Barcelona

Visiting Barcelona has always been on my 'to-go' list. I had heard many horrible stories about pickpockets and general security problems. And yet, every one of my friends still recommended it as the place to go.

Having spent 4 days there last week, I can honestly say that I am in love with it. Everything about its culture, city vibe, food and the people. I know there are many tourists who are still overwhelmed by stories of pickpocketing and stuff like that, but I can reassure you that there has not been a single attempt while I was there, and of all the sight seeing spots, there were police scattered everywhere.

As a first time go-er in Barcelona, I had to visit all the main touristy attractions - Gaudi's Casa Batillo, La Pedrera, Sagrada Familia and Park Guell; La Boqueria (fresh food market); Joan Miro's Foundation; MNAC - the National Museum; Picasso Museum etc.

As a foodie, I had so much fun in La Boqueria, where I brought back spices like paprika and saffron at a very decent prices! You always get to see all of its local produce in the area such as fish, shellfish, fruits, vegetables etc! It was absolutely eye opening!

My highlight was definitely my visit to Miro's museum. You know how the Spanish dedicate their cities to their artists: Madrid has Goya, and Barcelona Miro. There seems to be a lot of influences of Miro's work around the city, whether it was street art or buildings.

Let my photos speak for themselves!

Update

Sorry for MIA
I have been on holiday in Spain and Italy.

Pictures will be uploaded soon.

Choccywoccydoodah Say It With Cake

Choccywoccydoodah are back exclusively on the Good Food channel, weeknights at 9pm from Monday 2nd July for a new series of chocolate mischief and mayhem with even more glitz, glamour, celebrities and of course spectacular cake designs.
The Choccywoccydoodah team has recorded a single called ‘Say it with Cake’ featuring the Brighton and Hove gay male choir as well as the odd celebrity including David Hasslehoff, Brian May, Tara Palmer Tomkinson, and the cast of the West End musical, Wicked!

Please have a look at its video!

This third series of the hugely popular observational documentary sees business booming as the orders for Choccywoccydoodah’s inspiring and outlandish cakes continue to roll in. The pressure is on as the team has to create a stag’s head inspired cake to be auctioned at a showbiz charity fundraiser, attended by A-listers including Ronnie Wood and Manolo Blahnik. The cameras will also be rolling to showcase the team’s unconventional lives as they attend a whirl of society events and glamorous parties, and meet the great and the good, from royal dignitaries to celebrities, delivering cakes and chocolate treats along the way.

Choccywoccydoodah is new and exclusive to Good Food weeknights at 9pm from Monday 2nd July (Sky / HD 247, Virgin 260)

MEATmarket

If you want a quick fix on your weekly or monthly burger cravings, then you should definitely drop by MEATmarket (MM) in Covent Garden.
Being the sister of MEATliquor, you can expect quality of the burgers at MM. Only MM is faster (order, sit and eat) and with a smaller menu, you don't actually need to spare 10 minutes deciding.
MM is located above The Jubilee Market in the heart of Covent Garden (designated entrance on Tavistock Street), overlooking many installs occupied by tourists. Inside, you will find long benches with stools, with an open kitchen.
The menu is small but it is enough for a pseudo fast food joint. It offers variation of beef patties burgers, dogs, sides and shakes.

 

We ordered a Dead Hippie (2 beef patties, lettuce, cheese, pickles, minced white onion and dead hippie sauce) // Philly Cheesesteak (shaved rump steak, cheese, peppers and onions) // Poppaz (Jalapenos and cheese with ranch dressing) and bottomless soda.

 The Dead Hippie is similar to a Big Mac, but with their special Dead Hippie sauce, it makes sure that the burger stays juicy while you indulge it. The beef patties have been marinated well and deserve to be the stars of the burgers. The Philly Cheesesteak is very filling, though it seems to be in normal size; once you bite into it, your mouth is filled with cheese, steak and peppers all well balanced together.

I actually wanted to order the Corn Puppies (mini corn dogs), but they have been too popular that MM has actually ran out of them! However, the crispy Poppaz were not disappointing either. Even though personally I am not a big fan of cheese, but the flavour of the Jalapenos managed to come through the cheese.

All in all, MM is the place to go to for burgers. However, it does come as a little bit more expensive than other burger joints (Byron, McDonalds etc).

Food rating: 8.5/10

Budget rating: 7/10

MEATmarket

The Deck

Jubilee Market Hall

(entrance on Tavistock Street)

WC2E 8BE

Asadal

Over the weekend, we had a craving for Korean cuisine. Our usual "go-to" restaurants would be Koba, Arang or Arirang, but all of those would be full without reservation on a Saturday evening. After a long walk (working our appetites), we went to Asadal, located next to Holborn tube station.

I had heard good reviews from my native Korean friends and they said that it is really good and authentic.

The restaurant is located at the basement, and once you are downstairs, you will see a spacious dining area with partitions dividing in between various tables.

