Exploration of UK restaurants

On a recent trip to the UK, I sampled some of the best dishes England and Scotland has to offer.  Being unable to give an in depth review on each, I have decided to let the pictures speak for themselves.  In true style, I didn’t hold back and did myself (and South Africa) proud, devouring an enormous amount at an embarrassingly alarming pace (no mean feat) and trying something new every day (barely making a dent with all the options available).

Parsnip Soup

Very rarely did I walk away feeling unsatisfied or disconcerted after spending my Pounds – and appropriately gaining back a few Pounds of another kind.  And for those of you who reckon food in a pub is just grub – I beg to differ.  It’s home-cooking at its finest.  The meals taste as good as they look with their vibrant colours and generous portions.  I also discovered that simplicity can win and that many factors contribute to a visually-well-prepared dish.  Part of the thrill of travelling is being able to sample a variety of dishes – no matter how limited your pallet may be. 

From French cuisine Julia Child would approve of, to flapjacks, pies, mash, gravy, bread, vegetables, pizza, haggis, stews, fruit, ice-creams, cookies, yoghurt, pasta, wraps, butter, porridges…………….the list is endless.

Belushi’s vegetarian wrap, crispy chips and delightful drinks 

Veg burger – look at that crust!

Also worth a mention – cranberries!  As my partner in crime P1 poignantly pointed out: you find them in EVERYTHING during the winter season.  And he wasn’t wrong.  Sauces, health bars, salads, stews and sandwiches to name but a few.  I ate the most divine sandwich at Pret A Manger – health bread oozing with camembert slices, crisp lettuce, dried cranberries and hazelnuts.  A simple yet effective combination of ingredients and something that can be done at home.

Falafel balls and hummus!  Chickpea heaven!

A monstrous meat-free-Monday burger

I can safely and assuredly report that the culinary world is alive and continues to push the boundaries into 2012 stimulating our sensory delights. 

A vegetarian feast – soup and salad

Snog – frozen yoghurt with pistachios and muesli and pistachios and strawberries

Spaghetti bolognaise – a firm Italian staple

Traditional mac and cheese and a veg pot pie with classic mash and peas

Guess who?  Mr. Parsnip Soup!  And as if the pub read my mind, they complimented this with a plain toasted cheesy on the side.

Dessert anyone?  Raspberry cheesecake topped with meringue and served with fresh cream complimented with an Americano and biscuit.  YUM!

Colourful Indian delights – green bean pie and vegetable korma washed down with mango smoothies

Traditional home-made brownie slice with a dollop of coffee ice-cream

Maze, Doha

I was unaware of the spoilings to come when I stepped off the plane and into the Arab Desert - here I was in Qatar in the midst of winter with the temperature at a warm and balmy 24 degrees.  A very special A1 surprised me with lunch at Maze – Gordon Ramsay’s newly opened restaurant ideally located on The Pearl: a man-made island comprising a variety of urban developments for the modern lifestyle.  The restaurant is situated on the 1st floor of one of the many buildings in this trendy development.  We were a party of four: myself, A1, R3 and newly acquainted S1 and were warmly greeted by the manager and waiters upon our arrival.

Ushered through the indoor area, we were led out to the terrace and seated near the balcony at a large table with comfortable yet sturdy outdoor chairs and beneath dark-wooden pergolas providing just the right amount of shade.  The décor is simple and unassuming, earthy tones are used throughout and this draws attention to the real attraction – the bay with its glistening turquoise waters where yachts of no small size are docked drawing the attention of all passersby.

The head waiter assisted all the ladies in taking their seats and promptly placed napkins in our laps, readying us for the feast ahead.  The Pearl has recently become a dry island and as much as I would have loved to have sipped on a glass of wine, we had many options to choose from on the Virgin Cocktails menu.  I ended up ordering a Sea Breeze: a frothy blend of tropical fruit chunks, cordials and ice cubes.

Flirty and fun mocktails

The menu provided an abundant array of mouth watering dishes but I finally settled on the pea soup for starters, risotto for mains and a cheese board for dessert.  To whet our appetites we were given a complimentary sampling of warm, crispy and salty sour dough breads, hummus and marinated olives. 

