30 March 2016

Review: Roka revisited - this time for brunch!

Ok so this is just an over-indulgence - read my proper review of Roka here.

I loved it so much I came back for the bottomless Prosecco brunch (you can choose from red or white wine too). Definitely worth your money and time. Amazing, good quality food.

I think this may just be one of my top places to eat in London.
The nutty leafy salad was interesting...ok so it was just some leaves but the nutty dressing was divine, so that in itself is worth a mention. The tomatoes were also very refreshing and light.

I wasn't overly fond of the cold, soft potato dish however. The texture was a bit 'off' for me. 
The full starter including sushi and sashimi. 
We shared the skewers of pork, chicken and beef. The chicken wings were delicious.
Also went for the Teriyaki Salmon, just because I'm not overly fond of teriyaki - this however did convert me, not too sweet and just the amount of flavour to not overpower the fish. FYI - the sea bream they do is AMAZING, you HAVE to have it if you ever go. 
We were really excited about the dessert platter...however we realised it was mainly just fruit on closer inspection. The dusted chocolate Buddha was interesting. I'd recommend you eat the sorbet first before it melts into the ice (which is what happened to us). 

Brockmans Gin Risotto

I was sent this recipe involving two of my favourite things - Brockmans Gin and risotto! I just had to share it with you guys...

Inspired by the trends of gin, London chef, Duncan Impey at private members club, One Alfred Place, was inspired to make this roast butternut squash and Brockmans Gin with Taleggio. Enjoy!


Serves 2. Heat the oven to 180o

Ingredients
1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into thin wedges
sprigs of rosemary
few sprigs of thyme
1 banana shallot - fine diced
200 gms Carnaroli risotto rice
1 clove garlic, crushed.
1 small bay-leaf
50 ml Brockmans Gin
60 gms butter
splash of olive oil
500 ml vegetable stock - kept hot
90 gms Taleggio cheese (or Camembert) making sure it is a vegetarian version if serving to strict vegetarians
Chopped fresh herbs - flat leaf parsley, chopped chervil and chopped tarragon (a pinch of each)
80 gms freshly grated Parmesan cheese (vegetarian as above if needed)
salt and pepper

Method
Mix the butternut squash with some of the thyme and all the rosemary leaves, sprinkle with olive oil, and roast in the oven for 8 minutes. When tender but still firm, remove from the oven and set aside.
Place half the butter (30gms) in a pan with a splash of olive oil. Dice and chill the rest of the butter for later.
Add the diced shallots and cook for 5-6 minutes.
Add the rice to the pan and gently toast it with the shallot for 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Pour in the Brockmans Gin, standing well back as it will flambé. Cook until the liquid reduced by half. Add the bay-leaf.
Gradually add the hot stock a ladleful at a time, stirring the rice mixture with a wooden spatula and adding further stock, a ladleful at a time, until the rice is done.
Once cooked, gently add the butternut squash and the cold diced butter and mix taking care not to break up the squash.
Add most of the parmesan and all the Taleggio cheese and stir. Remove the bay-leaf.
Garnish with the chopped fresh herbs. Season with salt and pepper.
Drizzle with olive oil and finish with a sprinkling of the remaining Parmesan.
Pour a Brockmans Gin and enjoy...
Chef's tips
Always use a wooden or a plastic spatula for risotto - metal implements break up the rice.
Ensure the stock is hot as you add it.
If you want to prepare ahead, the risotto can be cooked for 9 minutes (up to part-way through stage 6); placed in a cold fridge; and then reheated and finished for a further 5 minutes or until done.
The butternut squash can be cooked earlier in the day and refrigerated until needed.
Don't add the salt until the end - it prevents the rice cooking properly.

25 March 2016

Review: My Old Dutch, Holborn

Pancakes will forever be popular, but I never imagined it would be this popular. Queues for this place on 'Monday Madness' is really quite mad, but as trends go, this is one pretty trendy place.

My Old Dutch do a selection of savoury and sweet pancakes, but don't underestimate the pancake - I would call it more of a pizza style type pancake.

Lots of toppings to choose from, different pancake styles, and lots of Dutch beer.

What is there not to like?

Just don't do what I did and think you can order a savoury AND a sweet - hardcore pancake lovers only. Massive portions!

Well worth it though. I mean, it is just a pancake, but the novelty certainly doesn't wear off, and they do have lots of choice on the menu.

I went for the classic pancake - with ham and cheese. Quite heavy and huge. 
A nice fresh take on the pancake.
The sweet berries compote Poffertje. SO MUCH. 
 My Old Dutch Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

15 March 2016

Review: Jamie Oliver's Barbecoa, St Pauls

Doggy bag with the Sticky Toffee Pudding photobombing
I've been wanting to come to Barbecoa since I laid my eyes on the butchers bit downstairs years ago when I first moved to the East-ish end of London. It's not often you see big carcasses of meat being hung in Central London.


But upstairs is the main restaurant area, dark and noisy, the friendly staff take your coats for the cloakroom, and as you walk up the stairs you realise why there is dim lighting, the brightness and beauty of St Paul's through the big windows shines through into the restaurant. It was so white against the dark sky and dark, wooden decor. Almost every seat in the house gets you a view of the cathedral so don't worry about that front. I was handily seated right in front of the bar.

There were three of us, and we were pretty famished so we dove straight in with mains. I went for the spare ribs done three-ways, what arrived was meat bigger than my head. It was amazing. My Diner Friend Number 1 (DFN1) went for the beef rib, and the rib itself was the biggest thing I'd ever come across, DFN2 went for the pulled pork which was wolfed down.

I think the menu has changed since the online version and so my memory is a bit hazy on which three-ways my ribs came, but each one was distinctly different but complimentary to each others flavours. It was a meaty bit of heaven on a plate. The meat just fell off the bone easily, and with all that meat it didn't feel too heavy. You know it's good meat.


I couldn't finish it so I had a doggy bag to take home - I can confirm it still tasted just as delicious the next day.

We shared chips and broccoli (of course). I'm not usually a fan of buttery broccoli but it really added to the greens.

Of course, we then went for dessert, I didn't need it, but you can't not help yourself when you get choices like a Snickersphere, White Chocolate Cheesecake and Sticky Toffee Pudding.

I went for the cheesecake, just because I love cheesecake. Not usually a fan of macarons but I thoroughly enjoyed eating it. So fresh and light, and not overly sweet.

The White Chocolate Cheesecake and said Macaron
Snickersphere!
One thing was that I didn't quite enjoy my wine. My favourite wine is the Argentinian Malbec but this one was not as good as I had hoped, but that certainly does not put me off.

I would like to come here again to try the steaks but it is more on the pricey side. It was a £55 split between the three of us, which all things considered, is not bad actually but I'm not sure I could afford to do this every week. The views of St Paul's though is priceless.

Jamie Oliver does it again - another win.

RATING: 4 out of 5
Barbecoa Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato