Shirl - The Foodie

New blogging website!

2016-05-11T17:07:00.005+01:00

Hey Everyone!

It's been a very long time since I've posted anything on this blog. It always brings me great joy going through all the posts though, as this is my first ever blog I've created. I still recall all the hard work I've put in to make it as relevant as possible!

Since then, I have now moved to a new blog where it is more than talking about food. I now blog at www.everydayshirl.com which is a lifestyle blog.

Please drop by to say hello and hope that you enjoy reading the posts!

Take care xx

Claiming my blog on Bloglovin! :)

2014-02-25T12:55:00.002+00:00

Hello everyone!

Today I'm claiming my blog on Bloglovin so you can follow my updates more easily! :)

Click on the link below to continue!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Thank you so much! x

Bodean's BBQ Smoke House in London

2014-02-22T19:17:00.003+00:00

- " Need no teef to eat my beef" -

If you fancy an all American BBQ Meat fix... Bodean's is the place to go.

I've been to 2 of their branches, one in Soho and the other in Tower Hill, and both times had a crazy meat-fest which was finger-lickin good!

As we had my cousin visiting from abroad last week, I thought it'd be nice to have him try the All American BBQ at Bodean's and more specifically the pulled pork.

We went to the Soho branch and as we were a group of 6, we were seated downstairs where there were more comfy booths for us to sit.

The Bodean's Menu is pretty extensive with lots of options and combinations to try. Naturally, being a greedy cow and wanting to eat bits of everything, we ordered the Platters to Share.

Beware ... they are HUGE and although they say platters for 2, they are definitely big enough to share between 3 or even 4 if you are also going to have sides and starters... and desserts!

We had 2 X Boss Hog Platter to share between the 6 of us and trust me... it was more than enough!

Boss Hog Platter

The Boss Hog Platter consists of a full selection of their finest meats including Spare ribs, Baby back ribs, a Jacob's Ladder Beef Rib, Burnt Ends, Pulled Pork, Chicken Things and 2 Smoked Sausages all served with Fries and Coleslaw. AND as if this was not enough ... we also ordered succulent Hot Buffalo Chicken Wings and Onion Rings as sides.

Hot Buffalo Chicken Wings

Crispy Onion Rings

Too good to resist! The Buffalo Wings are really really delicious and there's no other way to eat them but with your fingers!! The milkshakes are also nice if you want to go for the Full on American experience! Just ensure you go there hungry so you can actually eat and drink everything they have to offer! :p

If you're planning to be a regular at Bodean's, then sign up to the Bodean's BBQ - Q Card.

This can be done online on their website and then they send you a card via Post.

As a member of Q Card, you can then benefit from great deals such as free desserts or free 1/2 dozen of Buffalo Wings! :p I've signed up and waiting to receive my card ... it's free and there's no harm in having one in my purse 'just in case'! :)

Enjoy!

Bodean's BBQ Restaurant

10 Poland Street

London W1F 8PZ

Tel: 020 7287 7575

Favourite Korean Restaurant - Kimchee

2014-02-17T10:36:00.002+00:00

Just by writing about the dishes at KimChee makes me hungry!

This Korean Restaurant is set few minutes walk away from Holborn Station and you will notice it immediately as there will either be a queue of people waiting to be seated at the door ( dinner time), or you will be attracted by its beautiful interior with their signature light shades made from bamboo.

I have been to this restaurant a few times now and the food never disappoints!

With an open kitchen visible as soon as you enter the restaurant, I always enjoy watching the Chefs at work prepping all the delicious food or BBQ-ing the meat, viewing from their lovely reception/ waiting area which has a beautifully put together water feature with pebbles on the floor.

Usually at traditional Korean Restaurants, the BBQ (Bulgogi) is done at your table and this is one of the reasons which discouraged me going for Korean food because you always end up smelling of the food after leaving the restaurant!

At KimChee, the BBQ is done by the Chef in the open kitchen where you can still see the cooking process without taking in the smell all over!

Here are a few dishes tried so far and I would definitely recommend all of them!

First, the Sides ...

Crab Tuigim - Soft Shell Crab

Veg Tuigim - Vegetable Tempura is the familiar name ...

Yuk Hwae - Raw Beef served with egg yolk and pear slices at the bottom

This dish requires an acquired taste to enjoy. I was first put off by the look of it as everything is raw on the dish, but once I tried it (with peer pressure), I loved it and now ... always have it on my order!

Gogi Mandu - Chicken Dumplings

Kimchee Pa Jeon

Pa Jeon is Korean pancakes. Here we tried the Kim Chee one but there is also a seafood version which is also really nice!

Calamari Tuigim

Now the MAINS : Bibimbap is a MUST try!

I hope I am not wrong in saying that it is the most popular dish in all Korean restaurants, as I always see everyone ordering this... so here in 2 versions.

It is basically a rice dish served with vegetables and your selection ( Beef, raw beef or seafood) in a super hot stone bowl. The way to eat this dish is to mix everything while the stone bowl is still super hot so that it cooks everything in the bowl and the flavours of the meat and veg is well incorporated with the rice. If you like it spicy (like I do) you can add a spoon or 2 of the chilli paste provided with this dish and mix mix mix! Then eat ... so yumm!!!

The Raw Beef and the Seafood version below.

Raw Beef BiBimBap

Seafood BiBimBap

So Korean loves their BBQ meat (Bulgogi)!

In the Bulgogi section you can choose from different meat and fish dishes and we chose the Beef and the Pork Belly. Served with Lettuce leaves, the way to eat this dish is to dip the BBQ meat in the sauce provided and then use the lettuce leaf to wrap the meat and take a bite!

Pork Belly Bulbogi

Beef Bulgogi

And now to the DESSERTS ... ( if you still have space! )

Green Tea Jelly with Red Beans

Black Sesame and Strawberry Pannacotta

This dish didn't look exactly like the one on the picture but was still a nice dessert to have!

Patbingsu

For the 'Healthy' option? :) As soon as the Patbingsu arrived, we all had eyes on it!

