Pancake...Breakfast

Don't know why, I had craving for self-made pancake lately. Bought this Japanese package pancake mixture while I was in London. Today, bank holiday....have nothing planned and woke up rather late...decided to have a huge brunch. According to the instruction half package should yield 4 pancake. However, I ended up with 6 huge pancake. So stuff!

Wasabi, Victorian Station, London

Bought something quick at the station. This place is rather new (at least I didn't see it when I went to London 2 months ago).

The price is rather cheap for London standard, 2 for 1 pounds or 1.5 pounds.

They also do bento.

It's located in front of Tony and Guy.

www.wasabi.co.uk

Taro Sushi Noodle Bar, London

Went to London right after finishing my last exam.

Met up a friend who I haven't seen for almost an year.

Decided to go for lunch around 2pm which was quite late...so didn't have many choices....

Went for this one in SOHO
It's called ...can't remember the Japanese...anyway...it's eel on rice.

The price is rather decent 8 pounds something...and my friend paid for me! nice of him!

The restaurant is okish.

Add: 61 Brewer Street, London W1
Tel:020 7734 5826
www.tarorestaurants.co.uk

Sponge cake with raspberry & mascarpone cream

This recipe is from Delia Smith
It's dead easy and v. nice!

(sponge)
175g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
3 large eggs
175g caster sugar
175g butter
1/2 vanilla extra
(filling)
225g raspberries
3/4 tbsp raspberry jam
250g mascarpone
200g fromage frais
1 tbsp caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla

Method
Pre-heat oven 170 c, baking 50
Sieve flour & baking powder (hold high)
Add the rest of sponge ingredients (well mixed)
(filling)
mascarpone + fromage frais +sugar + vanilla
put jam over cake + half cream +raspberries + cream + jam

Carrot cake

Unbelievable! got a text message around 4 from Paul, told me that Richard is asking me whether or not I'm baking today!?

Boys at my flat (and even one who is not actually living at my flat) started to take it for granted!

Anyway, it's the finishing product.....

Cake
8oz of self raising flour
5oz light muscovado sugar (or just brown sugar)
4oz grated carrot
2 ripe bananas mashed
2oz chopped walnuts
5fl oz sunflower oil
2tsp. baking powder
2 eggs

icing
6oz low fat soft cheese
2oz soft margarine
2oz sifted icing

ps. It would be nicer to add a bit lemon or passion fruit juice for the icing

Method

Pre heat oven 180 c
Grease the tin
Mix all the ingredients together to a smooth paste

Place in tin and cook in oven for 50-60 mins

Allow it to cool
Ice the cake and store it in a fridge

Lemon Meringue pie

Really had nothing to do....so let's bake!

It turned out much easier then I think! and looks v impressive!

(filling)
200 g white sugar
15 g all-purpose flour
25 g corn flour
1/4 tsp salt
355 ml water
2 lemons, juiced and zested
30 g butter
4 egg yolks, beaten
(meringue)
4 egg whites
75 g white sugar
(pie crust)
155 g all-purpose flour
1/4 g salt
100 g shortening, chilled
45 ml ice water (cool for 30 mins, 200 c bake for 10 mins)

method

Preheat oven to 175 degrees C
Filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in water, lemon juice and lemon zest. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in butter. Place egg yolks in a small bowl and gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of hot sugar mixture. Whisk egg yolk mixture back into remaining sugar mixture. Bring to a boil and continue to cook while stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat. Pour filling into baked pastry shell.
Meringue: In a large glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites until foamy. Add sugar gradually, and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pie, sealing the edges at the crust.
Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown.

Browines

Yesterday afternoon, have nothing to do....so I started to bake....

By the night, it was all gone!!!

115 g butter
200 sugar
2 eggs
60g flour
1tsp vanilla extra
30g unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 baking powder

(fosting)
3 tablespoon butter softened
3 tablespoon cocoa powder
1tsp honey
1tsp vanilla

Methods

Pre-heat over 175 c
Melt butter + sugar + eggs
Then + flour + and the rest ingredient (well mixed)
Bake 25-30 mins

Trifle

Another of Lisa and my 'domesticising' project!

Ristorante Etna Coventry, UK

Hardly know any nice restaurant at Coventry.

A friend suggested to go to this Italian restaurant. Myself would never go to this resataurant judge by the outlook of the restaurant.

