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 :) 

Exploring :)

Tucked away in the quiet corners of the city, there are lanes of untouched heritage that have recently found their way into the "cool" books of Singaporean youngsters.  Such was the experience I had with Tiong Bahru and Yong Siak Street.  To most, Tiong Bahru is merely an upper-middle class estate-- located in the Tanjong Pagar area, the community has been re-developed numerous times over the years, and is centrally located enough to command a high housing price.  But hidden away in the midst of the Singapore heritage trail are quaint cafes and bookstores that will light a hipster's heart up with delight.  (Unfortunately, as not much of a hipster myself, I'm not entirely sure if that's a valid statement), but I can say from a mainstream point of view that the charm of the comfortable road side eateries and restaurants were a pleasant change from the hustle and bustle of elsewhere in Singapore.

Unlike eating in other places al fresco, there was not a flurry of movement constant on the main roads, and any cars that did pass by were supercars (I counted 2 Audis and 3 BWMs in a row), giving one a faint sense of accomplishment and entitlement to the good service and good food being provided.  It was also a change as it was load enough to create a happening vibe, but not so loud that we had to shout over our eggs benedict to continue our conversations.

The interior of the restaurant for Brunch: Open Door Policy, which serves Brunch on weekends from 11-3:30.  Remember to make a reservation though, the place is packed!  Eggs Benedict had a curried hollandaise sauce, which I found very unique, but I would much prefer the original.  I wasn't expecting it to be so packed inside, but it seems to be an up and coming favourite with the expat and the young professional crowd...Almost becoming a slightly less expensive (and more young) version of Dempsey Hill


I appreciated the open kitchen as we sat by the bar, the red brick in particular gives it an illusion of a homey and vintage vibe.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY: YUMMMMMMMMM EGGS BENEDICT!!!

Our next stop was a vintage bookstore called Books Actually that sold various kinds of books--- from cutesy art design photo journals to second hand books about famous politicians.  

I was very impressed by the DIY vibe of the store-- all the lights and decorations were handmade and the store was fully stocked of all kinds of DIY products and even DIY how-tos.  Also, if you're on Tumblr and into Tumblry- type books such as Haruki Murakami, this book store is on pointe.

There's a little corner of the shop that celebrates vintage and all things old-timey.  (Sorry Rachel--- disclaimer: she's not actually grunge but she's just trying a cool new look).  The entire area has old pictures of families, personal portraits, imported cigarette boxes and cigars...... its very unique.  

POPAGANDA!

http://www.popaganda.com.sg/--- check out this website for more information about Popaganda! Also, if you're in the Yong Siak Street area, you can be a part of this cool project if you stop by Strangelets, which is another DIY store that sells all kinds of super cute home-y stuff, including very wonderful smelling candles.  Popaganda, a kind of ice cream, is also sold there and they are popsicles that come in a variety of amazing flavours such as Mango Coconut and Kiwi Watermelon.  My friend tried one of them in the store yesterday but I wasn't aware that it was such a yummy flavour until I sampled one myself earlier today.  I'm starting to get very thirsty thinking about these yummy flavours ): ):  Popaganda is all about eating popiscles with fun and healthy flavours and contributing to others where we can.  2% of their sales go to non profit organisations such as the Association for the Visually Handicapped.  I will definitely be buying more of their popsicles from now on whenever I want to treat myself and get a healthy edge.


I know this area has been covered before by the likes of Lady Iron Chef and most other food-ish bloggers, but I was super excited to come visit here and be part of the cool crowd.  How did you feel about this place?

What did you think about this kind of blog style :O Where do you like exploring :)

Lunchtime: The Providore @ Mandarin Gallery!

Mandarin Gallery in Singapore has some fantastic food choices, but unfortunately I seem to always return to an old favourite: Wild Honey.  So this time, I decided to be slightly more adventurous and have lunch at The Providore, which serves Western-type meals which are a lot healthier and use less oil/grease compared to other restaurants.

If anyone from Singapore is reading this, The Providore is essentially under the same label as Jones the Grocer, which is known for its yummy, yet non heart-pain inducing foods.

I opted for the lobster macaroni and cheese and a homemade berry tea.  I was very impressed with the lobster mac and cheese; the lobsters were fresh and the chef was (satisfyingly) not stingy with the lobster.  The cheese was very light and creamy, and what I noticed was that when I was done with the portion the cheese only left a slight film of oil on the bottom of the pan, as opposed to some restaurants where the mac & cheese is literally swimming in grease.  The only (slight) criticism I would have is that the macaroni wasn't very well-cooked and was still slightly hard to bite, but I was willing to overlook that on account of how well-fed I was.

My other favourite was the berry tea.  I'm slightly obsessed with iced teas during the summer-- regardless of what flavour or what kind.  I chose a berry tea because it reminded of the Boston Iced Tea which I love-- cranberry juice, black tea and sometimes lemon or strawberry mix depending on your person.  But this tea was refreshing, sweet-- and although I normally hate juicy bits in my tea-- the juiciness and the sweetness of the strawberry and berry bits was such a treat for the tastebuds

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of the refreshingly minimalistic decor, so here are some pictures I borrowed off some Singaporean food bloggers (sources at the bottom of the picture).  I wish I could eat this everyday, but unfortunately my wallet is connected to my bank account.  If only it rained money ): 

Source

Any idea where I should eat next? Let me know (: