Tapas for two

On Saturday Mr. Sprinkle and I took a trip to the Organic Farmers' Market in Stoke Newington.  A great little market where you can find an excellent selection of meat, fish, cheese, bread, vegetables, greens and pick up a coffee or small meal.  We went at a dangerous time i.e. right before lunchtime and went crazy picking up sausages, wild garlic, potatoes, cheese, lettuce and delicious sandwiches from "The Mushroom Table".  These consist of mushrooms fried in a bit of olive oil with herbs served on tasty bread with a wonderfully generous amount of freshly grated parmesan on top.  Simple is sometimes the best way forward.  Bearing that in mind and inspired by the warm, sunny weather we decided to turn our kitchen into a mini-Madrid tapas place for the evening. 

On the menu: patatas bravas inspired by a Jamie Oliver recipe, fried chorizo, cheese from the market, bread, olives, a salad, and a bottle of wine (Chianti, I must admit).  I used cooking chorizo from Brindisa which I picked up in my local food mecca, The De Beauvoir Deli. The bread and olives were also from the deli.

The salad was made up of chopped lettuce, sliced tomatoes, diced feta cheese, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. I dressed the salad with olive oil, vinaigrette, salt and pepper. 

Patatas bravas for 4 amigos: 500g of potatoes
1-2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
1 can of tomatoes
sherry vinegar
smoked paprika
fennel seeds
1 peeled diced onion
1 peeled and finely chopped carrot
2 peeled and finely chopped cloves of garlic

1. Boil the potatoes for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile make the sauce by frying the garlic and onion in a bit of olive oil for a few minutes then add the carrot. Add the canned tomatoes and a tablespoonful of sherry vinegar after another few minutes. Stir and bring the sauce to a boil then lower the heat and let it simmer.
3. Cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces.  Pour olive oil into a pan and fry the potatoes until light brown.  You will probably need to fry them in batches. Place the potatoes in a dish with a sheet of kitchen towel as you finish frying them.  Fry the rosemary with your last batch of potatoes. Sprinkle the potatoes with the rosemary, smoked paprika and fennel seeds.
4. Serve the patatas with the sauce. 

It was a perfect little meal to wrap up a gorgeous day - I think I will be making more tapas this summer! 
The Organic Farmers' Market in Stoke Newington is on every Saturday from 10am to 2.30pm at William Patten School on Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0NX.

The De Beauvoir Deli is on 98 Southgate Road, N1 3JD

Proper posts on both are coming up.

Explaining the queues outside the Breakfast Club

For a while I'd been pondering about the long queues that seem to form every weekend outside The Breakfast Club in Angel and Hoxton.  I mean how desperate can you be for a full english? Why are people spending precious weekend mornings in lines that goes half way around a block?   Can eggs benedict be that good?  Do you get infinite bloody mary refills?  Do the staff serve the breakfast naked?  

Last Friday I set out find answers to all my questions on my cheeky day off with Mr. Sprinkle.  I intentionally went on a Friday as you haven't met a bitch until you've met me in a queue waiting for breakfast.  We fortunately waltzed right in to the BC in Angel and got to pick between 6 or so different tables.  I quickly noticed that the staff is dressed so I crossed the "naked staff" explanation of my list of possible explanations as to why people stand in line for a table.  Upon examining the menu I found a pretty big clue about the queues.  List every single awesome breakfast dish you've ever had and you've got the BC's menu.  Nostalgic for the breakfast you had during your trip to New York?  Have the All American.  Really hungover?  Have the Full Monty. Desperate for something sweet?  Order some French toast.  Something healthy? Try the porridge. 

Mr. Sprinkle went for the Full Monty while I had the breakfast burrito.  I'm still dreaming about my burrito which was filled with scrambled eggs, chorizo, roasted pepper, guacamole and cheddar.   It was quite big, but I was determined to enjoy every bite of it and did.  Mr. Sprinkle was very happy with his full Monty which had everything you would expect from a full English. 

Not only is there a great choice of dishes, but they also serve up freshly squeezed juices, homemade smoothies and delicious coffee.   Best part?  Not one bit of stinginess - you order a smoothie and you get a nice big glass of it.   Likewise with the juice.  No two mouthful glasses here.  Mr. Sprinkle had a delicious smoothie while I had the freshest tasting apple juice in my life.   No coincidence there - I walk past the BC in Angel on my way to work and see the amounts of fresh fruit that goes into their kitchen.  