The decoration of the restaurant is very tacky and the restaurant smell a bit unpleasent.

However, the food turns out to be surprisingly very good, quite authentic Italian taste and the price isn't expensive at all.

I had seafood risotto (11.90 pounds) which contained a lot mussel.

After the main course I had absolutely no space for desert but I did had a spoon of the dessert that my friend ordered - tiramisu. You definitly have to try the tiramisu at this restaurant. It's the nicest tiramisu I have ever had in the UK! highly recommend!!!

Oh! almost forget to say their wine is extremely cheap - 1.80 pounds for a small glass of wine! Also the service is very friendly.

Well, you can never judge a look by its cover and certainly you can't judge a restaurant by its outlook.

Will definitly visit this restaurant again!

Add: 55-57 Hertford Street

Tel: 02476223183

Apple pie

Me and Lisa decided to 'domesticise' ourselves for our furture husband/lovers. So this is what we made.....

A friend of my flatmate gave us 15 out of 10!!!!

Apple pie
(filling)
Apple 750g
Lemon 1 juiced
Ground cinnamon 1 tsp
Sugar 100 white sugar

(pastry)
flour 250g
margarine 205g
water 120 ml
1 tsp salt
In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water until mixture forms a ball. Divide dough in half, and shape into balls. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Roll out dough on a floured counter. Don't over work it. Use as directed in pie recipe.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then lower oven temperature to 165 degrees C. Continue to bake for another 30 minutes or until apples are soft.

Brioche Doree, Birmingham

Andy is leaving so I went to Bham to see him.

We ended up in Selfreidge and we had nothing to do. So we decided to find a place to sit for a bit.

This place in on the food floor of Selfridge. I know everything is a bit pricey there so had never had anything before. Well, but we had no place to go....so...

I had a passion fruit cake which was very nice.

Andy had chicken sandwish which came with quishe and salad. It looks very nice.

Will definitly recommend this pace but never go during the weekend. It's mad there at the weekend.

Cozleore Coffee, Leamington

A friend of mine introduced me this small coffee shop off the main street.

The cafe has two level and serveral tables but during the lunch/afternoon tea time, it's quite busy. The decor of the cafe is simple but unique and has a feeling of an old cottage tea house.

I ordered apple, Sultanas cinnamon & maple syrup crepe (2.95). The waiter asked me whether or not I'd like to have either ice cream or fresh cream with crepe, I chose ice cream.

The shop owned the a very expensive expresso machine. The cappuccino is only 1.75 and I'd say it's the best in cappuccino you can find in the town.

The price is rather decent. They also serve verious filling of sandwich and panini (4.95).

A nice and cafe to visit for light lunch or afternoon tea. The only setback is the chairs are not that comfortable if you want to have a long chat with friends, but me and my friend still managed to stay for an hour!

Add: 108 Regent street

La Plaza, Oxford

Me and Lisa missed the paella we had when we visited Barcelona last year. So we google paella and found this place nearby us - La Plaza.

Once we entered the restaurant, it feels quite Spanish.

We first had Calameares Romana which is actually a dish for tapas (deep fried squid 4.20 pounds) for starter. it's ok.

Then of course we ordered paella - paella marisco. Here you have to have at least 2 people to order paelle and it takes 30 minutes to cook (11.50 per person). The paella is quite nice, not as nice as 7 Portes but still, it's nice.

We didn't manage to have the space for dessert.

For lunch, they do a special menu, any 2 tapas with beer or wine only for 7.50 pounds. We said we will visit this restaurant again to try their tapas.

Overall, a nice and cosy place to visit.

Add: 10 Little Clarendon Street Oxford OX1 2HP
Tel:01865516688
Web: www.plazaoxford.co.uk

Green Man, Kenilworth, Coventry

Green Man pub in Kenilworth. It's the place that I go with Lisa when we can't think a better place to go for dinner.

It's a family type of pub, they have great fire spaces. It's so nice to sit next to the fire place during the winter. They also have great place to sit outside to enjoy the sunshine when the weather is nice.

The food is decent and the price is cheap.

Rhubarb Rhubarb Leamington

I was told it's the best restaurant at Leamington. Finally at 3rd year, I finally had chance to visit it. I chose the place for my birthday dinner.

The decor is so nice and unique, even their toilet is worth to pay a visit. The service is nice too.