The menu is quite comprehensive with a few odd Japanese-Korean fusion food options as well.
We ordered our favourite Yuk Hwae - Raw beef slices with pears and egg yolk; Fried sliced fish cakes and rice cakes in a spicy sauce; Spicy tofu and seafood and egg casserole and Sashimi salad with rice.

 All in all, the food was average, our favourite was the Tofu casserole - very hearty and spicy, packed with flavours. Asadal has not won us over from our favourite Korean restaurants in London, but it was a new pleasant try.

Budget rating: 7/10
Food rating: 7/10

Asadal
227 High Holborn
WC1V 7DA 

Food Festival of the World @ Southbank Centre

Despite the traffic due to the Jubilee pageant, I managed to visit the Street Food Festival at Southbank Centre over the long weekend. I didn't stay for long, because of the weather (non stop rain) which completely took the fun away of this festival.

There were many stalls selling and promoting their own various products and range of food, however, maybe due to the weather (stalls were outdoors), there were less stalls than I had anticipated. I really do hope it is down to the weather. It would have been a good food festival offering a wide range of food.

Mango Eton Mess

There is nothing that says "Summer is here" more than a good homemade Eton Mess.

I wanted to do a twist from the traditional Strawberry flavoured one, don't get me wrong, I love strawberries, but it is 'boring' and it does not really correspond with my personal excitement of the arrival of Summer hence Mango, it is exotic and definitely screams Summer.

To make the Eton Mess, you can either make your own Meringues, or buy them at supermarkets. I wanted to make everything from scratch, so I made the Meringues the day before.

Meringues
3 large egg whites (best at room temperature for a couple of hours - aged)
175g caster sugar

Preheat oven to 150°C.
Whisk the egg whites until soft peaks, then gradually add the sugar, continue to whisk until all the sugar is incorporated.
Spoon the mixture into 6 meringues on a lined baking sheet or tray, then place in the centre of the oven, turn down the heat to 140°C. Bake for 1 hour
After an hour, turn off the oven, and leave the meringue sitting in the oven until it is cool or preferably over night.

Mango Eton Mess 
2 Mangoes - 1 skinned and diced, 1 puree
150g double cream
150g greek yogurt

Prepare the mangoes first. Place 1 mango into the juicer and pulse until it resembles a puree liquid form; Skin and dice up the other mango and place them in a bowl and refridgerate;
Whisk the double cream in a large bowl until it thickens, then mix in the greek yogurt;

Assembling:
Break the meringues into chunks, place them at the bottom of your serving bowl, then spoon the cream mixture, spread some mango puree on top - repeat twice. Then top with the diced mangoes and meringue crumbs. Finish with swirls of mango puree around the bowl. 

Ta-da! Enjoy!

Counting down to THE long weekend

For every ladies who are sitting in front of their computers, counting down the days to the ultimate four days long weekend...

What are your plans for the weekend?

 It looks like the heat will be gone... Boo... but I guess nothing can stop us from having a lovely Barbie out in balcony, backyards, parks or beaches.

Here are some food which taste great on a barbie:
Burger// Chicken (whole or in parts)// Ribs// Steak// Fish (with tangy and spicy sauce)// Aubergine (sliced in half lengthwise and season with S&P)// Seafood (clams clams clams); and as for dessert, you can whip up a simple Eton Mess with homemade meringues (so easy to make!) and seasonal fruits (recipes to follow next)

For the foodies out there, you will certainly be interested in the World Street Food Festival 2012. It will take place on Southbank Centre, along the river Thames by the London Eye from 1st - 5th June. You will experience all sorts of street food from Malaysia, Korean, Vietnamese, Greek, Spanish, British, Italian, Middle East and everywhere else in the World!
For more information on the festival, please visit here.

Shoreditch Grind

 

A great place for Artisan coffee and homemade pastries and cakes.

Located on the Old Street's Roundabout.

Shoreditch Grind
213 Old Street
London
EC1V 9NR

Tenshi @ Islington

Was craving for a good Japanese simple lunch in Angel one weekend, and came across Tenshi.
A tiny and cosy restaurant located on Upper Street, serving simple and traditional Japanese food. As you all know, there are many restaurants and cafes on Upper Street, with various and different cuisine, however, I think Tenshi is the only Japanese restaurant at the moment.

It is a small restaurant, with limited seatings, however, do not be put off by it. Sometimes, what I find in Japanese restaurants is, the smaller the restaurant is, the better their food is.

Given a busy Saturday lunch hours, I unfortunately was given a seat next to the entrance. We were quickly given the menus but no drinks were ordered. The menu is pretty comprehensive, offering the most popular Japanese food - Sushi, Donburi, Tempura, Katsu, Noodles - pretty standard.

We ordered the Takoyaki (Octopus balls); 2 pieces of Sea Bream Nigiri and Hamachi (Yellow Tail); Chicken Teriyaki Bento and Pork Katsu Bento.

If you want a no fuss Japanese meal around Angel and Islington area, visit Tenshi, as it offers good and traditional Japanese food for a very decent price.

Food rating: 7/10
Budget rating: 8/10

Tenshi
61 Upper Street
London N1 0NY