New York, New York

This summer I went to New York for the first time on a art/film expedition. It blew my mind in all ways. Lots of people had told me New York was basically like London but more condensed and with higher buildings... it wasn't anything like London!

I always enjoy visiting London but, without fail, find it difficult to relax in the city! People are rushing around, stressed, and I generally always manage to get lost even with the indispensable Google Maps app open on my phone 24/7.

Perhaps because I grew up in a gridded city in the Middle East, I found New York extremely easy to navigate and this made exploring all the more enjoyable (meeting up with friends who knew the city well was also a massive plus). More importantly, the city had a very relaxed vibe and everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful. The weather helped as well.

Being a massive foodie, I obviously took the opportunity to explore the Big Apple's offerings.

Here's my round-up of New York foodie hits and misses:

HITS:

1. BLACK AND WHITE COOKIES!

 New York is famous for these cookies and I think I found a great one to try near the Flat Iron building at Madison Square from a little restaurant called Union Square. Fluffy, cakey, over-sized. It ticked all the right boxes.

I had actually trekked there in hope of finding one of their infamous red velvet croissant but unfortunately they had sold out (queue foodie heartbreak).

Red Velvet croissant at Union Square (from http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/grub/2016/08/03/union-fare-croissants/red-velvet.w710.h473.2x.jpg)

While I was in the area, I was also looking for Daniel Humm's restaurant Eleven Madison Park. They serve their own version of the New York Black and White cookies.

Eleven Madison Park (from http://blog.umamimart.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_1203-1024x768.jpg)

Eleven Madison Park (from https://thisguysfoodblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/dsc_5279.jpg)

I had no reservation there, was aware it was under construction, and couldn't afford to eat there on my student budget... but was still super keen to see it in the flesh! Eleven Madison Park is the number one(?) restaurant in the world and I have been a fan of Daniel Humm since seeing him on the British Masterchef in 2014 or 15. He seemed so cool! Eating at Eleven Madison Park is definitely on my bucket list.


2. MAGNOLIA BAKERY BANANA PUDDING (but anything from there really...)

I feel like the picture for this one pretty much sums up why it should be on your list. I'm sitting here at my computer just making 'hmm' noises rather than being able to articulate how perfect this way. Sweet (not not too sugary) and relatively light - was a perfect midday pick-me-up after hours of walking through Central Park.

Best thing? They come in different sizes so you have some choice over how indulgent you are! (I was with two friends and we split the smallest three ways!).

There are loads of Magnolia Bakeries throughout New York. I also went to the one near the Rockefeller Centre....

Rockefeller Centre

... but it was crowded and there was no place to sit.

I would highly recommend the one on Columbus Avenue - the whole street is so atmospheric and really has that stereotypical New York feel.

Columbus Avenue

3. LEVAIN BAKERY

Okay so my New York food hits are turning out to be cookies and desserts (I promise this is the last one!!)

...but if you are on Columbus Avenue, you must pop into Levain Bakery.

Dark chocolate and peanut butter? Soooo indulgent.

They also have Chocolate Chip and Walnut, Oatmeal Raisin, and Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip.

Disclaimer: I was walking everywhere! No metro! I needed the sugar, spare the judgement.


4. MANDOO BAR - Korean Food

This restaurant is right next to the Empire State Building and is so worth visiting.

The view from the Empire State is unmissable.

After days of eating overpriced food lacking in strong spices, Mandoo Bar is the place to go for delicious Korean food at a really good price.

From memory, we ordered seafood or vegetable dumpings, seafood japchae, and seafood paejeon.

Portions were generous and food was top quality. Plus, no waiting time, which is great in NY when it feels like you are rushing everywhere trying to pack stuff in!

4. EMPANADAS AND MARGARITAS IN HELL'S KITCHEN - LIMON JUNGLE

Limon Jungle (from: http://hellskitsch.com/img/2013/10/large/limon-jungle-expansion-exterior.jpg)

One thing I learnt pretty quickly was that eating on Times Square = overpriced and highly disappointing food.

However, venture right behind Times Square and you will find Hell's Kitchen district where you will want to try every restaurant and, as there are so many, leave the city wanting more.

Cheese and Caramel Apple I think? (I may have had one too many margaritas). 

Okay, this picture really doesn't do this place justice but the selection of empanadas was unexpected (they had their own separate empanada menu!! - not available online) and they were just delicious (although on the pricey side).

