Macellaio RC, Bankside

31-10-2017 Local Black BookBankside, italian, London, recommendation, Restaurant, review, steakLeave a comment

Even though most of the recipes I post on this blog happen to be vegetarian/vegan (thank my laziness and love of vegetables for that), I do love a good steak.

Preferably one that’s been seared to rare, smokey perfection by a pro (aka. not me).

In my quest of London’s best, I had heard much praise about the Macellaio RC ‘butchery with tables’ mini group.

Many of my Italian friends had named it as their favourite restaurant in London. No small fate.

In true Italian spirit, Macellaio RC is all about simple dishes made incredible through a dedication to the excellence of Italian produce.

In the franchise founder’s own words, “Macellaio Roberto Costa […] aspires to be a praise to the animal, but above all to the work of the artisan farmers that devote their lives to this passionate world”.

The restaurants themselves, set up as modern, welcoming, warm Italian trattoria, mirrors this objective.

With brick wall, wooden accents, a myriade of trinkets reflecting the diversity of Italian crafts, big windows looking into the ‘meat room’, an open-air Ligurian bakery and a stage dedicated to butchery and carving, the Union Street restaurant looks like a dining theatre dedicated to the cult of good food.

Wanting to make the most of it all, we went for a bit of everything…

Starting with salami and house-made, cloud-like focaccia, drenched in super fruity olive oil.

And a couple of glasses of good Italian wine, of course!

We then tried Macellaio RC Union Street’s specialty – the pissa.

A form of pizza originating from 15th century Genova, the pissa dough is made from very strong flour and risen at cold temperature for 60 to 90 hours, resulting in a super crispy thin crust.

Topped with just a smearing of cream, it’s the perfect little nibble before moving onto the main event.

The meat!

Being a greedy little French girl, I couldn’t resist the tartare.

Served very simply with Tuscan extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, it allows the quality of the Fassona breed beef to shine.

But the true star of the show – Macellaio signature Fiorentina T-Bone steak.

Aged for 6-8 weeks, butchered and grilled in house and served with fluffy triple-cooked chips, it’s a meat lover’s dream come true.

Cooked to perfection, with crispy fat on the edges and deep, smokey-umami flavours…

The rumors were true – London’s best steak is at Macellaio’s!

After that beast of a meal, you might be tempted to skip pudding.

Don’t. Get the basil panna cotta. It’s light and fresh, wonky in all the right ways and an absolute must-try.

Be-leaf me!

Macellaio RC Union Street, Arch 24, 229 Union Street, London SE1 0LR

What else to do/see/eat in Bankside?

A British cocktail masterclass at Hixter Bankside

Exploring London’s Bankside

Padella Pasta

Autumn cocktails at TwoRuba

I dinned as a guest of the restaurant for this visit.

French apple turnovers

25-10-2017 Local Black Bookapple, cooking, dessert, food, puff pastry, recipe, snack, vegetarianLeave a comment

As a child, my favourite day of the year was the much-anticipated family trip to one of the gigantic superstores for our annual back-to-school shopping trip.

Beautiful new notebooks. Pens in every colour of the rainbow and the fountain pen I had been dreaming of for month. And -best of all- the promise of warm-from-the-oven classic apple turnovers for le goûter.

It truly was the most wonderful time of the year!

My schoolyears are now far behind me but my love for the puffed up little pockets of autumn joy of my childhood remain.

Light, crisp, buttery, filled with warm cinnamon sprinkled apple and just so goddamn apple-ing!

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:44]

The ultimate fall snack and the perfect accompaniment to a nice cuppa!

More fall recipes

My favourite squash soup (VE)

Butternut squash pasta bake (V)

Apple & black pudding sausage rolls

Halloween monster brookies (V)

A British cocktail masterclass at Hixter Bankside

24-10-2017 Local Black Bookcocktails, Hixter, London, masterclass, recommendation, Restaurant, review2 Comments

Bankside is one of my favourite parts of London.

Home to the fantastic Borough Market and some of my favourite restaurants in the city, Bankside is a fantastic destination for dinner and weekend meanderings alike.

