A UK Food Study

I apologize for the long break...I have been in the UK but am back and better then ever! Whilst there I tasted many different and wonderful foods including:

- Italian
- Thai
- Lebanese
- Indian
- Japanese
- Pub Food
- English Nouveau
- Homemade food

The first night our hosts treated us to a lovely Italian meal next the Thames. The second evening we decided we would make our own dinner. My contribution was a Caprese Salad (pictured below). It is so easy and delicious... I love adding sea salt for an added crunch. So good!

Ah Fish and Chips, I'm so predictable right? At the Marlborough Arms Pub J and I each dined our own fish and chips. I indulged in a delicious Guinness while J had a Snakebite which I had next. She has tried to get snakebites here in the states but no one knows what they are so we had to take advantage of it while we were there.

J and I made a trek down to Brighton for one evening and discovered the world's best kept secret...freshly made doughnuts covered in cinnamon and sugar. Normally I am not a doughnut fan ( I know, gasp) but these were divine. So we purchased 4, sat on the boardwalk and covered ourselves in sugar like the disgusting Americans we are.

That evening our B&B hosts suggested The Giggling Squid for Thai food. Our app was a medley of toasted and fried treats with one dumpling which I loved. For my main I got Pad Thai. I have a slight addiction to Pad Thai. On any other menu I believe in ordering something different but not with Thai food, I stick with what I like. 

One of my favorite activities was going to the Mad Hatter Tea Party at the Sanderson Hotel. We each indulged in a cocktail that was tea infused - mine with Chamomile and hers with Earl Grey - and they were oh so easy to drink. We were also brought real tea. We had a pot of Chamomile and then Green. For food...well... just look.

 Our platter included:
- An opera cake (with a clock on top)
- A strawberry shortcake (that said 'Eat Me')
- A bottle of 3 flavored mousses ('Drink Me')
- Scones (my favorite)
- Ice cream lollypop with pop rocks sprinkled on top
- Hard candy lollypop that felt cool on one side and warm on the other
-  4 types of sandwiches
- Strawberry jam
- Clotted Cream

My favorite was the Indian. Our host brought my friend and I to a byob place on a main street in a not-so-great part of town where you must wait in line to be seated and are lucky to eventually gain the attention of a waiter to take your order. After we borrowed menu's from the neighboring table I picked pilau biryani and plain biryani, naan, and chicken tikka masala. I loved tearing pieces of the naan off, hugging a piece of chicken and using the sauce to collect rice and enjoy all the flavors at once.
(Lahore Kebab House 2-4 Umberston St, London E1 1PY, United Kingdom)


Coming in a close 2nd was the Lebanese dinner. Please note: I tried Goat Testicles. There it is, I said it. For my main I had lamb in a garlic yogurt sauce - watch out bad breath!

England is not this food wasteland that everyone coins it for. I studied abroad there and because of a low budget did not enjoy this vast array of food but instead snacked on pb&j sandwiches constantly. This return trip instilled a new confidence in the wide variety of food London has to offer and the fun places you can discover when you talk to the locals.

Big Daddy's

My friend flew into the city to meet her boyfriend here who was flying in from Amsterdam. This was his first time in the states and I was the first person he was to meet. I think I excelled with my social skills but failed miserably at restaurant preparation. Mainly because there was no preparation. First we tried Shake Shack in Madison Square Park but the line stretched to the horizon and beyond. Next we attempted Eataly; the wait was 1.5 hrs. So we walked. Me, ravenous, her, hungry, and he, should be in bed because it was 2am in Europe. And yes, we ended up at a restaurant called Big Daddy's. Welcome to America.

When ordering milkshakes I pretty much re-enact the When Harry Met Sally ordering scene. I really dislike Hershey's chocolate syrup due to it's watery consistency. So I inquired upon ordering a chocolate shake if it was indeed chocolate ice cream as I would prefer or vanilla with chocolate syrup. It was the latter. This description was the exact same as the "Black and White" shake - vanilla ice cream with LOTS of chocolate syrup mixed in...mmm sounds suspicious. I spotted another dessert on the menu that stated 'Chocolate Ice Cream' so I asked "Johnny" if I could substitute that ice cream in it's place. With an eye roll and a heavy sigh he said yes. The shake was fine, but came with too much attitude from the restaurant.

All three of us ordered burgers. No one completely finished their burger. Besides the fun Trivial Pursuit questions on the table this restaurant was definitely not the first place I would ever take someone who was visiting the states for the first time. Please accept my deepest apologies.

McSorley's

I have now been to the oldest bar in New York City: McSorley's. My Dad and I walked 2.5 miles from the Brooklyn Bridge all the way to this bar to retrieve old memories from my Dad's past. We stood at the old bar without stools and with plenty of sawdust to collect in my Birk's. He confidently ordered 4 lights for us to chug down like water. I didn't love the beer as I didn't get to select it myself.

The menu was written on a chalkboard tucked behind the bar and a refrigerator hid in an old cupboard with the phrase 'Be Good or Be Gone' attached on in metal lettering. I'm told by my tour guide that the cheese platters are divine (my word, not his) and are served with raw onions. This isn't surprising as the tag line in 1933 was "Good Ale, Raw Onions, and No Ladies."Alas in 1970 women are finally allowed to enter McSorley's although there is still no restroom for them. Because of this fact I sent my Dad back first to ensure there was a ladies room and I wouldn't have to sneak into the men's room. Not that that hasn't happened before. The bar reeks of history and a good time to be had by all. Be careful though, the beer glasses may be smaller but they are still potent!