And the margaritas were on the mark. As a long-time margarita fan (I think my first memory of sipping my mother's drink was when I was 4???), they were truly authentic and worth every dollar ----

but not too many dollars - Limon Jungle has a very, very generous happy hour deal on drinks. $5 dollar per margarita is a recipe for disaster (but the good kind!!!).

I also tried their burrito - 5/5.

5. $1 DOLLAR PIZZA - Hell's Kitchen

Not going to lie, I thought $1 pizza was a joke when I read about it in blogs before going. I refused to believe that anything for $1 in central Manhattan could both taste good and be visible without the help of a magnifying glass.

Alas, I stand corrected.

This was genuinely one of the best slices of pizza I've had. And without question, the cheapest. AND IT WAS HUGE!

Cute mid-bite snap smh

Where from? NY Fresh pizza - right next to Mi Nidito Grill and a few doors down from Limon Jungle.


6. BUBBA GUMP - Times Square

So I may have just trashed Times Square eateries - and I stand by this.

But pop into Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. for a drink as the staff are so lovely!

Their food is overpriced but - if you're in the mood for something that feels authentically American (does it have to be fried?) - then you can't go wrong.

THE MISS LIST

1. ANYWHERE ON TIMES SQUARE

My friend's milkshake at Junio's

Times Square is just a nightmare for eateries and it's a rookie mistake to try go there for dinner. 

I had heard much about The Olive Garden so tried there first - but who in their right might would be almost $30 for a plate of pasta? Also, the atmosphere in the restaurant was awful - simultaneously dead and overcrowded. 

I also tried Junior's (see the milkshake) on a night I was in too much of a rush to leave Times Square. For someone who tries to eat vegetarian or pescetarian most of the time, the menu was a nightmare. Everything looked greasy and the portions were huge. I ended up ordering a salad, which wasn't bad, but certainly wasn't what I wanted either. 

2. BURGERS

On the topic of fried foods (not my fav)... I think perhaps miss the burger? 

I almost felt obliged to have one since I was in America, after all. And New York is the homeplace of Shake Shack as well...

Meh...

It was just sort of disappointing and boring.

I'm really not a fan of fast food places so I just found it underwhelming and a waste of valuable food space!

I think if you're determined to do the burger thing then try one from a restaurant? They're normally a little more exciting. Anything from Shake Shack or other fast food places (I won't even say McD's after watching Cowspiracy) will take exactly like it does in the chain in any other part of the world. 

3. PRETZELS

On the list that directed me to the black and white cookies was also the mention of Pretzels as being central to the New York food lexicon. 

They're pretty much available everywhere - which may be the issue because WHO KNOWS HOW TO FIND A GOOD ONE?

A risky endeavor if you ask me. 

Sense the immense dissapointment. 

Stale, too salty... give me my $1.50 back!

Follow-up post to ...CHOCOLATE

One of my last posts before my - very extended- break from this blog was on beautiful, heavenly, moreish chocolate. In particular, I mused about chocolatiers, Paul A. Young and William Curley and vowed to visit their shops in London.

Years later, I've finally visited Paul A Young's shop in Soho but I couldn't find William Curley's shop in Belgravia - I think it has relocated. But I did manage to try out a recipe from his stunning, but rather intimidating, chocolate cookbook.

Behold... my attempt at William Curley's Tiramisu Caskets...

It was... a learning experience and they certainly don't look quite as refined as his...

Tempering the chocolate wasn't immensely difficult but shaping it into glossy cylinders was. Especially as it was a very humid day which doesn't make for ideal chocolate-making adventures. This book is definitely one to bring out in the Autumn and Winter months.

But I'm not knocking this recipe or book at all. They were certainly delicious and trying out the recipe was a great way to practice some basic patisserie skills. The recipe for mascarpone mousse included for the Tiramisu caskets was fabulous and I look forward to adapting it to some other (perhaps easier!) desserts.

The ingredients for recipes in this book are not always easy to find and are often pricey so the book requires patience and financial commitment. But, if you're a keen chocolate aficionado then the book is a joy to pour over.

I used Paul A. Young's video on tempering chocolate to help me.

I've visited his shop in London a few times now but only tried one item. It's pricey!

If I remember correctly from a day-time TV cooking show he appeared on with Paul Hollywood, each of his chocolates costs 2 pounds! That could make a box of 10 quite an investment.

I tried one of his Sea Salted Caramel Billionaire Shortbreads as I had read good things...

It didn't disappoint. Hence why I snapped a pic of it - slightly mushed - in it's wrapper... it didn't get home in time to take a better picture...

