Foodie Fortnight

I must confess ... I love food!! Cooking and Eating .... either! I enjoy tasting new things and old favorites, trying new recipes and perfecting old ones. I even fancy myself as a bit of a baker and successfully made a few pretty and yummy wedding cakes for friends last summer. When I moved to London the only books I packed were my Architecture books and my Recipe Books ... I might have thrown a few travel ones in for good measure but that is kind of irrelevant!

The last few weeks I have been in my element! I know when I moved to London that there would be so many places to go for amazing food and to try new things. I haven't been disappointed and I know I haven't even begun to scratch the surface. 

London is Foodie Heaven!!

You don't even need to go more than a few paces from home and you can find excellent food all around you. This food fest all started a couple of weeks ago when my friend was coming over for dinner. Normally I relish the though of cooking for my friends but I'd been held up at work and knew the contents of my fridge were bleak to say the least. I was also feeling a little blue anyway as the friend I was meeting that evening was emigrating to Australia and this was the last time I would see her in London for a very long time .... I just didn't feel like cooking. A new Bar had just opened at the end of the street and I'd watched as it was slowly renovated from a grotty dive to a rather cosy looking speakeasy style pub, plus I'd read a few great reviews! http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/pubsandbars/the-hunter-s-review-275645.html I suggested we go there. I had high hopes, and from the moment I stepped through the door I knew this place was worth more than one visit. From the 20's jazz playing, the well stocked gantry, to the mix of comfy lounge chairs/ sofa's and dining tables this place has lots going for it. I was already imagining myself popping in for a cosy glass of wine on a weeknight or spending a lazy Sunday with the papers and a roast dinner! The fact it is so close to home is just an added bonus.

The menu has a nice range on offer, but isn't overloaded with choices. We both wanted a light dinner and the waitress suggested we try the special, which was a Thai Beef Salad. The beef was cooked to perfection, and spice blend delicious. Our plates weren't over loaded and the vegetables were still crispy, but covered in just enough sauce to ensure the entire salad was mouthful after mouthful of Thai tastiness. All that and a glass of wine for just over a tenner!! I knew I'd be back.

My week continued on this tantalizing thread when a friend R visited that weekend. I know London is famous for its markets and wasn't surprised when a friend told me there was a great food market 10 mins walk form my house. I guessed it would be the usual, fruit and veg, some spice sellers, maybe a butcher and a fishmonger and perhaps one or two more unusual stalls. How wrong I was!!

Broadway Market http://www.broadwaymarket.co.uk/ Is a one stop shop of everything I love about food!! I'm not sure where to start .... everyone should experience this market. My only advice is to go hungry, as you'll literally want to eat your way from one end of the street to the other! My highlights; Chucked Oysters with chilli and ginger that we had for brunch, the hand made chunky pesto and smoked cheddar I took home, the Scallop, Chorizo, Mackerel Mayo and salad sandwich I had for lunch, and the miniature toffee fudge cake I had for afters!! I was just sad my friends dragged me off elsewhere, as I surely would have stayed for dinner too!! The only downside to this market is that I might not discover any more of London as I'll be here every Saturday!!

Disappointed my friends dragged me away from my food mecca, they placated my by telling me they’d take me for Steak et Frites for dinner. Ah, well Broadway was forgotten and saved for another weekend. I’m soooo fickle but I do love a good steak so they new that would cheer me up, hook, line and sinker! I clearly am a simple being! We went to Relais De Venise http://www.relaisdevenise.com/. Situated in Marylebone, the menu at this place consists of Rare, Medium or Well Done – so if your not a steak fan steer clear. They don’t take bookings which is a bit of a pain but the queuing its self is very reminiscent of some of the best restaurants I’ve been to in Paris and luckily there’s always someone in my crowd who understands that “I’m just popping to the bar across the road to use the loo” actually means “I’m going for a sneaky glass of fizz while you numpties stand in the queue!” – the last person to cotton on always tends to be a bit cold and grumpy during dinner but, hey, C’est La Vie someone has to queue!! Our Dinner was worth the wait, walnut salad to start and steak cooked to your liking, with proper French fries and a secret sauce (I picket up tarragon, Dijon mustard and crème friache!) They even came round with seconds – yum! Well recommended for steak lovers!

With R down for the weekend it was inevitable we would partake in a few alcoholic beverages during dinner and after dinner on the Saturday evening, and due to the queuing situation we’d also had a few glasses of fizzy pop before dinner too.! Feeling a little under the weather on Sunday we met friends for a rainy, windy walk on Hampstead Heath to blow away the Cobwebs. Feeling more refreshed we headed to The Bull and Last. http://www.thebullandlast.co.uk/ I had it on good authority that they served the best Scotch Eggs in London. They do! The sausage rolls rock too!

Perfect cure for the after effects of a good fun Saturday night all washed down with a Bloody Mary. We were ready to take on the world again! 

My foodie fortnight continued the following week, as one of my girlie mates L and I had signed up for a Sushi making course at Suzu. http://www.suzuonline.co.uk/ There is such an art to making sushi and we had fun – mostly making a mess but the class informative and its always a bonus when you have something yummy to eat at the end. We learned how to make Nigri and Maki and inside out Maki. Our instructor even told us how to make sushi rice properly and where the best places in London to buy Sushi fish are. 40% of the cost of the class also goes to charity, and you can have a beer or glass of wine while you learn, I’d definitely recommend this as an alternative night out for foodie friends. You even get to keep your rolling mat, so now armed with my mat and some basic knowledge you’ll find me at home making Sushi – who’s coming round for dinner?

To round off my foodie fortnight I headed back to The Hunter S for a Sunday Roast – well I did say I’d be back!! The roast beef was Delicious, and even when the waitress knocked my class of Rioja all over my white top my spirits were not dampened. 

Life is good up on my culinary cloud!