Thursday 20 December 2012

Pancake with Honey. Adams Cafe.
Moroccan Fish Stew. Adams Cafe.

Adams Cafe

Back at Adams Cafe moroccan by night greasy spoon by day. The jewel of W12. Luckily we ate in the back room where the light was a little better so could take pictures. Here are the little starters that are complimentary. The most wonderful tiny meatballs and pickled vegetables. Adams Cafe.77 Askew Road,W12 9AH. 44208 743 0572

rocchus.com

Swiss chard with sprouted walnuts and tahini sauce.

Rocchus.com

Lacto fermented cabbage,ramson and carrot salad with anis seeds,chives and lemon.

Rocchus.com

Curried quinoa with leeks mushroom and parsley.
Cavolo Nero with Sweet Potato mash,beluga lentils and tomato sauce.

Rocchus.com

I was lucky enough to have delivered for 3 days all my daily meals from Rocchus. It was an eating experience that if possible everyone should gift themselves. Log on to their site and ask to be told when they are next doing the weekly cleanse. You will never ever regret it. Just please let me know what you thought. I say no more. "Our passion is to extract the nutritional wealth of living foods by means of cooking juicing and sprouting methods".

Monday 10 December 2012

My quickest Pasta Ever.

Cherry tomatoes/red chile either fresh or flakes/olive oil/whole wheat pasta/parmesan. Fry the chile in the oil then add the tomatoes till a little squidgy. Mix in the pasta and add a bit more oil and a generous handful of parmesan. Id say 9 minutes start to finish. Enjoy. .

The Chocolate Cream Pie.

With hot chocolate sauce. The Electric.Portobello Road,W11.

The Newly refurbished electric.

I was never a huge fan of the electric but i suppose you know what you are going to get and its always quite tasty.So here we go. Manager lovely. Food arrived 3 minutes after the order was taken.(never a good sign for me). Music too loud speakers by every table. Burger and chicken delicious. Chips Excellent. Vegetable sides disappointing. Desert Exceptional. The Electric. Portobello Road. W11.

Totally Royale

This was cooked perfectly and so photogenic i had to give it a post. The Wolseley.190 Picadilly,W1J 9EB. 44207 499 6946

Jamies Balsamic baked Onions and Potatoes

These are the perfect match with chicken/lamb/pork/beef or they are so delicious i would eat them on their own. The amount of balsamic used is quite worrying but just trust in me you will wish you had made double. 1.5kg Potatoes peeled and quartered and boiled for 8 minutes.salt,pepper,olive oil,200g butter,fresh rosemary,1 whole garlic bulb,5 red onions and 350ml balsamic. (keep it cheap). Roast on in a 200c oven for 1 hour.

Sunday 2 December 2012

Butternut squash and Broccoli Soup.

Fry some onions and garlic in olive oil. Add the chopped up butternut squash and broccoli vegetable stock salt and pepper and simmer till vegetables are soft. Blend with a hand blender. I added some faro I had left over and a glug of olive oil.

Spaghetti with bacon and Parmesan.

Make a classic tomato sauce. See aubergine Faro recipe but fry some small pieces of bacon in a separate pan. Add to the sauce and when serving sprinkle very generously with parmesan and extra olive oil.

Chocolates With Lil

Hand made truffles with a coffee. Why ever not! Sotherbys Cafe.

Lunch with Lil.

I think I am revisiting the ultimate club sandwich. Lobster and Bacon with toasted Brioche. There is only a quarter photographed as i had already rated the rest. Sotherbys cafe is tiny you have to book and i am being totally honest you have to book the sandwich otherwise they run out. The Sotherbys Cafe,34/35 Bond Street,London W1A 2AA 0207 293 5077

Faro and Aubergine.

I love Faro. Its not that easy to come by but specialist Italian Delis will always have it even if hidden behind the counter. Its nutty texture is delicious and its very good for you. Fry chopped up Aubergine in olive oil with an onion and garlic. Add tinned tomatoes, puree a glug of red wine and cook slowly until sauce reduces. Boil the faro. When cooked add the sauce to your faro. I added some kale that i had left in the fridge but a few good handfuls of fresh spinach would be a fantastic alternative.