And in October, things are getting even more exciting along the Lowline with the launch of the Bankside School of Food and Wine!

To celebrate Bankside’s emerging food scene, various venues are holding a range of food and drink workshops.

From doughnut making to butchery classes, chocolate workshops and mixology lessons, there’s a lot to choose from.

But you know me, I’m never one to say no to a good cocktail!

Which is how I found myself in Mark’s Bar at Hixter Bankside for a hands-on British cocktail masterclass.

After a Hix Fix (a delicious mix of cherry liquor and English sparkling wine and the best selling cocktail across all Hix restaurants) on arrival, it was time to get down to cocktail-mixing business!

First things first – a quick refresher on the history of cocktails, must-know techniques used in cocktail making and of course, the provenance of the spirits!

Much like for the food, the approach to cocktail making focuses on local, seasonal ingredients such as Black Cow vodka – the world’s only Pure Milk Vodka™.

Made entirely from the milk of grass grazed cows in West Dorset, it makes for an exceptionally smooth vodka with a unique creamy character.

After eagerly tucking into delicious bar snax (the signature Yorkshire pudding with whipped chicken livers is an absolute must-order!), it was time to recreate some of Mark’s Bar’s renowned cocktails.

First up on the cocktail menu – the Dorset Donkey (a British take on the classic Moscow Mule).

Made with the freshest seasonal produce (blueberries in the summer, blackberries in fall and preserved Morello cherries in the colder months), it’s a great drink to mix for impromptu guests any time of the year.

All you have to do is crush a couple of Morello cherries and sage leaves at the bottom of a highball glass.

Top with 20ml lime juice, 50ml Black Cow vodka, 10ml cherry brandy and 15ml honey or sugar syrup.

Fill the highball glass with ice cubes.

Top with ginger ale.

Garnish with a Morello cherry and 2 sage leaves and you’re all done!

Substitute the sage for orange peel, add a cinnamon stick and you’ll have yourself a smashing Christmas cocktail.

The perfect way to get into the holiday spirits!

Unless of course you’re more of an Espresso martini kind of gal/guy!

I have it on good authority that Mark’s Bar serves one of the best in London.

So might as well learnt from the masters!

It’s actually not that difficult either.

For 1 glass, you’ll need:

50ml Black Cow vodka
50ml fresh ground coffee or a double espresso
35ml honey or sugar syrup
coffee beans to garnish

Pour all the ingredients into the smaller half of a shaker, add cubed ice and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.

Strain into a champagne coupe and garnish with three coffee beans.

A British cocktail masterclass at Hixter Bankside ● Cake + Whisky

A brew-tiful drink indeed and one well worth learning for yourself!

A inspirational gift or a unique way to celebrate Christmas with colleagues (beats the canapé buffet anyday!), Hixter’s British Cocktail Masterclass will whisky any cocktail lover away! (just remember to book ahead!)

Mark’s Bar at Hixter Bankside, 16 Great Guildford St, London SE1 0HS

*I attended the Hixter cocktail masterclass as a guest of the restaurant and Better Bankside. All words, pictures and love of eau de vie marinated cherries my own.

Autumn cocktails at TwoRuba

20-10-2017 Local Black Bookbar, cocktail bar, cocktails, Hilton London Tower Bride, London, Restaurant, Tower Bridge, TwoRuba2 Comments

It’s getting cold and crisp outside, and the weekend’s almost there…

You know what that mean – time’s just right for some Autumn cocktails.

Luckily, I know just the place.

Nestled inside the Hilton London Tower Bridge hotel, TwoRuba’s has quite the reputation for serving the best crafted cocktails in the area.

Their new autumn menu definitely holds up to that reputation.

Filled with expertly crafted seasonal creations and twists on the classics, it’s filled with perfectly balanced and innovative concoctions.

And when it comes to naming their creative elixirs, the team doesn’t shy away from a good pun – just the way to my heart!

So what will it be?

Scary Mary? Autumn Lady (a gin sour with a ginger kick) ? Or the ever elusive, unicorn-worthy Rainbow cocktail?

Orange juice, grenadine, vodka and curaçao, beautifully layered into a tall glass.

And garnished with delicate flowers to create the most ranunculus-ly gorgeous drink I’ve ever seen.

Having tried my hands at recreating the above wonder, I can confirm it’s not quite as easy as the pros make it seem.

So better leave it to TwoRuba’s to make your fall Fridays rainbow and unicorns kind of days!

TwoRuba, Hilton London Tower Bridge, 5 Tooley St, London SE1 2BY

More things to do by the River

A walk along the Thames

Exploring London’s Bankside

Padella

Shopping at the Borough Market

Butternut squash pasta bake (V)

18-10-2017 Local Black BookAutumn, butternut squash, pasta, recipe, vegetarian1 Comment

I don’t care what so-called health experts say: carbs are the best.

And when it comes to speedy but satisfying dinners, nothing beats a pasta bake.

Proof if you ever needed one – this butternut squash pasta bake.

The very definition of seasonal (roasted butternut squash! sage!), it’s one of those dishes that somehow manage to reach the perfect balance between healthy (hello, loads of veggies and whole-grain carbs!) and comforting.

And, best of all, it can be made in advance and is super easy to put together – absolutely no Gourd-on Ramsay skills required!

No-nonsense, nutrient-packed… Gourd-geous autumn dinner made simple!

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:43]

More fall recipes

The best squash soup (VE)

Apple & black pudding sausage rolls

Pumpkin spice latte (V)

Halloween monster cookies (V)

Monty’s Deli

16-10-2017 Local Black Bookbagel, jewish, London, Monty's Deli, Restaurant, reviewLeave a comment

My idea of the perfect autumn Sunday is the absolute Instagram cliché: brunch, golden autumn light, a bit of a walk and fresh blooms .

The BF has a more novel approach – preferably one that’d involve Netflix, chill and some sort of sandwich.

Yesterday, we both got our way.

We started things off at the ever bloomin’ lovely Columbia Road Flower Market, where we purchased several plants to complete our ever-growing flat jungle.

Then we headed off to Monty’s Deli for lunch.

The restaurant itself is very Jewish-deli meets London East-End.

There are walls stripped of their plaster covers to reveal the original tiles underneath, gorgeous black-and-white checked floors big booths for dinner with family & friends and a long bar that’s perfect for solo visits.

The second you pass the door, you’re greeted by the fantastically friendly team.

The comforting smell of salt beef and sauerkraut lingers in the air, attesting to Monty’s Deli dedication to all-things home-made.

One of the only places in Britain to make their own salt beef and pastrami, Monty’s Deli is proud to produce everything by hand.

They bake the bagels and the rye bread, they cure the meat, they even make the mustard!

And results for all those efforts clearly show.

Monty's Deli ● London Restaurant Review ● Cake + Whisky

The smoked salmon bagel board is a lesson in the value of simple things done to perfection.

A dense, crusty, sesame-speckled bagel, served with just the right amount (e.i. too much) of cream cheese, salty smoked salmon and a few other bits on the side.

It’s the masterclass in simplicity.

Monty's Deli ● London Restaurant Review ● Cake + Whisky

Especially when served with a serving of cooling, dill and sour cream-ladden cucumber salad on the side.

Even better yet – the pastrami Reuben.

Monty's Deli ● London Restaurant Review ● Cake + Whisky

Thinly-sliced pastrami, kraut, Swiss cheese, mustard and Russian dressing sandwiched inbetween two slices of toasted rye bread…

Though it’s not quite as epic looking as Katz’s Deli‘s version, Monty’s take on the classic sandwich is positively Reuben-esque!

And then of course, there’s the cloud-like cheesecake… Not much of a looker but actually berry special!

Hospitable service, attention to detail and superb-in-its-simplicity food… Monty’s Deli is a brilliant example of what Jewish tradition is all about.

