Searched For coconut ice

Rose, Mint and Coconut Macaroons

February 3, 2013 Comments Off read Sweet Treats

With Valentines day approaching and a craving for macaroons, my girlie side made its way into these sweet little morsels over the weekend as I experimented a little with some new flavours. I love bright coloured macaroons and with some rosewater and red colouring to hand, these barged their way into the oven. I adore ANYTHING coconut related so I knocked up a coconut buttercream to sandwich these together but I couldn’t resist the green the mint adds against the rosy red. It seems this year I have a date with a macaroon………could be worse

Macaroons (makes about 30)

90g egg whites (about 3. These can be old egg whites you have lying around in the fridge, they often work better)
30g caster sugar
200g icing sugar
110g ground almonds
2tbsp red food colouring
1 large tsp rosewater

Buttercream

70g unsalted, softened butter
50g coconut cream block
90g icing sugar
1 heaped tbsp dessicated coconut
Small handful chopped mint leaves

Begin with the macaroons. Preheat the oven to 150°C. Line a large baking tray with parchment so that your are ready and prepare your piping bag.
In a food processor, blitz the ground almonds and the icing sugar together until fine. Sieve into a large bowl.
In another really clean bowl, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks and then add the caster sugar a bit at a time until you have a glossy meringue. Don’t over-beat.
At this stage, add the red colouring and rosewater to the egg whites (This is the point where you can add other flavours or colours of your choice)
Fold in one third of the ground almond and icing sugar mix into the egg whites to loosen.
Then fold in the rest until thoroughly combined but be careful not to knock out all the air.
Fill your piping bag with the mixture and pipe small rounds onto the lined baking tray
Give the tray a few sharp hits on the surface by dropping the tray from a small height to flatten the macaroons. Leave the tray in a safe place for 30 minutes.
Now bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes (mine took about 13…) until they come easily away from the tray.
Leave to cool. Make the buttercream. Melt the coconut block over a pan of simmering water until runny or immerse the block, in its bag, in some hot water.
In a processor, mix the butter and icing sugar and then add in the coconut cream. Add the chopped mint and blitz again. Then stir in the dessicated coconut.
Spoon into another piping bag and pipe enough mixture onto the back of one macaroon and sandwich with another. Continue with the rest.

Anyone you make these for will adore them….they are sweet, delicate and dreamily elegant….not to mention delicious!

Caramel Ice Cream with Salted Almond Praline

December 3, 2012 Comments Off read Sweet Treats

With December now well and truly here, it must be accepted that the gastronomic season has arrived. This pleasingly warrants the excuse for overindulgent food with an extra special touch or time and care wrapped in a blanket of calories and tied up with vast amount of edible guilt. With a welcome invite to a house Christmas meal approaching, and the responsibility of bringing dessert, my creative mind went into a sugary coma. A need to supply my hosts with something to sooth their taste buds and thank them for their hospitality. So to go with my pear, almond and amaretto tart, my love of ice cream was sure to make a chilly appearance. However, with no ice cream maker in the limited freezer in my home away from home in Clifton, I opted for this cheats recipe which is always a great one to have on tap. It doesn’t require churning as it won’t crystalise when freezing and it gives a very rich and creamy texture. A can of condensed milk and some single cream never looked nicer….

Praline

100g caster sugar
20g flaked almonds
½ tsp Maldon Sea Salt

Salted Caramel Ice Cream

1 can condensed milk
300ml single cream

Begin with the cheats ice cream base. Submerge a can of condensed milk in a pan of water on it side and bring to the boil. Simmer for 2 ½ hours making sure the water does not dry out and that it is covered (otherwise it could explode…worse things have happened)
Meanwhile, make the praline. Begin by lightly oiling a piece of greaseproof paper.
Now heat a dry frying pan and lightly toast the flaked almonds until tinged and fragrant. Scatter densely over the parchment.
Now, scatter the caster sugar in a dry frying pan in an even, thin layer and turn up the heat.
The sugar should begin to melt within a couple of minutes. Use a plastic spatula to mix in any non-melted areas and any lumps. All the sugar will melt and it will start to turn golden and liquid. Watching all the time as it can burn easily, continue to melt until light golden brown but not burnt!
Quickly, using the spatula, tip the caramel over the almonds on the parchment and scatter quickly with the sea salt while still hot. Leave to cool until solid before breaking into shards.
Once the condensed milk has been boiled it will have turned to caramel. Leave the can to cool before handling.
Mix the cooled caramel with the single cream and beat with a whisk until well combined.
Now, using either a food processor, a pestle and mortar or just a bag and a wooden spoon, coarsely crush your praline into chunks. I left some a bit more whole and some into a powder.
Mix this evenly into the ice cream base and place in the freezer overnight. The praline pieces have a tendency to fall to the bottom so if you can be bothered, freeze half your cream mixture, then scatter over your praline and the remaining mixture and freeze again.
Enjoy your ice cream with an added sprinkle of sea salt if required! I served mine with a pear, almond and amaretto tart.