This dessert looked huge and massive enough for all to share but in reality ... there is a good amount of crushed ice below to keep the fruits cold so ... it's just enough for one ... not for EVERYONE to share! Hehe! Sorry guys!! :p

For Drinks, I usually go for the Hot Plum Tea. Served in the really heavy cast iron tea pot, it can be really really sweet so then I ask for some extra hot water to mix it in. The cocktails and mocktails are also good and they have a good selection of fresh juices to choose from.

Overall, I've always enjoyed the food at Kim Chee and I really like the casual yet elegant atmosphere it offers. The only downside is that there is a NO-BOOKING policy ... so on busy nights, prepare to wait for quite some time!

Service-wise, sadly, it is not as consistent as the food. It depends on who you get serving your area.

We had occasions where we had great service (good dialogue, recommendations, smile, constant checking if we were ok!) and others when we could see that the waitress felt overwhelmed and could not cope with the 'business' of the place. She failed to bring our drinks, took ages to clean our table once the dishes were finished and did not even offer us the dessert menu ... Depends on your luck!
Let's hope you are lucky when you do go there!

Price-wise, it is a little bit on the pricy side as the dishes are quite small and you do need to order quite a few to feel content but I'm guessing it reflects on the quality of the food. It always felt very fresh and tasty. As a guide, prepare to spend about £25-£30 per person if you'd like to go for a selection of everything ... sides, mains and desserts with drinks.

KIMCHEE Restaurant

71, High Holborn London

WC1V 6EA

Let's Burger and Lobster !

2014-02-09T13:46:00.002+00:00

Who hasn't tried Burger and Lobster yet?

It has been super popular since its very first opening in Soho about 2 years ago and now has a few branches opened around London for everyone to enjoy. The surrounding is trendy and buzzing all the time and is a great place to hang out with friends! But above all, I don't know anywhere else where you can enjoy a Lobster feast for £20! Definitely worth a visit if you haven't done so yet!

The menu is as simple as its name : Burger or Lobster? :)

Then, all you need to choose is the size and which sauce you want it with.

It cannot be simpler than this!

We tried them all! :p

Lobster Roll - Chunks of lobster in a brioche roll served with fries and salad

Lobster Rolls are for the ones who do not want to get their hands too dirty trying to 'scrape' the meat out of the Lobster Shells! Still yummy though and I love that they use brioche instead of standard bread rolls as the brioche adds a special sweetness and crunchiness when it's toasted!

Burger and chips

So when given the choice of Lobster or Burger for the same price, surprisingly some people do opt for the burger ... Seafood allergy maybe?? (-_-)

Ah well... Nothing special about the burger but it is a Good burger so it you are a burger person, you will not be let down.

And the Best for Last ....

The Star Dish - The Lobster

And there it is. We opted for a platter to share between ourselves so we ended up with a huge lobster with unlimited fries and salad.

When dining with a big group (at least 4ppl), this is what I will recommend as the unlimited fries and salad is a nice bonus to share!

For drinks, the complimentary water came in handy :) and they also have a good collection of cocktails and for me, mocktails to offer! They can prepare any cocktails you want even though their menu is on the simple side.

So if you're looking for a special place to go for Valentine's Day and Burger and Lobster is still on your list of places to try out ... I say go for it! :) You will not be disappointed! Just Dig in! :D

Cheers!!

Burger and Lobster

Mayfair - Soho - City - Farringdon - Knightsbridge

We enjoyed the one in City and Soho. Both lovely locations although the Soho one can get really really busy in the evenings, so my preferred location is the branch in City near St Paul's.

Enjoy!!

Lunch at Antico Restaurant & Bar

2014-01-26T23:01:00.002+00:00

Bermondsey Street. Located just a few minutes from London Bridge Station and The Shard.

Not usually our hangout area but that weekend, we fancied trying something local and as we were walking up towards Bermondsey Square, we ended up in Antico Restaurant & Bar.

As we walked into the restaurant, we were warmly welcomed by the hostess who seated us in the very bright dining room with very rustic decor and very large windows. I loved it! The room also had a few pots of lavender by the windows which looked surprisingly real! (they were plastic!) hehe.

Nevertheless, it made the room pretty!

As we were handed the menu, they had a great Set Menu Lunch which was perfect for us to try out a few of their specialities. We learn that the Chefs used to work at Theo Randall, an amazing Italian place on Park Lane, and that their passion was for traditional Italian flavours (more specifically from Tuscany) which they automatically transfer on their dishes.

As a starter, we decided to share the Antipasti Board. The trio of colours on the board were all really yummy. The Focaccia bread was really soft and tasty, the selection of meat were of good quality as well and I really enjoyed the Olives! I wish they gave more focaccia bread!! :)

Antipasti Board - Selection of Cured Meats, Olives and Focaccia

Then came our Mains. I chose to have the Pan-Roasted Hake, Capers, Cavolo Nero and Lemon Butter while Mr. Hubby had the 'favourite of the menu' as recommended by our waitress, the Slow roasted Pork Shoulder Tortelloni with Sage Butter.

Beautifully presented Tortelloni with sage butter and parmesan

Both dishes were absolutely fantastic!

The Tortelloni had an amazing flavour and the pasta was just perfect. Not too thick, not too thin. Perfectly cooked with just the right texture to go with the slow roast pork shoulder filling and the sage flavoured melted butter ... it was almost heavenly! :p

Just needed some freshly ground pepper on top to add that last bit of Ooumpfhh!!

Pan - Roasted Hake with capers

My fish was also very good. A crispy layer on top but still very soft on the inside, covered with capers and much more than a drizzle of lemon butter! I am not to complain as I love butter!

Wasn't too sure what the Cavolo Nero was but at that time I thought it was just the Italian name for Kale but when I 'googled' it later, it was from the Kale family but just a different type which is popular in Tuscany. I do love my veg so enjoyed that too!

As we finished our mains, we were very hesitant to go for dessert but as we were enjoying such a comfortable setting, we said 'why not!' ...

Pot of Chocolate mousse with a sprinkle of seasalt

Traditional Lemon Tart with Mascarpone

While the Chocolate pot was a bit too much, the Lemon Tart however was very 'lemony' and tasted really nice! Felt like a homemade dessert which had lots of flavour and just the right amount of sugar!

What a Great Treat this was!

My. Hubby and I left very satisfied and happy and definitely will be going back.

