tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79250717552743734772024-03-04T23:17:24.437-08:00 Brunch etc.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-87286470559190242902015-07-17T03:28:00.001-07:002015-07-17T03:31:05.161-07:00A weekend of walking in the Yorkshire DalesEarlier this summer I spent a very wholesome weekend walking in the Yorkshire Dales with my dad and youngest brother.<br />
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Optimistically we had set out with the intention to complete <a href="http://www.threepeakschallenge.uk/yorkshire-three-peaks-challenge/" target="_blank">The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge</a>, a gruelling 25 mile slog encompassing the three highest peaks in the dales (Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough) which must be completed within twelve hours.<br />
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However, while London was warm and sunny when I left (and returned) the weather in Yorkshire was a bit more temperamental, with heavy rain on the Friday night continuing into Saturday morning and spoiling our hopes of an early start.<br />
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We decided to wait for the rain to die down and to set off later in the day for a slightly shorter, more scenic route instead - after a visit to the Wensleydale Creamery to try some of the famous local cheese (fuel for later on!)<br />
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There was a fantastic array of different Wensleydale cheeses to try, with exotic combinations including mango, pineapple and blueberry, along with the classic cranberry and apricot varieties. Unfortunately we came at the wrong time for the dairy tour, but made up for it with tea and fantastic scones in the cafe, and left loaded with cheesy souvenirs to take home.<br />
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By 11am the lashing rain had shifted into a light drizzle, so we parked up near Pen-y-ghent and set off. In general the first three hours were great. The walk to the top of Pen-y-ghent wasn't too challenging and we were rewarded with beautiful views of the hills and dales. As time went on, the hike because more and more difficult. The elements that had been fun to start with (steep ascents and descents; clambering over rocks and down roughly hewn stone staircases) became exhausting as the hours went by, and we became increasingly glad we hadn't attempted the full challenge!<br />
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The route we followed was a lot further than originally estimated (by my dad counting the squares on the map) and we didn't make it back to our starting point to collect the car, giving up and staggering back to our hostel instead. The final stretch had some of the best scenery: we passed by Malham Tarn, a creepy, sinister lake (see the photo below!), and Malham Cove, an impressive rock formation (with some even more impressive rock climbers scaling the cliff face).<br />
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<i>Malham Tarn...spooky!</i></div>
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After our long day of walking, we rewarded ourselves with a well-deserved pub dinner at <a href="http://listerarms.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Lister Arms</a>, a lovely, very traditional English Inn on the village green. We stuffed ourselves with enormous plates of fish and chips and some much needed glasses of wine and local ale.<br />
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After dinner we hobbled round the corner to the <a href="http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/malham" target="_blank">Malham Youth Hostel</a> (where we spent both nights). This was a friendly and comfortable spot, with a cosy living area, lots of board games, and a very hearty breakfast spread. There was a conspicuous absence of youths - instead the main clientele seemed to be incredibly fit hikers and fell runners in their 50s and 60s (our stay coincided with the <a href="http://www.malhamdaletrailrunning.co.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Malham Trail Challenge</a> which made our exertions look like a gentle stroll in comparison!)<br />
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<i>You know you're a Londoner when you start getting excited by all the sheep!</i></div>
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My dad and I set the alarm for 5am to go and collect the car (we had to leave by 10am the next morning as I had a train booked and my brother had a rugby game - which he was somehow able to play in despite the blisters!). We had another three hours of walking, which doesn't sound too bad - but with the steep hills and rough terrain (not to mention our aching feet) it was a real challenge. Having said that, it was very pretty watching the sun rise and mists slowly clearing.<br />
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<i>Limestone pavement at the top of Malham Cove</i></div>
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In conclusion - would I go back to the Yorkshire Dales? Definitely - the incredible scenery, picturesque villages, quaint cafes, and excellent pubs all provide a strong reason for another visit. Would I go back and do an eight hour walk, followed by three more hours early the next morning? Definitely not! I thought - having run half marathons, and generally being in pretty good shape - that the distance wouldn't pose a challenge, but it was one of the hardest things I've done - definitely more challenging than an 100-mile cycle or 13.1-mile run.<br />
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In the future, I'll be sticking to a maximum of two hours per day walking - a nice wander through the countryside to work up an appetite, a big pub lunch, and a little walk afterwards to help digest!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-10611196854519834082015-06-22T08:08:00.002-07:002015-06-22T08:10:29.310-07:00New York - City Guide<span style="text-align: start;">I'm lucky enough to go to NY four or five times a year with work, which has given me an amazing opportunity to see the city across the different seasons (ranging from -17C and blizzards in January, to blue skies and cherry blossoms in Spring, and tarmac-melting heat in August...) And while I'm a die-hard London girl, there are definitely parts of New York that I've grown to love as much, if not more, than my home town.</span>
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<i>Sunset over Queensboro Bridge</i></div>
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My first experiences weren't the best - I made the mistake of staying in Midtown both times (once - even worse - near Times Square) and experienced the crowd-thronged side-walks and traffic-choked grid system that are the city at its worst. By my fourth trip, I had got the hang of it - booking boutique hotels in laid-back Chelsea, West Village and Tribeca and relying on local recommendations to uncover some seriously good places to eat.<br />
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<i>Sunrise from my 46th floor office in Midtown</i></div>
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<b>Brunch</b><br />
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Until recently, my favourite brunch spot in NYC was <a href="http://www.goodrestaurantnyc.com/" target="_blank">Good</a>, a lovely restaurant in Greenwich Village. The buttermilk pancakes with orange butter and toasted almonds are fantastic, and the Cazuela baked eggs - a decadent dish combining leeks, gruyere, crisy bacon, parmesan croutons and copious amounts of cream - is definitely worth the calories (which is saying something!)<br />
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However, on my last trip, this was overtaken by the amazing meal I had at the <a href="http://www.tipsyparson.com/" target="_blank">Tipsy Parson</a>, a quirky West Chelsea restaurant specialising in rib-sticking Southern comfort food. My boyfriend and I shared the BBQ pulled pork with fried eggs and corn spoonbread (an amazing cornmeal concoction, halfway between a souffle and a pudding), fried chicken and waffles (maple syrup and chicken make a surprisingly good pairing), and the cheese and bacon grits, which were incredible. I've never really understood the appeal of grits - the versions I've tried previously have tasted a lot like buttery porridge - but these totally converted me. A rich cornmeal pudding topped with a thick crust of melted cheese and crumbles of cripsy bacon. Not the healthiest of sides, but definitely one of the tastiest!<br />
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<i>Tucking into chicken and waffles at The Tipsy Parson</i></div>
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Aside from those two favourites, here are a few of my other best-loved brunch spots:<br />
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<a href="http://www.bubbys.com/" target="_blank">Bubby's</a> for enormous fluffy pancakes with wild blueberry sauce. Follow with a walk on the High Line or along the Tribeca waterfront, depending which branch you go to.<br />
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<a href="http://beautyandessex.com/home/" target="_blank">Beauty and Essex</a> for tapas-style brunch dishes to share in Lower East Side (the brunch pizetta, kale and apple salad, and vanilla beignets were my favourites). If you're in the mood for something a little special, they have a champagne brunch from 1pm til 6pm every Sunday.<br />
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Closer to Central Park (and if you're feeling a little flash) - <a href="http://www.parkermeridien.com/eat/normas/" target="_blank">Norma's</a> at Le Parker Meridien is the perfect location for a glamorous girly brunch. The rock lobster and asparagus omelette (with a side order of hollandaise for dipping) is delicious and Norma's eggs benedict is served on pancakes (enough said). Best of all, you can book in advance, so no queueing.<br />
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<span style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Me enjoying brunch in Brooklyn</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.abchome.com/eat/abc-kitchen/" target="_blank">ABC Kitchen</a> - with an aspirational browse in the homestore next door</div>
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<a href="http://www.eggrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Egg</a> - I've actually heard mixed reviews on this one - and damnit, I don't want to queue! - but despite giving up on my last two attempted visits, I do really love eggs, and biscuits, so hopefully some day I'll get to eat here!</div>
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<a href="http://rootnbone.com/" target="_blank">Root & Bone</a> - Southern comfort food in Alphabet City. Because I still haven't tried shrimp and grits.</div>
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<a href="http://www.buttermilkchannelnyc.com/" target="_blank">Buttermilk Channel</a> - Carroll Gardens is one of my favourite areas in Brooklyn, so I don't need much of an excuse to go back. And this place is supposed to be great (pecan pie french toast, hello!)</div>
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I try and stay in a different hotel each time (and where possible, avoid chains in favour of cosy boutiques). Here are a few of my favourites so far:</div>
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<a href="http://www.tribecagrand.com/" target="_blank">The Tribeca Grand</a>. This hotel is seriously cool and perfectly placed for exploring the famous Tribeca culinary scene. I'd love to go back sometime for the <a href="http://www.grandlifehotels.com/event/grand-brunch-buffet-live-jazz-at-tribeca-grand/" target="_blank">Sunday brunch buffet</a> (with live jazz).</div>
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<a href="http://www.thejadenyc.com/" target="_blank">The Jade Hotel</a> - a lovely boutique on the edge of Greenwich Village with an excellent restaurant (<a href="http://www.grapeandvinenyc.com/" target="_blank">The Grape and Vine</a> - try the seared scallops with avocado mousse!)</div>
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<a href="http://www.dreamhotels.com/downtown/default-en.html" target="_blank">The Dream Downtown</a> - unfortunately I went in winter, so wasn't able to take advantage of the outdoor pool of this Chelsea establishment. The rooftop lounge-bar was buzzing though, and the lobby was full of glamorous model-types in short-short skirts and sky high heels every day of the week. Definitely a place to stay if you want to explore the NYC nightlife.</div>
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<a href="http://www.thehighlinehotel.com/" target="_blank">The High Line Hotel</a> - a beautiful building overlooking the High Line (more on this below). The rooms are gorgeous, with huge windows and original features. There's a great little coffee shop in the courtyard outside, and free bike hire too.</div>
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<i>The High Line Hotel</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.mandarinoriental.com/london/" target="_blank">The Mandarin Oriental</a> - on the expensive side, but perfect for a treat (I used my airmiles to take my Mum for Mother's Day weekend and we had a fantastic stay). Just minutes from Central Park, with stunning views and a <a href="http://www.parkermeridien.com/eat/burger-joint/" target="_blank">"secret" burger joint</a> which is supposed to be one of the best in New York. (<a href="http://www.parkermeridien.com/eat/normas/" target="_blank">Norma's</a> at Le Meridien also makes my list of best brunch spots)</div>
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For my next trip, I'm booked into <a href="http://www.standardhotels.com/high-line" target="_blank">The Standard, High Line</a> in Meatpacking. I've eaten there before and am very excited to finally stay (and to check out the views from the rooftop bar, <a href="http://www.standardhotels.com/high-line/food-drink/le-bain" target="_blank">Le Bain</a>, over a few cocktails!)</div>
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<b>Do</b></div>
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<i><i>Manhattan</i></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.thehighline.org/" target="_blank">The High Line</a>! I make sure to walk along the High Line every time I go to New York - the views are amazing and the foliage and flower beds change dramatically across the seasons. Wake up early on the weekend and get it almost to yourself for an amazing, traffic-free run (it tends to fill up with tour groups from 9am onwards, so set your alarm!)</div>