PS. This cheats ice cream base is open to interpretation….adding coconut milk instead of cream sprinkling of lime zest is one of my favourites. However, add any other flavours you like. It is quite a soft texture anyway, so adding salt in this case, or alcohol which doesn’t freeze, will make it even softer so bear this in mind before going too heavy handed on the booze!

Lime and Coconut Pannacotta with Lime Melts

August 12, 2012 Comments Off read Sweet Treats

Next weekend I’m helping cater a sit down Birthday lunch and this is the dessert……so……..naturally I had to greedily sample the recipe for myself before inflicting the sweet, creamy and fresh mouth watering dessert on the poor awaiting guests. The sampling was hard. I may have to do it again tomorrow too.

If you’re fed up with the rainy English weather, this will help you melt away into the tropical Caribbean…

250ml double cream
250ml coconut cream/milk
2 ½ gelatine leaves
55g caster sugar
1 lime, zest and juice of ½

Soak the gelatine leaves in cold water
On a low heat, warm the double cream, sugar and lime zest and juice in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves, and the mixture is thin and smooth and bring up to near boiling point
Just before the boil, remove from the heat and stir in the coconut milk/cream. Squeeze the excess water from the gelatine and whisk into the hot cream until dissolved.
I served mine in ramekins to remove the hassle of having to turn them out but if you want to do this then fill into a greased mould (makes about 4 large or 5 small ones)
Once the mixture has cooled, chill in the fridge to set for at least 3 hours but preferably overnight!

Lime Melts

6 oz unsalted butter
110g Icing sugar
Grated zest of 3 limes
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp vanilla extract
200g flour
2 tbsp cornflour
¼ tsp salt

(I have converted this from American cups to grams so hopefully it works out, although use your instinct to get the right consistency of the dough which should be like shortbread)

In a food processor, cream the butter and 40g of the icing sugar until fluffy. Add the lime zest, juice and vanilla and cream again
Sieve the flour, cornflour and salt into the bowl and process until combined
Split the dough in half and roll into logs of the size biscuit you want and wrap in parchment
Chill for 1 hour
Preheat the oven to 180°C and line two baking trays with parchment. Slice the dough into rounds and place on the baking tray
Bake for about 12minutes until barely golden and then leave to cool for a couple of minutes.
While still warm, sieve the remaining icing sugar into a sealable bag and place the cookies inside. Toss in the sugar-filled bag until coated.

(The logs also freeze well!)

Mexican Tasting Menu

May 9, 2022 Comments Off read Extras, Seafood, Vegetables and Salads

exican inspiration promised and delivered. I’ll take any excuse to create a menu so a family birthday was next in line. Fresh guacamole with pico de gallo christened every evening meal for us in Mexico. We used it as a barometer for each restaurant. Each eatery had their own style but each one we tried was incredible so there was no question about it being on this tasting menu with some mezcalitas to kick things off.

My stand out food memory from the holiday was our first taste of fish tacos on day 2 in Holbox. Blue corn tortilla’s topped with perfectly soft but crunchy green tempura fish and creamy avocado as we dumped the bags and collapsed in front of our idyllic ocean view. And the tacos didn’t stop there, from prawn to chicken but always back to fish. I was skeptical about recreating these at home but relieved to say, these were delicious and offered us a mini escape back to Holbox. I’d encourage you to invest in a taco holder and some proper corn tortilla’s to make these worth their while. Whilst you can use wheat tortilla’s, the corn version (blue or white) take these to their authentic level.

My Mexican menu was created sharing and I’ve shared a few of the recipes here which I hope you enjoy.

A few staples you’ll need for this menu if you’re serious about your Mexican feasting:

Taco holder
Corn tortilla – blue or white
Hand lime squeezer
Mezcal – we bought back 2 bottles from Mexico. Buy the best quality you can afford or use Tequila if you prefer.
Every bar in Mexico uses ‘Tajin’ for the chilli-salt rim on their margaritas/mezcalitas. We bought this back in our luggage but you can buy it online.
Plain corn tortilla chips for dipping (salted but not flavoured) – don’t even think about buying Doritos. Artisanal are the best if you can shop around. Again, blue or white corn work well. I used these blue corn chips

Mezcalitas

Guacamole with pico de gallo & black corn tortilla chips

Prawns & Mango

Black Bean & Chipotle Empanadas

Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa

Coconut & Lime Ice Cream

Guacamole with pico de gallo & black corn tortilla chips (Serves 4 as a starter and for your fish tacos)

4 large ripe avocados
1-2 large limes
Handful coriander, chopped
4 ripe large tomatoes
1 shallot, finely chopped
1-2 chillis, finely chopped
Tortilla chips to serve (plain)

I used a blender here but you can mash the avocados by hand with a fork also for a more rustic texture. I usually love making avocado this way but I prefer the creamier texture for serving this as a sharing starter with chips.

