THEGAYUK

Category: Food And Drink

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Thai Square, London

    ★★★★★| Thai Square, London

    Thai Square restaurant is an oasis in the heart of central London. Away from the hustle and bustle and crowds and pollution, stepping into Thai Square is akin to stepping into a whole different world, a world that is calm and tranquil and where one can find excellent food.

    Once inside, you are courteously welcomed and immediately shown to your table, and that is when the magic and adventure begin. And it begins with the very large and generous menu and it’s very difficult to decide what to order. So many pages and pages of choice, from the starters page to the salads and soups, from the house special menu to the stir fried and curry and grilled dishes. And then there are the seafood and noodle dishes and the accompaniments and, of course, a vegetarian menu and the set menu- whew! It all sounds and looks so very good.

    We wanted to experience traditional Thai food during our visit, so we started out with typical Thai drinks. I had the Mai Tai – and it was very very refreshing for what was a very warm day in London. It was a proper Thai cocktail – reddish orange and fruity, with the rum not overwhelming at all, with crushed ice and served with a strawberry, mint and berries. It hit the spot. My dining companion had the Pina Colada. It was coconut milky white and also served with a strawberry, mint and berry. It was missing a slice of the typical pineapple but nonetheless, it was good. Both drinks were served in a long tall glass and were £9.95 each, worth every penny. So Thai Square was 2 for 2.

    The starters upped the game quite a bit. The seven-piece Salt and Pepper Squid (Thai style calamari) were superb. It was uniquely twisted squid battered and crunchy and cooked to perfection. While it was served with no sauce, a slice of lemon gave it the kick it needed to go into high gear, served on a bed of lettuce with bits of chilli (£7.95). The Prawn Dim Sums (£7.75), four of them, didn’t taste fishy and was a fabulous texture, and the sweet soya sauce nicely complemented the dish. Two excellent starters. 4 for 4.

    As mentioned, it was very hard to decide on a main course but the Bangkok Lamb sounded traditionally Thai, so that was what I ordered. Four generous lamb cutlets together with a unique papaya salad and sticky rice. The lamb was perfectly cooked, and the colour and texture were very good – nice and meaty and all beautifully served on two green leaves. It was a generous portion, great tasting and an excellent value at £16.95. My dining companion had the Beef Stir Fried with Cashew Nuts. It was surprisingly spicy (though categorised as one chilli on the menu), with a mix of beef and peppers, spring onions and carrots, and it was everything you could want, and more, and was at the right price of £12.50. At this point, Thai Square was 6 for 6.

    We definitely had a bit of room for dessert and Thai Square didn’t disappoint at all! The Coco Sundae is a popular Thai dessert with coconut ice cream with papaya, pineapple jam, Thai palm seeds, cashew nuts and sticky rice pudding – and it was divine. But even more heavenly was the Mango Crepe with Ice Cream. Mango sauce poured criss-cross style over a large crepe stuffed with mango and served with vanilla ice cream. What a dish – we both fought over it! Highly recommended! Both desserts are serious bargains at only £6.95 each. I felt that it was almost impossible for Thai Square to top itself, but it did with these desserts. 8 out of 8.

    The service at Thai Square is superb. The wait staff are very attentive without being obtrusive. You’ll want for nothing. They seem to appear at your table when your mind is thinking about something you need. It’s uncanny. The Trafalgar Square branch that we visited was decorated in Thai-inspired surroundings, with white tablecloths – it’s luxurious without being very expensive. The layout of the tables are perfect, not too close to each other so that you can hear the table next to you talking about their visit to the National Gallery or Brexit, and it’s comforting to see the chef walking around to make sure everyone is happy with their food. I’ve yet to visit their other London locations (Covent Garden, Fulham, Islington, Mansion House, Minories, Putney Bridge, Richmond, South Kensington and The Strand), but I’m sure they are of a high standard as well. I can’t recommend Thai Square enough. With all the food and drinks we had the total bill was only under £100. Excellent value for an excellent experience.

    Thai Square offers a selection of more than 1,000 dishes in their award winning restaurants, and I can’t wait to go back. Exceptional food at exceptional prices. Thai Square rates 10 out of 10 – sheer perfection.

    For locations in and around London, please go to their website:

    https://thaisq.com

    Opening times vary from location to location, so it’s best to check the website for the location you want to visit for all the details.

    Star Rating: ★★★★★

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Lockhouse London

    ★★★★ | Lockhouse London

    Lockhouse London review

    I’ve been to Lockhouse Restaurant twice in the past two months and it’s a restaurant I will definitely go back to again. I’ll tell you why.

