Competition closed. A trip to Foodies Festival, Hampton Court Palace.

The Little Kitch have a pair of tickets to give away to the Foodie Festival that takes place this May.  And if you don't get these tickets then we have a promo offer for those who are booking online.

Save the date:

Hampton Court Palace – Saturday 25, Sunday 26 and Monday 27 May 2013

Foodies Festival is delighted to return to Hampton Court Palace this May.  The UK’s largest celebration of food and drink will see visitors flock from the surrounding areas to feast on the vast array of culinary activities for the fifth consecutive year at Hampton Court Palace.  Foodies Festivals also take place at Brighton, Tatton Park in Cheshire, Clapham Common London, Bristol, Edinburgh, Battersea Park London and Oxford.

Top chefs, including Ed Baines of Randall & Aubin, TV’s Gennaro Contaldo of Two Greedy Italians, Martin Blunos of Iron Chef fame, Michelin-starred Steve Drake of Drakes, Gary Lee of The Ivy as well as Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi of Caldesi restaurants and cook school will cook their signature dishes live in the Chefs’ Theatre and explain how amateur cooks can prepare the same dishes at home.   The theatre will be compered by Shelina Permalloo, winner of Masterchef 2012.

Ed Baines commented:  “I’m really looking forward to Hampton Court Foodies this year. Not only will I be sharing my favourite recipes in the chefs’ theatre, I’m bringing my restaurant to the festival to give all Foodies ticket-holders a taste of what we do. If you love good food this is the place to be!”

Now in its eighth year, Foodies Festival has introduced new elements to all events in 2013.  These include a spectacular Bake and Cake Theatre in association with Electrolux incorporating a ‘bake-along’ with members of the audience invited to participate.  Doyenne of British sugarcraft, Lindy Smith, will demonstrate her unique, cutting-edge cake designs. 

2013 also sees the introduction of a dedicated Chocolate Theatre to showcase the world of chocolate and confectionary with daily demonstrations from David Greenwood-Haigh of Divine Chocolate.

Last year saw the successful introduction of Street Food Avenue to all Foodies events.  In 2013 the Hampton Court crowds can again enjoy the huge selection of ready-to-eat hot and cold food from around the world including hog roasts, exotic meats, tapas, churros, burritos, Moroccan tagines, South American prime beef, sausages, pizza, Jamaican and Thai street food.

This year’s Children’s Cookery Theatre will be operated by local cook school Kiddy Cook who will run a series of workshops incorporating gastronomic experiments.  Kiddy Cook director Nikki Geddes said:  “We’ll get the children making carbon dioxide rockets and bread bubble bombs to show them the chemical reaction that makes bread rise. They’ll learn the difference between taste and flavour and think about the effect sound has on their ability to eat.”

For more ticket information go to:

www.foodiesfestival.com or by calling 0844 995 1111.

Opening times: 10am until 8pm. 

Terms and Conditions: One entry per household. One pair of tickets will be given away to one winner.  The prize will be sent to the winner within 2 weeks of the closing date.  

And for those who want to take advantage of the early bird promotion just type in this code:

Ready to Wok & roll?

 

Kate & Hayley's visit to School of Wok (brilliant name), cookery school in Central London. 

The following post may include parts which may be unsuitable for people with a nervous disposition...or vegetarians.

Unsuspecting right in the heart of London is this place.  From the outside it looks like some sort of homeware store, very neat and clean, except for the group of adults all sat round a big square wooden table on wheels, making chinese lanterns. 

Hayley the Spice Kitchen...

We were lucky enough to be invited to go to one of the Chinese New Year workshops put on at the School of Wok.  We arrived just in time to see the lanterns being made - ready for the next part of the workshop - cooking.

On the menu today:
Crispy Gold Bucket Wontons
'Longlife' Lobster Noodles with ginger and spring onion
Braised Fortune Mushrooms with pak choi
Chilli and garlic 'Wealthy Clams'

The prep involved all standing round with cleavers and vegetables - simples.  Jeremy Pang, Head Chef and Founder gave us all some handy tips on using knives and small chef skills to improve everyday cooking.   Did you know, for example, it is less wasteful to peel ginger with a spoon?  It's surprisingly easy, and garlic literally pops out of its skin by dipping it in just a bit of water.  Easy peasy.

Arguably, the most exciting part of the day was when the lobsters were brought out.  I was surprised to be honest that we were to be allowed to effectively (and kindly) kill and cook, not one but two, lobsters.  I mean, they're high end stuff, I only ever have lobster at special occasions.
  

The quickest and least painful way to effectively prep the lobster.

Next came the cooking in the 'spice kitchen' on the snazzy hobs (much more modern than The Little Kitch's), and to round it off - the feast round the table with our fellow cooks.

Showing how it's done. Good luck everyone...

For those who really want to hone in on some Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese foods, then the School of Wok is the place for you.  They have a whole kitchen full of different classes and even dim sum making ones.  Can't make up your mind?  No worries, they have demonstration classes - for free.  It's an authentic and genuine place, where you get to really be hands on with what you are doing.  The facilities are great, and you do come out of their feeling like you've just accomplished a great menu, and of course, feeling full.  I think it's well worth the time and price.

Kate cooking up a storm

Chef's turn

Feast time!

Clams and wontons

Taster wines introduced by A Grape Night In

Review: Yauatcha, Soho

To celebrate Chinese New Year recently, we took a little trip to a place called Yauatcha in Soho.  It describes itself as a "contemporary dim sum teahouse", and that is exactly what we got.  Yauatcha opened in London in 2004 (it also has a branch in India) and received a Michelin star within its first year.  


Dim Sum in Hong Kong is usually a breakfast thing, and so naturally we arrived in stirring Soho on a Saturday evening. 

This is what we had (rule of thumb when ordering dim sum is 3 dishes per person which everyone can pick and share):


蠔皇叉燒包 that's Char sui bun for those who can't read Chinese

叉燒滑腸粉 Char sui cheung fun

黑椒火鴨金瓜酥 Roasted duck pumpkin puff with pine nut

避風塘軟殼蟹 Spicy soft shell crab
皮蛋瘦肉粥 Pork and preserved egg congee
琵琶豆腐 Pipa tofu with shrimp and baby asparagus

From top, clockwise: congee, char sui bun, cheung fun

Dessert:
Matcha Dobos (matcha tea, lemon, lemon confit, almond)
Jasmine honey (milk chocolate, caramelized honey, almond)

To drink:

Iced tea - Lime and passion passion fruit, lime, apple juice and jasmine tea

Cocktail - Cha la lai (Belvedere vodka, black grapes, oolong tea, apple juice and Champagne)

Congee and Cha La Lai cocktail with the fish tank bar in the background

I'm (Hayley) a bit of a snob when it comes to chinese food - coming from home cooked, real chinese food and spending weeks at my Grandad's house in the middle of nowhere in Hong Kong every 4 years of my life; the main thing for me is that chinese food outside Hong Kong or my family's house has to be authentic enough.  And I mean that in every sense of the dining experience, from decor to the way a menu is set out, to the size and quality of the food.  

Yauatcha already stands out as it isn't trying to recreate the traditional dim sum experience, it's adding a modern twist to every meal, and of course the Michelin star automatically raises your standards before even stepping inside.  

The menu offered many dishes.  The selection is wide and it also includes bigger dishes such as noodle and rice for those who assume dim sum won't fill you up (believe me - it is enough).  The food generally was great, the portions were good, presentation was excellent - the simplicity meets upmarket suited Yauatcha's self-description perfectly.  The dish that stood out for me was the pipa tofu - the tofu was a sort of mashed up version and the sauce is incredible and moorish.

pipa tofu. Yum yum. 

Pickled cucumber comes with the tap water
(which is refilled endlessly by the way) 

Duck and pumpkin puff. 

Gluttony overtook us and we ordered desserts.  It's very rich, and like chinese desserts, it's not the size that matters - it is DEFINITELY enough.  My lemony dessert was divine, sour, sweet, fluffy.  A cute little touch on the desserts is that there is a small chocolate plaque placed with the logo on it.

Signed dessert

Booking is definitely recommended for this place - a busy, lively atmosphere, this is a place where you would spot model type/industry people...everyday.  The downstairs dining offers the cocktail bar made out of a fish tank - which is quite distracting but provides a sort of calm and serene feel amongst the music and chatter.  We were given good service, although it is sometimes difficult to hear over the music.  A new glass of tap water is replaced regularly so that you never quite finish a glass before you're given a new one.  I must admit I was a bit sceptical as many of the staff were not asian, but the kitchen staff are.  Prices are reasonable - they do edge towards the higher end of the scale, and for a Michelin starred restaurant in Central London, I guess it's pretty good.  There was a slight delay in collecting our coats from the cloakroom - you are given a swish tag with a number on it to collect them at the end.  Good idea but trying not to lose the tag is a feat, and when you are waiting for the staff who can't find your coat along a narrow corridor in the direction of the bathrooms, that's when you start to feel the stress radiating from the hard-working staff. 