Blend the avocado flesh, juice of 1 lime, chopped chilli to taste and all but a handful of the coriander in a blender with a generous pinch of flaky salt and freshly ground pepper until smooth. Taste and add more lime & salt if needed.
De-seed and finely dice the tomatoes and add to a bowl. Season well with flaky salt.
Add the chopped shallot, the rest of the coriander and the juice of half a lime and stir well.
Leave to sit for about 30 minutes to let the salt draw out the lovely tomato juices.
When ready to serve, make sure everything is at room temperature. Don’t serve straight from the fridge. Spoon half the guacamole into a serving bowl or dish and spoon over half of the pico de gallo and tuck in!

Black Bean & Chipotle Empanadas (recipe here)

Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa (Serve 4 – makes about 8)

500g white meaty fish – I used cod
85g flour
200ml sparking water, chilled
1 litre sunflower oil
8 white/black corn tortillas (If you can’t find corn, use wheat tortillas but you’ll benefit from the authenticity of corn!)
1/2 guacamole recipe above
1/2 pico de gallo recipe above
Roughly 1/4 of a mango, diced (leftover from your prawn and mango skewers)

Cut the fish into large bitesize chunks a few inches each and heat the sunflower oil in a large saucepan until around 180℃. (If you have a deep fryer then prepare this)
Make the batter by sifting the flour into a large bowl and seasoning. Whisk in the cold sparkling water, whisking until smooth.
When the oil is hot enough, dip each piece of fish into the bater to very lightly coat and then quickly into the hot oil being careful not to splash yourself with the oil. You can add 3-4 pieces if they will fit at once but don’t crowd the oil. Fry for about 3 minutes until just golden, turning with a slotted spoon to ensure even colouring.
Remove the fish pieces with a slotted spoon onto a plate lined with kitchen towel to absorb the excess and repeat with the rest of the fish until all fried. If there are any crispy bits of batter left in the pan, remove these as they are great to top off the tacos.
Mix the mango with the remaining pico de gallo and set aside.
To assemble the tacos, lightly warm the tortilla’s in a pan or low oven and spread the corn tortilla with 1 tbsp of guacamole. Pop in 2-3 pieces of your tempura fish and place each in your taco holder.
Top each with the mango/tomato salsa and any remaining crispy bater pieces and serve with lots of napkins!

Coconut Ice Cream (recipe here) – Serve with rum roasted pineapple for an extra treat!

Events

February 21, 2016 Comments Off read

Winter Supper Club Invite

‘forage in the pantry’ Winter in Morocco Supper Club’

With a cold New Year upon us, the warming Moroccan influences that have inspired my fourth supper club are the perfect cure! Join me for a spiced feast of 3 indulgent and warming courses among excellent company right in the heart of London. Being my fourth event in a series of tasty suppers, this is set to be the most exotic and hearty so bring your appetites, thirst and imaginations as sadly it won’t be the temperatures of Northern Africa.

With the atmosphere sorted, prepare to be soothed and charmed by the beautfiul and soulful tones of my dear friend singer songwriter Doll Duncan.

Tickets cost £35 including a bottle of paried wine between two. Sadly this years venue does not have a license to sell alcohol so we offer BYO for £10 corkage/bottle for any wine of your choice to bring on the night. Tea and coffees are also available to purchase on the night.

11th February from 7pm @ Market Porter, 3 Copper Row SE1 2LH

Menu

‘Lachmacun Meatballs’ / Cucumber, radish & herb raw salad / Flatbread / Harissa Dressing

Slow cooked Shredded Lamb Tagine / Prunes / Almonds / Jewelled Cous cous

Chocolate Tart / Fresh Coconut Ice Cream / Sesame Praline

Menu and details on booking can be found here: BUY TICKETS NOW

November Invite

‘forage in the pantry’ Autumn Supper ‘Wiltshire’

5th November, 7pm

@ Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire

I am more than pleased to be announcing my first Wiltshire supper club in my home county! Spend a cosy Autumnal evening feasting on a delicious menu with an Italian edge as you’re escorted to the Tuscan hills. With a charming and wholesome menu, what better way to prepare for the winter weather than dining for the occasion.

Menu

Prosecco on arrival

Taleggio, thyme and lemon risotto / Truffle oil / Baked Bread / Fennel and smoked salt butter

Porchetta with Salsa Verde / Butternut Squash Puree / Sauteed Kale with Pine nuts and raisins / Roasties

Blackberry and Almond Tart / Apple Crumble Ice Cream

BYO Cheese (Crackers Supplied)

Menu and details on the following link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/forage-in-the-pantry-autumn-supper-club-tickets-26796766851

Summer-Supper-Club-Invite-1

‘forage in the pantry’ Summer Supper

9th July, 7pm

@ The Market Porter, Embassy Gardens, SW8

Spend a long sunny and endless summer evening dining on a selection of delicious courses in a charming Battersea venue.

The evening will include a 3 course feast cooked in Jess’ classic culinary style focusing on flavour and wholesome ingredients. The menu theme focuses on spice from around the world throughout each dish so prepare for a supper packed full of flavour, texture and originality! A thoughtfully chosen wine and drinks menu will complitment your evening or BYO for £10 corkage/bottle for those who want to match their own.

I’m delighted to announce that this charming evening will once again be made special with the gorgeous and entertaining live musical performance from singer/songwriter Doll Duncan. It will certainly be an evening not to miss!

Menu

Chapel Down English Sparkling wine on arrival

Pea, feta, dill and mint fritters / Beetroot and walnut humus / Baked bread / Smoked salt and fennel butter

‘Jess” creamy dahl / Curry spiced roasted cauliflower salad / Shredded duck in a lime dressing

Treacle tart / Rhubarb crumble ice cream / Spiced apple puree

Menu and details can be found on the link invite below.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/forage-in-the-pantry-summer-supper-tickets-25100479209

FITP_SupClub_Spring16_menu-2-1

‘forage in the pantry’ Spring Supper

9th April, 7pm

@ The Market Porter, Embassy Gardens, SW8

I’m delighted to annouce the arrival of ‘forage in the pantry’s’ premier supper club! As a fresh and delicious start to April come and join us for an inspiring, wholesome and lovingly prepared 3 course supper in a cosy and secluded London venue.

Spend a perfect evening relaxing in a charming venue on a homemade feast in Jess’ classic culinary style. Using inspiration from the middle East and her adventures in Morocco, prepare for undeniable flavour, spice and creations and of course some perfectly chosen wines. And with a gorgeous and entertaining live musical surprise in store from my beautiful friend Doll Duncan it will certainly be a unique and one off event not to be missed….

Menu and details can be found on the link invite below.

FITP_SupClub_Spring16_menu-2

To book, please follow the link below!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/forage-in-the-pantry-spring-supper-tickets-21171802431

The event will be held at ‘Market Porter’ in Battersea. See here for more details https://www.marketporter.com/about 5100479209

Where to Eat & Drink

July 30, 2015 Comments Off read

‘ve always been perhaps pretentiously reluctant to dine out too much. Most of the time you can ‘cook dinner better yourself at home’ for less of your hard earned pennies and in a more relaxed and less aggravating ambience. However after moving to London I cannot resist the foodie delights and variety that is on offer. I’ve never been so tempted. I use dinners out more for inspiration than for economical or satiety reasons. I try to eat at restaurants, or at least choose dishes, I would not normally cook for myself. Those with that little added effort, technique or ingredient to inspire my recipes. However, admittedly, sometime you do just need your local…

Cheapest £ –>Expensive £££££

London – Bars

Sketch(Regent’s Street)- The wow factor. Intriguing, weird and outrageous. Make sure you check out the toilets. Great date spot.
HIX (Soho)- classic, classy, a good trusty bar for a predrink (or dinner)
The Vault (Soho) – hidden literally behind a bookshelf at the back of an old man’s whiskey shop, this is a dingy, candle lit and intimate spot. Book, it’s small.
Disrepute (Kingly Court) -hidden gem in the hustle and bustle of Kingly Court. Service is spot on for a great pre-drink before dinner or to spend the evening.
Circus (Covent Garden) – drama & tease. Classy and spectacular cabaret entertainment. Great for a evening with something different.

