Posterity - Make or Break

Hello!

As you can see from the date of my last blogpost, I have been so busy eating out such a ridiculous amount of times since moving to New York that I have resultantly lain on the sofa too full to lift a finger and couldn't possible write about everywhere (rubbish excuse). So... I have decided to widen the content of my blog to include anything and everything I find interesting.

For the renaissance launch of Always Room For Pudd, and horribly ironic considering the tragic reason for this post, I want to write about Made by Many's fundraising project - 50/50. 

The UN have declared the famine in East Africa the worst globally in 60 years. A child is dying every 6 minutes. Made by Many point out that we all know about this totally avoidable catastrophe, but we can't seem to do anything about it. And if we don't do anything, soon we will soon be watching millions of people dying, live from the comfort of our TV and computer screens. Horrific.

Undermined by a belief in being able to harness some good and make a direct intervention in the aid effort, Made by Many's idea was to start 50 projects in 50 days and raise £1 million for famine relief in East Africa.

These projects range from donating 6 minutes of your salary, eating the same amount as an African refugee for 50 days, to auctioning to hangout with a celebrity, and as simple as swearboxes. 

One of the project's initiatives is Posterity; a limited edition series of 'Posters for Good' designed by The Mill's creative faculty and extended network of artistic friends. The artists have responded with topical, worthwhile and personal interpretations of the epidemic. See the collection here. There is an array of beautiful designs that will be printed on 100% cotton rag archival paper with archival print.

What a fantastic way of leveraging digital engagement for a good cause. There are currently 42 projects that have already raised £33K! But there's still a long way to go to help those in desperate need.

I wish the project all the luck in the world.

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Hello NYC :)

Wow, hello old friend. It’s been a long time… Naughty blogger. It is my grand plan to revamp Always room for pudd with the dawn of my NYC move. Since I arrived I have eaten out numerous times which is a daily affair for most Manhattanites, so goodbye wallet and waist – eek! The idea is to make the posts snappier (and better!). So here goes to food/fun blogging big apple style…

My favourite place so far has been Rye Restaurant in Williamsburg. It’s in a cool neighbourhood and the whole vibe is pretty hipster. Quite saloon-ish inside, dark paneling, long bar and candle lit tables. The food was AMAZING. Who knew scotch eggs could be so delicious? The menu is fantastically varied, and everything on it was yummy. I would say the appetizers / bar snacks were better than the mains, but my duck with morrocan couscous was great. The boys shared a 60 oz steak between them – check it out! That must have been a big mama cow. We had a delicious Sancerre too which slipped down very easily indeed!

It’s a great place to go with friends for a fun boozy dinner in a relaxed atmosphere. It almost feels like dinner at home with amazing food. Anyway, highly recommend it, and it’s just a hop and a skip from Manhattan so well worth the journey.

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Prize for best Eggs Benedict goes to....

...The Wolseley. WOW. Truly delicious. I think it was the muffin that did it. And GREAT coffee too.

I have decided that breakfast dining in an incredibly beautiful and sophisticated setting with special people is my favourite Saturday morning activity :)

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Cake-tacular!!

Love to Cake makes the incredible edible. Hats off to their awesome creations. Check out their Sheep wedding cake, or life size Gorilla chocolate cake!

These really would steal the show at the tea party. 

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Spoonfed Suppers

Ever stuck for healthy, quick dinner ideas? Sign up to the wonderful Spoonfed Suppers. Mummy Candy will send you a free daily email with a delicious speedy recipe to make your life a whole lot easier. Even if you don't use it very much it's a good stock pile of recipes to dip into when you're feeling un-inventive.

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Carl Kleiner

Look at this unusual and beautiful food photography by the incredible Carl Kleiner. This series is very Arcimboldo-esque. I love it!

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Munchies just got magical

It's the end of the night, the lights come on, and your liquid supper no longer seems like such a good idea... Last weekend I discovered one of London's gems. The perfect place to stop that tummy rumbling and ease the hangover onslaught.

