Assa

Assa is great! Whether you’re a fan of Korean food or a Kimchi virgin, this restaurant will make you come back for more.On this particular night we visited the Soho branch of Assa, located on the very hip and happening Romilly Street in Soho. All the dishes are created for sharing so the cost of a(substantive) meal and a drink or two should set you back a reasonable £15-17. A good deal for good food in Central London!

The spicy porkbelly my personal favourite. It hit the spot with just the right balance of its fat versus don’t-care ratio. The bright red marinade was grilled in helps highlight the succulence and sheer magnificence of the pork.

Assa serves a variety of hotpots most of them accompanied with kimchi (you can’t escape it, just surrender to it and you’ll realise it ain’t so bad to begin with). We ordered a sea food hotpot with glass noodles. The spicy broth has quite an intense flavour, so make sure you can handle the heat. Also,handy tip- you can ask for “refills” of broth and noodles in you want to keep the party going on even after you know you should stop eating.

And the freebies are yummy too- and not only because they’re free.

Although we couldn’t find this on the menu, make sure you order the bibimbap. A quintessential part of Korean cuisine, this signature dish consists of rice topped with sautéed veggies, some sort of meat, a raw or fried egg and a good stir to make sure everything is mixed up. It’s an unpretentious dish that allows simple and brilliant ingredients to talk for themselves. And it’s served in a warm stone bowl- no one can say no to a bit of presentation, eh?! Sorry the picture shows bimbibap after we whisked it up- we were ravenous at that point and couldn’t wait for the camera to capture its pre-stirred prettiness.

And as for the beer- well, the picture says it all.

I’ve heard mixed reviews about the service in both branches. Personally, I’ve never had a bad experience there- sure the waiters don’t speak very good English but they seem to understand what you want and make sure you get it fast. So for me, they exceed the minimum requirement anyway. They don’t have a website as yet, and don’t take reservations unless you’re a party bigger than 4 people, but do visit when you feel like having some quality Korean or adventurous if you haven’t tried it before.

Assa- Soho branch Tel: 020 7240 8256

Assa- Tottenham Court Road Tel: 020 7240 8256

La Porchetta

I visited La Porchetta on Upper Street, Angel as a last resort as my friends were ambitious enough to stroll up to Ottolenghi on a Saturday night and expect to be seated. And, La Porchetta was ultimately just that- a last resort kind of restaurant.

With 5 branches spread across town, this restaurant chain boasts to be “the home of Italian food.” And while the food we ate wasn’t bad per say, it was mediocre at best. Just one of those unmemorable dinners.

I ordered a pizza with ham, mozerella, olives, mushrooms and salami. It has massive, but please don’t get put off by the size. Its wafer thin so you could possibly finish the pizza if you have an appetite. I must credit the chef who made it because getting the dough to spread that thin must require some skill.

My friends had the pepperoni pizza and risotto marinara which was again, good but not memorable. Run of the mill stuff.

I would only recommend going to La Porchetta if you can’t find anywhere else to eat or want to eat decent food for average prices. Other places to choose from on Upper Street include La Petite Auberge (scroll down for a blog post), Le Mercury and Byron Burger.

http://www.laporchetta.biz/

The Windmill

I heard about the Windmill on a morning news show (we all know how informative weekend news is) while I was at the gym. Ah, the sweet cruelty to see a 15 minute feature on a pub that serves Britain’s best pies while sweating it out on the treadmill. This gastropub has (rightfully) earned the glory of Best Pie for the past 3 years and so it didn’t take much convincing for me to pay them a visit. It did take an inordinate amount of will-power to complete my gym session that day.

The Windmill is tucked away behind the bustle of Oxford Street/Bond Street. This traditional, cosy pub has a couple of rooms with seating so you’re almost always assured a table.

I thought, out duty, for my readers (ha!) that I should eat the award-winning pie even though I’m not the biggest fan of kidney. So, taking one for the proverbial team, I ordered the Steak and Kidney pie…and was pleasantly surprised.

The stuffing was succulent, well seasoned and overall delish. The crust had the right amount of crunch and sat perfectly with a glass of crisp cider or Crabbies on the side.

My friend ordered the Steak and Mushroom. The gravy on both pies were heavenly. Little bit of advice- the pies are extremely filling despite their deceptive size. But if can manage it, then save space for their desserts- they looked delicious!