London – Food

Kudu – Peckham – Small intimate and delicious. Small sharing plates with a South African influence. Wine list and staff spot on. I’d go here for any occasion hands down. *Try and get the kitchen bar ££-£££
Mildreds – Soho. Cute, exciting, charming and cosy vegetarian restaurant where you won’t even notice the lack of meat. £
Andrew Edmonds – Soho. Romantic. Perfect for any loved up couple with an adoration for traditional French food and paper table cloths.£££
The Modern Pantry – Farringdon. Quirky, interesting food and a wonderful setting to celebrate a special occasion or an elegant catch up with a friend. Alternatively, enjoy brunch in their cafe. £££
Smoking Goat – Soho. Brave statement but I think my favourite eatery in London. Authentic Thai BBQ dishes for sharing. Indescribable flavours accompany a cosy, dark, smoky and enticing atmosphere. A simple menu with daily specials, this review can’t do it justice. I’d advise you just go and try this one. Slow cooked shoulder of goat for two is an absolute necessity in your life. ££
Prince of Wales – East Putney. My local gastro pub. A real foodie find in the area especially for a pub. Perfect for any occasion. Casual dinner, celebration meal or gourmet burger craving. ££
Nama – Nottinghill. Raw, fresh, current cafe where you will leave feeling virtuous. £££
Vinoteca – Soho. For the wine lover who caves to their appetite. £££
Jar Kitchen – Covent Garden. Cute, tasty, humble cafe serving delicious honest and excitingly modern dishes. ££
The Lockhart – Seymour Place. American food with glamour and style. Perfect for a romantic meal. £££
Dock Kitchen – Ladbroke Grove. Exciting, modern and gourmet middle Eastern food. For a meal with a bit more meaning and occasion £££
The Parlour – Kensal Rise. Gourmet gastro style pub-come-bar food. A hidden gem for any occasion. ££
Boa – Soho. For all your authentic Taiwanese steamed bun needs. Quick meals in a seated street food style. £
Kopapa – Covent Garden. Delicious New Zealand inspired modern dishes to please the eye. £££
Dishoom – Covent Garden. Gourmet Indian cuisine. Perfect for a big loud dinner with friends but more so for a bacon naan roll filled brunch complete with cupfuls of soothing House Chai. ££
Hakkasan – Mayfair. Indulgent Cantonese cuisine for those who like to ‘be seen’ while they eat in style. But eat in style you will. ££££
Coya – Green Park. Swanky Peruvian dishes. Perfect for a group or a couple to share the delights. ££££
The Big Easy – King’s Road. Big, bold American feast. Sticky BBQ ribs and giant battered prawns washed down with frozen margaritas. Perfect for carb-laoding your army friends. ££
Claude’s Kitchen – Parsons Green. I’m not easily impressed when eating out with the view I could have cooked it better myself. I was impressed. Cosy, small and delicious. For groups or couples alike. £££
Tendido Cuatro – New Kings Road. Humble authentic tapas. Date night where you won’t be disturbed. ££
Arabica – Borough Market. Buzzing, tasty, tapas style sharing Middle Eastern dishes perfect for a ‘let your hair down’ Friday evening. ££
House of Ho – Soho. Not to be mistaken for a strip club with neon lights. Memorable, stylish elegant and devine Vietnamese food. Delicate beautiful dishes full of flavour. Beautiful modern decor, perfect for a girls night or a romantic date. ££
Smokehouse – Chiswick/Islington. Slow cooked melting indulgent meats to sooth the soul and satisfy the stomach. Vegetarian would be intimidated here (Stick to Mildreds). Antlers, animal skins, fine polished wood and leather armchairs make this place a home away from home to kick back in with a warm glass of red. ££
Bonnie Gull – Fish. Sourced from reliable and thoughtful locations, expect a menu of seafood. Cooked simply, beautifully and deliciously. Its like being whisked to the Cornish coast….sadly you are even likely to leave smelling of fish….cooked that is. ££
Blanchette – Soho. A charming Parisian bistro focusing on ‘tapas’ style French dishes. Tucked away from the mayhem of Oxford Street ready to warmingly accept any passer by – solo, old friends catching up or a kinky date. Perfect for a few delicious dishes and a glass of vino. ££
The Grazing Goat – Marlyebone. Gastro pub for any affair. Some surprisingly cracking salads! ££
Fu Manchu – Clapham. Dim Sum hideaway in a charming brick clad railway arch. Serving excellent Chinese dishes and swanky cocktails. Great for a social gathering with friends as it even doubles as a live music and night club venue for those looking to continue their evening in style. ££
Souk Medina – Covent Garden. A Moroccan feast in a solely authentic setting. The little rough around the edges but sweetly charming interior is a labyrinth of rooms offering a perfect (romantic) escape from blustering Covent Garden. ££
Naughty Piglets – Brixton. Bigger than normal sharing dishes using thoughtful seasonal ingredients. Small cosy atmosphere for a civilised bite. ££
Chez Bruce – Wandsworth. For a special occasion. Expect wholeheartedly traditional but beautifully cooked French cuisine. Perfectly matching wines and attentive charming service tops off this fine dining establishment. ££££
Odette’s – Primrose Hill. Iconic long standing venue in the charming streets of Primrose Hill. Offering rich, robust dishes its one to have on the bucket list. ££££
Tayyabs – Aldgate East. Indian tradition. Amazing dishes packed full of flavour and spice in an extremely buzzing atmosphere. Their traditional lamb chops are legendary. Order yourself the ‘dry meat’ curry and roti you’ll be on your way to heaven. And as its free corkage BYO you can bring your perfect bottle of Riesling or Gewurtz to dine in style. Extremely good value for the quality. Booking essential! ££
Sukho – Fulham. Fine Dining Thai. Thai food at its authentic local best. £
