My Favourite Things of 2013

As it's nearly February I thought it was time I made some kind of a roundup of 2013.

Best Place Visited

Valencia. 

And what a surprise that was, considering I have never liked any visit to Spain before.

A gorgeous old city, full of beauty, history and culture, with incredible food and wine, an amazing beach and nightlife….what more could you want from a holiday?


Best Restaurant

There are two.

Duck and Waffle, for creative food in a casual, vibrant atmosphere with incredible drinks. Did I forget something? Oh yeah. THAT view.

José, the cutest, busiest tapas joint in Bermondsey. Be prepared to wait for a tiny table, knocking elbows with everyone around. But that's all part of it's charm. It's loud, it's busy, but it's beautiful and the tapas is some of the best to be found in London.


Best Dish

Grilled Iberico Presa with whipped jamon butter, from Ember Yard.

Far and away the best dish I had last year. I can still remember how soft and tender the pork was, the gorgeously smokey charred taste it left in my mouth from the charcoal grill and the jamon butter, which should be renamed crack.

If you only go to one restaurant this year, please make it Ember Yard so you can try the beauty that is this dish.


Honorable Mention

Peckham Bazaar.

Incredible Greek food, just a little too far out of the way to make it a regular haunt - it is literally in the middle of no where in Peckham. But serves the most beautiful Greek/Middle Eastern food in all the land.


Best Drink

Experimental Cocktail Club, China Town (try to find it behind the white door!). It pains me to say I can't remember the name of this drink, but I still remember it tasted like the Caribbean. It came in a bottle as it had to be stored for 3 days before serving. It contained coconut, tea, rum, and much more and it was beauty in a bottle!

Closely followed by the smokey cocktails from Ember Yard too. If you like floral, try "Il Profuma Di Maria".

Best Bar

Dr Evans and Peel Detective Agency, Earl's Court.

Very secret. Book an appointment and have a case at the ready!

Opium, Chinatown. For reasons that shall remain secret :) 
Try and find that one too! Behind a green door this time.

My favourite thing to do?

Visit a food market. Either Borough, for Bread Ahead's Brownies, or the Real Food Market on Southbank, along with a walk up and down to look at this view.

2013 was a year of extreme highs and lows. Only 21 days in and 2014 is already kicking 2013's butt.

Coal Vaults

This night happened a little while ago so it's a little hazy...not least from the very strong drinks!

I'd been hearing a lot about a new underground bar in Soho called Coal Vaults that happens to also do fantastic food as well as great drinks.

After walking all the way up Wardour Street, wondering if we'd missed it, we saw a little entrance welcoming us with a skeleton on a throne. Cue posing. 

Then it was time to get looking at the menu. Seated in a little candle lit cave we needed all the table space we could get for this was going to be a feast!

Starting with drinks, I had the Mercuary, a little gin number infused with sage, homemade greengage sorbet, lemon and prosecco. E took a Coxone, golden rum with Carpano Antica and spiced green apple. Very Autumnal don't you think?! All drinks are £9 or under, so it won't break the bank if you order a couple.

Yes, there are three drinks here. The lovely waiter brought us over another drink, which had been incorrectly made from a previous order. 

Then on to food. Very difficult to decide!

We chose the charred quail with pan fried chicken livers and quail. All delightful, especially the chicken livers with the warming lentils, however I always forget that quail is such a tricky bugger to eat. Luckily there were no boys around to impress! We got down and dirty.

Then, my favourite, the sherry braised beef cheek with onion, jam, sage and bread. Deliciously moist, hearty, juicy and tender, it was packed full of flavour, the sherry really coming through.

Next was the pulled rabbit with smoked black beans, sweetcorn and pineapple relish, avocado sour cream and flatbread. A gorgeous, fruity dish. The pineapple only served to complement, not compete, which I was afraid of!

Two desserts had to be ordered because they all sounded too good. The first had to be a salted flourless chocolate cake with a mint creme fraiche and toasted almond brittle. The cake was delicious, but for me the mint in the creme fraiche was a little too sharp and overpowering. The almond brittle was sweet and delicious, but there wasn't enough of it!

I am a crazy chocolate lover, so it is very rare and obviously a fine dessert that beats out the cake....but this little beauty of a crumble here, a blackberry, greengage and cobnut crumble with the most incredible calvados custard blew the cake out of the water. Mouth watering delicious, steaming hot and incredibly fruity, but not too sweet. Usually I don't like hot custard (I'm a weirdo I know, nothing like cold vanilla custard in my opinion) but I smothered this baby with that calvados gold. It was heaven.