    Located in the Paddington Basin, just a stone’s throw away from Paddington Station, Lockhouse is a place with great food and great service with great prices in a very cool and rustic industrial setting. With floor to ceiling windows overlooking out onto the basin, Lockhouse is the perfect place in that area to while away the hours while eating good and filling food.

    On one visit in April with three other friends (it was Easter weekend), we sat a large table right in the middle of the room and had an amazingly great brunch. It was their excellent value £5 sandwich menu they drew us, particularly me, in. I had the huge Rotisserie chicken club (with bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato and herbed mayo) and it is the best value in town – big and delicious. My friend Bob had the never seen in a British restaurant Ruebens Club (pastrami, cheese, gherkin, sauerkraut and relish) and he relished it! Alistair had the nice looking American Pancake Stack (with bacon) – a great deal at £7 while Russell had the smallish Eggs Benedict (at £8.50 it’s a bit pricey for what you get).

    A second visit was at lunchtime on a Saturday and the restaurant was again very cozy and inviting, and not too busy. We were met by the charming host/manager Marcin. A second visit was another chance to sample their American style massive menu, and boy it is massive. I thought I would try something very different – so I had the Acapulco Salad (black beans, brown rice, guacamole, salsa, lime and fresh coriander and sour cream). It comes, cleverly, in a jam jar and the idea is to dump all the contents into the large bowl which included lettuce and chilli sauce and tortilla chips. It’s a nice dish, but it’s basically a meatless naked burrito – and at £7.50 I could’ve had the Thai Duck Salad which looks to be a better value and tastier dish. My friend went for the Lockhouse Burger. It’s £7.50 and the meat is delicious, and smashed in between the buns is cheese, lettuce, onion, pickles, and Lockhouse relish – it was overflowing! It doesn’t come with fries so for an extra £3.00 the sweet potato fries are recommended – they are delicious, nicely battered and crunchy. The potato wedges were also very good and well done – recommended as well. Other main course selections include 1/4 and 1/2 Rotisserie Chicken (£7 and £13 respectively), served with fries and cole slaw; Buttermilk Chicken Breast Burger; Veggie Club, Ocean (seafood) Club, and Grilled Cheese (all at only £5 each), and a large selection of other salads and sides.

    If you’re in the mood for something refreshing to drink, I highly recommend one of their smoothies or drinks. We had the lovely papaya & lemonade and the coconut & banana. Also on the cards for you should be dessert. Again, we didn’t go wrong again. Our choices were the Seasonal Eton Mess (meringue crushed with vanilla cream with seasonal fruits) and the Lockabockaglory (it’s a mouthful – not just the name but the ingredients – meringue and brownie pieces with cream, ice cream, fruit and topped with chopped nuts and chocolate sauce – pictured) – desserts were only £5 each, by far the best bargain of the day. My dining companion mentioned that an afternoon tea and dessert would make for a perfect weekend, or weekday, treat.

    There’s nothing at Lockhouse restaurant that you can go wrong with. With an amazing cocktail list that includes everything from a Bloody Mary to a Pistachio gin fizz to a yummy sounding Express Yourself coffee drink, it’s all so very tempting. They also serve red, white, sparkly and rosé wine choices, and of course canned and bottled and tap beer, and also including the aforementioned amazing and amazingly priced food. Lockhouse has a lock on great food, drinks and a good time in a very cool setting. What more could you ask for?

    Email: info@lockhouselondon.co.uk

    http://lockhouselondon.co.uk
    Address: 3 Merchant Square, Paddington, W2 1AZ
    Tube: Paddington, Edgware Road
    Phone: +44 (0) 207 706 4253

    Price Rating: ££ (explained)

    Star Rating: ★★★★

    Opening Hours:

    Monday – Friday: 8:30 – 23:30
    Saturday: 10:00 – 17:00
    Sunday: Closed

    Bottomless Brunch Sat & Sun 10:00 – 15:00

    Pop Up Gin & Cocktail Bar:

    June 10th – August 19th 12:00 – 21:00

    Happy Hour: 17:00 – 20:00 – Bottle Wine for only £15, Cocktails only £5 each

    Photos by Carlos Castillo

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Nirvana Kitchen, London

    ★★★★★ | Nirvana Kitchen, London

    Nirvana restaurant review, London
    PR Supplied

    The definition of Nirvana is to be in a transcendental state – and that’s pretty much what happens to you in a visit to a restaurant called Nirvana Kitchen.

    Located just minutes away from Marble Arch and nestled in a very quiet residential street, and attached to the very posh Montcalm Hotel, Nirvana Kitchen, is, as it’s website suggests, a Pan-Asian Odyssey. It’s also very delicious and will introduce you to flavours and tastes that you’ve never had before.

