tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80963672024-03-08T02:21:38.043+00:00Kim's Reviews for Eating Out Across the GlobeI love to eat & drink. I've lived in 5 countries - 18 cities & travel a lot. Eating is a very important part of our life and travel schedules.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.comBlogger395125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-54052301490665661022020-07-29T01:36:00.000+01:002020-08-06T02:16:47.288+01:00Peruvian Independence Day with Norma & Vilma Caterers - JohannesburgAfter a very very long time, I ordered food in - from <a href="https://norma-vilma.co.za/" target="_blank">Norma & Vilma Caterers</a> to celebrate Peruvian Independence Day!<br /><br /><div>They had a special menu for the occasion and I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EgW9prmkj9PVd6lzor16TfW-HLq2MGytMQ2bZMdQY-mwoXHK0S9JeqDtyb6nmkyv4uZti7Cgg1w6sGH5ilzUI3UgtIXYHd-XEC3iVMhp3HDv1f65dLZXRrZG4hlqXaHqJusK/s1407/Norma+%2526+Vilma+Caterers+%252841%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1407" data-original-width="1242" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EgW9prmkj9PVd6lzor16TfW-HLq2MGytMQ2bZMdQY-mwoXHK0S9JeqDtyb6nmkyv4uZti7Cgg1w6sGH5ilzUI3UgtIXYHd-XEC3iVMhp3HDv1f65dLZXRrZG4hlqXaHqJusK/s640/Norma+%2526+Vilma+Caterers+%252841%2529.JPG" width="437" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br />We started with the Causa De Atun - reminded me of a Salad Olivieh - a timbale of potato, avocado, tuna & boiled eggs. Absolutely delicious! Don’t believe them when they say it’s for 2, it’s quite filling for 4 appetiser portions!<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIouPDlljCMAsyuS1gTFztmOkq9SR-jqEcuoK99gXylD5nCn5dmT531dhZ_MIj4jtuQBpdoeH7w6I3lXx8HRshXO9El7bAAZgjT5uSPEgPktTQZ90uauiNsurleT358jsgrYpD/s1440/Norma+%2526+Vilma+Caterers+%252836%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIouPDlljCMAsyuS1gTFztmOkq9SR-jqEcuoK99gXylD5nCn5dmT531dhZ_MIj4jtuQBpdoeH7w6I3lXx8HRshXO9El7bAAZgjT5uSPEgPktTQZ90uauiNsurleT358jsgrYpD/s640/Norma+%2526+Vilma+Caterers+%252836%2529.JPG" width="481" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The Aji De Galina was a very mild chicken casserole with pecans - very well cooked, but a bit mild for our tastes, perhaps I should have gone for the lamb and coriander stew option.<br /><br />The Frijoles a la Nortena - Peruvian beans with a bit of bacon in there for flavouring was delicious and creamy.<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDUEX3rbna4f9bF_m0BSaC0RctufCYG5Pm5tSQ0xUwivOLJYx0ax_cqoJuF0xYfAYWnoITMIgwUuAbV5z5eGk13m-55RHFDlgMhfbYs-pAMyEAyFCR6_numsJIKaOBkS68ecA/s1440/Norma+%2526+Vilma+Caterers+%252839%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="465" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDUEX3rbna4f9bF_m0BSaC0RctufCYG5Pm5tSQ0xUwivOLJYx0ax_cqoJuF0xYfAYWnoITMIgwUuAbV5z5eGk13m-55RHFDlgMhfbYs-pAMyEAyFCR6_numsJIKaOBkS68ecA/s640/Norma+%2526+Vilma+Caterers+%252839%2529.JPG" width="465" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Today, I served this with rice, but tomorrow, I think I’ll serve it with garlic bread. The crispy bread will go very well with these smooth & creamy dishes.<br /><br />I served their most amazing Empanadas de Carne for tea. Oh yum! I should have definitely ordered more of these, but I wasn’t sure how well they would survive structurally if I had to store them overnight. I hope this goes on their permanent menu.<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvGe6sU7bUHSIX8m4s0emQ9dVqasWyWItA7NnSXS2W5bKYB-0JTicJ9cF8SNBVrGkY_wYTucpvDW2KdUnjt7Tpn942wkHccv03wXsa1UBpL2TFzXIWToChnfHDm66OmCY3Ce8/s1440/Norma+%2526+Vilma+Caterers+%252834%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvGe6sU7bUHSIX8m4s0emQ9dVqasWyWItA7NnSXS2W5bKYB-0JTicJ9cF8SNBVrGkY_wYTucpvDW2KdUnjt7Tpn942wkHccv03wXsa1UBpL2TFzXIWToChnfHDm66OmCY3Ce8/s640/Norma+%2526+Vilma+Caterers+%252834%2529.JPG" width="483" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The crowning glory of this delivery though, were these absolutely delectable, moreish, decadent, bite sized bits of sin!<br /><br />We are absolutely besotted with these ALFAJORES - shortbread biscuits filled with dulce de leche.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGH18YCuhEqhR47nio6KD-He8HKbL_NA8YKtNaN98WV29sQ10wOhAP9tww5mcod9oBn7vU7JStqInEz0udE-76n48uh7w_qGUtdWxp1mUNj_otOhS5FwyNEtsJs5zjKMLl5lj0/s1440/Norma+%2526+Vilma+Caterers+%252840%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGH18YCuhEqhR47nio6KD-He8HKbL_NA8YKtNaN98WV29sQ10wOhAP9tww5mcod9oBn7vU7JStqInEz0udE-76n48uh7w_qGUtdWxp1mUNj_otOhS5FwyNEtsJs5zjKMLl5lj0/s640/Norma+%2526+Vilma+Caterers+%252840%2529.JPG" width="434" /></a></div><div><br />We ate a couple, before I could even plate them ☺️ While we might normally try a piece before plating, I think we inhaled 3 from the time we opened the box and transferred it to a plate ☺️<br /><br />So delicious, not overly sweet. A nice crisp shortbread with a lovely caramelly dulce de leche filling. I’m in heaven and definitely going to have the sweetest dreams tonight.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://norma-vilma.co.za/" target="_blank">Norma & Vilma Caterers</a> have been in the catering business for 18 years. Quality ingredients come together to deliver excellent food with brilliant taste! The food was all very well packed and can easily go straight into the fridge or freezer without worrying about spillage or drying out.</div><br />I ordered a few dishes from their regular menu which came frozen and have gone straight into the freezer for the days that I just don’t want to cook.<br /><br />Happy Independence Day to Peru and all Peruvians. Viva El Peru! Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0Johannesburg, South Africa-26.2041028 28.0473051-54.514336636178847 -7.1089449000000009 2.1061310361788443 63.2035551tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-61165141016210887242018-03-17T03:27:00.002+00:002018-03-17T03:27:30.906+00:00Express Pasta Masterclass at La Cucina CaldesiOne of the offers as part of the <a href="https://www.marylebonefoodfestival.com/">Marylebone Food Festival</a> was a Pasta Masterclass at <a href="http://caldesi.com/la-cucina-caldesi/">La Cucina Caldesi</a>. I had heard about them before, but I was hesitant to spend upwards of 100£ on a cooking class without knowing what to expect. So this 30 minute express class was a great way to check them out.<br />
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The cooking school is in a separate building from the restaurant (2 doors down).<br />
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As I entered, I saw that it has a proper set up for classes. 2 long wooden tables for participants to work at and a long counter with induction cooking hobs. Since they specialise in Italian cooking and pasta and pizza which need cool surfaces to work on, this is a perfect set up.<br />
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Our tutor for the evening was Chef Stefano Borella. He greeted us as we walked in. They have a large closet in the adjoining room, to drop bags and hang coats on hangers, before scrubbing up, putting on an apron and getting set to begin.<br />
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Given that this was an express class, the dough and filling had already been prepped, but after Chef Stefano demonstrated the technique, we all got to try our hands on the pasta rolling machines, and to stuff and make our own ravioli.<br />
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Once we were all done, our raviolis went into a large pot of boiling salted water. The sage was warmed in melted butter and the cooked ravioli was tossed around in this sauce. This was then garnished with toasted pine nuts. We all got to try a few pieces of the ravioli sprinkled or smothered with grated parmesan cheese and I have to say that it was absolutely delicious.<br />
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Since the servings were already in takeaway boxes, I carried half for my husband who was meeting me at Marble Arch for dinner. Given the weather, it had cooled down, by the time I met him. It was still tasty, but not half as good as it was when it was hot and fresh off the pan. It however, was good enough for him to tell me to go ahead and book a full day class with La Cucina Caldesi and to buy a pasta machine if I was serious about making fresh pasta at home.<br />
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Chef Stefano has a wonderful sense of humour and is very encouraging. If the other chefs who teach here are equally patient, I heartily recommend this cooking school even if you are a complete novice to the kitchen. They are helpful, non-threatening and make cooking a fun, relaxing endeavor, not a stressful one. About 20 of us did this class and were in and out within 30 minutes. Not once did we feel any kind of time pressure, nor did I feel rushed.<br />
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There was one participant who said that she was lactose intolerant. They got her some plain spinach filling without the ricotta and made a sauce with olive oil and sage for her. This was right on the spot. If you sign up for their other classes, they check for food allergies and intolerance at the time of sign up and prepare for that too.<br />
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They have their own series of cookbooks, each with a focus on a different region in Italy. These can be bought directly on their website: <a href="http://www.caldesi.com/caldesishop/cookery-books-1">http://www.caldesi.com/caldesishop/cookery-books-1</a><br />
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I absolutely loved the experience and I would love to go again for a whole day pasta masterclass.<br />
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<b>Rating : 5 / 5</b>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-54988558215940875802018-03-14T18:30:00.000+00:002018-03-17T06:45:54.784+00:00Lecture - Demonstration at Hankies Marble ArchAs part of the <a href="https://www.marylebonefoodfestival.com/">Marylebone Food Festival</a>, <a href="http://hankies.restaurant/">Hankies Marble Arch</a> at the <a href="https://www.montcalm.co.uk/">Montcalm</a> offered a demonstration of two of the most popular items on their menu - the bhindi bhel and spinach roomali stuffed with spiced feta, roasted tomato and homemade garlic herb oil.<br />
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This was a much smaller group than the other events that I attended during the <a href="https://www.marylebonefoodfestival.com/">Marylebone Food Festival</a>, so it was easier to keep an eye on and listen to Chef-Founder Anirudh Arora.<br />
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Hankies first opened as <a href="http://www.hankies.cafe/">Hankies Cafe</a> on Shaftesbury Avenue. I <a href="http://kimeatsnblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/hankies-cafe-london.html">had ordered home delivery from this location</a> and found the flavours quite authentic, despite their unusual twists. So I was quite excited at the chance to view the Chef in action.<br />
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We were greeted by his wife Ishita as we entered the rather stylish looking restaurant. There is plenty of Indian work on display, from the stunning portrait at the entry to the beautiful crockery and glassware. All of it is very beautifully curated with an eye for detail without being in the least bit kitschy.<br />
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The name Hankies comes from the literal translation of their star dish - the <b><i>Roomali/Rumali roti</i></b>. Roomal in Hindi means a handkerchief. While the Chef's interpretation is that the name comes from the way that the bread is folded, I have heard another interpretation which says that the name comes from how thin the bread is - as fine as a linen handkerchief. No matter the etymology of the name, this is not an easy bread to make. Chef Anirudh said it took him a year of practice to be able to make this himself. I do not know of any households in India, that make roomali rotis at home. This is a bread best eaten at highway dhabhas or at restaurants that specialise in it.<br />
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Bhel Puri is a standard street food in India. The ingredients and flavour profile vary across the length and breadth of India. It does however contain a few basic ingredients, no matter where you eat it. Its the proportion of each flavour that varies. The base is the puffed rice and deep fried gram flour (roasted and powdered chickpeas) noodles. To this is added freshly chopped onions, tomatoes, green chillies and corriander (personally, I love bits of boiled potato and leave out the tomatoes). The twist here is that they add spiced, fried okra/bhindi to this mix.<br />
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Then comes the tamarind sauce and the coriander + mint sauce. All tossed up and sprinkled over with chaat masala powder. A final garnish or fresh pomegranate and nylon sev. A crispy confection, just beginning to get a bit soft with the addition of the sauces and wet ingredients. The flavour is an explosion of salty, spicy, sour and sweet. <br />
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Since the puffed rice mix and the chaat masala can be bought from most Indian stores, this is an easy dish to make at home.<br />
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The roomali roti however, is a completely different ball game. At Hankies, they flavour the dough with a bit of spinach water to give it the lovely green colour. Its a joy to watch the chefs in action, and if you visit this location, you will always get to see it for yourself as they have a live counter for the roomali rotis in the dining area.<br />
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The stuffing is a unique twist, because feta cheese isn't native to India. However, the salty smoothness of the feta, pairs well with the roomali roti and the herbs and spices are beautifully balanced in this stuffing. One stuffed roomali roti is quite filling and I suspect that 2 of these with a side of dhal will be a full meal.<br />
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I loved the food and will return soon. We often have guests who want to eat at Indian restaurants and Hankies has now made it to my very short list of authentic Indian food in London.<br />
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<b>Rating : 4.5 / 5</b>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-22390779898102936232018-03-11T20:30:00.000+00:002018-03-17T05:32:10.789+00:00Mothers Day - Burmese Supper Club by Wincie Wong at Darjeeling LondonAs I have previously written, we absolutely love the food at <a href="http://kimeatsnblogs.blogspot.com/2017/10/darjeeling-express-london.html">Darjeeling Express</a> in Kingly Court - Carnaby Street. It is one of our favourites for authentic flavours from the Hyderabadi and West Bengal styles of cuisine.<br />
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Asma runs an all woman kitchen, providing employment opportunities with single shift scheduling enabling women who otherwise would not be able to work due to time commitments.<br />
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<a href="https://www.darjeeling-express.com/">Darjeeling Express</a> is shut on Sundays, so the staff can spend time with their families, unless Asma runs one of her occasional biryani supperclubs. She now offers her kitchen and premises to other women who want to try running a supperclub out of a professional kitchen. What a wonderful, supportive way to encourage new entrepreneurs. And what a fantastic way for us customers to get to try new styles of cooking.<br />
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Our first supperclub experience (after 3 whole years of living in London) was<a href="http://kimeatsnblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/halloween-filipino-supper-club-with.html"> Philippino Cuisine at Mae's - Pepe's Kitchen</a>. I'm now constantly on the lookout for supper clubs that offer authentic homestyle cooking, especially those cuisines that are under represented in the restaurant arena.<br />
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<a href="https://www.wincie.com/">Wincie Wong</a>'s Burmese Supper club on Mothers Day, was a fantastic fit to what I was looking for. She promised to cook some of her Mothers favourite dishes for the day. What a wonderful way to honour, remember and celebrate her memory.<br />
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When we arrived, there was a bowl of Burmese spiced nuts awaiting us on the table, made by Wincie herself. So moreish, we could not stop eating them until the bowl was wiped clean. Being in public, we restrained ourselves, from the next step.<br />
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The first course was Palata with Burmese Chicken & Potato Curry -
the famous Burmese "thousand layer bread" called Palata was a favourite
in her household growing up. It was served with a bright chicken curry
made with flavours of turmeric, ginger and lemongrass. This dish was a
cross between a paratha and a samosa. As much stuffing as a nice plump
samosa, but the dough was more like a paratha. I'd say the closest I
have come to something like this in Indian cusisine is the Hyderabadi
lukmi. <br />
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It was served with a side of pickled radish/mooli and cucumber. The sweet tartness of the pickles and their crisp texture, was a wonderful contrast to the fried palatas.<br />
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The main dish was the Mohinga. One of the most famous dishes of Burma,
usually eaten for breakfast, surprisingly it is not as well known as
khao suey outside of Burma. Mohinga is a fish (fish balls actually) stew
with rice noodles served with all the trimmings: yellow split pea
crackers (beh kyaw), hardboiled eggs, coriander, chili flakes and a
wedge of lime. Each diner, mixes their choice of toppings on the noodles
and stew. Then you can either mix it all up so that the flavours mingle
and diffuse, or sprinkle a little at a time on each spoon.<br />
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The soup was coconut based, but very light - more soupy than curry. We obviously added a generous amount of chilli, lime and coriander for a powerful kick. The chopped red onions were a good touch too. <br />
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Dessert was Coconut Pancakes. I was expecting Asian style thin pancakes,
but Wincie's mother (who relocated from Burma to USA) loved eating
American style pancakes on the weekend. Wincie's twist on it was Coconut
pancakes, served with a warm Jaggery Butter and blueberry (her mothers
favourite fruit) compote.<br />
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I'm not a fan of the thick American pancakes, I prefer crepes, but
these were the right size, the baking soda wasn't over powering and the
jaggery in the butter and the compote was absolutely delicious.<br />
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This was followed by milky Burmese tea. I don't drink milk with tea, but the husband quite enjoyed this at the end of his meal.<br />
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I know that she catered for a vegetarian on the table next to ours. Just check with her, if you have any dietary requirements before booking. She responds very quickly.<br />
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There was no shrimp in this menu, but Wincie assured me that she could
substitute shrimp or skip it in her 25th March supperclub. Something
else came up, so I could not book that supperclub. I do however look
forward to her next one. <br />
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<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-29167854492333176352018-02-27T10:24:00.000+00:002018-02-27T10:24:19.717+00:00Umbrella Brewing - Craft Ginger Beer brewed in Central LondonWhat is your favourite tipple? I know I like something warming in the winter and something cool in the summer. Once I moved to London, my summer tipple has tended to be cider or a chilled cocktail. <br />
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I love ginger beer, but was not very happy with the selection available in the market, so I often have a ginger ale mixed with vodka or a white rum.<br />
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London is amazing in terms of craft beers, but I'm not much of a beer drinker. So imagine my surprise when Joanne of Love Pop Ups London told me about <a href="https://umbrellabrewing.co.uk/">Umbrella Brewing</a> which makes Craft Ginger Beer. Matt the creator/founder of <a href="https://umbrellabrewing.co.uk/">Umbrella Brewing</a> had invited her to a private tour of his brewery on Holloway Road and told her she could bring a few other bloggers along.<br />
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I don't think I've ever been so excited about any other event as I was for this one.<br />
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When we arrived at the brewery on Holloway Road, we were greeted by Matt Armitage - who used to be a bartender until he decided to create drinks rather than just mixing them.<br />
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While we were waiting for the group to assemble, Matt mixed us some cocktails with Umbrella Ginger Beer and I have to say that the combination of gin, lime juice and ginger beer was simply fantastic.<br />
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2 degree temperature weather aside, with the Barbeque going, and the gin cocktail in my hand, one could believe that Spring was almost here. The sausages marinated in jerk sauce were finger licking good and the Ginger Beer paired wonderfully with Grilled/Barbequed food.<br />
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After tasting the Ginger Beer, we were now invited on a tour around the restored Victorian industrial building to see how it was made. As is the case with most craft beer operations, the size of the brewery isn't large, but it is sufficient for two 3800 liter drums in which the beer is brewed as well as space to carry raw materials, the finished product (pre-bottling) and crated bottles.<br />
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Umbrella Ginger Beer is made with Lemons, Ginger and Cane Sugar. Yes, fresh, natural Lemons and Ginger, not essence or flavour! With nearly 75 kilos of ginger going into each 3800 liter tank. All these ingredients are fermented together with yeast.<br />
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Then comes the highly scientific testing of each batch. Given that the ingredients are natural and flavours can vary based on the time of the year and where the ingredients come from, this is an extremely important step to be able to keep the quality and flavour uniform across batches. Chemistry and Mathematics are definitely subjects worth paying attention to in school.<br />
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They are also experimenting with ageing ginger beer in whiskey and rum barrels.<br />
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We were lucky enough to try the first batch of cider - the next product that <a href="https://umbrellabrewing.co.uk/">Umbrella Brewing</a> is hoping to bring to the market. This fits into their vision of being a British Brewery making British drinks other than beer and wine. The cider was lovely and crisp. I'm a sucker for the sweeter Swedish Ciders and find British ciders quite dry and tart, but this was a happy middle ground.<br />
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While they initially bottled their own Beer, the process has now been outsourced. At this point, I have to mention their labels. Each one is painstakingly designed and is either inspired by a record label or part of a collaboration with brands like Dewar's, Studio Ruuger and Dead Rabbit. Behind each label is a bar code and if you are so inclined, you can head to their website, key in the code and read more about the inspiration for that particular label.<br />
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We ended the tour with another taste of pure unadulterated ginger beer. It is very fiery and reminded me of my favourite ginger ale (non-alcoholic): <a href="http://luscombe.co.uk/drinks/traditional/">Luscombe's Hot Ginger</a>. This pairs well with spicy food or Barbequed food. If you have a lower spice tolerance, you may prefer it over ice or mellowed down with gin or lemon juice.<br />
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As this is a Craft Beer Operation, it is not easy to find this product everywhere, but they are available in most <a href="https://www.oddbins.com/">Odd Bins</a> They are also available in some independent bars. Check <a href="https://umbrellabrewing.co.uk/category/stockists/">this page</a> for more information. If you can't find it easily, you can also buy a 12 pack online, directly from <a href="https://umbrellabrewing.co.uk/shop/">Umbrella Brewing</a>.<br />
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Do try them out, if you are looking for something new, something different, something fiery, something natural and completely vegan.<br />
<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-65707739875009286212018-01-23T11:41:00.000+00:002018-01-26T05:29:58.795+00:00Leave the Herd Behind - Coffee Masterclass - Black Sheep CoffeeI was so excited when <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eyewanderlondon/">Jane</a> offered an opportunity for a Coffee Masterclass at <a href="http://www.leavetheherdbehind.com/">Black Sheep Coffee</a> at Regents Place.<br />
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I hadn't heard of the particular brand before, but this weather is perfect for fueling my caffeine addiction and I quickly said yes.<br />
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The evening began on a perfect note. As we signed in, we were handed freshly made espresso martinis and cups of popcorn. Very practical for participants like me, that had survived the whole day on just coffee, snicker bar, a piece of fruit (all true stories).<br />
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I caught up with some of my friends, Joanne from <a href="https://lovepopupslondon.com/">Love PopUps London</a>, <a href="https://jojoexplora.wordpress.com/">Joice</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jasonmort007/">Jason</a> while sipping our cocktails and waiting for the others to arrive.<br />
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While <a href="http://www.leavetheherdbehind.com/">Black Sheep Coffee</a> functions as a coffee shop during the day, they also have a couple of bar tenders and depending on the day of the week, they start filling in cocktail orders whenever their mainly office going customers request them for it. They have a huge space that's quite comfortable for business meetings, so they said that they have people who come in for meetings requesting coffee and as they get don with work, they segue to the alcoholic drinks. What an amazing concept!<br />
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<a href="http://www.leavetheherdbehind.com/">Black Sheep Coffee</a> has quite a few branches around town, mostly concentrated in the business districts. I can't wait for them to come to Paddington.<br />
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Once everyone was assembled, we were addressed by Tony and Monia. They showed us how to smell and taste coffee and gave us a few tips on what to look for when buying coffee grounds. We did the slurp test to try out a couple of different varieties.<br />
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We were then split into 2 groups. Our group headed to the heavy machinery first. Matt here was extremely patient with us as we tried our hands at some latte art.<br />
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<u><b>Hint </b></u>: Its not as easy as your Barista makes it look! Both
your hands have to constantly move, but in completely different
motions. Tougher than playing the piano I tell you.<br />
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We then returned to our table with our lattes. We now learned how to use a simple filter at home and a few tips to make better coffee at home.<br />
1. Brew coffee at 93C. Anything higher burns out the sugars in it.<br />
2. Let all the bubbles dissipate from your kettle before you pour hot water on your coffee.<br />
3. 7 gms of coffee per 100 ml<br />
4. Use really good quality coffee beans.<br />
5. Coffee should be light caramel colour<br />
6. Coffee loses taste and aroma within 15 minutes of grinding. So best to grind freshly when you want to make some coffee.<br />
7. Brew for 3.5-4 minutes.<br />
8. The longer you brew your coffee, the higher the caffeine content.<br />
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Through this whole process, we kept sipping on coffee and cocktails. The velvet martini was outstanding.<br />
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I have to say that the coffee was amazing. We sampled the Love Berries, Robusta Revival, Blue Volcano and Swiss Decaf. While I loved the smell of the Decaf, taste wise the Robusta Revival was my favourite.<br />
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They have a coffee that is combined with coconut oil for a whole day
slow release of caffeine that sounded very intriguing. The peanut butter
hot chocolate also piqued my interest. I will have to return soon, to
try these out.<br />
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I'd definitely recommend the coffee here and if you have the chance to attend a masterclass, I'd say 'jump at it' and 'leave the herd behind' <br />
<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-50055762613633421572018-01-15T08:54:00.000+00:002018-01-19T04:29:50.523+00:00Blue Lotus Inspirations - Thai Supper Club - London<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bluelotusinspirations/">Blue Lotus Inspirations</a> is a venture by Urmi Shah that offers Thai & Indian Food supper clubs.<br />
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I found her online and after clarifying that my shrimp/prawn allergy wouldn't be a hindrance, we promptly booked 2 places for her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1385309304914145/">Spice Away the Blues</a> - Thai Supperclub, last Friday.<br />
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I often find myself at a disadvantage in Thai restaurants because while I love the cuisine and the spice, their use of shrimp paste in the basic spice pastes, precludes most food from the menu. So I was very excited, when she promised me that I would be able to eat everything on that nights menu.<br />
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We arrived at their home in time and were warmly welcomed into their beautiful home by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bluelotusinspirations/">Urmi</a> and the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/delectablemrg/">Delectable Mr G</a><br />
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We sat down to a table with an eclectic mix of people and Urmi explained her background of living in Thailand and which regions our menu for the night stemmed from.<br />
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Thai food needs to be eaten as soon as it is cooked. Its not meant to be reheated. So there was a bowl of shrimp crackers on the table while she quickly fried up our starters. I had to wait patiently, but that obviously gave me an advantage over the others. I could focus on all the home cooked goodies and eat more of them.<br />
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The fried tofu was so light, I've never eaten such a lovely version before. Often tofu gets tough and rubbery (not that I order it often), but this version was light, delicate and spongy on the inside of a crisp exterior.<br />
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The meat eating me reveled in the umpteen platters of fried chicken (<span class="_4n-j _3cht fsl" data-testid="event-permalink-details">Kai Thod Krob) </span>that were brought to the table. So moreish. They were my second favourite dish of the evening.<br />
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My favourite dish for the day was definitely the <span><span> fish ball
soup (</span></span><span><span><span class="_4n-j _3cht fsl" data-testid="event-permalink-details">Kwa Tiew Look Chin Naam) </span>which she assembled in front of us! Customised to individual tastes. I asked for a little extra chilli and lemon in mine. I could live on this soup. Such a light flavourful stock, the fresh herbs, the smooth slithery noodles and the delectable fish balls.</span></span><br />
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<span><span>Even if the meal had ended right here, I would have been very happy and contented, but there was even more food to come.</span></span><br />
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<span><span>The main course was egg fried rice (</span></span><span><span><span class="_4n-j _3cht fsl" data-testid="event-permalink-details">Kaw Phad Khai) </span>served with a pork jungle curry (</span></span><span><span><span class="_4n-j _3cht fsl" data-testid="event-permalink-details">Gaeng Par) </span>and a stir fry of morning glory (</span></span><span><span><span class="_4n-j _3cht fsl" data-testid="event-permalink-details"><span class="text_exposed_show">Phat Phak Kiew) with lovely caramelised bits of garlic? </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span><span>Urmi had made a separate batch of pork curry for me without the shrimp paste which made me feel very special. I was just embarassed that I could barely begin to make a dent in it, as I was already quite stuffed. Others at the table were also waving the surrender flag. </span></span><br />
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<span><span>But I knew to keep a little space for dessert. It was pumpkin stewed in coconut milk (</span></span><span><span><span class="_4n-j _3cht fsl" data-testid="event-permalink-details"><span class="text_exposed_show">Fucktong Buat)</span></span>. I was so happy that it wasn't a dessert with fruits in it (I'm not allergic, I just don't like the taste or texture of most of them) This was a really delicately flavoured dessert. No added sugar and a lot of slow cooking love.</span></span><br />
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<span><span>The food was absolutely amazing. There were a couple of pescatarians at the table and she had alternative options for them for the pork curry and the fried chicken. </span></span><br />
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<span><span>Michael is a wine connoisseur, so they offer the option to buy wine that goes well with their food at their house and quite a few took them up on their offer. </span></span><br />
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<span><span>We aren't wine drinkers and the weather is too cold for cider, so we stuck to water. Therefore the palate cleanser of rose and lemon was really welcome midway through the meal. Absolutely refreshingly delicious.</span></span><br />
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<span><span>At 35£, we were served a phenomenal quantity of food and so much variety, while catering to a myriad dietary restrictions, which is commendable for a home based operation.</span></span><br />
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<span><span></span></span>Urmi also offers Cooking Classes and Demonstrations and also has an option that fulfills the skills section for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Her other options include supplying food and cooking in your home.<br />
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They are very genial hosts, so I would recommend trying them out if you have a hankering for Thai food. Contact Urmi on <span class="_4n-j _3cht fsl" data-testid="event-permalink-details"><span class="text_exposed_show"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1649750053"><span>bluelotusinspirations@gmai</span></a><wbr></wbr><a href="http://l.com/"><span class="word_break"></span>l.com</a> or follow her on facebook : <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bluelotusinspirations/">https://www.facebook.com/bluelotusinspirations/</a> to be informed of her next offering.</span></span><br />
<span class="_4n-j _3cht fsl" data-testid="event-permalink-details"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span></span>
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<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-10237867954030135912018-01-09T09:45:00.000+00:002018-01-19T03:47:08.157+00:00Mike’s Café, LondonMike’s Café<br />
12 Blenheim Cresent<br />
London W11 1NN <br />
020 7229 3757 <br />
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A simple straightforward neighbourhood cafe/diner with very reasonable rates just off Portobello Road (near the Notting Hill Bookshop). Wish we had one of these closer to home.<br />
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They serve breakfast through the day. But unfortunately the items with poached eggs are served only until noon. So we couldn't try the eggs Benedict or the very interesting combination of poached eggs and truffles.<br />
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I had the liver and bacon with mash and gravy which was quite good. He had the 3 omelette egg with mushroom and blue cheese which was also good. <br />
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The grilled halloumi skewers were a bit of a disappointment. They were so lightly grilled that the cheese was still cold and halloumi tastes best when its hot.<br />
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The coffee was excellent, as was the service. I very happily toasted one of the free marshmallows on the low fire on my way out. Delicious!<br />
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<b>Rating : 3.5 / 5</b>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-40940069170841312302018-01-08T05:41:00.001+00:002018-01-08T05:41:31.972+00:00Hankies Cafe, London<a href="http://www.hankies.cafe/">Hankies Cafe</a><br />
67 Shaftesbury Avenue<br />
Piccadilly W1D 6LL<br />
Soho<br />
Phone number 020 7871 6021 <br />
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Amazon Prime added this restaurant to their Home Delivery roster. I've been wanting to visit for awhile and we were in the mood for Indian today, so I placed an order.<br />
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The dahi bhalla was very authentic as was the chicken tikka and the chilli lamb chop. Full marks to these.<br />
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The black dhal and Haleem were quite good, but I've had better (in London too, not just in India)<br />
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The bhindi bhel, I was quite intrigued to taste, but it went missing in our order (I did get a refund)<br />
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The mushroom pickle was Fantastic!!!! The chicken pickle was good, but I could buy bottles of the mushroom pickle if they sold it!<br />
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The venison shammi was tasty, but I wasn't too happy with the texture, it could be the time until consumption made it hold together much tighter than it should. I'd like to try it in the restaurant to re-evaluate. However, for 5.5£ we got just one kebab and that felt a bit weird.<br />
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Which brings me to the main problem, some dishes are large serving size and some are measly and the prices don't reflect that. I guess this issue will be easily dealt with if you are eating at the restaurant, but can't be clarified when ordering online.<br />
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The kheema roti wasn't bad, but I could taste any truffle in the truffle naan.<br />
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The food in general was very good quality and I'm guessing that when I visit the location I will be able to give them an even higher rating!<br />
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<b>Rating : 4 / 5 </b> for Home DeliveryKimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-37817423891677817412017-12-05T20:55:00.001+00:002018-03-17T02:29:09.205+00:00Little Havana, LondonLittle Havana - CLOSED<br />
20 Inverness Street<br />
Camden Town <br />
London NW1 7HJ<br />
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020 72840989<br />
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I never had the opportunity to try Cuban food when I lived in the US (in 2000). So I was very excited when <a href="https://lovepopupslondon.com/">lovepopupslondon</a> invited me to Little Havana that opened in October in Camden. <br />
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The decor was warm, colourful and inviting. The temperature outside was 4C, but inside felt like I was holidaying in the Caribbean. The tables and water glasses and murals just add to that feel.<br />
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A gorgeous bar just as you enter and a nightclub next door, had amazing drinks and lovely music that kept us warmed up and was ideal for dancing. No surprise then, that Little Havana offers salsa classes every Tuesday and Sunday and Latin DJ + Band on Friday & Saturday.<br />
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I wanted to stay as authentic to Cuban flavours as I could on my first visit. So to drink I had the Havana Loco and El Nacional cocktails which both had Havana Rum and apricot brandy at their base, but tasted completely different. All the cocktails on the table were unique but universally loved. There are wines and beers too on the menu if that's what you would prefer and a large selection of spirits, the largest being the variety of Caribbean rums. There's a daily happy hour from 5pm to 8pm.<br />
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The lady in charge said that they had trimmed down the menu a bit from the time that they opened, but they still have a fantastic selection of food, that looks familiar, but is unusual in its pairings and cooking techniques. I absolutely loved the way that they had used plantains, very different from the way that we cook with them back home.<br />
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As an appetiser, I ordered the <i>Tostones Rellenos con Ropa Vieja</i> - stuffed fried plantain with pulled beef. This was so delicious. I'd go back just for this dish. <br />
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Given that we were a group of food lovers, we obviously tasted food from each others plates. The calamari was average, nothing stand out about it.<br />
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But the salt cod fritters (very different from those served at <a href="http://kimeatsnblogs.blogspot.com/2017/10/rum-masterclass-at-cottons-london.html">Cottons</a> or Vanessa Bolosiers pop up at Beachcomber) and the yuca/cassava with pulled beef were absolutely lip smacking. <br />
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The Malaysian in our group, said that the cassava tasted very different from what she is used to, but I quite enjoyed it as an alternative to potatoes. A lot more texture and flavour.<br />
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The mains are humongous. If you have had starters, I would recommend sharing one main between two people. My roasted pork was not something I would recommend. There was no fat or skin on it, so then the meat for me tastes very generic.<br />
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The red snapper was good and lightly flavoured, but the chicken pio pio was the absolute stand out of the night for me. Beautifully marinated and such rich contrasting flavours.<br />
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All the mains came with so many sides: Buttered rice, black beans, salad, fried yuca, fried plantains and each of them was so good, that it was a tough choice about what to eat and where to draw the line. I for one definitely ended up overstuffed. Leaving zero room for dessert<br />
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I definitely want to go back with my family to get them to taste some of this amazing food. I also have to try the Cuban sandwiches which my American friends have been very nostalgic about. So I'm going to be headed back really soon.<br />
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<b>Rating : 4.5 / 5</b><br />
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Mon : Closed<br />
Tue : 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm<br />
Wed : 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm<br />
Thu : 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm<br />
Fri : 4:00 pm – 2:00 am<br />
Sat : 12:00 pm – 2:00 am<br />
Sun : 12:00 pm – 12:00 am<br />
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Daily Happy Hour : 5pm to 8pm Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-86527880862605816042017-12-02T12:52:00.000+00:002017-12-07T06:40:23.810+00:00The Spirit Show, London<a href="https://lovepopupslondon.com/">LovePopUpsLondon</a> got us Press Passes for <a href="http://thespiritshow.co.uk/">The Spirit Show</a> at the Business Design Center, this Friday. The amazing thing about press passes is that you get to visit the venue, before it is opened up to the general public, which means that you can leisurely browse through all the stalls, instead of trying desperately to push and shove your way through. I'd attended an Italian Food show at this same location last year, but this ended up being a much more pleasant experience.<br />
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So we literally visited every stall at the show.<br />
Yes, around 130 of them. <br />
No, we didn't drink tasters at all of them - I avoided most of the gins and majority of the spirit stalls were gin stalls.<br />
Yes, I came home with a couple of bottles.<br />
Yes, I was sober.<br />
Yes, I took notes so I wouldn't get mixed up.<br />
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With the answers to those essential questions out of the way...<br />
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Read along to see if you would like to add some of these drinks to your Christmas present list - for others or yourself.<br />
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We started the afternoon with a cocktail experience workshop with <a href="http://www.fentimans.com/">Fentimans</a> conducted by Myles Cunliffe of <a href="http://mixologygroup.co.uk/">Mixology Group</a>. He was absolutely brilliant. He kept us in splits while plying us with drink and demonstrating some easy cocktails (hot and cold) to make at home while entertaining during the festive season.<br />
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With a little 'education' down our gullet, we set out to explore the rest of the exhibition. There was a mix of alcoholi drinks, non-alcoholic drinks, mixers, a couple of food stalls and strangely one from the <a href="http://ww2.rspb.org.uk/">RSPB</a> soliciting membership! It was manned by a really nice guy, but I'm not sure if he managed to get anyone at the event to sign up?<br />
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The <a href="http://www.fentimans.com/">Fentimans</a> store was right next to the experience stall and we tried some exciting new variations on their tonic waters. I love their gingerbeer, its a classic. But I was also quite impressed by the Mediterranean orange and connoisseurs tonic water that they have just brought to market.<br />
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Our next stop was <a href="http://cazcabel.com/">Cazcabel</a>, which makes absolutely decadent flavoured tequilas from Blue Weber Agave. I picked up a bottle each of their honey and coffee flavoured ones and they have already been well appreciated at home. Their website has so many lovely recipes to turn them into cocktails, but I doubt the spirits will last that long.<br />
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The most awesome bottles at the show were definitely the hippo shaped bottles from <a href="http://beremot.com/">Beremot</a>. Their vodkas come in Original, Strawberry, Orange, Lime Crush and Coffee Flavours. We tried the strawberry and the coffee. The strawberry was fresh and fruity, but I loved the coffee. she recommended pairing it with ginger ale. I wasn't sure of a coffee and ginger combination, but once I tried it, I was hooked! She also said it would go great with orange soda. I'll have to try that.<br />
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My absolute favourite liqueur of the evening was the <a href="http://www.rumchata.com/">Rumchata</a> Its a combination of cream, Caribbean rum and cinnamon. Gimme a bottle of that and its sure to be a very merry Christmas. I could start and end my day with that drink.Sadly, they weren't selling at the store, so I will need to go hunting for it in my nearby grocery stores.<br />
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Our next stop introduced us to Mr Nagra and Ms Kaur behind <a href="http://crazygin.co.uk/">Crazy Gin</a>. With all the new variants and infusions in the gin market today, its surprising that no one had yet invented something with strong Indian flavours. Crazy Gin fills that spot. Inspired by lassi, the gin is infused with yoghurt, angelica, pomegranate seeds, turmeric, juniper, black cumin, black pepper and coriander.<br />
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I'm not a gin drinker, but I loved their sweatshirt and Bruce has promised that they will be available for customers to buy shortly.<br />
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Mayan rum based liqueurs were next on the agenda with <a href="http://www.hpsepicurean.com/preiss-spirits/casa-daristi/">Casa D'Aristi</a>'s Kalani - coconut flavoured and Huana -guanabana / soursop / custard apple family fruit flavoured. The Kalani was much nicer and less sweet than a malibu, so its easier to drink neat. The Huana wasn't as funky as I expected it to be (I can't stand the smell of most fruits, even when diluted in alcohol)<br />
