Posted in London, tagged Gastropub, Lauren Olivia and Co., London, Modest Meals, notting hill, the prince bonaparte, w2, westbourne grove on October 4, 2012| Leave a Comment »
The last of four posts for the Modest Meals: London series on Lauren Olivia and Co.’s Passport blog has now been posted! It’s on my “local”, a gastropub near Notting Hill called The Prince Bonaparte. I love it so much maybe someday I’ll write something more in-depth on this blog…but for now, this write-up will surely give you a taste.
Special thanks to the Lauren Olivia and Co. team for inviting me to write and helping me shape these posts! It’s been a great time.
Posted in London, tagged Indian, Lauren Olivia and Co., London, tayyabs on October 3, 2012| Leave a Comment »
The third of my four posts for Modest Meals: London is now live on Lauren Olivia and Co.’s Passport blog! For those who enjoy ethnic food, you can’t miss Tayyabs!
Posted in London, Markets, tagged borough market, budget, cheap, Lauren Olivia and Co., London, Modest Meals on September 26, 2012| 2 Comments »
Hey y’all, the food collabo continues with the second installment of four Modest Meals: London features on the Lauren Olivia and Co. Passport blog. This one features one of my favorite destinations in London, Borough Market! Happy eating!
Posted in London, Markets, tagged Lauren Olivia and Co., London, Modest Meals, Passport blog, shoreditch, Sunday upmarket on September 20, 2012| 1 Comment »
Hey guys, exciting news! My friend Lauren is co-owner of the new business Lauren Olivia and Co., a company that designs and sells women’s business, travel and lifestyle accessories, inspired by cultures from around the world. Though their website has not yet launched, their recently hatched Passport blog is a must-stop for those with a burning desire to get to know the world. From tutorials on Korean pop music to top food spots in Washington DC suggested by the locals, it’s definitely worth a gander.
Lauren was kind enough to ask me to guest blog, so naturally I wrote about…food! Check out the new Modest Meals: London series for my favorite cheap eats in The Big Smoke. Today’s post is the first of four, and the first of two to focus on London’s markets. Check in over the next few weeks for the next installments. Enjoy!
Posted in Hampstead, London, tagged budget, cheap, Freemasons Arms, Gastropub, Hampstead, Heath, London, Prix Fixe, Set menu on April 23, 2012| Leave a Comment »
After a very long hiatus (sorry friends), I’ve finally got some free time (in between being a full-time student) to tell you how it’s going in London! (Or, as they say here, how “I’m getting on”.) Being on a student budget is not super-conducive to dining in London, but there are some great deals to be had if only you know where to look.
Last month P and I did a “staycation” around London and explored the various neighborhoods we hadn’t frequented yet. Surprisingly we found an aforementioned deal at The Freemasons Arms in tony Hampstead . This airy gastropub with plenty of sidewalk seating and a gorgeous green garden was just the ticket for an unseasonably warm March day in London. It was still a bit breezy so we opted to sit indoors in the bright restaurant.
We opted for the prix fixe menu of two courses for £12.95. P and I cheated to cobble together a three-course meal with him getting a starter and main and me, a main and dessert.
We started with an assortment of bread served with roasted garlic and a rustic tomato sauce. The roasted garlic was perfectly done, browned on top, mushy after spreading and golden delicious. It was perfect with the homemade brown bread. The tomato sauce didn’t add too much to the dish, IMHO. I preferred just the butter on the bread, garlic, and a sprinkling of salt.
For mains, P got Linguine with Tiger Prawns and Chorizo. I got the spit chicken calzone with roasted vegetables. In all honesty, the Linguine wasn’t worth writing home about (or writing a post about) – I’d give it a pass. My calzone, however, was quite good and really, really huge. The crust was browned and crimped beautifully, and roasted tomato sauce smothered a whole lot of chicken. To be honest, I think it could have done with less chicken and more veg as the meat overwhelmed you after a few bites.
P had to help me finish my massive calzone, but afterwards we couldn’t resist dessert. Our apple crumble was rustically presented with a mint leaf and a healthy dusting of powdered sugar, homemade goodness in a ramekin. The cream it was paired with was the perfect, smooth counterpoint to the crunch of the crumble.
