Afternoon snack at Paul Bankside

Afternoon tea was created in the 1800's consisting of tea, mini sandwiches, scones and cakes. I love afternoon tea. Its not just the cakes, it's the whole experience of sitting in an elegant and relaxing setting, seeing a little tiered stand of artwork (cakes). But the afternoon experience can be a lengthy process. It shouldn't be rushed, it should be savored. Not everyone has time to have an afternoon tea each day, let alone each week. But today I had a little extra time on my hands so decided to pop into the newly opened Paul on Bankside. The huge glass front is welcoming and you can see from the outside the cakes and pastries awaiting you inside. I've been to Paul's many times before, mainly take away and rarely get the chance to eat in. Today I had a millefeuille. The millfeuille's pastry was light, crisp and flaky as it should be, you could feel each layer as you bit into it. The custard, hint of vanilla and creamy. the icing on top gave the dish the sweetness with each bite. Yummy!!

Blue Moon Tufnell Park

It was snowing outside and cold, so whats best for lunchtime, something warming and perhaps spicy. So I went down to Blue Moon Thai restaurant in Tufnell Park. They offer a lunch meal deal; starter, main and a drink for £7.95. So to start I had chicken tom yum soup. It was just what this weather needed, hot, spicy with a sour tang, delicious. I don't think I've had tom yum soup this nice anywhere. Ok I haven't tried all that London has to offer in tom yum soup, but this one is tasty. Then I had the pad siew with tofu. Fried soft thick rice noodles with crispy tofu and crunchy veggies, had the right balance of saltiness with a slight sweetness coming through. Yummy!! This isn't my first time here, and chicken tom yum soup is what I do tend to usually order, especially in this cold weather, but every time I do come here, the staff are always friendly and welcoming. 

It is a little disturbing that I'm already thinking about going there again for lunch tomorrow?? If any of you know the Tufnell Park area, it is pretty dreary and lack culinary offerings, but this is a little gem

M&S hot chocolate profiteroles

After my lunch at the M&S food to go counter, I had to browse the dessert aisle. I have a massive sweet tooth and love dessert. Just standing in front of the desserts on display feels so tranquil, it brings me back to being in a sweet shop and looking up at all of those jars filled with sweets.

The hot chocolate profiteroles caught my eye. I thought how could you have hot chocolate mixed with profiteroles? surely the hot chocolate would melt the cream and would make it slightly curdle.

You just heat the profiteroles in the oven for 8 mins and heat the chocolate sauce for 20 secs, put it together and there you go....

The profiteroles had a nice crust, inside was a sweet custard filling. The chocolate sauce comes separate which is just as well, since the profiteroles and the chocolate sauce together can be slightly sweet... even for me. But I love the idea that they've take the humble profiterole and taken it where you can reheat these at home and would make a great dessert for when you have guests round and would want to impress, without having to make the choux pastry from scratch

Marks & Spencer food to go

So it was lunchtime, passing a Marks & Spencer food to go counter. I used to work near a M&S so would often browse the food to go menu for something different at lunchtime. Today I saw something different from the usual sandwiches and burgers on offer... BBQ ribs, potato wedges and coleslaw. As soon as I saw this on the board I offered it straight away, without even reading it properly.

When the ribs came, I thought they might be pork ribs, however they looked like too big to be pork, more like baby dinosaur ribs, of course it was beef. The ribs were sweet, slightly smoky and sticky, all you could want from bbq ribs. The meat was so tender it just fell off the bones. Of course ribs are the type of food you eat with your hands, which make the whole experience that more gratifying; trying to make sure you don't have bbq sauce around your mouth, but then realizing that they're too tasty to care.

The coleslaw was crunchy and creamy, however had a little too much raw onion in, which leaves a lingering taste of raw onion in your mouth. The potato wedges were that, potato wedges, slightly crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. But the star of the show are the ribs.

All of this only came to £4.95, what a bargain!! Definitely getting this again, if only there was a M&S closer to my work so I could get this more easily.

