THE LITTLE KITCHEN LDN

Kurobuta , Chelsea

2016-08-22T21:58:00.000+01:00

The Chelsea branch has a very different vibe to the Kurobuta in Connaught Village near Marble Arch. Chelsea is very much the grunge and indie version, with the food from Scott Hallsworth, you know t's going to be of high standard but this one might catch you surprise just how chilled and 'not fancy', in a good way, it is in here.

We opted for no sushi this time - it wasn't intentional - the meat just sounded too good and as we were only a table of two, we thought we would at least attempt to restrain ourselves on over-ordering.

Beef fillet tataki with garlic crisps - fantastic. This was so good. The cocktail isn't bad either - but the lychee martini is where it's at.

Pumpkin tempura was really fresh - not oily and crisp. The mayo wasn't as spicy as advertised though (or maybe my tolerance levels to spice has gotten better)

Miso grilled hot wings. Again - not as spicy as I imagined but a good portion of meat on the wings.

Obviously this was a compulsory dish. The pork belly steamed bun with peanut soy dip. This still is the best steamed bun I've had (and I've had a lot, trust me). The bun is fluffy and not soggy, that added something, whatever it is, really adds to the dish. The peanut dip is not as good as I remember - I'm not sure whether they've sweetened the dip since but it's still very good.

The Yellowtail kami yaki. It doesn't look like much in the photo but honestly the best cooked fish I've had in a restaurant. Flaky, soft on the inside with a bit of crunch on the skin. This fish is seriously meaty. I couldn't work it out at first, as I'm used to eating fish with its head still attached, but looks aside, this was a top dish.

Tea smoked lamb with spicy miso - now this one had a spicy sauce. Good lamb.

I had this dish last time - the sticky miso aubergine. I love this dish and I would have this everyday if I was allowed. Still amazing. That sticky miso is great.

Ok, so before dinner I really wanted mochi...so I had to have some. They couldn't swap the coconut one for one reason or another, but it wasn't too bad - I think mainly due to the fact that it was still frozen and so that masked the flavour - which worked in my favour really.

I still very much rate Kurobuta. I think Chelsea has an edgier vibe over Marble Arch which for me suits me better. The soundtrack was also very 'me' and it was just a cool place to hang out for the evening on Kings Road - not at all the Chelsea scene you would expect.

Stand out dish is definitely the fish, but the staples like the steamed bun and aubergines is a firm favourite.

Aqua Kyoto, London

2016-08-21T22:50:00.000+01:00

We decided to finally try the dinner at the rooftop at Aqua, with a trip to Aqua Kyoto off Regents Street. The actual rooftop wasn't what I expected - a lot smaller than I imagined, and you can't really see anything - mainly because of the surrounding buildings and its own building. Not the best rooftop in London, but a great hideout for those who want some peace from Oxford Street nonetheless.

The Aqua brand is pretty cool with its restaurants named in line with its cuisines or destinations - Aqua Shard anyone? I have been to Aqua Roma before many years ago in Hong Kong - probably one of the best views of one of the world's best skylines - but I knew that this would be have more of a focus on drinks and food service rather than the surrounding atmosphere.

The chef's kitchen in the middle - handmade right in front of you.

My cocktail came in a ninja cup. He was very cute and I wanted to keep him but a lovely, refreshing drink.

Here we are with my ninja cocktail on the rooftop terrace - quite busy and small...and loud. Would recommend coming in early if you want a seat otherwise this place gets quite cramped.

This was the drink that came with the foraging menu - shiso infused vodka, rose and pine liqueur, vanilla syrup and lime. To be honest, this drink tasted more like bathroom freshener which I just couldn't get out of my head unfortunately.

Omakase sashimi.

Top dish - sumiyaki ostrich fillet. This was a bit toughened tasteless. Left dish - handmade green tea soba. This was superb - really loved the noodles. Right dish - katsuobushi scallops with yomogi rice.

Scallops were well cooked but there was nothing particularly outstanding about the dish.

Green tea soba noodles - wild flowers, mushrooms, gingko nuts and eggs.

Ostrich fillet with wild garlic and wild herb miso.

The dessert for me was the best dish and really made up for the slightly disappointing dishes - bitter chocolate, spiced wild lacto damson, meadow sweet ice cream. The bitterness of the chocolate complemented the sweet ice cream perfectly and I could have had more. It was divine.

Blueberry Muffins

2016-08-14T21:38:00.001+01:00

Just to prove that I do occasionally make stuff and not just eat out (you can find out more about the random things I cook on my Twitter - it's just not worth a full blog post that's all ;)).

I made blueberry muffins the other week following Paul Hollywood's recipe.

Turned out perfectly. Putting the dough in the fridge also helps when you're portioning out into the muffin cases - less mess in the kitchen!

Review: Pho & Bun brunch

2016-08-14T20:38:00.001+01:00

I was treated to a birthday brunch at Pho & Bun which included a drink and 3 courses set menu. This is by the same guys who own Viet Eat in Holborn. As you may have guessed - pho and bun is a must here but there are also some brilliant plates not to be missed.

Situated along Shaftesbury Avenue, you might have walked past the many Asian fusion places along here and never noticed, but please do stop by next time you're around. I would say this was more of a cafe than a restaurant, but I can see myself hanging out here on an evening with good food and good drinks.

Summer Roll with Tiger Prawn. The peanut sauce was total heaven.

Chilli Salt & Pepper Squid was delicious. The Spare Ribs alone could have been a dish in itself. So meaty and really good portions for a set menu - these *almost* filled me up! But so tasty.

The Tender Beef Pho as rated by my Diner Friend who is the pho expert said it was good, but the broth is not quite right. I mean obviously, to the unknowing (me) I thought it was ok but was slightly on the blander side, but was a decent portion and good meat.

The Rare Beef Steamed Bun Burger. Good bun - not too soggy or sticky and fluffy against the good meat.

Flan Caramel with Vietnamese Iced Coffee. This was the only thing I wasn't too keen on. The desserts on the set menu consisted of coffee or coconut - two things I'm not a major fan of, but I went for this one as it was a best of a bad bunch. It was ok but the texture of the dessert is not my cup of tea.

We saw many lone rangers dining here, getting their pho fix - mix of Westerners and Asians so that's a pretty good sign already. A very tiny place with small tables, but has a more 'upmarket' feel somehow. However, I would say perhaps some of the tables are a bit too close (or some people just don't know how to sit properly on a chair) as the guy behind me at first decided to leave his rucksack on while sitting down - which hit me. And then he decided to sit really awkwardly so that his back kept hitting into my back - apart from that though, the cafe itself is very comfortable. Would definitely come back here.

DF/Mexico

2016-08-06T21:56:00.003+01:00

From the founders of Wahaca, comes DF / Mexico!

