Culinary Adventures with Marmite

Kitchen Delights London Reporter gets to grips with an intriguing Marmite menu........

Love it or hate it - Marmite has been a firm staple of British life since records began (well since I was born). This dark sticky brown paste certainly makes an impression – whether on my morning toast or via a loving dollop popped into my spag bol to bring out the flavour.  So now we know that I don’t hate it.

It was with wild excitement that I was invited to try a Marmite curry at Cinnamon Soho in London’s West End. Talk about being innovative and catching the attention of a bunch of curious food blogger's. You’ll have to read on to see if it worked…

Here is what Vivek Singh, the man behind Cinnamon created for us.

                                                Stir fried shrimp, Marmite and pepper fry

Yummy! Yummy! The marmite gave it a subtle depth and surprisingly, went well with the shrimp – a bit like a flavoursome glaze and very moreish!

               Seared fillet of sea bream, Marmite and curry leaf crust, Marmite coconut sauce

Wow – you wouldn’t think it, but this was by far my favourite dish - I don’t know how, but it worked. The Marmite was infused with a curry leaf crusting so you could enjoy the delicate taste of the white fish but with a zingy after taste of Marmite cutting through.

                            Chilli and peanut chicken breast with a Marmite korma sauce -                                                                                     Marmite and honey, chilli-garlic naan

A great idea, combination wise, but not the holy trinity of the curry world. I’m not sure if I was just mourning a typical korma sauce for this Indian classic.

                                              Marmite Chocolate and Cardamom Mousse

I can’t say I loved this – I really wasn’t feeling it with the chocolate and cardamom – I felt it was too earthy but I did like the salt interspersed throughout the mousse. My fellow diners loved it though!

                                       All this can be yours as a set Marmite Menu for £35

Thanks a million to Cinnamon Soho
www.cinnamonsoho.com

Cheers to the Best of Britannia

               The Wild Game Co won the Young British Foodies Street Food Award for 2012-13
                                                             Kamm & Sons - Ginseng Spirits

Did anyone manage to get to Best of Britannia recently? If not, then here is the low down, especially for you. Tucked into an exposed brick East End warehouse, this was a showcase of British products and an opportunity to hear the stories of some of the more fashionable brands out there.

Amongst the sea of tweed jackets, hip bicycles and vintage light shades were a healthy representation of the latest independent traders of British food and drink. Nyetimber were present selling some of their finest English sparkling wines and in the outside area you could catch a band whilst munching on a lobster roll from Bob's Lobster.

Bob's Lobster

Harry Brompton's London Ice Tea

Something which did catch my eye was Harry Brompton’s London Ice Tea. Made from Kenyan tea with a hint of citrus, this lightly sparkling drink at 4% ABV was certainly a first for me. Although I found the combination a little perplexing before I tried it - it worked beautifully! The drink reminded me slightly of dandelion and burdock and smacked of summer in a bottle.

This drink has been positioned as a premium product and with the more discerning tastes we’re seeing in tea currently (check out Good & Proper Tea as an example), this could well be a drink which will tip next year.

Keeping on the theme of tea check out Comins Tea House who not only source tea but make an amazing range of tea ware including storage tins and tea caddy spoons – ideal Christmas gifts.

A range of tea caddy spoons from Comins Tea House

www.bestofbritannia.com
www.harrybromptons.com
www.goodandpropertea.com
www.cominsteahouse.co.uk

Posting courtesy of Kitchen Delights London Reporter @PaulFoodie

Diciannove Italian Restaurant Launch - London

Kitchen Delights London Reporter @PaulFoodie is invited to the launch party of Diciannove and enjoys the most luxurious chocolate dessert.......

Diciannove is the latest Italian restaurant to hit London town. Nestling in the smart Crowne Plaza hotel in London’s Blackfriars, this is a quirky take on an Italian restaurant both for food and the interior.

We went to the launch night and were treated to prosecco, cocktails and nibbles from the in-house deli such as 24 month matured cheese and various cured meats. We also tried zucchini fritters with anchovy sauce and indulged in some fantastic pizza.