Sweet Banana Cake

There is a brazilian cafe near my workplace and its run by all women. I love that and i love them they are always happy and smiling and all day there friends and family are stopping by. You may have to wait till they have had their catch ups but its worth a visit if you are in the area. cafe Rio,66 Grafton Way,London W1.

The Lidgates Pies.

I have never blogged a ready brought Pie but it truly is the season to do so. When entertaining with no time call up lidgates and order a pie or two. Always a winner on a cold crispy night and the funny thing is you don't have to say you made them. Be proud they are lidgates be open about it and all your guests will be very happy. These two are boeuf bourguinon and chicken and asparagus. Lidgates,110 Holland Park Ave,London W11 4UA. 0207 727 8248

Nicola Easton makes Exceptionally good cakes.

This is a sponge cake covered in Marshmallow light and fluffy icing with colour co ordinated sparkle baubles.

Yes its chocolate.

Here we have a chocolate shoe made by the beautiful bakery and chocolatier Cocomaya. Please visit for Christmas presents it does not stop at shoes there is something for everyone including lizards covered in glitter and personalised name bars. Cocomaya.12 Connaught Street,London W2 2AF.

Sunday 25 November 2012

Cafe Rive Gauche

Now this is a strange one. Its a french cafe with a eat in and take away section. You can choose from various hot dishes ranging from coq au vin to Thai chicken (here goes the confusion) or classic french toasted sandwiches on Poilane bread. Its reasonable, always packed, very tasty, the food is lovingly made by a group of lovely ladies and its very very good. Not somewhere to travel to but please go if you are in the area. Mushroom Rissotto??????? Cafe Rive Gauche, 20/21 warren Street,London W1T SLT.

Pizza Express????

I am going to come clean and drop the chain restaurant taboo and even though i know that Pizza Express Pizzas are not totally authentic and are a bit of a Pizza to themselves...there is nothing better for pre cinema when you have hardly any time to eat. I promise i didn't have dough balls.

Huevos Rancheros.

The Breakfast club is a strange one for me. It shouldn't be so good because of the huge turnaround of people but it is and if ever i am in Shoreditch around that time i have to go. This breakfast dish was absolutely delicious. Every part of it was tasty especially the spicy beans and guacamole. The Breakfast Club.2/4 Rufus Street,london N1 6PE.

The Fromagerie.

Globe Artichokes with a leek and potato soup on the side. Why ever not! The Fromagerie.2/6 Moxon Street,London W1U 4EW.
Apple and Almond Crumble. The Anglesea Arms.

The main Dish.

Here is the roast beef. All cooked to perfection of course. The Anglesea Arms.

Cheers Norbert.

Im back thanks to Norbert and others asking me to start blogging again.So where better to start than back at the Anglesea arms having sunday lunch. Its home from home and how can you resist a perfectly cooked roast especially when its round the corner. My starter a virgin bloody mary. The Anglesea Arms.35 Wingate Road,London W6 OUR. 0208 749 1291

Saturday 1 September 2012

The simplest of Fishes.

1 small sea bass per person. I like to take the heads off. Place a stick of rosemary two slices of lemon a splash of olive oil a splash of white wine and lots of sea salt. Wrap each fish in foil and bake in the oven for 25 minutes. I served with new roast potatoes and a salad of english lettuce and radishes.

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Spinach Bakers.

Bake potatoes in their jackets then when they are ready gently cut in half. Scoop the potato out of the skins carefully so as not to split them. Put the potato, grated parmesan, greek yoghurt, fresh spinach, butter and grain mustard in a bowl and mix. Then spoon back into the skins. Sprinkle with some more parmesan and pop under the grill till golden.

Monday 13 August 2012

Sunday 12 August 2012

Jamies Jammy Cake

Baking when it works is so so satisfying. Here is Jamie's Jammy Coconut Cake. The recipe comes from jamie's Great Britain which is my favourite cook book at the moment. I was so proud of this cake that i had to be stopped from walking along the street and giving it to the neighbours!

Monday 6 August 2012

How can this Happen?

