen party last Saturday night.
Personally, I'm not too keen on typical currys, but after reading the exotic menu list, I knew I was in for taste-bud olympics.
I ordered the Vegetable Bhanavla, which is basically a twist on the onion bhajji, it was griddled to perfection, tender and flaky, soaked in a zesty blend of sauces and seasonings. Served with an absolutely mouth-watering zing, if this is just the starter, I leave it to you to discover the main courses...

Whatever Lola wants, Lola didn't get!

2010-06-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

I was in Selfridges the other week for Whisky tasting month (it's work-related, I swear) and noticed the new bakery section addition named Lola's. I admit I was a bit turned off at first, to see a display case of cupcakes dusted with sparkles. But in viewing the long queue of people, I figured it was worth exploring. I ordered the Oreo cupcake and red-velvet. (They also had peanut butter and rocky road-but I played it a bit safe)
The cupcakes aren't bad-you can taste the fresh ingredients in the cake, but it wasn't moist enough and the icing was a little too sugary. Concluding point- I've had better.

Gallipoli

2010-06-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

I'm usually not a fan of Turkish food, I find it a little too dry-I'm a sauce kind of girl- but Gallipoli's food was a pleasant surprise and so were the portions (the photo is a starter). Of course your standard array of beans, peas, humus and spinach pastries are present, but it's served with a twist.
They add extra seasonings to each meze and they're cooked with thicker sauces. A hefty pouring of pepper-infused olive oil over humus and dollops of yogurt sprinkled with paprika, onion and lime juice. The final touch- garnish of mint leaves. All those wild flavours consumed together makes the meal unique, yet delicious-but I will admit, my stomach was a bit 'confused' later on...but that might be due to all the beans...

The atmosphere was a bit couple-y, and they have a nice enclosed patio section in the back with a retractable roof-sadly they had to retract it when we were there, thanks to London's lovely summer weather. However, the best bit is that they have a very wide selection of Turkish dessert pastries, pies and cakes-baked fresh on the day.

Cholla, Challah-Tomatoes, Tomaatoes

2010-06-13T14:03:00.000-07:00

Cholla bread makes the BEST french toast-it's an egg bread that's extremely thick, therefore perfect for soaking, flipping and frying.
I mentioned this to a friend and she said, you aren't Jewish and it's not Shabbat, so why are you using Challah bread? Bemused, I thought, well technically I am Jewish (maternal great-grandmother Syrian Jew) but what the hell is Shabbat?

Little did I know my innocent french toast had stumbled onto a world of Jewish cooking.
When I picked up my cholla/challah from Sainsbury's, it was in the shape of a spiral- which I later found out symbolises the continuity of creation during Rosh Hashanah, and if it's braided, it symbolises the ascent to heaven. Two loaves are placed on the Sabbath/holiday table to commemorate the double portion that was provided to the Israelites in the desert following the Exodous from Egypt. I'm not sure if this is 100% accurate, but what's interesting is that food can have such a significant historical tie, and I also love that traditions can be passed down through food.

Cholla French Toast:
1 loaf of cholla bread (spiral)
2 eggs
1/4 tsp ground cinammon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (Optional-but I love the flavour)
1 tsp Irish butter
syrup (preferably Lyle's Golden syrup)

Every American knows how to make this, but to all my British peeps---
Cut the cholla into thick slices
whip together the eggs, cinammon and nutmeg
soak both sides of the sliced bread into the egg mixture
Heat the pan or gridle with a bit of butter then fry the soaked bread on both sides for approx. 2 mins per side.
Drizzle with syrup and serve with a side of berry-related fruits.

Street-side crepes

2010-06-08T15:21:00.000-07:00

London has loads of street-side crepe stands, but one of my favourites is on and Portobello road. There's such a great energy to road-side grub, especially with quirky people queuing up for a sweet treat.

DPP= pure happiness

2010-06-06T15:20:00.000-07:00

Rejoicing after getting my laptop back from the Apple store, (note my delayed entries) I celebrated by feasting on my heavenly sweet potato puree.
Song while cooking: "Whip it" by Devo.

D P P (Devo Potato Puree):
1 washed, peeled and chopped sweet potato
1 small clove of crushed garlic
1/2 tsp butter
4-5 tbsp evaporated milk
pinch of brown sugar
Serves 1

Boil the potato for about 25 minutes or until cooked, (test softness with a fork).
Drain the water then whip it by adding the evap, butter and garlic. Whip it good, then blob it onto your plate with a finishing sprinkle of brown sugar.
Enjoy!