Crispy and fresh sour dough breads

The restaurant can accommodate many guests and the service is top-class – swift and unpretentious with meals arriving simultaneously without interrupting in depth conversations.  It was also a professional gesture to have a complete changeover of cutlery between courses – whether they were used or not. 

The soup is presented in two stages – a large white bowl with peas, a scoop of crème fraiche and a wafer stacked in the centre is placed down before the waiter presents the main act and pours the soup from a small white jug (enough for one serving) allowing the stream of warm green liquid to melt the cream yet still keeping the peas snappy.  The taste is sensational!  R3 ordered the shrimp starter – a shrimp and beetroot cake served with a wasabi paste and a garnish of lettuce.  A1 and S1 opted for beef Carpaccio accompanied with a rocket salad.

Pea soup and prawn starters

The pumpkin risotto was the next surprise – a good portion with a variety of textures and garnished with watercress presented in a large, crisp white bowl resembling a flying saucer.  I was outnumbered on the mains as the rest of my party ordered the lamb wrapped in vine leaves and served with polenta strips, asparagus stalks and finished off with a drizzling of honey sauce.  From the rave reviews I received, I would say this was the dish of the day.

Lamb mains

I rounded off my dining experience with a cheese board – an asphalt slate garnished with gorgonzola squares, chutney puddles, walnuts and pear slices.  This was accompanied with thinly sliced fruit and seed bread.  S1 opted for the tiramisu topped with crushed coffee icicles and a sliver of chocolate and R3 and A1 the ginger fondant served with fig preserve and a lick of strawberry sorbet.  The latter was by far my favourite eye candy of the afternoon – a piece of artwork!

Presentations don’t get much better than this

Maze not only gives service of the highest standard, but the presentation, array of colours and abundance of flavours are unmatched.  The mission is to allow each patron to explore the assortment of taste explosions and visual displays by pushing the boundaries of the everyday connoisseur.  Prices are furnished for the mid to high-end budgets but it is well worth a single visit to experience Gordon’s wonderfully elusive culinary gift.  I give it my Sam Says Stamp of Approval.

Tantalising the tastebuds

Bottega Café, Parkhurst

An open letter to Bottega Café……………

Admittedly arriving 25-minutes after the requested reservation time, the waiters were more than helpful in assisting D1 and myself with a table inside the already bustling restaurant.  Sitting in the “detached” extension – barbershop by day / space to squeeze in additional patrons (and allow for a smoking district) by night  - we found this area to be noisy but were still able to hold a conversation with forceful voices.   Tables, covered with semi-plastic/material tablecloths, are of an adequate size with candles providing the majority of light in the room.  The main area next door with extended enclosed gazebo seemed to be the place to be seen and be seated.  Once we had acquainted ourselves with our immediate surroundings, it was still some time before we were given attention to request a wine menu and place our orders.  Our designated waiter brought the large chalkboard displaying around twenty handwritten dishes to us so we could make our choices.  Being vegetarian, I requested something without meat or fish in it, and was immediately assisted by a passing waiter (not our own) who recommended a pasta dish – a favourite amongst their patrons.



Cheers!  A glass of chilled Wolftrap

Foregoing starters and soothing our slightly dampened spirits, D1 and I sipped on a bottle of Wolftrap whilst waiting for our mains to be served – D1 opting for the fillet topped with porcini mushrooms done in a cream reduced brandy and Dijon mustard sauce served wih a side of seasonal vegetables and myself, the avo and rocket pasta.  Being unable to start eating, we needed to grab the attention of a waiter to request cutlery – once for knives and forks and once for a spoon to eat the pasta.  The Italian dish arrived looking scrumptious: spaghetti drenched in a creamy Napolitano sauce and generous amounts of avo chunks and rocket (slightly wilted).  However, a few bites in and I had to continuously flavour my meal by adding salt, pepper and parmesan.  Asking D1 how his meat dish was, I received a very uninspired response of “ok”, again with the dish looking convincingly pleasing to the eye yet doing nothing for the tastebuds.