After the meal we definitely needed a ramble to help digest. Thankfully the pub is only steps away from Hampstead Heath – as if they’d known we would stuff ourselves silly.
The Freemasons Arms
32 Downshire Hill
Hampstead Heath, NW3 1NT
020 7433 6811
2-course set menu: £12.95 (weekdays before 7pm)
Posted in Oxford, UK, tagged deli, Food, olives, oxford, restaurant, sandwich on June 14, 2011| Leave a Comment »
My last mention of my UK eating adventures is a brief description of Olive’s, a small deli and eatery in Oxford. I was visiting the town for the afternoon to catch up with A, who used to be an eating legend herself while we were all in Hong Kong (Make sure to check out her fun food blog, Endless Potluck, for a joyous collection of recipes, reviews, and ruminations, all written with equal measures wit and lit(erary flair) – way more than what I just came up with right there!). I left my food needs in her very capable hands.
As we walked through town towards her college, she steered me towards this little shopfront, tempting me with promises of hearty sandwiches with all-natural ingredients.
Its location on the high street across from Oxford’s Exam Schools means it’s a popular student destination; indeed, A said we were lucky that afternoon because usually there’s a line stretching down the sidewalk. There’s actually not an eating area in the deli, but plenty of green space in town means an abundance of picnic areas.
In addition to selling deli goods (include many types of olives – surprise! – and cheeses), I have also read they stock ice cream in the summer and champagne during exam time! Their big draws are the gourmet baguette sandwiches written on a chalkboard menu just behind the deli counter. You can pick any of the sandwiches on offer (or any of their tasty, though slightly spendier, specials) and get it stuffed with complimentary additions of rocket, cornichons, tomatoes, roasted vegetables, and a handful of other things. I chose one with parma ham (!) and paired it with rocket, roasted veg, and black pepper. It was massive, and massively delicious as well.
For a wholesome and flavorful meal, this place is a no-brainer.
Olives
42 High Street
Oxford
018 6524 5700
Cost: £ 3-5 per sandwich (the pricier ones are the daily specials; others are more in the £3-4 range)
Posted in London, St. Paul's, UK, tagged afternoon tea, bakery, bea's of bloomsbury, budget, cupcakes, Food, London, scones, st. paul's on June 10, 2011| Leave a Comment »
After I showed my students photos of Bea’s of Bloomsbury’s succulent offerings of sweets, there was a long line of interested eating partners. Fortunately, I was able to secure a booking for six at the new Bea’s of Bloomsbury branch conveniently located a minute’s walk from St. Paul’s station (and the Cathedral of the same name). We were lucky enough to book the Blue Monday Special where you can buy one afternoon tea at regular price and get another set half off, just to help you perk up those malevolent Mondays. Unfortunately, it’s no longer offered, but at £15 a person, this is one of the more affordable afternoon teas in London, with a great location to boot!
When we got there, they already had our three tiers of treats ready, plus an wide plate of sandwiches – and these weren’t your ordinary, prim three-slices-of-cucumbers-on-white; they were baguettes stuffed with premium ingredients including feta cheese, sundried-tomatoes, rocket, and salami.
There was also an embarrassment of cupcakes – six different selections, from Nutella to fruity varieties to pistachio – arranged beautifully atop the white tiered trays. The fruity cakes had the most wonderful light, fluffy whipped frosting.
My favorite was the double chocolate, which was a fudgy, dense chocoholic dream. It seemed gussied up for a ball, too, with its sparkly pink glitter, the fanciest cupcake I’ve ever seen.
Of course there were scones with fresh jam and clotted cream, and also meringues and raspberry marshmallows. All of this was washed down with a wide variety of Jing teas served in traditional silver teapots. You can see my lemon verbena, which was not as citrusy as I expected, in the photo below.
The whole afternoon was lovely and relaxed. Bea’s says they’re a casual patisserie both in dress and service; indeed, sometimes we had to track down our waitress ourselves as we were seated upstairs and the main bakery and checkout was downstairs. Still, it didn’t feel tedious at all; it was rather like having tea at a friend’s house, lounging away the afternoon in a bright sunroom.