(Please note that this restaurant can get very busy in the evenings so best to book in advance! We tried going there few evenings after work but always always buzzing and difficult to get a table. So it is more advisable to go for a Weekend lunch! )

ANTICO Restaurant & Bar

214 Bermondsey Street

SE1 3TQ

Tel: 0207 407 4682

Sunday Brunch at 3 South Place - Moorgate

2014-01-19T19:20:00.001+00:00

3 South Place

Have you heard of it? It is a new-ish boutique luxury hotel set in the City of London near Moorgate, few minutes from Liverpool Street with beautiful and stylish Conran interior design.

I guess it is still very much a secret for all but once you get to know it, you will definitely be coming back or be recommending it to friends! I've visited 3 South Place twice now and have enjoyed their lovely Sunday Brunch Menu both times with the loveliest company!

So during the weekend, there is a special weekend brunch menu where you can choose from having 2 courses for £20 or 3 courses for £25. Pretty reasonable especially knowing that the Executive Chef Tony Fleming only uses the freshest seasonal and local ingredients to prepare his menu.

Additionally, you can also add unlimited Bloody Mary's, Prosecco, Bellinis or Mimosas to the set menu, whilst you dine for an additional £15! So if you are celebrating something and need the bubbles flowing ... This is a great place to be!

On my first visit I had the Virgin Bloody Mary (since I do not drink alcohol), however sadly this was not part of the unlimited deal... Ah! It was yummy anyway! :p The hint of tabasco always gives the kick needed to start a lovely brunch!

The Cappuccino was also sooooo nice! The froth so smooth and yum!

Seriously smooth cappuccino with beautiful froth art!

Have a look of the dishes tried and tested ... They were as tasty as they look beautiful!

- STARTERS -

English Muffin - Poached egg, hollandaise sauce and smoked salmon

Yorkshire Chorizo & Fried egg on Toast

- MAIN COURSE -

Day Boat Fish pie, soft quail eggs and chive sauce

Red Hereford Steak served with fried free range egg & chips

Heron's Farm Longhorn Hamburger with Blythburgh bacon and Cheddar cheese

Cumberland sausage & mash with caramelised onion & sage gravy

- SIDES -

- DESSERTS -

Baked Cheesecake with Blackberry Compote

Chocolate Fudge cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

Chocolate Pot with Salted Caramel

Overall, the savoury dishes were all excellent. Dessert-wise, I would put a warning sign with the Chocolate Pot with Salted Caramel as this dessert was insanely sweet and even sharing it between 3 of us, we did not manage to finish it! A spoonful (or half a spoonful) was enough to satisfy any sweet tooth! The Chocolate Fudge cake though was Fabulous - still rich... but very smooth! :) Service was polite, kind and very efficient.

If you fancy treating yourself to A Lovely Weekend Brunch, 3 South Place is one to try!

South Place Hotel

3 South Place

London EC2M 2AF

T: 020 3503 0000

Enjoy!

Lunch at The Great British Restaurant Mayfair

2014-01-10T16:43:00.000+00:00

With friends visiting from abroad, we booked a table at The Great British Restaurant in Mayfair hoping to experience traditional British cuisine in style! The reviews were good and located conveniently off Oxford Street made it even easier for us to select this establishment.

The booking process was very easy and having the membership to Tastecard, we were able to enjoy a 2 for 1 main course offer! How fabulous! :) Who doesn't love a good deal!

As we entered the restaurant, the place looked very small but had a long corridor leading to the back. We were happy to see that there was already a buzz with customers enjoying their morning coffee. The hostess was lovely and directed us all the way inside to the 'back room' where there was more space to accommodate our party of six! Don't worry... the back room was not a dark scary room :) !

We were given the Lunch Menu to choose from and although we initially were going for the Classic / Traditional British Dishes, we ended up choosing different items from the Mains Menu. All the options were so tempting!

The dishes we chose were as follows :

Goosnargh Duck with duck leg faggots, turnips & blackberries, mead sauce

Devon Plaice fillets, Cornish Squid, Sea purslane in Shellfish juices

The Longhorn Beef steak served with Watercress, roast bone marrow and Duck egg

The Great British Restaurant prides itself in using fresh, local produce and this was definitely reflected in the dishes we had and how they tasted. I had the Devon plaice fillets and I was so impressed by the presentation! The fillets were shaped into a medallion and this must not have been easy to prepare and cook, and to make it sit so beautifully on the plate... Ah! Well done to the Chef!

We had a great time with friends and enjoyed a lovely meal but the only downside which will also be memorable for us (sadly) is that the food took a looonnngggg time to come!

We waited almost an hour for our food to come and it was a bit much. Luckily we were in great company so it wasn't so bad but if you are in a rush ... I would recommend you to let the hostess / waitress know so that they can get organised!

Complimentary Sweets to go!

Before we left, we were each given a little treat which I thought was very thoughtful! :)
Traditional British Sweets!

Overall I would say the Food here is excellent, the pricing is reasonable given that lots of efforts are put into finding the best local produce and I will definitely recommend if you are looking for a modern yet traditional place to enjoy British Cuisine.

They also offer a Brunch Menu and a Sunday Lunch Menu which is worth a try!

The Great British Restaurant
Mayfair
North Audley Street
London
W1K 6WE

Lunch at the SAVOY GRILL - Gordon Ramsey

2014-01-03T21:37:00.000+00:00

To celebrate the New Year in 'style', we booked a set lunch menu at the SAVOY GRILL expecting a quintessentially British experience at one of the most exclusive London Hotels.

Since 2007, The Savoy Hotel was closed and underwent a massive refurbishment which took almost three years to complete and reopened its doors end of 2010. I have not visited the premises since its reopening and with this beautiful Lunch Offer of 3 course meal at £26, it was a good time for a visit!

As we were seated in a very comfortable corner of the restaurant, the surrounding of the dining room was (as expected) very glamorous and elegant with a 1920's theme, with majestic chandeliers illuminating the room. The atmosphere was formal, yet comfortable.

Our three-course meal was lovely although not extraordinary ... I will let you see for yourself the dishes enjoyed from the modern menu with classic French and British twists.

Celeriac Soup with Crispy toast with blue cheese

This entree was made special by the delicious crispy toast. If you like blue cheese it's a winner, if not, be warned ... the smell can be overpowering!