    Let’s start with their small dishes (starters) menu. The Vegetarian Tempura is a steal at £9. There are eleven crunchy and crispy vegetables which included asparagus, mushrooms and broccoli plus two sauces – mango and miso. The vegetables were perfectly cooked, soft and excellently battered and extremely fresh – a perfect dish. But even better was the Duck Watermelon Salad. And why is it another steal at £14? Because it was absolutely superb, stunning and out of this world! Shredded Duck with mandarins, cooked watermelon, cashews, coriander, pomegranates, and basil enriched with a very tasty and mouth-watering mandarin and mint (ponzu) sauce – simply divine! The portion was big enough to be eaten as a main course if you accompanied it with rice. When you go to Nirvana Kitchen, this dish is simply a must! Other small dishes I’m dying to try next time include the Wild Mushroom Salad and Crispy Salted Squid (both at £11), and an intriguingly-sounding Rainbow Noodles (£10), among others.

    You’re also in for a treat with their selection of main (Charcoal and Pots) courses. We had one from each and were glad we did. The Beef Bulgogi sounded interesting so that is what I ordered. Served on a leaf, this beautifully looking dish tasted just as good as it looked. There were many individual beef slices with a dollop of purple potatoes chokha and achari carrots – very tasty. Bulgogi is Korean style grilled meat and was nestled in it’s own sauce and was delicious. Priced at £24, it’s taste and flavour earned that price. My dining companion really enjoyed his Lamb Massaman Curry. It included cashew nuts, turnips, and was actually not very spicy. It comes in a huge charcoal bowl that keeps the soup oven hot until the very last sip! The lamb was very tender, and it’s beautiful colour added to its exoticness. And at £18 – it’s a great bargain. Other mains include Spiced Lamb Cutlets (£24), Chilean Seabass (£25), and Nirvana Baby Chicken (£17).

    Nirvana Kitchen serves the usual beer and wines and cocktails, but I can highly recommend the Summer Rum Punch. It’s light and dark rums, pineapple, amaretto, Cointreau, and lemonade is a very refreshing drink on either a hot or cold day. The Maraschino Mojito and the Smoky Mexican are other possibilities. All cocktails are £14 each. The manager Daniel recommended the Italian Pinot Grigio red RIFF to accompany our main courses, and the wine didn’t take away from the delicious flavours of the food. All is all it was an absolute delight.

    The restaurant is now in the space that used to be the61 Restaurant Steakhouse. It is a very clean, shiny and very opulent restaurant that can seat 110 people when it’s at it’s busiest. David recommends booking at least two weeks in advance if you want to eat here on the weekend – yes, it’s that popular! And he recommends the concept of sharing dishes, which is exactly what we did. You would be a fool not to because of the out of this world flavours of each dish you really want to taste and try as much as possible. And with very attentive service and friendly staff, you will have a delightful meal (don’t forget to have dessert!). Nirvana Kitchen is a little slice of Nirvana right in the heart of Central London.

    http://www.nirvanakitchenlondon.co.uk

    Email: reservation@nirvanakitchenlondon.co.uk
    Address: 61 Upper Berkeley Street, London W1H 7PP, United Kingdom
    Tube: Marble Arch
    Phone: +44 (0) 20 7958 3222

    Price Rating: ££££

    Opening Hours – Nirvana Kitchen:
    Mon-Sat
    Lunch 12:00 – 14:45
    Dinner 18:00 – 22:45 (last order)

    Opening Hours – Nirvana Bar
    Mon-Thur 12:00 – 23:00
    Fri- Sat 12:00 – 2:00 am
    Sun 12:00 – 23:00

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Carluccio’s, Solihull

    Carluccio’s has debuted its first ‘new generation’ restaurant in the heart of Solihull, bringing its original and unrivalled modern Italian dining, deli and shop to the Mell Square development.

    Review of Carluccio's in Solihull
    © Mark Blackburn

    Last night, I took my friend to Carluccio’s, and together we had a wonderful evening. The environment was cosy, the staff were very friendly and caring, especially Nicole who served us. Nicole was very smiley, and was very genuine when catering for our needs – throwing in some cheeky recommendations for us to try. We were particularly glad of the Homebaked Focaccia suggestion with traditional Extra Virgin Olive Oil (£2.95) and the accompaniment of Rustica Marinated Olives (£2.95).

