Blog Feed: Hungry in London

Ute travels: HUNGRY IN TAORMINA (Sicily)

Published on 2012-10-07 09:54:40

My first stop at my recent trip to Sicily was the East Sicilian coastal town of Taormina.  Taormina is a charming and chic medieval hillside village and is one of the islands busiest tourist destinations.  Still, it has managed to keep its charm and sophistication  and is definitely worth a visit. There is certainly a reason Taormina has attracted and inspired a wealth of legendary visitors of the likes of Gustav Klimt, DH Lawrence, John Steinbeck, Marlene Dietrich and Oscar Wilde over t [..]

NOODLE OODLE (Oxford Street)

Published on 2012-10-01 10:57:21

Hand-pulled noodles (La-Mian) Category: Budget I would have never ever thought of eating at Noodle Oodle, if I hadn’t stumbled upon this review on Time Out.  The really cheesy name as well as its location at the cheap end of Oxford Street, together with the not very appealing, overly bright exterior, promised culinary disaster.   But once you have made your way past the picture-laced menu and the dragon waitress who welcomed us with a “no tables” and again “no table [..]

Ute bakes: KÃœCHELCHEN or AUSTRIAN BROWNIES

Published on 2012-09-30 06:28:37

Küchelchen à la Tante Liesl When I was back in Austria recently,  I discovered a piece of paper in one of the kitchen drawers.  It contained a recipe for Küchelchen (meaning something like “little cake”) in the handwriting of my late Tante Liesl. The original recipe Tante Liesl was not an aunt by blood, but she played a highly influential role during my childhood.  She was from Vienna, a retired kindergarten teacher, and rented a room in our house during the summer (I grew up i [..]

BUBBLEDOGS (Fitzrovia)

Published on 2012-09-27 16:59:28

Event: WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU EATING? – The Secret Life of Food

Published on 2012-09-17 11:46:03

TUESDAY OCTOBER 23, 7PM | ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY Ever wondered why you like some dishes and can’t stand the taste of others?  How molecular gastronomy has developed?  Are you interested in food architecture (or have like me no idea what this may be but are at least intrigued)?  Always wanted to know who is the super brain (or pervert for that matter) who is growing meat in his laboratory?  Not quite sure yet if you should love or hate AA Gill? What on Earth Are You Eating? – [..]

Ute cooks: AUSTRIAN VEAL GOULASH with DUMPLINGS

Published on 2012-09-13 06:16:26

ASSA (Soho)

Published on 2012-09-09 14:58:31

Korean delicacies @ Assa Category: Budget (£)   Since I “discovered” Korean food roughly a year ago, it has swiftly made its way to the top of Ute’s random food cravings.  I feel much more often like indulging in kimchi jjigae, bibimbap or bulgogi than I fancy Thai, Chinese or even Italian.  There is something about Korean food that is so comforting, warm and invigorating – the ultimate cure for the blues and homesickness. Fortunately my trusted dinner companion Uyen [..]

The Neighbourhood Gem: ARIANA II (Kilburn)

Published on 2012-09-03 15:49:33

Afghan Delight @ Ariana II Category: Budget (£) I was invited for a pre-dinner drinks party in St. John’s Wood and of course I had to plan some dinner for afterwards.  St. John’s Wood and surroundings are far out of my culinary comfort zone, but compliant with my new quest to discover Neighbourhood Gems, I put an urgent recommendation request on twitter.  The most intriguing of all suggestions came from the food blogger @ssusu_you (www.susaneatslondon.com) who urged me to try her [..]

Competition: Win a copy of WHITE TRUFFLES IN WINTER (N.M. Kelby)

Published on 2012-09-02 03:33:59

 White Truffles in Winter by the US American author N.M. Kelby is a fictional account of the life of the famous chef  Auguste Escoffier. Auguste Escoffier lived at the turn of the 19th century and was one of the chefs instrumental in modernising French cuisine.  For example, he was the first to organise the professional kitchen by introducing the “kitchen brigade” with different members of the kitchen staff being responsible for certain tasks.  He lives on in the many dishes he [..]

