Travel Diary: República Portuguesa- Portugal Part II

Day 3: Sintra

Take the train from Rossio Station for approx. €5

Pena National Palace

The famous, Disney-like, Pena Palace

Sintra- Home of the famously colourful Pena Palace, it is housed on the top of one of the famous National Parks. You can get a bus ticket that takes you all the way to the top of the mountain for approx 5 euros, and catch the view going up at the same time. The trek to the beautiful palace from the drop-off point is no cake, either, but the view, the air, and the architecture is incredibly worth the trip. 

The view from the top of the Palace

If you're afraid of heights, as I am, you might find some parts of the mountain a little daunting. One the day we went, the wind was incredibly strong and at some points I felt like I was going to be blown right off the palace walls. But the view! The clear skies! The picture backdrops! The municipality goes as far as the eye can see, and you can even catch glimpses of the ocean! 

Day 4: Azeitao and Lisbon

Azeitao is a well-kept secret outside Lisbon which houses most of the country's wineries. 

Main reception building of Portugal's oldest winery

Not a Tourist Trap: Jose Maria de Fonseca, Portugal's oldest winery. We took a taxi from central Lisbon, for approximately €40 (one way). The wine tour itself was booked in advance, and cost a mere €3- inclusive of a tour of the premises and a tasting; all led by a very detailed and well-informed guide. My favourite tip of the day was learning that there was a special cellar dedicated to all the wines the winery has ever produced (since the 1800s!) and whenever a foreign dignitary or VIP came to visit the premises, the door is unlocked to give the visitor a taste of a wine from their year of birth. 

We were treated to a selection of house wines in the warmly decorated gift shop

Portugal is internationally famous for its intricately designed tiles, and so we ended the day visiting the National Azulejo Museum back in Lisbon. 

Traditionally designed tiles-- similar ones can be seen all over the city

More modern/MC-Escher-type tile designs

My outfit colours happened to match with these tiles at the museum!

Day 5: Belem

Tram from Lisbon main square approx €2.75

On our last day, we visited a suburb not far from Lisbon to sample the world-famous Portuguese egg tarts and visit the national monuments in the area. We also rode the tram, and along with a tram full of tourists, learnt that sometimes in Lisbon, things get stuck in the tram tracks and there's nothing you can do about it except wait for a group of locals and tourists to work together to get it unstuck. 

View of the sea from the Tower 

We found ourselves at the Torre de Belém, a UNESCO World Heritage site because of the significance it played in the maritime adventures Portugal went on from the 15th to 18th century. While the queue to get in is long, the view and the historical significance of the site is worth it. Its also worth mentioning that there are a lot of narrow steps and, once again, high locations, so if you're afraid of heights and narrow spaces, you might want to be mentally prepared for this one!

Tower of Belem from afar

Afternoon tea idea- Pastéis de Belém . No trip to Portugal would be complete without the famous Portuguese "nata." I will admit that I personally felt these were a bit to sweet for my taste, but I seem to be in a very small minority. But the popularity and international recognition for these pastries is undeniable- You will have to be prepared to fight through a horde of tourists and seasoned locals to get to these delights.

Pastry shop exterior

Dinner idea- Restaurante Tavares! Here's one for the foodies- enjoy a decadent evening in one of Portugal's oldest restaurants. Savour European style cuisine along with heavy gold decor and a glass of Portugal's famous vinho verde. Let the flavours and food dance along your tongue while you enjoy personalised and dedicated service. Its a true treat, and it was a memorable way to end our trip.

The interior of Restaurant Tavares

We made our way to our 7 o'clock reservation and were greeted by our friendly Portuguese hosts in a beautifully lit and grand dining room.

Cork-bound menu presented by Tavares

Aside from sweet pastries, Portugal is famous of its cork production. Tavares continues that legacy by binding its menu in cork, with the restaurant symbol printed onto the cover. 

Food at Tavares 

Moscatel on the house

Pictures are from a shared photo album

Singapore: Arteastiq-the café of dreams

A Café-cum-art studio in the heart of fashionable Mandarin Gallery- there's something to be said about the elegant décor, the savoury food, and the tea choices of dreams. Brought to you by Marxx, the furniture and home décor expert, this stylish tea lounge offers an incredible view of the famous Orchard Road shopping street while you snack on some very unique treats. 

