#foodcony

[marylcony]

Back to healthy food after Xmas... couscous, mushrooms, pepper, cherry tomatoes with posched egg and arugula with yoghurt topping. . . #marylcony #foodcony #foodporn #foodoftheday #couscous #healthyfood #healthymeal #wellbalanceddiet #veggies #vegetarianmeal #homemadefood #healthycooking

[marylcony]

Autumn Sunday 🍁 It's time for tatin de poires 🍐 Provence recipe with Slovak pears 😋 Honey parfum filled home 💓 . . #marylcony #foodie #foodporn #sunday #autumn #autumn2017 #tatindepoires #peartart #provence #provencecookeryschool #frenchcuisine #foodcony #dnespeciem

[marylcony]

Celebration of #onam yesterday. Lovely day 😎 with lovely food& people #onamcelebration #beautifulpeople #keralablogexpress #kerala #indianadventure #travelcony #foodcony #foodie #foodporn #travelblogger

[marylcony]

Lazy Asian not-noodles

Being a foodie and lazy at the same time is the worst combination ever! Imagine this: it’s Saturday almost lunch time, you’re starving, your fridge is almost empty, you’re lazy and you’re the last days before payday so food delivery is not an option! Moreover you are foodie and feel like eating something freakin delicious. Nightmare, right?!?!?

This is the right time for my delicious emergency improvised Asian noodles with fries, which doesn’t actually include noodles. Wait…what? Noodles without noodles? Right. Instead of rice noodles you use carrots. (This really wasn’t the original plan but since I didn’t have any noodles at home… )

I promise, this dish is awesome, healthy and incredible tasty and EASY& LAZY! And if you feel like improvising, feel free to use any veggies you currently have at home (e.g. zucchini, Chinese cabbage, celery, etc.)

Ingredients (for 2 hungry people):

Sweet potato fries

2 large sweet potatoes

Salt, dried chilli, dried sweet paprika

Olive oil (not extra virgin, just the regular one)

You start with these, cause they need more time. Preheat the oven to 200 ˚ Celsius. Wash, peel and cut the potatoes into the fries shape. Place on the tray, drizzle  with oil, sprinkle with chilli and paprika, mix well. Put in the oven and bake about 20 min.  

Asian not- noodles

3 large carrots

2 shallots

2 garlic cloves

3 spring onions

2 bell peppers (ideally one yellow and one green to have colourful dish)

2 tofu or tempeh (I prefer smoked tofu or tempeh)

2 large eggs

Topping

Wild garlic (or any fresh herbs you prefer e.g. chive, coriander or parsley)

Juice from 1 lemon or 2 limes

1 teaspoon of fish sauce

2 tablespoons of soya sauce (I prefer tamari)

1 teaspoon of honey

Juice from larger piece of fresh ginger (about your thumb size)

Olive oil

First of all. How to make the carrot noodles if you don’t have the spiralizer? Just use the regular potato peeler. Easy. Hard-boil the eggs and cut them into slices. Cut the onions and garlic into the slices. Cut the peppers, spring onions and tofu into the smaller cubes.    

Mix together all the topping ingredients.

Heat the oil in the large pan. Add onion and garlic and fry or a while. After getting gold, add peppers and fry little bit more until the peppers are tender. Add carrots and tofu and fry until carrots are softer. It needs just few minutes; you don’t want the carrots be overcooked! Finally add the topping and mix well so all the tastes come together. Finally top with the eggs.

Serve hot with sweet potato fries. Enjoy! Bon appetit.

[marylcony]

My best places to experience in Hanoi

As I am not a huge fan of vaccination I am not the right person to tell you, where to eat the best street food in Vietnam. But I am for sure one of the best travel foodies you can meet, so I can give you advice for some great restaurants we’ve visited in Hanoi. I also like authentic places with charm and soul, so you can also get idea where to see some Vietnamese culture. Hanoi is huuge. You can easily spend there week and still have many things to see. We gave it totally 3 days and it was enough for us. The reason is, we were too excited to see other places, which are more green, less crowded or noisy. But if you are that party&noisy loving type, spend in Hanoi more time, you will love it.

History & culture places

1. Old Quarter: this district together with the Hoan Kiem Lake District is the top for me because of its history and authenticity.  Brows the streets of the Old Quarter, experience the pulsing live, see the street markets and street food. Don’t miss there the Bach Ma temple.

2. Hoan Kiem Lake: looking for a good and cheap restaurant or for some park to get rest it? This is the right place for you. Read the legend about the lake, magic sword and the powerful turtle- see the tiny island in the middle? There’s the place, where the turtle lives. Visit also the “bigger” island with the Ngoc Son temple- the most visited temple in Hanoi and favourite place of wedding photographers. Hanoi is a multicultural city; the proof is The St. Josephs Cathedral- impressive neo-gothic building. My personal tip is also the Đình Nam Hương temple, which you find hidden on the Hàng Trống street. Such a marvelous small temple! If you’re lucky and come the right time, you can experience some Buddhist ceremony going there. Be sure to visit in the evening, its lovely in the evening lights.