Bea’s of Bloomsbury – St. Paul’s
One New Change
83 Watling St.
Cost: £15/person
Posted in London, UK, West End, tagged bangers, budget, cheap, Food, gravy, London, mash, mashed potatoes, mother mash, restaurant, soho on June 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Last time when I traveled to London, I missed out on trying traditional British bangers and mash. This was nothing short of tragic, as mashed potatoes (well, potatoes in general) is one of my favorite dishes. Ever. (I know, it’s a bit weird, eh?) What better place to sample my lovely potatoes than a place that describes mash as “a great big hug”? Sounds like we’re on the same wavelength. In any case, this time I was determined to make a stop at Mother Mash, a cute, sliver-of-a-bangers-and-mash joint in trendy Soho. For less than a tenner, you can get a terrific plate of comfort food, made all the more easy with their step-by-step menu.
As you can see there are a plethora of options – I never knew the humble mashed potato could be so sophisticated! There are so many choices for the bangers as well, which, despite the funny name, are aptly named: Before departing on this trip, I learned from M, whom I affectionately refer to as “a real Englishman”, that bangers got their nickname from World War II. During the time, food rationing was in effect, and the quality of sausages severely declined. Specifically, they were short on meat content but high on water content. This made them explode once they got amply hot – hence, they would explode with a “bang”, earning them the title “bangers”.
Anyways, history lesson aside, most of our group got bangers and mash, with a couple of students ordering the pie and mash. I personally recommend my dish, the Champ Mash (Irish mash with milk, butter, cheddar cheese, and green onions) and two sausages, one of which was the Pork and Chili, and the other of which was the Cumberland.
Out of the two sausages, the Cumberland was my favorite as it had more of a meaty, substantial taste. The Pork and Chili wasn’t as thick as I expected, nor as spicy, unfortunately. The mash stole the show for me! You can actually specify if you want your potatoes “mashed”, meaning as a full-on creamy puree, or “bashed”, with a little bit of texture left. I opted for the latter, which made it chunky and hearty. The addition of the spring onions kept the mash from getting too heavy, and the Farmer’s Gravy with smoked bacon and mushrooms was savory and divine!
Out of my two students who ordered the pies, both liked the filling (minced beef and chicken, leek, and ham respectively), but curiously, the flaky crust of the chicken was not on the minced beef, as my student with that pie struggled to saw through her pastry. It looked quite tough, though both said the fillings were delicious (once they got through to them).
Some of my students got the Cheesy Mustard Mash as well, which I first thought was strange. But, I sampled a mouthful and realized it wasn’t so weird after all, though if you’re not a mustard fan, having half a plateful may be a bit overkill.
Service was great, as the waitress helping us was so patient! It can be tough for the uninitiated to choose from all the mouth-watering options, but she answered all of our questions, and never looked exasperated as we asked her for “just five more minutes” three times.
All in all, I would highly recommend Mother Mash for a good plate of yummy comfort food. With so many options to mix-and-match, this is one place that definitely warrants repeat visits.
Mother Mash
26 Ganton St.
020 7494 9644
Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus
Cost: ~ £10/person (approx. $125 HKD)
Posted in London, UK, Whitechapel, tagged budget, cheap, chicken tikka masala, Food, Indian, London, new tayyabs, pakistani, restaurant, saag aloo, tayyabs, whitechapel on June 7, 2011| 1 Comment »
This is the first of my eating entries from London, where I spent 1o days in May as the tour guide/co-teacher/all-around problem-solver on a study tour with another colleague and 12 of my students. During the day, we visited all the requisite sites such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and The British Museum. But at night, we had a few hours of free time, which I promptly planned within an inch of their lives with – what else – food. Fortunately for me, my students were as receptive to good eats as I’d hoped, and I always had some adventurous eating buddies for all of my desired destinations, including Tayyabs, a Pakistani favorite in Whitechapel.
The place is known for their Punjabi Pakistani cuisine, an area in eastern Pakistan that borders with northern India. Admittedly, my knowledge of the food culture there is limited, though I have heard the food is especially tailored to replace calories lost by the agriculturally-working local people. Good thing we did plenty of walking on our trip!
