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Mango & Strawberry Crepe with Mango & Strawberry Ice Cream @ Cookies & Cream, Mile End
Bar the whipped cream (which I dislike), this was a lovely little treat! Bit of my 5 a day there to compensate for all the sugar lol. It's open really late for a dessert place so it's a nice place to swing by when you've a sweet tooth late at night and are at a loose end. =)
(Link: http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1150/115740.php)
Prawn Katsu, Chilli Squid, Kimchi Pancake & Raw Fillet Beef Bibimbap @ Bibimbap, Soho
Mix of friend starters. I think the chilli quid was probably the best. It tasted different from just normal calamari, less batter but it was still nice.
Mmmm.. bibimbap! Classic. I know it might look 'scary' - raw beef and raw egg.. OMG DEATH. Lol, not quite, it's served in a hot stone bowl so the food actually stays warm AND cooks the raw ingredients if you mix it up well once it arrives on your table! In some restaurants the waiter mixes it for you (I think it's a politeness thing?) So when you're eating it, it's not raw, it's cooked! IT'S YUM. Defo a try if you haven't tried Korean food, it's pretty healthy; underneath the egg and beef is a bed of vegetables (beansprouts, spinach, carrots) on a bed of white rice. I think this place is pretty cheap too so it's good for something quick and easy. The decor of the place is typically Asian, there's polaroid photos of what I can only assume are past customers which fill the walls, it's pretty cool.. it can feel a tad boxy or claustrophobic when you're looking at them as you eat though lol.
(Link: http://bibimbapsoho.co.uk/menu.php)
Steak @ Chapter One, Kent
The is by far the best steak I have ever eaten. I've been to Steak & Co (not all that), Gauchos (amazing and 2nd favourite) but this takes the cake! It is from a Michelin star restaurant after all! My first venture to one and it's actually decently priced, considering (I've actually been twice but only got the steak once lol). I don't remember exactly what it was called on the menu as it always changes - seasonal menus. I know it has caramelised onions, mash potatoes... something else. I just remember it was SO GOOD. I mean, it's expensive for just going out to a meal but for the right celebration like a birthday or something, it doesn't break the bank like you'd think a Michelin star restaurant would even though it is a highly regarded establishment.
The lighting wasn't great for the picture but it's not exactly a place you go taking flash snap shots of food if you know what I mean lol.
(Link: http://www.chapteronerestaurant.co.uk/section.php/6/1/michelin-star-restaurant-menus-kent/130ce913d6ba31d088ed51d3f89fb488)
Vietnamese New Year Feast @ Home!
Sorry I've been away, end of January - February was a busy time with Vietnamese New Year and other projects and things I've been focusing on! But I'm going to try and catch up - bear with me. I've still got a massive backlog of food places =D
Here's a selection of food my family eat on Lunar New Year. Happy (super belated) Lunar New Year.
For lunch we have salt and pepper lobster, home made bánh tét (the traditional Lunar New Year cake), canh khổ qua (stuffed bitter melon soup), chả (Vietnamese 'pork roll/sausage' - I don't know the correct English term for it), Thịt kho (pork braised in coconut juice with eggs) and roast duck, eaten with white rice. These dishes can vary but staple for my family every year are bitter melon soup and the pork braised in coconut juice with eggs. I'm not 100% sure but I think it stems from the fact that my parents, particularly my dad came from quite poor family backgrounds back in Vietnam and these were little luxuries, though to the average person now, these foods seem very basic and modest foods. So, when we cook and eat this for Lunar New Year, my dad makes enough to feed about a dozen people, when we're a family of four + my brother's girlfriend so five, and we eat it over a course of a few days. I like to think the principle of having it along with, you know lobster or roast duck etc, is to humble ourselves even though we are better off now than they were back then.
Bánh tét (the traditional Lunar New Year cake) is made up of pork wrapped in green/mung bean paste with a thick layer of in glutinous rice all the way around, wrapped in banana leaves and boiled.
For dinner, traditional hotpot! Seafood - including prawns and octopus - hotpot with mushrooms, vegetables and vermicelli noodles. Fundamental for any Vietnamese feast and of course we're Asian so our food is, more times than most, communal.
Home Baking: Salted Caramel Macaroons
So, I <3 macaroons. Like, if they weren't so expensive for such a tiny thing that just gets digested, I would probably eat them everyday. They are yum. In sight of this, I decided to try and make them myself! Of course they're not going to be as amazing but hey, I like to experiment and I like to learn new things. I was pretty pleased they turned out okay for a first try.. thought I'd share it lol.