THE FRONTLINE CLUB (Paddington)

Published on 2012-08-29 15:56:37

Steak Tartare with melba toast (10) @ The Frontline Club Category:  Bistro (££)   The Frontline Club in Paddington is first and foremost the “London hub for a diverse group of people united by their passion for the best quality journalism“.  Hosting more than 200 events per year with topics as diverse as for instance the upcoming talks on “Reporting from the World’s Deadliest Places“, “Iraq: Escalating Violence and Sectarian Division” or “Sl [..]

Ute cooks: WATERMELON SALAD WITH FETA AND MINT

Published on 2012-08-27 12:42:00

The Neighbourhood Gem: 500 RESTAURANT (Archway)

Published on 2012-08-26 02:25:06

Pappardelle al ragu di manzo (11.80) @ 500 Restaurant

WAPPING FOOD (Wapping)

Published on 2012-08-20 13:22:32

Cured Salmon, Mustard Sauce, Samphire (9) @ Wapping Project Category: Brasserie (£££) I have been to Wapping Food years ago on an admittedly not very exciting date, and the venue left a more pronounced impression on me than the guy.  The Wapping Project which includes Wapping Food must be one of the coolest art spaces/ restaurant in London. The restaurant is situated in an old and barely restored Victorian hydraulic power station close to the Thames in Wapping, with tables scattered betwee [..]

10 GREEK STREET (Soho)

Published on 2012-08-11 12:56:43

Greek Street Category: Bistro (££+)  I have to apologise for my lazy blogging at the moment – the summer effect, changing jobs and a lot of things going on in my life.  I have however been eating, so will update you on recent restaurant experiences in a series of shorter posts.  In the end all you, dear readers, want to know is whether the restaurant is worth going to, right? Much has been said and written about 10 Greek Street, which is as you may have deduced from the name, in Greek [..]

Ute cooks: LEFTOVERS EGG FRIED RICE

Published on 2012-08-07 15:42:12

Ute cooks: THAI GREEN CURRY (from scratch)

Published on 2012-07-28 10:16:23

Thai Green Curry I have complained enough about the insufficient quality/ authenticity of Thai restaurants in London (see my post on Siam Central or Suda Rice Bar or Rosa’s), time to stop whining and try myself in Thai cooking.  I love Thai green curry and have always wanted to make one from scratch.  Somehow I had the misconception that this would be incredibly difficult.  Let me assure you – it’s not.  The only challenging thing is to source all the ingredients, and it h [..]

TONKOTSU (Soho)

Published on 2012-07-28 04:29:29

Ute travels: AMALFI COAST Part 1 – around Sorrento

Published on 2012-07-19 06:01:52

The Amalfi Coast just South of Naples is certainly up for the price of one of the most beautiful places in Italy with its steep cliffs, charming villages built into the rocks, lemons the size of your head, stunning landscape and azure-blue sea. I spent a beautiful holiday there in June, just about escaping the height of the tourist season, dividing my days between a remote hotel about 20 minutes outside of Sorrento and a lively one in the middle of picturesque Positano.  Here some recommendatio [..]

ADMIRAL CODRINGTON (Chelsea)

Published on 2012-07-18 07:17:43

8oz Cheeseburger, Pickles, Hand-Cut Chips (15) @ Admiral Codrington Category: Bistro (££+)   If you are only somewhat involved in the London food scene, you can’t help but hear about the exceptional burgers at Admiral Codrington, a gastro pub located in a small side street in the middle of Chelsea.  Intrigued, I went there last weekend for Sunday lunch and I can report back that the rumours are true: This is a gastro pub to watch out for, and not only the burgers make it well worth [..]

IMLI (Soho)

Published on 2012-07-14 16:16:52

Ute cooks: KIMCHI JJIGAE

Published on 2012-07-11 14:19:41

My take on Kimchi Jjigae I love the Korean national staple Kimchi and even more I adore Kimchi Jjigae, a Korean stew made with this delicious fermented cabbage.  If you have never eaten Kimchi, it is something of an acquired taste.  Faintly reminiscent of German sauerkraut (only about 100 times better), Kimchi is made of fermenting cabbage with garlic, red chilli and salt.  The longer you store it, the better it gets apparently, and for making Kimchi Jjigae, the older, more fermented and [..]