Not to mention that they take reservations and that yes, the sandwiches can be taken away too if you want to make the most of the last fo the autumn sun!

Monty’s Deli, 227-229 Hoxton St, London N1 5LG

An egg-cellent brunch masterclass

13-10-2017 Local Black Bookbreakfast, brunch, cooking masterclass, eggs benedict, recipe, The Avenue, WandsworthLeave a comment

I’m a breakfast-for-every-meal sort of girl.

Most days, that means endless slices of buttered toast and bottomless cups of tea.

But my prefered option remains a cooked breakfast or -even better yet- an egg-focused brunch feast.

Now, I know brunch has been taking the restaurant world by storm these past few years. But in my opinion, the best ones are the ones you cook at home.

Pyjamas on, sleeves rolled up, slurping the largest cuppa known to man as you go.

Not to blow my own horn, but I’m rather egg-celent at scrambled eggs myself.

However, I’m not egg-xactly as well-versed in the king of brunch dishes – eggs Benedict.

Not to worry though – turns out it’s actually quite easy!

…especially when the lovely team at The Avenue Cookery School* shows you all the tricks to making cracking eggs Benedict at home!

An egg-cellent brunch masterclass at The Avenue Cookery School, London ● Learning how to make eggs Benedict ● Cake + Whisky

The Avenue’s brunch masterclass starts, as all good (French?) stories do, with warm pastries…

…and bottomless Bloody Marys!

Egg-cited yet? Well, that’s just the beginning!

An egg-cellent brunch masterclass at The Avenue Cookery School, London ● Learning how to make eggs Benedict ● Cake + Whisky

Next up: ~~day-dreaming about the incredible kitchen equipment and considering moving in immediately~~.

Put on your apron & get cooking!

First things first: make a hollandaise sauce.

Here’s what you’ll need for two:

2 egg yolks
2 capfull white wine vinegar (this one is a-ma-zing!)
100g unsalted butter, cubed
sea salt to taste

Start by whisking together the egg yolks and vinegar in a small bowl.

Place the bowl over a double boiler and whisk it continuously until it starts thickening.

You’ll want to keep the temperature under control so the yolk doesn’t overcook.

When your whisk starts leaving marks, reduce the temperature further and whisk the butter in cube by cube.

Remove the hollandaise from the heat and season with more vinegar and salt.

… and maybe a little bit of the good stuff if you’re feeling fancy!

Set aside and get cracking on your poached eggs.

You’ll need to make two per person and the fresher the better (hint hint)!

In a large, deep saucepan, heat up about 4 inches of water to a small boil, then reduce the temperature slightly.

Crack your eggs and place each one in a small recipient, leaving the very liquid part of the white behind.

Use your whisk to create a deep vortex in the middle of your saucepan.

Once the surface of the water is almost back to being flat, lower one egg into the water and cook for about 3min.

An egg-cellent brunch masterclass at The Avenue Cookery School, London ● Learning how to make eggs Benedict ● Cake + Whisky

Remove the egg with a slotted spoon and repeat with the remaining eggs.

Meanwhile, get everything else ready.

Toast your muffins, slice your avocado, fry your bacon…

Pile your toppings of choice onto the English muffins.

Top with a perfectly poached egg.

And a good drizzle of truffle hollandaise.

Sprinkle with chopped fresh herbs (parsley’s great with bacon and chives with salmon/avocado).

Add a little crack of black pepper or a little bit of aleppo pepper.

Step back to admire your handy work.

Reward yourself another bacon-dusted Bloody Mary… or maybe a cup of egg-spresso?

Dig in and be ready to bacon some hearts…

It’s quite the egg-straordinary brunch dish after all!

Want to become a Benedict egg-xpert? Head to the Avenue’s Sunday Brunch Club for the ultimate brunch masterclass. You’ll learn how to make the perfect Eggs Benedict with a side of bottomless Bloody Marys in a fun and welcoming environment. A great way to start Sunday to get you in shape for the rest of your weekend!

*I was a guest of The Avenue for their Sunday Brunch masterclass preview. All pictures, opinions and egg obsessions my own.