Grain Store – King’s Cross. Carnivores don’t be put off! This is by no means a vegetarian eatery. A menu of hearty and generous dishes brimming with flavour and cooked with love with a heavy focus on vegetables paired deliciously with beautiful meats and fish. I’m a really really big fan. ££
Caravan – Kings Cross. Rustic fusion in a cool, casual and modern environment. Small and large plates that intrigue and delight! Great for a catch up with friends in a vibrant buzzy atmosphere. ££
Kenza – Liverpool Street. If you fancy a trip to Morocco for the evening in central London then heres you place! Once you cross the African threshold a cascade spiral staircase of glitter and temptation lead you into a basement of charm. You really will feel like you’ve escaped. With a sweet cocktail menu and a list of delicious feasts this place is a must for a night with a twist. The perfect stop for a girly night out, secret hidden romantic date or a party. And with a special surprise at 7.30 and 9.30 each evening (which I won’t spoil) you’re in for a treat. ££
Franco Manca – Various. Hands down the best quality pizza in London. Sourdough base, quality toppings and ingredients. Simple short menu of pizza and beer makes choice easy. Best meal I’ve had for a tenner in a long while. £
Berber & Q (Shawarma Bar) – Exmouth market. Middle eastern food lovers dream. Big punchy dishes perfect for sharing. Excellent portions size and flavours. Some great authentic beer choices and unlimited fluffy pita. A game contender on the Exmouth Market scene. ££
Viet Grill – Shoreditch. Tasty, authentic and hearty Vietnamese food. The venue has an airy and vibrant atmosphere with a coriander, lime and ginger infused buzz! Attentive quick service and delicious satisfying dishes. The best coconut ice cream I’ve had in London thus far…..and if you know me well, you know my coconut ice cream standards! ££
ON THE BAB – Covent Garden (And various). A Korean fried chicken haven. Let me reiterate…haven. Bowls of various sized crunchy, Korean flavoured fried chicken, soft pillowy overfilled bao buns and lava lamps of beer (I won’t spoil the surprise). This place is worth waiting in the rain for. ££
Som Saa – Spitalfields. Chic converted warehouse serving delicious Thai dishes and refreshing cocktails. A drool-worthy smell hits you on crossing the threshold and the copious bowls of limes, chills and Thai ingredients set you up for a great evening for any occasion. Great seated sharing tables and cosy private booths. Service was surprisingly and welcomingly attentive and friendly (for London). Order the deep fried sea bass. If you’re chilli adverse, have a pint of milk in your bag in case as you won’t want to miss out! £££
Kiln – Soho. Sister restaurant to my favourite ‘Smoking Goat’ (above) this place offers smaller, more tapas-style dishes that rival Smoking Goat. A pleasing and enticing open air kitchen with mini kilns for cooking offer a unique and entertaining evening. ££
Tandoor Chop House – Covent Garden. Fantastic small boutique Indian restaurant that fills your nose with amazing smells as soon as you walk through the door. Small and perfectly formed, great relaxed dining atmosphere and lovely dining booths for any occasion. A great short but varied menu to reduce choice but importantly a crowd pleasing ‘Black dalh’ to rival Dishoom. (It was agreed that it actually bettered Dishoom – both for quality and taste of food and ease of dining. You can book!) ££
Kricket – Soho. This little gem has sadly been swallowed by the soho scene (limited booking) after its humble roots established in the Pop Brixton containers. However, I could not be more pleased of its now permanent establishment. An absolute gem, one of my new favourite in London. Indian tapas style sharing dishes, ideal for small groups – 2 if you fancy an immersive bar/kitchen experience. Every dish was packed FULL of flavour, no complaints. Buzzing, youthful scene if you’re keen for a bite in central. Not one to linger in as it gets busy, but an definite box ticker. ££
Melabes – Kensington. If you like middle Eastern food without the pretence then here is your place. Small, cosy and unassuming, this is a great little gem in High Street Kensington for a midweek supper or easy date night. Fill your plates with sharing dishes and be sure to have the baked cauliflower. ££
Istanbul Meze Mangal – Colliers Wood. This place is pumping no matter what time of say you happen to stroll past. Always a good sign. An amazing place offering fresh kebabs, char-grilled meats, Turkish tapas, hummus, warm pita in generous and man friendly portions. With a shisha bar on offer its a perfect hang out for any time of day – or all day if you’re that way inclined. Casual, relaxing, any time of day place. ££
Coal Office – Kings Cross. This should be at the top of my list as my new favourite restaurant in place of the (sad to say) now closed Dock Kitchen. In similar style to Dock Kitchen, Tom Dixon’s stunning design collaborates with middle eastern dishes and exceptional cooking. Open kitchen, buzzing modern and cliched ‘electric’ atmosphere. Small, medium and large sharing plates won’t leave you hungry as so many ‘tapas’ style eateries do. I won’t divulge more, its a true surprise. Date night hot spot or small intimate social gathering. ££/£££
Westerns Laundry – Islington. A hidden gem. Sharing plates of seasonal, wholesome food and a lovely wine selection. An ever changing chalk board menu keeps it fresh and interesting. A very humble, stylish and casual setting. If you’re not sat up the the kitchen bar then the big yellow velvet chairs that line the room will have you setting in for a Sunday afternoon feast. Outdoor seating in the summer perfect for a group, celebrations, family or date night trip. ££/£££
Homeslice -Neil’s Yard, Covent Garden (and various) – Pizza isn’t usually singled out in my list as I’m pretty easily pleased when it comes to this treat. But 20″ pizzas (available by slice) with drool-worthy toppings needs a mention. Such a pizza feast. To be shared. A London must try. £