I enjoyed freshly infused rose tea on a floral induced china set, while relaxing in a velvet-backed comfortable pink chair. This rose tea was something fresh- there was a very mild taste and a hint of rose, which was delightful for refreshing one's palette after the sweet and savoury afternoon tea treats. 

To start, we ordered sweet potatoe fries to share

And the afternoon tea set (for two)

I will admit I wasn't expecting much from the afternoon tea set- I expected a lot of fancy named dishes as euphemisms for the general afternoon tea courses- a lot of sweet cakes and some sandwiches. I was, needless to say, pleasantly surprised- everything on this set was delicious and unique. The "sandwiches" were wrapped with local favourite prata, a doughy skin that was rolled with smoked duck. Any seafood or meats used were fresh and well seasoned, and complemented the sweet very well.

I will also admit that I was pleasantly surprised with the sweet treats- although I am a massive fan of afternoon teas, I am not particularly great with sweet things, and generally leave most of the cakes (and macaroons) for others to devour. This was very different- the macaroons were not too sweet to handle, and because there were only 2 of them, I wasn't completely overwhelmed by the sugar. Additionally, the apple cake came with a berry sauce, which balanced each other out well. 

I'm very glad I got the chance to enjoy this afternoon tea with one of my closest friends, and although I trust her food recommendations every single time, I will also admit this is probably her best choice so far. 

Arteastiq is a charming lounge that also offers a-la-carte options during afternoon time. I think I'll be going back again to try as much as they have to offer. Maybe I'll attempt to bring my friends there and attempt to embark on an artistic adventure while enjoying some food. Long shot, but with 2016 you never know... ;)

PS: Happy New Year! May your new years also be filled with delectable food choices 

My Week in Food: Semester Blues Edition (Part III)

Ladurée & Burger and Shake are the winners for taking care of my pre-term blues 

If you haven't tried Ladurée at Harrods at Knightsbridge yet, you are definitely in for a treat. Not only is the afternoon tea selection (French toast helloooooo) exquisite, but the actual meals are also full of creative tastes and palettes. Despite it being home to the most Tumblr-worthy macaroons, the dinner time dishes are as unique and are still served in their signature pastel-tinted plates. 

As part of the 3-course meal dinner set the first course was an authentic, the-thought-of-it-induces-hungry serving of French Onion Soup.

                           

Next came the butter-grilled King Prawns and asparagus to complement the sweetness of the soup

And for dessert: Ispahan, the famous rose-petaled, lychee and raspberry, diabetic inducing pâtisserie which is bound to make even the most sweet-phobic person (aka yours truly) smile in its almighty, pink bubbles of joy inducing presence.

Honourable mentions (for obvious reasons):

As provided by the wonderful lady who served us and gave us our pick of the macaroons that evening on the house. Unlike other Maisons du Macaroons, Ladurée is much more straightforward and doesn't become too creative with the flavours and tastes that their desserts come in. Everything here is much more straightfoward, and for the most part your tastebuds will be able to associate the colour with the flavour. 

Rose and Raspberry Religieuse: Aside from the fact that its the cutest dessert ever known to mankind, its another example of how, despite the classic tastes and flavours that Ladurée has, the maison isn't running out of creative and saliva-inducing ideas that still have a spin on the cliente-deemed favourites.

Burger & Shake  is another winner:  when it comes to comfort food and beating the pre-term blues, this cute diner on Marchmont Street has never failed me. If you're looking for something that is more intimate than tourist and London favourites like Burger and Lobster, or Shake Shack, Burger & Shake is the best place to go. But being located in a small street in a less-tourist populated area doesn't mean it doesn't have queues- expect at least a 10 minute wait on weekdays especially around lunch hours because instead of tourists, you get white-collars and students. Doesn't change the fact that the food there is up to par; without the exorbitant prices though.

I thought I'd stray away from my term-time go-tos of burgers and try the sides instead. I was definitely not disappointed.

Honourable Mention Category in helping me beat my term-time blues:

Cabana at St. Giles- I didn't have the famous spicy chicken but I promise I will the next time I venture on a food adventure 

My Week in Food (Part III)

Back and hungrier than ever before!