We made a booking for 6:30 but actually showed up around 6:15. The place was relatively empty at the time, and we were promptly seated; we took to scouring the menu. They asked if we would like poppadums, which I thought was a strange question (the answer is obviously “Yes!”), until I looked at the menu and realized they charge 60p per poppadum. Not outrageous, but a bit of a “hidden charge.” Anyways, they were delicious, as were the yogurt sauce, red chili, and green chili that came with.
We ordered the lamb gosht, which had ample gamey flavor. It was also the least spicy of all the dishes. Normally, I don’t pay too much attention to the least spicy dish, but as we had one in our party who didn’t eat too much heat, this was perfect. Therefore, if you’ve got a semi-spice-averse friend, there’s at least one dish for them!
Of course, we also had to order a chicken tikka masala, England’s national dish! It was a classic. The curry itself had an after-kick and lovely sautéed/slightly burnt onions on top, adding a smoky flavor to all that heat! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
The saag aloo was a bit skimpy on the potatoes, but the curry on this dish was perfect for soaking up the deliciously buttery and soft tandoori roti; they looked like beautiful pillows of bread when they brought them out piping hot. I also ordered a mango lassi which was smooth and creamy, the perfect antidote for a mouthful of spicy food!
Service was perfunctory, with waiters asking once or twice how the food was, but we got the idea that once we finished, we should vacate the table. Though pushy wait staff anxious to turn tables is a small pet peeve of mine, I suppose they were justified, as a line had grown shortly after we sat down around 6:30. Here’s what it looked like around 7:15:
I’ve read about people lining up even for booked tables, so I think the key is, book for an earlier seating to minimize wait time. Don’t worry, though, with food this good – and did I mention the reasonable prices?! – it’s totally worth it.
(New) Tayyabs
83-89 Fieldgate St.
Nearest Tube: Whitechapel
020 7247 9543
Cost: ~ £12/person (or approximately $150 HKD)
Note: Tayyabs is BYO
Posted in London, UK, tagged London, Nando's, peri peri chicken on July 13, 2010| Leave a Comment »
I wish this next place is in Hong Kong, but alas, it was one of my London stops from my trip earlier in May. C/G and I were on the hunt for a cheap-yet-tasty eatery in London which – as anyone who’s been there knows – is about as easy as pilfering the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London. Fortunately for me, C/G lived in London for a while before we worked together, and recommended Nando’s for our budget dinner.
Nando's
It was a little crowded when we walked in around 7:30 but we were able to get a seat right away. Ordering here is half table service, half self service. After we were seated with the menu, we had to place our orders at the counter. The peri peri chicken, or chicken soaked in a Portugese marinade (with roots in Mozambique; the Nando’s chain itself started in South Africa) was the main attraction. Peri peri is the name in Swahili (pili pili) of a small chili, one of the main ingredients in a marinade with lemon, vinegar, etc.
Chicken choices galore
C/G ordered a half chicken with two sides and I, less ambitious, got a quarter chicken with two sides. When the plates came, portions were huge! My quarter chicken was sizeable, but as it tasted so juicy and tangy, it wasn’t a chore to polish it off. I expected the peri-peri to be a bit more spicy, but I actually had to liberally douse my meat with some of the additional bottles of sauce lying around. When you order you can choose your peri-peri spiciness, from mild, hot, extra hot, or lemon and herb; I guess I overestimated the “hot”. Next time I’ll get the extra hot…and put more sauce on! Anyways, the mashed potatoes I had for one of my sides was smooth and buttery. Definitely something I would hoard by the bowl.
Quarter chicken with my two (yes, two) potato sides
C/G's half chicken with savory Spanish rice
We left the place stuffed and happy. Always a good combination. I wish they had these places in HK; they’re as close as Singapore and KL but no dice here in the SAR. Guess that means I’ll be searching for cheap fares to Singapore, Inc…
Nando’s
10 Frith Street
(44) 02 7494 0932
Cost: ~ 6.50 – 10 GBP for chicken with two sides
Far from domestic 