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The next vodka came all the way from Australia and again it was the unusual spices in the mix that intrigued me. <a href="http://undergroundspirits.co.uk/">Underground Spirits</a> uses a unique submicron, subzero filtration system for a buttery feel.<br />
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I was more interested to taste some of those spices in those bottles than the gin & vodka itself. I've never seen lemon myrtle, angelica, rivermint or Tasmanian pepperberry before. The ladies were kind enough to let me taste a pepperberry. Very similar to pepper in its basic flavour, but wildly different too.<br />
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I was very impressed with our next stall - <a href="http://www.franklinandsons.co.uk/">Franklin & Sons</a>. They had such a large variety of drinks. All natural, no alcohol, no added sugar, no preservatives and absolutely delicious flavours. It would be tough to choose a favourite among the flavours we tried, but I have to say that their gingerbeer is a strong contender for the top spot in my favourite gingerbeers.<br />
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The next surprise was <a href="https://www.solkiki.co.uk/">Solkiki</a> - a dairy free vegan chocolate. You would never guess it from the taste and texture when you eat it. I had already picked up way too much chocolate from last weeks Taste of London - Christmas Special, so did not buy any more. They are all award winning though and absolutely delicious. I might just order from them, once my current chocolate stock is depleted.<br />
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The other stalls that impressed me were <a href="http://www.stillonthemove.com/">Still on The Move</a>, whom you can hire to make your own short run bespoke gin at your home. They bring 26 different botanicals with them, but you could also add things like petals from the brides bouquet to make your gin unique & memorable.<br />
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The other was <a href="https://www.woodallscharcuterie.co.uk/">Woodalls Charcuterie</a>. They had brought a limited selection of snacking salamis. I bought some home and the gin snacking bite was declared the favourite with the spicy snacking sticks coming a close second.<br />
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Our final stop of the evening was at <a href="https://www.vodcake.com/">VodCake</a> - Cake flavoured Vodka. They currently have three flavours - Black Forest Gateaux, New York Cheesecake and Tiramisu. They were all delicious. A perfect combination of dessert and after dinner tipple. They say Vodcake should ideally be served well chilled as an aperitif, digestif, poured over or served with its cake counterpart, as a base for coffees, either hot or cold as frappes or consumed neat.Do you need any other reason to buy a bottle or three?<br />
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I had an amazing afternoon at the show with Joanne of <a href="https://lovepopupslondon.com/">Love PopUps London</a>. .<br />
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We were stunned by the sheer variety of new brands and flavours of
spirits available in the market. Being able to taste them, definitely
helped make buying decisions easier. And I have my Christmas Spirit
Shopping List ready. A lot of the alcohol at the show is available to
buy from their respective websites, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/">Amazon</a> or <a href="https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/">The Whisky Exchange</a>.<br />
Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-19166017427626085142017-11-11T05:00:00.000+00:002017-11-14T05:07:59.142+00:00The Listing Launch Party - Drake & Morgan, London<a href="http://drakeandmorgan.co.uk/the-listing/">The Listing</a> - <a href="http://drakeandmorgan.co.uk/">Drake & Morgan</a><br />
27 Bush Ln, <br />
Cannon Green,<br />
London, EC4R 0AA<br />
<br />
0203 948 9820<br />
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<a href="http://drakeandmorgan.co.uk/the-listing/">The Listing</a> is the latest (19th) Bar & Restaurant from <a href="http://drakeandmorgan.co.uk/">Drake & Morgan</a>, that has just opened near Cannon Street. I was lucky to be invited to join Joanne of <a href="https://lovepopupslondon.com/">Love Pop Ups London</a> and <a href="https://neverfearnew.wordpress.com/2017/11/13/the-listing-launch-party/">Steve</a> for the launch party on the 9th of November .<br />
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The lines to get in seemed really long which just goes to show how popular this spot is going to be. The process was pretty fast though and I was inside in under 10 minutes where my friends were already waiting.<br />
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The space is huge and absolutely stunning. With a two storied glass frontage which wraps around the building. The party was being held downstairs in the bar and restaurant section, but we also went up to where the Deli will be and that section was so warm and inviting, I just wanted to curl up on one of those chairs with a blanket, a book and a cup of coffee. All of which they provide.<br />
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There was quite an assortment of canapes being served and as we walked around the open kitchen, we saw how hard they were working to keep the food circulating. This was the first time that I was watching an open kitchen for this size of an event and I was thoroughly impressed at the efficiency of the chefs and serving staff.<br />
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The desserts were decadently delicious and I hope that they will continue to offer those brownies and mint marshmallows (were they gin and tonic marshmallows ?) on the menu.<br />
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The bar tenders were also working very hard to keep up with the demand. I did not get the opportunity to try one of the drinks at the bar, given the crowd around it. But there was a kiosk run by <a href="https://www.londonessenceco.com/">The London Essence Co</a>. that served up some amazing cocktails. Plus we go to try a new flavour of Rekoderlig Cider - Premium Spiced Plum - very Christmassy flavours.<br />
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There was a glitter station, where we got ourselves glammed up - all shimmery and sparkly. Such fun. Being London, I was able to travel home by bus with all the sparkles still on my face, without any stares or questions. I just love living in this city!<br />
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The Listing is a great venue, very beautiful. Modern interiors below at the pub and warm comfortable tones upstairs at the deli. What we ate, isn't likely to be on the regular menu, but the chefs and bartenders know what they are doing, so I'm sure this place will be very popular.<br />
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Do take a look at some of their <a href="http://drakeandmorgan.co.uk/the-listing/christmas-2/">special menus for the upcoming Christmas season</a>. They are quite ideal for office parties. The Listing will be open on weekdays from 7:30am and weekends are available for private hire.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-49749764797057469972017-11-10T07:12:00.000+00:002017-11-14T05:27:54.285+00:00Mam, London<a href="http://mamlondon.com/">Mam</a><br />
16 All Saints Rd<br />
Notting Hill <br />
London W11 1HH<br />
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Phone number 020 7792 2665 <br />
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Looks like Mam has opened recently, but they are offering delivery through deliveroo.<br />
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Home delivered pho on a cold and wet night when I had no intention of stepping outside, sounded just what I needed.<br />
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The Cha Gio (5.8£)- Vietnamese Fried Chicken Spring Rolls with wood ear mushrooms was lovely. The optional chicken with the papaya salad Goi Du Du Chicken (7£), made it it a very filling dish. Not as spicy as the Thai version, but nice and crunchy and light.<br />
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The beef pho (11£) had delicate slices of beef and a very fragrant pho. The cinnamon in it was very soothing. I had also ordered a Bun Heo (11£) - BBQ Pork with rice, for lunch the next day. The pork was absolutely delicious and I wish they would offer just the pork as a separate dish. I would order just a couple of plates of that pork and be a very happy person indeed.<br />
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I have varieties of bottles of chilli sauces and pastes at home to spice up my food, but you can order extra sauces from them if you like.<br />
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The food is good and they deliver home which is a huge advantage in the current weather, but I felt the lack of herbs in the pho (just a few spring onions) I'm not sure if this is because it was a takeaway/delivery order and you get more seasonings if you eat in.<br />
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Food was very well packed and I appreciate the broth being packed completely separately. It means you can reheat the soup if you don't eat immediately and not end up with a soggy glutinous mess.<br />
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<b>Rating : 3.5/5</b> for Home DeliveryKimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-58101192621872629802017-11-04T05:43:00.002+00:002017-11-04T05:54:24.338+00:00Halloween Filipino Supper Club with Pepe's Kitchen, LondonI'm embarrassed to admit, that after almost THREE whole years in London, I had never attended a supper club. Given my love of good food and a particular passion for the authentic flavours of home cooking, this was a huge oversight on my part that needed to be corrected quickly.<br />
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I've seen a lot of great looking supper clubs, but since our schedule is so last minute, by the time I'm ready to confirm that I can attend, the places are all taken up.<br />
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So last week when Joanne of <a href="https://lovepopupslondon.com/">Love Pop Ups London</a> told me that Mae of <a href="http://pepes-kitchen.co.uk/home/filipinosupperclublondon/">Pepe's Kitchen</a> was hosting a Halloween themed Filipino Supper Club and had space for a few more guests, I was very excited. This would be my first supper club and also my first experience of a Filipino meal.<br />
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A quick scan of the menu for the day, showed that there was no shrimp on the menu (which meant I could eat everything being served) and so I promptly signed up for three of us.<br />
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The whole process was very smooth and Mae was very welcoming and extremely prompt in her replies. She also said the Haloween costumes were optional and we could bring our own alcohol.<br />
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On Friday, we got to her place by 7pm and were served beef lumpia (like a spring roll, but canape sized) and an alcoholic cocktail as soon as we walked in. That beef lumpia was so good, I could not wait for dinner to start.<br />
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We hung around getting to meet the other guests and taking in the stunning views from their balcony, while waiting for the last of the guests to arrive, so we could all sit down together for the plated meal to begin.<br />
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Supper clubs are really intimate dining experiences at peoples homes and capacity ranges from 8-20 depending on the size of their homes. This one had nine of us at the table. Each of us came from different parts of the world, were well traveled and shared a passion for food. So the conversation at the dinner table was fascinating. The group was small enough that we could talk to each other across the table, rather like a large family dinner.<br />
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The only thing I felt bad about, was that while we were having so much fun at the table. Mae and her partner were busy working on the next course in the kitchen. But I guess, that's what happens even if you are visiting friends or family for a home cooked meal. She did invite us to join her in the kitchen in between courses if we wanted to, but the conversations at the table were too interesting to leave half way through.<br />