UPSTAIRS AT THE 10 BELLS (Spitalfields)

Published on 2012-07-07 16:42:30

Food Art @ Upstairs at the 10 Bells

SIAM CENTRAL (Fitzrovia)

Published on 2012-07-02 15:06:39

Prawn and Chicken Dumplings (4) @Siam Central Category: Le Budget  Sorry that I am starting to repeat myself but it is almost impossible to find palatable and authentic Thai food in London. Thai food in London is generic, usually too greasy and by far not spicy enough.  Diners who have not been to Thailand and enjoyed the gorgeous and multifaceted cuisine of this beautiful country, are made to believe by chains such as Busaba Eathai that this is the way Thai food is supposed to taste like.  S [..]

Ute travels: THE VARSITY HOTEL (Cambridge)

Published on 2012-06-30 13:01:48

Cambridge

BEIRUT EXPRESS (Edgware Road)

Published on 2012-06-27 08:57:22

MARI VANNA (Knightsbridge)

Published on 2012-06-26 13:05:03

Bric a Brac @ Mari Vanna Category: Bistro+  (££-£££)  Mari Vanna, a Russian restaurant with subsidiaries in Moscow, St. Petersburg and New York, has recently opened a new outpost in – who would have guessed – the Little Russia of London, Knightsbridge.  I naturally assumed it would be an overpriced pretentious place for noveau-riche Russians (well, this might have been covered with Novikov) and was pleasantly surprised to read a variety of good reviews (The Skinny Bib, John L [..]

Frozen Yoghurt – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Published on 2012-06-23 10:41:36

Summer in London London sunny and warm summer days, gorgeous as they are, are far too rare and fleeting.  My optimistic self has packed all the summer dresses and sandals away for this year, and has given up waiting for temperatures of over 20 degrees.  It seems a long time ago, but we did have a few days of sun during which I managed to do a frozen yoghurt tasting marathon, trying most frozen yoghurt retailers that I missed out on last year.  (Last year I reviewed Yog, Yuforia, Yoo Moo and S [..]

SHRIMPY’S (King’s Cross)

Published on 2012-05-30 13:36:46

Plantains , chips and dips (4) @Shrimpy's

PIZZA EAST (Shoreditch)

Published on 2012-05-24 14:37:01

A lot of food @ Pizza EastCategory:  Bistro (££) The reason why I must be the last person with any kind of interest in food, who has never been to Pizza East before is that I usually don’t like pizza.  Out of the blue however I was overwhelmed by a sudden pizza craving and Pizza East seemed like an obvious choice.I took my friend Uyen with me, which usually doesn’t bode well (our last few meals together were highly disappointing, such as at Ceviche or Hix at the Albemarle or [..]

BRICIOLE (Marylebone)

Published on 2012-05-18 06:07:53

Finocchiona Toscana £3 @BricioleCategory: Le Budget (£)When I heard about the opening of Briciole I knew I had to try it in my desperate and thus far not successful search for a decent and non pretentious neighbourhood Italian.Briciole is located in the non-fashionable part of Marylebone, close to Edgware Road tube station, and even with Sat Nav not very easy to find.  You enter in a small deli/wine bar area which opens into a rustic dining room. Initially we were rather unsure about Briciol [..]

Ute cooks: MADAME TUYET’S CHICKEN SKEWERS with RICE (Hello Fresh)

Published on 2012-05-16 04:43:38

CEVICHE (Soho)

Published on 2012-05-14 06:22:15

Don Ceviche £6.75Category: Bistro (££+) I love ceviche but no, I didn’t like Ceviche.  Ceviche, a recently opened Peruvian restaurant in Soho, is the new darling of the London foodie scene, equally loved by food bloggers and food critics.  Peruvian cuisine is predicted to be the new food trend of 2012 (as suggested in Huffington Post and The Telegraph) and apart from Ceviche, 2 more Peruvian restaurants are to open in London in the coming months.I had Peruvian food only at a few oc [..]

POILANE (Chelsea)

Published on 2012-05-08 15:02:40

Australian Tartine @ PoilaneCategory: Bistro  (££)The decision to give a very positive review to the all day breakfast/ tartine/French boulangerie place Cuisine de Bar by Poilane just off busy King’s Road is largely based on the fact that I am absolutely in love with their Australian Tartine (?£8.5).  Ripe mashed avocado is generously layered onto a slice of deliciously fresh crisp artisan brown bread which has before been spread thinly with vegemite, the Australian version o f marmi [..]