Singapore has some fascinating delights when it comes to delicacies... local cuisine aside, it has a varied choice for international cuisine, and the most exquisite when it comes to fusion foods.

The first "fusion" food of sorts is the chilli crab pasta presented by Cups n Canvas.

 

Chilli Crab Pasta ($22.90)

Located in one of Singapore's forgotten old-hangout locations that's recently making a comeback thanks to gentrification and office buildings, CupsnCanvas is a cute art-cafe that is the literal embodiment of food as an art form. There is a section where patrons can paint and creative to their heart's content, and a selection of pastas, all-day breakfasts, and sandwiches to anyone's content. It helped that the lunchtime pasta deal arrived with a free coffee of anything under $4.80, which opened up quite a large selections of drinks. The chilli crab taste was not lost on me- I could barely eat towards the end because of the authenticity of the sauce, and the freshness of the crab still lingers.

The Saveur Group's Italian venture- Concetto

Salmon ($17.90)

Concetto, like its French sisters, hasn't shyed away from the flavourful and delightful. The chef's recommendation comes pan-seared with a frothy blend of cous-cous and shallots, and the salmon is as tender and fresh as its cousins still swimming in the sea. The dessert menu, although delectable, wasn't sampled, although I can say from my friend's experiences that the tiramisu is a force to be reckoned with. Aside from the food, I was so very pleased with the trademark service and their attention to detail. I would suggest coming early early early. By 6:30, the place was full.

Savoury brunch at Paddy Hills
A pretty new addition to the Singaporean brunch scene, I would say. Even Lady Iron Chef  blogged about it!

Quesadillas ($18)

Stuffed with cheese, duck, and seasoned with Hollandaise (it says BBQ on the menu but thats not what it tasted like) sauce, these are some of the most savoury and mouth-watering feats of cuisine I have encountered this holiday. To be honest, I'm not the massivest fan of Mexican food, but I do make exceptions for quesadillas, because who doesn't want to eat rolls of meat wrapped up in cheese and bread? Aside from the fact that the portions were worth the price in terms of their size and filling-up ability, it helps that the meats and internals of the quesadillas weren't dry and flaky and there was just a right amount of cheese to give it flavour and moisture.

Bacon steak 

Because this is one of the newer items on the menu, and I forgot to note down the price because I was too concerned with stuffing my face, the price of this dish eludes me, although I will say that it was wholly worth the price because of a juicy bacon steak oozing with fat, butter soaked potatoes, and a hollandaise sauce to kill. 

Want me to go anywhere else? Let me know x 

Brighton Diaries (Part 2)

Enter part 2: More food collections from the mid-week trip to the beach. Be warned!

Brighton Pier, April 2015 

Dinner at Meat Liquor 

They have meat liquors in other places around the UK as well- the one in England is behind the Debenhams or John Lewis on Oxford Street. If you thought eating with your hands is too passé, Meat Liquor is definitely bringing it back. Every single thing you order is served on this massive tray and you eat everything sans plates and probably with your hands. Despite my aversion to any kind of sloppiness, I have to say that this is an experience that comes alongside great food that you don't want to miss. From the ACDC playing in the background to the retro lights and decor, you'll feel truly at peace with your inner biker self. 

Lunch at Riddler & Fins

Our last day saw us having some top-notch lunch selections at Riddler & Fins, a cute, cool restaurant within one of the famed lames. Its slightly more upscale than the other places we'd experienced, but its a delicious experience nonetheless. The seafood risotto was exquisite, and the seafood was fresh and abundant. I also had clam chowder as a starter, which, other than being particularly creamy, wasn't much different from other soups. However, if you're going, you might as well give it a go!

Dinner at Smokey's

Reasons to go: Massive portions, crispy fries, and delicious coleslaw. Also, see picture of ribs: enough said. The old Hollywood decor and posters along with the wooden interior really add to the experience. But more importantly, you get to eat a gigantic portion of ribs that are well cooked, tender and drowned in sauce. You're welcome.

My Week in Food (Part II)

Ippudo London-- Classic Ramen

Best enjoyed when its freezing cold outside. Sometimes the weather becomes unpleasant again, even if its almost the end of March. When you're feeling warm, a bowl of well-made ramen and a brothy soup will cheer you up.