Kanada-Ya

09-10-2017 Local Black BookJapanese, Kanada Ya, London, noodles, ramen, recommendation, Restaurant, review, Tonkotsu1 Comment

There’s two approach to London’s grey-skied autumn.

The SAD one, and the noodle-based one.

If, like me, your preference goes to the later, I (and all of London’s ramen lovers) know just the place.

Kanada-Ya.

The authentic Japanese tonkotsu ramen specialist has two friendly, informal, one near Piccadilly and one just off Tottenham Court Road.

Neither take reservations and both are always incredibly busy.

Which is not all that surprising since Kanada-Ya is home to London’s most comforting dish – the ultimate bowl of tonkotsu ramen.

Originating from Fukuoka on the Kyushu island of Japan, the infamously time-consuming soup broth is based upon pork bones, boiled for several hours and served with ramen noodles and sliced pork belly.

At Kanada-Ya, the default toppings include sliced wood ear mushroom, seaweed and spring onion, with add-ons such as chashu-cured, gooey-yolked egg, spicy yuzu or porcini truffle paste coming highly commended!

And so do the small plates.

Not that you’ll really need them (the noodles themselves are plenty!). But if you’re able to resist the karaage chicken, well you’re clearly a lot more restrained than I am. And absolutely wrong at that.

I mean, if you’re going to stand in line with all of London’s noodle lovers, you might as well make the most of it.

So don’t be chicken and get it all – it’ll warm you to the bones!

Kanada-Ya – 64 St Giles High Street, WC2H 8LE (Covent Garden) or 3 Panton Street, SW1Y 4DL (Soho)

Apple & Black Pudding Sausage Rolls

04-10-2017 Local Black Bookblack pudding, party, recipe, sausage roll, snacks3 Comments

I don’t know what it is about autumn, but every year, I get the same seasonal urges.

First come the impulse to switch my nailpolish to dark red, then come the squash soup cravings and finally, there’s the yearning to organise a full-on autumnal house party.

In my wildest dreams, the ultimate fall party would bring my seasonal Pinterest board to life.

There’d be fire roaring in the fireplace, loads of seasonal foliage, plaid blankets, cinnamon cookies, an appropriate amount of intricately decorated pies, maybe some mulled cider…

And of course, canapés.

Because, well, I live in London, so I don’t exactly (understand ‘at all’) have space for a full sit-down dinner!

Of course, you could throw a bunch of frozen snacks in the oven but you’d be missing out on super easy beauts’ like those apple & black pudding sausage rolls.

Apple & Black Pudding Sausage Rolls • Party Food Recipe • Cake + Whisky

With a deeply umami filling, balanced by tangy apple bits, they’re so easy and apple-solutely delicious.

Perfect to impress your autumn party guests!

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:40]

More autumnal recipes

Squash soup (VE)

Mustard & onion quiche (V)

Garlic butter mushroom buns (V)

Polenta plum cobbler (V)

Cranberry Bakewell porridge (VE)

*press sample

How to find the perfect travel companion

03-10-2017 Local Black Book#travellinkup, tips, travel7 Comments

“There ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” Mark Twain

Tiredness, poor orientation, delays, lost luggage and the occasional terrible meal – travelling with people can be a serious test of a relationship.

Whether you’re travelling the world or just hoping to the next city for a well-deserved break, the right travel companion – one that will enjoy the sights (and share your picture-happy habits), the exotic food (and not complain once about always eating it cold) and the aimless wandering – will enhance any adventure.

So choose wisely (with some help of the points listed below).

And once you find your perfect travel companion don’t let that person go. Or -even better- go with them!

1. Discuss your expectations

When it comes to travelling, some people like seeing all the sights. Others prefer travelling like a local. There are the foodies. The shopping lovers. The museum goers. The nature seekers. The ones that just want to relax and take it easy by the pool with a cocktail in their hand…

And all are great ways to see a new place – as long as whoever you’re travelling with share your views on the matter. So before you start planning and booking, make sure you discuss must-sees and must-dos and check that your travel companion’s and your expectations of what you want to do on the trip match to some extend!