HIX AT THE ALBEMARLE (Mayfair)

Published on 2012-05-01 16:07:12

HELLO FRESH – assisted home cooking for busy people

Published on 2012-04-29 10:08:22

Recipe Card @Hello FreshHello Fresh “ is the smart way to prepare easy and healthy meals for yourself and your family. Say goodbye to unhealthy fast food and repetitive meals and rediscover the joys of cooking.”Curious?  I shall explain to you how Hello Fresh works:1. You get a box of ingredients with recipe cards delivered to your door once a week (you can choose a 3 or 5 meal plan and also a vegetarian option is available)2. All the ingredients are measured for the respective m [..]

RHUBARB RHUBARB!

Published on 2012-04-28 05:07:29

Rhubarb with Greek YoghurtIt’s this long-awaited rhubarb time of the year, and there is nothing better than desserts based on this tangy vegetable combined with something smooth and sweet.The good thing about rhubarb, even when transformed into a high-caloric dish, is that is has been shown to have substantial health benefits.  It is rich in antioxidants protecting against cancer and apparently baking the rhubarb for 20 minutes INCREASES the concentration of  substances that are good for [..]

BISTRO BRUNO LOUBET (Clerkenwell)

Published on 2012-04-25 12:54:34

Beetroot Ravioli @ Bistro Bruno LoubetCategory: Brasserie (£££)Bistro Bruno Loubet is a distinctly French restaurant located in stylish boutique hotel The Zetter in the middle of the Golden Restaurant Triangle that is Clerkenwell/Farringdon (within a short walking distance you also find the excellent restaurants The Modern Pantry, St. John’s Restaurant, Vinoteca, North Road, Fox and Anchor and St. Ali).  The dining room is bright and generous, the waiters as Gaelic as can be (ours look [..]

LA BODEGA NEGRA (Soho)

Published on 2012-04-21 06:51:11

La Bodega Negra

NORTH ROAD (Clerkenwell)

Published on 2012-04-15 14:59:25

HAWKSMOOR SPITALFIELD BAR (Spitalsfield)

Published on 2012-04-14 12:55:02

MELE E PERE (Soho)

Published on 2012-04-11 15:29:54

Fried Whitebait @ Mele e Pere (Soho)

MARKET CAFE (Hackney)

Published on 2012-03-30 13:53:15

Spaghetti, Clams, Chili Garlic - starter portion (7)

C+R CAFE (Chinatown)

Published on 2012-03-28 04:58:03

Malaysian Style Nasi Goreng (6.50)

Ute cooks: ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CARDAMON AND NIGELLA SEEDS (Ottolenghi)

Published on 2012-03-27 06:41:56

Roasted butternut squash with cardamom and nigella seedsButternut squash, the quintessential winter vegetable,  is strictly speaking in season only from November to December.  I love it all year around and for me it works in warm comforting winter soups, stews and curries as well as in summary and light salads.Looking at nutrient’s value of squash, we should be eating it all year around at least once a week.  It has about half the calories of potatoes (40 kcal per 100 g to be precise), [..]

Ute travels: CHARLESTON and a Lowcountry Breakfast at POOGAN’S PORCH

Published on 2012-03-21 17:48:20

Ute travels: The epiphany of Lowcountry Cuisine at HUSK and MCCRADY’S (Charleston, S.C.)

Published on 2012-03-18 17:42:02

Fried Green Tomatoes @HuskThe “Holy City” Charleston in Southern Carolina is a rising star as a tourist destination.  It has, for the first time, won the Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Award for the best city in the US, pushing funky San Francisco from the top.Spanish Moss @CharlestonThat by itself would not pose enough justification for me to visit Charleston, however there is the food…Last year, when we were holidaying in Mauritius, my me and my boyfriend obsessed about t [..]

Easter at HOTEL CHOCOLATE – win a giant dark chocolate egg…!

Published on 2012-03-17 07:49:11

Guess what arrived for me in the post today?

BISTRO DU VIN (Soho)

Published on 2012-03-15 07:15:19

Sardines on Toast @Bistro du VinCategory: Brasserie (£££)My dinner at Bistro du Vin has been a largely unpleasant experience and the food could be summarised with the two words “Dry” and “Bland“.  On top of this, the service personnel was truly annoying (such as 3 waiters  asking the same question within the space of 2 minutes and fake friendliness that seemed very insincere) and a waiting time of 45 minutes for the starter of the pre-theatre menu.Should my expect [..]