Chicken Liver Parfait served with chutney accompaniment and toasted brioche

The other entree we chose, the Chicken Liver Parfait was smooth and light. The Chutney was the perfect accompaniment and I loved that it was served with toasted brioche instead of normal toast.

I Love brioche :) I could have this entree any day!

Now to the Mains. We each had a different Main as below.

All presented beautifully, portraying the British and French influence on the each dish.

Grilled Hanger Steak served with Potato Puree and Kale

Pan fried smoked trout with shallots

Smoked salmon and brown shrimp fish cakes with lobster sauce

Game pie with swede mash

The food was faultless. We could see that each element of every dish was carefully prepared and thought through. All classically prepared but presented in a modern way to suit the evolving and demanding customer, we were not disappointed as we moved on to our desserts ...

Sherry Trifle

Treacle Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

Overall an impeccable experience at the Savoy Grill and for the cost, very worth it!

I would definitely recommend going for the Lunch Set Menu and take your friends who enjoy sophisticated service and environment. All for a very affordable price!

SAVOY GRILL

91 Strand , The Savoy Hotel

London WC2R 0EU

A New Year to look forward to - Happy New Year 2014 !

2014-01-03T17:55:00.000+00:00

Happy New Year 2014 everyone!!!

I hope that you all had a wonderful festive season! It has been a while since my last post (more than a year! ) and it is time to jump back on the blogging train. I cannot believe that 2013 has gone by so quickly and I have missed you so much!!!

Now, now ... there is a lot of catching up to do for sure and I hope that you will stay tuned this new year to see what delicious adventure awaits for the Beautiful Fat Cow

A lot has happened since my visit to Shoreditch and I have plenty to share with you this 2014 !

Thank you for reading and joining me in my simple but beautiful life!

Love & cupcakes.

Deliciously Yours,

Lounge Lover - Going to Shoreditch

2012-10-23T10:00:00.000+01:00

Lounge Lover is a beautifully designed, with very eccentric taste,

lounge bar hidden in a little street in Shoreditch.

Known as the 'little brother' of the restaurant Les Trois Garcons,

it was opened by the same owners to give a place to their customers

to go for drinks before and after their meal at Les Trois Garcons.

To keep up with their style, Lounge Lover is as charming as Les Trois Garcons

with big chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and very random eccentric deco

such as Anatomy posters on one wall and hanging wooden horses on the side.

A visit is needed to understand what I mean ...

We were seated right in the middle of it all and it was pretty cool!

To be noted that Lounge Lover is not only a bar.

It also serves food in the Japanese Tapas style and we headed there

to try out their Winter Tasting Menu on a very cold Winter evening.

We started with a Cocktail and some Edamame served with rock salt and chilli ...

Then came the Winter Taster Menu Experience ...

Sushi Selection : Prawn & Salmon Nigiri, Loungelover Roll and Vegetable Roll

Lounge Lover Platter: Miso marinated fois gras, Duck Salad and Beef Tartare

The Beef tartare was a Winner for me! So pretty!

Beef Tartare

Salmon Teriyaki : Pan fried salmon fillet with bok choi & Plum wine Teriyaki sauce

Rib Eye Steak : Grilled Rib eye steak served with wafu sauce and crispy sweet potato and pea shoots

And finally ... Dessert ...

Creme Brulee Fondant and mixed berries

If you are looking for a funky place to hang out for cool cocktails and light food

then I would definitely suggest that Lounge Lover makes it on the list ...

but if you want to have a proper dinner with similar ambiance and atmosphere,

then maybe Les Trois Garcons will fit better

Portions are small here but they did warn us that it would be tapas style after all!

LOUNGE LOVER

No. 1 Whitby Street

London, E1 6JU

L'Autre Pied - Relaxed, Contemporary fine dining

2012-10-22T10:00:00.000+01:00

During the Spring this year, I bought a Groupon Voucher for a

7 Course Tasting Menu which was really worth it!

It was at L'Autre Pied, a Michelin Star Restaurant in Marylebone.

Although a nice experience, if not for the voucher, I would not be visiting ...

Normal prices were through the roof and it wasn't my kinda place.

The Chef is undoubtedly talented and thanks to Groupon, we enjoyed a very tasty

7 courses 'Tasting Menu' at a bargain price :)

Here is our Tasting Menu :

Amuse- Bouche Surprise

Carrot and Lime marinated pollock ceviche, fennel and ginger jelly, crushed Kohlrabi and dill oil

Pan fried cod, broccoli puree, pickled cauliflower, Ruby Grapefruit, Brioche and Black Onion Seeds

Haunch of Sika Deer, Crapaudine beetroot, Apple Puree, Tapioca and Walnuts

Farm House Cheese with Sesame Lavoche and Caramelised Figs

Ile Flottante with Rhubarb

And Finally ...

Baked Vanilla Cheesecake, caramelised Banana and Passion Fruit Mousse

L'AUTRE PIED

5-7 Blandford Street

London W1U 3DB

Old Saigon - Vietnamese Dinner in Putney

2012-10-21T10:00:00.000+01:00

For a change, that weekend, a friend managed to convince us to travel to Putney

( South Central London) to try this Vietnamese Restaurant

where he has been having lunch almost everyday!

We rarely travel so far for a meal, but because he did not stop praising the food at Old Saigon,

we had to go see what the fuss was all about!

And we are glad that it did not disappoint!

We had a selection of starters as our meal to be able to taste maximum dishes and it was the best idea.

Recommending :

vietnamese crispy pancake - chicken & bean sprouts

fresh summer rolls with prawns

Spring Rolls

Soft Shell Crab with Salt, Chilli and Garlic

Chargrilled quail with honey and garlic

We were not all willing to try the Frogs Legs but as I have never tried it, we gave it a go ...

It was nice ... but I wouldn't be craving for that ... ever ... :p

Fried Frog legs with butter, chilli and garlic

Our last dish was the beef medallions which was superb.

Well seasoned and full of flavour, it was simply delicious!

Stir fried beef medallions on salad

No doubt that if this restaurant was not so far, we would be visiting very often but sadly ...

it is quite the trip away for all of us. Lucky for you people who live in Putney!

The Restaurant also offers home delivery in Putney which I think is great!