Just round the corner from Harrods on Beauchamp Place is Maroush. It's teeming until the early hours with hungry party-ers desperate for the the most delicious kebabs I have ever eaten in my LIFE! Ok, this isn't hard considering I only ate my first dirty kebab about 2 months ago (disgusting), but Maroush's ones are clean, healthy, generous shwarmas and kebabs which more than satisfy your munchie craving.


There are 11 of these beauties all over London so look out for them and you won't be disappointed. And I swear their treats minimise tomorrow's hangover. 100% worth it.


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Winter warmer...

Now it's getting cold I'm craving warm and yummy soup for lunch. Check out this super useful website which provides that day's soup menu for Pret, Eat, Tossed and Leon. So you can choose your soup before you venture out and minimise your dilly-dallying outside in the cold...

http://whatsoupisittoday.com/

Mine's a Leon Lentil Masala.

Keep warm :)

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Fino

The supperclub met again recently. This time we went to Fino; a Hart’s brothers’ restaurant, so fellow to trendy London spots Quo Vadis and Barrafina. I’d been recommended Fino by a friend who said it was the best Spanish food she’d had in town, so I thought we had to try it.

After a going round in circles to find it (the address is Charlotte St but the entrance is Rathbone place) we all got there in the end. The restaurant is on the lower ground floor and is entered by some winding steps and a hallway which overlooks the whole restaurant. The back wall is a long stocked bar which gives the place a brasserie feel. I haven’t spent enough time in Spain to appreciate whether this a cultural nod, but either way it suggests European chic. The clientele is older than I’d expected it to be. We were the youngest in there by at least 10 years I’d say. This accounts for the laid back but but grown up ambiance. Noticeably there is no music, which makes a nice change but definitely adds to the grown-up-ness!

As for the décor, I’m not the biggest fan. Apart from the elegant backdrop of the mahogany bar, the rest of the space kind of feels like a hotel lobby with token Ikea prints. But there are little booths by the bar which you can request which look cosy. You’d need to book ahead to get these. As the restaurant is downstairs it’s pretty dark, but the lighting was warm and intimate which I always love.

Now on to the food… the menu is amazing and not too overwhelming. It’s the kind of place that I can imagine you coming and ordering the same thing every time. I would definitely have everything I ate last time again – it was all delicious! We started with Pan Con Tomate, and then ordered a whole load of little dishes to share and arrive when they were ready. The Ham Croquetas and Chickpeas, Spinach and Smoked Pancetta were the highlights for me. The Meat Platter was yummy, and the Classic Tortilla was delicious as expected. The only thing I wouldn’t recommend is the Chorizo and Potato Chips which were a bit greasy, but maybe that’s personal preference.

All in all our meal was absolutely delicioso with outstanding service. The Maitre'D was really lovely as were all of the waitresses and waiters. The all Spanish contingent obviously adds to the authenticity of the place, and works a treat. We really could have been in Madrid. 

I was surprised at the more formal vibe and older audience of Fino. It didn’t really suit its youthful location, and would be more at home in Chelsea or Belgravia. By the sounds of it Barrafina is its younger hipper counterpart (but FYI you can’t book). However the price was really reasonable at £25 for food including service, and considering the standard this is an absolute bargain. 

Our visit made me want to try the other Hart’s brothers establishments; they’ve hit the food and customer service nail on the head. So if you’re looking for elegant dining and fabulous Spanish food Fino is your place.

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Friendly Fika

When you think of Brick Lane what's the first thing that comes to mind? Ah ha, well yes, there are a LOT of curry houses, but if you make your way to the top end of the street there sits a fun little Swedish bar and grille that goes by the name of Fika.

This funky place is clad in light pine wood, with quirky ornaments and antlers. Fika means 'coffee break' in Swedish, and the name suits it perfectly. It's very chilled out, no one's in a rush, and you feel you could sit there all day. The atmosphere is incredibly welcoming and all of the staff are SO friendly!

Food wise - the menu is, well, Swedish. The drinks list is at least 4 times the length of the food. Each dish is accompanied by a drink recommendation. I was there on a deliberate detox Tuesday night, and so we didn't opt for the 'snaps' shot with our starter. But I can imagine that later on in the week it's harder to resist the friendly waiters' encouragements.

We had some yummy reindeer salami to start with (sorry Rudolph), which we didn't think tasted any different to normal salami, but hey ho, it was yummy anyway!