Would definitely recommend this place for a meet up place with friends, newbies or a place to stop and hang out.

This place has a certain cool vibe to it without it being too edgy or try-hard.

The pork and fish tacos...with extra guacamole - obviously. Next time - I'm building my own tacos!

We came to the Tottenham Court Road branch a while back before going to see The Bodyguard musical (which is totally amazing by the way - Beverley Knight is on another level) and it was a quirky, 'glad we found this place' experience.

The decor is also pretty cool. It's laid-back - has a self service Nandos style but the food is top-notch. Good price, good food and simple menu - this place is back to basics, whereas Wahaca has now become a bit too overpriced for the smaller portions and to cater for the masses with its ingredients and plates, DF / Mexico is a laid-back sister who just serves up good food for those who are cool without trying.

The Flavoured frozen marguerites pack a punch but oh-so tasty!

Afternoon Tea at The Ritz

2016-07-29T23:02:00.002+01:00

One of the things on my London Bucket List is to have afternoon tea at the home of the afternoon teas that is The Ritz. It’s all quite fancy I know, but if I was going to ever experience one afternoon tea in my life, then I would choose The Ritz. Hands down.

You see, it’s not just about the finger sandwiches, the delicate desserts and freshly made scones (oh don’t forget the jam), it’s the historic culture, the English tradition and the whole dining experience.

My birthday treat this year was the afternoon tea with champers at The Ritz! They do five sittings throughout the day, and as you would expect, they get fully booked pretty quickly, so our ‘afternoon’ tea was really an evening tea, but that didn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.

The horse of The Ritz

So, off we went, in our Sunday best (literally - it was a Sunday). It was a bit strange to be travelling on the tube on a Sunday evening when people around us were a bit subdued but there we were in a smart dress and, surprisingly, heels (thought I would make an extra effort), and there The Other Half (TOH) was in a jacket and tie (this is compulsory if you are man - oh and a bit of advice - men must keep their jackets on at all times. A further note - they will give you a tie if you forget your own).

Gliding into the hotel, you are instantly impressed with the decor of The Palm Court and the Britishness of it all - except for the palm trees - but they add an extra bit of exotic-ness to it - and it is the Palm Court after all. I must say the entire experience from the doorman to the collecting my jacket in the cloakroom was pretty special. I was just in awe the whole time.

Even my cloakroom 'tag' was exquisite

First was the glass of champers and the choosing of my tea. I went for the Lapsang Souchong tea and TOH went for the Assam Tippy Orthodox tea. They arrived in elongated silver tea…jugs if you like, with mine coming with extra hot water. I can see why, as my tea was very strong and needed some diluting after a few cups, it was also very smokey (over pine fires apparently) - it was no frills just straight up gung ho tea. They also refill you too which is nice as the jugs are so big that you’re sure to never run out.

The Chinese Lapsang Souchong tea - so strong but very smoky (in a good way)

The first serving was a stand with two plates - one for sandwiches and one for cakes. The sandwiches were very flavoursome - each and everyone. You can just tell that everything is freshly made and of high quality. My favourite was probably the thick ham and grain mustard mayonnaise on brioche. And the chicken with parsley cream on on malt bread. The bread was soft and added that extra bit to the sandwich pieces.

Half way through the sandwiches the waiter put down a second plate of sandwiches. Very pleasing to the stomach. I’ve always said that you never get enough savoury to counter balance the sweet at these things.

We were offered a third plate of sandwiches (amazing), I declined, however TOH is a food monster so he took it.

The first sandwich plate (now empty) was replaced by scones. I usually save this til last but I noticed steam coming off it and instantly knew they were fresh out of the oven so I had to have one whilst it was still warm.

Clotted cream or jam first?

Crumbly and soft, it was every bit a traditional scone, although I didn't see a raisin in either of my scones which is probably the only negative thing I can say about this.

Personalised dessert treats on a soft meringue on sticky strawberry sticker gel on top of a just enough sweetness madeleine cake

This chocolate number was surprisingly not overly sweet - just right for me

Not usually a big fan of macarons but this zesty lemon was divine. A good break (as shown in the photo) and soft and chewy on the inside. Not too sweet either and just a right amount of sour lemon.

Here we are being posh before the TWO trolleys of full cakes came by - there was a coffee and walnut and another one which I can't remember because I was so blindly in love with all the food being offered

Yes, this is pricey but this is an afternoon tea you won't forget in a hurry (or ever, actually). From stepping into the hotel to walking through the wide corridor - this is an experience that is worth every penny.

Every member of the staff were exceptional and friendly. Everything is in tip top condition and the setting is very relaxed. The ambience is of one where everyone feels happy to be there and you get the sense that everyone is amazed by everything put to them on the table.

I think I've just had the best afternoon tea I've ever had - and one that can't be beaten. I loved every minute of it!

Review: MASH (no, not the TV programme)

2016-07-05T23:32:00.001+01:00

I really enjoyed my time at Mash on Brewer Street.

This is an unsuspecting white building and on entering there is a desk and spiral stairways. Follow it down a couple of floors and come into this huge arena of dim reds and a cool, modern American bar. I had no idea this place was so huge and so fantastic. The setting was only missing some jazz music but I loved the vibe as soon as I stepped in. Each table is a booth which is very cool and handy.

We started with a drink at the bar. Free popcorn and some strong drinks were served from a liquor prescription menu (very cool). I went for the Mexican Smuggler which was a perfect start to the evening.

The Mexican Smuggler - Casco Viejo Blanco, Mezcal, basil and Szechuan pepper sugar, lime, Mash Pilsner served with a Serrano ham crisp!

So we may have over-ordered on the sides but you may as well go all out, ya know? It was 50% off Wagyu beef (yes, you read that correctly), so I ordered 100g of the Kobe and 100g of the Ozaki...but if I were to come here again (which I'm not ruling out) I would try the 1000g Australian Tomahawk - which sounds (and looks) bloody amazing!

(Left to right: Ozaki and Kob). Cooked Medium (though slight on the rare side). My favourite was the Ozaki just because it was a bit more tender and had a bit more flavour

So the rest of the dinner consisted of:

- chips, mash (of course), bone marrow.
The chips weren't anything special, but the mash was very creamy and the bacon bits added an extra bit of to make it more interesting. I could have probably eaten more. I find bone marrow a bit odd, just in the fact that it doesn't really taste of much really, it's the texture more than anything - but didn't really add anything to the dinner.

Bone Marrow with bits of toast

- garlic and thyme jus and pepper sauce for the steak
The garlic and thyme jus was a winner in my eyes. On steak, on mash...winner winner!

- we had some greens

We also had a bottle of red in the form of an Australian Shiraz, which was just delightful.