Overall, it was a fun experience.  There's nothing bad about the food or service, but for me personally, that was just it, there wasn't anything special about it.  The little quirks and touches to the traditional dim sum dishes were good - but they were almost like a novelty because I knew I would be dining in here as a 'one-off'.  I would recommend this place to others however, just to see what they think of it - I just have exceptional high standards when it comes to chinese food.

When I left, I said I never wanted to eat again - which is what you want to be feeling when you leave a restaurant, so that's no bad thing.  Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

What's in my Larder? - a new App for iPhone/iPad/iPod

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/whats-in-my-larder/id534539511?mt=8

 

 Your Larder - Cook's Chaos or Recipe Ready?

What's in my Larder?™ is a great new iPhone app for iPhone/iPad/iPod that will help you organize everything in your larder so that you never run short of ingredients!

No more guessing whether you've got everything you need for that stir-fried chicken. Make sure you've got enough olive oil for the salad. Keep up to date with what spices you've got and all the other basics so that you don't run out. Make a list of what's on the shelves and in the cupboards - and avoid waste by using them all before their use-by date. At the shops but not sure what you need? Just pull your larder out of your pocket and check!

What's in my Larder?™ puts your larder in your pocket. You can record everything you've stored or just left on the shelf, along with its use-by date. Now you can know where you put it, see what it looks like and assign it to a list. See at a glance what needs using up or keeping for later. You can even organise all your cooking equipment, pots and pans.

What's in my Larder?™ is super-easy to use.  You just enter an item.  And then, whenever you want, you can add a

• Photo
• Location
• Category
• List
• Note 

What's in my Larder?™ is with you wherever you are. Want to see the brand of those ingredients you need to buy next time you're in town? Select the photo and click on ‘Show full screen'. Get what you want. Simple.

The beauty of What's in my Larder?™ is that you can use the categories, locations and lists already in the App or you can create your own.  And once you've added things you can browse by any combination of location, category and list.  

It's what every good cook dreams about - knowing exactly what you've got, where it is and what it looks like.

What's in my Larder?™ can be downloaded from Apple  iTunes

Categories:  Lifestyle and Productivity

Price: £1.49

What's in my Larder?™ is a product from Intelligent Maintenance LLC.

Ultimate Side: Golden Glazed Bacon

So pancakes are all well and good, fluffy American pancakes are even better but to take it to the next level you need bacon. Serious bacon.

I'm talking salty, sweet and delicious!

So whip up some fluffy stacks and then fry up the good stuff - smoked streaky rashers. I don't object to a little butter to get them going...

Take the bacon out of the pan (fried not grilled- it is the weekend!) and drain on some kitchen paper. In your pan still over a low heat add a spoonful of golden syrup (maple syrup works equally well). When it's bubbly throw your bacon back in until its glazed- 3 mins max.

Then serve straight over a pancake stack.

Yum. Take that Sunday!

Croissant anyone?

I made bread the week before, so I thought I was invincible and decided to give making croissants a go.  I used James Martin's recipe but added almond and vanilla extract.  Here's the photo log of what happened and the overall verdict:

The pictures look fairly good...no one can tell that I used the wrong flour and so the croissants were not really light and fluffy as I had hoped...other than that it was quite exciting watching butter and dough merge into a croissant, albeit rather slowly.  This is not for those who are impatient due to the fact you have to repeat the process 4 or 5 times, but I would definitely give this recipe a try again - it was the simplest one I found, but I would probably use less butter.  Oh, and the right flour too...

Review: GOOD Hemp Protein

I'm currently training for the London Marathon (you can sponsor me if you like ;) bit.ly/Wby3D) and one of the things that often gets forgotten about when training for any sort of event is food. Everything in moderation and all that, but most of is don't realise that we don't really get the right variety of nutrients and energy in order to maximise our sporting power.

I thought I would give the Good Hemp Protein shakes a try.  Good Hemp Protein says that it "provides everything we need whether we aim to build muscle, supplement meals, burn fat or simply just to aid our training and exercise."  The thing that stands out about Good Hemp is that it's 100% natural, all plant-based and raw (cold pressed).  It also contains omegas 3 and 6 and amino acids, so all the good stuff really.  It's made from cold-milled seeds of the Cannabis Sativa plant, grown and farmed naturally and sustainably in the UK.  It's also suitable for vegans, gluten-free, kosher, so it's ideal for everyone's dietary needs.  

I tried out the Fit Shake, strawberry flavour and was quite surprised to find it was green.  Colour aside though, it does taste like strawberries.  The thing about Good Hemp is that it is all natural and sourced from the UK, and so I would be more inclined to go for this than any other protein shake.  To give this a fair review, I probably would have to test this out everyday for a substantial amount of time, but I would definitely recommend this to anyone who was a lot more serious into their sport and needed the extra supplements to support them.