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The table was spookily done up and there were gums, teeth, fingers and eyeballs that we could eat off the table if we were too hungry to wait.<br />
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Once we sat down, our first course was menudo tartlets. Mae's twist on a
traditional Filipino chicken recipe. As we got ready to tuck in, she
explained how she got her love for cooking from her father - Pepe and to
introduce Filipino food to the London audience, she started catering
canapes, so the food was bite sized and hence more approachable. <br />
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Mae gave us an introduction to Filipino food and a brief glimpse of the staggering variety of regional variations. Given that the Philippines is a set of islands, each island has their own take on dishes with the same name, as well as their own special dishes.<br />
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At the table, we had a round of conversation on how some of us crave spicy food when traveling and find that some countries, just don't serve food that is truly spicy. So we discussed tips, like carrying tabasco bottles in purses and the different spice pastes available as a topping in Asia.<br />
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As she had heard this conversation, Mae told us that Filipino food wasn't spicy. It does have spices, it just doesn't use as much Chilli as Thailand or India. She told us she could serve us some chillies on the side if we wanted.<br />
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Our main course was Dinaguan and I was very excited when I first saw this dish on the menu. Pork stew in pork blood served with homemade steamed rice cakes or jasmine rice. A quick google search said that Dinaguan was mostly made with pork offal and I was expecting something like our Manglorean <a href="http://jhovaan.blogspot.co.uk/2006/07/sannas-rice-cakes.html">sannas</a> and <a href="https://www.ruchikrandhap.com/kaleez-ankiti-sarpatel-mangalorean/">sarpatel</a>.Obviously, when you have such high expectations built around a dish you have never tasted before, there will be disappointment.<br />
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To be honest, I loved the texture of the dinaguan, the blood had been well blended into the gravy and I much prefer that to the black clumps that I normally pick out of my <a href="https://www.ruchikrandhap.com/kaleez-ankiti-sarpatel-mangalorean/">sarpatel</a>. But Mae had skipped the offal, to make the dish less scary for the diners, so I missed the crunch of the offal and obviously the spice levels were very different. The gorgeous green chilli that she included in each dish did help and I finished my whole plate. But I was constantly missing the heat and sour tang of sarpatel and my cravings are just amplified enough that I may just set out on a treasure hunt to find a butcher who can provide me with cleaned offal and attempt to cook it myself.<br />
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The next course was Bulalo - a beef and bone broth simmered for a few hours. This was soul food. It just felt like one of the soups grandma used to make us when we were sick and only wanted hot liquid for sustenance. My cousin who was with us, also agreed that it brought back warm memories.<br />
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For dessert, we were served Ensaymada at Sorbetes - Freshly baked sweet butter bread served with homemade coconut ice cream. This was heavenly. I'm not a big bread eater, but I could live on those Ensaymadas. They went into the oven while we started on our soup and were warm and buttery and absolutely delicious.<br />
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We loved the whole set up and are ready to try out more supper clubs. I'd like to explore Filipino food a bit more, this was a good introduction for me. I've heard there are a few more Filipino supper clubs in London and a restaurant or two where service is a bit hit or miss.<br />
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Also when Mae explained the different varieties of Adobo's in Philippines, I know that if she has a supper club with only adobos on the menu, I will be there with my stretchy pants on.<br />
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Mae only has a supper club about once a month or so. If you have the opportunity, I would heavily recommend it. Try a new cuisine, cooked and served with love by a passionate chef who will patiently answer all your questions about her cuisine and culture. Step into another world with a wonderful guide, right here in the center of London!<br />
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<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-84389986171154363792017-10-23T10:00:00.000+01:002017-10-23T10:00:18.906+01:00Darjeeling Express, London<a href="https://www.darjeeling-express.com/">Darjeeling Express</a><br />
Top Floor<br />
Kingly Court<br />
London W1B 5PW <br />
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020 7287 2828 <br />
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Absolutely fantastic and authentic home style Bengali & Hyderabadi cooking with a few dishes from the rest of India.<br />
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I rarely rave about Indian restaurants in London, but Darjeeling Express is absolutely brilliant.<br />
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Run by the lovely Asma Khan who started out with Supper Clubs at her home and has recently moved to this permanent location in Kingly Court. The food on the menu reflects her background from Calcutta, Hyderabad and UP. So don't go here looking for tandoori chicken, paneer tikka, butter chicken and rotis. Indian food is much more than just that. What you will find on the menu are dishes that you would get if you were lucky enough to be invited for a home cooked meal at an Indian friends home.<br />
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None of the cooks in the kitchen are professional chefs, they are all talented home cooks who take pride in their cooking. And its an all woman kitchen where the the food tastes like "Maa ke haath ka khaana" - mum's cooking. When we had a quick chat with Asma, she told us that her chefs, only have to put in half a shift either for the noon or the evening sitting. 4-5pm is sacrosanct so that they can either go home to pick up their kids from school or pick them up before coming over for the evening shift. What a wonderful concept! This option gives opportunity to a lot of women who otherwise are unable to work and restricted by work timings and home responsibilities.<br />
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The menu itself keeps changing every 8 weeks, so I'm not sure you will find the same food when you visit.<br />
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The puchkas/paani puri/golgappas were better than any that we have had
at a London restaurant. Husband loved the tangra chilli garlic prawns
which he said were extremely fresh and very delicately flavoured.<br />
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We had absolutely outstanding shikampuri kebabs with luchchis/puris. We
had FIVE plates of the shikampuri kebab! 3 to takeaway, but even then...<br />
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The Degh Ghosht - beef stew was brilliant and the gobhi, gajar, aloo - cauliflower with carrot and potato tastes like my best friends mum makes it. The mains all come with a very light pulao. But we also ordered a side of luchchis (Bengali style puris) to go along with it.<br />
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They serve India's favourite sodas - Limca and ThumsUp, but they also have a licence to serve cocktails, beer and wine.<br />
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Sundays are for biriyani and I look forward to making a booking there very soon.<br />
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We loved the food so much that we wanted to order some more to take
away. They aren't really equipped for that, but when they heard us
gushing over the food, they did their very best to pack it all up for us
and I'm happy to report that every single item that we packed reached
home in perfectly pristine condition!<br />
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Go, go, go. Don’t miss out on this amazing experience.<br />
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<b>Rating : 5 / 5</b>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-26510480709612267302017-10-22T23:38:00.002+01:002017-10-22T23:50:46.216+01:00Rum Masterclass at Cottons, LondonRum is my normal drink of choice. If I have to have alcohol, (my frequency and quantity has been drastically reduced voluntarily. I know friends who knew me from before, may not believe that I barely drink alcohol once or twice a month now) in the summer its cider or beer and in the winter its rum.<br />
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I love my alcohol sweet without being too fruity. My absolute favourite is <a href="http://www.oldmonk.com/">Old Monk</a> and <a href="http://www.coca-colaindia.com/brands/thums-up/thums-up">Thums Up</a>. Yes! Still! Even after 22 years! I also prefer rum based cocktails like dark & stormy, mojito, bushwhacker, daiquiri, caipirinha and hot buttered rum in the winter.<br />
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So when Joanne from <a href="https://lovepopupslondon.com/">Love Pop Ups London</a> mentioned that <a href="http://cottons-restaurant.co.uk/">Cottons</a> at <a href="http://cottons-restaurant.co.uk/vauxhall/">Vauxhall</a> (the newest of four branches - opened last month) was looking for some bloggers to sample one of their Rum Masterclasses, I jumped out of my eating/writing ennui and applied.<br />
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The setting of the restaurant itself is absolutely serene and beautiful on St George's wharf. And I suspect their outdoor tables will be heavily coveted on warmer days. They also have a huge indoor area which is well lit and very comfortable with bar seating and table seating.<br />
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We started the masterclass at the bar. Barry was in charge. The wealth of information that he has regarding rums is mind boggling. Rum tasting is as complex and complicated as single malts. Their origins could be from anywhere, where sugarcane is grown. <br />
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Then its a matter of distilling, fermenting, ageing, shipping etc. This branch of Cottons has over 250 varieties of rum, their Notting Hill branch has 372+.<br />
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We started with a 5 year old <a href="https://www.plantationrum.com/">Plantation Rum</a> from Barbados. This was aged twice. First in Barbados for 3 years and again in France in Cognac casks for 2 years. <a href="https://www.plantationrum.com/">Plantation Rum</a>, are originally from different Caribbean islands (original island clearly marked on the bottles), but the company is based in France. This particular rum had its own sweetness from its contact with the cognac casks. <br />
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We next sniffed at a <a href="http://www.goslingsrum.com/">Goslings</a> Black Seal Bermuda Black Rum. 151 proof makes it an overproof rum with 75.5% alcohol. Barry recommended that this one would go best with ginger beer and its also a great rum to flambe with.<br />
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The <a href="http://angosturarum.com/">Angostura</a> 1919 is a Trinidadian Rum. After a fire in 1932, which destroyed the Government Rum Bond, the master blender of Fernandes Distillers, bought the charred casks, only to discover they had been filled in the year 1919. The prized rum was skillfully blended and called "1919 Aged Rum." Even today this rum is aged in charred Jack Daniels casks. So while the rum itself is fruity with vanilla flavour, the undertones are markedly woody. This particular one is aged for 8 years.<br />
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This limited edition Venezuelan Rum from <a href="http://rondiplomatico.com/">Diplomatico</a> has won best rum 4 times. This rum is made from sugar honey which makes it sweeter than the other rums that we tasted and is aged for 12 years. This was my second favourite rum of the evening.<br />