We then got over indulgent and had the MASH cheesecake with Rhubarb ice cream. The rhubarb was so delicious.

The rhubarb was the bonus bit

All in all, it was a great dinner, and so exciting to be sat in a huge underground auditorium - there is a very understated but sophisticated atmosphere to this place that made me want to stay forever.

Not going to lie - it was pretty pricey - the steak is no doubt of very high quality but, next time, I would cut out a lot of the sides and maybe go for a bigger steak.

I enjoyed my time here and I would definitely come here again...once I've saved up.

RATING: 4 out of 5

Ramen (Ra-meen)

2016-06-29T22:59:00.001+01:00

I had burgers, and then it was pizza.

I’ve decided for 2016 I’m going to go on a hunt round London to find the best ramen – I realise half the year has gone already (what!) but I unknowingly started this a while back, I obviously have some subconscious obsession with noodles and broth.

So, here it is – the ongoing list:

Kanada-Ya - Haymarket

It’s difficult not to say this without an enthusiastic ya! at the end, which is half the reason why I like this place.

Like most trendy Asian spots these days, this place is pretty small and non-bookable (of course). However, we were seated pretty quickly after a trip to the Vogue exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery on a Friday night. Although, the strong lemon perfume coming from the toilets was slightly distracting – on the plus side, it was the lemon I could smell and not anything else.

I went for the traditional pork broth. I love pork, especially pork belly, so if it’s on the menu, it’s a must. The broth was probably one of the best I’ve had. It wasn’t too salty, light and creamy but still enough flavour to complement the noodles. I don’t usually end up drinking all of the broth but on this occasion it was all gone, and I was tempted to order a second bowl. On the other hand, that meant I was still hungry after a bowl which, to me, is considered a negative.

The noodles were decent – but they don’t quite match the elasticity of Tonkotsu (see below).

The menu is also quite small with not much choice to ‘pick and mix’ unlike other places – there was also no egg, which paired with the 3 thin slices of pork probably makes all the difference in my hunger.

Bone Daddies – various locations

I see Bone Daddies as more of a Westernised-Asian place. If you haven’t been to its bottomless brunch at its Flesh and Buns then do it. But based on ramen alone – it’s fun but not the best.

Menu wise – it’s great. Lots of choice, and the chance to pick anything you want and add it in.

However, the broth is generally quite salty and a little too ‘stock cube-y’ for my liking. Also, with the adding of elements, it ends up being quite pricey.

It’s a great place to hang out with friends and looks great when it arrives on your table but I wasn't a fan of the broth...Also note, it has been over a year since I've been so things may have changed since then.

I had some extra 'cock scratchings' to my bowl

Tonkotsu – Soho

Being in Soho, you can imagine the queues can get quite ridiculous, but turn up quickly after work and you can get a seat almost immediately. Winner. As you come in, you can see the noodle masters at work, pulling and stretching fresh noodles – there is nothing more appetising than that.

Let’s start with the broth – it was good. Creamy and full of flavour – although on the more salty side for me.

Noodles – this was always going to get a 10 out of 10. The fact that you can see them making fresh noodles – you know it’s going to be good. They also ask how you like your noodles – firm, soft, medium, which is a bonus.

The egg was awesome – perfect combination of soft and hard egg, it had also been soaked in some sort of concoction which really added a different flavour to what can sometimes be a bland egg white.

This was slightly more on the pricey side – we went for ramen, drinks and a couple of starters and added up to around £50 – which for noodles and soup does seem a bit out there. Even though the soft, silky tofu was good – I didn’t think it was worth the £6 – especially as it was served as is with a bit of sauce and spring onions.

Ippudo, Covent Garden

Opposite another branch of Kanada-Ya with the queues spilling out, it’s tempting to shout across the road and tell them to come to Ippudo where they have a bar AND bigger space meaning more tables.

Although they do get quite busy later on. From the outside, this place looks a bit more high end compared to your usual ramen places but don’t misunderstand – this menu has lots of choice but fundamentally is all about the ramen (although I got greedy eyes and got myself a steamed bun).

I rather enjoyed this bowl of love. Good portion size with the choice to add more meat/egg/veg. The broth was perfect – light, not salty. The added vinegar and spicy ‘red stuff’ really added a bit of something extra.

The meat was good – thicker slices although I could have had more. The egg wasn’t halved which is quite difficult to eat when all you have are chopsticks and an Asian soup spoon.

The service was good and staff friendly. I would definitely come here again – this could be on par with Kanada-Ya’s broth. The noodles weren’t as good as Tonkotsu, but overall – this was my favourite of all the ramen.

The steamed bun is really good too - the meat is delicious and no soggy bun. Hooray!

Shoryu, Soho
I rather enjoyed the feel and ambience in this place. The ramen was excellent. It had enough meat and half an egg. The noodles had the ideal elasticity. It was a great ramen but there was nothing in particular that stood out for me. Everything was at a high standard, the broth is cooked for 12 hours and is not too salty, but it was just lacking something.

The service wasn't overly great once we were sat down in the corner along the bar facing the windows and back to the rest of the restaurant but if you're not in a rush, a good place to sit and chat.

The pork bun I had was very good too - although not overly sure on the two thick slices of cucumber with it. Very good steamed bun but doesn't beat Ippudo.

Damn! Sexy Fish, Mayfair

2016-06-29T22:14:00.001+01:00

As a little birthday treat to myself I decided that I would snap up the chance to book a table for the one and only, and oh-so-trendy, Sexy Fish restaurant on the corner of Berkeley Square.

What I actually did was try to book a table four months in advance, and then set myself a little reminder to go back exactly a month before my birthday to book a table. I was determined to get a table at the Asian fish and seafood restaurant. Oh yes.

Luckily my precise planning paid off, I did get a table, and I didn’t have long to wait when 20 June came round. After a slight hiccup (I was flying back from Amsterdam that day - both my flight and the train from the airport were delayed) I got there, albeit half an hour late. The staff were very accommodating however, as my friends arrived on time, and explained the situation. Note, you’re given a two hour table time.

So, finally, I could relax and we got stuck in! The dishes work in the new trendy way - which is small plates to share tapas style. The waiter recommend three dishes each but we were informed that if we ordered too much he would let us know which was awfully helpful of him. It was a very difficult decision as we wanted to order one of each dish, alas our wallets would not allow it. I was also very envious of the table next to us who had the whole ice platter with sashimi shebang thing in the middle of the table.

To start:

Octopus Carpaccio with lime and ginger vinaigrette, pickled shallots

Don’t underestimate this dish - who would know that you could describe octopus as delicate? The very, very thinly sliced octopus actually made a great start to the proceedings. Matched with the sharpness of the vinaigrette and the crunch of pickled shallots, it was very moorish.

