Yes its only a toasted croissant but it was toasted to perfection.
Gusto.97 Westbourne Park Villas,London W2 5EA.

It Does Not Get Better Than This.

Poached Eggs with Spinach and Speck.
Gusto.97 Westbourne Park Villas,W2 5EA.

Glorious Gusto

Gusto was always great but now its super great. They have extended their menu and it gets better and better. My breakfast today was absolute perfection.
Granola,Yoghurt and Fruit Salad.
Gusto.97 Westbourne Park Villas,London W2 5EA.

The Anonymous Nicoise.

I ate this in a small simple brasserie in Pigalle. I was in such a rush i forgot to get the name but had to blog this salad. It was simple but delicious with a mustardy dressing served with hunks of french bread. One good thing about Paris is can never go wrong with a Brasserie Nicoise.

Stephanies Sugar Fix.

This made such a perfect picture i could not resist. It was all that was on offer and quite hard to resist.

When visiting my friend Joey.

Who just happened to be staying at the Bristol in Paris. We ate Burgers in the Brasserie then had tea in his room here is the fruit selection and madelaines with gold leaf. I say no more.
The Bristol. 112 Rue Faubourg St Honore,Paris 75008.

Coopers Cakes

back at Coopers my new kitchen extension well may as well be...here we have flapjacks and rocky road. True homemade cakes. Precious.
Coopers Cafe Edale.Derbeyshire.

Pannetone Pudding.

A quarter of a large pannetone. 3 eggs. 250ml whole milk.50ml double cream.25 g dem sugar.Butter.
Greas oven proof bowl with a small amount of butter. Slice the pannetone and layer in the bowl.
Mix all the other ingredients together using a whisk and pour over the pannetone.Sprinkle with dem sugar. Put in the oven mark 180 for 35 to 40 mins. Serve with cream or creme fraiche.

My Veggie Chili with Chocolate.

This is probably my favorite January dish. Serve it on its own or with some rice or a baked potato and some grated cheese and sour cream.
May i recommend you make a little extra it gets better with age.
Serves 4
Fry 1 red onion finely chopped, 2 cloves of garlic,2 long red peppers finely sliced, add 1 tin of red kidney beans, half a teaspoon of chili powder,half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper, a quarter of a small bar of bornville chocolate, one tin of tomatoes, 2 heaped tablespoons of tomato puree, 2 large handfuls of chestnut mushrooms sliced. Simmer on a low heat for 25 mins adding some vegetable stock to keep the liquid if needed. Then add 3 large handfuls of fresh spinach and cook for a further five minutes. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley.

A Trifle in Window.

Prosecco Trifle.
Line the bowl with slices of Madeira Cake. Drench in Prosecco. Add an abundance of fresh dark fruits blackberries, blueberries, raspberries. Add one tin of forest fruits with the juice. Cover with custard (ready made is perfect) whip some cream and cover the custard and finish off with dark chocolate shavings. Mmmmmmmm.

Coopers Special.

Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows and chocolate sprinkles.
Coopers Cafe. Edale.Derbeyshire.

La Fromagerie.

At last I ate there....it was worth the wait.
I had pumpkin soup with smoked chili oil and shared a ploughmans with Sweet Lizzie and Mirry.
It was quite delicious.
La Fromagerie.2/6 Moxon Street,london W1V 4EW.

This is my favourite desert at Royal China. They call it Mango pudding. Its topped with a kind of carnation milk and the texture is slightly strange but please try it....its sooo good.
Royal China.

Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce. Good enough to be eaten on its own with some steamed rice and chili oil.
Royal China.

Spicy beyond belief.

This dish is a speciality and so it deserves that heading.
Spicy beef with Bamboo shoots and glass noodles. I am hooked and will be returning for this dish.
Royal China Baker Street.

A Chinese Fix.

After cooking every day for the last 11 days inc a lunch for 20 on New Years Eve i could not even venture into the kitchen. The thought of slicing another vegetable nearly pushed me over the edge and for some reason i have been craving a spicy chinese meal. I managed to slip an early visit to The Royal China into the first day back full of errands after Xmas.
Royal China.40/42 Baker Street,London W1.

A quick Stir Fry.

After a blow out Xmas and wanting a healthy ish fix. I rummaged in the fridge and found
Brown rice already cooked,carrots,a bag of spinach,garlic,red onion,mini sweetcorn.
Fry the onion, garlic and sweetcorn, grate in some carrot. Add the rice and a bag of spinach.
Add some sake, soya sauce and chili sauce and some sesame seeds if you have any and lots of black pepper.

Mie Fish Pie.

Chop a white onion finely and fry until golden in some olive oil.
Add some double cream, dijon mustard to taste,black pepper,lemon juice. Then add handfuls of mature chedder cheese and simmer until all the cheese has melted.
Place fish filets i use smoked haddock and cod into a casserole and cover with raw spinach leaves.
Pour over the creamy sauce.
make mash Potato and cover all the above.
Pop in the oven at 180 for 30 mins.

Lamb Chops and Spring Greens.

Roast lamb Chops until golden brown in a little olive oil and fresh rosemary.
Turn and add some red wine,cranberry sauce and a some mint sauce.
carry on roasting until chops are golden on both sides.
Steam some spring greens and serve immediately.

Old Faithfuls.

The Brasserie is one of those restaurants that is always constant and fantastic for those typical french simple dishes.Here we have a perfect fluffy cheese omelette with fries of course.
La Brasserie,272 Fulham Road,London SW3 2AW.

Chocolate and Cranberry Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream.
Bistroteque.

Grilled Duck Breast,beetroot puree,savoy cabbage with bacon and shallots.
Bistroteque.

Roast Cod,red wine poached salsify and beurre noisette.
Bistroteque.

Pork,girolle and Pistachio Terrine.
Bistroteque.

Dorset Crab, chicory and grapefruit Salad.
Bistroteque.

Xmas Cheer at the Bistroteque.

What a perfect kick start into the Christmas break lunch at the wonderful Bistroteque. I now want to make this a xmas tradition for sure. With a chef like Mr Tom Collins on the pans of steel how can you possibly go wrong.
Bistroteque.23/27 Wadeson Street,London E2 9DR. 0208 983 7900.