The Windmill has a large selection of pies but choose only to make a few a day. Call ahead in case you want to know what is on the menu for the day. Inevitably, you will leave a satisfied customer. Best pie in Britain- not sure. Damn good pie- most definitely. The Windmill warrants a visit.

The Windmill
6-8 Mill Street
London
W1S 2AZ

T: 020 7491 8050

http://www.windmillmayfair.co.uk/

Koya

Located on the very trendy Frith Street in Soho, adjacent to Mooli’s (see post below), is Koya. This restaurant presents itself as a rarity in London for a couple of reasons, 1) its affordable Japanese!!! 2) its Japanese food without the pretentious ambiance and snooty staff, 3) did I mention it’s cheap?

Right, so onto the food. I will admit, my friend and I did completely missed the point of eating at an Udon (type of thick wheatflour noodle) place by ordering donburi (rice dishes). What can I say, the Indian in me cannot be suppressed. But I did regret my decision (somewhat) when I saw all the tables around me get served some very delicious looking hot and cold Udon.

I opted for the Kamodon which is rice with duck…

…and my friend went for the Ten Curry Don which is basically white sticky rice topped with curry garnished with a massive prawn tempura. This dish looked like a work of art, almost too beautiful to eat...almost.

Both dishes were served with a bowl of piping hot miso, which was very delectable.

The Kamodon was interesting and I don’t mean this in an euphemistic sense. I’ve never tasted duck like this before- it was coated with some sort of batter but not fried. So it retained its yummy duck flavour but had a rather peculiar texture. I wasn’t completely sold on it, but then again that might have been because I was expecting a crispy, roast duck. Yes, I know Chinese and Japanese cuisine are worlds apart. Anyway, like I said before, you might be better off ordering udon here. The Kinoko-Hiya Atsu (cold udon served with hot broth) which is a mushrooms with walnut miso was clocked for next time.

My friend’s dish which was simply delicious. The curry was typical of Japanese cuisine- flavourful without being spicy. The crispy texture of the tempura contrasted beautifully with the mushiness of the rice. Definitely worth ordering if you’re sure you don’t want to try the udon. OK, I’m done reemphasizing what an idiot I was to not order the friggin udon.

There's a certain aesthetic charm that extends itself beyond the food at Koya. The simple wooden tables, the wall-hung wooden panel menu boards, the handwritten specials board all add to the unmissable wabi-sabi of the place.

Koya delivers what it promises- simple and authentic Japanese fare that makes you want to come back for more.

Little word of advise- make reservations. Word has gotten out and this place always has a queue outside.

Check them out- http://www.koya.co.uk/

The Hummingbird Bakery

So this little gem of an American bakery fills a key gap in the British baked goods market by bringing joy and happiness (read: real Americano cupcakes and cakes) in to our lives. Fun fact: Hummingbird Bakery were the first bakery to sell/bake/make us love Red Velvet everythings and Whoopie Pies in the UK. God bless you.

So, on this particular day, my friend and I showed a rare burst of sensibility and decided to share one slice of red velvet cake. Mind you, the slices are massive- oh yeah, American serving sizes- so this was actually a good decision. But, if you can rise to the challenge and are a dedicated member of the I-have-intense-cravings-for-red-velvet, then by all means, make us all proud and devour a slice by yourself!

If you are unfortunate enough to not have tasted the gloriousness that is red velvet, then this is what it is- a cake, or now a cupcake, with an intense maroon colouring spaced and topped with a heavenly, smooth, to die for cream cheese frosting. This frosting, if done right, and, boy does Humminbird score 10/10 on this one, is the closest equivalent to getting a warm, reassuring hug on a cold cold night. Yes, the frosting acts as a security blanket to that gorgeous red cake that needs to be shown some love and care and affection and …okay I’m getting carried away.

The Hummingbird Bakery also sells some great cupcakes, pies, brownies and seasonal offerings (check out their Easter cupcakes and sponge cake). They currently are celebrating the launch of their new book and have showcased a few cupcake recipes which, honestly, have the capability of making you (or maybe it’s just me) salivate by just looking at them. These recipes have taken the form of tiramisu, chocolate fondant, s’more (a traditional US American camp-side treat that is made by roasting marshmallows and smudging them with a layer of chocolate and graham crackers), apple crumble, lemon meringue, sticky toffee pudding (sheer genius!) and Boston cream cupcakes.