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<i>Crocuses on the tracks in early spring</i><br />
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<i>Lush foliage in June</i><br />
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<i>Autumn colours on an early morning run in November</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.chelseamarket.com/" target="_blank">Chelsea Market</a> - lots of nice shops to wander around and plenty of places to eat - the lobster rolls from The Lobster Place always look very tempting, though I haven't tried them yet! Chelsea Market often hosts samples sales so keep an eye out!</div>
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<a href="http://www.centralparknyc.org/things-to-see-and-do/attractions/running-track.html?referrer=https://www.google.co.uk/" target="_blank">Central Park reservoir</a> - this must be one of the most perfect running spots in Manhattan - springtime is especially beautiful, with hundreds of cherry blossom trees lining the water. On a still day the surface of the lake is like a mirror, reflecting back stunning views of the city skyline</div>
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<a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Metropolitan Museum of Art</a> - The Met is perfect for escaping the cold in winter - you'll definitely need a few visits to see everything though. The Ancient Near Eastern Art exhibit is my favourite</div>
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Morningside Heights - I feel like this part of Manhattan is somewhat neglected by tourists, but the area around Columbia and <a href="http://www.nycgovparks.org/park-features/riverside-park/virtual-tour" target="_blank">Riverside Park</a> is really worth a visit and is a lovely place for a walk on a sunny day (minus the crowds)</div>
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<a href="http://www.hudsonriverpark.org/" target="_blank">Hudson River Park</a> - another of my favourite running routes, this is the place to go for breath-taking sunsets (and to watch people walk their enormous, surely-too-big-for-Manhattan-apartment dogs - I've never seen so many Great Danes!)</div>
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<i>Sunset over the Hudson</i></div>
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Korean nail salons - for $10 manicures and excellent value pedicures, foot rubs, and pretty much anything else you can think of. Another great way to escape the weather outside in winter and high summer. <a href="http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/joy-nails-new-york" target="_blank">Joy Nails</a> is my go-to.</div>
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<i>Brooklyn</i></div>
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Williamsburg - I'm lucky to have a friend who lives here, so I head over every time I'm in New York. From super-cool bars, brunch spots and coffee shops, to <a href="http://brooklynflea.com/markets/williamsburg/" target="_blank">flea markets</a> and vintage stores, Williamsburg has plenty to keep you entertained. On Saturdays, head to <a href="http://www.smorgasburg.com/" target="_blank">Smorgasburg</a> for one of the best food markets I've been to (try the tacos, fried chicken, and salted caramel ice-cream sandwiches, or branch out with some of the more exotic ethnic offerings)</div>
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<a href="https://www.prospectpark.org/" target="_blank">Prospect Park</a> - designed by the same landscape architects as Central Park, but far less busy. Pick up a <a href="https://www.citibikenyc.com/" target="_blank">Citi Bike</a> and go for a cycle, or have a picnic in the sun. Nearby Park Slope is also worth exploring</div>
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<i>Smorgasburg in Brooklyn Heights</i></div>
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Brooklyn Heights - a recent discovery for me, this is the part of New York I feel has the most similar vibe to Islington, where I live in London. With wide, tree-lined streets, and rows of elegant brownstones, the neighbourhood is low-rise and spacious, and a lot calmer than Manhattan. On Sundays, the Brooklyn Bridge Park plays host to <a href="http://www.smorgasburg.com/" target="_blank">Smorgasburg</a> (see above - it's amazing). Nearby Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill are equally nice, the perfect balance of Brooklyn cool and family-friendly suburbia.<br />
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<i>Brownstones in Brooklyn Heights</i></div>
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<i>Queens</i></div>
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I have to admit I haven't spent much time in Queens, and I definitely need to do some more exploring. On my to-do list is Greek food in Astoria and <a href="http://www.timeout.com/newyork/restaurants/12-best-dim-sum-restaurants-in-new-york-city" target="_blank">dim sum in Flushing</a>. <a href="http://momaps1.org/" target="_blank">Moma PS1 </a>is also supposed to be great and I definitely want to go to an exhibition there sometime soon!</div>
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<i>Sunset view from Penthouse 808</i></div>
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One thing I have done, which was pretty incredible, was watching the sunset from <a href="http://penthouse808rooftop.com/" target="_blank">Penthouse 808</a> after playing in a company softball game in <a href="http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/queensbridgepark" target="_blank">Queensbridge Park</a> (in which embarrassingly I didn't hit the ball once). A truly fantastic spot for drinks, and the Asian fusion bar snacks were also very good!<br />
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So! That was my NYC City Guide. And to finish off the post, here is a Thanksgiving turkey I made last year :)</div>
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<i>I came over all American and threw a big Thanksgiving dinner back in London - here is my beautiful first-ever turkey - so proud!</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-28649593811281197392015-02-17T03:01:00.001-08:002015-02-17T05:06:20.959-08:00Foodie Mini-Break Guide: VeniceAs a birthday treat, my boyfriend took me to Venice for the weekend. I've heard so many amazing things about Venice that I thought it couldn't possibly live up to the hype, but it really was one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited. Winter is low season and we had the city almost to ourselves, swapping the smell and crowding of the summer season for atmospheric morning mists and crisp clear days.<br />
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Venice isn't well regarded for its food, and apparently it can be hard to avoid the tourist traps, so we did a bit of research before we went.The preparation paid off and we were rewarded with two fantastic meals.<br />
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Our lunch at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g187870-d817179-Reviews-Osteria_Enoteca_Ai_Artisti-Venice_Veneto.html" target="_blank">Osteria Enoteca Ai Artisto</a>, a little bistro in the Dorsoduro neighbourhood, was my favourite meal of the trip. We squeezed into a table for two by the bar and worked our way through a basket of delicious Italian bread while we browsed the menu. To start, we decided on grilled squid and fresh pasta with Gorgonzola, both of which were exceptionally good. The squid was tender and sweet, with a perfect hint of char, while the home-made pasta in the cheesy sauce was deliciously decadent. For our main course, we both opted for cod served with fennel - the fish was butter-soft and perfectly complemented by the liquorice notes of the fennel. My boyfriend found room for dessert, a slice of dense, rich chocolate torte, while I focused on finishing off the carafe of excellent red wine recommended by the waiter (unfortunately I can't remember the name!)<br />
[No food photos, I'm afraid - I didn't want to be the most touristy tourist ever!]<br />
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For dinner, we went to <a href="http://www.osterialletestiere.it/Testiere/Welcome.html" target="_blank">Osteria Alla Testiere</a>, a small seafood restaurant in the Castello area. You definitely need to book in advance if you want to eat here, as it is very popular and only seats 30 people or so, in two nightly sittings. The 7.30pm sitting seemed to consist largely of tourists, while the second sitting seemed to be more local (we were slow to finish, so were still eating at the change-over). While we did find our meal to be slightly overpriced, we weren't disappointed with the food - an abundance of rich, Venetian seafood dishes, including grilled razorclams, tuna ravioli, prawns in a tangy sweet and sour sauce, cuttlefish with black ink and polenta (a bit rich, but very interesting) and gnochetti served with baby calamari in an unusual (but tasty) fishy-cinnamon glaze.<br />
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We stayed at the <a href="http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/italy/hilton-molino-stucky-venice-VCEHIHI/index.html" target="_blank">Hilton Molino Stucky</a> on Giudecca, a smaller island with more of a local feel. It was a bit of a pain having to get the <i>vaporetto </i>back and forth from the main island, but definitely worth it for the beautiful waterfront and laid-back vibes. The hotel was lovely - situated in a beautiful converted factory building - and we were lucky enough to be upgraded to a room with an incredible waterside view.<br />
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In the mornings we skipped the hotel buffet in favour of wandering along the waterfront for breakfast in one of the many cafes. While the locals clustered around the bar drinking expresso, we grabbed a table and snacked on traditional Venetian pizzette and fantastic milky cappuccinos. Yum!<br />
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The only downside to an otherwise perfect trip was getting too and from the airport (we flew to Trevisio, which is around 40 mins drive away) - the coach takes a 2 hour lunch break so we had to get a taxi back (at Sunday prices), which cost an astonishing 100 Euros! It would definitely be better to fly to San Marco - you might pay more for your flight, but you'll probably save it back in taxi fares!<br />
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This was an amazing trip (and an incredibly lovely birthday treat) and has inspired us to return to Italy again soon - we're now planning a weekend in Rome in the Summer for more gourmet adventures. :)
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4286219/?claim=hr5t98a37z9">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-90917334680290655222014-12-31T03:21:00.000-08:002014-12-31T03:23:47.088-08:00Foodie Mini-Break Guide: A Romantic Weekend in ParisEarlier this year my boyfriend and I jumped on the Eurostar for a romantic weekend away. Two and a half hours later and we were in Paris (just in time for lunch!).<br />
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<i>Canal Saint-Martin</i></div>
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We stayed at <a href="http://www.le123sebastopol.com/en/" target="_blank">Hotel Le 123 Sebastapool</a>, which was number 1 on Tripadvisor at the time, and perfectly placed - just 15 minutes walk from Gare du Nord and 10 minutes from the Canal Saint-Martin and the stylish boutiques and fashionable restaurants of Le Marais. Le 123 Sebastapool was a lovely boutique hotel, with lots of special touches which made for a memorable stay. It's themed around French cinema, and in keeping with this, guests are treated to a paper bag of pic n' mix sweets on arrival, and a self-service popcorn machine (accompanied by a buffet of snacks and drinks) in the lobby. <i>Fantastique!</i><br />
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<i>The Seine</i></div>
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We began our visit with a stroll through Le Marais, and an unsuccessful attempt to visit <a href="http://www.le123sebastopol.com/en/" target="_blank">Breizh Cafe</a> for galettes (definitely worth booking ahead!). Eventually we found a local bistro, and had a traditional <i>menu du jour</i> instead, followed by ice-cream from <a href="http://www.amorino.com/en/" target="_blank">Amorino </a>(I know, they have one in London, but it's the best!). My boyfriend ordered the surprisingly delicious combination of "l'inimitabile" (rich Nutella chocolate) and raspberry sorbet, which is definitely on my list for my next visit!<br />
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After lunch we wandered along the Seine in the sunshine towards the Eiffel Tower. The love lock trend seems to have spread since my last visit in 2013, and more and more bridges are covered in locks. We passed through the courtyards of the Louvre and through the gardens before stopping for overpriced coffees in a touristy cafe and heading back to the hotel.<br />
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On the recommendation of David Lebowitz' excellent<a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/" target="_blank"> blog</a> (well worth a browse if you're planning on visiting Paris) we had booked a table at <a href="http://www.restaurant-astier.com/en/" target="_blank">Astier</a>, where we were treated to an absolutely fantastic bistro meal. We weren't the only tourists, but the restaurant still had a very authentically French vibe. The service (unusually for Paris) was great, the food was delicious, and they serve the most enormous cheese platters I have ever seen (the idea is, they give you an absolutely gigantic quantity of cheese and you eat your fill...I'm assuming you're not supposed to finish!).</div>
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<i>Cheese platter for one!!</i></div>
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We both had soup to start - mine was the healthy green one, which wasn't quite as good as the sumptuously creamy veloute above it - followed by steak with pommes puree (accompanied with a huge and very sharp knife!). My boyfriend got the cheese course, which I skipped, and somehow still found room for a <i>tarte au chocolat </i>for dessert, while I went for a delicious apricot and almond mousse concoction.<br />
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We had meant to go for drinks afterwards, but were too full and sleepy after the enormous meal, so headed back to the hotel to sleep it off. Despite our plan to wake up bright and early for more exploring, the black-out curtains and comfy bed meant we woke with a shock after 10am. We passed on the complimentary buffet breakfast at the hotel in favour of a trip the <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/" target="_blank">Cafe Angelina</a>, where I indulged in one of the best hot chocolates of my life. A jug of rich, molten chocolate, thick enough to stand a spoon in, and served with a (slightly gratuitous!) pot of whipped cream...Mmmm!<br />