    We ordered a nice dry bottle of white Babylon Bianco (£21.95), which agreed with every dish we ordered. For starters, my guest ordered Crispy Calamari (£6.50) and the generosity of the dish was very appealing, enough for me to steal some bites. This dish I highly recommend, and will be ordering myself next time. I ordered Crab Macaroni (£6.95) for my first course, but I have to say I was a little disappointed. Though I appreciated the presentation of it, it was sort of ‘crab-less’. Having grown up in Portugal, I was spoiled for seafood. I wasn’t expecting a whole crab, of course, but I definitely wanted some fresh crab meat to go with the pasta. It was more like dry shavings tossed on top of the dish. It tasted fine, but for £6.95 I wanted some ocean essences. This is a new dish, so perhaps Carluccio’s should look at how the crab dimension is served in the next culinary draft.

    Mains wise, I chose Festoni with Smoked Salmon & Vodka (£12.50). This dish was the highlight for me. It had plenty of smoked salmon, which I love, and the Festoni pasta really worked for this dish, absorbing the wonderful cream & vodka sauce. Nicole grated some cheese for me which complemented it very well. My friend was not too impressed with his main. For just under £15, the Chicken Saltimbocca (£14.95) promises a palate adventure with 14-day aged prosciutto Gran Sasso with sage and a white wine sauce; served with roasted potatoes tossed in pesto and rocket. In part, the flavours from the potatoes and bird delivered, but the chicken was left with a tiny, speedo-sized prosciutto piece in the middle, leaving the rest of the chicken escalope bare. It was like the chicken was wearing a prosciutto loincloth. In fairness, when this was mentioned, the manageress offered to add more pieces or to choose some sides. That was a very professional and friendly way to deal with our disappointment.

    The desserts were Mandarin and Lemon sorbet, which were very refreshing and packed with fragrance and flavour, and I had the Cioccolato Fondente (£6.95), which Nicole raved enthusiastically about. For that price, you are expecting an amazing dessert, but it was just like any other you get from a tin. It wasn’t special enough in my eyes.

    The evening was finalised by a shot of Limoncello and Nicole doggy-bagged my wine, which was perfect! Overall, great atmosphere and flavours, but some concepts need rethinking and rebranding.

    ADDRESS: 159-161 High St, Solihull B91 3SS

    WEBSITE: www.carluccios.com/restaurants/solihull

    Price Rating: £££ (explained)

    Star Rating: ★★★ (explained)

     

     

     

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Stuzzico, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | Stuzzico, London

    ★★★★ | Stuzzico, London


    Do you want to eat food and drink wine that is authentic to the Puglia region of Southern Italy? Then Stuzzico is the place for you.

    Tucked away in a section of London called Connaught Village, steps away from Marble Arch and the Middle Eastern restaurants of Edgeware Road, Stuzzico, as small as it is, is a stand out.

    Luca, one of the proprietors, will great you with a warm Italian smile and will recommend dishes and especially wine that superbly complement each other.
    It’s smallish menu will allow you to try various specialities of the Puglia region, but it all depends on what you fancy; fish, meat and/or pasta. My dining companion and I had a taste of it all!

    We started out with a glass of prosecco and red wine, pretty standard stuff, but the best was yet to come.

    The Octopus starter was well cooked, meaty and cleverly drenched in artichoke sauce – at £13.50 worth every bite. The Malloreddus pasta sausage ragout was uniquely served with shell pasta and was a nice size portion as a starter yet it could’ve used more meat (£14.50). The main courses, however, were stunning. The CONIGLIO, LARDO DI COLONNATA, FAGIOLINI – rabbit – was very tender, a generous portion, and not tough as rabbit usually is. Served with a load of green beans, it was very flavoursome (a bargain at £18.50). The Yellowfin tuna steak (TAGLIATA DI TONNO PINNA GIALLA), was superb. Served as six large slices, it didn’t really taste fishy at all and came with a dollop of the never eaten before black olive sauce and beautifully shredded leak, baby heritage carrots topped with sundried tomato powder, and served warm! The tuna was meaty, fresh, and superb! I highly recommend it. But it was the wine that Luca recommended to go with our main courses that was par excellence!

    I had the Re Manfredi (Basilicata) and it was smooth, sweet and tasted a bit like lemon water. White gold in colour, I enquired where I can buy a whole bottle – it was that good. Luca informed us that this wine, and some others on the menu, can’t be bought at any store in London as he gets it direct from Italy. He has personally sourced wine from Southern Italy – it was very very good!

    Stuzzico’s deserts offer something for everyone. I recommend the blood orange cheesecake – Cheesecake Arancia Rossa E Cantucci – it’s divine. The Cantucci E Vin Santo – almond biscuits – served with raspberries on top with heavy cream, was heavenly.