Viet Eat-- Summer fresh roll with tiger prawns

On the other side of the spectrum, there are Vietnamese spring rolls and a wide array of sweet and sour sauces that remind you of summer. If its a nice, warm day outside, don't be afraid to indulge your taste buds in a wide array of summery flavours.

Viet Eat-- Tender beef pho

The classic Vietnamese dish! Although the beef slices were a bit too tough and not as thinly sliced as I would have preferred, and there was an overdose of garnish, it was tasty nonetheless.  The soup tasted very authentic and the noodles were just right. It was very warm and comforting, which was a nice way to end the meal.  Be warned though, its extremely popular and sits right by the Holborn station, so if you're going for lunch, be prepared for a queue!

Travel Series| Orient Diary (Part 1) Lunar New Year!

Now that the holidays are over and its back to work, everyone in the Far East decides its best to start getting Chinese New Year ready. Brilliant. Whether you celebrate it or not, know people who celebrate it, or have never heard of it, hopefully this post will encourage you to go to your nearest Chinatown and sample some yummy foodz!

Disclaimer: None of these pictures are mine, all found on the internet!

Jiao Zi: Dumplings, or guo tie (potstickers), or shuijiao (water boiled dumpings). Originating from northern Chinese provinces, its one of the major foods eaten during Chinese New Year all around the world. While my family doesn’t have an age-old dumpling recipe like many other Northern Chinese families, we enjoy it all the same.

Click here for the recipe ;) 

 Rou Gan: Chinese beef jerky. While the various Chinese communities across China, Hong Kong and south-east Asia eat variations of it, there’s no doubt that everyone enjoys it just as much.

Visit here for some of the most mouth-watering pictures you'll ever see

Hot pot! While not limited to Chinese New Year, hotpot has its most significance during the period. It symbolises ties of reunion, willingness to share, and most importantly, bonding over food—something that every Chinese family and individual is incredibly passionate about. The cultural significance of the hot pot may be strong, but its ability to cure your combined cravings of soup, meat, vegetable and rice all at once is even stronger.

Go here for a list of some hot pot places in London! It doesn't include one of my favourites though- Suki in Chinatown has three levels, and the topmost level does Japanese style shabu-shabu, similar to hotpot. Its great great fun and pretty inexpensive and fresh and good quality. 

Are there other CNY foods you love? Let me know :) x

My Week In Food (Part I)

Heya everyone!

Sorry for the long pause, but the past month has been absolutely mad. On the bright side, I've finally had a few free moments and I realised that there's something that I've yet to start blogging about, which is food! Food is one of my passions and if I had the choice I'd be able to eat anytime, anywhere. I've decided to create a new series which will be tremendously fun to me and (hopefully) fun to people reading it! I'll be writing about my favourite dishes of the week and sharing pictures!

Carluccios- Spaghetti al la Bianco ( £11.95) 

My favourite spaghetti for 2 reasons: 1. seafood and 2. seafood. Carluccio's has some of my favourite seafood spaghetti because its fresh, the spaghetti quality is impeccable and the portion is worth the price. It can be a bit of a splurge, but its a lovely place to have a chat with friends and stay for a few hours. Plus, if you get there during lunch time, they have a 2 course meal for around £11 and you can choose a starter and main, or main and dessert. If you're getting dessert, my tip would be to try a tiramisu-- I'm a bit of a tiramisu fiend and this is definitely worth the hype.

Spaghetti House- Spaghetti al la Bianco ( £13)

Spaghetti House pasta is slightly more expensive, and I can see why. The pasta texture here is slightly thinner and not as heavy, and its more savoury than the dish at Carluccios. There's not as much seafood in this though, and the garnishing and tomatoes aren't as fresh, but its still worth it nonetheless. PS: If you're not too hungry, I'd recommend getting the platter where you can share one massive pasta amongst two people- it only costs £18 in total and you can splurge on dessert!