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<i>Just beautiful...</i></div>
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Our final stop before we left was Montmartre - a steep climb up to the Sacre-Coeur, followed by delicious egg, ham and gruyere galettes for lunch (to make up for missing out the day before) - before boarding our train and getting home in time for dinner. A fantastic weekend away, without the hassle of flying!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-24673984374251614362014-09-11T08:26:00.000-07:002014-09-11T09:00:42.877-07:00Foodie Mini-Break Guide: Jersey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpM6bY9KiF0dB7dVK3CnXERmv-DxFLVlqjOqQmpnTrY67u4JhgYzw7n1FPzbH7UtHCZPGuX8SUQq8buwvCNd14qA8vt-I9PN6uz5fzHAFX_NJWiuDMrP3r-faNf9y11YhcwkdGIiOj79z/s1600/IMG_2924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpM6bY9KiF0dB7dVK3CnXERmv-DxFLVlqjOqQmpnTrY67u4JhgYzw7n1FPzbH7UtHCZPGuX8SUQq8buwvCNd14qA8vt-I9PN6uz5fzHAFX_NJWiuDMrP3r-faNf9y11YhcwkdGIiOj79z/s320/IMG_2924.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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My boyfriend grew up in Jersey and I've been lucky enough to spend a lot of time there over the past few years. The island is small - just 5 by 9 miles - and achingly pretty.</div>
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The coastline is stunning - with wide stretches of sandy beach in the South, East and West and a craggy landscape of cliffs, rockpools and caves in the North - and the interior isn't bad either: lush woodland and grassy meadows (complete with doe-eyed Jersey cows), dotted with pretty villages and handsome granite farmhouses. All in all, it's pretty idyllic...</div>
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<i>Gorey Castle</i></div>
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Admittedly, there's not much to do when it rains, but when the sun comes out, there's sailing and surfing, cute harbour-side cafes, rock pools, cliff top walks, castles and a lovely <a href="http://www.durrell.org/" target="_blank">zoo</a>. And then, rain or shine, there's the food - the best, freshest fish & chips (which taste even better if you eat them on the beach) from <a href="http://www.entwhistles.com/" target="_blank">Entwhistles </a>in Gorey, lobster thermidor at the <a href="http://www.oysterbox.co.uk/bar-menus/dining-menu/" target="_blank">Oyster Box</a> (overlooking St Brelade bay), delectable seafood at <a href="http://greenisland.je/?page_id=9" target="_blank">Green Island</a> on the South-East coast and <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g551611-d1829178-Reviews-Corbiere_Phare-St_Brelade_Jersey_Channel_Islands.html" target="_blank">Corbiere Phare</a> in the West for breath-taking sunset views of Corbiere lighthouse and delicious <i>espetadas </i>(hot metal skewers threaded with juicy chunks of beef and succulent king prawns, dripping with garlic butter).</div>
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Then there's the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hungry-Man/22294645519" target="_blank">Hungry Man</a> in Rozel, serving up ridiculous burgers (the Double-Decker Health-Wrecker - double burger, double cheese, double bacon) and the most over-the-top hot chocolates I have ever seen (topped with a mountain of whipped cream and a sprinkling of Maltesers), or, if pizza is more your thing, what must be the most fortuitously situated <a href="http://www.pizzaexpress.com/visit-a-restaurant/restaurant/jersey-st-brelade/?link=nolink" target="_blank">Pizza Express</a> in the British Isles; french windows opening onto St Brelade's Bay and a glass roof which rolls back to let in the sun.</div>
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<i>Greedy seagull at The Hungry Man</i></div>
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For families, the <a href="http://www.theboathousegroup.com/our-restaurants/the-boat-house/" target="_blank">Boathouse</a>/<a href="http://www.theboathousegroup.com/our-restaurants/the-tree-house/" target="_blank">Treehouse</a>/<a href="http://www.theboathousegroup.com/our-restaurants/the-farm-house/" target="_blank">Farmhouse</a>/<a href="http://www.theboathousegroup.com/our-restaurants/the-spice-house/" target="_blank">Spicehouse </a>- all part of the Boathouse Group - are also well worth a visit. My favourite is The Boathouse, which boasts beautiful views over the St Aubin harbour.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">My final foodie recommendation is the ice-cream from </span><a href="http://jerseypotteryrestaurants.com/cafes/" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Jersey Potteries</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> - if you can spot one of their vans, the soft-serve is out of this world (a few summers feasting on creamy, golden-hued 99 flakes has set me up for a lifetime of disappointment with the artificially white foam churned out by the Mr Whippee vans in London).</span><br />
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<i>Make sure you try the potatoes!</i></div>
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In conclusion, it's definitely worth a visit. Jersey is just a thirty minute flight from Gatwick, and perfect for a long weekend away, filled with beaches, walks and food (and hopefully, some sunshine!).</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-48776480594724320462013-12-24T02:48:00.001-08:002013-12-24T02:48:10.607-08:00Dinner by Heston Blumenthal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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While I have all but given up blogging nowadays, this was one meal I thought was worth the write-up. I'd been dying to go to <a href="http://www.mandarinoriental.com/london/fine-dining/dinner-by-heston-blumenthal/" target="_blank">Dinner </a>since it first opened, and finally got my wish when my boyfriend took me there for an anniversary meal a couple of weeks ago.<br />
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Situated in the Mandarin Oriental hotel, the decor was elegant and understated, with none of the flamboyance I would have expected from Heston Blumenthal. The general vibe was more suit-and-tie business dinner than Mad Hatter's tea party, but it was very chic nonetheless.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EWSj6e2b5RQYOwgwfDh_eTWmEywDmECWnXP3lZ24APk1HO731iMyntIn9uvGIk6eB-uLXLjNelcJ750DBjEU08YSpP6NoAh2Ci1AtALsjLURXm-hu34Q4b1_dWIn-q7kiUkupuMTkD2G/s1600/photo+1+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EWSj6e2b5RQYOwgwfDh_eTWmEywDmECWnXP3lZ24APk1HO731iMyntIn9uvGIk6eB-uLXLjNelcJ750DBjEU08YSpP6NoAh2Ci1AtALsjLURXm-hu34Q4b1_dWIn-q7kiUkupuMTkD2G/s400/photo+1+%25281%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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We were led to our table by an immaculately dressed waiter and settled down with a basket of bread and a bottle of bubbly to peruse the menu. As everyone probably knows by now, the menu is based on traditional English recipes, dating anywhere from the 1600s to 1940, and encompasses a range of dishes, from the unusual (<i>nettle porridge</i>...) and the creative (...<i>meat fruit pate</i>...) to the relatively mundane (...<i>steak and chips</i>).<br />
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To start I ordered the scallops with cucumber ketchup and roasted cucumber. The scallops themselves - always a favourite for me - were delicious - plump and sweet and perfectly caramelised; and the roasted cucumber was surprisingly tasty. I have never had cooked cucumber before (and have never wanted to!), but it was actually very good - fresh and salty with a firm, juicy texture.<br />
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Meanwhile, my other half sampled the famous meat fruit - a globe of chicken liver and foie gras pate artfully shaped and coloured to look exactly like a mandarin orange. Despite being a pate-hater, this was so good that even I could appreciate it.<br />
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For the main course, I ordered the blackfoot pork chop. Served rare (against the long-standing tradition of serving pork well-done), it was delectably juicy with a delicious and delicate hint of smokiness. I can honestly say it was the best pork chop I have ever eaten (and quite possibly worth a return visit in itself).<br />
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My boyfriend (unadventurously) opted for steak and chips. I was disappointed to discover that these were not Heston's renowned (and much imitated) triple-cooked variety, but rather some fairly standard shoe string fries. The steak was good though, and the mushroom ketchup was an interesting touch, but it was rather a wasted order, I thought, compared to some of the more interesting menu items.<br />
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For dessert we split another famous dish, the tipsy cake (served with spit-roasted pineapple) - which was excellent but a bit less dramatic than I had envisaged - and the home-made ice-cream.<br />
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I was very glad we decided to get the ice-cream - up until this point the meal, while delicious, was rather lacking in the theatrics which I had been expecting (lots of sedate business diners and a conspicuous absence of bangs and fireworks...)<br />
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Made at the table in a machine which resembled an old-fashioned sewing machine, the ice-cream making process involved liquid nitrogen and impressive billows of steam. Once firm, the ice-cream was served in a miniature cone, rolled in the topping of your choice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSveN8LJeI0x1MnzpjbNevE_FtMF5Jagjwlj0uL9x8mmzivF6K8mmV_V9Ojv3TsFXEF0cU89VtNitTZ3tB43kTHK0Slo7dnLz2BympQ_9K-Ea8wrXpfJwnjQOxJtTzYHXnWVFIIlRFAWG/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSveN8LJeI0x1MnzpjbNevE_FtMF5Jagjwlj0uL9x8mmzivF6K8mmV_V9Ojv3TsFXEF0cU89VtNitTZ3tB43kTHK0Slo7dnLz2BympQ_9K-Ea8wrXpfJwnjQOxJtTzYHXnWVFIIlRFAWG/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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All in all, it was a fantastic meal, and despite being slightly disappointed by the rather subdued atmosphere, the standard of the food definitely reinforced my determination to try the Fat Duck some day in the future.<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1568588/restaurant/Knightsbridge/Dinner-by-Heston-Blumenthal-London"><img alt="Dinner by Heston Blumenthal on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1568588/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; width: 104px;" /></a>
<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/view/104140/Dinner_by_Heston_Blumenthal_at_Mandarin_Oriental_Hyde_Park?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park"><img alt="Square Meal" height="27" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/104140/get-blog-review/image/small.png" width="160" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-54902769171507084062013-09-27T05:36:00.000-07:002013-09-27T05:36:23.377-07:00Pre-theatre meal at Brasserie ZedelA few weeks ago my friend and I enjoyed a sophisticated pre-theatre dinner at <a href="http://www.brasseriezedel.com/" target="_blank">Brasserie Zedel</a> in Soho. The first appearances of this popular French restaurant are deceptive - entering at street level you find yourself in what seems to be little more than a laid-back bistro. Head downstairs, however, and you will discover a glamourous ball room, decked out in fabulous art deco style (complete with marble pillars and over the top gold detailing).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMMZwi060ynpOwWeeNUrEzXH9W7eEQKXxupT5kLVsqttfVuNJNCGh0ELWkfZ1UvbAZFHM5g3T2TW35Wq8lRBmdEiVOmppa1Kl9lBqyKsBsyLn4lpVsTr291WElNtIAkxASDKmf7BYwx93/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMMZwi060ynpOwWeeNUrEzXH9W7eEQKXxupT5kLVsqttfVuNJNCGh0ELWkfZ1UvbAZFHM5g3T2TW35Wq8lRBmdEiVOmppa1Kl9lBqyKsBsyLn4lpVsTr291WElNtIAkxASDKmf7BYwx93/s400/photo+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The <a href="http://zedel3.d3r-cdn.com/pdfs/original/310-zedel-mainmenu-008.pdf" target="_blank">menu </a>features a good selection of classic French dishes, with everything from frogs legs to beef Bourguignon, and is very reasonably priced given the lavish surroundings and central location (you can get a main course for under <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.9375px;">£</span>10, or 3 courses for <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.9375px;">£</span>11.75 on the prix fixe menu).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qOB2XgiIzOhz5WQO_-LTeV-9-NbsWuSY8OtJKzqfu8NK-6ltHfunpj1ZcAzS6hBr45KRHd4NfuUj05Iah1scNyPDqthQbkqz6EhLKlpbPHZTzobC_OOF5uWec6lIIgnY5WIQVz4KQWEL/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qOB2XgiIzOhz5WQO_-LTeV-9-NbsWuSY8OtJKzqfu8NK-6ltHfunpj1ZcAzS6hBr45KRHd4NfuUj05Iah1scNyPDqthQbkqz6EhLKlpbPHZTzobC_OOF5uWec6lIIgnY5WIQVz4KQWEL/s400/photo+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I opted for the <i>Choucroute Alsacienne</i>: a heaped dish of sauerkraut topped with with chunks of smokey sausage, cured pork belly, and a rather large frankfurter. Meanwhile my friend went for the classic French combo of steak frites with a rich Bordelaise sauce.<br />
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For dessert, we ordered the poached pear with chantilly cream and the creme brulee.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgSI_QEhckTFql2c_2e0bceQGFX3tV1oeLN36nBtQ0icqPcxgQ4GCJ4gi4niHL13EJe7pJDpCs6inmeHyWColg4tr7N6c8JRw-nujKzrshEcD2EZKtadDDx_f0nXvDzGecW2xSyE543j0/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgSI_QEhckTFql2c_2e0bceQGFX3tV1oeLN36nBtQ0icqPcxgQ4GCJ4gi4niHL13EJe7pJDpCs6inmeHyWColg4tr7N6c8JRw-nujKzrshEcD2EZKtadDDx_f0nXvDzGecW2xSyE543j0/s400/photo+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have to admit - the food, while good, wasn't mind-blowing. Instead, the real draw is the venue - the beautiful high-ceilinged room, the over-the-top decor, and the smartly dressed waiters all add up to a dining experience which is more than a little bit special. Definitely worth a visit.<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1686927/restaurant/Soho/Brasserie-Zedel-London"><img alt="Brasserie Zedel on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1686927/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; width: 104px;" /></a>