A deluge of mushrooms and a handful of rocket were not enough to disguise these dishes


Moving onto the desserts to round up the night, I ordered a slice of chocolate cheesecake with D1 ordering a slice of pear and almond tart.  These being accompanied by our usual cappuccino’s.  The coffee was okay – no complaints, the cheesecake despairingly worse with no “zing” to it.  But the pear and almond tart…………………a KNOCKOUT!  Finally I had found a reason to be pleased with this so called “established” eatery.  The tart was fresh with a crunchy base and the gastronomical symmetry between the slightly sharp taste of the pear offset against the woody almonds and the sticky burnt sugar topping was enough to send me into a frenzy.  Every last crumb was devoured which is more than I can say for the half-eaten cheesecake.

 

 

7 out of 10 for the coffee and a dismal 3 out of 10 for the cake


Unfortunately that one silver lining in the form of a good dessert was not enough to rescue the entire evening filled with incompetence and a lack of awareness from our waiter (who, by the way, couldn’t remember our orders and had to come back to reconfirm with us – not once, but on two occasions) in what I understand is a busy restaurant.  Save that, the high prices should be comparable to the quality of food being served.  My unavoidable conclusion is that I would only go back for coffee and a slice of the blissful tart.  As far as a full course meal is concerned, I wouldn’t risk it.

 

Delectably delightful



Bellagio, Illovo

When I called D1 and told him we’d be visiting Bellagio, it sounded as if I was asking him to suit up for an Ocean’s 11 night in Las Vegas – casino’s, flamingo dancers and a high profile boxing match.  This was not entirely untrue as the Bellagio I was referring to packed a powerful punch with its flawless flavours and unique charm.

Nestled in the corner of the Blu Bird Shopping Centre in Illovo, this restaurant graces its patrons with a Mediterranean and homely yet chic décor with many textures and finishings that are well synchronised.  Wooden floors, well-sized square tables with crisp white overlays, high back wicker chairs with comfortable cushions, a blend of iron and stone fish displayed on the walls and large chalk boards with a selection of menu items and specials are set off against the bar at the entrance, a blue and white striped awning on the veranda, sushi bar with Asian grill and a wicker basket wall separating diners and the kitchen area.

Small details are not overlooked and I appreciated the “B” insignia embroidered on the napkins.  A thoughtful touch.

I sipped on a mango juice and D1 a glass of Haut Cabriere as we listened to the Italian music playing quietly in the background and divulged the extensive menu which was clear and easy to read.

Our delightful waiter, Lucky, also graced us with the presence of a bread basket containing warm, salty, crusty rolls with butter.

The staff are well trained and ready to answer all questions thrown at them regarding menu items, ingredients and firm favourites.

For starters I ordered a three cheese soufflé and D1 the beef carpaccio.  The soufflé was presented in a giant ramekin, freshly made and partnered with a salad of walnuts, blue cheese, parmesan shavings, rocket and balsamic vinegar reduction.  This was a meal on its own.  The soufflé was light, fluffy and had the intensity yet delicacy of all cheeses.  A trademark dish.



Round 1 – the blend of flavours and textures is unmatched in this classic soufflé starter



The carpaccio was tossed with rocket, avocado and balsamic crème making it a solid starter which D1 gave a 7 out of 10 for.  Not bad!

Delectably delicious

For mains D1 ordered the grilled Scottish salmon drizzled with a delectable soy, ginger, orange and honey marinade and a side of sweet potato and Mediterranean vegetables.  A colourful main course, the salmon done to perfection.

I ordered the Bellagio style melanzane: a baked vegetarian dish layered with aubergines, tomato, garlic, parmesan and oregano and accompanied with a side salad.  An appetising summer meal.



Round 2 – the salmon trumped the melanzane mains



Doing any restaurant reviewer proud, we plowed our way onwards to dessert and decided to battle it out between the chocolate fondant and the chocolate soufflé.  The soufflé was made in the same-sized ramekin as before and dusted with icing snow.  The fondant was the clear winner – a chocolate dome with a lush lava-like sauce poured over it, the rich creamy centre complimented with a spoon of vanilla ice-cream and delectable berries.



Knockout – fusion fantasy of chocolate with a hint of acidic sweet berries



And so ended our heavyweight eating session.  We were twice visited by the Manageress during the course of the evening who was keeping a close eye on all guests to ensure maximum satisfaction.  Prices are on the indulgent side, however, portions are good, service is excellent and the quality is unrivaled.  A fantastic venue and a vast selection that will entice you to return.