It was a lovely experience, very affordable and cheerful! We HEART Old Saigon!

OLD SAIGON
4 Chelverton Road
Putney, London
SW15 1RH

l'Atelier de Joel Robuchon

2012-10-20T22:32:00.001+01:00

To celebrate my other half's birthday this year, I took him for a cosy lunch

at l'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Covent Garden.

I have always heard good reviews about this gem in London with

2 Michelin Stars and finally I'm going to experience it myself.

Feedback: AMAZING!

As we arrived at the restaurant, it was clear that it was a different world.

Our welcome was warm and polite and we were quickly seated to our lovely table

where we could see where the perfectionist chefs were at work.

I loved it! So much care and attention to every single dish.

Let the images speak for themselves as it will be hard to make justice to the wonderful meal we had!

Amuse-bouche : Layered shot of Fois Gras, Prunes coulis and Parmesan Foam

A complimentary amuse-bouche to start the experience.

Sea bass Carpaccio served with Tobiko Eggs and Espelette chilli

Soft boiled egg with Japanese Aubergine mousseline flavoured with cumin

Our starters were very delicately prepared and the flavours were just so perfect.

I had the Carpaccio of Seabass which was already yummy, but when I tried the other starter...

Oh My! The oozing egg yolk mixing with the aubergine mousse was simply Fabulosio!!

Now to the mains...

Lamb saddle stuffed with fresh herbs, confit potatoes with lemon and garnished with a croustillant

Braised beef chuck in Red wine served with Canelloni of Carrots with aged Comte cheese

Side of Mixed coloured cauliflower with a light vinaigrette

Apologies for the blurry picture of the Braised Beef main! (-.-)

But hey, pictures can't say it all ... Everything tasted heaven!

Some may say the portions are small but I thought ( and even hubby agrees ) that

the amounts were just enough to enjoy and feel satisfied...

and most importantly, leaving room for dessert!

For our desserts, we were moved to the Roof Top Lounge area

which also had a little open terrace where we could get some fresh air if needed.

We chose to sit by the fire place to keep warm and then came our desserts ...

Yuzu Tart with passion fruit and lime jelly and Banana Toffee sorbet

La Religieuse: Choux pastry filled with toffee ice cream, a 'croustillant' touch with vanilla ice-cream

What a treat! Absolutely fabulous gourmet food and a very well-fed happy couple!

A very thoughtful touch for the Birthday Boi!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND!

l'Atelier de Joel Robuchon

13-15 West Street, London WC2H 9NE

Wahaca - Mexican like I never had before!

2011-07-02T22:31:00.002+01:00

After "movie night" with the girls last week, we ended the evening in WAHACA Soho.

What is Wahaca? - Well apparently, Wahaca is a phonetic spelling of Oaxaca, a place in Mexico.

And in the markets of Mexico, it's all about delicious, authentic Mexican food made

from fresh ingredients, eaten at any time of the day without any fuss and we loved it!

The place was busy when we arrived and we were directed to the bar to have some drinks

while waiting for our table to be ready. The bar was located in the basement and it was actually

more like a game room with a modern decor, with two foosball tables and a bamboo

hanging/ swing chair which were pretty cool.

{ Note to self: gotta bring the boys here for a game! :) }

Sooner than we thought, our table was ready and we were excited to start ordering!

The menu was printed on the paper place mats and was very easy to choose from.

WAHACA - SOHO

We started with some Tortilla Chips with Guacamole which also came with two salsas

made fresh everyday - the tomato salsa and the salsa verde.

{ Be careful the salsa verde is pretty hot!!}

It was not outstandingly special but who doesn't like Tortilla with guacamole ...

Next we had some tacos with strips of beef, tostadas and taquitos.

The Tacos were served tapas size. Small soft, corn tortillas topped with salsa,

steak strips and some guacamole, just roll it up and give it a big bite!

Maybe it was because we were hungry, but it did taste very nice.

No need to say that the hint of spice did give it a pleasant kick!

For the tostadas, we selected the 'ceviche' option { with prawns }.

Again a small tortilla but crispy this time, topped with shredded iceberg salad and

ceviche mixed with a light creamy dressing which was very light.

Would advise to have one order per person!

Crispy and Light - The Ceviche Tostada

Finally, the Chicken Taquitos { which means 'little taco' } .

Made from a small corn tortilla, filled with chicken, rolled and lightly fried,

the taquitos were served topped with some salad, mixed salsa and cheese on top.

Chicken Taquito : "Tah - Kee- Toh" -

Wahaca made a very lovely evening meal and I will be coming back for more!

The bill was very friendly too which is also a plus.

Wahaca definitely does not offer the hot Mexican food we all are used to

but it does offer a nice alternative to Mexican food.

WAHACA - Soho

8 Wardour Street

London W1F 0TF

The Breakfast Club

2011-06-26T23:14:00.002+01:00

When morning broke on this Sunday in June, it was bright, sunny, hot and beautiful!!!

Very rare for a day in London!

How better to start a day like this but with a wonderful breakfast at

The Breakfast Club near Spitalfields Market!

Thanks to Foodie Friend Rie, we discovered this well hidden place off the busy Bishopsgate Street.

We had to wait for a bit to get to our table but it was well worth it!

The Breakfast Club was buzzing with big families, groups of friends and couples

all looking really happy and enjoying a nice breakfast, and we couldn't wait!

The interior was very casual, but the little funky objects made the place really fun.

Say hello to Mr Snoopy the Lamp. ^.^

Once seated, it was time to scan the menu and choose wisely!

My first instinct was to look what the others around were having and all looked really yummy.

Sunny side up eggs on toast came for our 'neighbours', then came the American

pancakes stacked up nicely with berries topped with syrup,

ahhhh difficult choice to make as I wanted to try everything!

Food was ordered and for drinks we had a pitcher of the Apple, Carrot and Orange Juice

with a rather strong ginger kick to start.

Shortly after, our food was served. I shall let the pictures speak for themselves!

The Full Monty English Breakfast

The Posh Sausage Sandwich

The All American Breakfast

Avocado, Poached Egg and Red Chillies served with Crispy Bacon

It was all wonderful but my favourite of today was the All American Breakfast

with the Maple Syrup! Oh and the scramble egg looked really yummy too! :p

I will probably have this on my next visit which I'm already looking forward to!