2. Make sure your travel paces align

While you’re at it, you’ll also want to discuss how much you’re expecting to do on your trip.

Do you want to visit a city/area in depth, leaving a lot of time for wandering and getting lost or would you rather hit several cities/countries in that same amount of time?

Will you be up at the crack of dawn and pack every day with as many activities as possible, or would you rather sleep in and take things slowly?

Are you planning to beat your personal best in terms of daily steps, or would you rather favour public transport or taxis?

Again, there’s no right or wrong answer – it’s only a matter of personal preference (and level of exhaustion!) – but discussing this ahead of time will make your trip much more enjoyable for everybody!

3. Check you’re on the same page budget-wise

No matter where you go, your travel budget will really affect your trip – from the destination (short VS long haul), to deciding where to stay, what to do and where to eat.

Trust me – there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to save when your travel companion wants to splurge or vice-versa.

The budget discussion is not an easy one, but it’s one you’ll want to have very early on. The best approach in my experience is to agree on an overall ‘budget’ so your spendings should not come as a surprise to anyone in your travel party.

4. Be flexible and make the most of your differences

You don’t have to agree on everything and have the exact same idea/desire/need for every single second of the entire trip.

Maybe your list of must-sees isn’t exactly the same? Maybe your travel companion of choice really wants to do something you’re not all that excited about?

But in travel as in many other things – your differences make you a stronger team. So compromise. Do some of the things they suggest. Push your boundaries. Drag them to that can’t-miss-won’t-miss exhibition in return.

You’ll all get out of it better (if only because you’ve learnt something about yourself!).

5. Consider your options for alone time

Because you’re travelling with other people doesn’t mean you should have the option to split for a while and go do your own thing. This is especially important if you’re travelling as a big group (be them friends or family).

Fellow introverts / curious wanderers, trust me on that one. Planning ways to escape / do the things no one else is even remotely interested in (a city walk, a trip to the museum, a cycling excursion to the next village, a nap…) is a life (and trip) saver!

6. When in doubt – pick the ones that always say yes to cake!

People who like food are always the best people.

This post was written as part of this month’s #travellinkup, all about travel companions, be they constant, occasional, animal, crazy or simply left at home. If you want to join in the #travellinkup fun, pop your post up over the first week of the month (the 1st – 7th Oct.), then add it to the link up widget found on Follow Your Sunshine, SilverSpoon London, Adventures of a London Kiwi or Wandermust Family.

More travel tips

5 tips to plan a city break

Copenhagen 3-day itinerary

What to see / do / eat in Dublin

Brighton mini guide

8 things to do in Paris – for first timers & seasoned travelers

Cake and Whisky

Life in London and other almost-grown-up tales

Menu

Month: October 2017

Macellaio RC, Bankside

Macellaio RC Union Street, Arch 24, 229 Union Street, London SE1 0LR

What else to do/see/eat in Bankside?

French apple turnovers

More fall recipes

A British cocktail masterclass at Hixter Bankside

Mark’s Bar at Hixter Bankside, 16 Great Guildford St, London SE1 0HS

Autumn cocktails at TwoRuba

TwoRuba, Hilton London Tower Bridge, 5 Tooley St, London SE1 2BY

More things to do by the River

Butternut squash pasta bake (V)

More fall recipes

Monty’s Deli

Monty’s Deli, 227-229 Hoxton St, London N1 5LG

An egg-cellent brunch masterclass

Kanada-Ya

Kanada-Ya – 64 St Giles High Street, WC2H 8LE (Covent Garden) or 3 Panton Street, SW1Y 4DL (Soho)

Apple & Black Pudding Sausage Rolls

More autumnal recipes

How to find the perfect travel companion

1. Discuss your expectations

2. Make sure your travel paces align

3. Check you’re on the same page budget-wise

4. Be flexible and make the most of your differences

5. Consider your options for alone time

6. When in doubt – pick the ones that always say yes to cake!

More travel tips