They even have re-created a few classic cupcakes without gluten for all allergy sufferers!

If you really want to torture yourself, plonk yourself down on the plush red-velvet coloured armchairs in the Wardour Street branch (with a cake of course) and take in the breath taking sights of 50 different Hummingbird creations that rotate on the gigantic flat screen TV.

Since all cakes are baked on sight, they do tend to sell out particular varieties through by late afternoon. Try and visit as early in the day as possible to ensure you get what you want.

You can find delightful branches of Hummingbird in Soho, Notting Hill and South Kensington with a fourth branch opening in the Spitafields market and plans of a fifth in the pipeline.

The Hummingbird Bakery also delivers. You can order online, on the phone or in person and the minimum order has to be £20, which I assure you is quite an easy criteria to fulfil. For your next party, celebration, you know what to do…

http://hummingbirdbakery.com/

Spring is in the air, and on your plate

This is a perfect recipe for those days when you’ve had a long day at work, are feeling sluggish and need a light, refreshing and easy to prepare supper. Voila- stuffed peppers with anchovies, spinach and cherry tomatoes. A colourful spring day, on a plate. Recipe credit- Duncan, ex-boss.

Ingredients:

A couple of bell peppers (depending on how many people you are cooking for. 1 for 1 usually does the trick), feel free to venture outside of the red range

1 tin of anchovies- for a salty, flavourful kick

Cherry tomatoes

Spinach

Olive oil and Balsamic vinegar

It’s pretty basic- but therein, lies the beauty. Slice the peppers in half and de-seed them. Mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl and stuff the peppers. Grill in the oven at 180 degrees C for about 15-20 minutes. Throw in a bit of feta or goats cheese at the ‘stuffing’ if you feel a little indulgent. Serving suggestions-a side of salad and a glass of Reisling.

A juicy (see picture), vibrant dish that’s packed full of flavours and doesn’t leave you feeling weighed down. Go for it.

Mooli's

This post has been a long time coming, considering this is probably my most frequently visited restaurant in London (you will almost certainly find me munching a pork Mooli in the corner every Friday night before zipping off for a movie round the block).

Mooli's is a cozy and welcoming little restaurant located in Soho's Frith Street. So, what is a mooli? And why should you go? Right, so I'm going to borrow my friend's explanation for this one- it's basically a burrito with Indian-ish fillings. Instead of a tortilla, you have a roti and instead of Mexican fillings, you have mouthwatering Indian inspired fillings such as Goan pork with pomegranate salsa, kerala beef with coconut salsa and raita, Punjabi goat with cumin potatoes and salsa and chicken with apple mint chutney and yogurt. Veggie options include chickpeas with spring onions and coriander and paneer with carrot and tomato chutney.


My personal favourite is the pork mooli with a side of chilled mango lassi (with a hint of ginger). The combination of spicy pork with the bursting good juiciness of jeweled ruby pomegranate is luscious. Holy even. My Friday-night-Moolis-and-a-movie partner in crime, tells me the beef is pretty good. Maybe one day I'll move beyond the pork. But for now its enough to have me go back again and again and again. A Negra Modelo makes for a good accompaniment to cut through the spicy flavours and begin the weekend (or weekday...sheesh!)


The restaurant itself is staffed with some really friendly and helpful kids who get to play their own music (yay employee empowerment!) On most days you'll find owners Matthew and Sameer loitering around the premises as well-they provide some interesting conversation if you're in search for some. This is probably the best bit about Moolis- the fact that it has character, a personal touch, a human, non-corporate feel. This personal attention and care can be seen in the decor and more importantly tasted in the food too.


A regular mooli is just about the right quantity to allow you to have either a desert or another drink...I go there on Friday evening, so stop judging me. They serve the best tasting malai kulfi (an Indian unchurned ice-cream) I've had in London. Or opt for one of the mouth-watering, soft, exquisite brownies. Mooli's people: please bring the cranberry brownie back. It was the best one.

A good place to shoot the sh*t, casually while away an afternoon, chomp on some scrumptious food, and not break the bank (yes, this is possible in London!)- Mooli's! Give it a shot.