I probably won't be a regular customer for Paul A. Young as they have a price tag to scare the most keen foodie but I'm always happy to pop into the shop and take inspiration from the unusual flavour combinations he devises!

Also - if you're going to visit this shop, stop by Crosstown Doughnuts next door. 

They have achieved infamy in London for their sourdough doughnuts with extremely daring flavours. 

Chilli chocolate heaven. 

You can also find Crosstown in the markets outside KX station. 

Back from the dead... with a Christmas 2017 roundup...

So 2018 started off a little unexpectedly...

I've had to take a year away from university to resolve some things which have been nibbling away at me for a while - slightly heartbreaking since I absolute love uni. 

But it also means I have a little bit more free time to resume some of my old passions  - and food is always high on that list. 

Christmas 2017 was a typical 'Cambridge Christmas', which means that you have a six week holiday but can only really afford to take a week off to do Christmassy things as the rest of the time you have a pile of work to be wading through. I wasn't able to really do much of that work but I still tried anyway...so cooking and food wasn't high on my list of priorities. 

All the same, I made time for some sugary, spiced goodness over the festive period! Here are my 2017 takes on mince pies, booze, and trifle...

For mince pies this year, I was determined to try something new!

I'm not a huge pastry lover and was wondering how to upgrade the humble mince pie. In 2016, I attempted to do this through making my own mincemeat (using my favourite brandy - Hennessy). It was good but it wasn't *WOW I HAVE TO EAT ALL OF THESE IN ONE GO* good. 

2017, I topped the mincepies with a frangipane - and am here to report back that they were certainly an improvement! 

I still think they can be taken to the next level but am not quite sure how at the moment. Marzipan? Cherry? Jam? Icing? A different pastry bottom? 

Paul A. Young has some recipes for mince pie brownies which I am very curious about... but that will have to wait for another 10-11 months. 

on the topic of mince pies... ever wondered what to do with your leftover mincemeat? 

Marcus Wareing has you covered with these delicious mince pie cocktails. We had them towards the end of cooking the Christmas dinner but I think they would have been more appreciated on boxing day with a mince pie. They were certainly delicious though, but very strong! You can whip one up with vermouth, bourbon whiskey, angostura bitters, mincemeat, a few cloves, and some orange peel. 

For our Christmas dinner dessert, trifle is always on the menu. It has always been the traditional dessert in our family and my mum made a killer one. 

BUT I've yet to nail her recipe and every year I hear the same from my dad... NOT ENOUGH SHERRY. 

So last year, instead of competing with my mum's masterpiece, I opted for Nigella's Black Forest trifle. It was LUSH... seriously so, so good. You have to make it at least once. But perhaps spare it for a different day of the year than Christmas as it is extremely rich. 

This year I went for a Lily Vanilli recipe - 'Very Boozy Sherry Trifle' - surely this would appease the Irish father?! 

Alas, not quite. Next year I think I'll just serve him trifle with a pouring jug of Harvey's Bristol Cream next to it. But it was still a great take on a traditional trifle - no jelly or cream and so it wasn't at all slushy and all the fresh fruit made it feel a lot lighter and refreshing after the heavy Christmas dinner. 

Best of all, it is SO worth making home-made custard. I had never done it before - always cheating with Bird's custard (there is enough to prep on Christmas, right?) - but this year I used that strange looking and overpriced vanilla pod that had been in the cupboard for probably much too long and it elevated the custard to a heavenly level. 

Would highly recommend this recipe - and Lily's Sweet Tooth book - which I will make another post reviewing. 

Hope you had a good festive season. 

CHOCOLATE ft William Curley and Paul A. Young

I would say that the vast majority of the western population love chocolate. However, this isn't going to be a blog post celebrating the Curly Wurly or the Kit Kat but real, 70% cocoa solids chocolate. I hope this doesn't come across as pretentious. The reason I wouldn't categorise most chocolate bars as 'real' chocolate is that  they are generally higher in sugar and fat than cocoa solids.

Like most of the population, I also love chocolate. I used to be slightly addicted to chocolate. Not a day would go by where I wouldn't consume something that contained chocolate. Whether that was a cookie, a few squares of dark chocolate, a hot chocolate... it would be every day! Fortunately, I've managed to get my love for chocolate under control after a few diet changes and abstaining over lent. Although I consume it less often, I still love it and think it's just an amazing food.