Amber

Finally! Back in the city. DC was killer. No one on the streets, it creeped me out a little bit. I guess I enjoy my cocoon of people constantly bumping into me walking down 7th.

Tonight 5 of us dined at Amber on 3rd and 80th. Please be careful with your cocktails, they are STRONG. All of the drinks either had pineapple, tequila, or rum in them. I'll enjoy my rum and coke now and then but the others, no thank you. So I chose my summer drink of choice, Gin and Tonic. I had to ask the waitress to bring me a glass of tonic to water down my drink, I could already feel the drunky feeling sinking in after a half inch was gone.

Appetizers - we got edemame which I don't eat much so I got the beans all over my lap. My friend's dad had to instruct me on the proper eating technique which worked! Pinch the side of the bean and squeeze. Next we enjoyed Steam Veggie Dumplings which were an odd color of green. I'm always skeptical of a food that should not naturally be green. Then we had Vietnamese Shrimp Summer roll which were pretty good. Came with a sauce.

Sushi for 2

Then the Sushi for 2 came. This is an amateur dish. Palees. I could eat this whole thing, and I did, except two of the rolls. I went straight for my favorite sushi, Eel. I usually like it a little warmed up but this one was smooth and creamy, very easy to eat. My next favorite, Salmon, was pleasant with oversize salmon encompassing the rice underneath. 

I have been to many, many sushi places and had good sushi and bad sushi. I would rate this as 3.5 out of 5. Not amazing, but a very enjoyable dining experience. Negative: service was too fast. We had to spread out our ordering because there is no concept of timing in the kitchen as my friend experienced on a previous visit. If I needed a good place to take someone with a quiet back room away from the giant tv over the bar and noise out front, I would go here.

Washington DC

Back from DC! This food-centric trip has filled me up for at least a week. While attending the Fancy Food Show I has the opportunity to go to great dining locations in this historic city.

1. Tryst Coffeehouse - Bar - Lounge
Upon my arrival my friend suggested that we head to this mutt restaurant - a mix of coffee, drinks, and food. I indulged in a delicious drink - The Afternoon Delight (209 gin, fresh blackberries, lemon juice and soda) while F enjoyed a Cool as a Cuke (vodka, muddled with cucumber & melon, topped with soda). And of course my life is only half complete with alcohol, I need my dessert! We got:
Peanut Butter Fudge Pie with swirls of peanut butter and chocolate throughout and the Flourless Chocolate Mascarpone Cake rich layers of flourless chocolate cake filled with sweetened mascarpone filling. The waitstaff was super friendly and helpful which made it a great experience. The one problem was the high volume of the music which made it difficult to talk at anything but a yelling level. No bathroom visits here.


2. Todd Gray's Watershed Restaurant

Red Snapper w/Wild Rice, Rock Shrimp, Mango, and Cilantro

Drink: NoMA Blend Stoli Ohranj, Lemon & Soda
Appetizer: Baked Oysters, NOMA Style with Spinach, Pancetta and Gruyere
Main: Special, Red Snapper w/Wild Rice, Rock Shrimp, Mango, and Cilantro
Dessert: Pecan Pie Sunday

3. Birch & Barley

Drink(s):Harpoon Summer Beer, Hoffman Hefeweizen, Danny's Irish Red Ale, and Back in Black
Apps:
- Shrimp & Chorizo Flatbread Baby Shrimp, Fresh Chorizo, Romesco, Toasted Almond
- Fig & Prosciutto Flatbread Gorgonzola Cremificato & Caramelized Onions
- Butcher’s Board fresh and cured charcuterie made both in house and by Red Apron served with mustard, toast & cornichons
- Summer Salad Grilled Cucumber, Baby Beets, Patty Pans, Yellow Wax Beans
Main: Honey Glazed Duck Breast Leg Confit, Wild Rice, Brandied Cherries, Radishes and Truffled Herbed Mac & Cheese
Dessert: Bittersweet Chocolate Cheesecake marinated cherries, pistachio powder, micro arugula

4. Rasika
Drink: Red Wine
Main:Chicken Biryani - Aromatic chicken with basmati rice/saffron and raita
Dessert: Chocolate Delight - Phyllo dough with chocolate inside

Overall DC was great culinary experience. I attended a party at Occidental Grill & Seafood which was amazing as well. Birch and Barley was definitely my favorite with the spattering of lights hanging from the ceiling and an elevated kitchen one passes to the restroom and can peak in an see the action.

Restaurant Week

FYI: Restaurant week is July 11-24

http://www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek

Please see my restaurant page for recommendations or if you need some inspriation on where to dine!

More...ice cream! (Eat indoors)

First stop Ronnybrook at Chelsea market. Got a chocolate gelato cone. Major fail when a gust of wind sprayed chocolate all over my top, I guess it was worth it though. Advice: Eat indoors. 

Next stop was Love Gelato this evening. My partner in crime and I were surprised at the high prices for a small cup. We each paid $9.75 for the 'largest' size which was only 3 scoops. The gelato was delicious though. I got dark chocolate, chocolate caramel and hazelnut. S got pistachio, stracciatella, and hazelnut. Instead of ice cream spraying all over me I got pooped on by a pigeon. Advice: Eat indoors.