    There’s a lot more to Stuzzico’s menu – starters include fava beans purée soup, grilled king prawns, tuna tartare, first courses include lobster, and main courses such as monkfish, brill, Tomahawk beef steak, veal and beef fillet with additional sides such as spinach, potatoes, salad, broccoli, and courgettes. And no matter what you order, it’s going to be cooked delicately, with care, and will be very very delicious. This 26 seat restaurant needs to be visited to be tasted, for you need to eat for yourself to see and feel the comforts of Stuzzico’s regional Italian cooking and to meet Luca who’s probably the nicest guy this side of town. Him and co-owner Franco de Todaro are passionate about serving the very best food and wine, and they succeed! Stuzzico is an Italian word which means to tease and to tantalise – and that is exactly what they do!

    Tel: 020 7262 9122

    https://www.stuzzico.co.uk

    Email: stuzzico@stuzzico.co.uk
    Address: Connaught Village,  24 Kendal Street, London W2 2AW
    Tube: Marble Arch, Edgware Rd, Paddington, Lancaster Gate

    Price rating: ££££

    Opening Hours:
    ​Mon to Friday:
    8am – 4pm & 6:30-10:30pm
    Saturday:
    8am – 4pm & 6:30-10:30pm
    ​Sunday:
    9am – 4pm
    ​Closed on Bank Holidays

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW: VQ Restaurant – Bloomsbury

    RESTAURANT REVIEW: VQ Restaurant – Bloomsbury


    ★★★★ | VQ Restaurant – Bloomsbury

    There are greasy spoon diners and then there are nice upscale diners. VQ restaurant is the later and it’s the perfect place for a meal anytime of the day.

    I’ve been to the Bloomsbury location many times for dinner, but hadn’t been there yet for breakfast. So on one very sunny Sunday morning, me and a friend hopped over to Great Russell Street to experience the breakfast on offer there.

    And VQ doesn’t just offer breakfast only in the mornings, it’s breakfast menu is of the 24 hour variety – so anytime you feel like eating breakfast VQ will satisfy your craving. But in the Sunday morning we went, the restaurant was very busy with a mix of tourists (The St. Giles Hotel is right upstairs), locals, singles and families, all enjoying their breakfast.

    We were lucky enough to get a seat in front – their floor to ceiling windows are perfect to watch people walking by – whether tourists looking for the British Museum or healthy and fit gym bunnies going next door to the YMCA.

    I desperately needed a cup of coffee, and Jessica the manager delivered it pronto. The brand was Musetti (which I’ve never seen served anywhere before), and it is a perfect blend with a nice flavor, so I ended up having two of them, black. But of course the visit was also all about the food. I had one of the most delicious omelette I’ve ever had. The Spanish Omelette had everything I wanted in an omelette (chorizo, potatoes, tomatoes and onions) and it was perfect. I asked for it to be cooked a bit well done, and that’s what I got! (That almost never happens when I order eggs – they always arrive runny!) And at £8.50, the omelette is good value because it’s quite big and very filling. My breakfast companion very much enjoyed her scrambled eggs, smoked salmon with granary toast – it was very healthy, was a generous portion, and was very inviting – and she said it was very very good! And at £9.50 – good value for the huge portion of salmon on the plate. We also decided to share the buttermilk pancakes. There were three, scotch pancake size (We were disappointed that they were not American style – very large and fluffy), but served with fruit and a large portion of bacon, they were good and adequate. It was the very lovely Monin syrup (syrup that you normally get with coffee) that, when added to the pancakes, gave the pancakes an extra flavor and a kick, and with a price tag of £7.50 it was an adequate price. Other breakfast items that might take your fancy include Bubble ’N’ Squeak (£7.95), Veggie breakfast which comes in two sizes (£6.95 and £10.95), Baps, as well as Eggs in various dishes – Benedict, Florentine, and Royale – plus don’t forget their English Breakfast (two sizes depending on how hungry you are – £7.50 or £11.50) – and you can also have them make your own omelette with ingredients of your choosing! So something for everyone. And you must must try their lovely Fruit Salad, served with yogurt & honey – it’s a massive serving at only £6.50.

    If coffee or tea isn’t your thing, then perhaps try one of their breakfast cocktails. Bloody Mary £6.95, Mimosa £5.95, Punch Bellini £6.95 or a yummy Breakfast Margarita (with orange marmalade) will be the perfect starter to any meal! Of course, juices, soft drinks (and beer and wine if you fancy) are on the drinks menu as well.

    But what sets VQ apart from the other is that 1.) it’s open 24 hours, 2.) it’s in a perfect location as it’s only one minute away from Tottenham Court Road Station and 3.) the ambience is just about perfect whether you prefer to be exposed and sit in a table up front or in the middle of the restaurant or perhaps sit in one of the many private and semi-dark booths for some clandestine rendevous, and last but not least 4.) the food is absolutely delicious and the service is excellent. With three locations to chose from (including Notting Hill and the newly reopened Chelsea location), and look for an Aldgate branch coming soon.