For main I had the vegi version of their signature dish 'planks'; a smoked oak plank with grilled mash potato, a grilled tomato and a chick pea burger. I wasn't wowed by this, but it was what is said on the tin so I couldn't really complain.

Other things I gathered; they are big on crayfish, and even have crayfish parties occasionally?! Fika's weekend brunch menu sounds delicious. Its lovely chilled out atmosphere would be the perfect remedy for a Saturday morning hangover, or fitting for a relaxed start to your weekend. There is also a lovely roof terrace which is good to know if you want somewhere to sit outside in the summer.

So when you're next in the area and feel adverse to vindaloo, I recommend you check out friendly Fika.

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Circus

The indulgent supper club hit Circus restaurant in Covent Garden last week for our latest culinary treat. I’d heard good things on the grapevine about this place, and was intrigued whether the concept of having an acrobat swinging over my starter was going to sink or swim.

Circus is on the further side of Long Acre to Charing Cross where it changes from big high street brands to kooky boutiques and fun restaurants, so the location is pretty spot-on. The big black doorway with no sign above it isn’t exactly welcoming, but you definitely get the vibe of exclusivity. The reception is like a flashy club rather than a restaurant. But I guess that’s what they’re going for. After all it’s not meant to be your normal dining experience.

A very glam hostess escorted us to our table. We were there for the first sitting at 7.30 pm and the place was packed! The interior was designed by none other than our Brit hero Tom Dixon. This cabaret come restaurant is decadent and sexy. Diners sit at intimate spot lit tables, and funky beats pervade the achingly cool atmosphere.

The centrepiece is a wide banqueting table under the main atrium, where all the action happens. The stairs leading up to the ‘stage’ and hoop suspended from the ceiling kind of give the cabaret game away. You expect Nicole Kidman singing 'Diamonds are a girls' best friend' at the top of her lungs to swing over your head any minute. There is a real excitement in the air. Perhaps it's in anticipation of the performances or just its vibrant vibe.

On to the food... The Pan American menu is as you'd expect. Full of American classics like slow roasted beef short ribs, fried squid, and Mac and cheese… Pas pour moi, but there is something for everyone I guess. To start I had the Red and Golden Beet salad with almonds and goat’s cheese. Nothing special but not bad either. The Crispy fried baby squid was yummy though.

For main I had the Spicy Crab Cakes which were good, but the accompanying veg wasn’t cooked well and my mushrooms were burnt. I hate to say, but the service wasn’t great, and they got my order wrong. However in their defence the portions were decent and they rectified their mistake by bringing me my correct order really quickly. But we knew the food wasn’t the main reason we were there, and as we finished our first course the lights dimmed for the show.

The opening act was a contact juggler who moved like he was made of rubber. He rolled the ball all over his body, throwing it up and catching it on his head, neck… and then moved his hands in such a way that the ball looked like it was floating. Amazing!

The second slot was a balancing act. Two gorgeous blondes in skin tight black suits, holding each other in crazy balancing positions. It was rather depressing watching their super hot flexible bodies as I tucked in to more chips, but it was a definite treat for the boys.

The third and final act was the hoop. I expected a tiny girl in a leotard to spring up there, but instead we had a gothy grumpy bloke in skinny jeans. He was ok, but not as impressive as the previous two.

I thought that the performances might be a disturbance but they were such a welcome part of the evening. They didn’t last too long, came in 45-minute intervals and were all really entertaining. There are loads of different acts on all the time, so hopefully you'll see something new each time you go. Once dinner has finished the whole place seamlessly turns into a dance floor and it's cocktail o'clock. Sadly we couldn't stick around for that, but I can imagine how fun it must be.

In my opinion, the concept seems to have worked - Circus definitely swims. It’s been open for 9 months and it’s still tricky to get a table. It’s good for a fun night, and a great date destination. The intimate dimly lit tables are romantic, and the intermittent acts mean that you wouldn’t run out of things to chat about! Things to bear in mind – book in advance, and I wouldn’t have wanted to sit at the main banqueting table. Much nicer to sit further away and watch from afar.

