Alchemy on the Southbank

Looking for something to do this Bank Holiday Monday? Perhaps just to celebrate that our trains are running or to grab a spicy hangover cure? Head down to the Southbank Centre to their Alchemy event (an annual festival showcasing the best of dance, music, theatre, design, fashion, comedy and literature from the UK and South Asia). 

Street food heavyweights - KERB (@kerb_) are providing a fantastic pop up market celebrating the best of South Asian food - cuisines from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Afganistan.

Here are a couple of highlights that we tried today. 

I am obsessed with Dosas - a thin, crispy pancake made from rice batter and black lentils, and Dosa Deli always deliver on the goods. Today we had their Chilli Cheese Dosa, which is so moreish and delightfully crispy!

Ladle & Skillet had a great Afghani offering -  Bamyan Lamb or Kabull Chickpeas. We went for the lamb box (griddled lamb neck, slow marinated in garlic, lemon, coriander and chilli with peppers and onions), which was served with a gorgeously soft organic flatbread. The lamb was beautifully tender and even the salad was soaked in rich lamb juices.

One of my favourite dishes came from The Peckish Peacock in the form of a Pakora Snack Box. Most delicious pakoras I've ever tried - crunchy, buttery, rich and lip smackingly good. 

There's a great selection of drinks to finish your May bank hol - a cocktail bar, a selection of refreshing beers, coffees and Square Root sodas. If you're a tea lover like myself, there's Good & Proper Tea or Teala to choose from. With today's warm weather, I tried Iced Teas from both stalls. The Classic Southern Iced tea from Teala was refreshing and tangy with black tea, whereas the Iced Tea made with Darjeeling and a splash of Elderflower from Good & Proper was sweeter and milder.

We finished off with a couple of sweet treats. Good & Proper Tea have a nice little selection of baked goods - we went for the Coconut Barfi, little squishy morsels of coconutty goodness.

Spotting the words VIETNAMESE ICED COFFEE, we also grabbed ice lollies from The Ice Kitchen. Their Vietnamese Iced Coffee lolly was the best ice lolly I've ever had. Rob had the fresh mango lolly, which he described as frozen squished up mango. Win win.

So get yourself down to Alchemy tomorrow and try the fantastic food and bevvies they have to offer! Special mentions also to Kothu Kothu, who do incredible Sri Lankan Rotis - try the Mutton, and Horn Ok Please who offer a great selection of delish veggie street food.

 

Shackfuyu

As all good Londoners know, Bone Daddies Ramen Bar is a culinary staple of soho. So when I heard about their newest pop up - Shackfuyu (Winter Shack), that had arrived on Old Compton Street for only a year, I had to check it out. With a motley gang in tow, we risked a Saturday lunchtime service (Shackfuyu do not take bookings) and found quite a few empty tables. After being shuffled past the wood burning oven, we were seated in a cosy booth. For a temporary restaurant, you feel instantly at home; the walls are painted a rich emerald green and adorned with white japanese script, while a soundtrack of David Lee Roth and Alice Cooper plays. This was a great start.

I started with an Orenji What?! A cocktail of fine Japanese whisky, triple sec and orange miso. It was presented in the most adorable corked bottle, Bone Daddies branded naturally, and I instantly fell in love. The cocktail itself was a perfect balance of sweet and sharp, the whisky warming my cockles after a morning in the biting wind.

Shackfuyu is based on a concept of small, sharing plates - an idea which I thoroughly enjoy as I get to try so many more dishes. We shared 6 between us plus dessert, which left no room for any afternoon tea.

Mentaiko Mac and Cheese, bacon and cock scratchings  - delicate macaroni in a deliciously creamy sauce, the addition of bacon adding a lovely smoky flavour. The charmingly named 'Cock Scratchings' were a perfect textural addition, finishing with the mentaiko (cod roe) that was an interesting take on a classic.

 

Bitesized yellowtail sashimi tostada with avocado shiso pack a punch! A beautiful mixture of textures and flavours in a petite mouthfull.

Who doesn't love a great chicken wing? These little morsels are a joy to behold - a great combination of sweet and sour, and satisfyingly crunchy.

Fried Potatoes with Japaense Curry Sauce are exactly how they read, simple and classic. The crunchy cubes of golden potato are soft and fluffy on the inside and match perfectly with a Katsu-esque sauce.

 

For a moment of indulgence, order the hand dived roasted scallop with chilli miso butter. A squeeze of lime cuts through this rich dish. The size of the scallop was generous and ladened with butter.