Although i was thrilled to get to go to the Olympics and witness the unbelievable Athletes and try and understand what an incredible machine the human body is I left the Olympic Park very very angry. The main food option was McDonalds. All other food stalls were nondescript and covered away under insignificant tents with hardly any signage of what was being sold. Fish n chips, sandwiches and disgusting coffee and waffles. Isn't it tragic that the government are heralding this event as inspiring for the children of today to keep fit and stay healthy and then Mcdonalds is the main provider of food for all the millions of people that visit the Olympic Park. What a disappointment. I like many other people that visited the Park left hungry if you enjoy eating and putting good ingredients into your body you have no option. I have not even started on Coca Cola.

Smoked Haddock and Mash.

Make some creamy Mashed Potatoes with butter, milk and a spoonful of creamed horseradish. While you are doing that place your smoked haddock under the grill with a dash of olive oil salt and pepper. When the haddock is cooked steam a good amount of spinach. Then poach as many eggs as you need. Boil water in a frying pan add a lid full of vinegar and crack the eggs into the water. When they are just cooked place the mash on a plate then the spinach then the fish and then the egg.

A Classic.

Classic Gin Martinis made from Gin distilled in Highgate London. Wonderful. Dukes Bar.

Shaken Not Stirred.

A hidden gem in the heart of London. So hidden I have tried to find it and have given up many a time. Last week i read about it in a magazine fully addressed so went there that night nothing had changed. Dukes bar is home to the best Martini some say in the world. It is a true experience to watch the ritual of one being made. How people drink more than one i shall never know. Dukes Hotel. 35/36 St James Place,London SW1A 1NY.

Gnocchi with Fresh Peas.

Chop tomatoes and fry till soft in olive oil. Then add some cream cheese a small amount of tomato puree and some fresh peas salt and pepper. Cook the gnocchi for 2 or 3 minutes and add to the sauce. Poor over a little extra olive oil and sprinkle with parmesan if desired.

Friday 20 July 2012

Baked Hake with Crispy Leeks. Quisine.Stockholm.Sweden.
Prawns and Roe on Toast. Quisine. Stockholm.

Crisp Bread City.

My lovely friend Caroline took me to this wonderful restaurant in Stockholm. I love stockholm its a wonderful city brimming with fantastic places to eat and see. Full of smiling faces a breath of fresh air. Literally. Quisine. Hantverkargatan 14, SE-112 21 Stockholm.

Thursday 19 July 2012

The Drink of The Summer.

A Spritz. Aparol,Prosecco lots of ice and a slice of Orange.
Home Made Vanilla Ice Cream with a tepid chocolate sauce. Locanda Cipriani.
Black Gnocchi with Crab. Locanda Cipriani.
Gazpacho Perfecto. Locanda Cipriani.
Prosciutto with a parmesan tart and Pea Puree. Locanda Cipriani.

Locanda Cipriani.

This magical restaurant is situated on the island of Tochello 30 minutes on the water bus from Venice. Just in case it is not special enough which is highly unlikely this heavenly restaurant is situated next to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta built in 639 with a series of golden mosaics of the Byzantine Ravennate School. This is an absolute day trip. Locanda Cipriani.Torchello.Venice.Italy.

No 1 Breakfast of 2012 so far.

Now this is what i would call a perfect breakfast. No need for a description really just to say the juices are mint and apple.

Quick Tuna Stew.

Serves 2. Finely chop half an onion and two cloves of garlic and fry till soft in olive oil. Add some finely chopped chilli to taste. Add 2 cans of dolphin friendly tuna, 1 can chopped tomatoes and a tablespoon of tomato puree Boil 2 corn on the cobs and remove the kernels by running a knife down the flesh add to the stew with 4 large handfuls of fresh spinach. Serve with crunchy brown rice and some chill sauce on the side.

Sunday 8 July 2012

Clubbing at St Pancras.

Another place i have wanted to try for a long time. Luckily my friend Patrick was staying and invited me for lunch. The classic club. I was taken aback by the size of it but it seemed to disappear quite quickly and just a little tip the restaurant is open till 3am. St Pancras Hotel,Euston Road, London N1.