Before heading off to enjoy the rest of the day and sunlight, we finished off with a caffeine fix!

Me with my usual Latte served in the Breakfast Club - PacMan Cup

while my other half got a really nice Coffee Art with his Caramel Latte.

The Regular Latte

The Caramel Latte

It was a beautiful Sunday morning and we had a wonderful time on our first

visit to the Breakfast Club.

We will surely visit again soon ... until then ...

Happy Summer Everyone! It's finally here!!!

The Breakfast Club

12-16 Artillery Lane

E1 7LS London

At The Diner in Central London

2011-06-26T00:34:00.000+01:00

If you are looking for an all American Style Diner in London, simply head to

The Diner in Soho just off popular Carnaby Street in the West End London.

Simple and uncomplicated, with everything you would expect from a Diner

(speaking from experience through what can be seen on TV ), the only thing

missing would probably be the waitresses on their roller skates!

Oh well, can't get everything nowadays!! :p

Very Original Logo of The Diner

So one lovely afternoon, we grabbed a quick bite at The Diner and were left pretty

happy after our very copious meal!

As starters, the chilli fries were a treat! I have not had chilli fries for a very long time

and after having tasted this one, I will definitely be coming back for more!

We also had their onions rings to share as a starter which pretty much

lost attention next to the chilli fries!

Very unhealthy fried starters but so yummy when eaten!

For mains, unless you are really hungry for carbs, I would not recommend the burrito!

So filling and heavy, it felt like eating a brick and especially after the chilli fries ...

hmm... if I knew I'd have the chilli fries as my main! :)

Not so attractive Burrito when it was served ...

But then again ... when I saw The Diner burger coming, it was clear I'd made the wrong choice

with the burrito which only looked appetising on the menu...

The Diner Burger served as an Open Bun ... Look at the bacon and cheese! omg!

I had a bite and I guess you can never go wrong with a Burger at a Diner! :)

It looked scrumptious and it was!

This time we did not have any dessert but it's on my list to try and next time

we will go straight for the dessert section ... ok... maybe a portion of chilli fries to get us started!

hehe... We shall see when the time comes!

The Diner we visited was the one in Soho but depending on where is most convenient for you,

The Diner also has a branch in Islington, Camden, Shoreditch and Kensal Rise.

The Diner

18 Ganton Street

W1F 7BU

London

Choccowoccydoodah !!!

2011-06-12T19:13:00.003+01:00

Woohoo!! We're almost there! Choccywoccydoodah!!

It was my first trip to Brighton and sadly, the Sun decided not to make any appearance!

Lucky for me ChoccywoccyDoodah was there to cheer me up!

Without the Sunshine in Brighton, it felt like a ghost town ... {see for yourself - image below }

The Beach @ Brighton

Not a soul on the beach except from us!

It was not what I expected from Brighton but different is nice sometimes.

Instead of soaking up the absent Sun, we headed to the well known Chocolate Heaven.

Choccywoccydoodah, Bar du Chocolat.

I was told about it recently from a friend who had been to Brighton

ew weeks earlier (when the Sun was still shining) ...

and a visit was highly recommended!!

What can I say ... It was simply divine!! Let the pictures do the talking ! (^.^)

Hot Chocolate - Strawberry and White Chocolate Truffle Milkshake - Cheeky Monkey Sundae

Will definitely be recommending this little piece of Heaven on Earth to future visitors of Brighton.

It was a tiny little Cafe which could hold at most 15 people but cosy and very very colourful with a very specific Art which you have to see for yourself!

Overall, a very pleasant experience but you should be ready for a Sugar Overdose

once you leave this place! ^.^

OMG! How Delicious does that look!!! Yummmmm!!!!

CHOCCYWOCCYDOODAH

4 Duke Street

Brighton,

East Sussex, BN1 1AG

New Ladurée branch in Covent Garden

2011-05-30T23:31:00.001+01:00

Recently opened on a prime corner of the Covent Garden Market,

Ladurée is making an important début with a proper sit -in Café.

Really excited about this new opening, a visit was imminent to happen.

One sunny day was all we needed!

The little café was already quite busy when my foodie friends and I arrived

AND we were happy that we did not have to wait too long.

We were lucky ... the waiter readily seated us on the first floor on the balcony

to make the most of the beautiful day!

We like Ladurée. We do. But after the good first impression of the well decorated premises,

all was let down by the service we received that day.

Not only did the waiter failed to set the covers again even after we were seated

but the whole service was a tragedy: our waiter had difficulty taking our orders - drinks and food took ages to come ( which they blamed on the service lift being down)

with some items we believe were forgotten until we reminded them...

For the prices charged here, I think impeccable service should be a given and not optional ...

It was very unfortunate that our experience was not as we expected ...

( and I swear , we are not difficult customers!).

All we wanted were : two sets of afternoon tea, a Club Sandwich and lovely delicious Ladurée Cakes.

On a positive note though, the food (when it arrived) was lovely and this kept us happy. ^.^

First to arrive, the Club Sandwich. I couldn't even have a decent picture without a quick bite being taken from the sandwich! Still looked yummy though!! :)

Chicken Club Sandwich served with Chunky Chips

Then the Afternon Tea set for Two arrived ...
On top tier, the selection of sandwiches : we selected the smoked salmon and the ham option.

Afternoon Tea Set for two

On the middle tier, our pastry all soft and golden. We had the pain au chocolat which hardly had any chocolat in it and the walnut croissant which was very nice.

Finally on the bottom tier, deux Ispahan, a Carré Chocolat and a Plaisir Sucré.

The Traditional Tea Set

Not that the Afternoon Tea Set wasn't enough ... but we also ordered :

Millefeuilles Pralines

A Close Up picture of a Beauty of a Cake - The Ispahan

A Favourite of many : The Ispahan with raspberry and lychee

A very disappointing first visit we all concluded {especially after paying the bill} but the

Cakes and Patisserie @ Ladurée never lets anyone down, so we all left still content.

We will not be running back very quickly but for the Love of Cake ...

we might decide to give it another try.