I can only speak for the BC in Angel, but the place is bound to brighten up any old grey morning.  Bright colours, 80s nostalgia on the walls and a giant orange SMEG fridge.  Moreover, the staff are friendly and welcoming.  

I will definitely be back on my next time I have a day off work or if I happen to wake up very very early on a weekend.  The Breakfast Club is truly awesome.  I can understand why people queue patiently outside every weekend though I best not try given my temper. 

The Breakfast Club has 3 locations in London at the moment (with a forth one planned around Spitalfields):

Angel: 31 Camden Passage N1 8EA

Hoxton: 2-4 Rufus Street N1 6PE

SoHo: 33 D'Arblay Street W1F 8EU

There is reason behind the Hawksmoor hype

After reading and hearing about Hawksmoor for months, Mr. Sprinkle and I decided to go for dinner at the Spitalfields branch last Friday. Boy, what a great idea that was.  It was one of the best meals I have had in London.  Basic ingredients cooked to perfection.

Between us we had a plate of oysters, a lobster, a fillet steak, a rib-eye steak, a brownie with a scoop of salted caramel ice cream and sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream.  

Here is how the meal went.

I haven't eaten oysters on many occasions so unless the oyster leaves you with food poisoning, I am not sure there are different degrees of oysters (any thoughts on this?). I had half a lobster prepared with garlic and hazelnut butter. It was tender, pretty and delicious.  I could eat a Hawksmoor lobster every day. 

Next up were the steaks which the lovely waiter had helped us select.  Mr. Sprinkle's fillet steak and my rib eye steak were tender and full of flavour; both had a perfect char taste which I know is tricky to produce.  Cook it a second too long and you end up with a steak tasting like charcoal. Mr. Sprinkle had his half lobster with the steak surf 'n' turf style and we shared some triple-cooked chips, roasted root vegetables and a salad.  The chips were divine, the salad was fine while the root veggies were a bit disappointing.  I was hoping for crisp veggies but these were soggy.

As you can imagine we were pretty full at this point, but a quick glance at the pudding menu made us conclude that "when in Rome". Thank goodness because the desserts placed in front of us were mighty fine.  I had the brownie with salted caramel ice cream - need I say more?  It was delicious! Hot and cold, sugar and salt on one plate. Not surprising as the latter set of opposites is McDonalds' secret to selling millions of burgers across the globe each year. Mr. Sprinkle meanwhile enjoyed a sticky toffee pudding with a dollop of clotted cream.  The opposites weren't as extreme as in my pudding, but the round taste of cream went very well with the salty toffee.  

In short Hawksmoor is a meat-eaters paradise. The dimmed lighting, exposed red brick walls and dark wooden furniture creates a perfect setting for eating steak.  Our table was close to the busy bar so it was a bit noisy, but that is only to be expected on a Friday night in Shoreditch.  

Ironically, Hawksmoor has put me off eating meat.  Since that rib eye last week I've decided only to eat good meat.  In London this choice unfortunately often comes with quite a price tag so from now on I will be exploring the world of vegetarians. I will of course continue to keep a (rib)eye on the prize.

Hawksmoor Spitalfields is located on 157 Commercial Street E1 6BJ

*sorry for the poor photos - as mentioned the lighting was quite dim and I was trying to be discreet.

Exploring new neighbourhoods

Apologies for the long silence; these past couple of weeks have been pretty frantic.  I've started a new job and moved to a new flat.  So long office in Clerkenwell and flat in Stockwell, lovely to meet you office by Great Portland Street Station and flat in De Beauvoir Town.  Oh and nice to finally be online while sitting on the couch in my pjs.

I'm loving my new neighbourhood though I already miss my regular places in Stockwell and its vicinity: the Old Post Office Bakery, the Canton Arms, Brunswick House Cafe, the Oval Lounge, and the Oval Farmers Market.I will also miss the lively strip of Portuguese restaurants and shops on South Lambeth Road not to mention popping into Nardulli's across from Clapham Common for a cheeky gelato.  Luckily I've only moved across the river and, though switching banks is a big deal in London terms, I have every intention of visiting my old pastures every now and again.

I haven't explored my new office neighbourhood much yet, but I'm hoping to discover places that will make up for the fact that I am no longer in lunch-distance from Pho, Burrito Bros, Look Mum No Hands, the Larder and the White Cross Street Market. So far I've enjoyed a delicious lunch and dinner at The Queen's Head and Artichoke on Albany Street.