Fishmonger, Illovo

A night of opulence and an air of sophistication!  This is what D1 and I experienced when we visited the Fishmonger, ideally located in the Illovo Thrupps Centre.  We took our chances and headed out this way on a Wednesday evening without a booking.  Whilst we waited to be seated, we ordered a bottle of Haut Cabriere and sat at one of the outside “smokers” tables.  Within 20-minutes, we were ushered to our table, passing by the already-seated patrons who seemed to be eyeing the new “members of the club”.

A warm bread basket is always a welcome pre-dinner nibbler and tonight we were grateful to receive two large Portuguese rolls, fresh from the oven, which tided us over whilst we came to grips with the vast items streaming down the never-ending menu.  A restaurant not to be understated with its simplistic decor - beiges and browns are offset against crisp white tablecloths and terracotta-coloured chairs.  Pendant lighting softens the overall look.  The noise levels are high but this is what creates that one-of-a-kind bustling atmosphere.



A little bit of this............



Our waiter, Thulani, was attentive and sensitive to our needs and gave us his full attention when questions were thrown at him.  Time for starters:  D1 ordered salmon California rolls and I went with vegetarian California rolls.  The resident sushi chef prepared the dish with precision and since I know how hard it is to master the art of sushi-making, I have a newfound respect for those who pull it off with perfection.  Bravo!



And a little bit of that............


I can honestly and unabashedly say that D1 and I don’t hold back when it’s dinnertime and we went full steam ahead with our mains: seared Scottish salmon and steamed vegetables for D1, a vegetarian platter (minus the mushrooms) for myself.

We didn’t have to wait long before we were presented with two colourful plates filled with healthy grub and accompanied by crunchy vegetables.  The salmon was faultless and done to its medium request.  Many would say the vegetarian platter is a lacklustre choice, but I beg to differ – besides the colour explosion, the variety in textures is what makes the dish exciting.  Silky and tangy mayonnaise dipping sauce for the potatoes, speckled yellow rice and halloumi fingers (fondly known as squeaky cheese) are only some of the tantalising combinations to expect.



Colour and texture explosion



Room for more?  Of course!  A scoop of chocolate and lemon sorbet for D1 and a scoop of chocolate and pistachio for myself to top us off.  These were presented in white UFO-looking oversized dessert bowls.  The dessert prices are something that I do begrudge as they seem pricey with most coming in around the R50.00 mark.



Stressed spelled backwards is desserts.  Coincidence?  I think not!



The key to this very successful, long-standing eatery is simplicity – decor, ingredients and presentation.  And it is this factor, combined with exceptional service, that draws in high-end consumers.



Taste of Joburg, Monte Casino

The Taste of Joburg is an annual food festival that celebrated its 5^th year in 2011.  Run over four days, visitors can experience the best that Joburg restaurants have to offer, as well as get a chance to purchase tasty treats and delights from the many stalls showcasing mostly handmade and organic crafts and eats.

Tickets are pre-purchased through Computicket or the brave can take their chances and buy at the venue. 

The outdoor Tuscan-styled Monte Casino dotted with white tents beneath clear blue skies provided the setting for this event, mapped out with pause areas – astro-turfed tables to set your food or drink down and gather your thoughts before indulging in your recently purchased delicacy.



Celebrating five years of food and wine



One can always do with a little red-carpet treatment and on this day we weren’t disappointed.  The festival attracts the high-end connoisseur with lavish restaurants showcasing their best dishes, each offering a starter, mains and dessert taster.  Whilst the carnivores had plenty to choose from, there were limited options for the leaf-eaters.  I did, however, come across a delicious coconut-curried chickpea dish from Thava, an Indian restaurant located in Norwood.  The dish was flavoured with India’s best spices and accompanied with a delectable doughy naan.  Later that afternoon, I had a sampling of spinach (not potato) gnocchi rolled in oodles of gorgonzola sauce from Oliva Restaurant and Bar – a new tapas fusion restaurant in the heart of Illovo.  The spinach balls melted in my mouth on contact and the strong-flavoured cheese sauce did not overpower the dish.

D1 enjoyed a sampling of salad from Vivace Restaurant situated at the Radisson Blu hotel in the heart of Sandton.  A crisp bed of lettuce, green beans and rocket, parmesan shavings, olives and peppers provided sharp tastes to contrast the saltiness of the see-through parmaham slivers.