Review: Blue Lagoon, Haymarket

I was pretty excited about this evening.  Dinner Companion (DC) and I had done a bit of research before deciding on Thai food at the Blue Lagoon.  The reviews on Taste Card (of which I have, being a lover of food and all) seemed pretty good and it was in Central London. Perfect.

On arrival, the outside looked decent, and was definitely more appealing than the Pizza Hut round the corner.  However, as soon as I stepped into the porch area all I could smell was toilet.  It was unsavoury to say the least.  I mean I have quite a good sense of smell (to make up for my short-sightedness I figure) so I’m not sure whether this was just me, but I refrained from venturing down to use the bathroom while I was there.  The décor needs some work too.

DC ordered the red curry with chicken and plain steamed rice (which came separately) and I ordered the noodles with beef; fishcakes to share, glass of house white wine each and tap water. 

What we received was watery red curry and old rice in small bowls, a reasonable sized bowl of noodles (but with no broccoli which was one of the reasons why I ordered the noodles), average fishcakes, okay wine and lukewarm water.

Admittedly, we have high standards, but as a paying customer everyone should expect high standards, right?  I was willing Blue Lagoon to do well as it had been my suggestion to come here, unfortunately things just didn’t improve.

My bowl of noodles (without broccoli) was extremely spicy, so hot I had to swap dishes with DC.  Of course, this was my own fault, but it didn’t really add up as the red curry was the same spice rating as the noodles and I ate the curry just fine.  I also found it a bit strange eating with a spoon and fork throughout our courses…but I guess that’s just a personal thing. 

DC asked for cold water again, the result was a bowl of ice and a spoon.  He explained the boiler had broken so there was no cold water (I’m no expert in plumbing but that doesn’t make sense to me…)  Even The Couple very close to us on the next table asked if they could use some of our ice cubes for their water. 

The service was terrible.  I don’t think I have ever received such bad service.  The waiter was very awkward taking our order and stood a table away from us (this was before The Couple had arrived).  DC was constantly ignored when trying to ask for a napkin throughout the meal. 

When we received the bill, our discount was added (from the Taste Card) however we were charged for mineral water and service charge added on.  We explained to the female waitress (who didn’t serve us throughout our hour or so there) that the bottle of sparkling water on our table was generously given to us by The Couple next to us (who had now left).  Okay simple mistake, we then asked for service charge to be taken off.  At this point, the waitress looked at us and said no, it was mandatory, it’s stated on the menu.  The waitress then continued to argue that ‘it’s not very nice’ of us and that they had already given us a discount.  The discount was part of the deal, we are willing to pay for the food that we had but for service, what service?  I’m sorry, but I usually pay service charge, even when service is mediocre but this time it was poor, we felt that it just didn’t deserve anything for this.  The fact that the waiters then disputed this only reinforced this point.  The other waiter, who then actually stood next to our table this time, with card machine in hand, then said he gave us mineral water; we made our point that if this was the case he should have told us and it should have come in a bottle. 

Anyway, after we were left at our table for a few minutes not knowing what was going on, the waitress returned, DC had to re-calculate the total for us and we paid.  Technically, we should have received 55p change but they disappeared into the kitchen without another word, and we just wanted to leave the place and never come back. 

All in all, I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.  It was not a good experience.  I mean, the food itself was average, if you have to go, then the noodles (if you can handle the spice) are more worth your money than the curry; I’ve had better and for good prices, the fact that it’s based in a very good location means that they will still continue to get the unknowing tourists coming in.  Which is a shame as Chinatown is not very far away where you get brilliant food and excellent service. 

Overall rating: 1 out of 5

Win! The Spring Caravan & Camping Show 2013

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED.

Spring is here you say?  Let's celebrate with a new event showcasing everything about the great outdoors...

The Little Kitch has 3 pairs of tickets to give away to The Spring Caravan & Camping Show 2013

 
FALL IN LOVE WITH THE GREAT OUTDOORS WITH COOK & AUTHOR
VALENTINE WARNER AT THE UK’S BIGGEST START OF SEASON SHOW

THE SPRING CARAVAN & CAMPING SHOW

19-24 FEBRUARY 2013 (NEC BIRMINGHAM)

Cook, author & broadcaster Valentine Warner is sharing his passion for the great outdoors at Birmingham’s NEC this February (19th- 24th) when the UK’s biggest and brightest new start of season caravan, motorhome and camping Show pitches up for a six day stay.

