Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
Friday, 3 July 2009
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Franco Manca (pizzeria) - London, England (8/10)
Feed: World Foodie Guide
Posted on: 14 June 2009 00:01
Author: admin
Subject: Franco Manca (pizzeria) - London, England (8/10)
| Background: People seem to really enjoy the pizzas at Franco Manca in Brixton Market, South London and I've read many a rave review. I must therefore be one of the last food bloggers to make the pilgrimage. When little brother told me that he regularly eats at Franco Manca and Wild Caper, FM's tiny delicatessen and bakery, I thought I'd tag along one lunchtime and see what they were feeding him. First impressions: The legendary queues were another reason for delaying my visit for so long. However, we timed it perfectly, arriving at 2pm on a Friday and seated within a minute or two. Even though my brother knows the waiters, I'll have you know that there was no queue-jumping involved! Franco Manca is split into two small locations, one on each side of the covered market, with a small walkway between them, but there is just one queue. There are tables inside as well as outside and people share tables quite happily, in order to avoid a long wait. Menu: Everything on the simple menu is made with organic ingredients, from the flour to the toppings and the alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. There are just six sourdough pizza options and one daily special (on the board), as well as a few extra toppings at 90p each. Little brother chose number 2 - ricotta from Alham Farm, Somerset, organic pork and mozzarella (no tomato) - £4.90, so I went for number 3 - wild mushrooms, garlic and anchovy (seasonal, subject to availability) - no cheese - £5.20. People all around us were tucking into their pizzas with gusto, and soon we were doing the same. I preferred the ricotta, pork and mozzarella one, but mine was lighter and probably a better choice for lunch. According to Franco Manca, 'the pizza is made from slow-rising sourdough (minimum 20 hours) and baked in a wood burning 'tufae' brick oven made in Naples by a specialised artisan. The slow levitation and blast-cooking process lock in the flour's natural aroma and moisture giving a soft and easily digestible crust. As a result, the edge (cornicione) is excellent and shouldn't be discarded'. The verdict: I can't say whether Franco Manca's pizzas are the best in London or not, as I don't eat pizza often enough to be able to make that comparison. Fellow food bloggers will hopefully be able to help me out here with thoughts on this subject. However, I can say with confidence that the sourdough base was delightfully crispy, not too thick and doughy, not too thin and floppy (I don't normally finish the crust, but none remained this time) and the two toppings that I did try were excellent. Next time, I'm going to add more extras on my pizza and 'super-size' it up a bit! Two pizzas, a large bottle of homemade lemonade, small salad and service charge came to a grand total of £15.70. Not bad at all for lunch in London, considering everything was organic, and I was stuffed for hours afterwards. NB A few doors down is Wild Caper. It's a tiny place with two communal tables outside where you can enjoy tea and a slice of cake or lunchtime soup, made fresh daily. They sell organic fruit and vegetables, cheese, Sicilian olive oil, sourdough bread and other delectable products. It's well worth a visit after Franco Manca, and I couldn't leave without picking up some pimenton and jasmine silver tip tea. Click here to see the entire set of photos from Franco Manca and Wild Caper. 10 - Perfection, 9.5 - Sensational, 9 - Outstanding, 8.5 - Superb, All the London restaurant reviews on World Foodie Guide Contact details: Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 12-5pm Helen Yuet Ling Pang @ World Foodie Guide |
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Hix Oyster & Chop House (British) - London, England (9/10) | Reviews | World Foodie Guide
Hix Oyster & Chop House (British) - London, England (9/10) | Reviews | World Foodie Guide: "« How To Make Indian Karahi Lamb ChopsWhat’s Your Favourite Dim Sum? »Hix Oyster & Chop House (British) - London, England (9/10)
Mar 10th, 2009 by admin
Background:
It was a toss-up between dinner at Hix Oyster & Chop House or Hawksmoor. I didn’t really mind when my"
Mar 10th, 2009 by admin
Background:
It was a toss-up between dinner at Hix Oyster & Chop House or Hawksmoor. I didn’t really mind when my"
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Le Café Anglais revisited - London, England (8.5/10) | Reviews | World Foodie Guide
Le Café Anglais revisited - London, England (8.5/10) Reviews World Foodie Guide: "« Taste of London 2009Le Café Anglais revisited - London, England (8.5/10)
Jun 23rd, 2009 by admin
Background:
When our Canadian friends visited London recently, I had to think hard about where to take them for dinner. As we’d already dined at The Wolseley, Konstam and Yauatcha with them over the last two years, I wanted to maintain the high standards to which they’re accustomed in London. In the end, I chose Le Café Anglais because I had an excellent meal there nine months ago and had recently been recommending it to other friends."