We were absolutely stuffed after this, we couldn't even finish the cake and I am not one to waste. The food is inexpensive and the sharing dishes of a good size, more sizable than, say, a tapas bar. We could have done with one less dish and still be extremely full.

I have already told all my friends it's a fantastic little haunt that we all need to go to. Best to book though, for even on a Monday night it was busy. As with all places in London, the secret underground haunt doesn't stay secret for long!

Hawksmoor, Spitalfields Bar

I love chocolate. I love salted caramel.

Almost a year ago now, I saw a post on Hawksmoor's Twitter flaunting the delights of what they called a "salted caramel rolo". I didn't need to see a picture, the name alone made my mouth fall open. Forget some of the best steak in London that Hawksmoor is famed for, oh no I just wanted my mitts on that baby.

I have been trying to get my hands on them ever since, but had never found the time. That is until a few weeks ago. I went with a friend over to the bar in Hawksmoor, Spitalfields. 

Open up the side door and head down to the basement, where you asre greeted with some spectacular mood lighting. Although it was bright sunshine outside, down there it felt like it was always 9.30pm.

As soon as we sat down tap water was brought over without us even having to ask. A fantastic and much appreciated touch, one that we really noticed as it doesn't happen enough. The service throughout was excellent.
We had some gorgeous cocktails, one gin and marmalade, one gin and London Pride, and then started to feel a bit peckish.

Hawksmoor has a new bar menu, so we thought we might as well try out a few things. We skipped out on burgers having already tried them before (delicious, by the way) and tried a few of the more interesting sounding things on the menu.

We ordered ox cheek nuggets, ox cheek french dip, pig's head poutine, smashed watermelon and triple cooked chips with lime pickle mayo. Did I mention we were hungry?

It was an absolute feast! Where to begin....

Well our absolute favourite was the ox cheek nuggets. So tender and tasty, they also added a blob of melted cheese in the centre of the nugget that added to the deliciousness of these gorgeous little things. The mayo that came with the chips was so zingy, a real treat.
The pig's head poutine was rich and tender. Sat on a bed of chips, cheese and gravy it was a posh and I'm sure much tastier version of French Canadian fast food. 

The Ox cheek French dip came in the most beautiful brioche bun, the dip was delicious and again the meat was perfectly tender and moist.

The watermelon smash was our healthy bit....refreshing chunks of watermelon and cucumber with mint and a bit of heat came from a few pieces of chilli.

We were so full by this point, but oh no there was no way we were giving up!! The dessert menu at Hawksmoor is incredible, too many things sounds too delicious.

We went for peanut butter shortbread with salted caramel ice cream. The shortbread was thin and crisp, and the peanut butter flavour was not too overwhelming, but perfectly subtle enough to complement the  salted caramel ice cream. The flavours did not compete, which can be the case when the salted caramel is too strong or visa versa.

The came the absolute cherry on top of my already wonderful meal.

Salted. Caramel. Rolos.

My happy face.

They were pure perfection. Everything I had been hoping for, they did not disappoint in the slightest.

The salted caramel flavour was strong inside the crisp, cold chocolate shell. It melted and oozed out but still held its shape. I still recommend popping these whole however, for the full effect of the flavour.

Simply beautiful and so worth the wait. 

Next time is steak time.

York Day 1: Filmore and Union

I went back to York for one last party and celebration before leaving pretty much for good to move home. I wanted to have fun, do things I've always wanted to do in York, eat places I've never been to and just have a few days of gluttony and enjoyment.

I arrived and headed straight to Filmore and Union for dinner with a few friends.

In the centre of Low Petergate, an independently-run cafe and diner opened about a year ago now in York. With two more outlets in Wetherby and Harrogate, I'm not sure you can yet call it a chain but it certainly has the branding and efficiency of a well-oiled machine - either there is more going on behind the scenes of Filmore and Union than they let on, or they just have a great business and marketing team - in which case I am very impressed. They have managed to expand very quickly in such a short space of time.

Their aim is to serve healthy food and take away lunches. The emphasis is on feel-good, look-great food. Even the cakes are supposedly healthy. Though I'm not entirely sure how healthy delicious white chocolate chunk brownies are - I don't ask. Just smile and nod. 

I have had many a soup, salad, sandwich, tagine, coffee, tea and treat from their deli and outlet in the train station. I always look forward to their yummy goodies for my journey. The take out food is pretty expensive in my opinion but I do still buy it because I know it is healthy and home made. I do, however, draw the line at a £3.90 carrot cake muffin. That's more than London pricing, guys. Pig and Pastry will do me a home made take out muffin, double the size of yours, for half the price. Just saying.

They do a very reasonable early bird set menu in their first floor restaurant of the cafe in York and considering how good their deli food is, I was keen to try.