The highlight of this meal was the Hot Stone Rice with Goma Tare (sesame seed sauce), Chilli and Beef.  Placed in front of me was a sizzling hot bowl with compartmentalised ingredients. After giving a lovely description on the dish the waiter stired it together, releasing a delectable cocophany of aromas. On first bite, the rice floated between crunchy and soft and my mouth was alive was tingling chilli and aromats.

To finish, we tried the only dessert on the menu - one that has been in the press a fair few times recently: Kinako French Toast and Soft Serve Ice Cream. Two inch thick roasted soy flour toast is caramelised on the outside and delightfully squidgy on the inside. It was perfectly complimented by the matcha soft serve - a complete winner to a matcha enthusiast.

So head down to Shackfuyu and indulge on some fantastic modern Japanese cuisine at great value for money! Why not follow them on Twitter? @shackfuyu

While you're at it... follow me on Instagram for more delicious foodie pics - @gourmet_georgie

Eating Amsterdam

I don't often get the opportunity to travel outside of the UK, but we managed to grab a week away this February to Amsterdam. If you haven't been, it's an incredibly beautiful city that has so much more to offer than its red light district, chips and 'coffeeshops'. In particular, Amsterdam has an awesome culinary scene that was begging to be explored... So I'm going to share some of my foodie highlights with you!

The Fat Dog

On the corner of Ruysdaelkade and Van Hilligaertstraat sits the entrance to The Fat Dog, adorned with graffiti, you feel as though you are about to walk into a biker bar to sink a few whiskies. But the inside of the petite Fat Dog is warm and invititing. Couples and small groups sit in candlelight, nursing big and beautiful G&Ts to an eclectic and cool soundtrack. With 10 gourmet dogs to choose from, you're spoilt for choice and each dog is intriging. I went for the Speedy Gonzalez -  Chimichuri, guacamole, sour corn, jalapeno-cilantro mayonnaise, pork corn. Although slightly less colourful than I was expecting, the balance of flavours was delicious. Finish of your meal with a hearty slice of vanilla cheesecake to share - creamy, sugary goodness with a buttery biscuit base.

Pancakes!

Pancakes! No I'm not excited, that's what it's called. If you're heading to Amsterdam, you have to indulge in some gorgeous Dutch pancakes. Either at Pancakes! or The Pancake Bakery. I opted for a Deluxe Dutch pancake with apple, mixed nuts, calvados and cinnamon - surprisingly savoury and well balanced. Rob's choice was a joy to behold - spinach, goats cheese, garlic oil and pine cuts. All the flavours of an excellent pizza but with a pancake base. Thoroughly recommended. Pancakes! is also located in the Nine Streets (De Negen Straatjes) amongst a plethora of boutique shops and cafes.

The Lobby

The best breakfast in Amsterdam? Head to The Lobby - part of Hotel V and right in the centre of the city. I was treated to a gorgeous latte and eggs florentine. The poached eggs were indulgently silky, a hollandaise that had the perfect vinegary tang and toasted brioche buns. Their french toast was laden with cinnamon and syrup, with a dollop of creme fraiche to cut through the richness.

De Bakerswinkel

Pies? Cakes? Sugar? Visit De Bakkerswinkel, of which there are a few branches. The classic Dutch apple pie is a must or if you're heading for breakfast, try the brioche french toast - with extra butter and syrup! They also do an excellent selection of sandwiches and lunch platters. Or you can even book in for a 'high tea' laden with delectable cakes and treats.

G's Really Really Nice Place

Continuing my 'eggsterdam' tour, we started Valentines Day with brunch a G's. Every bit as hip as an East London cafe, Gs uses old records for it's menus and has a whole list dedicated to Bloody Marys. I started off with a Bacon Bloody Mary and followed with their Healthy Benedict - two poached eggs served on spelt on a bed of cottage cheese with sauteed spinach & avocado. The spelt bread added a new dimension to the traditional florentine and kept me going for hours of canal walking. Rob ordered Le Beef Burger - custom-made for G's by their local butcher “louman’s” just the way G likes it: topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickle & mayo. It was juicy and slathered in mayo but gorgeous. I recommend the Challah Cinnamon French Toast - jewish braided bread soaked in egg / milk / cinnamon then pan-fried crispy and toppedwith banana slices.

 Little Collins

If you're wandering the streets of Amsterdam's bohemian residency - De Pijp, you'll want to stop by Little Collins. A petite Austrailian run cafe serving feast worthy food. The flat white coffee isn't widely spread throughout this city, so I was overjoyed to find it on the menu at Little Collins. Their crockery was reminiscent of Caravan, and I got a pang of homesickness. I munched my way through a huge skillet of Kasundi Eggs - Roast pumpkin, spiced chickpeas, feta, coriander, yoghurt and sour dough toast; I was eventually defeated but this brunch item is something I will definitely be replicating at home.