<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/view/107670/Brasserie_Zedel?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Brasserie Zédel"><img alt="Square Meal" height="27" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/107670/get-blog-review/image/small.png" width="160" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-70358964046613831082013-08-22T23:19:00.000-07:002013-08-22T23:19:01.424-07:00Ramen time at Tonkotsu...and Akari, a hidden gem of Japanese cuisineIt's been a while since I've posted (I'm winding down my blog, in response to a busy new job and general life-ness) but I thought I've had a couple of good Japanese meals recently so I thought I'd do a little review.<br />
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First - <a href="http://www.tonkotsu.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tonkotsu</a>, the much-acclaimed ramen joint in Soho. Having spent the past few months on Urbanspoon's "Talk of the Town" list, I was eager to see what the fuss was all about, so I went along with a couple of friends for a casual Tuesday-night meal.<br />
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The restaurant was relaxed and stylish, and the food - huge bowls of warming, ramen noodle soup, with rich, <i>umami </i>stock and tasty chunks of melt-in-the-mouth pork belly - was undeniably very good. However, I didn't really get the hype: everything was tasty, but it was nothing exceptional, and it wasn't miles above what you could get at somewhere like Wagamama.<br />
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So, on to my second review - <a href="http://www.akarilondon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Akari</a>. This is one of my favourite Japanese places in London. It's not officially a restaurant - it describes itself as an "Izakaya", a traditional Japanese drinking establishment. In line with that theme, Akari is decked out like (a classy, oriental-esque) pub, with dark wood panelling and a prominent bar.<br />
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Despite being situated quite far along Essex Road, away from the hustle and bustle of Upper Street, Akari always seems to be busy. It attracts all sorts of clientele, from couples on first dates, to families with young children (sashimi and miso cod is admittedly a bit more exciting than fish fingers and chips!).<br />
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When I first moved to London I lived just around the corner, and we used to go fairly regularly. After a disgracefully long hiatus I finally managed to get back there earlier this week, with my mum and boyfriend in tow, and was pleased to find it to be as good as I had remembered.<br />
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The food really is exceptionally good, and at about 30 quid a head including drinks (this time round, a couple of glasses of plum wine for the ladies and a few pints of asahi beer for the gent), it is outstanding value.<br />
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Having not visited for a while, I domineered the ordering process, ensuring that all of my favourites made the cut. We ordered three starters, three mains, and three sides, with a pudding to share at the end, and finished our meal fit to burst.<br />
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<i>Seared tuna tataki - mmmm</i></div>
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So, here's what we had:<br />
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Prawn tempura - some of the best I have had anywhere. Incredibly light golden batter encasing huge, piping hot king prawns. Delicious.<br />
Squid tempura (aka calamari!) - juicy strips of buttery squid, in that same fluffy tempura batter.<br />
Tuna tataki - generous chunks of seared tuna, topped with tasty garlic mayonnaise and a tangy Worcestershire-like sauce<br />
Miso cod - a stand-out dish: delicated fillet of cod baked in a sweet white miso marinade - slightly caramelised on top and meltingly tender inside. An absolutely gorgeous dish.<br />
Chicken katsu - I'm not a fan, but my boyfriend insisted, and even though it's not my thing, it certainly isn't bad here<br />
And for sides - rice balls stuffed with salmon or sour plum, and a delicious dish of green beans in a tasty sesame sauce<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5C1hKZSNJtCe579aBaD60XWnAFFfnkiWKu2hcQSOQSimVlQvDfEC_S193_tmEKWHHqN1EbmQmxtk7ftRduwd21iH_cnb47J8b3mFyVPISQeSXN7etTFk0wBksQeJixqqA-ZHHsaQgnWL/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5C1hKZSNJtCe579aBaD60XWnAFFfnkiWKu2hcQSOQSimVlQvDfEC_S193_tmEKWHHqN1EbmQmxtk7ftRduwd21iH_cnb47J8b3mFyVPISQeSXN7etTFk0wBksQeJixqqA-ZHHsaQgnWL/s400/photo-2.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>A tender, caramelised hunk of sweet miso cod - WOW</i></div>
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Both restaurants are very reasonable compared to other Japanese restaurants in London, but if you want something really exceptional for your money I would have to recommend escaping the Soho crowds and giving Akari a go.<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1687240/restaurant/Soho/Tonkotsu-London"><img alt="Tonkotsu on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1687240/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/560201/restaurant/London/Islington/Akari-Hoxton"><img alt="Akari on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/560201/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a><a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/view/108723/Tonkotsu?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Tonkotsu"><img alt="Square Meal" height="27" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/108723/get-blog-review/image/small.png" width="160" /></a>
<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/view/99881/Akari?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Akari"><img alt="Square Meal" height="27" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/99881/get-blog-review/image/small.png" width="160" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-45315439641034441662013-08-07T09:02:00.002-07:002013-08-07T09:02:44.289-07:00Amazing Peruvian cuisine at Coya<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.coyarestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Coya </a>is a cool new Peruvian joint situated on Piccadilly, right next to Green Park. It has a trendy bar where you can sample the excellent selection of cocktails (try the pisco sours, if you want something really authentic) and Latin American liquors, or you can head straight to the restaurant proper for a divine collection of modern Peruvian dishes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb5rbmd4o8U8LySUH1FN_zAMh4ctL58wRviCTPA8y4W5jq_nmLFsDOD2TWUVO548_QIPcFYSk-O2lE4kHoKoB5lhaYKOgHHa6XY4b6rhFTLHZuY0uMBID5UbAG_hbQJ5f61m176nHR4VK/s1600/IMG_2941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb5rbmd4o8U8LySUH1FN_zAMh4ctL58wRviCTPA8y4W5jq_nmLFsDOD2TWUVO548_QIPcFYSk-O2lE4kHoKoB5lhaYKOgHHa6XY4b6rhFTLHZuY0uMBID5UbAG_hbQJ5f61m176nHR4VK/s400/IMG_2941.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Pisco sours</i></div>
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Before I start, let me just say - these photos do not do justice to our meal, which featured some of the best Latin American food I've had (in London, or - to be honest - anywhere).</div>
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<i>Yummy ribs, gorgeous fish (seabass cazuela, in the back)</i></div>
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Various types of ceviche, tasty ribs in a beautiful tamarind glaze, delectable calamari, more-ish <i>patatas bravas, </i>and some of the best seabass I have ever eaten...everything was delicious, and I left incredibly satisfied and hungering for more!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD42v4yxSW0RdURc0VPrJtW6XPT-vI_bTYRAt1Pyn4PBN1ERWygcgZfXr7wyWr5j-PzzTaqkPEZdY90UV2hZktM5nuMdaLtuLqTuRhHKyiZLuFSmRwTCX9-6PH-xnDe036ej9_k1XJIVOU/s1600/IMG_2946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD42v4yxSW0RdURc0VPrJtW6XPT-vI_bTYRAt1Pyn4PBN1ERWygcgZfXr7wyWr5j-PzzTaqkPEZdY90UV2hZktM5nuMdaLtuLqTuRhHKyiZLuFSmRwTCX9-6PH-xnDe036ej9_k1XJIVOU/s400/IMG_2946.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>An ugly photo of some tasty fried squid!</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1715723/restaurant/Mayfair/Coya-London"><img alt="Coya on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1715723/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>
<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/view/108909/Coya?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Coya"><img alt="Square Meal" height="27" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/108909/get-blog-review/image/small.png" width="160" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-88737326932398069562013-07-20T00:28:00.001-07:002013-07-20T00:28:17.171-07:00John Salt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've been hearing a lot about <a href="http://john-salt.com/" target="_blank">John Salt</a> in recent months, and living close by in Angel, I was keen to check it out. Unfortunately, by the time I got round to eating there, Ben Spalding - the chef who made John Salt famous with his innovative12-course tasting menus - had already moved on, and while the a la carte menu still looked very appetising, I was concerned as to whether the food would be as good as originally reported.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NHtKM7dZtCKZQbQebjSbGeNXP1_J5AcWK_tiN6qCRzwVZhj9aAjX-79B5n70yQfyaT3Ne6D3aTZ4PjoQy4OUY7xEHthU6aBebcesOGJLGx4nHpptoKV6tC-YNnrRqdAgl8xYIHMZQV8J/s1600/IMG_6326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NHtKM7dZtCKZQbQebjSbGeNXP1_J5AcWK_tiN6qCRzwVZhj9aAjX-79B5n70yQfyaT3Ne6D3aTZ4PjoQy4OUY7xEHthU6aBebcesOGJLGx4nHpptoKV6tC-YNnrRqdAgl8xYIHMZQV8J/s400/IMG_6326.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Ham and egg: a tasty reinterpretation of this classic pairing</i></div>
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I needn't have worried: our meal there - a casual date night, after a few sunny post-work drinks - was excellent. The food was delicious, the decor was cool, and the prices were pretty reasonable too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQlrTS5kfa0LxEfjVqPkJLr44egKfOhbzdjJ658ggiDO3pjZZHLvtpnyoH9ZBHnk-7DZlU5WVZohqen3UvL4yc9DXk1SXMfPgYaQnhaz9miF8Ocwx3IzY_VSgMdw7dZpx1_lPVDAxWfD5/s1600/IMG_6325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQlrTS5kfa0LxEfjVqPkJLr44egKfOhbzdjJ658ggiDO3pjZZHLvtpnyoH9ZBHnk-7DZlU5WVZohqen3UvL4yc9DXk1SXMfPgYaQnhaz9miF8Ocwx3IzY_VSgMdw7dZpx1_lPVDAxWfD5/s400/IMG_6325.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Raw crudites with bagna cauda</i></div>
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A plate of tender cured ham, topped with a golden egg yolk and a generous scattering of Parmesan was my favourite starter. Summer vegetable crudites - completely raw and paired with a tasty, intensely anchovy-flavoured <i>bagna cauda</i> dipping sauce - were also good. Our third starter - two plump scallops, swimming in tangy <i>N'duja</i> butter in their shell - was also well executed; although at 7 pounds for two it was probably less good value than some of the more interesting options.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnFSvBqrzCi01qiQyG2sryv2LjnMD79n9Zy1G4HPiPmukK6W6hMAiQC4wbGMfJuEKZA7a15nJahr-2ozchW4gCqj2otpLj0Gb0MMEeZkqcuEpoEurBOSWIvPkodkEMqnn6SkC5BnZmFaI/s1600/IMG_6328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnFSvBqrzCi01qiQyG2sryv2LjnMD79n9Zy1G4HPiPmukK6W6hMAiQC4wbGMfJuEKZA7a15nJahr-2ozchW4gCqj2otpLj0Gb0MMEeZkqcuEpoEurBOSWIvPkodkEMqnn6SkC5BnZmFaI/s400/IMG_6328.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Skirt steak with that incredible kimchi hollandaise....mmmmm</i></div>
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For the main course we split the skirt steak (served with an exquisite kimchi hollandaise sauce, which merits a return visit in itself) and the smoked featherblade, which was topped with a crisp tangle of battered onion and finely sliced red chilli peppers. Neil Rankin, Ben Spaldings successor, is formerly of Pitt Cue, and the excellent standard of the steaks - charred and slightly caramelised exterior, perfectly rare interior - reflected his expertise in this area.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhB_QIhYjDfu787uSCdEG_7bl2tWA1zmt2ijaNCD8f3HsqJOSBin14ecFMTHSxHv_wp85S6OKu60tl4eyYoIodQr_WZ7RdCDiLQ79hTicwSHnmtNUuJXMrwX3nygb6c51q0TZGHtkAy6L/s1600/IMG_6327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhB_QIhYjDfu787uSCdEG_7bl2tWA1zmt2ijaNCD8f3HsqJOSBin14ecFMTHSxHv_wp85S6OKu60tl4eyYoIodQr_WZ7RdCDiLQ79hTicwSHnmtNUuJXMrwX3nygb6c51q0TZGHtkAy6L/s400/IMG_6327.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Smoked featherblade with battered onion and red flannel hash (behind)</i></div>
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For sides, we ordered a portion of the "aged dripping fries" (nothing special, these were barely distinguishable from the McDonalds variety) and the red flannel hash - an interesting (in a good way!) mix of beetroot, peas and sweetcorn, and crisp roast potatoes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj222j-ql21SvMzdOzSU2WQH65BVM3j4TSD5aoJ9dKkfhmttvTVtyYCdqOFuq1mIGRncbnVn8Y91howeBdIQSE3bqJsUyW3asqQ0grzJPK_am5-hVnIigv8OzXbl_GjgkXHQsa9TecBlvBd/s1600/IMG_6329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj222j-ql21SvMzdOzSU2WQH65BVM3j4TSD5aoJ9dKkfhmttvTVtyYCdqOFuq1mIGRncbnVn8Y91howeBdIQSE3bqJsUyW3asqQ0grzJPK_am5-hVnIigv8OzXbl_GjgkXHQsa9TecBlvBd/s320/IMG_6329.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Umm....</i></div>
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Our shared dessert, the (slightly comical) banana dog, ellicited mixed opinions - I liked it, although it didn't quite live up to the hype it has received in other blogs. It was basically a banana fritter, similar to what you would get in a Chinese restaurant - nothing exceptional, but enjoyable none the less. My boyfriend, on the other hand, didn't like it at all - he thought the batter was too heavy and flavours too plain. We both agreed, however, that the (unfortunately tiny) scoop of ice-cream that came on the side was exceptionally good - a bit bowl of this on it's own would have gone down a treat!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqKqHXp99Pn9uvYe8geboSMm44Y2fRig2Fwt2myM_zu4N3SoL4Wafbk2bM6FWycIAgOzV2J3N2kKLfewZlyX5qvex0qSYyJgFZ7LRpAESflniV3S7wtfERXUkWvqMOWB_G3jPRYQCkNDu/s1600/IMG_2972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqKqHXp99Pn9uvYe8geboSMm44Y2fRig2Fwt2myM_zu4N3SoL4Wafbk2bM6FWycIAgOzV2J3N2kKLfewZlyX5qvex0qSYyJgFZ7LRpAESflniV3S7wtfERXUkWvqMOWB_G3jPRYQCkNDu/s320/IMG_2972.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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All in all, it was a great meal - even with a bottle of wine it still didn't come to much more than 70 for the two of us, and the spacious, trendy interior would make this a great spot for drinks (and bar snacks!) with friends.</div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1714348/restaurant/Islington/John-Salt-London"><img alt="John Salt on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1714348/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>