However, with a love for chocolate (not quite a passion yet) I asked my brother for the book 'Couture Chocolate' by William Curley for Christmas. I've only really gotten around to reading it thoroughly and, if you also love chocolate and are a confident cook, I couldn't recommend this book more highly. It transformed my love for eating chocolate into a genuine interest into this food and I can't wait to get into the kitchen to start trying out some recipes from the book.

Picture from Amazon.co.uk

It covers the history of chocolate, how to taste chocolate, the individual components that make up chocolate and there are so many recipes - none which are impossible to try at home.

One of my obsessions is finding unusual flavour combinations that excite my palette. Indeed, desserts with a savoury component are a huge food trend in 2016. Chilli and chocolate is quite well established now as a flavour pair and it is one of my absolute favourites (the Lindt Chilli Chocolate bars are divine when paired with the right white wine). In Couture Chocolate there are chocolate recipes containing tarragon, olive oil, matcha, salted caramel and so many other exciting flavours. It is the kind of book which will spark your imagination and really encourage creativity in the kitchen.

The book is beautifully put together and the content makes it absolutely worth its price of twenty-four pounds. Ask for it as a present or treat yourself!

I've also recently stumbled upon chocolatier Paul A. Young after watching him on Paul Hollywood's Pie and Puds BBC programme. He has a YouTube channel with instructional videos on how to temper chocolate and make various chocolates. I've found his videos so helpful in learning techniques and they are incredibly easy to follow. If you are getting into chocolate making, definitely go over to his channel and subscribe!

I have made it my mission to go to both William Curley's shop in Belgravia and Paul A. Smith's shop in central London to sample their chocolates so I know exactly how good 'real' chocolate can and should taste.

However, in the meantime, here is a list of my top 5 chocolate goodies -

1. Anything from Patchi!
2. Anthon Berg Chocolate Liquers £14.50
3. Lindt Excellence Chilli Chocolate £1.99
4. Lindt Lindor 60% Dark Chocolate Truffles £4.89
5. Reeses... I love peanut butter...what can I say?

Musings on Red Velvet - published 4 months later!

So I've had the urge to blog over the past few weeks - probably now that I have a lot more free time since handing in my final project. I just uncovered this post that I never got round to finishing or publishing. It's still not finished, but seeing as I plan on returning to Red Velvet very shortly, I thought I would post this as a precursor: 

Happy weekend foodies. So, I've had a very strange and hectic January, both filled with great news and some not so great news. Safe to say, 2016 definitely didn't start out as I thought it would. If you're looking for the red velvet talk, skip ahead a few paragraphs as I'm going to start off with a ramble!

I think after a few weeks of feeling both stressed and under the weather, I'm gradually starting to get things back on track. Which, I hope, also means that I will get back on track with all the plans that made for this year as well (hello blogging!). 

Last year was filled with a lot of studying and not-so-fun evenings sat at my desk trying to cram as much as I could before various exams and interviews. 2016 started off with achieving my biggest goal, so for the rest of the academic year, I feel like I will have a lot more spare time than I've ever had (and I probably will have for the next three years at least!). 

For someone who is so often bogged down in studies, it's a strange feeling having spare time and deciding how to spend it. It's also quite scary and I have to admit, I've felt lacking purpose for a short while now. However, I'm determined to make the most of this time as it is a genuine luxury and will be a rarity for me. So - and yes, we are finally getting to the bit about red velvet cakes - I spent this afternoon chilling in the kitchen and baking with my flat mate. I have no doubt that this sounds totally mundane to most people my age but when you're a workaholic, taking an afternoon to do something in complete leisure, is a significant event. 

Now... the cake!!

In my *cake-eating life* red velvet was a late-arrival. I think I only really noticed it one it started becoming the in thing. However, I've always been drawn towards it and would instinctively choose to bake it for a party or pick it out from a cupcake bakery.

I think it's the combination of a mellow chocolate hit and the tangy yet sweet cream cheese that just sings the most balanced harmony of flavours and keeps me coming back for more. Red Velvet is mysterious. There is no flavour implicit in its naming. It conjures images of something divinely smooth and luxurious yet warming. 

Admittedly, when a few years ago I was totally reliant on cake mixes from packets (and I still have a soft spot for Betty  Crocker's Supermoist collection) but I am really trying to cook more from scratch now... the only problem is.... when there are so many recipes online claiming to be *the best* which one do you pick?