I shared a starter, shrimps something (can't remember).

For main course I had roasted duck which as extremely tasty.

Lisa had seafood resotto.

And Ade had beefsteak

I loved it and visited the for the 2nd and 3rd time. However, there is one problem with, their menu is always the same sort of stuff. It got quite bored after a bit time. Also, I was 'asked' to pay for the tip. I don't mind to pay for the tip as long as I receive nice service. However, for the last time, I was only there for a quick dinner. They automatically add the service charge on your bill. It wasn't a very nice experience to be asked to pay for tip since they also put 'optional' on the bill, so they shouldn't had forced me to pay for it.

For this reason, I don't think I'll visit it again any soon. There are still a lot restaurant on my list that I haven't visit around the area.

Plus, it's a pricy restaurant.
Add: 50 Warwick Street
Tel:01926425005 (booking is necessary for Friday and Saturday night)

Leamington Bar and Grill.

A rather new restaurant at Leamington.

Me and Lisa chose to go there for Ade's 21st birthday.

The restaurant is very nicely decorated with high celling. The service is extremely nice.

The bread was provided and was surprisingly nice for Brisith standrad (we actaully asked the waitress to give us more).

I ordered something that I can't remember what it exactly called, but it came to be the poshest fish and chips I have ever had. I can't really say it's nice or not. Cos I think I was already a bit tipsy at that time.

Obviously as it look, chicken on the top with potato cake underneath.

The prices are not expensive at all, and the best thing is they have a very nice bar that nice leather sofas. It's nice to move their after dinner or arrive earlier to have a bit to drink before dinner.

It's a nice place to have a low budget but posh night out.

Sakura, London

The Japanese restaurant that I visit almost every time I go to London. It's located in Oxford circus, so a very feasible place to visit. Lunch sashumi set menu, with starter and fruit for dessert. 14 pounds as I remember. For Lodon, this price is acceptable.
Small sushi set 11 pounds and it's yum. Love it.

Lunch time esp. after 12:30 it's always busy. You probably have to queue for a bit.

Add: 9 Hanover St
Tel: 020 7629 2961

Elrey de la Gamba I Barcelona, Spain

The owner of our hotel recommended us this place and this dish.

It's called parillada and it's for 2 person. It's actaully a starter but we had it as a main course. It's so huge that we couldn't finish it.

Every kind of seafood are so fresh; simply tried octopus and added with a bit butter on top, 2 slices of chunk fish fillet and many many shrimps and mussel.

It was so nice to sit outside, to enjoy the sunshin and wind.

The price is 36 euro, but definitly worth it!

Add: Paseo Juan De Borbon, 53
webside: www.elreydelagamba.com

7 Portes Barcelona, Spain

7 Portes, it's so nice that me and Lisa visited 2 times while we were in Barcelona. They are famous for their pealla.

The restaurant looks posh but the waiters are not snobbish at all. Althought it's a posh restaurant, you can dress causally.

We ordered house cava....hmmmm....v. nice.

For paella I had 'black rice', which tasted very good but did make my tooth and lips looks very funny. If you are having a date, don't ever order this one.

Lisa had the typical paella which was yummy. The amount of paella was huge, we couldn't manage to finish, although we tried our best.

The bill came 41.62 in total. cheap for what we had and for the service we received.

For the second time we had other kind of main course which were ok. But this time we had space for dessert. so......

Cream brulee and it's the best I've ever had. I couldn't control myself and make a yum noise. 4 big guys sat next to our table weren't going to have dessert but after they saw my reaction they asked for the dessert menu. hahaha..

Lisa had lemon sorbet. It's so nice that I can't find a single world to describe it. A MUST VISIT PLACE!!!!

If you don't want to queue, reserve a table is necessary or to make sure you arrive at 6 pm.

website: www.7portes.com

Taller de Tapas

We only visited this place for tapas while we were in Barcelona. I chose the place by the decoration.

It's deep fried baby squids. So yumm....

Rocket salad with parmmesan cheese and peanuts on top. It's good!

Fried 3 kind of different mashrooms. Again, it's so good.

Scrabble eggs with fried toast...yum.....

Overall, it was an extremely nice exprience. Love it and hope would have the chace to visit it again.

Add: C. de l'Argenteria, 51 (Santa Maria del Mar)

Website: www.tallerdetapas.com