    My breakfast companion added: VQ, with its floor to ceiling windows and well spaced layout creates a light, airy ambience, whilst providing straightforward but well executed options on a varied menu. The competitive prices, well sized portions and importantly, delicious food, would certainly encourage me to revisit, and the unique selling point of the place being open 24 hours a day is a further bonus. Definitely my favourite breakfast so far in 2017.

    Reviewed by Tim Baros

    Telephone: 020 7636 5888
    Website: vqrestaurants.com
    Email: bloomsbury@vqrestaurants.com

    Hours:
    7am every weekday morning (8am Saturday & Sunday) until 3am on Thursday-Saturday, 1am on Monday-Wednesday and midnight on Sunday
    Bloomsbury – 111A Great Russell Street London WC1B 3NQ – 020 7636 5888 – 24 hours
    Chelsea – 325 Fulham Road London SW10 9QL – 020 7376 7224 – 24 hours

    Photos by Samphire Communications

  • RECIPE | Spiced Whole Roasted Cauliflower

    Serves 2
    Prep 10 mins
    Cook 40-60 mins (dependant on the size of your cauliflower)

    The marinade for the roasted cauliflower is buzzing with Indian twangs; turmeric, cumin, curry powder, and lime fuse together to create some serious zing, which is then mellowed down by the natural yoghurt. This is a lovely, unusual side-dish to serve as part of an Indian themed meal. It also looks rather pretty. I like to serve the leftover marinade alongside the dish.

    The marinade will keep in the fridge in an air-tight container for a few days which I then use as a dip for vegetable sticks, or you could also marinade some chicken breast pieces and skewer, placing under the grill until cooked through, for an Eastern style kebab. I like serving this side with my Lamb & Lentils, and a plain salad of vine tomatoes and cucumber.

    CAULIFLOWER: This vegetable remained rather underrated for some time, but with 100g of cauliflower equating to 80% of your vitamin C intake, some are crowning cauliflower as the new kale. (SOURCE: http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/cauliflower.html ) Its popularity is probably at its peak when it is smothered in a cheese sauce alongside a Sunday roast. Cauliflower is also a good source of B-complex vitamins which are required for essential bodily functions, such as energy production. Cauliflower contains sulforaphane, a compound which has had results in killing cancer stem cells. (SOURCE; http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/02/22/cauliflower-health-benefits.aspx)

    TURMERIC: There has been much press coverage around turmeric and it’s benefits of late. Turmeric can rapidly increase the antioxidant capacity in your body. Turmeric contains curcumin which has been linked to prevention and possible treatment of cancer.

    In fact, research shows that the turmeric and cauliflower combination may help and treat prostate cancer. (SOURCE; http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/02/22/cauliflower-health-benefits.aspx )

    LOW-FAT NATURAL YOGHURT: Yoghurt contains all nine essential amino acids, and is a good source of protein. Probiotics in yoghurt have a good influence on our immune system by promoting the activity of white blood cells. In the September 2012 edition of the, “European Journal of Cancer Prevention”, it was published that the volunteers who participated that consumed yoghurt regularly had up to a one-third less risk of developing upper digestive tract cancers. (SOURCE: http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-natural-yogurt-6915.html )

    Ingredients.
    1 cauliflower, outer leaves and root removed, washed
    400ml low-fat natural yoghurt
    1 tbsp olive oil
    1 lime, zested & juiced
    1 tbsp turmeric
    1 tbsp mild curry powder
    1 tsp cumin
    1 tsp pepper
    ½ tsp salt

    Method.
    Preheat your oven to 200c / 180c (fan) / Gas Mark 6

    1. Line a baking tray with a piece of foil, and rub the olive oil all over.
    2. Combine the yoghurt, all the spices, and lime zest/juice together.
    3. Brush or smear the cauliflower in the marinade and sit in the baking tray.
    4. Roast in the oven for 40-60 minutes depending on the size of your cauliflower. It should have turned golden and have a crispy outer crust. If time is an issue and your cauliflower isn’t quite as cooked as you’d like it, then place in the microwave for a couple of minutes to soften.

  • RECIPE | Pistachio & Pomegranate Chocolate Cake

    A flourless, intensely rich chocolate cake laced with pistachio and pomegranate jewels, perfect for showing someone a bit of home-baked lovin’ this Valentine’s.

    Ingredients.
    Prep – 20 mins
    Cook & Decorate – 1hr – 1hr 20mins

    225g butter
    365g plain chocolate
    250g caster sugar
    55g blitzed pistachio kernels (or bash in a bag if you don’t have a food processor)
    6 medium eggs
    30g cocoa powder
    1 tbsp milk (I used Koko)
    1 tbsp honey
    1 tsp vanilla extract

    Method.
    Decoration; pomegranate seeds (dry with kitchen towel before decorating) & more blitzed pistachio kernels. I also used pink candy pearls I found in the supermarket. You could also use desiccated coconut.