Gaucho Tower Bridge

I love steak. Steak and chips is definitely one of my all time most favourite meals. It's such a comforting meal, fills you up but also allows you to bring out the carnivorous side.
The service at Gaucho was very friendly and I love that they have a meat board and want to explain the cuts of meat to you. It definitely adds to the whole carnivorous experience, having raw cuts of meat laid out on a wooden board. It might sound a little hannibal lecter but looking at the meat board and hearing the waiters explain the board makes me salivate and you know there are good things to come.
I ordered the Churrasco de Chorizo; sirloin marinated for 48 hours, medium.The steak was soft and buttery, so easy to cut and succulent on the palate. I was famished upon entering Gaucho and this made a real dent in my belly. The steak was so easy to cut with a knife, perhaps the fact that the steak has been marinaded for hours that it has made the steak more tender? The chips were crisp with a hint of rosemary. I love the little crunchy little chip ends at the bottom of the bowl, makes it a little treat at the end of the meal.
The bar within this Gaucho is relaxing and a nice quiet spot for drinks, and the barmaid is willing to make whatever drink you want from their vast array of spirits. You just tell them what flavours you fancy and out it comes. I had a fruity strawberry number which had a sugar rim around the glass which was delicious.

Next time I really want to try the chorizo starter. I can't think of anything better than a spicy paprika sausage before a big steak. hmmmmmm

Geales Notting Hill Gate

Friday night dinner at Geales. Maybe there was a rush of customers around the corner, however the staff were a bit slow when taking our orders, and we were failed to be informed until we order that they had run out of sole.

 Starters: whitbait and tempura soft shell crab. The whitbait were crunchy and the soft shell crab had a soft flesh inside its crunchy light tempura batter.

 Mains: grilled john dory, battered haddock and a fish pie. The john dory was reasonable, the haddock's batter had a nice crunch however was slightly overcooked. The fish pie was "interesting". There was a crunch topping of breadcrumbs, which was to cover the burnt cheese topping. Underneath was big chunks of fish, prawns and peas (however the peas were looking a little grey), most bizarre was at the bottom...

For some reason, at the bottom of the pie, the pie appears to be burnt. We informed the waitress, who did not know how the pie was cooked, so she asked the chef. She returned to say that the pie wasn't burnt it was in fact "caramelised". I think the word "caramelised" is used by chef to sound trendy and avoid the fact that the food is in fact very very brown towards being burnt. At least it didn't taste charcoal burnt, it just gave the pie a slight nutty taste. I was not impressed with the pie at all. You could pop down to the supermarket and get a better fish pie which wouldn't be burnt.

We looked over at the table next to us and saw a couple eating a seafood platter, this looked so yummy and made us all envious.

And the damage...?

I reckon service would be better if you're a known local, as they seem more attentive to the local customers. What they really need to change however is the fish pie and the annoying fact that you can hear the chef call "service" every time a dish is ready. Surely with modern technology nowadays they could invest in something where customers do not need to hear this.
Maybe this is petty, however, I do find it very bizarre that this is a fish restaurant but they do not give you a fish knife to eat fish with?

Bill's Brewer Street Restaurant

I went to Bill's Brewer Street on 30th December 2012. The place had a buzz about it and was busy for a Sunday night. The staff are very friendly and attentive. I had a ginger beer, it was a nice touch that they serve it with a sprig of mint and a slice of fresh ginger in the glass at the same time. I had a mac & cheese which was with wild mushrooms and leeks with a crumb topping. The mac & cheese was creamy and rich with a hint of leeks. I only wished it would take more cheesy, with actual wild mushrooms and needed a little more seasoning. Maybe it was the dark setting by candle light that I could see any wild mushrooms but I couldn't taste any either. D had the fish pie, which was he said "bland" as he kept reaching for the salt and pepper whilst eating. However this may also be the fact that he has eaten the fish pie at J Sheekey and nowhere's fish pie has ever matched it. M had the pan fried salmon with beetroot tortellini. The salmon was a touch over cooked however the beetroot tortellini was fresh and different from the usual tortellini on offer.

 Bill's took over from Aldo Zilli's fish restaurant which was previously on this site. I visited Zilli fish last year when it was still there and I have to say I much prefer Bill's, especially as the staff are so much more friendly and attentive, without any pretentiousness.

All in all, Bill's is a good place for dinner with friends or to bring a date. The food is ok with a homely feel about it.