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Barry also produced some lovely home made dark chocolate chunks which added so much to the flavour of the following rums. I suspect that I may have enjoyed the chocolate much more than the rum.<br />
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We next tried a Demerara Rum from Guyana - <a href="http://www.theeldoradorum.com/">El Dorado</a>. The rich soil and Demerara river lend their name and flavour to these rums. This particular one is aged for 15 years. While it had a lovely taste, I found it a bit on the heavier side. More suitable as a liqueur than for pre-dinner, for me.<br />
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Since we specifically asked about rum agricole (we were in a Caribbean bar after all) which is made directly from sugarcane juice (rather than its molasses), Barry recommended the <a href="http://www.rhumclementusa.com/">Clement</a> XO from Martinique. This is an Extra Old 7-8 year old rum and because it has been aged for so long it can be drunk on its own, unlike younger agricole rums. Given the smooth seductive tastes of the the other rums that we had sampled, this one tasted lovely, but felt much harsher on the throat and in its after taste.<br />
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The 20th anniversary <a href="https://www.plantationrum.com/">Plantation Rum</a> was our last taster of the evening and also my absolute favourite.This rum is blended from 12-20 tropically aged rums from Barbados and then aged again in cognac casks in France. While I could taste vanilla and citrus, there were also hints of cinnamon, cocoa and other christmassy spices. <br />
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Every single rum that we tried was amazing enough to be drunk on its own. The experience has forced me to rethink rums as just an alcoholic base which needs a mixer, to something that can be savoured on its own. They are great in cocktails and some rums go partuicularly well with certain specific mixers - like Ginger beer. But a lot of them can be slowly sipped on and enjoyed for just what they are.<br />
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There's such a large variety out there, that an experience of a <a href="http://cottons-restaurant.co.uk/masterclass/">masterclass like this one</a> really helps start you down a wonderfully interesting path. Priced around £20 per person for rum masterclass only or £35 per person which includes a 2-course dinner after the class, its money well spent.<br />
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After we were done with the class, we were allowed to choose a cocktail from their menu. This was a tough choice as the menu had some of my favourites, but also some very intriguing new ones. My curiosity won out and I ordered a Strong Back - with dragon stout, Jamaican <a href="http://www.camparigroup.com/en/brands/rum/wray-and-nephew">Wray & Nephew Rum</a>, condensed milk and nutmeg. This was like a lovely iced dessert. I was surprised at how much alcohol was in the cocktail and everyone else at the table said the same about their drinks too.<br />
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We also had some nibbles to share at the table. Caribbean food served in style. I've previously eaten Caribbean food at the Notting Hill Festival - a disaster, and some really tasty places in Brixton which focus on food rather than seating / atmosphere etc.<br />
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The salt & pimiento squid was lovely and really did not need the accompanying pesto sauce. The pork ribs with the rum and molasses glaze was outstanding as was the ebony wings. I've had much better salt fish fritters made by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vanessabolosier1/">Vanessa Bolosier</a>, so I found these a bit dry and too tightly packed to enjoy the flavour. But the others at the table did like them and also raved about the whole grilled prawns (I'm allergic) <br />
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The sweet potato patties and the chick pea patties were lovely, so I'd say the vegetarians could enjoy the food here too.<br />
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Great rum, exciting cocktails and finger licking food. Definitely a place to bookmark and visit. The Notting Hill location is much closer to me, so maybe I'll try that one next. But I'm definitely returning here on a warm sunny day to enjoy the outdoor location.<br />
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Joanne has made a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv2qUN0BUH4&feature=youtu.be">lovely video of our experience and its up on youtube.</a><br />
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Cottons -Vauxhall.<br />
Unit 12 Flagstaff House,<br />
St Georges Wharf,<br />
Vauxhall, SW8 2LE<br />
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T: 0207 091 0793Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-57426656546230725022017-10-13T10:06:00.000+01:002017-10-13T10:06:07.411+01:00Thai Cottage, Berkhamstead, UK<a href="http://www.thaicottage.com/">Thai Cottage</a><br />
149 High Street<br />
Berkhamsted HP4 3HH <br />
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01442 870808 <br />
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After spending a couple of days at Ashridge University, I wanted to explore Berkhamsted town and grab a hot lunch before catching the train back to London.<br />
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I avoid chain restaurants when I can and this one had a good rating on yelp.<br />
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It was a fixed lunch offer only (no a la carte) with one soup or starter and one main course served with rice for 10 Pounds.<br />
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I ordered the sticky pork ribs as a starter - they were very well cooked and were almost falling off the bone, but the sauce on them was sickly sweet.<br />
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My main course was a beef stir fry (I asked for a spicy option and the server recommended this) Again the meat was well cooked, but it was so salty!<br />
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While main courses are normally served with rice, I requested if I could substitute the rice for noodles. The egg noodles that were served with the beef was very tasty (and they weren't even on the menu)<br />
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The place was quite full in the noon and most people in there were locals.<br />
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The staff was really sweet and obliging.<br />
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However the food was a disappointment. I just ate the noodles and picked at the beef and pork. Even mixed with the noodles the sweetness was cloying and the saltiness overwhelming.<br />
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Next time I think I'll just eat at Ashridge before leaving, the buffets there were amazing.<br />
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<b>Rating : 2 / 5</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.thaicottage.com/">Thai Cottage</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.thaicottage.com/thai-cottage-menu.htm">Thai Cottage Menu</a>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0Berkhamsted HP4, UK51.759766000000013 -0.56785690000003851.720455500000014 -0.648537900000038 51.799076500000012 -0.48717590000003796tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-36314250395089270902017-10-07T16:32:00.000+01:002018-03-20T16:33:57.906+00:00Schweppes Laboratory Experience Schweppes’ Alchemy Bar<br />
21 Slingsby place<br />
London<br />
WC2E 9AB <br />
<br />
The invitation to the Laboratory Experience said : <i> </i><br />
<i>"Schweppes Alchemy Bar invites you to explore the curious world of the original alchemist, Jacob Schweppe.<br />
<br />
Coming to Covent Garden 2nd - 8th October to celebrate London Cocktail Week, the Alchemy Bar hides many secrets and is offering you the chance to delve into the wondrous science of cocktail making.<br />
<br />
Dive into over 200 years of bubble-making expertise and book your place in the Schweppes Laboratory Experience. You’ll create your very own sparkling concoction and learn the secrets of flavoured bubbles from London’s revered experiential mixologists, Smith & Sinclair. From colour-changing gin & tonics to inhalable gin-based clouds, the Schweppes Laboratory Experience will take you back in time as well as giving you a glimpse into the future; that’s if you can find Jacob’s secret study of course. Schh!"</i><br />
<br />
For £10, I thought this would be a great way to take a break, since I've gone back to studying for a bit and needed a rest. I thought I'd spend an hour listening to some interesting facts, maybe get to try some concoctions of my own and maybe meet a few new folks. To be honest I wasn't expecting much.<br />
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But when I got here, I realised that an entire full fledged bar had been set up at this spot. Once we registered, at the appointed time we were taken into a classroom with 5 tables where we could work in sets of two.<br />
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It was great fun, we donned leather aprons, inhaled alcoholic clouds, mixed some cocktails, bantered a bit, made some boba style bubbles (woohoo)and drank the coctails we had made.<br />
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I was quite happy with this itself, but then we were led to a secret bar - 1783, where we got to taste a couple of the new flavours that Schweppes is coming out with. I can't wait for the cucumber one to hit the market, it is amazing!<br />
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We also had a choice of cocktails mixed for us and got a chance to hang out and chat with other people in our group. I'm still curious about the group who popped in on their lunch break, did they get any work done after returning to office?<br />
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#ultimatemixer Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-63666919138288929152017-06-16T05:37:00.000+01:002017-10-13T05:40:06.070+01:00Camden Coffee House, London<a href="http://www.camdencoffeehouse.co.uk/">Camden Coffee House</a><br />
30 Camden Road<br />
London NW1 9DP <br />
<br />
Phone number 020 7428 9477 <br />
<br />
Given the high rating of this place, I've been trying for awhile to grab a coffee here, but they shut quite early (last orders around 16:45), so yesterday was the first time I actually managed to step in by 16:30 and order some takeaway coffee.<br />
<br />
The people at the counter were really sweet and polite and it looked like they had a lovely garden area downstairs.<br />
<br />
When we arrived, they warned us that they would be shutting in 20 minutes, in case we wanted to linger over our coffees. After 4 hours wandering around the warrens of Camden markets, We just needed to sit down for 5-10 minutes and get our caffeine fix before carrying on, so this wasn't a problem.<br />
<br />
The reason I haven't given the place a higher rating is<br />
1. The seats were low and slightly uncomfortable. (We sat upstairs) I understand the tighter fit (think economy seats on budget airlines) as their space is limited in a small shop, but they were really low or maybe it's just my bones growing older.<br />
<br />
I could ignore this completely as I mostly take my coffee to go and don't bother with sitting down.<br />
<br />
However,<br />
2. We ordered 2 iced coffees and my mum got a nice iced latte type coffee, but mine barely had a spot of milk in it. Mums looked and Tasted like it had been well blended, mine looked like a black coffee poured on ice and a spot of milk added to it.<br />
I had to go back and request more milk in my coffee as I couldn't drink it the way it was served.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, we were so hot and tired that mum finished her coffee before I even got up to add more milk to my coffee, so I didn't have the chance to click a comparative picture.<br />
<br />
Dad's hot latte was fine. I'm not sure if this was a shop / machine closing time problem, but if I order 2 of the same thing, I do expect them to look and taste similar.<br />
<br />
We had a lemon white chocolate muffin and that was good too, but for a coffee shop to not make my coffee right? I really wanted to like this place and was sadly disappointed.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating : 2/5</b>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-5369845545079935612017-06-05T05:44:00.000+01:002017-10-13T05:47:32.963+01:00Hofburgstüberl, ViennaHofburgstüberl<br />