Lanksroom

Finally, the stroopwafel. For those who aren't familiar with this revelation, stroopwafels are made from two thin layers of baked dough with a caramel-like syrup filling in the middle. You can buy them in supermarkets in England, but they originated in Gouda (Netherlands). To get a taste of tradition, head to Lanksroom for a stroopwafel with different flavoured caramels. Coffee Caramel is a winner!

Happy New Year

HNY one and all! I wanted to take a few minutes to share some of my favourite moments from the past year as I am extremely grateful for how much my life has changed in just 365 days. 

Georgie's Top 2014 Moments

• Visiting River Cottage for their Pig in a Day course and staying at the very nice Deer Park Inn
• Experiencing Austin, Texas and SXSW
• Being offered a job at the end of the graduate programme - better yet, being offered a job that I very much wanted
• Finally feeling like part of something and feeling like I am making a difference at work
• Working with some amazing people who make me feel like I can do anything
• Crosstown Doughnuts
• Reintroducing an old friend into my life who makes every day a little bit better
• Meeting Felicity Cloake and taking part in her Food Writing Masterclass
• Eating at The British Larder and Duck and Waffle
• Sausagefest.
• Getting drunk with my mum at a very posh restaurant.
• Finally feeling sure of who I am and what I like - then sticking to it!
• Getting my new tattoo with my BFFL
• Seeing Slash and Myles Kennedy then staying up to the wee hours to play GTA5 with three of the best people ever.
• Too many whiskies.
• Creating something and successfully launching it out into the world! 
• Moving into our new flat and finally having more than one room.
• Sheen Living.
• Chinnabons.
• Coffee.

Reds Barbecue

I'm a southern girl and I believe anything past Birmingham is the North. So you can imagine my surprise when my mother informed me that she was moving to Leeds. Would it not be closer for them to travel to France? My mother has lived on the south coast for nearly all of her life, so this was to be a big change and a chance to experience a whole new area with new culture and new traditions... and pie barms. 

This was 18 months ago, so as you can imagine, I have visit Leeds now a couple of times and the city itself is a very vibrant and exciting place, with one of the best shopping areas I have ever come across. There are also plenty of culinary treats to try (Shears Yard and Friends of Ham are highlights), so on this particular visit, Rob and I tried out Red's Barbecue. 

As London barbecue fangirls, we were reticent about the North's take on our favourite food. But Red's didn't disappoint. The whole style behind Red's as a concept is very exciting - using barbecue as a 'religious' experience and quoting from 'The Good Book' was something I've never seen before and gave it a different edge.

I started with the Bourbon Cask Smoked Manhattan made with Wild Turkey Rye (recommended for bourbon lovers!) and chilli chocolate bitters smoked in bourbon soaked oak. This was a fantastic start to our meal. My cocktail was brought in a decanter, filled with smoke and poured out in front of me. I wasn't expecting this level of theatre from a casual barbecue restaurant, so the pleasant surprise put me in a fantastic mood. The drink itself was delicious, sweet and smoky.

To eat, I went for the Jacob's Ladder Beef Rib - my personal favourite, accompanied by Sweet Potato fries. The beef is smothered in their Unholy Barbecue Sauce, which was 'divine'. The meat fell off the bone and had an incredible depth of flavour. The fries were crispy, sweet and salty and were the perfect tools to try out the varied range of sauces on offer!

Unfortunately we were too full for dessert, but I will definitely be returning to Red's on my next trip to the city centre. A must try!

Taste of London 2014

I went to Taste of London last week. For those who aren't familiar, Taste is a restaurant festival showcasing some of London's most exciting places to eat. Each restaurant has 3 or 4 showstopping dishes on the menu for you to try. Plus lots of bars, foodie stalls and giveaways!

I did spend most of my time wandering around completely wide eyed but I managed to snap a few pics to share with you.

Starting with Meatliquor. You know I love Meat Liquor, and Meat Market and Meat Mission. All the Meat boys endeavors. We had Cheeseburger Sliders and Monkey Fingers (buffalo chicken strips) - juicy, moreish and meaty.

 

From Plum and Spilt Milk, I had an Elderflower and Berry Jelly with Clotted Cream. I'm not normally a jelly fan, but this was fantasticly fresh, fruit and indulgent.

We had fresh Strawberry ice cream Gordon Ramsey's Maze, covered in popping candy! Almost looks too good to eat.

Next up was Italian fare from L'Anima. They were shaving huge truffles everywhere! 

I tried the Burrata (my favourite cheese at the moment) with pomodoro and anchovies. I was a little disappointed by this one - the cold tomato sauce left a little to be desired.

