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).
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| 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.
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| Belushi’s vegetarian wrap, crispy chips and
delightful drinks |
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Veg burger
– look at that crust!
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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.
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Falafel balls and hummus! Chickpea heaven!
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A
monstrous meat-free-Monday burger
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I can
safely and assuredly report that the culinary world is alive and continues to
push the boundaries into 2012 stimulating our sensory delights.
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A
vegetarian feast – soup and salad
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Snog –
frozen yoghurt with pistachios and muesli and pistachios and strawberries
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Spaghetti
bolognaise – a firm Italian staple
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Traditional
mac and cheese and a veg pot pie with classic mash and peas
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Guess
who? Mr. Parsnip Soup! And as if the pub read my mind, they
complimented this with a plain toasted cheesy on the side.
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Dessert
anyone? Raspberry cheesecake topped with
meringue and served with fresh cream complimented with an Americano and
biscuit. YUM!
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Colourful Indian
delights – green bean pie and vegetable korma washed down with mango smoothies
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Traditional
home-made brownie slice with a dollop of coffee ice-cream
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