<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/view/109801/John_Salt?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of John Salt"><img alt="Square Meal" height="27" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/109801/get-blog-review/image/small.png" width="160" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-4586420830091183612013-07-09T07:26:00.000-07:002013-07-09T07:26:03.077-07:00Run this city - Regent's Canal Stretching from far-west Hayes all the way to Limehouse Basin, Regent's Canal is heaven-sent for runners and cyclists who want to escape the traffic fumes and crowded pavements of the city. The section between Angel and Victoria Park is my favourite running route - the beautiful scenery gives me the motivation I need to drag myself out of bed and into my running gear before work.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1V9QoAjY9xLyVq67ggk8OvihvEVKUBRf1ilAGUqndOvxsZwofo001QTCABjJhFd0DgzxIFl0OLjEY_iLe3uULXmqOxXH63uTuGUN2UucitRfq_q-sZxoaMpebb0BxsIssUL8Wy1__hZP/s1600/IMG_2893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1V9QoAjY9xLyVq67ggk8OvihvEVKUBRf1ilAGUqndOvxsZwofo001QTCABjJhFd0DgzxIFl0OLjEY_iLe3uULXmqOxXH63uTuGUN2UucitRfq_q-sZxoaMpebb0BxsIssUL8Wy1__hZP/s400/IMG_2893.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The canal path is at its best before the morning rush hour – there are plenty of other joggers (so it's not eerily deserted), but somewhat fewer cyclists attempting to knock you into the water as they whizz past on their way to work. The lighting is particularly beautiful at this time of day, and there are cool breezes even in the middle of summer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoeED2e-jvNXaCqoNtV8NJYdR9f9xaXHRtzik4E3U8oMBbsTyZm_20PJyzh8eXOR6Oiqsj9IWq3srNjZFG4byi1QQ0SDwYRS7-0tczSDkrwAQjmkVs6vAOz7K8zI-s-ym1Fx78p4c_YGl/s1600/IMG_2896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoeED2e-jvNXaCqoNtV8NJYdR9f9xaXHRtzik4E3U8oMBbsTyZm_20PJyzh8eXOR6Oiqsj9IWq3srNjZFG4byi1QQ0SDwYRS7-0tczSDkrwAQjmkVs6vAOz7K8zI-s-ym1Fx78p4c_YGl/s400/IMG_2896.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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You can access Regents canal from Colebrook Row, just a minute or two from Angel tube station. Near the start of the trail there's a pretty lock - one bank of the canal has been transformed into a beautiful English country garden, while on the other side an old mill has been converted into what most be one of London’s most scenic office buildings.<br />
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Continue East along the canal path, past the <a href="http://thenarrowboatpub.com/" target="_blank">Narrow Boat </a>(the balcony tables are perfect for drinks on a summer evening) and on in to Hackney. Jog past the <a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/towpath" target="_blank">Towpath Café</a>, whose tiny interior opens onto the water. Mismatched chairs spill out onto the path, and jam jars filled with wildflowers sit on every table. Come back later to join the young couples and families breakfasting on granola, fresh fruit, and delicious coffee (whole milk only, no decaf allowed).<br />
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Take a quick detour at London Fields - on Saturdays there's a great market here (come back for lunch or to pick up some fresh produce) - and have a jog round the park to check out the groups of East London hipsters enjoying instagram-worthy picnics.<br />
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Continuing a little further along the canal you come to Victoria Park. Despite its size, this is a bit of a hidden gem - but while it may be less celebrated than its West-London counterparts, it is equally lovely, with landscaped flowerbeds and rolling expanses of lawn.<br />
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And if you're feeling particularly energetic (or you're on a bike!) you can carry on all the way to Limehouse Basin, where the canal feeds into a pretty marina.<br />
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I must have jogged (or cycled) this route literally hundreds of times since moving to London three years ago, but the ever-changing seasons and the variety of sights along the way mean it still hasn't gotten old. It's a far more scenic way of getting some exercise than trapped inside a dingy gym, and if you're ever in the area I highly recommend giving it a go!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-64770279737766547072013-07-04T23:56:00.002-07:002013-07-04T23:56:24.208-07:00Cheesy French toast bread pudding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">The inspiration for this dish came from an old cookbook I stole from my Mum, "<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Take-Three-Cooks-Nanette-Newman/dp/0583325785" target="_blank">Take Three Cooks</a>" by Nanette Newman, Emma Forbes and Sarah Standing. The original recipe is for a marmalade bread pudding, but they suggest the use of cheese for a savoury variation. Since my boyfriend is a huge fan of French toast, I thought I'd give it a go.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">It's pretty easy to make, and would definitely pose a good alternative to traditional eggy bread if you were serving brunch to a crowd. The glorious combination of bubbling golden cheese and rich custard-soaked bread is incredibly good - comfort food at its best.</span></div>
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<i>After...</i></div>
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The recipe doesn't call for any fancy ingredients - simply sliced bread, eggs, milk, cheese and butter. If you want to snazz it up, you could add some slices of ham between the slices of bread or spread one side of the bread triangles with mustard to give it an extra kick.<br />
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<i>Ingredients (serves 2 - or one hungry boy. Double the recipe to feed a larger group)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
4 slices of white bread (the original recipes suggests removing the crusts - I didn't bother)<br />
25g spreadable butter<br />
300ml milk<br />
2 eggs, beaten<br />
75g cheddar cheese<br />
Salt and pepper, to taste<br />
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</div>
<i>Method</i><br />
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Butter each slice of bread (on both sides if you're feeling especially decadent - I was lazy and just did one) and cut into triangles (two or four, again depending on how lazy you want to be when it comes to stacking them!). Layer the bread into the base of a greased ovenproof dish, topping each slice with cheese.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAQUGQDh4FXVYbjSV80Z__Eg45wyOeNcIBoUC2S_wMazM1xdZHkyR4v-S1v0lWOrO8a5lukM2L3dHKgHb3nLmLDZ61lMqJ2d-3dWdC7SLf6J3B9z0r43xiv-flCe9myi2Wu2jaiLPoO4y/s1600/IMG_2683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAQUGQDh4FXVYbjSV80Z__Eg45wyOeNcIBoUC2S_wMazM1xdZHkyR4v-S1v0lWOrO8a5lukM2L3dHKgHb3nLmLDZ61lMqJ2d-3dWdC7SLf6J3B9z0r43xiv-flCe9myi2Wu2jaiLPoO4y/s400/IMG_2683.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Before (not so pretty!)</i></div>
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Heat the milk in a pan until hot but not quite boiling. Pour the milk over your eggs, whisking as you pour. Season with salt and pepper, then pour the custard mixture over your bread and leave to soak for 10-15 minutes (or - more laziness - miss this step!).<br />
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Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200C for around 25 minutes (increase this to 30-40 if you have doubled the recipe) until your cheese is golden and bubbly and the custard is set. Serve piping hot.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-83078329974776038232013-06-29T08:50:00.001-07:002013-06-29T08:50:15.154-07:00Delicious baked eggs at Coco di Mama<a href="http://cocodimama.co.uk/" target="_blank">Coco di Mama</a> is a new chain of Italian cafes which have been popping up all over London. Serving up a great selection of pastas at lunchtime, as well as some excellent Italian-style coffee, they are also the source of my new favourite breakfast treat.<br />
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<i>Mmmmmm....</i></div>
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The baked eggs florentine is simply incredible: closer to a crustless quiche than what I would traditionally think of as 'baked eggs', the rich, buttery egg custard, shot through with tender spinach and topped with a glossy brown gruyere crust, is mind-blowingly good.<br />
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And despite tasting pretty decadent (and being big enough to keep you full right through to lunch), it's healthier than you would think - according to the sign, it contains a mere 267 calories. I'm quickly developing a Coco di Mama habit - I've been at least 3 times a week since I made my discovery - and I definitely recommend checking them out!<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1604738/restaurant/Blackfriars/Coco-di-Mama-London"><img alt="Coco di Mama on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1604738/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>
<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/view/108725/Coco_Di_Mama?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Coco di Mama"><img alt="Square Meal" height="27" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/108725/get-blog-review/image/small.png" width="160" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-12271434359863226162013-06-21T00:58:00.000-07:002013-06-21T00:58:53.680-07:00Summery fruit salad (with strawberries, blueberries, mango, and pomegranate seeds)This tasty fruit salad is one of my go-to dinner party desserts - a light and summery end to a filling meal, it goes well with anything from <a href="http://www.brunchetc.co.uk/2012/11/slow-roast-lamb-with-chickpea-and.html" target="_blank">Middle Eastern feasts</a> to elegant Japanese cuisine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkawifmoP-5HaCw9h8vDWTaoog5NpNrsNpcA4sgWuFsvYqwXuTSQNHKybmajVA7Koq8AySI5kuGGOc7kWIcLugGTqToZeRA-vOQW9A-4jnfVxPfLVGhaqLwBGkLkgr2cnhHp11DGsc-QGF/s1600/IMG_1495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkawifmoP-5HaCw9h8vDWTaoog5NpNrsNpcA4sgWuFsvYqwXuTSQNHKybmajVA7Koq8AySI5kuGGOc7kWIcLugGTqToZeRA-vOQW9A-4jnfVxPfLVGhaqLwBGkLkgr2cnhHp11DGsc-QGF/s400/IMG_1495.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I usually make it with nectarines in the place of mangoes, but "adverse weather conditions" (according to a sign in the supermarket) resulted in a lack of stone fruit this Spring. While I do prefer my original version, the mango was a nice change - a little more tangy and exotic than nectarine, while still providing the colour and texture contrast I was looking for.<br />
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<i>Ingredients</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
500g strawberries, hulled and quartered<br />
250g blueberries<br />
2 nectarines or 1 large mango, cut into chunks<br />
Seeds of 1 pomegranate (see de-seeding tips below!)<br />
1 teaspoon of caster sugar<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywMPY4EJ6l2cs7VSKUkvVGIQ35y9SCs_eR6UxF56kJhEsIATjWYNg-6bCGPZnQQA6evxSqJsmrTFnfk-4ms0G8OX4tjcGkYcbCxprQ7qv4Ac1i2G6JaQKmq2XpdE0XLBnRct8gOglYZzD/s1600/IMG_1493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywMPY4EJ6l2cs7VSKUkvVGIQ35y9SCs_eR6UxF56kJhEsIATjWYNg-6bCGPZnQQA6evxSqJsmrTFnfk-4ms0G8OX4tjcGkYcbCxprQ7qv4Ac1i2G6JaQKmq2XpdE0XLBnRct8gOglYZzD/s400/IMG_1493.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Method</i><br />
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The method is pretty straightforward (that's the best thing about fruit salads!). Prepare the fruit as described above, mix together in a large bowl, sprinkle with the caster sugar, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (this gives the sugar time to draw the juices out from the fruit*).<br />
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However I thought this would be a good place to share the fantastic tip a commenter gave me for de-seeding pomegranates. I used to really struggle with this - everything would end up splattered in red juice, and I'd usually have to do it in my underwear to avoid stains - fine, but not that convenient if your guests have already arrived!<br />
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What I didn't realise was that I could eliminate this problem by de-seeding the pomegranates under water: Fill a large bowl with cold water, slice the pomegranate in two, and - when submerged in the water - simply remove the seeds in the usual fashion. The white pith floats to the top, making it easier to separate from the seeds - and best of all, there's no mess! Sorted.<br />
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*By osmosis - Year 9 biology say whaaat!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-10213681490865380012013-06-15T01:04:00.000-07:002013-06-16T06:57:13.719-07:00Salted caramel ice-cream at Paul A. YoungOver the past few weeks the sun has finally been making an appearance, kicking off my favourite time of the year: ice-cream season! Having heard very good things about <a href="http://www.paulayoung.co.uk/" target="_blank">Paul A Young</a>, I headed to their branch near the Royal Exchange for my first (OK, third) ice-cream of the year.<br />
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<i>Dark chocolate sauce, slowly solidifying over sweet-salt caramel ice-cream - does it get any better than this?</i></div>
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On the day of my visit, there were three flavours on offer - sea salt caramel, white chocolate and cassis, and a 70% dark chocolate sorbet - along with a vat of melted chocolate sauce and cocoa nibs or chocolate balls for sprinkling. I went for the sea salt caramel, and the nice guy at the counter let me do my own toppings (cue a flood of that ridiculously delicious chocolate sauce!) - incredible.<br />
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At £4.50 a pop, the ice-creams aren't cheap, but the beautiful combination of sweet, lightly salted caramel ice-cream and glossy, slightly bitter chocolate sauce was well worth it!<br />