 

 

There were lots of chefs to fangirl over. Here are some that I took photos of :) 

 

Thomasina Miers

Michel Roux Jr.

 

 

Gizzi Erskine

We also saw Monica Galetti and Valentine Warner. I was grinning like an idiot with excitement.

Time for a VIP champagne break with Laurent Perrier and a free promotional recipe book. 

Next onto my newest obsession - Duck and Waffle. I had Barbecue Crispy Pigs Ears. They were so tasty, but I couldn't eat the entire bag. Luckily I saved it and we shared them later in front of the telly. It was very romantic.

 Now for my absolute favourite thing I ate. A creation by Andre Garrett. This was a Peanut Butter Parfait with Chocolate Mousse and Meringue Topping and a secret core of salted caramel. Heaven.

 

We finished off our summer excursion with a cocktail. I had the French Spring Punch, which tasted like an alcoholic lemonade. Perfectly refreshing in the summer sun.

Blanchette Soho

Imagine you're sat in a beautiful little bistro in Paris and you're about to embark on tasting a variety of French delights. Now imagine that a group of Shoreditch hipsters are running said bistro. What do you have? Blanchette. 

I don't say this is a negative sense by any means. Blanchette's visual quirks and rustic feel are all part of its charm. From the mismatched crockery to the Gerard Depadieu cookbook, it's exactly the kind of place where you could cosy up into a corner with an old friend on a Friday night, consuming a lot of cheese and wine before merrily stumbling towards the last tube. 

 

As for our visit, we smugly passed the long queue for The Breakfast Club (every weekend guys, surely you can cook your own pancakes?) and were greeted with a relievingly cool and stylish, yet moderately empty restaurant. We were seated at a 'widescreen' (as my partner so appropriately put it) table, where our knees could touch but there was still plenty of room for food. Unfortunately I must prologue this visit by saying that I had a stonking cold, however I was determined to enjoy the first outing Rob and I had managed to organise in a while. This did mean that I decided not to drink any alcohol. It was astonishingly painful to look at the wine and cocktail menu knowing this. I could only imagine the taste of their classic Grey Goose and Tanquery Martini or Loire Valley Savignon Blanc on my tongue.

Blanchette's classic and simple dishes work in a similar way to tapas, and they recommend 3 dishes per person.

We started with Fresh Bread and Butter. The butter was perfect at room temperature (Sorry, Chris) and absolutely delectable smeared onto the warm bread. Although served in a slightly odd paper bag, Rob states it was one of the highlights of the meal.

In true French style, we ordered the Crispy Frogs Legs with Bois Boudran Sauce.

Crispy Frogs Legs

The breadcrumb coating was flavourful and the meat was juicy and tender, and the sauce was the perfect accompaniment to cut through the richness. 

Unable to resist Chacuterie at any time of day, we ordered the Coppa, an Italian cured ham (usually made from pork neck or shoulder). A generous plate, the meat was delicate yet packed with flavour and a smoky finish.

Coppa

For our hot dishes we ordered Braised Lamb Shoulder with Anchovy, Rosemary and Soubise Sauce / Grilled Beef Rump with Nicoise Relish, Grelot Onion and Rouille / Smoked Duck Breast Salad with Heritage Tomato Vierge and Baby Artichoke. Before you ask where the vegetables are, Rob didn't want any of the vegetables and he was paying. So it was a meat fest.

Smoked Duck Breast Salad

Braised Lamb Shoulder

Grilled Beef Rump

Of the three dishes, the lamb is the stand out champion. With orgasmicly tender and melting meat, sweet roasted garlic and a sauce I would bathe in, this is simplicity at it's best. The duck salad was fresh, sweet and the mixture of textures were incredibly pleasing. Finally, the beef rump was the work of a chef who knows exactly how create a dish from lots of little ingredients whilst still letting the delicate and thin beef sing as the star.

By this point I was pleasantly full. But we opted for dessert anyway. As each dish had been fantastic in it's own right, it would be a crime not to. We ordered the Chocolate Marquise with Salted Caramel Puffed Rice and Pistachio Ice Cream and Tart Lemon Pot with Strawberry, Gin and Parlsey Sorbet. 

The lemon pot was creamy and moreish with a beautifully refreshing 'summer on Hampstead Heath' sorbet that contained just the right amount of gin and the parsley was a great palate cleanser. The accompanying twilles were delicate and generously sugared. The marquis was a wholly different beast, rich and indulgent with the ice cream giving a pop of colour to the dish and texture from the puffed rice.

With dishes between £6 and £8, it's impossible not to feel spoilt in Blanchette. 

We were kids in a magasin de bonbons.