Jun 23rd, 2009 by admin
Background:
When our Canadian friends visited London recently, I had to think hard about where to take them for dinner. As we’d already dined at The Wolseley, Konstam and Yauatcha with them over the last two years, I wanted to maintain the high standards to which they’re accustomed in London. In the end, I chose Le Café Anglais because I had an excellent meal there nine months ago and had recently been recommending it to other friends."
Monday, 22 June 2009
Friday, 22 May 2009
Moti Mahal
Website: "On the Grand Trunk Road
Qabali Seviyan Kabul 8
I experienced this unique Afghan dish in Kabul at the end of my journey and fell in love with its divine rich texture. A vermicelli and masala chicken supreme is tossed with pine nuts and baked in an egg custard"
Qabali Seviyan Kabul 8
I experienced this unique Afghan dish in Kabul at the end of my journey and fell in love with its divine rich texture. A vermicelli and masala chicken supreme is tossed with pine nuts and baked in an egg custard"
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Mirch Masala, Whitechapel
Cheese and Biscuits: Mirch Masala, Whitechapel: "So, and here comes something I never thought I'd say, Mirch Masala may have done enough to replace Tayyabs as my curry house of choice in the East End. It's not just because of the food, either - although Mirch will certainly give them a run for their money. The problem is, thanks to people like me going on about how good Tayyabs is, it's more or less impossible to get in these days unless you turn up at 5:30pm or are willing to wait for two hours. And once you're in, securing a spot with enough room to use your elbows and not have people knocking you on the back of the head on the way to the toilets is yet another challenge. Mirch Masala serves tasty, cheap food (our feast for two came to £19 in total) in infinitely more relaxed (if rather canteen-y) surroundings and is a big enough restaurant that you don't have to sprint there after work to get a table. It has everything going for it. Let's just see how long it takes for the rest of the city to catch on... can you keep a secret?"
Hawksmoor Steak Tasting - London, England | World Foodie Guide
Hawksmoor Steak Tasting - London, England World Foodie Guide: "« Sorabol (Korean) - New Malden, England (6/10)Koba (Korean) revisited - London, England (8.5/10) »Hawksmoor Steak Tasting - London, England
Apr 26th, 2009 by admin
I’m partial to a thick, juicy steak. Having spent my childhood years in Germany, I grew up on steak and even had it for breakfast most Sundays when my parents took me to the nearby American Club. However, living with a vegetarian who’s also in charge of the kitchen makes life as a carnivore a little tricky. I’ve only recently started dabbling in a little meat cooking at home, with separate frying pan, saucepan, chopping board and knife, but I mostly only get meat on the plate when I eat out.
Fellow food bloggers love London steakhouse Hawksmoor. So when a few of us were invited to a steak tasting session of some ‘guest breeds’ at the restaurant, I was delirious with anticipation. Hawksmoor’s steak is supplied by award-winning butcher The Ginger Pig and comes from Longhorn cattle, hung for 35 days and simply cooked on a real charcoal grill"
Apr 26th, 2009 by admin
I’m partial to a thick, juicy steak. Having spent my childhood years in Germany, I grew up on steak and even had it for breakfast most Sundays when my parents took me to the nearby American Club. However, living with a vegetarian who’s also in charge of the kitchen makes life as a carnivore a little tricky. I’ve only recently started dabbling in a little meat cooking at home, with separate frying pan, saucepan, chopping board and knife, but I mostly only get meat on the plate when I eat out.
Fellow food bloggers love London steakhouse Hawksmoor. So when a few of us were invited to a steak tasting session of some ‘guest breeds’ at the restaurant, I was delirious with anticipation. Hawksmoor’s steak is supplied by award-winning butcher The Ginger Pig and comes from Longhorn cattle, hung for 35 days and simply cooked on a real charcoal grill"
Buen Ayre - Argentine Grill - Hackney/London
Buen Ayre - Argentine Grill - Hackney/London: "PLATOS PRINCIPALES
(Main Courses)
Bife de chorizo con guarnición £20.00
14oz grilled prime Argentine Sirloin steak with garnish
Bife de lomo con guarnición £22.50
10oz grilled Argentine Fillet steak with garnish
Bife ancho con guarnición £17.00
11oz grilled Argentine Rib-eye steak with garnish
Bife de cuadril con morrones y guarnición £16.00
10oz grilled Argentine Rump steak with peppers and garnish
Churrasco con morrones y guarnición £11.50
8oz grilled Argentine Sirloin steak with peppers and garnish
Vacío con guarnición £10.50
Grilled flank steak with garnish (ask about availability)
Chorizos criollos con guarnición £8.00
Two Argentine-style pork and beef sausages with peppers and garnish
Mollejas con guarnición £16
Sweerbread with peppers and garnish"
(Main Courses)
Bife de chorizo con guarnición £20.00
14oz grilled prime Argentine Sirloin steak with garnish
Bife de lomo con guarnición £22.50
10oz grilled Argentine Fillet steak with garnish
Bife ancho con guarnición £17.00
11oz grilled Argentine Rib-eye steak with garnish
Bife de cuadril con morrones y guarnición £16.00
10oz grilled Argentine Rump steak with peppers and garnish
Churrasco con morrones y guarnición £11.50
8oz grilled Argentine Sirloin steak with peppers and garnish
Vacío con guarnición £10.50
Grilled flank steak with garnish (ask about availability)
Chorizos criollos con guarnición £8.00
Two Argentine-style pork and beef sausages with peppers and garnish
Mollejas con guarnición £16
Sweerbread with peppers and garnish"
Roast Restaurant London, Deliciously British
Roast Restaurant London, Deliciously British: "British cooking
We will research both ancient and modern dishes as well as cooking techniques.