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The flavours were quite intense, which meant that the serving size was probably slightly too large (even for me!). When the ingredients and flavours are this good, you don't need too much, so next time I might share with someone.<br />
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My Paul A Young experience definitely lived up to my expectations - and the tasting plate of brownie samples means I may be going back for more than the ice-cream.<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1477960/restaurant/Bank/Paul-A-Young-Fine-Chocolates-London"><img alt="Paul A Young Fine Chocolates on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1477960/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1477727/restaurant/Angel/Paul-A-Young-Fine-Chocolates-London"><img alt="Paul A Young Fine Chocolates on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1477727/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-88596494737058441142013-06-10T09:29:00.004-07:002013-06-10T09:33:37.726-07:00Drinks and tapas at MoritoI visited Morito once before (for a special se<a href="http://www.brunchetc.co.uk/2012/09/morito-seafood-festival-review-for.html" target="_blank">afood and sherry tasting</a> event last year), but - despite numerous trips to sister restaurant <a href="http://www.brunchetc.co.uk/2012/12/moro-its-little-bit-moorish.html" target="_blank">Moro</a> - I never managed to return to try the standard menu. I finally got my chance a couple of weeks ago, at a relaxed Monday night dinner with my boyfriend and his lovely cousin. Showing up at 7pm, we had no problem getting a table for three, making Morito a great alternative to Moro if you haven't had the chance to book weeks in advance! (although it's still pretty busy later in the week).<br />
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Morito has a great tapas menu, offering everything from light vegetable plates to hearty egg and potato concoctions; and with the cheerful orange decor, carafes of wine, and somewhat over-enthusiastic application of olive oil, you can almost imagine you're in Spain.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8IoPRnwYo8SixoGrF8FsDrEQtHXrDrc5YZpdfThphlBCuahjzdJtASrkeNMbLMw90Zri-keb3eawn1WMwzr4A74f_Z1LqOJb1a_9YYR36fdP6hjesP53iYsIe0ngXmFh03aYYxZiCqWv/s1600/IMG_2644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8IoPRnwYo8SixoGrF8FsDrEQtHXrDrc5YZpdfThphlBCuahjzdJtASrkeNMbLMw90Zri-keb3eawn1WMwzr4A74f_Z1LqOJb1a_9YYR36fdP6hjesP53iYsIe0ngXmFh03aYYxZiCqWv/s640/IMG_2644.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The menu changes weekly in accordance with the seasons, meaning that you're always getting the best possible ingredients (and giving you a good reason to go back again and again!). I was enjoying my meal too much to take many photos, but I did remember to snap one or two!<br />
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<u style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcluLs8VzX5VLjVuxnwfz4vh1MPK7zdiNN-JrqoUxs0ZjnEc_RKcoTWLoTgJ3PMKy3d4vqNlgqyyGgsVyIzpalh9SPQmTsod5T89oHNFreqRMJkkR9FJtprheKFD6V3v9KBhj7XjNHZTP_/s640/IMG_2645.jpg" width="480" /></u></div>
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The grilled <i>tetilla </i>cheese with walnuts and <i>membrillo </i>was probably my favourite dish, the decadently oozing cheese pairing perfectly with the sweet, grainy <i>membrillo </i>paste.<br />
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The spiced lamb with yoghurt, aubergine and pine nuts was another winner: flavourful shredded lamb, paired with tender, buttery aubergine, sweet pomegranate seeds and toasted pine nuts. Delicious.<br />
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The other dishes went down equally well: shell-on king prawns with tasty aoilio dressing; griddled asparagus with walnut vinaigrette; pork fillet coupled with with <i>jamon ham </i>and sweet <i>Padron </i>peppers; and <em>chicarrones de cadiz</em> (crispy chunks of slow-roasted pork belly flavoured with cumin and lemon).<br />
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And the desserts - creamy vanilla ice cream topped with a scattering of plump raisins and drowned in sweet sherry, and <i>crema Catalana</i> (a Spanish take on creme brûlée) - were excellent. I've had the former a few times before at Moro, and it was already a firm favourite, but the latter was also exceptionally good; a smooth and deliciously rich egg custard topped with a thin layer of crackly caramel.<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1549917/restaurant/London/Clerkenwell/Morito-Islington"><img alt="Morito on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1549917/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>
<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/view/104872/Morito?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Morito"><img alt="Square Meal" height="27" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/104872/get-blog-review/image/small.png" width="160" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-78053861114548947462013-06-04T01:09:00.002-07:002013-06-04T01:09:44.257-07:00Pho at...Pho<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Working near Liverpool Street puts me in walking distance of Spitalfields Market and a variety of great <a href="http://www.brunchetc.co.uk/2013/05/now-street-food-ping-pong-but-quicker.html" target="_blank">lunch spots</a>. A couple of weeks my boss and I wandered over to <a href="http://www.phocafe.co.uk/" target="_blank">Pho</a> - a family run chain specialising in Vietnamese street food - for a quick sit-down lunch.</div>
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We both ordered <i><a href="http://www.phocafe.co.uk/food/pho-noodle-soup" target="_blank">pho</a> -</i> the big bowls of hearty Vietnamese noodle soup from which the restaurant takes its name - and I was very impressed. The rich, flavourful broth was packed with noodles, greens, and plenty of tender, flaking beef brisket; while a side serving of fresh herbs, raw beansprouts and chilli added a nice element of DIY to the meal - although I stupidly added too many chilis to my soup and ended my lunch with streaming eyes!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDGgpSnoR1RvYKAbb3eOy069uPSw6KsXZGSo0l-SGhqkhkCqmq_Pi1UAFBNDm-Q1WJ4Mzv7ct6eWDZDcF3czk7ky9Sei3T-2CVhuyeV59F8wr0p3bS1jH0ZBW2ZEHo9Pcw9C4nllwucEq/s1600/IMG_2497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDGgpSnoR1RvYKAbb3eOy069uPSw6KsXZGSo0l-SGhqkhkCqmq_Pi1UAFBNDm-Q1WJ4Mzv7ct6eWDZDcF3czk7ky9Sei3T-2CVhuyeV59F8wr0p3bS1jH0ZBW2ZEHo9Pcw9C4nllwucEq/s320/IMG_2497.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowering_tea" target="_blank">"Flowering" tea </a>- so pretty!</i></div>
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All in all, a great little spot: nothing too fancy, but perfect for a relaxed lunch. Perhaps now the weather has turned I'll go back for one of their summery <a href="http://www.phocafe.co.uk/food/goi" target="_blank">Vietnamese salads</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1697758/restaurant/Shoreditch/Pho-London"><img alt="Pho on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1697758/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>
<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/view/101086/Pho_Oxford_Circus?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Pho Oxford Circus"><img alt="Square Meal" height="27" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/101086/get-blog-review/image/small.png" width="160" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-68140161184138887172013-05-26T14:44:00.000-07:002013-08-22T23:24:41.467-07:00NYC - Shake Shack, BBQ, and an epic brunch at Le Barricou, Brooklyn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>The reservoir in Central Park</i></div>
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It hadn't been long since my last visit to the States, <a href="http://www.brunchetc.co.uk/2013/05/california.html" target="_blank">road-tripping down the coast of California</a>, but a couple of weeks ago I was back again, this time in NYC. I was there on a business trip, but managed to squeeze in some socialising, sight-seeing and eating too, and had a great time!<br />
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<i> Sunrise view from my office window (jet lag + calls with the UK = early start!)</i></div>
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One of the most memorable meals of my trip was lunch at Shake Shack, New York's answer to<a href="http://www.brunchetc.co.uk/2013/05/california.html" target="_blank"> In N' Out</a>. The question of which chain makes the better burger is hotly debated in the US, but having now had the privilege of sampling both, I have to present Shake Shack with first place.<br />
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<i>Crinkle cut fries - add cheese sauce for the ultimate tastiness</i></div>
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With its squishy brioche bun, juicy burger, crispy bacon, and a squirt of tasty shack sauce, my Shack Burger (plus bacon) was absolutely exquisite. The chips - fat, golden and crinkle-cut, with a side of squeezy American cheese for dipping - were also excellent (far better than In N' Out's dried out skinny fries) and (predictably) the shakes weren't bad either!<br />
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Early May is an incredible time to visit NY - the cherry blossoms were in full bloom all through Central Park, something I took advantage of with a couple of stunning runs (and a less energetic afternoon spent lazing on the grass with friends).<br />
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On my last day I nipped over to Brooklyn to meet a friend for brunch in Williamsburg, at a lovely French restaurant called <a href="http://lebarricouny.com/menus/" target="_blank">Le Barricou</a>. After pondering the fantastic selection of omelettes (the apple, bacon and gruyere frittata really caught my eye!) and other great <a href="http://lebarricouny.com/pdf/brunch.pdf" target="_blank">brunch dishes</a> (eggs Benedict, croque madame, goats cheese and spinach croissant) we decided to share a spinach and mushroom omelette, followed by some truly epic pancakes.<br />
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<i>B'Burg :)</i></div>
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<i>Tasty spinach, mushroom, and gruyere cheese omelette</i></div>
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The pancakes required a 25 minute wait, so we started with the savoury course. Our omelette was excellent - slighty runny (as a good omelette should be), and crammed with spinach, gruyere, and an assortment of mushrooms. The pancakes were even more impressive: two huge fluffy delights, served with berries, maple syrup and a delicious strawberry-butter concoction. While they bore almost no resemblance to the slender <i>crepes</i> one would traditionally expect in a French restaurant - being closer in fact in texture and size to a small victoria sponge cake! - they were delicious, and definitely one of the more memorable brunch dishes I've had.<br />
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It was a real struggle to finish, even after splitting the lighter omelette option (I seriously don't know how anyone could ever hope to finish a plate on their own!), but an hour later, satisfied and sticky with maple syrup we did succeed in polishing off the final bites (although I couldn't eat for the rest of the day!)<br />
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I'll be going back to NY fairly regularly with work, and with the amazing bars (<a href="http://thelambsclub.com/" target="_blank">The Lambs Club</a> near Times Square, <a href="http://hotelchantelle.com/" target="_blank">Hotel Chantelle</a> in Lower East Side), restaurants (<a href="http://www.bluesmoke.com/blue/" target="_blank">Blue Smoke BBQ</a>, <a href="http://lebarricouny.com/" target="_blank">Le Barricou</a>, and of course <a href="http://www.shakeshack.com/" target="_blank">Shake Shack</a>!) and general fun-times which made my visit so special this time round, I can't wait to get to know the city a little better.<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/1537459/restaurant/Hells-Kitchen/Shake-Shack-NYC"><img alt="Shake Shack on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1537459/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/661273/restaurant/NYC/Williamsburg/Le-Barricou-Brooklyn"><img alt="Le Barricou on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/661273/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1755887/restaurant/Covent-Garden/Shake-Shack-London"><img alt="Shake Shack on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1755887/biglogo.gif" style="border:none;padding:0px;width:104px;height:34px" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-49383621432869432232013-05-19T23:39:00.001-07:002013-05-19T23:39:31.737-07:00Gastropub deliciousness at The Princess of Wales, Primrose Hill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Primrose Hill is one of my favourite parts of London. In addition to the beautiful houses, fashionable boutiques and expansive green spaces for which it is famed, it also boasts a number of excellent gastropubs - perfect for a hearty meal after a stroll through the park or along nearby Regent's Canal.<br />
So when my boyfriend and I were invited to check out <a href="http://www.lovetheprincess.com/" target="_blank">The Princess of Wales</a> last week, we jumped at the chance.<br />
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The weather was terrible, so unfortunately our plans for an evening wander through the park were scrapped in favour of a soggy sprint from Chalk Farm tube station, and by the time we arrived, we were cold, wet, and in need of some cheering up. Luckily our tasty dinner (and a few drinks!) did the job.<br />
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With a lovely <a href="http://www.lovetheprincess.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Princess-of-Wales_A3_food-menus_39116.pdf" target="_blank">menu</a> of gastropub classics - from bar snacks, small plates and salads, to hearty mains and sharing platters - The Princess of Wales has something for every occasion, whether you're in the mood for something to nibble on over drinks, or looking for a slap-up meal.</div>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">After pondering the selection of starters - which included such treats as duck or smoked mackerel pate on toast, Welsh rarebit with crispy bacon, and crab cakes with apple and cucumber pickle - we decided to share the squid with chilli salt and garlic mayo. This was a great start to the meal - chunks of tender squid in a crispy coating (with a gentle kick of sweet chilli), served with plenty of delicious mayonnaise and a tangle of rocket leaves.</span></div>
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For the main course, I went for the half roast chicken with summer coleslaw, chips and gravy. A delicious take on this pub classic, the summer coleslaw - sweet and zesty, and packed with freshly grated carrot - and the lemon thyme garlic butter took it to the next level. The gravy was excellent - thick and rich, it was the perfect accompaniment to the tasty shoe-string fries - while the chicken itself was cooked to perfection: crisp golden skin, tender, flavourful meat, and spot-on seasoning.</div>
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My boyfriend ordered the Princess Burger, which was also very impressive (in fact, he claimed it was the best pub burger he has had!). The fat beef patty was topped with roasted garlic mushroom, blue cheese and bacon, oozing juices from inside its shiny brioche bun. The combination of toppings were incredible together and I had more than a little food envy!<br />
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<i>How fat is that patty? Mmmmm</i></div>
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If you're looking for something a bit healthier (although when the burgers are this good, you might want to treat yourself instead!) the salads here also looked great - summery pairings of mozzarella with courgette and broad beans or grilled chicken with avocado and home-made salad cream - while dishes such as the fillet of salmon with roasted root vegetables and seasonal greens provide further alternatives for anyone whose watching their waistline.<br />
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I kicked off dessert with a bellini, before asking for a second spoon with which to attack my boyfriend's chocolate and peanut butter brownie. Ordered on the special recommendation of our waitress, this nutty, chocolatey treat was served warm with a scoop of exquisite salted caramel ice cream - simply amazing!<br />
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/view/114657/Princess_of_Wales?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Princess of Wales"><img alt="Square Meal" height="27" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/114657/get-blog-review/image/small.png" width="160" /></a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-28596017165560745962013-05-15T08:04:00.001-07:002013-05-15T08:05:24.399-07:00A family celebration at Al Boccon di'vino in Richmond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: start;">A few weeks ago my family got together at <a href="http://www.nonsolovinoltd.co.uk/" target="_blank">Al Boccon di'vino</a> in Richmond to celebrate my step-grandmother's 80th birthday. A cosy, traditionally-decorated Italian bistro, Al Boccon di'vino is well-known for its decadent multi-course Venetian feasts, and our 20-strong party spent the best part of an afternoon gorging on a never-ending stream of delicious Italian dishes.</span></div>
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There was some disagreement surrounding the number of courses (somewhere between 10 and 13 in total!) but it was unarguably some of the best Italian food I've had in London. There's no menu - instead the chef decides what to serve based on the seasonal produce he has to hand and his own inspiration. Everything is brought over as it's ready, and with plenty of shared dishes (and second helpings if you want them) it feels more like a dinner party than a formal restaurant meal.<br />
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We sat down to baskets of crusty Italian bread and plates of paper-thin Parma ham, and whet our appetites on miniature crostini smeared with pungent Parmesan spread while we waited for everyone to arrive. Once we were all seated, the courses began to appear: first up, a delicious minestrone soup; flavourful broth crammed with an assortment of colourful al dente vegetables.<br />
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Next came a delicate salad - a fresh, summery pairing of asparagus, melon, pomegranate seeds and sweet Sicilian olives - followed by a platter of mixed antipasti (aubergine parmiagana, potato fritters, braised fennel, and two types of quiche-like egg and vegetable tarts).<br />
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As we worked our way through the assortment of savoury treats the waitresses came round with slices of fried mozzarella (seared golden brown and oozing seductively onto our plates), before serving up a variety of tasty seafood dishes - king prawns in an flavourful tomato sauce; steamed razorclams; clams cooked with white wine and fresh herbs; and a beautiful scallop which - cooked in its shell and drenched in a rich garlic butter - was one of the highlights of my meal.<br />
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Already full to bursting, we moved on to the pasta courses: freshly made egg tagliatelle, served with a rich cream sauce and sprinkled with a liberal helping of salty Parmesan, followed by cheese-stuffed ravioli in a tomato passata. Both were fantastic.<br />
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Next - and with some fanfare - the waitresses brought out a huge haunch of lamb, accompanied with heaping platters of rosemary roasted potatoes. Most of us didn't have much room at this point, but my teenage brothers and cousins still got stuck in!<br />
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The meal finished on a lighter note, with fresh berries and creamy vanilla panna cotta, followed by coffees and dessert wine - a lovely close to a very memorable meal.<br />
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At only £60 each (including wine), Al Boccon di'vino represents incredibly good value given the quality of the food and the experience - you would barely get three courses at a middling restaurant for the same price in Central London - and is the perfect place for celebrations. I'm already trying to think of an excuse to go back!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1iJiLhjseqyYxbBt0Exha-8Iw0_RU29IrS0E5z6KZDVrZnbWpzphVIqbnip17mbi_gFbneTCdjNI6bzQYFMQ6S9V-11NBCuIJTYE-HMW1ZsfXwfiSHNNfQUeIIVYQ-HQYzp6TIvcOnvG/s1600/IMG_2639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1iJiLhjseqyYxbBt0Exha-8Iw0_RU29IrS0E5z6KZDVrZnbWpzphVIqbnip17mbi_gFbneTCdjNI6bzQYFMQ6S9V-11NBCuIJTYE-HMW1ZsfXwfiSHNNfQUeIIVYQ-HQYzp6TIvcOnvG/s400/IMG_2639.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Happy 80th Pat!</i></div>
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1631905/restaurant/London/Al-Boccon-divino-Richmond"><img alt="Al Boccon di'vino on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1631905/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>
<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/view/105026/Al_Boccondi'_Vino?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Al Boccondi’ Vino"><img alt="Square Meal" height="27" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/105026/get-blog-review/image/small.png" width="160" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-74177654223086003312013-05-09T06:54:00.004-07:002013-05-09T06:55:38.259-07:00California - San Francisco to Laguna (via In-N-Out Burger!)Over Easter my boyfriend and I spent 10 days in California, driving down the coast from San Francisco all the way to Laguna beach. It was a great trip (stunning beaches, beautiful views, breath-taking coastal roads...) and - in addition to that <a href="http://www.brunchetc.co.uk/2013/04/best-breakfast-ever-in-monterey.html" target="_blank">amazing breakfast</a> - we had a good few notable culinary experiences along the way.<br />
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We started our journey in San Francisco, which has to be one of the hilliest cities I've ever been too. Despite the inclines, it was pretty pleasant to walk around, with plenty of pretty tree-lined streets, and beautiful stretches of waterfront. And while the hills may have made things a bit more challenging, the views from the top were definitely worth the climb.<br />
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After a long day of walking (and suffering from some serious jet lag to boot) we decided to treat ourselves to an In-N-Out burger. I'd heard a lot about these burgers, which are something of a West Coast specialty, and was pretty impressed.<br />
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My boyfriend and I both ordered a double burger. These were simply enormous, with two juicy beef patties, a couple of half-melted slices of oozy American cheese, and plenty of crisp salad, all sandwiched in a soft brioche bun and served with a side helping of delicious thousand island sauce.<br />
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The chips were a bit disappointing (somewhat dry and nothing special) but the burger itself was great, and we treated ourselves again towards the end of our trip. A top tip from those in the know is to order your burger and fries "animal style" - an off-menu code-word which results in your food being generously smothered in a healthy (ha!) mixture of thousand island sauce, fried onions, and cheese. Heaven...<br />
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From San Francisco we hired a convertible and headed down the coast. <a href="http://www.brunchetc.co.uk/2013/04/best-breakfast-ever-in-monterey.html" target="_blank">Monterey</a> was our first stop, and from there we set off on the epic journey down Big Sur and along the famous 17-mile Drive - a narrow winding road with beautiful coastal views.<br />
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Our next stop was Santa Barabara, which was pretty, but not very pedestrian friendly (with the exception of San Francisco, Californian cities don't really seem that suited for a good old-fashioned English-style stroll!). And despite greatly enjoying the enormous Tex-Mex meal I had here (steak, chicken and king prawns served on a sizzling hot plate with onions and peppers and an obscene amount of melted cheese) the swiftly ensuing bout of food poisoning put a bit of a dampener on things!<br />
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Journeying on, we arrived in Los Angeles, where we foolishly ditched the car at our hotel and once again attempted to walk around. Two and a half hours of fast-paced walking didn't get us very far - although we did make it to Rodeo Drive, and had a nice wander through Beverley Hills. I found it hilarious how every house was designed to be completely unique from the ones next to it - Roman-style villas rubbing shoulders with Tudor manor-houses, Alpine chalets, and sweet country cottages...<br />
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The next morning we drove out to Santa Monica, which was lovely (boasting a great farmer's market and a beautiful stretch of beach) before hitting the road again and making our way South to Laguna.<br />
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<i>Dana Point, near Laguna</i></div>
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There we met with friends and spent a few days relaxing; whale watching, shooting pool, and playing some very competitive volleyball. One of my favourite meals of the holiday was a surprisingly tasty quesadilla - made with traffic cone orange American cheese - from the very basic ship's kitchen on our whale-watching trip.<br />
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This was an incredible trip - one I've wanted to do for years - and while I was sad we didn't have time to visit San Diego or Las Vegas, hopefully we'll make it back there some day!<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/6/85206/restaurant/Fishermans-Wharf/In-N-Out-Burger-San-Francisco"><img alt="In-N-Out Burger on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/85206/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-40161326771584451652013-05-07T12:24:00.001-07:002013-05-07T12:24:39.450-07:00Now Street Food: Ping Pong, but quicker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">I recently changed jobs, and my new office - near Liverpool Street station - has placed me in walking distance of a plethora of new lunch spots.</span></div>
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I've always been a fan of <a href="http://www.pingpongdimsum.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ping Pong</a>, but mealtimes there have tended to overrun - not ideal for a weekday lunch. So I was pleased to discover <a href="http://www.nowstreetfood.com/static/index.html" target="_blank">Now</a>, the new "fast food" addition to the Ping Pong family, just around the corner.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_R_fUXt_rZ_sfnIE1p60L7wdF3bUiHdNK0hUVl8RpQ9zGmtwUrNv2u4ND_TKV39rDPDkO7UTZJXWZPjQi8D7wDFq0fqjvAQRE_dA7g7aearNEuLatbbj9JQJftP8h2O_mQIpzAxoVUzFn/s1600/IMG_2587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_R_fUXt_rZ_sfnIE1p60L7wdF3bUiHdNK0hUVl8RpQ9zGmtwUrNv2u4ND_TKV39rDPDkO7UTZJXWZPjQi8D7wDFq0fqjvAQRE_dA7g7aearNEuLatbbj9JQJftP8h2O_mQIpzAxoVUzFn/s400/IMG_2587.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i>Chive and prawn, seafood, and har gau dumplings</i></div>
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With the same focus on good quality dim sum and tasty Asian dishes (rice and noodle bowls, hearty soups, and even a Chinese burger), Now is like Ping Pong, but quicker!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsryj_Q2bvotlfEKW0CFgSfIi188ys2mzAd-hxlJhwrbP_9psNqs2p-846_SA0jowGblhzv6CxVXbpCTLiLP9wMszx7R3WTxRKVJuCD3bczLRFQCKES3LefZGHwI67wwDUVnSg1jHb-TT/s1600/IMG_2511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsryj_Q2bvotlfEKW0CFgSfIi188ys2mzAd-hxlJhwrbP_9psNqs2p-846_SA0jowGblhzv6CxVXbpCTLiLP9wMszx7R3WTxRKVJuCD3bczLRFQCKES3LefZGHwI67wwDUVnSg1jHb-TT/s400/IMG_2511.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I ordered the seafood dim sum and a sticky seafood rice roll to go, for a healthy but satisfying lunch. The dim sum was very good - perfectly steamed, with a delicate flavour and no hint of sogginess - while the rice roll, pleasantly glutinous in its banana leaf wrapper, was flavoursome and filling. I'll be heading back soon to check out the rest of the <a href="http://www.nowstreetfood.com/cdn/media/documents/NOW_Menu.pdf" target="_blank">menu</a>!<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1540868/restaurant/Aldgate/NOW-Streetfood-London"><img alt="NOW Streetfood on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1540868/biglogo.gif" style="border: none; height: 34px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>
<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/view/104716/Now?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Now"><img alt="Square Meal" height="27" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/104716/get-blog-review/image/small.png" width="160" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-10478193614130091872013-04-29T06:50:00.001-07:002013-04-29T06:51:13.029-07:00An American feast: slow-cooked BBQ beans (with BBQ beef and sweet potato wedges)I came across the recipe for the BBQ beans in Ina Garten's <em>Barefoot Contessa at Home</em> but was originally put off by the long cooking time. However, since I am now the proud owner of a <a href="http://www.brunchetc.co.uk/2013/01/healthy-january-slow-cooker-chicken-soup.html" target="_blank">slow-cooker</a>, I decided to give it a go. It still requires a good bit of forward planning - you'll need to soak the dried kidney beans overnight, and cook them for 50 minutes on the stove before adding them to the dish - but it's a lot easier to throw everything into a slow-cooker and leave it to simmer than it is to spend 8 hours worrying about it drying out/spontaneously combusting in the oven.<br />
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Here's my version - I made a few minor adjustments to the ingredients (I skipped the tablespoon of Chinese chilli paste and added an extra tablespoon of grated ginger instead) and adapted it to be cooked in the slow-cooker.<br />
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<i>Ingredients</i><br />
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1 pound dried red kidney beans<br />
1 large onion<br />
1 bay leaf<br />
6 whole black peppercorns<br />
175ml maple syrup (3/4 cup)<br />
100g light brown sugar (1/2 cup, lightly packed)<br />
125ml tomato ketchup (1/2 cup)<br />
1(or 2) tablespoons freshly grated ginger<br />
1 tablespoon of Chinese chilli paste<br />
1 teapson salt<br />
150g smoked bacon, diced<br />
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Soak the dried red kidney beans in a bowl of cold water overnight, making sure that the water covers the beans by at least an inch. Drain the beans and rinse well.<br />
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Cook the beans in a large pot with four pints (2.25l) of water, the onion (cut into eighths), bay leaf, and peppercorns. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for 50 minutes, or until the beans are tender. Once the beans are cooked (a good trick is to take a scoopful of beans and blow on them - if the skins start to peel, they are ready), drain them, retaining the cooking liquid.<br />
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In a saucepan, whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, ketchup, chilli paste (if using), grated ginger, salt, and 375ml (1 1/2 cups) of the cooking liquid, reserving the remaining liquid. Simmer over a medium heat for around 6 minutes.<br />
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Transfer your beans to the slow cooker. Mix half the diced bacon into the beans, and place the rest on top. Pour the sweet sauce and 125ml (1/2 cup) of cooking liquid over the beans, and set the slow-cooker for 8 hours.<br />
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After 8 hours, transfer your beans to a heavy-based pot (I used my Le Creuset) and refrigerate until needed. When you're ready to use your beans, simmer on the stove top for a while to heat them through (and to thicken the sauce).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7q-SMm5EpoS0yymZt6IB7b5fXoLHF9EQJ7RklTg_XY7CajKDsTuiVB_o85ympvr5KxPdTsrozCZ8dkV4JANy448V-y_b9dtjZcdTqOT13KNSmatOoRr6sq7s2JMKUYlYlmEKX0WxQ76e/s1600/IMG_1479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7q-SMm5EpoS0yymZt6IB7b5fXoLHF9EQJ7RklTg_XY7CajKDsTuiVB_o85ympvr5KxPdTsrozCZ8dkV4JANy448V-y_b9dtjZcdTqOT13KNSmatOoRr6sq7s2JMKUYlYlmEKX0WxQ76e/s320/IMG_1479.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em>Sweet potato wedges - colourful and delicious</em></div>
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I served these beans alongside slow-cooked <a href="http://www.brunchetc.co.uk/2013/03/an-american-feast-slow-cooked-bbq-beef.html" target="_blank">BBQ beef</a>, sweet potato wedges and Cajun-spiced roast chicken as part of my American-themed dinner party.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBG5rFYtdd06v6VPnDwDNyZplpNRy4JrER3FG00YSu8HZresM_pDJBvHD0r5BcxFJ5omFI8BWuFRsT9Uibk7OOolTDdJahHxcUJDOSzK4OKN5t1Uvb0rhcbSDuGjy6PQj5AlEhe0f_GfC/s1600/IMG_2123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<em>Tasty, tasty BBQ beef</em></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-42435508959592933412013-04-22T06:52:00.001-07:002013-04-22T07:17:13.643-07:00Dinner and drinks at Mamounia Lounge with Bon Appetit Card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last Friday my boyfriend and I were treated to a lovely meal at <a href="http://www.mamounialounge.com/knightsbridge/" target="_blank">Mamounia Lounge, Knightsbridge</a>. This lively Lebanese venue recently signed up with Bon Appetit Card, offering cardholders <a href="http://www.bonappetitcard.com/en/restaurant/view/id/153" target="_blank">30% off their bill</a> for groups of up to four, and I was eager to check it out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIBCu7Iwk59xr0t6FFS2nou5BqFQmoFm1DMKC4lXHkgXWnVr-Li25n6UWXh7GdQm711b3WQ-ykGh5y_EBSK6QKmdNwFRsYi2_qCRkps9gkpqAnAs9-CIDd_iaGBrFLGEXtn0Fx81LUJ8O/s1600/IMG_2591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIBCu7Iwk59xr0t6FFS2nou5BqFQmoFm1DMKC4lXHkgXWnVr-Li25n6UWXh7GdQm711b3WQ-ykGh5y_EBSK6QKmdNwFRsYi2_qCRkps9gkpqAnAs9-CIDd_iaGBrFLGEXtn0Fx81LUJ8O/s400/IMG_2591.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Opulently decorated with gold leaf and elaborate detailing, the restaurant was already buzzing when we arrived, filled with people winding down after a long week at work over cocktails and mezze. We relaxed at the bar for a while with a couple of drinks - the Gold-digger for me (like the much-loved Pornstar Martini, this contains fresh passion fruit juice and vanilla vodka, and comes with a shot of champagne on the side - lovely!) and a Manhattan on the rocks for my boyfriend. The bar staff were great: chatty and friendly, they reflected the excellent standard of service which continued to impress us throughout the evening.</div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hY1uzCiFY-fsD12SJr7VALD4xUX_45SM9f2YfVxSoSwGoImx_AFakwmLNKAh_dgpIEKYJvyxykkRoRl6381HiQE8dfzG7o5k88K5o3bLGzOQ6PoVFIRoqwmA5lkBCOqv_I5AfrkV5XNO/s320/IMG_2592.jpg" width="300" /></div>
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Upon finishing our delicious cocktails, we headed over to our table to peruse the <a href="http://www.mamounialounge.com/knightsbridge/mamounia-lounge-knighsbridge-menus/knightsbridge-main-menu.pdf" target="_blank">menu</a>. Featuring all my favourite Middle Eastern dishes (as well as a good few I was yet to try), we eventually settled upon a platter of mixed mezze and <i>pastilla</i> of chicken to start, and the lamb <em>meshoui</em> (a traditional dish of lamb shoulder marinated in a blend of herbs, spices, nuts and dried fruits) and mixed grill for our mains.</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAY9yF0UjKGQGEQcFdkMB3AXPzbMEBSQmGm9s79rNLVa4KE9kUiaknJKgMO1NxG-UpMHsyCcWmWcGWzmzqXT81pYDcQVYlNk1dMoHJKuEa3t6AaCUe5iAdfE6NFAGpmXbGwbDPWctv4tDj/s320/IMG_2594.JPG" width="400" /></div>
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The mezze selection was excellent. Served with two pillowy flat breads, it included an assortment of tasty dips (creamy labneh, earthy hummus, and <em>moutabel</em>, a particularly delicious combination of sesame oil, lemon juice, and smoked aubergine puree), broad beans cooked with coriander and garlic, a mound of summery tabbouleh, and portions of green beans and chickpeas stewed in rich tomato sauce. Yum!</div>
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The <i>pastilla </i>of chicken was also very good. Never having tried this particular dish before, I was interested to see how the combination of chicken and icing sugar would taste. In fact, it worked incredibly well: the dainty filo pastry parcels of cinnamon-spiced shredded chicken with their dusting of powdered sugar hit a perfect balance between sweet and savoury, and my boyfriend and I enjoyed them immensely.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirw_oF8DW9rNOflNfCQkFV7hKIEglu6LJro4RomQ0zie3wipRyblvCOujxHIkJ4ILXZvifrjq_xfULOOF-_gyFuxU6FgHOy7U_k1r4oDWJ5zUwnrK5QfRq_3TzLaWhD5awDn_TGlUTsWl7/s1600/IMG_2598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirw_oF8DW9rNOflNfCQkFV7hKIEglu6LJro4RomQ0zie3wipRyblvCOujxHIkJ4ILXZvifrjq_xfULOOF-_gyFuxU6FgHOy7U_k1r4oDWJ5zUwnrK5QfRq_3TzLaWhD5awDn_TGlUTsWl7/s320/IMG_2598.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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My <em>meshoui</em> arrived on a wooden board, meaty chunks of tender slow-cooked lamb piled high in the middle. Garnished with dried apricots, dates and slivers of orange and accompanied by a dish of savoury vegetable gravy, it was absolutely delicious, the combination of sweet fruit, rich, flavourful sauce, and tender flaking meat coming together perfectly.</div>
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My boyfriend was also very impressed with his mixed grill, which featured tasty skewers of chargrilled chicken, lamb and <i>kofta </i>(spiced minced lamb), triangles of flatbread, and an assortment of pickles and vegetable accompaniments.</div>
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Very full at this point, I had to decline the offer of dessert, opting instead for a large pot of sweetened Moroccan tea. Served in a dainty glass, poured from an beautiful silver teapot, this was a perfect way to end the meal (and a far better digestif than my usual choice of milky coffee).</div>
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My boyfriend managed to find the space for something sweet, ordering the <em>mahalabia</em>, a sweet milk pudding garnished with slivers of pistachio. I sneaked a few bites and can report that it was extremely good; smooth and creamy with a pleasant hint of rose-water.</div>
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The latter part of our meal was accompanied by in-house entertainment, in the form of a stunning belly dancer, who shimmied her way around the restaurant to a catchy blend of traditional Middle Eastern music and modern house-like beats, accompanied by plenty of clapping and cheering from the on-looking diners!</div>
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When the time eventually came to take our leave from Mamounia Lounge, we realised we'd lingered over our meal for close to three hours! It was a truly enjoyable evening, with delicious food, great cocktails, a lively atmosphere, and staff who were as smiley and welcoming as they were efficient. It would be a perfect spot for a lively pre-night-out meal - in fact my boyfriend is already planning a return visit with a group of friends (I think he may have been entranced by the belly-dancer as much as the food!) </div>
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/london/view/114245/Mamounia_Lounge-Knightsbridge?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Mamounia Lounge - Knightsbridge"><img alt="Square Meal" height="27" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/114245/get-blog-review/image/small.png" width="160" /></a> <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1577230/restaurant/Knightsbridge/Mamounia-Lounge-Knightsbridge-London"><img alt="Mamounia Lounge Knightsbridge on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/logo/1577230/biglogo.gif" style="border: currentColor; height: 34px; padding: 0px; width: 104px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09720058159998256364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7925071755274373477.post-72894684697495473922013-04-19T08:33:00.001-07:002013-04-19T08:33:16.706-07:00Best breakfast ever in Monterey, California<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I recently spent 10 days in California, driving down the coast (in a convertible nonetheless!) from San Francisco to Laguna. We stopped in lots of places along the way, but one of my favourites was Monterey. Situated on a beautiful stretch of coastline just North of Big Sur and the famous 17-Mile Drive, this picturesque town boasts a charming street of converted canneries (the "Cannery Row" of John Steinbeck fame), some lovely coastal walks, a large population of local sea lions, and a famous aquarium (which we didn't get around to visiting...). </div>
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It was also the location of one of the best meals of my trip: our breakfast at <a href="http://www.firstawakenings.net/" target="_blank">First Awakenings</a> featured the lightest, fluffiest pancake I have ever eaten in my life, setting me up for a lifetime of disappointment back in the UK!</div>
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<em>Free refills of coffee...yes please! (cue caffeine shakes)</em></div>
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It took me a while to choose from the selection of <a href="http://www.firstawakenings.net/menu.html#Pancakes" target="_blank">pancakes </a>on offer (raspberry-coconut-granola was particularly tempting), but I ended up shunning the more traditional options (blueberry, or - dare I say it - plain) for the very breakfasty-sounding "Fresh Apple Cinnamon and Oatmeal" pancake. I was slightly worried that the oats would make this too heavy, but they were sprinkled on top (rather than incorporated into the batter), and - lightly toasted - brought a lovely nutty flavour to the dish. </div>
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The incredibly airy pancake was packed with little cubes of sweet apple (perfectly cooked, neither too hard nor too soggy), and the dish was completed with a sprinkling of oat flakes, a dusting of powdered sugar, and the traditional American pancake accompaniment - a scoop of whipped butter. I had a tentative taste, in the hope that it may have been ice-cream, but was sadly disappointed. Still, I maintain - this was the best pancake I've ever had, and if you ever pass through Monterey, you have to go here!</div>
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The savoury options were pretty impressive too: my boyfriend went for the "Caps, Etc" - a dish of sautéed mushroom caps tops with a bubbling layer of melted cheese, served alongside fried eggs, toasted English muffin, and a very generous portion of home-made hash-browns. Delicious.</div>
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After our breakfast we went for a stroll along the bay, and said hello to some of the local sea lions, who were lounging on the protected beach below the coastal path. And then, sadly, it was time to go - heading off down the 101 to Santa Barbara.</div>
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