The restaurant is split into zones to meet different needs for different occasions. One moment we found ourselves on seats which could have come from inside a tube carriage – perfect to enjoy with friends or family, to more elegant dining areas with large round tables where you would go for a celebration.

To end the evening we were treated to a chocolate pot - a signature dessert called 'Delizia al Cioccolato' - a rich chocolate mousse with chocolate salami - wow! It really works despite the unusual flavour combination!

Grazie to the Executive Chef Alessandro Bay and his team - see you again soon.

Address: Diciannove, Crowne Plaza London, The City, 19 New Bridge Street, Blackfriars, London, EC4V 6DB  (just around the corner from St Paul’s Cathedral)

All Day Dining Central & Co Style - Review

Kitchen Delights London Reporter @PaulFoodie gets to eat steak and drinks a few cheeky cocktails........

I love the concept of all day dining. A cheeky croissant at breakfast time, a spot of brunch with friends, or a late supper after a hard day at work. What I most like is the idea that a venue is always ready for me, like a home from home.

Clover Club Cocktail

As we know, London is a busy place, so a reliable and trusted eatery goes a very long way in this city. I was thrilled to be invited to try out Central & Co which is a brasserie and wine bar on Great Marlborough Street, just around the corner from the Palladium Theatre. We arrived for an evening meal and were greeted with a friendly smile and served some amazing cocktails from the off. I recommend you to go for the beautifully presented Clover Club – a gin based cocktail with raspberry syrup and egg white served with raspberries on a stick – it was out of this world, as you can see from the photo. The cocktail alone was enough - and with the elegant dark surroundings and a beautiful bar up front – this was fabulous.

Two more cocktails later.... and we got stuck into starters - a hot smoked salmon, 
thyme, cheddar and sweetcorn muffin, with a sour cream and sweetcorn puree. I chose this because it was a little different and out there. However, in the event it was just okay, perhaps a little too fussy before the main course!

Fast forward a Champagne Swizzle cocktail and the star of the show arrives – grilled flank steak accompanied with hand cut chips, horseradish cream and slow roasted tomatoes. Now this was worth the wait (all day dining does seem to require a wait, doesn’t it?). The steak was tender, packed with taste and a generous size.

Flank Steak, Hand Cut Chips, Slow Roasted Tomato, Watercress and Horseradish Cream
Image courtesy of Central & Co

We were really full by this point and debating whether we could fit in dessert but when we found out that an ex Pussycat Doll (which one, who knows, but it wasn’t Nicole) was drinking in the exclusive basement area, we thought it was our duty to stay on. It took us ages to eat our crumble and chocolate brownies.......

When you’re next in the West End and looking for a nice venue with friends, go give this place a whirl and let us know your thoughts.

A big thanks to Denise for looking after us so well.

For more details visit www.centralandco.com

Truffle Rolling Workshop at Rococo Chocolates - Review

 Rococo Chocolates in Knightsbridge for fabulous chocolates, cafe and chocolate classes

Kitchen Delights London Reporter - gets very messy making posh chocolate truffles.......

A few weeks ago I was watching TV at home and there was a celebrity who had been challenged to make chocolate truffles at home with her girlfriends. It was very silly to watch and a rather messy affair!

Fast forward two weeks later and I find myself sitting in posh chocolate shop Rococo in uber-posh Knightsbridge about to master the art of truffle making.  Julie who was leading the course that morning welcomed the six of us in the cafe area and served up hot chocolate, a marshmallow to nibble on and gave us a brief history of Rococo and the chocolate making process.

Once you’ve mastered the workings of a cocoa bean, it’s then time for the really fun bit and we all headed down to the kitchen to make chocolate truffles.

As you enter, there is a small prep area and table to gather around. Donning a pair of rubber gloves and an apron (all supplied) you then mould the ready-made ganache into small balls using the heat and pressure of your palms. I noticed that depending on how hot your palms were had a direct impact on the texture. So yes you guessed it - the hotter your hands - the gooier the balls!

It was comical rolling out the balls with lots of laughter from the group. When it comes to coating the truffle balls, you will team up with a partner who will lightly cover the ganache balls in tepid chocolate whilst the other person gently dusts them in cocoa powder.

