Food

Paris report:

Our culinary experience had a bit of a false start. Having found somewhere away from the tourist areas, a little more expensive, and full of French people we thought we'd have a decent lunch. The wine was good but the food pretty basic and I had plastic in my salad which "happens sometimes" according to the waitress.

Thankfully dinner at 1000 et 1 Signes (Rue Rodier, 9eme arr.) was a lot better. Nothing amazing or showy just good food cooked well. We hadn't realised but all the staff there are deaf so you have to sign your order, but the menu showed you how to do this and the staff were really friendly. The food was Moroccan influenced, I had shackshuka on toast to start and a chicken *pastille *for main which was a layer of nuts topped with chicken topped with herbs all wrapped in a thin, crispy pastry. It was all pretty tasty and not too expensive.

Another highlight was Pollop (rue d'Aboukir, 2eme arr.) where I had incredibly tender shashimi beef in a lime dressing with chips and salad and an amazing chocolate fondant pudding with orange and ginger sauce. So good.

The main event, though, was lunch at Hotel Daniel (Rue Frédéric Bastiat, 8eme arr.) which was very good indeed. Beef fillet with fondant potato and bone marrow for main course. I should have been brave enough to ask for it rare because the meat was very very good.

The market on Cours de Vincennes (12eme arr. [I think]) was amazing. I could have walked up and down all morning just smelling everything! ot some honey, cheese (incl. a whole reblochon to bring home), nuts, morelles, bread, falaffel ... I can't remeber everything but we spent a lot! If you get a chance, go here.

We also stumbled on another market near the Bastille monument on Sunday but didn't spend too much time here, just long enough to buy a thyme and labneh wrap which tasted great but was a bit messy to eat!

We found lots of nice cafes for crepe/patisserie and chocolat chaux. Generally walking a few streets away from the main tourist areas would throw up somewhere promising and cheaper. One of the best places we found was off a back street behind the Champs Elysees, looked pretty basic and the price was low (we just wanted somewhere to stop and warm up a bit) but the cakes were v good.

a dorito cake.

get on it.

If you can't find good cakes in Paris, you're an idiot...

My fave lunch in Paris is a baguette rustique filled with tons of butter, jambon cru and cornichons...

paris is a shithole.

the camden of europe.

So, here's one for you lot. I'm a professional chef, and have just been dumped on pastry section- which I know sod all about- and told to come up with some dishes. I've got some thoughts scribbled down, but it's all a bit predictable (or stolen). I need ideas that are a little bit different, or just outright delicious.

What have you had? What do you love? What do you cook?

If it was savoury, I'd go with a pork wellington done in puff. Use a long piece of loin, wrap around it whatever you want...classic mushrooms and mustard combinations, or maybe mix it up with sage/parsley/lemon. Wrap the length of the loin + herbs/filling/whatever in something to keep juices away from the pastry (parma ham will do a job)...serve as a slice. Beef Wellington is a bit tramline...pork means you can do something different. Salmon en croute is also win. Two skinned sides of salmon...one of top of the other, sandwiching any kind of herby filling...tarragon, basil/parsley...plus loads of butter. Wrap in shortcrust and also serve as a slice.

Just tried making a spinach smoothie (largely out of boredom). I put in fresh spinach, plain yoghurt, milk, a bit of water, and a bit of honey.

Although I love spinach (and all green veg), I was a little underwhelmed. Recipe improvement suggestions please! I reckon a banana may fix the problem.

^

Rick James "Cocaine is a hell of a drug" - YouTube

it's easier to make a smoothie you like the taste of then add spinach to it.

baklava is great and M'hanncha is awesome , not sure from my time in the kitchen that either would be great to do in large amounts but if you got the mis en place sorted before it could be a possible

They look awesome. Thank you. Especially as winter's coming.

Anything off the last four seasons of GBBO?

I appreciate that most of cooking involves repeating past techniques and flavors, but I probably shouldn't make it too blatent...

What type of chef were you before? A pâtissier is a pretty skilled job and well worth the time if you want to be Sous-chef or Chef de cuisine.

Was/am a chef de partie, on the savory sections generally. Was at a michelin kitchen up north, now in a five star hotel. 'Modern european' type food (whatever the hell that means).

St John's chocolate terrine is a standout OMFG best chocolate thing I have ever eaten ever.
Lemon delicious pudding I make at home and love love love.

In which case I now have to eat at St John's. And the lemon cake looks alright too...

If it was savoury, I'd go with a pork wellington done in puff. Use a long piece of loin, wrap around it whatever you want...classic mushrooms and mustard combinations, or maybe mix it up with sage/parsley/lemon. Wrap the length of the loin + herbs/filling/whatever in something to keep juices away from the pastry (parma ham will do a job)...serve as a slice. Beef Wellington is a bit tramline...pork means you can do something different. Salmon en croute is also win. Two skinned sides of salmon...one of top of the other, sandwiching any kind of herby filling...tarragon, basil/parsley...plus loads of butter. Wrap in shortcrust and also serve as a slice.

I should clarify- by pastry I really mean the sweets section of the kitchen- the desserts. Though you have succeeded in making me hungry. And that pork would be epic with truffles in one form or another.

Just tried making a spinach smoothie (largely out of boredom). I put in fresh spinach, plain yoghurt, milk, a bit of water, and a bit of honey.

Although I love spinach (and all green veg), I was a little underwhelmed. Recipe improvement suggestions please! I reckon a banana may fix the problem.