People say macaroons are really hard to make because they're very easy to get wrong during several steps in the production. Bearing this in mind, I went slowly, steadily but surely.. they came out pretty good! I didn't wanna mess around with too much, too soon right off the bat of it, since it was my first time so I concentrated on the macaroons and cut the frills of colours and extra flavours. Hence, I present to you my proud accomplishment - my first attempt at macaroons with a homemade salted caramel filling! =D
Pineapple Rice @ Thai Silk, The O2 (North Greenwich)
Pineapple rice.. served on a pineapple! So, this particular branch doesn't actually exist anymore lol, they got bought out and replaced but the brand is still around. Before this I had not really eaten Thai food too often before, but it was a good treat! The most unusual thing was the rice! I didn't think you could really jazz up rice, a staple I eat almost everyday if not more than once a day but apparently, you can, and the Thai know how to do it! It tasted really flavourful! Since, I've also tried coconut rice and it is THE BOMB. Thai food is fast becoming one of my favourite cuisines. Especially Thai curries, talk about taste!
(Link: http://www.thaisilkrestaurant.co.uk/whats_on_the_menu.htm)
Pad Thai Wrapped in an Omelette (YES!) @ Lambeth North/Waterloo
Behold this masterpiece of food! Pad Thai is made up of soaked dried rice noodles which are stir-fried with eggs and chopped tofu, and flavoured with tamarind pulp, fish sauce dried shrimp, garlic or shallots, red chili pepper and palm sugar, and served with lime wedges and often chopped roasted peanuts. It is delicious on it's own but I saw it combined with an omelette and just could not say no. It is usually served as street food and that's exactly how I got it.
A workmate of mine from a place I volunteering at took me along a strip of road where there were a bunch of stalls serving a variety of cultured dishes on our lunch break, it was incredible! It is somewhere around Lambeth North Station and Waterloo Station. I don't remember the street name which is a pain but it's not even a 5 minute walk from Lambeth North Station and only a road or two away if I remember correctly.
This was actually my last lunch before I took part in the 'Live Below The Line' Challenge last year so yes, I kind of indulged. I don't usually do things by halves when it comes to food. Definitely check out the challenge, it was very eye-opening and a test of discipline to do, especially because I love, love, love food ;P
Hokkaido Curry Ramen @ Shoryu, Regent Street
Priced at about £12 a bowl, it consists of rich curry-soy pork broth with crispy kara-age chicken, nitamago (egg), nori (seaweed), menma (fermented bamboo shoots), naruto fish cake and spring onion. The curry taste is a nice touch to the broth. A lot of the times in Asian dishes, I know especially Vietnamese dishes is that the taste, and the time put in goes into the broth. This is always, to me, worth remembering when you're eating such food. Hearty serving with a twist in taste of the classic ramen noodles!
(Link: http://www.shoryuramen.com/stores/1-regent-st/categories)
Sizzling Kimchi Soup & Rice @ ASSA, Tottenham Court Road
I've eaten at quite a few Korean restaurants in central London and ASSA, though not my favourite, I have eaten here a number of times, so it can't be bad. I don't remember what the actual dish was called but it was bubbling hot (as you can probably see) and spicy! This was a fair while ago, I think it has tofu, vegetables and maybe pork in it served with rice. There's some typical sides or sweetened and pickled seaweed and bean sprouts. This place is good for a budget meal and it still tastes good. I spent a few of my student meals here.
The service, to be honest, is not that great. Considering it's pretty small (I think they do have a downstairs but I've never been) it takes ages for the food to come out but it is good when it comes and a lot of the dishes are well portioned so you kind of forgive the lack of attention they pay you from time to time. I've been back so clearly it doesn't bother me too much lol.
(Link: http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant-3775.php)
Homemade Vietnamese Dish: Bánh bao
This is just a picture of my lovely dad making Vietnamese/Chinese steamed pork buns from scratch! =D It's basically a roundish shaped bun that has grounded meat (pork or chicken), onions (I think), Chinese mushrooms and vegetables and egg (usually a small boiled quail egg or a slice of a regular boiled egg). It can also have Chinese sausage too. I have perfected the 'folding' of the bun but the rest needs work, it's not too complicated though so I know I'll get there when I MAKE THE TIME GRR. xD
You can get versions of these in local Chinese/Vietnamese supermarkets and in Chinatown. My dad's are the best though.. not that I'm biased or anything. AND, do you see how messy a cook my dad is?! He brought it into the living room, just in-case there wasn't enough mess in the kitchen lol. This is why as good of a cook as he is, he could not be a chef cause he'd never clean up after himself lol.
Mussels & Chips @ Belgo's, Covent Garden
Firstly, Happy 2014 all! Sorry I've been neglectful, it's been a busy festive few weeks. Not my best start, I must say, I was ill on New Years and now I've sprained my ankle.. "sprained" anything for the first time ever. I've never broken any bones or anything *touches wood* but hey ho! I'm on the mend now, limping around like a jackass on the road lol, definitely take for granted that I walk an awful lot on a daily basis but onwards and upwards. So let's go!