Tartare of Beef with sour plum, pickles and squid ink crisps

This plate was an all round winner with our 4-piece diners. I’ve personally never had raw beef (and usually would not appeal to me) but this was so fresh and so well-seasoned that we all agreed we could have our own plate. This was simply superb. I have no faults with this. Give me more.

Wagyu Beef Gunken with white miso, truffle

This was a bulkier plate of treats which to be honest was good, every ingredient could be tasted, but compared to the rest of the plates, was a bit nondescript for me (sorry).

Grilled Avocado, crispy tofu, lime dressing and baby herbs

At first I was a bit like ‘can I really come to Sexy Fish and order some of the most basic foods like avocado and tofu?’ Yes is the answer to that. Light and creamy (applies to both), you can’t not like avocado really, but probably would recommend you to order something a bit more ‘out the box’ - you are in a restaurant called Sexy Fish after all.

The middle section:

Prawn Gyoza - soy and ginger dressing

The dressing perfectly matched the prawns. Bonus points too for not just giving one each to the diner (as you sometimes get at restaurants like this) - there was an extra one we all fought for.

Crispy Soft Shell Crab Nuoc Chan dressing

I’m a big fan of soft shell crab so this was a great choice. I also liked that it was already cut into portions - little details like that make a big difference.

Maple Glazed Pork Belly Skewers - Yuzu ranch

Wherever I go, pork belly has to be ordered. That’s the way I roll. I could have done with a few more skewers, but it was meaty and fell off the skewer so tenderly. The maple glaze added an extra ‘oomph’ to the meat which complimented our choice of dishes perfectly as until now, we hadn’t had anything too meaty.

Octopus skewers with potato

Unlike the carpaccio - this is the typical octopus I think of. Bouncy and full of personality. Potato was an odd choice but I ate it all the same.

The big stuff:

Miso glazed Chilean Sea Bass - artichoke three ways

This was one of my favourites of the night. I love sea bass anyway - it’s one of my favourite fish but teamed with miso it was always going to be a winner. Cooked to perfection, flaky and soft on the inside, full of flavour on the outside. I only wish there was more.

Whole Lobster 700g - Ponzo and Smoked Bernaise

Already snapped and meat out, we were raring to go. We had three sauces served with it, unsure of the other one, but it seemed like a barbecue flavour oil/dressing. Whatever it was, it was delicious and went well with the lobster.

Dessert:
This was when the night truly made a turn for the even better. We were four happy, greedy piggies. We almost ordered all of them on the menu (not kidding), but we decided we would order extra ice creams to go with it as the flavours were just so unique and tantalising.

My Birthday White and Dark Chocolate Tofu with candied cocoa nibsOk, so the birthday bit isn’t actually part of the name, but it was a very welcome surprise when my tofu dessert came with a candle and my name written in chocolate (forget about your name in lights - this is what real dreams are made of). To be honest, I only ordered this dessert because it was different and not your average joe. I was a bit worried that it would be a bit ‘moussey’ which I don’t like, but luckily the tofu is more sturdy and had a substantial texture. The white and dark chocolate wasn’t too sweet and worked with the candied cocoa nibs - which was a bit like granola.

The layered tofu dessert

Mango Mochi with mandarin and jasmine sorbet
Caramelised Pineapple and Coconut Cake
Gariguette Strawberry and Mint Panna Cotta with milk snow

I can’t personally comment on the other desserts but everyone gave their thumbs up. I must say the panna cotta looked very pretty.

We also went for a range of Granny Smith and Sake sorbet; Rice crispy and green tea, soy & caramel and malted milk and honeycomb ice cream which all came on a freezed bowl and wafer in the shape of fish tail. Safe to say we were all rather excited when the desserts arrived.

Away from food, the service was great. We had a really friendly and helpful waiter and also topped up our wine with efficiency but not too over-enthusiastic (the white wine we had was also very splendid - not that I remember which one it was). We had a nice little table in the corner by the window and looking back into the restaurant, it’s not as zany as you would imagine, but the fish hanging above the bar is a rather extravagant to the red and golds which creates for a dramatic look.

Our bill came to over £330 including a bottle of wine and beer for four people, making it roughly £84 per person, which is way above my normal spending. The plates are fairly small but I think this place is more about the quality of food and you just have to overlook the quantity somewhat. To be honest, I personally would pay that for Sexy Fish - the quality of each dish was superb and I was talking about it for days after. I think this was a birthday meal I won’t forget.

After gathering a combined score from all four of us - RATING: 4.25 out 5 (I personally give it 4.5)

Dessert Restaurant by Sarah Barber at Hotel Cafe Royal

2016-06-09T22:32:00.002+01:00

We paid a little visit, which turned out to be a huge visit in terms of waist band (and pocket), to the Hotel Cafe Royal on Regent Street when we heard about the first ever dessert restaurant.

That's not entirely fact - they have savoury dishes so you don't 'overdo' it (highly impossible).

To be honest though, I haven't got a sweet tooth but I just couldn't resist. We were a group of 4 - 2 of us were sweet people, 2 of us not so much, so we had a good equal mix amongst us at the table.

There is a choice of 2 menus - the 3 course sweet OR savoury, the 4 course pick 'n' mix and the all out 5 course Sarah in Wonderland, named after the chef. All comes with wine pairing for a hefty price.

I decided on the spot that I would go for the 'all out' menu - 5 course WITH wine pairing - I'm only going to come here once, let's be honest, so I might as well - as my new motto goes.

Heritage beetroot and Golden Cross - goat’s cheese, wild honey, beetroot snow with Pinot Blanc “Les Barriques”, Domaine Ostertag, Alsace, 2012. I'm not the biggest beetroot fan but mixed with the goat's cheese - it was a match made in heaven.

Wye Valley asparagus - green asparagus, quail egg, truffle mayonnaise with Pouilly Fumé La Rambarde, Domaine Landrat-Guyollot, Loire, 2012. This dish was by far a favourite for us on the table. It was fresh and light and combined perfectly with the mayonnaise. The wine was also very good - we were given two wines for the dish which we weren't too sure about but both were very refreshing.

Yuzu yoghurt - lemon curd, lemon sherbet, meringues with Côteaux du Layon, St Aubin, Domaine des Forges, Loire, 2013. This created a stir for many diners as the presentation of lego was just too much to take in. How could anyone not be excited by this dish?! However, the overall dish was slightly disappointing - the mousse texture somehow made this taste quite bland and perhaps needed something a bit more - or maybe bigger lemon meringues?

Peach Melba - raspberries, almond custard, peaches with Château Roumieu, Sauternes, 2012. The almond custard came in a squeezy tube which was fun, but the whole dish was rather bland, the textures together just didn't quite work for me and there was not enough almond. I was also not a fan of the sweet wine, even eating the dessert, the wine was just too sweet - it was almost like drinking pure syrup. I think this was the point where I was peering over the edge...