Brunch Specific

M1LK – Balham. Epic brunch. A fantastic, humble, rustic, edgy, trendy and bright sunny cafe in Balham. An ultimate original brunch menu. You may have to queue down the road to get in at the weekend but once in the big glass windows are ideal for people watching on a Saturday morning. My new found top brunch spot.
Ozone – Old Street. A hipster and Shoreditch lovers bare-brick-walled haven. Enter with caution is you are not with bearded inked friends. Indulgent brunch dishes, excellent coffees and a buzzing atmosphere. Central open air kitchen.
Dishoom – Various. The best bacon sandwich in town. Indian style…
Bistrotheque – Bethnal Green. High airy ceilings, white brick paintwork, and an array of elegantly laid tables nested round an open kitchen makes this converted warehouse cafe – come – restaurant a refreshing venue. Beautiful, simple and elegant, the simple but ever so pleasing menu has a perfect array of brunch treats and the best brunch cocktail list in London! And with a weekly pianist every brunch, its certainly the place to sit and while away the Sunday hours. Best cornbread I’ve ever eaten.
Brother Marcus – Balam. My new favourite brunch spot. Humble and unassuming from the outside but delicious brunch treats using amazing produce (suppliers listed helpfully on their menu). A cool and welcoming environment with great friendly staff and reasonable prices. Offering all your favourite millennial brunch classics (avo, eggs, sourdough etc) but cooked with a slight twist make these noticeably more delicious and worth returning to. If you’re nursing a hangover, I recommend the salt beef bagel and eggs. They also host a range of evening supper clubs from prestigious chefs.

Almond Blackcurrant Tarts with Salted Lime

September 29, 2014 Comments Off read Sweet Treats

I spent a gorgeously sunny few days at home in Wiltshire this weekend and had to make a batch of my favourite sweet treat. The recipe is from one of my previous blog posts but adapted slightly with some lime salt which I thought was a quirky experiment. I love salt with sweetness and the sharp lime and blackcurrant in this recipe make sure you’ll never forget the taste. Served with coconut ice cream it would happily top off my last meal…

Recipe

1 x Blackcurrant almond tart recipe
1-2 limes
2 tbsp icing sugar
Pinch salt
Mint to decorate

Make the basic tartlets as per the recipe link above adding the zest of 1 lime to the frangipane mixture.
For the icing, mix about 2 tbsp of icing sugar with a tiny amount of lime juice and mix until thick. Add more icing sugar if its too runny. Spoon into a plastic piping bag and snip off the end.
Once cool, ice a neat pattern or random design on top.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 75°C. Place the zest of 1- ½ a lime on a piece of parchment on a baking tray and dry in the low oven for about 20 minutes to intensify the flavours. Alternatively you can leave it to dry overnight. Mix the dried zest with a tiny pinch of salt.
Scatter sparingly on top of the tarts and top with a few dainty leaves of mint.

Blackcurrant and Almond Tart with Blackcurrant Sorbet

June 4, 2013 Comments Off read Sweet Treats

If I had to chose my last super then without a doubt this tart would be for dessert as it is literally my downfall. It’s taken from ‘Sarah Raven’s’ allotment inspired cookbook and its a serious crowd pleaser. If you can’t get hold of blackcurrants then other fruit like blackberries will work too.