Patisserie Valerie- Pecan pie ( £4.95)

I had this pie in Exeter while visiting friends, but since Patisserie Valerie is a chain I'm sure you can find it at other shops as well. I was going for their apple pie (which I've tried before and was absolutely blown away), but since they ran out I had to try the pecan. To be honest I wasn't entirely too keen on it, since I'm not the biggest fan of pies in general, and I've generally tried to stay away from the ones with nuts. But I'm so glad I stepped out of my dessert comfort zone to try this one! Its savoury, sweet and the ice cream on the top makes a pleasant sensation. BUT the thing that I was the most impressed with was definitely the roasted pecans. They were incredible; melted in your mouth, weren't too sweet and crunch noises they made were incredibly satisfying. Have this with a spot of tea, it will brighten any dull day up and satisfy your dessert craving

Five Guys- Bacon Cheeseburger with BBQ sauce and lettuce Carluccios-  ( £8)

Five Guys is renowned the world over for their incredible burgers-- fresh patties, melt-in-your-mouth cheese, mouth-watering sauces, unique chips.... the works. In the end though, I think what I loved about this was that it was so amazing that I was scraping off the cheese on the foil with such vigour and unconsciously while chatting with my friends. This picture speaks for itself. It's definitely greasy and laced with high cholestrol, but that's when you know its a good burger.

Any other places you'd like me to check out and write about! Tweet me or follow me on instagram :) 

Under the Tuscan Sun: Firenze ♥ Part 2

Day 2 

My next day started off as bright and sunny as the rest. God was gracious during my holiday.... knowing that I won't get any sun while in England, it was all sun while I was in Florence!

It was a particularly touristy afternoon, where I got to see the city centre abuzz with, well, tourists. Unfortunately, I didn't get to visit any of the big museums like the Uffizi Gallery and aside from getting fined 50 euros for not understanding how to take the bus, it was otherwise quite a productive day. 

I visited the Il Duomo di Firenze, which is essentially a massive, intricately decorated and breathtakingly stunning church seated right in the middle of the city. From the previous pictures with the sunset, if you look closely enough, you're able to see the massive dome atop of the mountain. I'd love to say I did my research and am able to tell you all about the amazing architecture and the symbolic value of the decoration, but alas.... I'm a Law student for a reason.

That being said, if anyone knows the significance and cultural value of this church, whether it be during the Renaissance period or any time else, do let me know! Also... if anyone is willing to tutor me in architecture, I would be greatly pleased. If you wish to read about my thoughts and feelings on the pictures I've taken of this cathedral, do continue scrolling (: 

Secret: keeping reading for FOOD PICTURES

The Duomo's exterior

The exterior design and carving of the church. This was of particular interest to me because other than this being a massive church, I was assuming that it was basically like every other cathedral/church I've visited in Europe. However, I instantly took note of the bright colours and the outstanding decoration on the outside (is that the correct term? Someone please educate me...) I've seen many other churches, for instance the Notre Dame in Paris and other famous cathedrals in France and other parts of the world, but none of them with the colour scheme and liveliness of this particular one. 

I was impressed by the sheer amount of intricacy that went into the walls and the paintings of Jesus and the other Saints.... look at the detailing on the doorframe.

The inside of the Dome. Typical mural depicting Christ and all his followers.... I think I can see hell as well? It seems to me that there is symbolic value in the way this is laid out; Christ is obviously in the middle and the most visible and the lower you get the darker and more visible the masses, sin and death is. I think I see people clamouring up in attempt to be close to Christ. I'm not too sure about what the top is, but based on what else is happening in this picture I'm going to infer that it has to do with saved souls and saints. Side note: I wish I had a picture of the stained glass

The next stop was on other side of Florence and to do that we had to cross the Ponte Vecchio bridge. Fun fact: Not only is this the oldest bridge in Florence, but also the heaviest because major and local gold, luxury watch and jewellery merchants sell their products here as well!

In food related news.....

Lindt shop by the Duomo that had the cutest festive decorations and miles and miles of chocolate and sweet treats

This tiramisu is proof that I've been cheated of proper Italian dessert for my whole life

Gnocchi with truffle oil. I've never been a gnocchi person, but despite this being a heavy meal, I would take it over boiled potatoes and chips any day. 

If you've been to Florence, what are some of your favourite places to visit and where would you go again if you could? Let me know!

Don't mind me while I'm salivating over my food pictures. Stay tuned to Part 3! The saga continues.... xx


PS: As I unfortunately have no recollection of where the gnocchi and tiramisu came from, if anyone has the slightest inkling please let me know! Much appreciation