Although most favour the flute, I challenge you to find a more chic way to sip your Champers than from a saucer.
Miss SMBW and I rewarded ourselves with a cheeky glass of fizz at Kettners before a light dinner , which included goats cheese and asparagus.
What better way to start the weekend.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Lebanese delights
Whilst shopping in town yesterday, DBFB and needed to make a refuel stop before braving Selfridges. We stumbled across Le Comptoir on Wigmore Street. A bright and cheerful canteen / delicatessen, the salads, tagines, wraps and delectable sweets in the counter drew me in straight away. Seated at the front of the restaurant you are surrounded by some of the foods to buy and the crafts from Marrakech (like an upmarket souk without the dust, heat and smells of the leather tanneries).
We ordered the mezze platter which came with hummous, baba ghanuj, tabouleh, moudardara (a salad of whild rice, lentils, cherry tomatoes and parsley) falafel and cheese samboussek (little cheesy parcels) which was yummy. All washed down with fresh mint tea.
We ordered the mezze platter which came with hummous, baba ghanuj, tabouleh, moudardara (a salad of whild rice, lentils, cherry tomatoes and parsley) falafel and cheese samboussek (little cheesy parcels) which was yummy. All washed down with fresh mint tea.
Friday, May 7, 2010
DBFB at 31
Work took me away from home for DBFB's birthday and during election week. So on May Day bank holiday we went off to celebrate at The Almeida in Islington.
Champagne to start the evening off - if you like a gin and tonic as your aperitif, then try the French 75 (Tanqueray Gin, lemon juice, gomme syrup, Champagne). As asparagus season has kicked off, I had it to start, followed by the sea bream. DBFB went for a much heartier meal with the morels, brioche, poached egg and beurre blanc starter and the slow braised suckling pig as a main.
Putting my new found Burgundy knowledge to test I ordered this: Chassagne-Montrachet Cuvée L’Estimée, Grand Vin de Bourgogne, Jean Noël Gagnard 2008:
From the Cote de Beaune, this was a complex combo of dark cherries, vegetables and was slightly peaty. Not the best choice with asparagus and fish, but perfect for the mushrooms and pork.
Champagne to start the evening off - if you like a gin and tonic as your aperitif, then try the French 75 (Tanqueray Gin, lemon juice, gomme syrup, Champagne). As asparagus season has kicked off, I had it to start, followed by the sea bream. DBFB went for a much heartier meal with the morels, brioche, poached egg and beurre blanc starter and the slow braised suckling pig as a main.
Putting my new found Burgundy knowledge to test I ordered this: Chassagne-Montrachet Cuvée L’Estimée, Grand Vin de Bourgogne, Jean Noël Gagnard 2008:
From the Cote de Beaune, this was a complex combo of dark cherries, vegetables and was slightly peaty. Not the best choice with asparagus and fish, but perfect for the mushrooms and pork.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
What to do in Belgium if you have 8 hours to kill
I got stuck in Europe for a couple extra days. I managed to find my way home by train but I had 8 hours to fill in Brussels. So I contacted Mr & Mrs J (as Mrs J lived in Brussels for a number of years) and they gave me the perfect itinerary for a sunny Sunday.
I dumped my luggage at Gare Midi and went walkabout. Starting out along Rue Engeland (where I did think, 'Where have they sent me?') to Rue Blaes and then onto the flea market to Place du Jeu Balle - busy with antiques, clothing and homeware, it was a great discovery. I then wound my way through all the interior design shops and boutiques around Rue Blaes and Rue Haute to a fab little place called Le Perroquet. This perfectly formed cafe has great salads, stuffed pittas and by 11.30am (after almost 17 hours of travelling overnight) a welcome glass or two of wine. Get there early on a Sunday for a table outside and enjoy the food and people watching.
Just a stones throw away is the Place du Grand Sablon, where I bought some goodies for Mr DBFB. To end the comedy food run, I popped into the two-storey chocolate emporium, Pierre Marcolini for a box of macaroons and a slab of his Carre 2 Chocolate: the limited edition Grand Cru de Propriete Hacienda Chuao from Argua Venezuela 72% cocoa. Homemade and with a hint of fruit in the flavour.
Worth getting stuck in Brussels? Just this once!
I dumped my luggage at Gare Midi and went walkabout. Starting out along Rue Engeland (where I did think, 'Where have they sent me?') to Rue Blaes and then onto the flea market to Place du Jeu Balle - busy with antiques, clothing and homeware, it was a great discovery. I then wound my way through all the interior design shops and boutiques around Rue Blaes and Rue Haute to a fab little place called Le Perroquet. This perfectly formed cafe has great salads, stuffed pittas and by 11.30am (after almost 17 hours of travelling overnight) a welcome glass or two of wine. Get there early on a Sunday for a table outside and enjoy the food and people watching.
Just a stones throw away is the Place du Grand Sablon, where I bought some goodies for Mr DBFB. To end the comedy food run, I popped into the two-storey chocolate emporium, Pierre Marcolini for a box of macaroons and a slab of his Carre 2 Chocolate: the limited edition Grand Cru de Propriete Hacienda Chuao from Argua Venezuela 72% cocoa. Homemade and with a hint of fruit in the flavour.
Worth getting stuck in Brussels? Just this once!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Menu funnies from Poland
Whilst in Poland I had some excellent food - pasta, sushi and cheesecake were all noteworthy. And I sampled excellent wild boar at the amazing Folkgospoda (you may want to turn the music off after about 30 seconds). But one of the most endearing things was the little language quirks on the menu that made me laugh.
Some of the best were:
Some of the best were:
- Pear dip in chocolate mouse
- Alkohole
- Makaroney (pasta)
- Cruncly fruit
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Delicious cupcakes
Miss Joey popped in to see us on Saturday evening. Oh how we miss her! She came bearing gifts too: 4 delectable cupcakes from Butterfly Cupcakes. Red Velvet, Coconut, Banoffee and Banana. Moist, with just the right ratio of sponge to topping, these are winners.
And a great alternative to Miss Bat Baking!
Check out their stores at Westfield, Bluewater (aka Satan's favourite hell mall) and Kensington. But if you don't live close by, they deliver to central London addresses. Perfect for that mid-afternoon office energy slump.
And a great alternative to Miss Bat Baking!
Check out their stores at Westfield, Bluewater (aka Satan's favourite hell mall) and Kensington. But if you don't live close by, they deliver to central London addresses. Perfect for that mid-afternoon office energy slump.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Before WiFi, there was...
BiFi!
I had almost given up hope of ever finding more comedy food in Amsterdam. So it is a good thing I spent most of last week in Poland.
Despite being stranded there longer than anticipated, it did mean I could check out the nearest Carrefour to discover this little gem.
Clearly a rival to Peperami, Mr DBFB declared that it looked like a certain bit of anatomy from a male dog. Brings a slightly different meaning to "it's a bit of an animal."
I had almost given up hope of ever finding more comedy food in Amsterdam. So it is a good thing I spent most of last week in Poland.
Despite being stranded there longer than anticipated, it did mean I could check out the nearest Carrefour to discover this little gem.
Clearly a rival to Peperami, Mr DBFB declared that it looked like a certain bit of anatomy from a male dog. Brings a slightly different meaning to "it's a bit of an animal."
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