Dalston Market

2010-06-03T14:45:00.000-07:00

It's a London food market must. I usually go once a month for my essential Jamaican ingredients, like sarsaparilla and cho cho (recipe for a later date). Dalston is dodgy and a bit grim-like Brooklyn in the 80's-but the energy is real- and that's what I appreciate. No pretenses.
Also, my personal highlight is the Patois shouting from the loads of Jamaicans roaming the stalls, saying, "Gimme piece a dat fish deh." Hehe, I love my people!
Dalston is guaranteed entertainment, even if it is a cop arrest.

The Regent

2010-05-31T10:17:00.000-07:00

I don't really know why it's so hard to find great pizza in this city, but it is.
However, the Regent will NOT disappoint you. The pizza's are all fresh and baked with loads of spices in an open wood fired oven. The menu includes unique pizzas like, gorganzola goat's cheese anchovie & artichoke, but E and I played it safe and tried the carmelised onion and chorizo pizzas with a side of rocket salad topped with jumbo parmesean shavings and a hefty drizzle of chili oil. Absolutely delicious.
The vibe is excellent-low red lighting with a nice mixture of buzzy young professionals and scensters.

It's slightly off the beaten path, tucked away in Islington (corner of Liverpool road and Richmond ave) An absolute local treasure-I love my new hood!

cupcake surprise at work

2010-05-31T09:37:00.000-07:00

It was just another Thursday in the office until an afternoon delivery of beautiful cupcakes came through, it was a goodbye gift for one of my colleagues and in my opinion, one of the best gifts you can receive.
Being the nerdy food blogger that I am, I had to inquire about WHO baked them....and after checking the tag, my colleagues said, "Crumbs and Doilies". I googled them immediately and was a bit surprised to find out that they don't have a permanent London address, just two market stalls on Saturdays- one in Chelsea (near Partridges off Kings road) and the East Piazza of Covent Garden. I have to give them a bit of credit- their business strategy is actually quite clever-build up market clientele first, then open up shop.

I was very impressed with my cupcake (the yellow ones have a lemon flavoured icing) and I couldn't be greedy in trying others....so I'll have to wait for a weekend market trip to splurge.

www.crumbsanddoilies.co.uk

Pasta shots

2010-05-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

While on my pasta kick, I found these great pics of my favourites.
The first pic of the spaghetti is awesome-reminds me of sea urchin tentacles.

http://www.food-info.net/images/pasta/pasta.jpg

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/kitchen/2009_10_05-PastaShapes.jpg

Is it the pasta or the sauce?

2010-05-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

It's never really about the pasta is it? One flour/egg dough is the same as the next and yes, some pasta shapes hold certain sauces better, but is that really on the general consumer's mind? No. When it comes to pasta, it's the appearance, texture and most importantly the sauce that matters.

Typically pasta sauce has a creamy or tomato base, with light herbs. But for me, that's not enough-I'm a lover of chunky sauce.

Keeping it chunky:

1 large red bell pepper-sliced

2 chopped spring onions

a handful of chopped cherry tomatoes

3 crushed garlic cloves

(ignore the grapes in the photo- that was my snack while cooking!)

Add the ingredients in a sauce pan with 2 tbsp of olive oil, a pinch of sea salt and a pinch of chili pepper powder. Cook for about 10 mins then add 4 tbsp of evaporated milk. Add in pasta and stir through.

We've lost our roots

2010-05-17T14:16:00.000-07:00

While reading "Slow Food, A Case for Taste", this particular paragraph hit me like a ton of bricks...

"Clearly the changed relationship between contemporary man and food derives from the slashing of the umbilical cord that once bound the world of the peasant farmer to the world of consumption, the producer of food to the diner. In today's society, almost no one procures their daily wine directly from a trusted vine dresser/wine maker anymore, or goes to a farmstead to pick up a week's supply of eggs, a chicken, or a rabbit. Almost no one is personally acquainted with the baker who makes the bread she puts on the table, or the sausage maker who personally takes part in the butchering of pigs and the preparation of salami and other meat products, or the cheese make who prepares cheese from the milk of his own sheep or goats." "...with all that entails in loss of human rapport, direct selection of merchandise, and exchange of information and acquaintance. We now prefer to buy individual portions of prepackaged, presliced, and often precooked food, and opportunities to feel it, smell it, evaluate it, and compare it-in other words, know what it is we are choosing and why-are growing ever more rare."

Phew! I'm not a lost cause- I do have healthy chats with my local butcher ect, but it's not my fault that modern urban planning doesn't provide quick and easy access to farmlands, but now that my new flat has a garden, I guess I better step on my herb/vegetable cultivation. And in the meantime, I WILL support new initiatives to bring food spaces back into the city.