A thumbs-up entrée

Cue R2, fashionably late but undeterred with the abundance of food and drink still being churned out.  Eventually deciding on the mini burgers on offer from Piccolo Mondo at the Michelangelo Hotel.  Fresh mini buns and patties which were wolfed down in two bites.  Dessert came in the form of three light-as-air crepes, traditionally made with sprinklings of cinnamon and sugar, from the Snowflake stand.  Definitely too fresh to flop.

Not to be outdone with solids alone, there were plenty of liquids to entice the tastebuds in the form of champagnes, wines and cocktails.  Nederberg Sauvignon Blanc was the staple for most of the day, but the three musketeers also had samplings of caramel vodka, Patron in chocolate shooter glasses and candy cocktails - a mixture of fruit juices, vodka and candy floss.  Each stand making the effort to invite passerby’s with their unique atmosphere, music and set design.



A cauldron of toil and trouble



A couple of goodies went into our bags to take home: raw honey, sugar wands – crystallised sugar on bamboo sticks, and Sally Williams nougat – the macadamia nut being the clear winner.



Effective and enticing amusements



All retailers accept Crowns only – the currency at the festival, sold in booklets of R100.00 with 1 Crown equivalent to R5.00.  Dishes ranged from 4 to 8 Crowns each and drinks between 3 and 10 Crowns.  Overall the event is well run, however, there are downfalls:  1. The festival hours – there is not enough time to go around to each stand to see what is on offer. 2. Next year I hope to see more restaurants offering up samples of their dishes.  To me it seemed as if there were more stores offering wines than food.

A fantastic afternoon spent with friends previewing a variety of restaurants before deciding on where you can best spend your hard earned cash on a full three-course meal.  With all the support the festival received this year, I can see it growing exponentially for many years to come.  Watch this space............

Rabbit in the Moon, Illovo

Escape the hustle and bustle of city life by delving into a wonderful world resembling that of Alice in her magestical Wonderland.

Walking through the door of Rabbit in the Moon, you are transformed into a world of mismatched tables and chairs, scented candles, colourful cushions, framed artwork and wallpaper on both walls and ceilings.  The decor is unique – crocheted finishes, chandeliers dripping with pearls and seductive maroons and purples give it an unpretentious plush look.

The well-groomed waiters were attentive and delivered on our requests.  What I can only assume as being ever-changing, the menu is simply printed on A4 paper and lovingly bound together with pink ribbon.  The range is short, yet you would be hard pressed to find an item that wouldn’t catch your attention or have your mouth salivating.



Colours and textures collide



A bottle of Haut Cabriere helped us relax into the evening, and this was accompanied with our crunchy bruschette starters – cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and mozzarella for D1, emmenthal, provolone and asiago with honey and basil for myself.  The latter being quite the winner with its zing of cheese and sweet richness of honey.



Pretty as a picture

For mains I requested butternut panzerotti.  This arrived in a delicate piece of artwork looking good enough to eat too.  The pasta was well cooked and the smattering of olive oil ensured it wasn’t dry which can very often be the case.

D1 ordered a medium-rare fillet with vegetables.  The fillet was placed on a wooden chopping board and the vegetables crammed into a blue and white China bowl on the side.



Curiouser and curiouser

All food is presented in a clean fashion – either small wooden “cutting boards” or in crockery that is as mismatched as the furniture but each with its own unique design and pattern.  The only sign of a rabbit I saw were our salt and pepper shakers on the table – another quirky element to this distinctive restaurant.



A madhatter’s tea party



For dessert, D1 ordered a home-baked chocolate éclair (which was subsequently cut in half and stuffed with cream to create a kind of cream puff sandwich).  I ordered a Tres Leches – an Argentinian three milk cake.  This was accompanied with two deliciously hot cappuccino’s and a side plate of biscuits. 



Sentence first – verdict afterwards

All in all a fantastic evening out with first-class company, fine service, new flavour infusions and an environment allowing creative juices to flow.  Prices are a tad bit on the high side but meals are well and efficiently prepared, service is excellent and the overall décor will keep you coming back for more. 

A unique venue indeed.