Just to weigh in here as well, I wouldn't bother with the banana. I think you could do it two ways. If you want to be uber healthy and lazy, find green veg that's good raw and process it with. Brocolli comes to mind. You could season it with 'warm' spices, eg cumin seed, coriander seed, fennel seed, marsala, pepper etc, then finish it with greek yoghurt. Cucumber may go well as well, depending on what else you you.
Personally I'd treat it as a cold soup. Sweat onions, a few potatoes, cook it off, with anything else you want (watercress, brocolli, leeks, and the like), add the spinich at the very last second, puree, and dump it in an ice bath to get it cold as quick as poss. As serving cold, plenty of seasoning.

I think for the fruity kind of smoothie (ie not that one^) the best missing ingredient is probably a 400 buck blendtec/vitamix blender.

http://www.willitblend.com/

I think for the fruity kind of smoothie (ie not that one^) the best missing ingredient is probably a 400 buck blendtec/vitamix blender.

You smooth, fruity bastard!

Grrrr.... x

Was/am a chef de partie, on the savory sections generally. Was at a michelin kitchen up north, now in a five star hotel. 'Modern european' type food (whatever the hell that means).

Hell, be a kitchen whore and do everything. Experience on all types of service is never going to be a negative thing.

They look awesome. Thank you. Especially as winter's coming.

I appreciate that most of cooking involves repeating past techniques and flavors, but I probably shouldn't make it too blatent...

Was/am a chef de partie, on the savory sections generally. Was at a michelin kitchen up north, now in a five star hotel. 'Modern european' type food (whatever the hell that means).

In which case I now have to eat at St John's. And the lemon cake looks alright too...

I should clarify- by pastry I really mean the sweets section of the kitchen- the desserts. Though you have succeeded in making me hungry. And that pork would be epic with truffles in one form or another.

Just to weigh in here as well, I wouldn't bother with the banana. I think you could do it two ways. If you want to be uber healthy and lazy, find green veg that's good raw and process it with. Brocolli comes to mind. You could season it with 'warm' spices, eg cumin seed, coriander seed, fennel seed, marsala, pepper etc, then finish it with greek yoghurt. Cucumber may go well as well, depending on what else you you.
Personally I'd treat it as a cold soup. Sweat onions, a few potatoes, cook it off, with anything else you want (watercress, brocolli, leeks, and the like), add the spinich at the very last second, puree, and dump it in an ice bath to get it cold as quick as poss. As serving cold, plenty of seasoning.

Mocha semifreddo was on the last night at work , super easy to serve as you go but might be more of a summer thing

How about a reverse affogato? Where the coffee is the cold bit and you have a warm vanilla cream custard...
Then have some sort of dippy carb biscotti-like.

otagoffa.

/registers domain

Aw man, spilt coffee on my bike this morning

foffagato

Le Coq on highbury corner is an excellent choice for a sunday lunch.
Went today, was very impressed.

We just wanted a drink and maybe desert. Walked into this pub last night, thinking it was just a pub, no, oh we were wrong. What we saw was amazing looking tapas!

http://www.norfolkarms.co.uk/

http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/norfolk-arms

I think most people were there for the tapas, so didn't see much of the normal daily menu which appears on their site.

We had the chocolate truffles (amazing!) and choc cake (equally good). Plus I had the muscatel and he had the port.

So we can't comment on the food but looked great.

Forum, do you rate this place?

God, that place used to be rough as fuck. I lived near there and had a drink in there once, whilst Black Books was filming across the road. I was hoping to spot Dylan Moran or the Bailey. I didn't go back.

Interesting to hear that it has been gentrified to within an inch of its life.

I am just imagining what the look on the barmaid's face would have been if I had ordered a glass of Muscatel with some truffles.

Me and OLC went to Hotel Chocolat's new restaurant Rabot 1745 in Borough Market at the weekend. Was pretty special. Had a cocktail, Her Majesty's Martini (Cocoa gin, amaretto, maraschino, cognac and cocoa bitters). The drinks list is very extensive with an impressive amount of rum on offer.

The three courses I had were:

Pear Barley Scotch Egg
Nib-crusted quail’s egg pearl barley ‘scotch egg’ with warm salad of roasted root vegetables, goat’s cheese dressing and cacao oil emulsion.

Slow Roast Shoulder of Lamb
Lake District Herdwick lamb basted with cacao balsamic, roast garlic mash, seasonal vegetables

Chocolate Genesis
The whole epic story from the beginning - roasted beans and small shots of drinking chocolate to truffles, pralines and single-estate grades, made on the site from the bean.

All were perfect, the lamb in particular was stunning.

They sell wines by the glass, flask or bottle which is good and they also give you some cocoa beans to munch on whilst you are waiting.

The staff were friendly and the service was impeccable. I highly recommend it.

http://www.hotelchocolat.com/uk/restaurants/locations/rabot-1745

Hit up Tayyabs last night. I have to say, aside from the grills, I wasn't too impressed. The Nihari was swimming in Ghee and had been cooked with too much chilli, in my opinion, the Karahi Chicken my other half had was just ok, and the service was shite. Cheap though, at £48 for 4 of us.

Any other good pakistani joints in east? I usually go with my Family to Southall...

When i used to live in east london was a massive fan of this place http://www.maida-restaurant.co.uk/home.htm

no booze allowed at all though

Hit up Tayyabs last night. I have to say, aside from the grills, I wasn't too impressed. The Nihari was swimming in Ghee and had been cooked with too much chilli, in my opinion, the Karahi Chicken my other half had was just ok, and the service was shite. Cheap though, at £48 for 4 of us.

Any other good pakistani joints in east? I usually go with my Family to Southall...

By far the best niharis I've ever eaten are at Mirch Massala in Tooting. I suspect you get better in Pakistan though. It's a breakfast dish so definitely not meant to be over-chillied.