This tart always makes an appearance during blackcurrant season and is one of those default and faithful desserts that I can be confident will always be loved if I’m stuck for inspiration. I love it served with a creamy coconut ice cream and with that as my last meal I would contently go. However, we have an obscene amount of blackcurrants on the allotment which, after tedious and hand-staining picking, provides us with multiple bags of these little currants. Seeing as I have now exhausted the Cassis and blackcurrant jam making process, I ventured into the world of fruit sorbets to go with the tart. Its super sweet and shiny like a well polished cricket ball and is wonderfully refreshing.

Sorbet

500g blackcurrants
250g caster sugar

Blackcurrant Almond Tart (makes one large or two small tarts)

200g ground almonds
200g caster sugar
200g unsalted butter
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
200g blackcurrants
Icing sugar

Start with the sorbet. Wash the blackcurrants well and tip them, while still wet, into a large pan.
Add the sugar and heat gently. Heat until the sugar melts and the mixture begins to turn dark purple and the berries just begin to burst. I added a few splashes of water to help the process along. Just as the berries begin to burst, remove from the heat and puree in a food processor or liquidiser
Pass through a fine sieve and discard the pulp. Cool in a jug in the fridge then churn in an ice cream maker until frozen and smooth. Alternatively, freeze in a shallow container, forking every 20 minutes or so to break up the ice crystals.
For the cake, preheat the oven to 180°C and line one 23cm round tart tin or 2 smaller tins.
In a food processor, cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time between handfuls of ground almonds and mix until all is incorporated. Add the vanilla.
Spoon into your lined tart case. Scatter the blackcurrants evenly over the top and bake for 30-40 minutes until cooked. It can take longer depending on the state of your ingredients and the depth of the tin but if it needs longer than 40 minutes, just make sure it doesn’t brown too much and cover with foil if needed.
Cool on a wire rack and allow to firm up a little. Dust with icing sugar and serve with the sorbet (or coconut ice cream alternatively) and a sprig of mint!

Raw Date & Cashew Energy Bars

August 31, 2022 Comments Off read Extras

et’s be honest, energy bars are a real hot topic these days and a bit of a buzz word. Millennial’s all leading such ‘busy’ lives, being on-the-go and needing said energy! There are some great brands out there, most trying hard to keep ingredients lists to a minimum but they can get pricey. So, if you’ve got a blender then chuck everything below inside and make your own! These are really tasty and you can play around a bit with the ingredients depending on your tastes.

My athlete of a husband is adventuring off to Scotland for a 4 day cycling voyage from Carlisle to Glasgow so made these to help fuel his assertive legs. Good luck!

Makes 8 large bars or about 24 small ‘bites’

400g pitted dates
200g cashew nuts
100g salted peanuts (Optional. I like the salt but you can use 300g cashew or 100g of another nut)
4 tbsp cocoa powder (dark)
1 tbsp nut butter of choice
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp vanilla

Blend everything in a food processor until the nuts are in tiny pieces
Add 1 tbsp of cold water and blend again. The mixture should start to stick together. Add another splash of cold water until it blends into a nice ‘dough’.
Line a 20 x 20cm baking tray with parchment.
Tip the mixture into the tray and press into the tin.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
When ready to slice, makes sure its really cold – i put mine in the freeze for an hour or so before cutting (don’t let it get rock hard though!). Slices into bars.

Raw Noodle Salad & Peanut Dressing

March 24, 2021 Comments Off read Vegetables and Salads

uch a delicious rainbow salad, you can just feel your body thanking you for the amazing vitamins. The dressing is amazing (courtesy of Bill Granger) and can be used over hot noodles, salad leaves or some simply grilled salmon. It’s got fantastic peanut depth and sweetness. I served mine with some sesame crusted seared tuna steaks.

I’ve mentioned this before but if you don’t have one of these julienne peelers then get on Amazon Prime and have one delivered tomorrow! They make such light work of this salad, and are great for raw vegetable noodle dishes. If you don’t have one, you can hand cut or use a grater but you won’t end up with the same texture.

Serves 4 (as a side)

1 carrot
1 courgette
1 red pepper, thinly slices
1/4 red cabbage, finely sliced
Handful coriander, chopped
Around 80g fresh grated coconut (you can use a few handfuls of toasted desiccated coconut f not)
A few handfuls of roasted peanuts (salted or unsalted to preference)

Dressing

1 1/2 tbsp runny honey
2 tbsp smooth peanut butter (I use Pip & Nut. Not added BS and runny for dressings)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp unflavoured oil
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Thinly chop or julienne the carrot and courgette into a large bowl. Add the finely sliced red pepper and red cabbage and the chopped coriander.
Add your coconut if using and stir to combine
In a jam jar, add the honey, peanut butter and lemon juice and shake with the lid on. Or whisk well in a bowl.
Add the oils, soy and vinegar and mix well to combine.
Only when you are ready to serve, dress your salad with the dressing and scatter over the peanuts. Serve immediately! If you let it sit around it will get soggy.