The dining area is small - space for around 30 diners, but it is cosy and comfortable without being cramped and decorated with the perfect balance of modern, chic, homely and cute. A kitchen for the one chef on site is in the corner so you are able to see all your food freshly prepared there and then. The ambience and atmosphere in the room was just what you want for a nice evening out - not too loud (easy listening and jazz playing in the background, sadly no Bublé) but a quietly buzzing, comfortable setting.

An amazing view of York can be seen from the windows. If you go, try asking for the table with the bench and view of the minster!

A bottle of very nice wine was ordered, but that was unfortunately before I noticed the bottle of Hendrick's on the side in all its glory.

The starter was the best dish out of all three courses. They could have doubles its size and served it to me for main, and then again for dessert. It was that good. Baked serrano ham with goat's cheese, basil and olive tapenade with pumpkin bread. All the different textures, from the crunchy beansprouts and soft goat's cheese, made for interesting eating and the ham was divine. Slightly salty and and crunchy. The bread was also incredible.
I hate it when bread tastes so good.

L had steamed mussels with a tomato, coconut and lime sauce, which smelled so so good and she said was excellent.

I then had grilled sea bream, raw fennel and courgette salad with lemon and balsamic dressing. Presented in a minimalist, chic style, the flavous combined beautifully. I loved the fragrant fennel that worked with and didn't over power the fish. The skin was perfectly crispy and full of flavour, that I even ate it - and I never eat the skin!!
After being coerced to eat the flower on top by my friends, that I assumed was just for decoration, after they assured me it wouldn't be on the plate if it wasn't edible, I realised it was indeed just for decoration purposes only, because it was horrible!! Really sour and I imagine exactly what grass would taste like....

J ordered salmon and prawn fish cakes with ginger, lemongrass and chilli with butternut squash and puy lentils. I got to try some of the lentil salad and it was delicious. Similar to the salads that they serve in the deli.

For dessert I had a passion fruit, orange and almond cheesecake served on a generous base of oat and prune instead of a biscuit. The base was so gorgeously gooey and sticky, it reminded me of a homemade granola bar. I will definitely try to replicate this myself. In fact, the base was the star of the show. It was so interesting, I've never had a cheesecake base like it before. The passion fruit flavour of the cake was the strongest, I couldn't taste the orange and almond at all, nevertheless it was delicious. I'm not sure if the cheesecake itself was made slightly different to a "normal" one as the texture was slightly different. Was this then a healthier version?! Let's hope so.

I did not feel ridiculously full at the end of the meal, which isn't a bad thing! I was satisfied, however not stuffed. I put this down to there being no carb with the mains. The food definitely left me feeling healthy and "clean", so they definitely fulfill their objectives.

Overall a very tasty and enjoyable evening! It is such good value for wonderfully made, healthy and tasty food. Would gladly recommend and will head back next time I'm in York! Cheers!

We then headed to a few bars. The Blind Swine opened on Swinegate - in the very old, cobbled street part of town, last year. It bills itself as rock/cocktail/fine-dining restaurant-bar-place. It's the place people are scrambling to get tables - behaviour you don't usually find in York. It comes across as hipster and oh-so-cool.

When I entered, the place screamed try-hard. £2000 cut up amps line the wall with faint rock music playing. I'm not sure if it gets louder as the night goes on, but I definitely heard a cover of "total eclipse of the heart" faintly in the background and then tuned everything else out.

Only three chefs - who you can see working at one end - and two bar staff work there. There is no dedicated waiting staff, so the chefs bring over your food. So cool. Or is it? The fact that no one greeted us when we waled in - a fact previously that I'd clearly taken for granted - made me personally feel unwelcome here. We awkwardly trundled over to the bar, unsure if we were allowed to, waiting to be acknowledged and to be handed a drinks menu.

The drinks and abillity of the bar staff were impressive. They were creative, interesting drinks and unlike anything I've ever tried before. However the names - which some laughed at (and at the time I did too) but upon reflection, the names also scream we're so funny and cool!!

You want a what now?!

The drinks themselves make up for this.

I would still like to try the tasting menu - no idea what would be on it as no menu is online. I assume it changes regularly. I have seen pictures and heard too that the food is fantastic and, again, creative and inventive. There is no other inventive food like this in York, so I'm willing to look past their arrogance and let the food and hard-working chefs-come-waiting-staff to do the talking. 

The night then took us to Pivni - owned by the same company who own Euston Tap in London! But unfortunately craft beer is lost on me, so I just took in the surroundings instead. The pub is in a very cute, old, tiny Tudor era building. Exposed beams and low ceilings, never mind craft beer, if you want a taste of history go to Pivni!!