3. Temple of Literature: if you’re living in the old quarter, it takes you about 20 minutes’ walk to get there. If you google this place, you see, that it’s one of the most favourite historic sites in Hanoi. And it’s really worth the visit. Be prepared for ladies selling hand fans in front of the temple. They are too persistent. Temple itself is a nice place, but if visiting during a hot day, there’s not really any bench in shade to rest. On the other hand you may meet some schoolkids willing to practice English with you, which is sweet.  You can also admire nice architecture, bonsais and when getting too tired, have a great lunch in a nearby restaurant- see below.

4. Complex of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: let’s be honest. To truly appreciate the mausoleum you have to be a huge concrete or Ho Chi Minh lover. This is really an ugly building and there’s nothing to admire from the architecture point of view. The more interesting part of this complex is green surroundings, One Pillar Pagoda and people say botanical gardens and Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House. Can’t tell if it is the truth about the last two, because during our visit this part of the complex was closed. We tried to find our way around but the soldiers were scary enough. Be prepared, that the complex is far away from the Old Quarter, so take a taxi. We also took a walk around the complex to the big Tay Ho Lake, but didn’t find anything interesting there, so spare you a visit. 

             Eat & Drink heaven

There are so many great dining options in Hanoi that naming just a few really feels like an offense. I list here the ones, I found top from the all we have visited. From the beginning of our holiday till its end I had a feeling, that our trip is JUST ABOUT THE FOOD. But it’s so delicious and fresh there that one can hardly resist eating at least 5 times a day! Positive thing: I still managed to lose 3 kgs during 3 weeks and my mum even 5! So, don’t count calories and EAT.

1. KOTO Restaurant: This place is just FANTASTIC. Location, place, atmosphere, service, food, food styling, prices, fresh flowers and fresh flowers on the toilets. Seriously, one of the most beautiful toilets in the whole Vietnam. (Actually the third most beautiful. The most beautiful are in Sapa, second in Ho Chi Minh city- wait for the reviews coming soon). But let’s talk about the food, or in this case food porn.

The place has 4 floors; you can enjoy beautiful view to the Temple of Literature. Imagine, being super tired after admiring history and architecture in the temple and then you find your way here. Sit, relax, soak in the atmosphere and when it can’t get any better they bring you menu. All of sudden you feel the pressure to choose from this beautiful novel you’re reading. But don’t worry, there’s helpful and nice staff to save you and give you advice. I am also sure, that you cannot go wrong with any choice. Have some nice drink first to support your appetite and chill little bit. Take a time. There’s no rush at this place. I can assure you, that you will not only have a foodie experience but also good inner feeling. Restaurant is run as a charitable project to help disadvantage children and young adults. Having a gourmet experience plus doing something good for a society? Amazing, right?!

2. Café Pho Co: This café is a hidden treasure of Hanoi. You may find it difficult to locate, but trust me; it’s worth all the effort! To enter, you have to go through silk shop and then climb a stairs up. It has several floors, but the top is best because of the stunning view. Served coffee and fresh juices are wonderful and refreshing. Stuff doesn’t speak much English, but its common in Vietnam and they are willing to try enough to please you. They serve special coffee with egg white, so if you are brave enough, you can try. We didn’t cause again, we didn’t have any vaccinations. As everywhere in Vietnam, if you want not sweet coffee, be sure to tell them in advance. Otherwise, they put condensed milk in your coffee, which is good but extreme sweet combination.

3. La Place: Charming, small and friendly restaurant next to The St. Josephs Cathedral. La Place is favourite place to go not only among tourists but locals as well. Go upstairs and take the place with the view to the cathedral- although during the day you may prefer sitting inside, where the AC is running. You find here friendly and English speaking staff. Plus they have dishes like pho, noodles but also some western style sandwiches.  Fresh juices and coffee are delicious as well and prices very affordable.  

4. Bar Betta: Stylish retro bar situated in the French colonial style villa short walk from The Temple of Literature. Jazz atmosphere with retro decorations and happy hour starting at 3 pm. Its peaceful place during the afternoon to have a drink and send some emails home, write a blog or plan your next trip.

Remember, some of the best places are to be found of the track. So don’t be afraid and EXPLORE.      

[marylcony]

When it's freezing & snowing outside, there's nothing better than a warm blueberry cheesecake and a cup of masala tea. Moreover if the cake if healthy! #wholespelledflour #healthylifestyle #healthyfood #blueberrycheesecake #marylcony #foodcony #foodie #foodporn

[marylcony]

Having a nice bowl of homemade #phởchay #phochay #vietnamesefood #vietnam #eatinghealthy #marylcony #foodcony

[marylcony]

My beloved Bun no Nam Bo. Vietnamese cuisine is just awesome :) #marylcony #foodcony #vietnam #vietnamesefood #bunbonambo