Today I tried this recipe... adapted from a Hummingbird Bakery recipe. The cupcakes themselves turned out well. For cupcakes, the red velvet should be more moist and dense than the cake recipe as there won't be layers of icing running through. The hummingbird recipe allows for this so that the cupcake is wholeheartedly satisfying without being overly light and fluffy so that the it takes away from the flavour of the cake itself.  The frosting was less successful. We hesitated from adding in the total amount of icing called for in the recipe as it would have made it too sweet but this meant that the mixture was not firm enough. Icing is always the hardest part! Cream cheese being especially difficult. 

Finding the perfect balance for a red velvet cake also comes down to personal taste. I'm still not convinced I've found the *perfect* recipe. Alas, I think a lot more experimentation and testing is in order! And I'm also keen to try using beetroot in the recipe as some believe that that is where the red colour originated from.

There is more on the elusive Red Velvet to come very shortly...

Review: The Boston Tea Party, Bath, UK

I think I have a new favourite breakfast place. 

Boston Tea Party is a chain of all-day breakfast diners across Bath, Bristol and the surrounding areas. I normally am not a fan of chain restaurants - under most circumstances it would turn me off. However, after having breakfast here, the fact the Boston Tea Party is a chain makes me immensely happy - alas I have the opportunity to sample this menu in multiple occasions as opposed to only when I visit the city of Bath. 

The Boston Tea Party delivers on all front. 

The menu is really very good. There is a wide choice ranging from your standard fry ups (with veggie and vegan options), pancakes with compote and yoghurt or syrup and many variations of toppings on toast.

They were offering sourdough bread, pumpernickle, baps and bagels with salmon, sardines, eggs any way you like, nutella and banana, avocado and hummus…. the choice was really exciting and they are flexible if you want a combination different to what is listed on the menu.

No matter if you are looking for a hearty breakfast or something lighter, there is an option available. The price range reflects this. 10 for the hardcore fry up, 7.50 for the standard (see below), 5.50+ for pancakes and anything from 4.50 - 7.50 for *insert whatever tickles your fancy* on toast. 

The food was top quality. It arrived promptly and all worked perfectly. 

The drinks were also of a very high quality. The latte was silky smooth and the Chai latte was just the perfect winter warmer.

I will be returning as soon as I can to The Boston Tea Party. It is a top spot for breakfast. Whatever you’re in the mood for.

Review: Mildreds, London, UK

I am always on the look out for vegetarian restaurants. As a non-meat eater, finding places that offer veggie options can be difficult. However, you know that if you are going to a specialist restaurant, you are not just going to be getting a choice of 3 or 4 options (if lucky) but a whole menu to choose from and more chance of an all-round more interesting and creative dining experience. Vegetarian restaurants have to make the extra effort to offer something that little bit extra.

That is what Mildreds brings: exciting and unusual food that makes it a must for veggies to visit (bring your omnivore friends as well! They will undoubtedly be impressed).

10 minutes from Oxford Street, and a 5 minute walk from the famous Carnaby, Mildreds is in a great location if you're in Soho and don't want to be swamped on one of the busier streets in central London.

That being said, if you arrive any time after 6pm expect to have to wait for a table. We arrived around 5:30pm and had to share a table. After 2 courses and a round of coffees we left around 8:00pm and, walking out of the door, overheard that the waiting time was up to an hour. However, despite the fact that we definitely stayed longer than we really should have, there was no pressure to leave and if you do have to wait for a table, there are many tempting cocktails on the menu to try out.

Now on to the food!

I was keen to try a number of items on the menu, however, being a big fan of beetroot (and always on the hunt for the ultimate veggie burger) I decided to try the Polish burger.

It was so good and so filling. The burger does not come with any sides but it's so hearty that you really don't need them. If you are extra hungry then you can order them for an extra £3. Which, when added yeti the price of the burger at £7, is actually incredibly reasonable for top quality food on central London.

My dining buddies ordered the Tofu burger and the Sri Lankan Curry. Both enjoyed their meals. I was able to try the curry and it was absolutely delicious and not too westernised. I almost regretted not ordering it.

For dessert, I ordered the Peanut butter chocolate brownie. I was already so full but this was my 19th birthday cake do I couldn't miss out!

It did not disappoint.

Mildreds is a new favourite and I will most definitely be returning next time I am in the region. Well priced, great food and a relaxing atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the West End.

As soon as I got back home I started  searching for recipes for beetroot burgers and that beautiful curry and was delighted to find that Mildreds has a cookbook featuring all the favourite recipes. It is available for purchase in the restaurant and on Amazon.

✭✭✭✭½