Meanwhile my two favourite discoveries in my new neighbourhood are the De Beauvoir Deli and Sabor. I will do proper blog posts on these and much more very soon. Just wanted to say that I am back!

Brunswick House Cafe - a gem within a gem

Upon moving to Stockwell nearly two years ago, Mr. Sprinkle and I went wandering one day and discovered Brunswick House by Vauxhall.  At the time this old Georgian mansion was home to Lassco, a marvellous antique dealer selling everything from art deco furniture to 19th century maps to original Victorian mantelpieces. It still is, but the mansion has also become home to Brunswick House Cafe.  I usually find much truth in the old "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" but what a sensible addition to this gem! You can now marvel at the wonderful furniture and fixtures that fill the mansion from cellar to top floor and either begin or end your tour with a cup of gorgeous coffee, a cocktail or a meal.  Two words: perfect Sunday.  

I went twice this past weekend. On Friday I went to my friends' engagement party and on Sunday I went for brunch with Mr. Sprinkle.  Both times were delightful. The main room is decorated with an impressive assortment of furniture from different periods and lit by one chandelier bigger than the next.  Think Mad Men meets Downton Abbey. 

On Friday I must admit that I only hit up the bar - had a pretty tasty white wine.  I regret not trying the cocktails - the menu offers a very respectable selection of classics.  It seems a perfect venue for enjoying a Manhattan.  

For brunch I had mushrooms on toast while Mr. Sprinkle went for the hamhock and bean on toast.  Simple and cooked to perfection. 

The main room

The cafe

Exploring the rest of the mansion

 

Located on 30 Wandsworth Road, Vauxhall, London SW8 2LG, New Brunswick Cafe is a 2-minute walk form Vauxhall Tube Station. See opening hours here. 

Lentil soup with chorizo and savoy

Here is an easy recipe, perfect for brightening up these drab January evenings.  It takes 10 minutes to prepare and needs to cook for 40 minutes i.e. enough time to read a chapter in your book, catch up on Gossip Girl or take a warm bath.  Meanwhile a delicious smell will spread across your home.

To serve 4 people:

200g of chorizo, sliced into small pieces

1 chopped savoy cabbage

1 chopped white onion

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

400g of lentils 

1 can of chick peas

1 can of tomatoes

2 tablespoonfuls of tomato paste

400ml of chicken stock

smoked paprika

dried thyme

salt & pepper 

1. Heat a big pot on the stove and add the sliced chorizo. Let it fry for a minute then add the onion and garlic.  Fry until the onions are light brown then lower the heat and add a tablespoonful of thyme, a teaspoonful of smoked paprika and the lentils. Mix it well.

2. Next add the canned tomatoes, 2 tablespoonfuls of tomato paste and chicken stock. Stir it well.  Bring it to a boil then reduce the heat and let it simmer with the lid on for 35 - 40 minutes.

3. Add the chick peas and savoy cabbage.  Mix it well with the soup and let it simmer for 7 minutes.  Add salt and pepper to your liking.

This is quite a thick soup and can easily be eaten on its own or with some bread.

     

Fremont Diner in Sonoma, CA

This will be my last post about places to eat in northern California this time around.   I have saved the best for last: the Fremont Diner in beautiful Sonoma. A place that ticks all the boxes - excellent food, excellent atmosphere and excellent service.  I realise most people visit Sonoma to indulge in wine, but if you're in the area, you really ought to have at least one meal here in between tastings. 

You couldn't dream up a better place; I have accepted that I will probably never eat a whole hog sandwich as tasty as the one I had at the diner until I return.

     

Run by caterer Chad Harris this place serves classic American dishes including hamburgers, chilli con carne, mac & cheese, ribs, and fried chicken.  Each dish is cooked to perfection and served with nice sides. My whole hog sandwich came with pickled fennel and perfect fries.  The chilli was served with freshly baked corn bread.  Each portion was just the right size.

      

Situated against a backdrop of vineyards, the diner is beautifully located but looks pretty rundown from the outside. Step inside and it is a whole other story.  The counter is reminiscent of an old grocery store while the seating area is bright and full of quirky retro signs and objects. 

 

  

            

The Fremont Diner is located on 2698 Fremont Drive, Sonoma, CA, 95476. Tel. 707-938-7370.