Ladurée

1 Market Place

Covent Garden

( Impossible to miss)

WC2 E 8RA

ORA - Passion for Thai Cuisine

2011-05-27T00:02:00.002+01:00

ORA. I have not heard of this restaurant until this visit with some friends.
Set off Regent Street on Little Portland Street, away from the constant hustle and bustle of
Oxford Street, ORA says it brings authentic Thai Food to London...

As we entered Ora, it had a very contemporary feel and I was very excited to try their dishes.
Since we had a group booking through Toptable, we had a set menu to choose our courses from.
I was impressed that they offered a good variety of dishes to choose from for each course although
I was pretty surprised that some of the dishes were not really Thai!

Once, we made our choice, while waiting for the food to arrive, I sipped through my cute little
jug of Thai Ice Milk Tea, beautifully presented and enjoyed a good catching up session with
my friends.

ORA Thai Ice Tea

Soon after, our starters arrived. The popular choices were the crispy king prawn tempura
and the Deep Fried Baby Squid. Quite disappointing I thought as a start to our meal ...

The Prawn Tempura was not a real tempura with the batter being rather thick to my taste.
It was more like a Fried King Prawns in batter! The portion served was big though for a starter
and could not complain about the texture of the prawns which were nice to the taste.

The other starter, the crispy squid was reasonable I guess with an innovative sauce which had chopped herbs.

Not the best crispy squid I've had ...

As the time came for our mains to arrive, it all looked very tasty.

As I had a closer look at the dishes as they were being served to us individually,

I will have to admit that my expectations were not met.

The Duck Breast served with tamarind sauce looked nice. As well as the curry.

I had ordered the Sirloin Beef in oyster sauce and mange-tout.

(Not very Thai I thought ... but still decided to give it a chance.) ... Shouldn't have!

The dish was served in a square plate trying to make it look stylish and modern

but as soon as I saw my dish ... it had failed my standards ...

not boasting but I definitely make better beef in oyster sauce in my own kitchen!

Another chosen Main dish was the Pork in Sweet Pineapple, lychee and vegetable in sauce.

The Lychee ingredient was the interesting one which had to be tried.

This dish was different but at the same time, it was very close to the regular sweet

and sour available in Chinese Take away shops ... again not very impressed ...

Last but not least, we had dessert which was just ok.

The Chocolate Cheesecake proved to be the most popular.

The Pineapple Pie served with custard was not too bad to the taste either.

Overall, the experience was saved by good company ... but on the food side ...

I won't be running back soon to be honest!!

It was not an unpleasant food experience but it definitely did not give me any hint of the

Passion for Thai Cuisine.

I eventually learned that the chef's background was from Busaba Eathai, and

the manager was the former manager at Mango Tree. I guess the professionalism of the

waiting staff came from the standards brought from Mango Tree, while for the Chef ...

what happened?? ... but I would rather go to Busaba Eathai!!

If you want to try ORA, the best is to book through Toptable for this Restaurant where instead

of the set menu, I would recommend to go for the 50% off food where you will

still be able to choose from the a la carte menu where the true Thai Cuisine is.

ORA Restaurant

6 Little Portland Street

Fitzgrovia, London W1W 7JE

Royal China - Queensway

2011-05-22T19:59:00.000+01:00

I usually am not too keen on travelling all the way to Queensway for Chinese food but for

a special visit from abroad, I was glad I did.

Royal China has a great reputation for serving one of the best dim sum in London and

I must say that even for dinner, the food was pretty good.

Set in a stylish and contemporary decor, Royal China was as asual, busy that night!

For starters, we had my favourite: the seafood wrap served with lettuce.

This is how it's served:

FIRST : The Seafood Mix

Wrap it up on a leaf of Lettuce and yummmm !!!

Our second starter was the salt and chilli baby squid.

Crispy Golden Squid

For Mains, to ensure everyone would be happy with the choices, we had a great variety coming to us!
Just speaking about it makes me hungry as the dishes were all so delicious!

Beautiful Crispy Roast Duck

Fukien Rice

Chilli Glazed Prawns

Sirloin Beef with Bamboo Shoot & Oyster Sauce

Mapo Tofu with minced beef

Pork and Preserved Vegetable Hot Pot

My oh my, that was a beautiful meal!

The Mapo Tofu was my favourite of all.

The Tofu was so soft and the sauce with it really tasty.

The flavour of the fried minced beef, the vegetables and the spicy sauce

was just perfect with the tofu.

If you're looking for an alternative to the regular Chinese Restaurant in Chinatown,

definitely think of Royal China. It might be a little dearer on the cost side

but you will be satisfied with the quality of the food.

ROYAL CHINA - Bayswater

13 Queensway

London W2 4QJ

Masala Zone - Covent Garden

2011-05-20T00:00:00.001+01:00

If you fancy modern Indian Cuisine and want to stay away from the traditional Indian
'take-away' type atmosphere (and menu) ... step into Masala Zone (Covent Garden)
and you will be pleasantly welcomed into a colourful and vibrant restaurant where
you can relax and enjoy a different style of Indian Cuisine.

Their menu is well organised and offers a section of 'Street Food' which

I would highly recommend as they are very tasty!

Tonight my girlfriend Ms. V and I entered the ' Masala Zone'

for a catching up session and had a lovely time!

After the waitress kindly explained how the menu worked to us, we decided to go for

their dinner set meal (£9.20) of two courses.

For starters we selected the vegetarian cold dish - Dahi Puri.

It came as a couple on the dish ^.^ and the waiter quickly advised:

'do not break the shell', you have to put it all in your mouth to enjoy it as it should be ...

Dahi Puri - Puffed hollow biscuits filled with chickpeas & splashed with yogurt and chutney

At first it does come to mind that it may be a bit big to take it as a mouthful, but just obey :)

As the crispy biscuit shell exploded inside my mouth, all the flavours just burst

and it was deliciously tasty!

The cold yogurt mixed with the texture of the chickpea and the sweet

taste of the chutney. A delicious combination!

For mains, we both took the Chicken Thali which offered little bowls of different dishes.

All you need to choose is the Curry type you wanted with the set.

Regular Chicken Thali

I chose mine with the Chicken Korma and Ms. V with the Malabar Green Chicken Curry.