Using British ingredients wherever we can, placing emphasis on the sourcing and provenance of products, we intend to explore dishes and recipes that also highlight seasonality.
From succulent spit roasts and deeply flavoured puddings cooked over days, through to organically grown salad leaves that have real taste, British cooking can rightly take its place on the international stage."
We will research both ancient and modern dishes as well as cooking techniques.
Using British ingredients wherever we can, placing emphasis on the sourcing and provenance of products, we intend to explore dishes and recipes that also highlight seasonality.
From succulent spit roasts and deeply flavoured puddings cooked over days, through to organically grown salad leaves that have real taste, British cooking can rightly take its place on the international stage."
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Calling London Sushi Buffs - U.K./Ireland - Chowhound
Calling London Sushi Buffs - U.K./Ireland - Chowhound: "Calling London Sushi Buffs
Related to my other recent post, I wanted to sound out people about London sushi options to find out if I am missing anything or anywhere notable.
I have become accustomed to really high level sushi dinners in New York where I have lived for the last 2 years as well as on a couple of trips I have made to Tokyo/Japan in recent times. This means that for me the bar has been raised and places I may have previously rated highly in London no longer cut the mustard. Relevant as I am likely to be returning to London full time later in the year.
My sense is that London is not a premier sushi city for the moment (but is improving) and seems to have gone more down the path of 'designerish' Japanese restaurants in recent times. In particular I am keen to hear about places where you can sit at a sushi counter, interact with the sushi chef and do a piece by piece omakase; places where they import fish direct from Japan such as madai (snapper), kinmedai (baby snapper), sayori (needlefish), kohada (shad); places where they use fresh wasabi; places where they are adorning the high grade fish with interesting and imaginative sauce, drizzle, marinade, herb/spice pairings, places with an extensive sake list.
Over the years I have tried a lot of both the usual suspects and also the less usual suspects and favour places like Cafe Japan, Sushi Say, Kiku, Hiro (Ealing), Saki as well as the sushi counter in Selfridge's Food Hall and in the Yaohan Plaza supermarket. In New York, Yasuda, Ushi Wakamaru, Shimizu, Kanoyama and Seki are some of my favourite places.
Any and all insights/recommendations will be gratefully received.
Thanks."
Related to my other recent post, I wanted to sound out people about London sushi options to find out if I am missing anything or anywhere notable.
I have become accustomed to really high level sushi dinners in New York where I have lived for the last 2 years as well as on a couple of trips I have made to Tokyo/Japan in recent times. This means that for me the bar has been raised and places I may have previously rated highly in London no longer cut the mustard. Relevant as I am likely to be returning to London full time later in the year.
My sense is that London is not a premier sushi city for the moment (but is improving) and seems to have gone more down the path of 'designerish' Japanese restaurants in recent times. In particular I am keen to hear about places where you can sit at a sushi counter, interact with the sushi chef and do a piece by piece omakase; places where they import fish direct from Japan such as madai (snapper), kinmedai (baby snapper), sayori (needlefish), kohada (shad); places where they use fresh wasabi; places where they are adorning the high grade fish with interesting and imaginative sauce, drizzle, marinade, herb/spice pairings, places with an extensive sake list.
Over the years I have tried a lot of both the usual suspects and also the less usual suspects and favour places like Cafe Japan, Sushi Say, Kiku, Hiro (Ealing), Saki as well as the sushi counter in Selfridge's Food Hall and in the Yaohan Plaza supermarket. In New York, Yasuda, Ushi Wakamaru, Shimizu, Kanoyama and Seki are some of my favourite places.
Any and all insights/recommendations will be gratefully received.
Thanks."
Ba Shan
Restaurants in London - Restaurant Guide and Reviews - Time Out London: "Ba Shan
From the creators of Bar Shu and Baozi Inn comes this new restaurant, with a focus on the 'small eats' of Sichuan and northern China"
From the creators of Bar Shu and Baozi Inn comes this new restaurant, with a focus on the 'small eats' of Sichuan and northern China"
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