The British Isles boasts breathtaking countryside, stunning coastal stretches and mouthwatering British produce and The Spring Caravan & Camping Show is a brand new event that helps visitors rediscover the joys of holidaying in the UK. Whether it’s a homemade pasty and a cream tea in Cornwall or a specialty sausage in Cumbria, the UK has a vast choice of exceptional dishes to enjoy and a caravan, motorhome or camping holiday is the perfect way to explore and sample local fayre.

Foraging, fishing, hunting and gathering has never been so much in vogue. Valentine will be joining the Show on Wednesday 20th February to inspire visitors with cookery demonstrations that prove even with minimal equipment and an open air setting, fresh local produce can inspire the most delicious of dishes.

Growing up on a farm in rural Dorset: Valentine learnt early on the important connection between the natural world and the table. His best selling book “What to Eat Now” led to a successful TV series of the same name and a follow up title ‘The Good Table’. Valentine will join in the action in The Show’s free interactive “Campsite Cooking” and “Rod and Reel” features to explore the rich pickings on offer to those that ‘live off the fat of the land’.

The Show celebrates everything that is ‘great’ about the great outdoors, with celebrity led interactive features, loads of fresh ideas for new days-out attractions and holiday destinations plus all the brand new season tents, campervans, caravans, motorhomes, holiday homes and must-have holiday accessories to buy and browse.

Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or a newcomer to the pastime looking for great value getaway inspiration, the Show is a perfect half-term-holiday escape with loads of free ‘have a go’ features to entertain visitors of all ages plus a different celebrity making a special guest appearance each day of the Show.

On offer is a ‘Drop Zone’, ‘Rock Face Challenge’ climbing wall, ‘Campsite Cooking’, kayaking and water zorbing on an indoor pool, a ‘Rod and Reel’ angling competition and the chance to get ‘One to One with Wildlife’, in association with Dudley Zoological Gardens.

Advance tickets for the new Spring Caravan & Camping Show at Birmingham’s NEC are on sale now! Book early and benefit from the advance* ticket price of just £7.00 for seniors (60 + years) and £8.00 for adults. Children under 16 years are permitted free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult, parking is included and visitors receive a free show guide on arrival. To book tickets, please visit the Show website www.springcaravanandcampingshow.co.uk - it’s a great value family day-out!

For your chance to win 1 pair of tickets to the show, just complete the following.
Entries close: Sunday 10th February 2013. 12pm (noon)

Review: Sartori Restaurant, Central London

What I had: a ‘Casereccio Panuozzi’ (Mozzarella, Italian greens & Italian sausage)

What Dinner Companion (DC) had: ‘Bistecca al gorgonzola con spinaci saltati’ (Rib eye steak with melted blue cheese & sautéed potatoes)

Unsuspecting in the busy area of Leicester Square/Covent Garden – this is a gem of a place I (luckily) stumbled across whilst browsing through various websites to find somewhere to eat that evening, desperately ignoring all the ‘expresses’ and 'huts’.

I ordered what was basically a thin slice of pizza dough with the filling (with splatterings of cheese and not overloaded with it) with another thin, crisp layer of dough on top served on a wooden board.  Before ordering my dish I had already pre-decided that I would not go for a pizza (due to the fact I have had way too many pizzas in the January month) but when you arrive at the restaurant, it’s difficult to resist the wood fire oven.  It was crisp, not over-cooked, not oily and was a delight to eat to be honest.  I am usually a self conscious eater when it comes to pizzas, but this one came in an oblong shape cut into squares and I was so happy to tuck into it, all my qualms were forgotten – even with the fact another diner duo were sat literally a whisker away.  I overheard (okay, so I may have eavesdropped a bit) one of them saying that her Italian friend had recommended Sartori to her, so that is always a good sign. 

DC basically ordered steak and chips, but the steak was a big slab cooked perfectly to the way DC likes it (rare-medium), the potatoes were also cooked just right. 

The menu selection is vast (that’s the only thing – it requires some studying, but lots of options such as pasta, fish, salads, various pizza types and a wide range of vegetarian options…), but the wine menu also has a great collection for you to peruse. 

The place itself is just off the busy road which I like, it’s close enough to everything but not obvious enough for tourists to fill the place – though I would recommend booking.  All the staff are Italian and helpful – especially to top up your glasses.    

Overall, this authentic Southern Italian restaurant is definitely one to keep in mind.  The prices are not too over-priced and I would come here again just to try all the other dishes I wish I could have had. 

Rating: 4 out 5.

http://www.sartori-restaurant.com/  

One of the 2 foot long pizzas you can order...to share (if you wish).

Image courtesy of Sartori.