Wham Bam Pow - chocolate box filled with an olive oil biscuit, passionfruit and ginger pate d’fruit, chocolate pop with Akashi-Tai Shirome Ginjo Umeshu, Hyogo, Japan. This was a rather exciting last dish - everything edible and the popping candy is always a fun idea, however, at this point I was almost about to explode and so I just couldn't get through the chocolate mousse (again, what's with the mousse)? The Japanese sweet wine was also quite interesting - it tasted of prunes which was strangely addictive.

As a bonus, you get these cakes (yes, these are edible) when you pay the bill - if you hadn't had enough sweet stuff already. A good old fashioned victoria sponge but the marmalade was just too much and I could only manage a bite.

On the whole, it was a fun experience. It's definitely a place you go to for a special occasion and the staff are very friendly and helpful. My 5 course with wine pairing came to £70 which, for me personally, is quite a big dent in my purse for what I had. Don't get me wrong - it's not the quantity that is the problem, but the concept as a whole. It was perhaps a bit too much sweet stuff - and that came from the diner friends who liked the sweets too. The ideas and the themes are great but think the course could be rearranged slightly to allow diners to enjoy the last few dishes more (as opposed to forcing it down because you're almost nearing the end). The lasting thought from the table was that everyone preferred the savoury asparagus dish as the favourite - which tells you that maybe an individual doesn't need all that dessert after all...

Review: Sosharu London, Farringdon

2016-05-12T19:30:00.000+01:00

Jason Atherton opened up this Japanese joint recently, Sosharu London. I couldn't wait to try it out after constantly drooling over its Instagram pics. It was pretty pricey but I have to say it was totally worth it - the quality and the portions were brilliant. When they tell you the menu goes from little to large plates, they're not joking. Large is actually a normal size which sometimes you don't get in a higher end restaurant.

I would also recommend visiting the whisky bar downstairs. Japanese whisky to end the night of fantastic food - perfect.

A refreshing cocktail to start the proceedings

Salmon and tuna temaki. The little mayonnaise squeeze tube was a cute little touch.

The special was tempura asparagus with slow cooked egg and tomatoes. Surprisingly well done.

Grilled octopus was divine and really flavoursome.

I had to order the pork belly because it's my thing. And I'm so glad. It came with a udon noodle broth. And the crisp seaweed was lovely. Usually seaweed is pretty bland but this one was the perfect accompaniment.

The wagyu beef which is DIY self cook.

It was great to be able to mix it yourself and cook the meat to how you prefer it.

At work

The seafood rice pot arrived last and to be honest by this time we were both pretty full. The rice pot was really good though, lots of fresh seafood flavour and not just all full of rice with minimal seafoods. Just a shame we couldn't finish it.

My after dinner drink was slightly odd I have to say - neither sweet or alcoholic.

The other dessert. I think the cake was slightly too sweet but the ice cream was banana-flavoured which added to the dessert pieces.

The service we received was excellent, everyone was very friendly and vigilant. They did well to explain the menu and every dish that was served without being patronising. The food was outstanding - full of flavour and cooked perfectly and all very interesting dishes. The decor was all wooden but slick and in a fairly small room which felt quite cosy (in a good way, not in a sort of cramped way) but airy enough. The Japanese white wine we had was also very good.

Overall, it came to £174 inc service, which for the amount we had including drinks wasn't that bad. The food was excellent quality. I probably couldn't afford to go here again on a regular basis but for a special occasion this is well worth your money and experience.

RATING: 4.5 out of 5

7 Tales - the bar downstairs
Again, friendly staff who will help you make your choice of whisky and cocktails. One of the cocktails even comes with picking your own sugar cube from a vending machine. That's how fun it is downstairs.

Also, just one final note - please visit the bathroom. They have the Japanese toilets installed - heated toilet seats and everything. Amazing.

Bread Ahead bakery at Borough Market

2016-05-11T19:00:00.000+01:00

I made - Rye Bread, Chelsea Buns, Brioche (huge) and about a million croissants.

I was rather excited when I received a full day voucher for Bread Ahead at Christmas. My main dilemma was which course to take! In the end, I went for the Enriched Dough workshop because it offered a range of recipes including the croissant, which I had tried to make once, and failed...badly.

I strolled over to the South side of London Bridge on a sunny but chilly Sunday morning and was greeted by the friendly staff. Our workshop was taken by Manuel, "a French person with a Spanish name" - his words. He was also sporting a beret just to make sure we didn't confuse his French accent with a Spanish one.

Where the magic happens

It was a thoroughly pleasant day. There was a mix of 12 people in the group all with varying degrees of baking experience and all different ages. Manuel and his assistants were very efficient with the change of equipment and cleaning round after us.

The actual bakery was extraordinary, I've never stepped into an industrial bakery before so it was just rather exciting for little old me seeing shelves and trolleys of bread. A mysterious room for proving the dough, the proper ovens through the doorway and even just the modern little ovens we used amongst all the wooden furniture.

Another use for shower caps

One great bit of usage was for the free shower caps you get at hotels - we used these for proving our dough - they fit perfectly round the mixing bowl and completely covered! Genius!

Overall, it was a fantastic day. It was hard work as everything we did was by hand but it was a great stress relief. It was so much fun and knowledgeable. Manuel was a great teacher and really helpful. We ran over slightly but they were very accommodating with the times to get our value for money. I would definitely recommend Bread Ahead for anyone who wants to learn, know or enhance their baking skills. I felt very comfortable and not at all intimidated. If you don't mind the tourists peeping in through the window that is.

Bread, bread and more bread

Lunch is also provided on the full day workshops, which they make themselves. In fact, I was really impressed that they hand-make everything themselves including the jam and lemon curd we got to try. Everything you get to taste on the day is from the baker's batch, everything you make, you get to take home...which is a lot!

The croissant by far takes the longest and needs the most patience, mine had some butter leakage but 100 times better than my first attempt. A great tip is to use French butter rather than English butter as that has less water content.

Homemade lasagne and delicious salad. An added bonus.

Brioche after proving. Bigger than my head.

Chelsea Buns in the making with cinnamon and raisins

Manuel in action

Croissant cutting

Getting exciting now

It was a close call for favourite bake - I really enjoyed the Rye Bread but the brioche was delicious and lasted a number of days.

Chelsea buns being glazed

A bit of leakage but still tasted great. Will definitely try this at home. Third time lucky...

All my goods again. It was so exciting.

Review: Roka revisited - this time for brunch!

2016-03-30T21:56:00.004+01:00

Ok so this is just an over-indulgence - read my proper review of Roka here.

I loved it so much I came back for the bottomless Prosecco brunch (you can choose from red or white wine too). Definitely worth your money and time. Amazing, good quality food.

I think this may just be one of my top places to eat in London.

The nutty leafy salad was interesting...ok so it was just some leaves but the nutty dressing was divine, so that in itself is worth a mention. The tomatoes were also very refreshing and light.

I wasn't overly fond of the cold, soft potato dish however. The texture was a bit 'off' for me.

The full starter including sushi and sashimi.

We shared the skewers of pork, chicken and beef. The chicken wings were delicious.

Also went for the Teriyaki Salmon, just because I'm not overly fond of teriyaki - this however did convert me, not too sweet and just the amount of flavour to not overpower the fish. FYI - the sea bream they do is AMAZING, you HAVE to have it if you ever go.

We were really excited about the dessert platter...however we realised it was mainly just fruit on closer inspection. The dusted chocolate Buddha was interesting. I'd recommend you eat the sorbet first before it melts into the ice (which is what happened to us).

Brockmans Gin Risotto

2016-03-30T21:40:00.003+01:00

I was sent this recipe involving two of my favourite things - Brockmans Gin and risotto! I just had to share it with you guys...

Inspired by the trends of gin, London chef, Duncan Impey at private members club, One Alfred Place, was inspired to make this roast butternut squash and Brockmans Gin with Taleggio. Enjoy!

Serves 2. Heat the oven to 180^o

Ingredients

1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into thin wedges

sprigs of rosemary

few sprigs of thyme

1 banana shallot - fine diced

200 gms Carnaroli risotto rice

1 clove garlic, crushed.

1 small bay-leaf

50 ml Brockmans Gin

60 gms butter

splash of olive oil

500 ml vegetable stock - kept hot

90 gms Taleggio cheese (or Camembert) making sure it is a vegetarian version if serving to strict vegetarians

Chopped fresh herbs - flat leaf parsley, chopped chervil and chopped tarragon (a pinch of each)

80 gms freshly grated Parmesan cheese (vegetarian as above if needed)

salt and pepper

Method

Mix the butternut squash with some of the thyme and all the rosemary leaves, sprinkle with olive oil, and roast in the oven for 8 minutes. When tender but still firm, remove from the oven and set aside.

Place half the butter (30gms) in a pan with a splash of olive oil. Dice and chill the rest of the butter for later.

Add the diced shallots and cook for 5-6 minutes.

Add the rice to the pan and gently toast it with the shallot for 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Pour in the Brockmans Gin, standing well back as it will flambé. Cook until the liquid reduced by half. Add the bay-leaf.

Gradually add the hot stock a ladleful at a time, stirring the rice mixture with a wooden spatula and adding further stock, a ladleful at a time, until the rice is done.

Once cooked, gently add the butternut squash and the cold diced butter and mix taking care not to break up the squash.

Add most of the parmesan and all the Taleggio cheese and stir. Remove the bay-leaf.

Garnish with the chopped fresh herbs. Season with salt and pepper.

Drizzle with olive oil and finish with a sprinkling of the remaining Parmesan.

Pour a Brockmans Gin and enjoy...

Chef's tips

Always use a wooden or a plastic spatula for risotto - metal implements break up the rice.

Ensure the stock is hot as you add it.

If you want to prepare ahead, the risotto can be cooked for 9 minutes (up to part-way through stage 6); placed in a cold fridge; and then reheated and finished for a further 5 minutes or until done.

The butternut squash can be cooked earlier in the day and refrigerated until needed.

Don't add the salt until the end - it prevents the rice cooking properly.

Review: My Old Dutch, Holborn

2016-03-25T11:43:00.001+00:00

Pancakes will forever be popular, but I never imagined it would be this popular. Queues for this place on 'Monday Madness' is really quite mad, but as trends go, this is one pretty trendy place.

My Old Dutch do a selection of savoury and sweet pancakes, but don't underestimate the pancake - I would call it more of a pizza style type pancake.

Lots of toppings to choose from, different pancake styles, and lots of Dutch beer.

What is there not to like?

Just don't do what I did and think you can order a savoury AND a sweet - hardcore pancake lovers only. Massive portions!

Well worth it though. I mean, it is just a pancake, but the novelty certainly doesn't wear off, and they do have lots of choice on the menu.

I went for the classic pancake - with ham and cheese. Quite heavy and huge.

A nice fresh take on the pancake.

The sweet berries compote Poffertje. SO MUCH.

Review: Jamie Oliver's Barbecoa, St Pauls

2016-03-15T22:36:00.001+00:00

Doggy bag with the Sticky Toffee Pudding photobombing

I've been wanting to come to Barbecoa since I laid my eyes on the butchers bit downstairs years ago when I first moved to the East-ish end of London. It's not often you see big carcasses of meat being hung in Central London.

But upstairs is the main restaurant area, dark and noisy, the friendly staff take your coats for the cloakroom, and as you walk up the stairs you realise why there is dim lighting, the brightness and beauty of St Paul's through the big windows shines through into the restaurant. It was so white against the dark sky and dark, wooden decor. Almost every seat in the house gets you a view of the cathedral so don't worry about that front. I was handily seated right in front of the bar.

There were three of us, and we were pretty famished so we dove straight in with mains. I went for the spare ribs done three-ways, what arrived was meat bigger than my head. It was amazing. My Diner Friend Number 1 (DFN1) went for the beef rib, and the rib itself was the biggest thing I'd ever come across, DFN2 went for the pulled pork which was wolfed down.

I think the menu has changed since the online version and so my memory is a bit hazy on which three-ways my ribs came, but each one was distinctly different but complimentary to each others flavours. It was a meaty bit of heaven on a plate. The meat just fell off the bone easily, and with all that meat it didn't feel too heavy. You know it's good meat.

I couldn't finish it so I had a doggy bag to take home - I can confirm it still tasted just as delicious the next day.

We shared chips and broccoli (of course). I'm not usually a fan of buttery broccoli but it really added to the greens.

Of course, we then went for dessert, I didn't need it, but you can't not help yourself when you get choices like a Snickersphere, White Chocolate Cheesecake and Sticky Toffee Pudding.

I went for the cheesecake, just because I love cheesecake. Not usually a fan of macarons but I thoroughly enjoyed eating it. So fresh and light, and not overly sweet.

The White Chocolate Cheesecake and said Macaron

Snickersphere!

One thing was that I didn't quite enjoy my wine. My favourite wine is the Argentinian Malbec but this one was not as good as I had hoped, but that certainly does not put me off.

I would like to come here again to try the steaks but it is more on the pricey side. It was a £55 split between the three of us, which all things considered, is not bad actually but I'm not sure I could afford to do this every week. The views of St Paul's though is priceless.

Jamie Oliver does it again - another win.

RATING: 4 out of 5

Review: Flat Iron, Covent Garden

2016-02-05T21:36:00.000+00:00

I do like a cleaver

I've been wanting to try this out for a while - I mean, £10 steak, who wouldn't. But the only issue was that the sites only offered waiting times of 2 and a half hours, so I was extremely happy when I heard they had opened a Flat Iron in Covent Garden which seats a hell of a lot more people.

I'd never heard of the flat iron cut I must admit so was intrigued as I usually like my steak with a bit of fat on it. But the steak was very lean and tender. Very easy to eat which is good for someone like me, as my arms often end up aching cutting up meat (although this meat came already sliced - bonus point). I had mine with horseradish cream.

The beef dripping chips were flavoursome and I could have eaten more. They did remind me slightly of McDonald's chips but in a fresh way - that's not meant as a bad thing, but they did remind me of them (sorry).

The wine I had was also very nice - a red wine I've never heard of before, I usually go for the Argentinian Malbec but it wasn't on offer unfortunately.

I had the Spicy Italian Negroamaro, the Black Cherry was also very smooth

I would also recommend looking at the special's board as a rump heart was on offer, as well as a burger.

The surprising thing was that they offered ice cream at the end... for FREE. Salted caramel with a tasty cone to go with it, with chocolate from the Mast Brothers. It was really good - even on a cold evening.

Cool pepper mill, although I was a bit clumsy with it and ended up with an uneven bit of pepper...

I would definitely come here again, easy, quick and full of flavour. Even with a limited menu there should be enough to keep everyone happy.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5

Roast Dinner

2016-02-05T21:13:00.004+00:00

I've always been put off making a whole chicken - mainly because I assumed it would be a lot of work and it'll be really messy...how wrong I was.

I was persuaded by it - what with it only being £4.50 for the whole thing from Tesco, compare that to buying chicken breasts or chicken legs, you're saving a lot of money.

My next challenge was to find which method was the best way to cook it - I turned to Google, my old friend and obviously went for the Jamie Oliver link - I love a bit of lemon.

It was probably one of the easiest and exciting recipes to follow. I couldn't contain my excitement when I has instructed to put the lemon and a whole clove of garlic into the water with potatoes to boil.

What came out, looked a lot like Jamie's picture...would totally recommend!

I also made my own Yorkshire Puddings, because obviously you have to.

Oven ready

Review: Roka Aldwych

2016-01-13T22:05:00.001+00:00

I first visited the bar at Roka's Charlotte Street branch not really knowing anything about it, except that it was rather popular on a Friday night and that there was a pretty swish bar downstairs with some great bar food and cocktails.

2 years later, I finally made it to the food at the Aldwych site.

We came on a Saturday night for the set meal at £31 including a glass of bubbles. Of course, we had a drink by the spacious bar first (be rude not to really). The atmosphere as soon as you step in as electric. Wide open space, with a bar area in front with some comfy looking sofas, and the dining area surrounding the open kitchen. I was really looking forward to this dinner.

Sashimi - from left to right - tuna, salmon & sea bream. The block of ice is an art in itself

I'm not usually a big fan of tuna (cooked or raw) but this one had a texture of jelly and was surprisingly not like tuna (if that makes sense) - I liked it anyway. Fresh and clear, I thoroughly enjoyed the sea bream too.

Roka were very good with substituting dishes for the GFF (Gluten Free Friend) as well as another friend who doesn't eat sashimi. Pictured: beef, ginger and sesame gyoza, gf avocado rolls, green beans with sesame dressing (no dressing for gf), spicy mixed sashimi with tempura and substitute californian sushi rolls.

For a 'starter', we had a lot of food, though we weren't complaining. The sesame dressing was a hit with my fellow diners, it tasted slightly peanut-ty. The tempura wasn't very spicy however, and would have tasted quite bland without the wasabi/soy sauce. We also had to ask for extra wasabi as there wasn't too much of it, plus we're really big fans of wasabi.

Choice of 3 mains (the chicken with miso also has very high recommendations) - it was a close call between the beef and the sea bream, but I think I made the right choice in the end - sea bream fillet with ryotei miso and red onion. It looks a bit like chicken, and meatier than your average fish, but my gosh the flavour of the miso was incredible and very moorish. The fish was cooked perfectly, falling off with ease and silky soft inside. I could eat this all over again. This dish also comes with a bowl of slightly sticky steamed rice which was ideal.

The beef sirloin with chilli and spring onion. Both beefs were not exactly cooked to how my friends wanted to have it, a little on the overcooking side, but overall I was told it was pretty good.

When it comes to dessert, Roka did something I haven't seen before on a set menu - a choice of ANY dessert on the a la carte menu. Amazing. It was a tough choice as I wanted them all (you can actually have a dessert platter for £58 with real portions), but I decided to go for this:

Note the 'Roka' written on top of the chocolate

Which turns into this:

Drak chocolate and green tea pudding with pear ice cream. I don't usually go for chocolate desserts but the green tea intrigued me. Not to sweet and warm, the green-ness of the green tea takes you by surprise (well it did for me anyway). It was soft, gooey and worked well with the pear ice cream. This was another firm favourite.

Overall, our experience at Roka was pleasant, the service was slightly hit and miss towards the end, almost as though we were now not as important as we'd had all our food, up until then however they had been very helpful. We did actually want to order one more round of drinks afterwards but it wasn't to be. For £31, it was a great deal. I would love to come here for the full menu, bank account permitting. The food was exceptional and it has a great ambience. For me, the stand-out dish has to be the sea bream. It was probably one of the best fish dishes I've eaten in a long time.

RATING: 4 out of 5 (slightly knocked down for the service)

London Cheap Eats - the ultimate guide to dining out on a budget

2016-01-13T21:07:00.001+00:00

A recent study by TripAdvisor sites London as the 7th most expensive city in the world, where an average meal for two costs £66.77.

The million dollar question for London’s food fans on a budget: when dining out in our great city, is it possible to get tasty, fresh and filling food that is truly cheap?

YES. Apparently so. New website www.londoncheapeats.com is the answer.

It’s no secret London is a pricey city to socialise in, but it’s also full of solid, inexpensive feeds - most people just don’t know where to find them. Looking for a budget brunch dish in Brixton, cheap and cheerful pasta in Primrose Hill, or a finance-friendly lunch spot in Farringdon? London Cheap Eats is here to help. It directs discerning customers to the best places in town to eat well for £8 or less, advising not only where to go, but also what to order once there.

London Cheap Eats is designed to assist both Londoners and visitors alike in seeking out a good dining experience that doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Sure, there’s always a place for the finer things in life, but there’s no arguing that wonderful feeling of having a good meal out, and not recoiling at the sight of the receipts the next day.