Crabbies- the drink not the STD

A rather unfortunate name for such a delicious drink, ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Crabbies ginger (alcoholic) beer. If you live in the UK and aren't too embarrassed to ask for it at your local pub, PLEASE TRY THIS RIGHT AWAY. Served with a couple of cubes of ice and a slice of lemon, this is a crisp refreshing, and extremely tasty drink. It's the kind of drink you want to kick back with after a long day at work, a drink that requires putting up your feet, loosening your tie, the company of a few good friends, and finally, a drink that requires submission to the golden bubbles that are, might I say, sublime.

A great drink even for those who might think they aren't fans of ginger beer. For those who want to take it to the next level, I hear Crabbies also make ginger wine and ginger whiskey- Crabbies Mac- a product of Empire. http://www.crabbiesgingerbeer.co.uk/the_crabbies_family.php

Also, you don't need to wait for the (mythical, British) summer to try this. DO IT!

Recipe ideas that need trying

Here is a link to 25 “Minimalist” recipes that I found on the NY Times website (I do occasionally use that website as a news source…occasionally). These recipes look like they might come in handy for 9-5ivers who want to cook at home and not spend hours in the kitchen. I’m excited to try the South Indian Eggplant Curry. Though being South Indian, I already doubt it’s authenticity- New Year’s Resolution #987 Must keep an open mind.

Actual blog posts, their coming soon. Thats New Year’s Resolution #988.

ENJOY!

http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/the-minimalist-chooses-25-of-his-favorites/?src=me&ref=general

For all your honey needs...

I present the Hive Honey Shop! Its awesome! So, I stumbled upon this great shop when I was out for brunch with a friend on the very hip-and-happening Northcote Road in Clapham. This place sells over 700 honey related products ranging from a countless number of English and international honey varieties, honey comb, honey cosmetics, beeswax candles, candies and sweets like honey fudge, mead, wine and honey liqueurs beekeeping equipment and last but not least, actual honeybees! Well, they don't sell the live bees in the shop, of course (d'oh!) ...you can have it delivered to your farm. Or as my housemate tells me, you can beekeep in your house...its all the rage is Boston apparently. Go figure!

Anyway, I thought I'd give the bees a miss but thank them for their hardwork by buying some delish honeycomb (actually, sorry bees for ruining your house and killing some of your friends in the process...it truly was delicious!) I chose an English Wildflower Honeycomb (£6.50 for 140g) that the very extremely nice and helpful woman behind the counter told me was made from over 150 kinds of nectar. Makes for a great accompaniment with a cuppa. My friend couldn't resist buying some sweet honey fudge that has this rich, creamy flavour with a crumbly texture that just melts in your mouth.


This place is most definitely worth a visit.

http://www.thehivehoneyshop.co.uk/default.asp

Romanesco Cauliflower

So, not a typical post but since this is a "food blog" in the broadest sense, I guess its okay for me to post pictures of this crazy looking vegetable my housemates and I bought the other day. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Romanesco Cauliflower (also known as Romanesco Broccoli and kind of tastes like a combination of the two veggies) with all its logarithmic spiral beauty.

Sweet/Spicy Roasted Pecans

Keeping in mind my extensive blog followers spread across the globe, all three of them, I figure I should try and write about food things a bit more accessible. It’s only to be fair to my expanding fan base. Ah sweet delusion.

So speaking of sweet: my housemate, David, yesterday decided to don his oven mitts and asked for baking suggestions. I was quick to forward him this great recipe I stumbled upon a few days back on the New York Times website. After my failed attempts to get him to make the Triple Chocolate Pecan Cookies, we “settled” on the Sweet/Spicy Roasted Pecans instead.

Now, speaking from experience, here are my two cents, its VERY IMPORTANT to remember not to eat several mouthfuls very fast. Even if the bubbling butter, cinnamon, sugar goo beckons with all its might…pace yourself. They probably taste better when savored anyway.

Goes really well topped on salads. Great as a party snack too. Games night people- wait for it!

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

8 cups of raw pecans

4 tablespoons of organic sugar (we totally used the remnants of the chemical sugar lying around)

2 tablespoons of organic cocoa power

1-2 teaspoons of chipotle chilli powder

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon ground paprika

4 tablespoons of butter, with melted course sea salt


Preparation:

Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Mix sugar through smoked paprika in a small bowl.