    Pre-heat your oven to 200c / 180c (fan) / Gas Mark 6

    1. Using a 9 inch circular spring-form tin, place on greaseproof paper and draw an outline of the cake tin. Cut the circle out.

    2. Spray the tin with a bit of cooking oil, place the greaseproof paper circle inside the tin and spray once more with cooking oil.

    3. In a small saucepan, melt on the lowest heat, only 250g worth of the chocolate with all of the butter.

    4. Once completely melted and combined, transfer to a large mixing bowl and beat in the sugar.

    5. Adding your eggs once at a time, continue to beat and combine.

    6. Tip in the cocoa powder and blitzed pistachios and stir a few times to combine.

    7. Pour the cake mix into the prepared spring-form tin and into the oven for 45-60 minutes (depends on your oven, mine took 1hr).

    8. Check your cake is cooked through via skewer test, ensuring it comes out clean and the top is firm to the touch.

    9. Remove and set cake aside in it’s tin to cool for 10 minutes.

    10. Place a plate on top of the cake tin and invert, flipping it upside down. Release the spring-form tin, and remove the greaseproof paper that’s now on the top side of the cake. Leave to cool further.

    11. Meanwhile you can begin the glossy glaze to top the cake with. Melt remaining 115g of chocolate with 3 tablespoons of butter. Stirring until smooth.

    12. Take off the heat and stir in the honey, vanilla extract and milk. Now set this aside to cool slightly.

    13. You want your cake to be completely cool before topping with your glaze. Pour it onto the centre of the cake and use a spatula to spread over the top and sides of the cake.

    14. Top with some more pistachio kernels (some blitzed, some whole if you like), and pomegranate seeds. Be as extravagant or as minimalistic as you feel with the decoration.

    15. Cover and leave in the fridge for the half an hour or until you’re ready, to allow the glaze to set and harden.

  • RECIPE | Italian Chicken Liver Pate

    Pate is renowned for being ridiculously fatty, but I try and keep that to an absolute minimum by using only 1 tbsp of butter. In fact, I used a dairy-free alternative the other day when making this and it was perfectly fine. Although the cholesterol content of chicken livers is high it does provide us with a good intake of vitamin A, B-12 and folic acid.

    CREDIT: Jordan Lohan

    The Italian spin on this French classic comes from anchovy, capers, sage and parmesan- and it really is tasty! Don’t be put off by the anchovies- I’m not a lover of them on there own but in dishes like this it really takes the flavour up a notch!

    Ingredients.
    250g chicken livers, defrosted if frozen
    1 tbsp unsalted butter
    1 shallot, finely sliced
    1 clove garlic
    2 anchovy fillets
    ½ tbsp capers, chopped finely
    3 sage leaves
    80ml white wine
    small grating of lemon zest
    30g parmesan, grated

    Method.
    1. Prepare your livers by getting rid of any fat, or greenish parts.

    1. Melt the butter and a glug of olive oil in a large frying pan, and begin to cook the shallot, garlic, sage, capers, and anchovy fillets until they are golden.

    2. Add in the chicken livers and continue to fry until well browned.

    3. Add in half of the white wine, whilst stirring the pan until the wine has been almost absorbed.

    4. Add in the final half of wine and repeat stirring.

    5. Take the pan off the heat and transfer to a small food processor. I like mine completely smooth, so blitz until my desired consistency is reached.

    6. Finally add in a small grating of lemon zest, along with the parmesan. Give a final pulse and stir with a spoon to ensure zest and parmesan are incorporated within the pate.

    7. You can now serve warm spread on crositini, or alternatively spoon into ramekins and cover in the fridge until you’re ready.

  • RECIPE | Homemade Honeycomb

    My first taste of home-made honeycomb came from my step-mum and it was so good and even better when she told me how simple it was to make yourself from scratch. The only bit of equipment you need is a sugar thermometer, I got mine off eBay for about three quid! Equipment and ingredients cost nothing with this golden bubbly crunchy dessert.

    CREDIT: Jordan Lohan

    Dip some in melted dark chocolate for variety, and pair with a freshly prepared fruit salad.