To sum it up, Circus is good for the gimmick but not for the food. And that’s fine because that’s what you’re there for and you get a good show. In this respect the menu is reasonably priced considering what you get for your buck. But I'll definitely be going back for another piece of the drama, and hopefully I'll get to have a go on that swing!

Move over Nicole...

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Chin Chin

Camden lock has another crazy string to its bow... Over at Chin Chin Laboratorists they're using liquid nitrogen to make ice-cream on demand. It sounds like a school chemistry lesson gone right. Read more here.

Heston's got a run for his money. 

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Grrr...

SAS. London is teeming with them. Successful Attractive but Single women on a mission to find a man. But the big smoke is a pretty huge place… and after countless Saturday nights of glammed-up girly cocktails and clubbing, you realise that no matter what you do it’s not always easy to hunt one down.

But savvy single ladies have discovered how to rein these stray cats in… by way of the ‘Safari Party.’ If this hot new trend is new to your ears then let me explain. In essence, it’s a mixture between speed dating and a dinner party. Sounds fun? It is.

Here’s how to start. Group together an equal number of single guys and gals, and then divide this number by however many lodges can host a dinner party. For example, if you’ve got 30 guests and 3 lodges, then each lodge gets 10 guests. But here’s the catch... After each of the 3 courses, the girls stay put while the boys prowl to the next destination where they’re greeted by whole load of fresh meat. By the end of supper everyone has had a chance to eye up their prey. When you’re all thrown into the wild at the end of the night, it’s the aim of the game to corner your target and go in for the kill.

So the Safari Party uses the traditional format and role of the dinner party for an ulterior motive. But the question is, what role does food play in this jazzed up speed date?

The leaders of the SAS pack have a lot on their plate. It’s their responsibility to create an environment that will nurture the first seedlings of romance, so it’s super important to get the menu and mood right. After all, in this SAS-rich, time-poor game it’s make or break for first impressions.

The ambiance has to be conducive to courting but also keep the party beat up… Do you go Chris de Burgh or Chris Martin? Candles and fairy lights, or disco ball?

As for the menu, garlic or red onion is a no-go. Rather chewing gum all round please. Spag bowl isn’t the prettiest thing to eat when you’re trying to impress potential pulls. Any sort of tomato sauce proves disastrous if it get’s on your killer outfit. And getting oregano stuck in your teeth is a sure way to send your predator packing.

So do you go for the aphrodisiacs? The right wine and fodder to fuel their carnal instincts… Champagne and oysters followed by chocolate covered strawberries. Or is that too cringingly obvious that you’d blush as red as a berry as you tried to seductively devour your pudding? More likely dribble it down your front. Sexy.

Perhaps the food is in fact made redundant. Although it’s used as the vehicle to bring these singletons together, is the haute cuisine eclipsed by the human feast before them? And for some wild cats it may be an eating is cheating scenario. The wallflowers need a bit of Dutch courage to make the pulling pounce.

There’s also the element of competition amongst the Safari hostesses. Who’s the big cat of the kitchen? As species of social Darwinism we’re all smitten for a good cook. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach and all that.

To make life easier, here’s a suggestion for a summer Safari Party menu; something scrummy to feed those predatory appetites.

MENU EXAMPLES:

Nibbles - Sweet potato dips with crème fraiche and sweet chilli sauce dip, and a lettuce with shredded chicken and ginger wraps

Starter - Antipasti style, ham, Parma ham, salami, mozzarella, manchego, houmous, rye bread/sour dough

Main – Roast chicken, Ottolenghi salad, couscous with feta and roasted peppers

Pudding - Elderflower and vodka granita with a lemon and basil sorbet and a choc brownie bite

It’s a good idea to pre-prepare the food so that you’re free to flirt easy on the night. You can pull out all the foodie stops, or make it very simple. To be honest I think the party goers are more worried about saving a piece of gum and what they’re shotting later than eating anything gourmet. A good old lasagne and ice cream wouldn't go a miss!

So get your claws out. Find your pack and hit the wild. Remember that as hostess no one can get in the way of your tactical seating plan. And who knows? Maybe you’ll get lured back to a Lion’s den…

Fancy a snog?