Spread the pecans out onto 2 sheet pans. Roast in preheated oven for 12-14 minutes, until they start to get crunchy and aromatic. Remove from the oven, and carefully transfer the pecans to a large bowl.

Pour the melted butter over the pecans. Mix well. Add the spiced sugar mixture and mix again, so that all of the pecans are coated.

Pour the coated pecans back onto the sheet pan and roast for another 3-5 minutes. Watch that they do not burn. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt to taste before serving.

(Serves 10-15)

For all the other great recipes from the NY times magazine. Visit the webpage to just see some beautiful food.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/10/10/magazine/potluck-recipes.html#/all/

La Famiglia

La Famiglia in Chelsea is magnificent. Even that’s understating how great this restaurant is. There is pretty much nothing on the menu that doesn’t bring you closer to nirvana.

Tucked away on Langton Street, this adorable restaurant is a direct gateway to Tuscany. The classic blue and white interior adds to the homely ambiance this family run restaurant seeks to provide. La Famiglia serves wholesome and unapologetic food made with simple and fresh ingredients that guarantees satisfaction. Their seasonal menu boasts delicacies like Risotto con le Fragole (Strawberry risotto), Fiori di Zucca (deep fried marrow flowers), Quagile alla Medicea (quail stuffed with quail egg wrapped with pancetta), Danio al Vinsanto (filet of venison sautéed in vin santo sauce) and the list goes on till a point involuntary salivation.






Prior warning about the generous portion sizes made me skip ordering a starter (and I knew I had to have dessert- yes I insist, I had to). Besides the olive tapenade served with warmed, freshly baked bread hit the spot. So for my main course I sunk my teeth in to Pappardelle al Cinghiale or freshly made, hand-cut egg pasta with a wild boar sauce. Honestly, if you haven’t yet tried boar, put on your hunting gear, get the hounds ready and get your hands on this meat, or go to your nearest butcher …whichever is easier. But seriously, this gamey meat takes what should be normal pasta sauce and turns it into the best pasta sauce you’ve ever had. Delizioso!





Right, so moving on to the crowning glory- the tiramisu. Best tiramisu in London. I wait to be proven wrong. This creamy, coffee-seduced piece of divinity stands as a good enough reason to come visit this restaurant. My friend's almond tart was heavenly as well! You won’t leave disappointed.

http://www.lafamiglia.co.uk/

La Petite Auberge in Angel is a gastronomical delight. This is a quaint little restaurant decorated with a slightly odd French- Wild West motif tucked away on the far end of Upper Street. There is almost nothing I have eaten in this restaurant that has disappointed.

I highly recommend starting off with the Moules a L’Ail – tender mussels cooked with cream, onion, leeks, white wine and garlic served with thin, crispy French fries (can be ordered as a starter or a main course). On this particular day my friend and I opted for the stellar deal of devouring a wholesome two course meal for £15 (check ahead for fixed price menus).

For starters I had the Salade de Chevre Chaude- a crumbly warm goats cheese and red pepper salad. My friend hit the jackpot by ordering the Camembert Frit, breaded deep fried pieces of Camembert heaven sat on a warm red currant jelly glaze. A part of me died and went right to cheese heaven.



For the main course I had the Saucisses de Canard- grilled duck, orange and apricot sausages with gooseberry sauce served with herbed buttery potatoes. I would suggest giving the duck sausages a skip as they were dry and not juicy, bursting at the seams kind of delicious you get from a traditional pork sausage. My friend chose a very un-French Roast Beef served with Yorkshire pudding, homemade gravy and horseradish sauce. The beef was tender and juicy and the sauce was what made it a distinctly French meal. Tres awesome.





As if two courses was enough to satiate my appetite, I ordered a Mousse au Chocolate to close my meal. Best decision of that afternoon. Since I’ve eaten more than my god given share of chocolate mousse in the short life I’ve lead, I can confidently say this is the best chocolate mousse you will sink your tongue into. A fluffy, light but far from insubstantial mousse flecked with chocolate bits…drrrrroooooool.



A three-course meal (no wine) will set you back a measly £20. Not a bad deal for extremely delicious food that doesn’t require crossing the Channel.

http://www.petiteauberge.co.uk/