As seen on the pic above, the Thali came accompanied with Rice,

(you can choose to have it with Chapatti instead of rice), two sides of vegetables, lentils,

a piece of poppadum and chutneys. Lovely! A simple meal but with great variety!

Masala Zone is a great place for an alternative to the usual Indian Place and

I will definitely be going back!

MASALA ZONE

Covent Garden

48 Floral Street

London WC2E 9DA

Tarte a la banane - Banana Tart from Mauritius

2011-05-18T23:51:00.001+01:00

The smell of baking! How I've missed that!

I've had a bunch of bananas staring at me all week and after making smoothies far too
often this week, I started feeling a bit sick of smoothies so decided to do something
else with these (now) super ripe bananas!

A great idea came to mind and I decided to brave it!

I haven't made this for a long time now and even if it took me a while to gather the
equipments and the method to get it altogether ...

Tadaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!! A typical Mauritian pastry which I've not had for too long!!

Not a perfect tart but it will do ... :)

Tarte a la banane / Banana Tart ... Yes!! I made this!

First Mash the ripe bananas and then cook them in a non-stick pan until the moisture evaporates. Then pop into the prepared tin with the pastry and top with some technical lace operation.

It's ready to cook in the oven!

Glaze the tart with some milk (didn't want to waste an egg to glaze it up)

... and bake for 20-30 min ...

Et Voila!!

Enjoy with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream ...

This was indeed a great idea!!! I'm so proud of myself!! hehe!!!

I'll share the complete recipe with you soon!! For now ... Let's enjoy this!!!

Brunch at The Luxe again ...

2011-05-15T23:20:00.000+01:00

Our latest favourite place to have breakfast : The Luxe in Spitalfields

Last time we tried it out, I had the Full English Breakfast which was a bit too much for me
and then made it a must to come back and try their Eggs Royal!

A week later, Mr. A and I were back and brought our visiting Friend K with us

for a typical English Brunch.

Being such a nice day, we started by ordering our drinks where K and I decided to have
a Virgin Bloody Mary. Not usually my kind of drink but only because it is meant

to be one of their best cocktails I had to give it a try!

Sipping through the Bloody Mary as we waited for our food to come,

it is only after I'd gone all red and feeling a bit "hot" that we realised that my drink

was actually not a Virgin Bloody Mary but one with the alcohol!

It was a bit early for me to start getting all drunk and although I did enjoy the taste of my drink,

I had to switch for an Orange juice to make sure I'd make it for the rest of the day!

It was now time for our food to arrive. Without a second glance at the menu, I knew what I wanted to have this wonderful Sunday and just went for it : Eggs Royal please :)

Needless to say, it was absolutely fabulous!

Toasted English Muffin topped with smoked salmon, perfect poached eggs and

finished with a coating of rich and glossy hollandaise sauce on top ...

Pure Bliss. It was actually better than I expected ...

As for Mr. A, he went for the Full on English Breakfast which he enjoyed very much!

As usual, we had a lovely brunch at The Luxe and it was also a super beautiful day !

Give it a go if you're around Spitalfields market on a Sunday.

www.theluxe.co.uk

The Luxe @ Spitalfields E1

109 Commercial Street

London E1 6BG

Sa-wat-dee Kah : Busaba Eathai

2011-05-15T20:57:00.000+01:00

Busaba Eathai, another restaurant chain conceived by Alan Yau, offers modern Thai
cuisine in a very casual atmosphere.

The story of Busaba Eathai : "Busaba is a Thai flower. Eathai is a fusion of the words
eat and thai, it replaces the term restaurant, which is associated with formal/fine dining
establishments. Busaba Eathai is a casual dining venue offering a single course
eating experience devised to feed you with minimum fuss."

I have been to Busaba Eathai several times now and each time did not disappoint.
The diverse but simple menu offers a flavoursome selection of Thai salads, noodles,
curries and stir-fries with an authenticity and freshness that surpasses expectations.

Let me share with you a few of the dishes not to be missed when visiting Busaba Eathai.

Pandan Chicken with garlic and coriander root wrapped in pandan leaf

Delicious Thai Calamari - You won't find better anywhere else!

Cod Fillet with Thai Garlic, Krachai, Kaffir lime and Chillis

A delightful dish filled with flavours and I just love the Tamarind Sauce! Yummm!!

Of course, the Green Curry is a must - we had the veggie option this time but the chicken one is also nice!

Accompanied with a refreshing glass of tamarind juice, Enjoy the delicious Thai Cuisine from Busaba Eathai !

There are many branches of Busaba Eathai all over London.
Simply check out their website to find out the nearest one to you!

www.busaba.com

Enjoy!

Shirl - The Foodie

New blogging website!

Claiming my blog on Bloglovin! :)

Bodean's BBQ Smoke House in London

Favourite Korean Restaurant - Kimchee

Let's Burger and Lobster !

Lunch at Antico Restaurant & Bar

Sunday Brunch at 3 South Place - Moorgate

Lunch at The Great British Restaurant Mayfair

Lunch at the SAVOY GRILL - Gordon Ramsey

A New Year to look forward to - Happy New Year 2014 !

Lounge Lover - Going to Shoreditch

LOUNGE LOVER No. 1 Whitby Street London, E1 6JU

L'Autre Pied - Relaxed, Contemporary fine dining

L'AUTRE PIED 5-7 Blandford Street London W1U 3DB

Old Saigon - Vietnamese Dinner in Putney

OLD SAIGON 4 Chelverton Road Putney, London SW15 1RH

l'Atelier de Joel Robuchon

l'Atelier de Joel Robuchon

13-15 West Street, London WC2H 9NE

Wahaca - Mexican like I never had before!

The Breakfast Club

At The Diner in Central London

Choccowoccydoodah !!!

New Ladurée branch in Covent Garden

ORA - Passion for Thai Cuisine

Royal China - Queensway

Masala Zone - Covent Garden

Tarte a la banane - Banana Tart from Mauritius

Brunch at The Luxe again ...

Sa-wat-dee Kah : Busaba Eathai

LOUNGE LOVER

No. 1 Whitby Street

London, E1 6JU

L'AUTRE PIED

5-7 Blandford Street

London W1U 3DB

OLD SAIGON
4 Chelverton Road
Putney, London
SW15 1RH