Hofburg 4<br />
1010 Vienna<br />
Austria <br />
<br />
+43 1 5351932 <br />
<br />
Our cheapest sit down breakfast in Vienna. Thanks to <a href="https://www.ricksteves.com/">Rick Steeves</a> who recommended this place. It's quiet, a little haven in the midst of the Hofburg palace tourist throngs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsYqYEdN4Ff-udPXnDCnpjV4vb_JLRhqFnURTuiKwqFE9hekLAeyevHwPpjIK4tpAAvLQSSubpDlMoAmeNg0uXvwQ2YK4mojFwK2G1sr5c34u3UwZrh2NwcbxNo4XZPjciNmE/s1600/Hofburgst%25C3%25BCberl1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsYqYEdN4Ff-udPXnDCnpjV4vb_JLRhqFnURTuiKwqFE9hekLAeyevHwPpjIK4tpAAvLQSSubpDlMoAmeNg0uXvwQ2YK4mojFwK2G1sr5c34u3UwZrh2NwcbxNo4XZPjciNmE/s320/Hofburgst%25C3%25BCberl1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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When we entered, I was a little wary as to what this tiny cafe could
serve. It looks like one of those many tourist trap cafeterias.<br />
<br />
But
the young lady at the counter was super efficient and friendly. She had
sausages on the boil in various containers under the counter.<br />
<br />
We got our order including 2 melange (coffees) in under 5 minutes and were done with breakfast in 20 mins.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY88oxsmToKlg8oZqU_b5b0E2xW0NX47ikHBSPBvmfUNlV2kUud4HFnmRxL7OVwaF2wz2o4qUkom-g-go22AOTkxNNGEV3EwJv0YwJAJF2_cU9C4SUhv2LoP_8x011rMUQqwF/s1600/Hofburgst%25C3%25BCberl2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY88oxsmToKlg8oZqU_b5b0E2xW0NX47ikHBSPBvmfUNlV2kUud4HFnmRxL7OVwaF2wz2o4qUkom-g-go22AOTkxNNGEV3EwJv0YwJAJF2_cU9C4SUhv2LoP_8x011rMUQqwF/s320/Hofburgst%25C3%25BCberl2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Such a change from all the sedately paced coffee houses around town. I do enjoy a leisurely meal, but not when every minute lingering over a meal could have been spent at a sightseeing location, staring at the imperial crowns or a Klimt.<br />
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3 breakfast plates and 2 coffees and we had the seating space to ourselves all for the kingly sum of 13.5€ !<br />
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<b>Rating : 4.5 / 5</b>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0Vienna, Austria48.2081743 16.3738189000000647.8696338 15.728371900000059 48.546714800000004 17.019265900000061tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-71340052236847865362017-05-12T09:49:00.000+01:002017-05-12T09:49:02.757+01:00Shoryu Go, London<a href="https://www.shoryuramen.com/">Shoryu Go</a><br />
19 Air Street<br />
London W1B 5AG <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlSZ6l-8azTbSaqpj9-l3M7xsMRWmXUGMJQSEOtfyZOQxjfXIoz8ttfiRsw16LAkHg-J8QXK9qDEI2LNidBlQXjCil7gmv_IrwEME5ocufsYzOXkhafXIvN9x_K82-w7n3pQ1/s1600/Shoryu+Ramen+to+Go+%252826%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlSZ6l-8azTbSaqpj9-l3M7xsMRWmXUGMJQSEOtfyZOQxjfXIoz8ttfiRsw16LAkHg-J8QXK9qDEI2LNidBlQXjCil7gmv_IrwEME5ocufsYzOXkhafXIvN9x_K82-w7n3pQ1/s320/Shoryu+Ramen+to+Go+%252826%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The first time I went to <a href="https://www.shoryuramen.com/">Shoryu Go</a>, it was because this is the only ramen "specialised" outlet that packed it as takeaway. <br />
<br />
I'd ordered 4 ramens and some buns, but when I got home I realised that one of the ramens hadn't been packed. I called them and they said that unfortunately, I would have to come back to the store either to get the money returned on my card or to pick up a fresh ramen to replace the one that had got left out. I told them I would only be back in the area after a week and they said that would not be a problem.<br />
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When I returned after a week the manager refunded the money on my card AND offered me a complimentary ramen for the trouble. Which I unfortunately had to decline as I had a lunch appointment elsewhere and couldn't be carrying a takeaway bag to the other places on my agenda.<br />
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Yesterday, we wanted a quick snack before heading to the Haymarket Theatre and I immediately thought of their buns. Since it was early and Shoryu Go is a small place (They have a few canteen style seats - about 10) and it was on our way, I hoped for quick service and yummy food.<br />
<br />
We just focussed on the gyoza and the buns. The pork gyoza (£7 - 6 pieces) are much better than the chicken gyoza (£7 - 6 pieces) IMHO and if you have them to eat in, they fry them in a pan so they get all joined together in a very pretty lacy design.<br />
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Their buns (£4.50 per piece) are absolutely amazing. We tried the chicken karaage, pork belly and salmon tempura and I'm hard pressed to decide which was my favourite.<br />
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Loved the yuzu drink (£3.50) too, a nice change from regular lemonade.<br />
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Shoryu doesn't offer my favourite Ramen in London, that honour goes to <a href="http://www.kanada-ya.com/">Kanada-Ya</a> and <a href="https://www.bonedaddies.com/">Bone Daddies</a>, but they are very good and they offer takeaway (only at this outlet)<br />
<br />
There are some offers that discount your bill if you order particular combinations or based on the days of the week, so do see what the offer of the day is.<br />
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<b>Rating : 4 / 5</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.zomato.com/london/shoryu-go-soho" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Shoryu Go, Soho and other Restaurants in London" target="_blank"><img alt="Shoryu Go Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/6122256/minilogo" style="border:none;width:104px;height:15px;padding:0px;" /></a> <br />
Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-18449227580895315102017-05-11T10:00:00.000+01:002017-05-11T10:00:22.533+01:00The Flour Station Bakery, London<a href="http://theflourstation.com/">The Flour Station Bakery</a><br />
91 North Yard<br />
Camden <br />
London NW1 8AH <br />
020 8457 2098 <br />
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<a href="http://theflourstation.com/">The Flour Station Bakery</a> has an industrial interior and serves up baked goods and cold meats. Cold meats and drinks come from their curated suppliers.<br />
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I was in the area for the <a href="https://www.camdenmarket.com/events/theres-good-news-and-then-theres-even-gouda-news">Camden cheese festival</a> this weekend and wanted to pick up some breads to accompany the multiple cheeses I had bought.<br />
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Their English muffins (£1 each) were ok. The jalapeño corn bread(£1.50 each) was good, but I had to fry them in a pan to get a crisper crust, like I prefer. The sticky toffee buns(£2.40 each)are very similar in flavour to cinnabon, but with less sugar, so it's a great way to enjoy the pecan toffee cinnamon bread combination. The brownies (£2.50 each) however were the crowning glory. Absolutely decadently satisfying.<br />
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They advertise their scones as the best, but there weren't any left by the time I got there.<br />
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I tried the locally made ginger beer from Hackney by <a href="http://www.squarerootsoda.co.uk/">Square Root London</a>, and it was lovely.<br />
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I'd go back, but for the sweet stuff rather than the breads.<br />
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<b>Rating : 3 / 5</b>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-49238112212036737032017-05-11T01:26:00.000+01:002017-05-11T02:31:25.884+01:00Rapha Cycle Club, London<a href="http://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/">Rapha Cycle Club</a><br />
85 Brewer Street<br />
Soho <br />
London W1F 9ZN<br />
Phone number 020 7494 9831 <br />
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It's a coffee shop inside a cycle store. The cycle store is amazing if you are a cyclist, but my only self propelled motion activity is walking, so I have to confess I haven't paid too much attention to the store itself.<br />
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I've only ever picked up takeaway coffee from them and the coffee is worth a little detour when you are in the Piccadilly Circus area.<br />
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They do have seating space with large tables and I've always seen people working on their laptops or having quick meetings here. So it's a nice quiet space to get some work done too with awesome coffee on the side. <br />
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They offer some basic snacks and lunch options too. But that coffee is 5* and what keeps bringing me back. The staff is pretty awesome too.<br />
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<b>Rating : 4.5 / 5</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.zomato.com/london/rapha-cycle-club-cafe-soho" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Rapha Cycle Club Cafe, Soho and other Restaurants in London" target="_blank"><img alt="Rapha Cycle Club Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/6117135/minilink" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px;padding:0px;" /></a> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-18310348869709658412017-04-30T22:30:00.000+01:002017-10-13T06:22:09.612+01:00Bibigo Bar & Dining, London<a href="http://bibigouk.com/">Bibigo Bar & Dining</a><br />
58-59 Great Marlborough Street<br />
London W1F 7JY <br />
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Phone number 020 7042 5225 <br />
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After a long day trip, I was too tired to cook dinner and wanted something super spicy and protein packed. Ordered home delivery from Bibigo (via amazon prime)<br />
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The menu is limited, but whatever we ordered was very good. So much better than the other place we normally order from. The mixed meat dumplings were amazing as were the pork bulgogi & the ribs.<br />
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The squid & red chicken starter were yum too.<br />
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Since he wanted noodles, I ordered the japchae- while it was in the starters section, the quantity was substantial enough for a main course, especially since it was the thicker style of glass noodles.<br />
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Loved the food. Will definitely order in again and maybe even visit if we are close enough.<br />
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<b>Rating : 4 / 5</b><br />
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<a href="http://bibigouk.com/#menu">Bibigo Menu</a><br />
Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0London, UK51.5073509 -0.1277582999999822351.1912379 -0.77320529999998222 51.8234639 0.51768870000001777tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8096367.post-68954467375768655872017-04-23T19:00:00.000+01:002017-10-13T06:31:49.261+01:00Rita, Marseille<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/Ritalepanier/about/?ref=stream">Rita</a><br />
36 rue Sainte-Françoise<br />
13002 Marseille<br />
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+33 6 49 45 92 52 <br />
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Stopped here for coffee after a long day of walking and sightseeing.<br />
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The service was lovely and friendly and the Cafe Latte was the best I had in Marseille over the weekend. It really energised us enough to continue walking for another 3 hours after.<br />
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There were tables inside, but they were all taken. We sat on one of the two small tables outside and it was quite pleasant watching other tourists stroll in and out of the arty type shops around.<br />
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Rita was a lovely full stop to the half day we had spent in this particular area.<br />
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<b>Rating : 5 / 5</b>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14687803417221589161noreply@blogger.com0Marseille, France43.296482 5.369779999999991642.926569 4.7243329999999917 43.666394999999994 6.0152269999999914