London Cheap Eats doesn't guarantee a gourmet dinner or fine dining experience, but what it can promise is a solid and tasty feed on the cheap. Chuck in a couple of beers and a few good friends, and that sounds like a pretty good time to us.

Founder, Leyla Kazim, said:
"I like to go out as much as I can. I still very much wanted to be an active member of London's dining scene, enjoying the fantastic meals it has to offer on a frequent basis, but without the £20-£60 (and beyond) price tag each time. And I figured there would be others like me.
"I thought to myself: wouldn't it be great if there was an insider guide to the best budget food in London, made up of trusted and objective opinions, suggesting not only where to go, but also what to order?
"As I pondered this, I realised it didn't exist - I figured I'd better do something about that. And so, the idea of London Cheap Eats came to be."

London Cheap Eats founder and creator Leyla Kazim is a food and travel writer and photographer based in London.

Review: Oliver's Fish and Chips, Belsize Park

2015-12-27T13:19:00.000+00:00

I love fish, I love potatoes and I love mushy peas.

We came to Oliver's mainly for my GFF (Gluten Free Friend) as they have a separate fryer for this option, plus every week they change their oil so we decided to visit on this particular day.

Even though it is advertised as being in Belsize Park, Chalk Farm station is just a 10 minute walk away and I would make this journey again and again if I could.

The fish is as fresh as you can imagine - all from Billingsgate Market, we went for two haddocks and one plaice.

The plaice was huge - the fish that is. Although there are reasonable seats in the 'restaurant' area

The batter was great too - fresh and not too oily, and unlike others, it doesn't overtake the actual fish itself.

The chips were ok - home-made but not as crisp as I would prefer.

Mushy peas were fantastic though.

I haven't found a traditional (and good) fish and chips place yet in London, but Oliver's is close (so is Poppies) - I would probably come back for the fish though.

Fresh, non-oily batter makes all the difference

Review: Pond, Dalston

2015-12-27T12:41:00.001+00:00

We had heard great things about Pond, the Hawaiian restaurant in Dalston (strange but true), so we thought we'll come for a visit on a Sunday for their take on the roast.

To say I was left feeling disappointed would be an accurate description, though I did enjoy their cocktail menu and general bar area.

There was a choice of three on the roast menu - all coming with a combination of sides - here's the menu:

There was a group of us, so between us we ended ordering everything (twice). The major factor in the disappointment was that the smoked turkey didn't actually come with cranberry sauce - apparently the menu changes daily and today was not cranberry sauce day...which is a bit strange as the two go together like fish and chips, or so you would have thought. Anyway, fair enough if that's the case, but we thought on ordering the dish, it would have been good to let us know the sauce would not be available rather than us having to ask after we had been served the plates.

The other factor was that not all the sides came with the dishes, even though it clearly states on the menu that it "all comes with...". I think it was a matter of managing expectations, as the food itself was generally good. The smokiness of the turkey really added to it (albeit on the dry side), I rather enjoyed the pumpkin, but not too keen on the hushpuppies. They were described to us as croquettes, but it was just really a cauliflower in batter. And the meatloaf was described as pretty good.

The pumpkin

Turkey, without the cranberry

I'm not sure I would visit Pond again, but most of the positive reviews are for the bar food, so that may be where the good stuff lies - there was a steamed bun option I had my eye on.

They were pretty good with the GF options and knew their stuff and it was quite a nice atmosphere, it started to get busy later on in the afternoon and I can imagine this would make a quirky, different place to take friends, but I think my experience was marred by the fact the food was not all there unfortunately.

It's saving grace was a cardboard shark hanging from the ceiling.

RATING: 2 out 5

Make It Easy Cookbook by Jane Lovett

2015-12-17T22:44:00.001+00:00

In Make It Easy cookbook, Jane Lovett offers more than 100 delicious recipes that emphasise getting much of the work done ahead of time, so that by the time your guests arrive you can enjoy their company rather than worry about what you should be doing in the kitchen.

Dishes range from baked Vietnamese sea bass to slow-roast shoulder of lamb boulangere, and parmesan-baked fennel to ginger creams with pistachio brittle, these foolproof recipes have been tested and perfected by the author.

This is also a great little go-to for mid-week dinners as a lot of the ingredients can be found in your supermarket, but resulting in some pretty-sounding dishes. Jane even manages to make salad sound appealing.

Jane is an experienced cook who runs cookery demonstrations from her home and around the country. She writes a regular food column in a regional newspaper as well as a regular contributor to various publications. Having trained at the Cordon Bleu in London, she has worked at Leiths Good For and taught at Leiths School of Food & Wine.

www.janelovett.com

Get this yours now (or handy Christmas present) for £12.99

Slow fried lemon and oregano potatoes

We made this easy peasy recipe from Jane's cookbook. I must say it was more simple that I imagined, and very delicious.

OK, so I had some help in the kitchen, but if a novice like him can do it, it should be a doddle

Buttery potatoes on the way

We decided to add some bacon to it, just because, but the recipe was easy to follow, ingredients were not too 'out there' and it tasted so good, we wish we had made more. We had our potato side with salmon, which was a perfect weekday meal. I will be trying out some more extravagant dishes for sure, as they all seem achievable in terms of time, and if the potatoes are anything to go by, simple ingredients can go a long way in flavour!

Add the spinach at the end for a slight wilt - it looked rather like the photo in the book.

Ta-da! Yum.

Biteappy

2015-12-09T13:11:00.000+00:00

It's all about apps nowadays and Biteappy lets you, well, Bite Happy.

This is perfect for anyone with food intolerances or allergies. Biteappy is the first and only app to comprehensively address all dietary requirements when eating-out on a worldwide basis.

Biteappy has a comprehensive search directory of restaurants with suitable menus for people with dietary issues and/or allergies such as gluten free, vegans, nut free, dairy free, MSG free, preservative free and other lesser known ingredient free requirements, such as celery and mustard, as well as speciality foods including Kosher and Halal.

Biteappy users select their dietary requirement and cuisine criteria, plus geographical location, and the app will identify all the suitable restaurants in the area. The app also includes a translation card with over 25 languages so users can use it abroad.

The app is created by Caroline Oldham, a coeliac with an additional lactose allergy:
"I have always found it a challenge to eat out especially when abroad and being able to feel confident about [food allergies] being taken seriously. Whilst a lot of apps allow for a gluten-free search there is nothing that collectively brings all allergies together so Biteappy helps with the many people with multiple allergies.
"My aim is to help others like me who have struggled over the years to start to have the confidence to eat out again."

Biteappy is available to download for free from the iTunes App Store and Google Play.

Your Food Diary 2016

2015-12-08T06:30:00.000+00:00

Some handy diary dates for ya - the whole year of food-related ocassions! You never need to make up an excuse ever again!

Check it out here.

My favourite is National Tripe Day. I do love tripe.