Once finished, the truffles need to be given time to dry so we went back into the shop and sipped on white tea from the King’s Road (surprisingly nice and a good palate cleanser) and Julie supplied three different types of chocolate for us to try.  Honestly, it was such a chore tasting the chocolate and guessing the subtle flavours!

All that was then left to do was head back to the kitchen, scoop up the truffles and pack them into a gorgeous Rococo box. We were also given more truffles to take home and treated to 10% off everything in the shop for that day which I’m pretty sure you’ll use!

So if you fancy a treat with a friend and want a fun time – this workshop will be hard to beat. It was just over an hour and a quarter in length and cost £65. With lots of other upcoming events to choose from, just visit http://blog.rococochocolates.com/

Thank you for the fabulous truffle workshop.

Galeto, Soho, London - Review

Brazilian Street Food

Kitchen Delights London Reporter........gets to eat Brazilian Street Food.

When the mercury reaches over 30 degrees for over 5 consecutive days in London town, it’s practically a national emergency with stories of buckling rail tracks and schools not knowing how to cope with the heat. It shouldn’t be so dramatic, but when the last heat wave was back in 2006, we do need a little on guidance on how to behave.

If you are in Soho this balmy summer, the chilled out Brazilian restaurant Galeto can show you what to do in this heat. This small yet intimate eatery set over 2 levels serves up real street food and cocktails with plenty of Rio attitude for your pound including the beautifully made Brazilian classic Caipirinha (made with cachaca, sugar and lime).

To start, we had two classics which Fabricia, our Brazilian waitress recommended. Coxinhas de Frango are small pieces of soft potato dough filled with soft shredded chicken. We also chose Kibe – a little bit like small beef balls, both of which were fun to share and ideally suited with a cocktail.

When it came to ordering a main course, there are a few options to choose from and the old saying ‘quality not quantity’ comes to mind. You need to opt for the 8oz rump steak with fries and go for one of their generous salads to share. It was well presented, tender, colourful and full of flavour.

At this point having picked up a few Brazilian words from the menu, we asked what the name of the restaurant Galeto actually means? It’s literally ‘little chicken’ and is what the Portuguese introduced to Rio in the 1960's and has stayed with them ever since (and yes there is chicken on the menu but on this occasion we went for red meat).

In this hot weather, desserts don’t always hit the spot but both my dining companion and I have a sweet tooth and our arms were gently twisted to choose the very worthy Banana Frita – sliced banana pan fried in orange and lime with cinnamon served with vanilla ice cream. It was surprisingly moreish and good for sharing! We also indulged in the mini chocolate doughnuts in chocolate sauce.

The food overall was good value and your wallet won’t take a pounding either – I reckon you could get away with £25 per head with one cocktail.

So it only leaves me to say that if this is what Brazil tastes like on a hot day, then I’m booking my flight now!

Thanks to all the staff at Galeto for their prompt, cheerful and attentive service.

For more information visit www.galeto.co.uk

33 Dean St
Soho
London
W1D 4PW

Get Some Just Falafel Action in Your Next Lunch Break

Just Falafel has now landed in London town

Kitchen Delights London Reporter......enjoys eating falafel.

Looking for something a bit different at lunchtime? Well I may just have the answer for you. New kid on the block Just Falafel has arrived in London town and wants a slice of the healthier end of the fast food market.

If you're not sure what falafel is then let me explain. It’s quite simply a moulded patty of chickpeas and fava beans which can either be deep fried or baked. It’s got a slight crunch to the outside but a soft texture in the middle – and it’s suitable for veggies!

From the menu, I recommend you try the Quesadilla - a flour tortilla stuffed with cheese, tomatoes, pickled jalapenos and big chunks of falafel. It was much bigger than I was expecting and tasted pretty awesome.

If you’re sharing, I would also suggest that you try out the original which is their most popular dish and contains falafel, mint, parsley, tomato, and pickles stuffed to the rafters in a wrap with a side sauce of Tahini. Again, really filling with plenty of punch (see picture).

