NOMA - World's Best Restaurant

The San Pellegrino's World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2010 were announced yesterday!

Noma in Denmark claimed the sought after title with it's innovative Nordic cuisine. Check out the menu here. When I next have a mere 1,000 euros knocking around I know where I'm heading!

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The Prince Albert

The Prince Albert pub is another Geronimo Inns' gem. It's superb location definitely pulls in the punters. Situated just on the other side of the Albert Bridge, opposite Battersea Park, it's got the South of the river relaxed vibe and is only a skip and jump for those who never leave Chelsea.

As with all Geronimo Inns, it's interior is stylish and homely. It has a warm home from home atmosphere, is incredibly welcoming and are really put at ease. You feel you could curl up with a paper by the fire and spend a whole Sunday there. Whatever time of day, or for whatever reason, it's a great place to meet up with friends, family, or for work.

Its wonderful atmosphere is by no means its only merit. It has a great menu too. It is sophisticated pub grub, or rather pub food with a twist. You can get your traditional salmon fish cakes and macaroni cheese, or spice it up with Lincolnshire smoked eel and horseradish cream or Duck cottage pie with red cabbage, followed by Rum & raisin cheesecake or a British cheese board with oatmeal biscuits and chutney.

The quality of their food is of paramount importance, and you can really taste the difference. They only use fresh ingredients, no frozen foods, and use local quality food wherever possible. If you're only there for the drink they have an extensive wine and beer list and a whole load of yummy nibbles to accompany.

The service here is also top quality, which makes it even more enjoyable to go to, and even easier to laze there all day! You are encouraged to stay and relax, and are never made to feel rushed out.

Incredibly reasonably priced, good value, great service and delicious food, I can see why this popular pub has become so many people's favourite local.

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Fleurir - Hand Grown Chocolates

How pretty are these? Each hand made chocolate represents the cheerful and inspiring nature of spring. Too pretty to eat? I'm sure you soon get over that after you've tried one!


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Hungry to vote?

Election fever has materialised in a fun foodie find. The election based bar, Parliamentary Waffle House, has now opened near Carnaby Street. 

Each item on the menu is orderable in a variation corresponding to one of the three major political parties.  Orders feed directly into a live action swing ‘o’ meter that gauges the mood of the country as people vote with their mouths.

I wonder which ingredients are used to signify each party?! Please leave your suggestions below!

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Flourless Chocolate Brownies :)

Continuing with my weekend cook-a-thons, I made Flourless Chocolate Brownies last weekend courtesy of Nigella. They are SO easy to make, and taste divine if I say so myself! Because there's no flour in them they are super squidgy and gooey which is just how I like my brownies. Very rich and a real hit for dinner parties. Everyone loves them!

So here's the recipe:

Ingredients for the brownie:

225g dark chocolate, 70% cocoa solids
225g butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
200g of caster sugar (I used brown sugar)
3 eggs, beaten
150g ground almonds
100g chopped walnuts (I just used a bag of mixed nuts)

1) Preheat the oven to 170C/gas mark 3. Melt the chocolate and butter gently over a low heat in a heavy-based saucepan.

2) Take the pan off the heat, mix in the vanilla and sugar, and let it cool a little (so that when you add the egg in a minute the mixture doesn't cook it!)


3) Beat the eggs into the pan along with the ground almonds and chopped walnuts. Turn into a 24cm square baking tin, or, most sensibly, use a foil one.


4) Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, by which time the top will have set but the mixture will still be gooey.


5) Let it cool down completely. I was too impatient and when I tried to cut it into squares I made a real mess because it wasn't cool enough, so try and wait as long as poss if you can bear it! Then just cut into however many/whatever size/shape bites of deliciousness as you like!


You can also make a chocolate sauce to pour over the top if you're feeling like a chocolate blow out. Here's how to make it:


Ingredients for the sauce:


75g dark chocolate, 70% cocoa solids
125ml double cream
2 teaspoons of espresso powder dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
1 x 15 ml tablespoon golden syrup


1) Break up the choc and put into a heavy-based saucepan.


2) Add the remaining ingredients, the place the pan over a gentle heat and let everything melt together. Mmmm.


3) Once everything has melted, stir well, take off the heat and pour into a jug to serve.


4) Lick the spoon :)


Enjoy!


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Gail's

The other Sunday I went out for a delicious brunch with my two oldest friends at Gail's on the Northcote Road. It's always swarming with people (mainly yummy mummy's with babies in tow!) and I'd been meaning to visit since I moved to Clapham last December. The windows are filled with hundreds of yummy things to eat, and whenever I pass I spend at least 5 minutes gawping at the incredible display.

The cafe is a lovely space; bright and airy with wooden furniture and white washed walls. At the front is the food display and ordering counter with the menu behind. There are several tables out the front (usually bathed in sunlight) and lots of tables at the back.

The baked options are amazing; muffins, cakes, croissants, brownies, carrot cake, danish pastries... the list is endless! Check out their website then you'll see what I mean. The savoury stuff looked great too. Lots of salads and sandwiches. It's the perfect place to go for a coffee/brunch/lunch. I had a delicious granola with fresh fruit, and my latte was yummy too. Pancakes also come highly recommended!

Based in Hampstead, Notting Hill, Battersea, St John's Wood, and now Queen's Park!

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Lola's Cupcakes

Special occasion? Someone need cheering up? Or just any reason to celebrate? Oh what the hell, you just want darn good cupcakes!!

Check out Lola's. An absolutely scrumptious cupcake company that delivers its delights to your door. Hundreds of flavours like peanut butter, banana, carrot, oreo, rocky road. Loads of gorgeous designs to choose from too - you won't know which to pick! You can customise, add messages, choose what box it comes in... The website is a sure salivating affair.

Lola's have also teamed up with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity to develop an exclusive cupcake for the charity’s Kiss it Better appeal. The delicious cupcake was hand-crafted by former patient, four year old Jessica. TPriced at £2.50, with 30 per cent of the retail price supporting the Kiss it Better appeal, you no longer need to search for a reason to spoil yourself to one of these goodies.

And extremely excitingly - they have also teamed up with GU. Match made in heaven indeed!!

Based in Primrose Hill, Selfridges, Harrods (and Mayfair coming soon) if you fancying popping in to one of their shops for a mouthful of heaven.

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Food world...

I saw this adorable sculpture in Spitalfields Market and just had to put up some piccies. 

Fig and Pear

Food not only inspires art, but architecture too - such as blooming great buildings like the Gherkin! (See background!)

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Saturday brunch ideas?

Mmmm, check out these bad boys. Spinach pancakes, cherry tomato ragout and a poached egg. Quick, easy and good for you! They'll set you up for a fabulous Saturday. Enjoy!

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