Other great related reads:
Hungry City
"Food and the City in Europe since 1800" ed. Peter Atkins
"For Hunger Proof Cities: Sustainable Urban Food Systems" ed. Mustafa Koc, Jennifer Welsh

The new American food fad...

2010-05-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

Greek style yogurt. Tis true. According to a few reliable sources, the new wave of 'cool' to hit the food shelves in the States is the plain ol' Greek style yogurt that all Europeans have been consuming for ages. What took it so long to cross the Atlantic? Maybe I helped it along...I've been spreading the gospel for years-since I landed in Londy, Autumn 2007, ha!
It's the perfect universal yogurt, largely due to its thick consistency and plain milky flavour. It suits almost any breakfast or dessert, but can also be used as dinner dips.

The top five uses I can think of...
1. mix with Muesli, or granola- as a milk substitute
2. topping for crepes/pancakes
3. topping for bramely apple pie & most dessert pies
4. mix with chopped dill, tarragon, and chilli pepper for Indian or Turkish dishes
5. dip for strawberries, blackberries or any fruit really! (drizzle a little honey or Lyle's Golden syrup)

There isn't a week that goes by that I don't have a pint in the fridge for my dip, topping or snack!

Organiiiiiki!

2010-05-13T15:25:00.000-07:00

Organic Greek wine! This is the best wine I've tasted this year and actually, Greek wines don't have a great reputation, but once I came across this squiggly drawn bunch of grapes (I'm a sucker for unique packaging design/branding) at Waitrose I knew I had to try it. And yes, I admit, I wanted to add a little financial support to the currently economically doomed country.

Full bodied, spicy yet juicy, lots of legs and at 14.5% it's quite dangerous. After 3 glasses of this potent stuff, I quote my wino partner in crime, "Thiiiiis is why the country is falling apart, too much Organiiiiiiki!!!!"

Red Pepper Surprise

2010-05-12T12:37:00.000-07:00

...that's the title Ari gave it when I whipped it up for us at her crib on Monday night.
This just proves I always need to travel with my camera-thanks for the i-phone photo A!

Red Pepper Surprise:
3 sweet pointed red peppers
1 pack of fresh baby spinach leaves
1 pack of chevre (goat's cheese)
a good amount of olive oil
2 pinches of sea salt
2 crushed cloves of garlic
1 tsp Balsamic vinegar
3 tbps of sun-dried tomato paste
pasta

Cut the pointed red peppers into flat slices and fry in olive oil (sprinkle a bit of sea salt on it while frying), allow it to get a bit black on both sides. Once fried it will become a bit droopy and limp- place it on a plate then spread chevre while it's warm-so it melts on.. :)
Boil the pasta until it's al dente, after straining, stir in the sun-dried tomato paste with a few tsp of olive oil.
As a light dressing for the spinach- crush the garlic, add 1 tbsp of olive oil, & balsamic vinegar.

Light, simple and very flavourful. Enjoy!

Nail Biters

2010-05-09T12:04:00.000-07:00

I've been fooled! I usually don't throw in un-foodie blog posts, but InStyle's indulgent photographers are just too good. Nail varnish good enough to eat!

Cupcakes that burn

2010-05-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

My second cupcake in bed was purchased at Whole Foods Market in Camden Town. As Tomweez and I were walking past, I saw 4 trays of freshly baked cupcakes- so of course I had to pop in and my eyes landed on the jumbo sign that read, "GINGER, CINNAMON, PUMPKIN CUPCAKE". I think I did a little squeal and it was the fastest impulse purchase I've ever made.
Usually, I don't take much notice of WF's cupcakes, because they're usually gluten free, sugar free, egg free... everything that makes it a damn cupcake- so I typically don't bother. But after seeing this ginger drop of heaven, I had to try it...and it was WELL worth it. There were so many tiny chunks of ginger in the cupcake that my mouth burned and tingled with every bite! I LOVED it. I think WF deserves a second chance.
If I can 'cop' the recipe, I think it will be the perfect Thanksgiving Day dessert to make at home.

As for the pics (thanks to Rb, I'm now obsessed with 'before' and 'after' shots) it just emphasises the ultimate form of consumption and I'm in love the Autumn colours of the crumbs.....

Election Night Waffles

2010-05-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

Bompas & Parr Press Release:

"The Parliamentary Waffle House, an election based bar and eatery by Bompas & Parr opens at 65-67 Broadwick Street, London on 22nd April 2010 and runs until election night itself.

Each item on the menu will be orderable in a variation corresponding to one of the three major political parties. Orders will feed directly into a live action swing ‘o’ meter that gages the mood of the country as people vote with their mouths.

Visitors can marvel at the Museum of Food and Politics and get stuck into the evening programme of political entertainment."

Tickets and meal deals on sale now at www.jellymongers.co.uk

•    Open between 22nd April and 6th May
•    65-67 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 9QY
•    Evening programme to be announced shortly

Marmite- HATE IT!

2010-05-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

Burnt tar, jellied iodine, engine grease--hideous, disgusting, repulsive, gross. Those words don't even begin to describe the look and taste of Marmite.

I don't remember how it came up in conversation, but Rb found out that I'd never tried Marmite before and made it his personal mission to grant me a true 'British' food experience. He grabbed the bread, butter and Marmite from Sains and we were on our way home.
As he was spreading it on the buttered bread, I innocently thought, oh, that just looks like a dark coloured jam. I took my first bite and it was AWFUL!!! (Luckily Rb captured the before and after shots)
It's pure salty nastiness- the main ingredients: YEAST EXTRACT, salt, salt and more salt. (gag!)

I just had to google it and find out the history of this horrendous food product, and amazingly, the Marmite website has two micro sites, 'Hate It' and 'Love It'. I obviously clicked on 'Hate It', and the jar of Marmite goes up in flames! Haha, as it should, it belongs in HELL!

All I have to say is ignorance is bliss.
Thanks for the memorable experience Rb. *eye roll*

Monster brunch

2010-05-01T03:29:00.000-07:00

When I saw the cover of this week's Stylist, I thought to myself, EXACTLY! Save the damn muesli for Monday! During the week, I'm well behaved- oatmeal, muesli or fruits in Greek yogurt. But the minute Saturday rolls around, bring on the monstrous brunches!! Yesssss. I revel in lazy mornings!... lingering over a precious meal, holding my favourite newspaper or mag. (This morning's reading material: InStyle & Icon)

I woke up with a monster craving for spicy eggs (over-easy) and granary toast, spread with loads of raspberry jam!

Taj's Monster Brunch:
2 eggs
1 chopped spring onion
2 pinches of ground black pepper
2 pinches of chili pepper
a dash of sea salt
2 slices of granary bread

While frying the eggs (don't break the yolk) loosely sprinkle all the ingredients. I prefer frying my eggs for 60 seconds on each side, so the yolk is still runny for me to dip my toast.
Toast the bread to your liking and generously spread the jam-
Wilkin & Sons Tiptree, Raspberry Seedless Conserve

Serve with excellent coffee- Lavazza, with evaporated milk

La Fromagerie

2010-04-25T14:50:00.000-07:00

Just off Marylebone High Street, La Fromagerie is London's top cheese destination. The famed refrigerated cheese room serves as part of the shop's storefront- showcasing a wide selection of European cheeses, arranged by animal, texture and region, (FYI- buffalo, cow, sheep, goat/ soft, semi-soft, semi-hard, hard and blue), the options are countless. The friendly and knowledgeable staff will allow you to sample any cheese you like, while giving you storage and recipe tips. My friends and I decided on the 'cheeses of the day' platter- the samplings ranged from mild to sharp, with pear slices to clear our palates. The flavours were superb, especially when paired with the recommended wine! After this tasty experience it struck me that I never eat cheese by itself. I usually toss it in salad, or melt it in a sauce, or ram it in a sandwich. But savouring different cheeses is such an extraordinary treat!

La Fromagerie is a great grocer shop where you can wine, dine, sample and shop. They sell a seasonal selection of fresh produce, cured meats, freshly baked breads & pastries and dry goods. Also, they are known for their exciting tasting events and workshops- don't be surprised if you see Nigella on your right and Jamie Ol on your left- yup, even the big guns may grace your presence.

Notting Hill's big whiff

2010-04-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Take one step into The Spice Shop and it will shoot your olfactory sense into overdrive. The thousands of spices lining the shelves of this tiny shop will have your head and nose spinning. It is quite an exciting experience scanning for the perfect spice, coming across unique spice blends, performing sniff tests- tying to determine which curry powder is the best. Certainly a hot spot for chefs and culinary divas. You can literally find spices from all over the world, (my favourite: the Berbere Ethiopian We't seasoning, it's a fiery mix for grilled meats, vegetables and stews) and if the owner doesn't have it, she will track it down and deliver it to you.
On this trip I bought Mexican Cocoa Powder, for my late night treat...

Taj's Real Hot Cocoa:
2 tsp cocoa powder
240 ml (1 cup) of milk
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp demerara sugar

Steam the milk (do not boil), and add the cocoa powder and other ingredients. Stir continuously until it dissolves then serve immediately. The cocoa powder is bitter but you get the true cocoa flavour in this hot drink. Enjoy!