My first taste of mussels in a restaurant that actually specialises in mussels and I have to say, they were pretty amazing! I got the 'SNOB' which is mussels in a rich lobster, champagne and cream bisque (I don't know what 'bisque' means, I'm assuming sauce/soup) with a side of chips. It's definitely all about the 'bisque' sauce. It's rich and creamy and just yum! Couldn't get enough. It was really filling too considering it didn't look it to me, I though "oh it's mainly shells so ofc. it looks like a big serving", it was a big serving. I was stuffed! It's a decent meal, it's seafood so tad pricey but I think it's a good deal at around £15, before drinks. I'm not an alcohol drinker but my friends did mention this place just especially good fruit ciders and beers, I think? I tried some and they weren't too bad considering I don't like alcohol. Really worth a try, if you fancy tickling your taste-buds and treating them to something a bit different =D (no innuendos please!)
(Link: http://www.belgo-restaurants.co.uk/menus/belgo-centraal/main-menu)
Turkish Food @ Levante, Lewisham
Real Turkish food cooking! ;P
Great little discovery! This Turkish restaurant is not far from Lewisham shopping Centre and is a great cosy little place that does really good food imo, not what I expected from it's location (let's be honest, it's not the most done up area..), it's surrounded by simple little cafés, chip shops etc. The staff here are a good laugh, absent at times but friendly. It's a great local little place, I've been to more than once =] Turkish food is so filling!
(Left to right: Turkish pizza, yoghurt kebab, lamb guvec and mixed salads)
(Link: http://www.levanterestaurant.co.uk/main.html)
Chilli Beef Enchiladas @ Giraffe, Russell Square (The Brunswick)
Went here a while back, brings back, The Brunswick, spent many a lunch around here during my uni days =P
Giraffe is a weird restaurant, my friends call it the 'confused' restaurant with no identity because it serves food from all over the place lol. From a Vietnamese salad, to a Mexican Enchiladas to a typical American burger or ribs. Having said that, I like it. It's great for the indecisive person like myself when you're walking around not sure what you want to eat but know you're hungry so you want to eat something - I go here. Then, I usually find something that satisfies my rumbling belly by the time I've had a look at the menu xD
(Link: http://www.giraffe.net/classic/menu/mains)
Sushi Bento @ Misatos, Leicester Square (Chinatown)
(Left to right: Prawn salad, maki - cucumber rolls, salmon rolls, salmon and avocado rolls, nigiri - salmon, shrimp, tuna and (I think) mackeral, I don't remember what those fried dumpling looking things were lol and of course edamame beans mmm..)
Cheap and cheerful place to go in central London for Japanese food with generous portions! My go-to dishes are usually the bento box or katsu curry (which they've changed the recipe for so it's not as nice, but hey, it's value for money and still tastes good anyway). Most main dishes are less than a £10 and it's sure to fill you up, I think they average out at around £6-8 for a main, not 100%, not been there for a little while and I have a bad memory but it's about that.
(Link: http://www.chinatownlondon.org/page/misato/167)
Desserts @ Las Iguanas, Stratford Westfields
Pecan Ice Cream
Aztec Chocolate Fudge Cake & Dulce De Leche & Macadamia Cheesecake
Las Iguanas is one of my favourite restaurants to eat at so I've tried A LOT of the dishes there lol, rarely disappointed with the mains. Their desserts on the other hand... The macadamia nut cheesecake is by far the best. Most of the others that I have tried, disappointed me tbh, the chocolate orange cake (Aztec Chocolate Fudge cake) is pretty good too but I remember ordering the "Berry Mess"... there was literally one berry on the top, lol! Then again, it did say b-e-r-r-y. Singular. The Caramel cake was nice but just tasted basic. Like a Madeira cake with a nice sweet caramel sauce and exactly 3 blueberries on top. I was like, seriously.. 3 blueberries. Is this what counts as "blueberrIES" now lol. Hard times. I still enjoy eating here nonetheless!
(Link: http://www.iguanas.co.uk/food)
Vegetarian Burrito @ Las Iguanas, Stratford Westfields
The burrito is another dish that I tend to prefer vegetarian. Las Iguanas have actually changed the ingredients for their vegetarian burrito so the one above, I think it had butternut squash, spinach.. and few other things but it was THE BOMB. You get more different flavours than in a normal beef burrito, imo xD So good. The side is a black bean sauce on the side. I have tried the new vegetarian burrito which has garlicky mushroom, chilli and thyme. You can DEFINITELY taste the garlic! I like garlic but it was pretty overpowering, it was okay, still a nice meal but I much prefer their old one. Maybe it's a seasonal thing and they'll bring it back, I'm not sure.
(Link: http://www.iguanas.co.uk/food)
Homemade Vietnamese Mixed Hotpot: Lẩu Thái Thập Cẩm
Asian food being communal food, we're big on sharing. Hotpot is a classic example, it tends to be quite expensive just because the ingredients are fresh but it's totally worth it. Prerequisite for pretty much any authentic Vietnamese households! It mixes different salads, herbs and vegetables with meat and/or fish all cooked in the "hot pot", a saucepan on a portable hob in a broth that varies depending on the specific hotpot.
There's different ways to eat a hot pot, it can be eaten with rice vermicelli noodles in a bowl with the broth, or usually the ingredients are cooked and used to make fresh summer rolls.