I am desperate for my first Snog. This frozen yoghurt place looks AMAZING! And it's good for you (sort of!).

They seem to be taking over the Fro-Yo world. And I can't wait to taste what all the fuss is about. Yum yum.

I just need the Sun to come out again as another excuse to have one.

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This has made my week...

WOHOO! Fire and Stone are opening a new restaurant next to work. This has officially made my week. My Pizza pangs will now never go neglected for long.

Their menu has some of the classics, but the rest is inspired by continents and locations within them. The toppings being specific to their geography.

So you can have a Cumin spiced ground lamb, mozzarella, mint yoghurt sauce, green olives, raisins & sliced red onion drizzled with chilli oil from Marrakech.

Or... a Garlic marinated prawns, Chinese Hoi Sin sauce, fire roasted red peppers, sliced spring onions & mozzarella, drizzled with chilli oil from Lombok.

From previous pickings, the Peking Pizza with shredded aromatic duck and hoisin sauce is AMAZING.

Some of them sound scrummy and others perhaps stray too far from the Pizza canon. Let's hope that some of the more unconventional toppings go down better than my experiment with cold smoked salmon!

Pizza, pizza, la vita bella...

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Savvy Safari Party

View my first article for Eat Me Magazine on the latest dating trend... Safari Parties.

Grr, go wild!

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Cute as a button!

Aaaw how adorable are these shortbread button biscuits!? The most gorgeous pastel colours and such a sweet concept.

The simple ideas are always the best. Such an easy way to cutesy up your tea time. Granny would be pleased.

Read how they were made here. I'm smitten!

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Annabel Karmel's new book!

Annabel Karmel’s got a new recipe book out which is absolutely fantastic! Cooking with kids has never been simpler. The beautiful presentation, full of colourful photos and simple text, is SO easy to follow and will definitely catch any child’s attention.

It is a great educational tool for kids too, introducing texture, colour, hygiene and the right attitude towards nutrition - as well as teaching them how to cook! The recipe content is also fantastic with a great variety of healthy meals. All the sorts of things you’d want to eat. I also really like that is isn’t at all patronising and has some really sophisticated meals in there like lamb tagine and salmon in pastry. It encourages children that they can make proper food too, not just cookies and cakes.

Annabel Karmel instils the right attitude towards cooking and food – fun, easy and healthy. Not only for children but parents too! And it’s a great family bonding activity. I wish had this when I was a child! They look like they’re having so much fun.

I will definitely be buying this for my friend who is a mother to be. And I might just have to go over and help with the baby sitting/cooking fest!

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Mmmm salsa

If you ever need to spice up a dish, here's a winning number.... This salsa is fresh, sophisticated and colourful! I've tried it with salmon and tuna, and am going to try it with chicken next.

So here's how to make it. This is for 6 people and it makes a lot! There's a lot of preparation but it's SO easy to put together...

1 mini cucumber/1/2 cucumber
1 Papaya
1 Mango
1/2 red onion

2 red chillies

20g fresh ginger

2 lemons
2 limes
4 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp caster sugar
2 tbsp fish sauce
6 piece of Fish/Meat

- Peel the cucumber, papaya, mango and onion and chop them into 1 cm size pieces or however big you like.

- Cut the chilli into fine slices, removing the seeds. Take the skin off the ginger and chop into tiny pieces.

- Grate the rinds of the lemons and limes and then squeeze all the juice into a cup.

- Now mix ALL of the ingredients into a bowl, and add the olive oil, caster sugar and fish sauce and stir. Easy as that!

- Leave to sit for an hour or two. Or you can keep it in the fridge, will last for about 2 days, and then take out about 30 mins before you serve so it's at room temperature and not freezing cold.

Voila! It is SO fresh and tasty and jazzes up any dish. Love it.

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Wafflemeister...

If you need a sweet hit, any time night or day, then Wafflemeister's the place to go. With stores in South Kensington and Embankment, these sugary havens are open 24/7 serving the best doughy delights on the market.

All these handmade Belgian waffles are made fresh in house and come with an array of delumptious toppings and fro yo or gelato on the side...

So whether it's for a breakfast treat or drunken munchie at 4 am, go treat yourself to one of these bad boys.

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