BIBIMBAP (Soho)

Published on 2012-03-13 14:24:53

Beef Bulgogi @BiBimBap (6.95) Category: Budget (£)Bibimbap is not only the famous Korean national dish, but also the name of a small Korean eatery in the midst of Soho.  It is one of the places that, once discovered, you will keep coming back to for your quick, cheap, tasty and filling Korean fix.Unsurprisingly, Bibimbap specialises in bibimbap.  Hot rice served in a sizzling stone bowl topped with your ingredients of choice, such as vegetables, strips of beef and egg (fried or raw).   T [..]

Ute cooks: Aromatic and Fragrant PILAF RICE

Published on 2012-03-01 15:18:41

Pilaf RiceA few days ago I read this post about how to make Pilaf rice on Hungry and frozen, a New Zealand food blog that I follow.  It sounded so easy and so delicious that I immediately attempted my version of this Persian classic.  I have made it 3 times the last week because I like it so much and in addition it is so quick and straight forward to prepare.   You only need one pot, it makes great use of leftover vegetables and it works by itself as well as a side for chicken or lamb.  Who [..]

TAMADA (St John’s Wood)

Published on 2012-02-28 11:17:06

Borsh (5.50)Category: Bistro (££)The visit to the small restaurant Tamada in St. John’s Wood was my first encounter with Georgian cuisine.  Georgian, my lunch companion who has visited Georgia on many occasions told me, is one of the most interesting cuisines of all the states formerly comprising the USSR.  It is rich in vegetables and influenced by  Mediterranean, Europe and The Middle East.Some Russian friends recommended Tamada as  ”a cheap and wonderful little restaurant [..]

The London Foodie’s JAPANESE HOME COOKING (Supperclub – Islington)

Published on 2012-02-22 13:40:12

Matcha Crème Brulée @The London FoodieSupperclub, 30-35 pounds per head, BYO  I admittedly got a bit tired of supperclubs of late.  However, when I learned that the lovely Luiz aka The London Foodie had ditched his high flying city career to devote himself fully to cooking, nothing could hold me back.Luiz spent a few months last autumn in Japan to deepen his already profound understanding of Japanese cuisine.  In London, he found a mentor in Reiko, the lady who does wonderful Japanese cooki [..]

Ute bakes: TARTE TATIN

Published on 2012-02-19 12:11:31

Tarte TatinI always thought making Tarte Tatin,  the famous French tarte invented by the Tatin sisters in the late 19th century, would be very difficult.  It is however surprisingly easy and I succeeded in my first attempt making this beautiful caramelly dessert bliss.  I don’t think there is any other dessert with minimal preparation effort that will result in so much happiness of your dinner guests.I got a lot of guidance from Felicity Cloake’s how to cook perfect tarte tatin a [..]

ROGANIC (Marylebone)

Published on 2012-02-13 06:39:36

Dessert Heaven @RoganicCategory: Haute Cuisine (££££) Finally it was my turn to dine at the 2-year pop up restaurant Roganic in Marylebone.  I was taken there by the lovely Skinny Bib who has been a Roganic regular since the restaurant opened last summer.  Roganic is owned and overseen by Simon Rogan, who has earned his reputation with L’Enclume in the Lake District.According to The Skinny Bib, the food by the not only amazingly talented but also surprisingly young Roganic  h [..]

Ute cooks: BULGUR WITH AVOCADO AND POMEGRANATE

Published on 2012-02-11 08:29:27

Serve topped with Pomegranate SeedsThis is an excellent dish for leftovers to be taken into work the next day.  In addition, it works as a starter, a main or a side dish, very volatile indeed!  What I love about it is that it’s so fresh and healthy while it fills you up at the same time.  For me it’s the perfect dish to combat the winter blues with some Mediterranean flavours and vibrant colours.The main ingredient is bulgur, a whole wheat grain partially pre-cooked and dried.  [..]

ALMEIDA (Islington)

Published on 2012-02-08 11:29:02

Wild Mushroom and Truffle Risotto @AlmeidaCategory: Brasserie (£££)Almeida, a French brasserie just opposite the outstanding Almeida Theater, does a very good value pre-theatre menu: 2 courses for 16 and 3 courses for 19 pounds.We went to see The House of Bernarda Alba, a Llorca play with a pure female cast, transferred from catholic Spain to rural Iran.  I liked it a lot, while my boyfriend found it depressing and hated it.  I suggest you believe me and go see it, it’s on until 10th [..]

Ute cooks: SPICY INDIAN POPCORN

Published on 2012-02-05 12:17:51

Spicy Indian PopcornThis weekend I spent at home, having a beautiful and highly recommended date with The Killing DVD box set.  Caught between subtitles, unsmiling Danish faces, intrigue, murder, thick knitted jumpers and funny Scandinavian names, I suddenly felt the urge for popcorn.  I craved not the normal kind of popcorn, but a healthy, non-greasy variant with exotic spices and I came across this intriguing sounding recipe of Curry Popcorn.  I adapted it a bit and called it Spicy Indian P [..]

Valentine’s Day at HOTEL CHOCOLATE

Published on 2012-02-04 10:14:00

Hearts and more Hearts @ Hotel ChocolateThere we go again.  Another year has passed and here we have another occasion to disappoint your partner with a bad present, a rubbish restaurant (or no restaurant at all because you have been too late and everything is booked out) or wilting flowers.I dislike Valentine’s Day with a passion.  I have an allergy to pink hearts, ribbons and kisses, and suffer an anaphylactic shock when I come across massively overpriced Valentine’s Day menus, pr [..]

Ute cooks: LEMON AND GOAT’S CHEESE RAVIOLI

Published on 2012-02-02 13:10:50

My first attempt of making pastaI have to apologise to my readers who are actually in possession of Ottolenghi‘s earthshatteringly wonderful cookery book Plenty (probably most of you) and who must be very bored by me currently obsessing about this book.But let me tell you – I am in love and here the reasons why this recipe collection stole my heart like none before.1. Everything I cook from Plenty turns out delicious – it doesn’t only taste great but also looks rather pre [..]

MISHKIN’S (Covent Garden)

Published on 2012-01-24 05:54:43

Menu @MishkinCategory: Bistro (££)I absolutely love Spuntino, have enjoyed Da Polpo, feel rather indifferent towards Polpo and haven’t yet been to Polpetto. This, in one sentence, summarises my experience with the restaurants owned by Russell Norman and Richard Beatty, undoubtedly the most interesting and most influential restaurateurs to have appeared in the London gastronomic scene over the past few years.Mishkin’s, opened in November 2011 in Covent Garden, just next to the high [..]

Ute cooks: SOUP OF JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES

Published on 2012-01-21 02:58:28

 Jerusalem artichokes (or Topinambour) is an unbelievably ugly vegetable, wrinkly and dirty and reminiscent of a bad looking ginger root.  On top of this, their name is misnomer as they have no relation with the conventional, handsome globe artichoke and don’t origin in Isreal but are native to North America (more about the history, season, nutrition and preparation here).When I saw Jerusalem artichokes at Waitrose I bravely put them into my shopping basket, immediately followed by a [..]

TINELLO (Pimlico)

Published on 2012-01-16 16:24:56

TinelloCategory: Bistro – Brasserie (££-£££)It is a hard job to be an amateur restaurant critic.  Always rushing off to the newest openings, which means, thanks to the new non-booking trend, queuing for hours in the cold, eating mediocre food in places hyped for inapprehensible reasons and then there is the constant fight against personal bankruptcy, alcoholism and obesity.Every zealous amateur restaurant critic needs a restaurant to rest, to regain his/her strength and to put the c [..]

GALOUPET (Knightsbridge)

Published on 2012-01-12 12:45:30

Scallops, Garlic, Chili (11) @GaloupetCategory: Brasserie (£££) And another small plate restaurant.  I remember when these restaurants started to pop up everywhere I was thrilled. Now I have reached a point of saturation where all I want once in a while is a normal menu!Galoupet is a posh small plate restaurant and wine bar just next to Princess Diana’s favourite Italian San Lorenzo on Beauchamp Place.  This is an area that clearly needs new and inventive restaurants and and Galoupet [..]