    Ingredients.
    250g caster sugar
    170g maple syrup
    1 tablespoon baking soda
    freshly ground sea salt (optional)

    Method.
    1. Grease and line a small shallow baking tray and line with greaseproof paper.
    2. In a large non-stick saucepan, mix together the sugar, maple syrup and 60ml of water.
    3. Over a medium heat stir, until the sugar has dissolved and then leave the pan be so it can reach a boil (this is when you want your sugar thermometer to check once it has reached nearly 300 degrees), this could take up to 7 minutes.
    4. Take the pan off the heat, and quickly add in the baking soda whisking enough to combine the two then pour the mix immediately into the prepared baking tin.
    5. No need to smooth over the top, you will destroy the air bubbles!
    6. If using sea salt, sprinkle so now on top.
    7. Leave the baking tin somewhere cool to set. When ready break into pieces and serve. Keep leftovers in an air-tight container.

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Riverfront Bar & Kitchen, London

    ★★★★ | Riverfront Bar & Kitchen, London

    Where’s the perfect place to eat breakfast and watch London wake up? It’s the Riverfront Bar and Kitchen tucked away under Waterloo Bridge at the National Film Theatre on the Southbank.

    Whether all you want is a freshly-brewed cup of coffee or a full on breakfast bachannalia, the Riverfront Bar and Kitchen is the place to go. With floor to ceiling windows that face the booksellers under Waterloo Bridge, and with gorgeous views facing north to Covent Garden and the City, you can enjoy hours of people watching while at the same time soaking up the very trendy and casual atmosphere.

    Opening up at the early hour of 9:00 a.m. every day, and 10:00 a.m. on bank holidays, The Riverfront Bar and Kitchen is the perfect place to start your day. I’ve been there for breakfast a couple times – the first time was a bit of a fiasco as everything that could go wrong did – so me and a friend decided to give it another try, and we were very glad we did.

    Greeted by the lovely Jackie – we didn’t waste any time ordering as we knew exactly what we wanted. My breakfast companion ordered a breakfast cocktail – the English Breakfast Martini – tea infused with Sipsmith Gin, Cointreau, lemon juice and tangy orange marmalade – and he really enjoyed it. And at £8.00 he said it was worth the money! As I do not tipple before 5pm, I had a glass of the refreshing tomato juice. But it was actually the food that counted the most.

    I ordered the American (and not because I am American but because it had exactly everything I wanted in a breakfast – pancakes, eggs, bacon, potatoes, sausage and the all important syrup) – and it was enormous! It was, as expected, delicious, but a bit uneven. All the slabs of bacon, but one, were cooked well done as I had requested, and the pancakes were different colors (one was a perfect brown while the other was on the light side – huh? exactly!) Sure I know these are minor quibbles but I like it when my pancakes are cooked evenly. A bargain at only £9.50 considering how much food was on the plate! My friend had Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes – a steal at £6.50 – and they were also enormous. Three very large, all the same color, with grilled banana on top, mixed berries and cream along the edges – and lots of maple syrup. He wasted no time in downing it – I really don’t think he chewed – he said it was that good! I am defninetly getting this next time. They were true American style pancakes – soft and brown and absolutely yummy. We also ordered – to share – the Chorizo Mash (£7.50). Smashed & fried potatoes, eggs, spinach & parmesan cheese, with of course chorizo, it arrived in a grill, very hot, and my friend ate most of it! I did enjoy the small portion I had – the chorizo was perfect and it’s just something different to eat then your everyday breakfast. But there’s more the Riverfront’s breakfast brunch menu, they also offer the Full English (£9.50), Vegetarian (£8.50), Eggs Benedict (£7.50), Scrambled Eggs and toast (£7.50) and Smashed Avocado with egg and tomato on toast (£6.50) are some of the other options which is a very good selection. They will also serve the typical Bloody Mary and Bucks Fizz drinks (£7.50 each) and even offer a kids breakfast (at a bargain £4.00).

    If you can’t make it for breakfast/brunch, the lunch and dinner menu is full on whatever you want you’ll get. There are also daily specials which the friendly staff will tell you about. And in warmer weather, the restaurant has loads of outside tables for you to dine (or drink) the day (and night) away people watching (as well as barge and boat watching). The venue can’t be better situated – it’s just minutes away from Waterloo, and a nice stroll over the Thames on both the Waterloo and Charing Cross Bridges. And of course the restaurant is in the National Film Theatre – and there’s always something going on – either a film festival, older films or new releases, you can combine a meal with a movie along with a stroll on the South Bank to make a day of it. It’s, for me, the best place to be in London, and once you visit – you’ll feel the same way too.

    Tel: 020 7928 0808

    www.benugo.com/restaurants/riverfront-bar-kitchen

    Email: riverfront@benugo.com
    Address: BFI Southbank,
    London, SE18XT

    OPENING HOURS
    Mon-Wed: 9am–11pm
    Thur-Sat: 9am-1am Sun: 9am–10:30pm
    Bank Holidays: 10am–10:30pm