I noticed an amazing selection of fresh dips you can choose from - ideal if you need an extra kick to your falafel like I do. These included spicy Indian, red hot chilli and basil pesto mayo. I think these could have been pushed way more as that’s what really separates one falafel from another and could have added some exciting taste twists to the meal.

Overall the service was quick and the meal deal is a steal at £4.99 for a drink, fries and falafel sandwich. So move over Subway and get yourself down here – there’s a new boy in town!

I was a guest of Just Falafel quick service restaurant on Monmouth Street in London’s Covent Garden.

Eat Pizza, Drink San Pellegrino, Love Taste of London!

Pizza making masterclass with the Pizza Pilgrims

Kitchen Delights London Reporter gets to make pizza and drink San Pellegrino.......

For all of us foodies, there’s only one pilgrimage you’re likely to see us on this year - and that’s to the annual Taste of London festival, Regent’s Park.

I visited Taste as a guest of San Pellegrino and sipped on their sparkling fruit juices in a Sicilian inspired Orangery whilst enjoying some pretty awesome pizzas.

Thom and James, otherwise known as the Pizza Pilgrims, were also in the Orangery demonstrating how to make a tasty pizza the Italian way.

They showed us how to knead the dough and give it an adventurous toss in the air. Afterwards, you simply grace it with a smooth dollop of tomato, very little cheese and a generous handful of basil. It’s then ready to go into a pizza oven - harbouring an intense heat of 500 degrees.

As the pizza cooks in an impressive 45 seconds, there are two things to keep an eye on. The first is to achieve ‘leoparding’ – which means getting some brown charcoal spots on the pizza base by occasionally moving the pizza on the oven floor.  Next, in order to give it some extra depth of character you might also want to try some doming, which is where you lift the pizza towards the fire in order to gain more sizzle on top.

Finally serve in a pizza box with a can of San Pellegrino Limonata, close your eyes and chillax!

Bordeaux Wines Go Wild at London Zoo

Kitchen Delights London Reporter - Monkeying Around.......

If you live in London, every Friday night until the end of July London Zoo is now open especially for us grown-ups and it’s a fantastic chance to get up close and personal with the animals and enjoy a glass of wine. You might even see a Sumatran tiger or two like I did in the new tiger territory exhibit.

Bordeaux wines is located in the rather exclusive Bordeaux Jardin du Vin and provided a short and sweet tasting of some easy drinking white and rose wines (excellent for the few hours sunshine we had). Afterwards, it was time to explore the international street festival, sampling a variety of cuisines from fresh Thai street cooking to hot pork rolls – foodie heaven!

For more information visit:

 Bordeaux Wines

 Zoo Lates

I was a guest of Bordeaux wines who recently took over London Zoo with a wine tasting event - treating us to some of their favourite wines from Bordeaux.

Saviour Snacks - Feel Good Snacking

Kitchen Delights London Reporter Reviews....

How many of us work in an office? If you are anything like me, I’ve been known to grab chocolate from the vending machine as early as 11am just for a quick energy hit.

So with this naughty streak ever present - I’ve had a fun week trying Saviour – The Feel Good Snacking Box specifically designed to help you snack better. As you can see in the picture I was sent a variety of 10 goodies such as a little Antioxidant mix (pecans, cranberry and pine kernels), a ‘Bounce’ energy ball which is high in protein, and also in the mix was a raw chocolate truffle ball with chia seeds for an energy boost.

I came back from a 50k mountain challenge in Wales last week and I have loved munching my way through all this and sharing with colleagues. The favourites were put to the vote and the Fiery Worcester Sauce & Sun-Dried Tomato popcorn was a huge hit with colleagues. What’s more, at 96 calories per pack – whose complaining?

Exclusive reader offer:
You can now claim £5 off your first snack box as part of a subscription – just quote KITCHEN when prompted. Prices start from £15 (plus £2.22 p&p) for an original 10 product snack box which is pictured and the one I enjoyed. Find out more here and let me know what you think http://www.savioursnacks.com/

Thank you to Saviour Snacks for the review samples.