The Imperial, Kings Road, Fulham London

My latest tastecard adventures took me to a part of London that I am not too familiar with. Kings Road, Fulham. Or “The Kings Road” as it’s fondly known as. What perception is conjured up by Kings Road? Well, it was famous in the 1960’s for style icons Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren.

Nowadays, it still has a reputation for being one of London’s most fashionable shopping streets. In addition to this, it is also known as being residency for Fulham’s 4×4 mums and Made in Chelsea.

Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte – City of London

I made a bit of a faux pas – I went out to eat and I didn’t take photos! Imagine that! *covers face* In my defence it was a business lunch so it wasn’t really appropriate to take pics – also in the city of London with all of those toffee nosed stuck up City B-Wankers – it’s really not the sort of environment to take pics. I had to just tell you about my visit to Le Relais de Venise in Throgmorton Street, London.

My Visit to Antwerp, Belgium

I’ve actually been to Belgium twice this year – and four times in my life (well actually five if you count a school trip).

My first trip this year was for Easter and it was truly wonderful. As always we stayed at the hotel our lovely friend manages. She always gives us the best room and the service is phenomenal.

Here are some pics from that trip (back in April!) including of course – the amazing food we ate.

Docks Cafe, Antwerp

A Michelin Star affair…

 

Monday Night Steak Club in London | Bedford & Strand | 1A Bedford St, London, WC2E 9HH

Steak clubs in London and affordable steak is all the rage at the moment. Hawksmoor set the trend of steak club, particularly in London. That is, the trend of a high end steak club where hipsters hang out. A posh locale, stylish clientèle and members edge. Just last week I had lunch at Flat Iron restaurant in Beak Street. Less of the members model but oh the urgency was there.

On Monday night I visited a restaurant in Covent Garden bordering Strand that is about to launch its own Monday £10 steak night entitled “Monday Night Steak Out”.

Bedford & Strand is nondescript from the outside. When I checked out the address I couldn’t fathom where it could possibly be and I know Bedford Street very well with its looming TGI Friday restaurant and Fitness First branch, I couldn’t picture a restaurant. Ah, well I found it on Monday. A simple opening with a sign that looked like it had been there for years and years and years (in a good way). Reminiscent of so many basement wine bars such as Champagne Charlies and Gordon’s Wine Bar. I was surprised to discover that this bar/restaurant had only actually been open for eight years!

Recipe | Easy Dinner on Monday | Beef Chilli with Kidney Beans

Last weekend I decided to get ahead of myself and cook dinner for Monday so that I could go to the gym after work and still have a good nutritional dinner after.

I came across a recipe for “Game Day Chili” (yes, spelt like that). Named so, I assume, as it’s the perfect thing to cook if you have a lot of hungry men to feed whilst they watch the game. It’s easy, filling and can be served by itself, with tortilla chips or rice. Simples.

The “chili” turned out well, and bear in mind I cooked this on Sunday for Monday’s eating… You know anything that takes a long time to cook always tastes good the day after it’s made!

A visit to Hawksmoor; Seven Dials, Dishoom and Pix | all in 30 hours.

Last week was a pretty epic week for eating out. I was lucky enough to be taken to Hawksmoor, treated to brunch at Dishoom and I also met a friend for lunch at Pix. All in the space of 30 hours. Foodieclaire doesn’t do things by halves. Unfortunately I couldn’t take pics at Dishoom as it was a business lunch and I didn’t have my badass camera with me. Pix was a catch up lunch and so to have snapped away would have been rude. Plus it was an afternoon on the tiles so I didn’t want to irresponsibly take my camera out whilst on the Sauvi B.

I did however have my camera for Hawksmoor. Good old Hawksmoor. My first steak love. I still think the Spitalfields branch beats the Seven Dials one hands down (maybe its because I once spent £96 on a cut of steak at Spitalfields. Yes £96). Or just because… It’s the first branch. The one and only original. It’s heavenly Hawksmoor minus the suits and tourists. Heavenly I tell you.

Restaurant Review | Heart and Soul Caribbean Restaurant and Wine Bar, Lea Bridge Road Leyton, London

There is always a spark of interest when a new restaurant opens in East London – particularly the part of East London I am in (Wanstead/Leytonstone/Leyton) and so I was delighted when my friend Cheryl opened her new venture – a Caribbean restaurant called Heart and Soul Restaurant in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton.

Within weeks of opening, Chanelle had made me envious with her elaborate descriptions of the seafood dishes she had experienced, cooked to perfection by the wonderful chef Mikey.

Chanelle joined the 30’s club a few weeks ago (Happy Birthday old cow) and booked a group meal at Heart and Soul. I couldn’t wait to see the restaurant for myself.

Jamie Oliver’s Steak, Guinness and Cheese Pie with a puff pastry lid | Recipe | From Jamie at Home

Foreword (kinda): This post is seriously overdue. For that, I apologise. I started typing it out on my iPhone ages ago and work overtook my life and this blog post suffered!

Yesterday (March 23rd) I completed my Steak and Guinness pie project. This came about as St Patrick’s Day (March 17th 2010) descended and I suddenly had the urge to cook something traditional.
Having scoured the net for traditional Irish recipes I settled with Steak and Guinness pie and particularly Jamie Oliver’s Steak, Guinness and Cheese Pie. Without the cheese (no need for overkill). It became apparent that this wasn’t something I could whip up in one evening, and not on a work night (Wednesday). Especially as my boss had informed me that the longer I leave my beef to sit, the better it would taste when the pie was complete.