Namaaste restaurant is on Camden’s busy Parkway and you could be forgiven for walking straight past it, which is what I did. Once inside it’s all modern decor and fancy lighting. Word to the wise, or as my teacher used to say ‘Avis aux amateurs’, wearing a tight leather skirt really isn’t a good idea [...]]]>

Namaaste restaurant is on Camden’s busy Parkway and you could be forgiven for walking straight past it, which is what I did. Once inside it’s all modern decor and fancy lighting. Word to the wise, or as my teacher used to say ‘Avis aux amateurs’, wearing a tight leather skirt really isn’t a good idea for a dinner with a dozen dishes, next time I’m wearing something with an elasticated waist.

The first starter was Patthar Ka Gosht, which is marinated mutton cooked on a hot stone and then simmered in milk until tender. This dish was a meltingly soft piece of meat and stood up to the Merlot Tannat it was paired with. The Reshmi kebab was really fresh, the proportion of chicken to coriander and ginger kept this really light and green.

Tripe is one of those things I always say to myself I’ll never eat, but actually I’m much less squeamish than I’d like to think and will happily give anything a try. Chakna is a Hyderabadi speciality consisting of meat and tripe. Tripe is something my grandparents would bring over in their suitcase and my sister and I would watch wide-eyed as my parents wolfed it down, but I never tried it.
Namaaste’s version was made with goat, quite daintily served on a thick slice of mooli which really complimented the flavours. They springy tripe did take a little getting used but it was really quite delicious, with chunks of falling-apart goat and the crunch of the radish.

Patthar Ka Gosht

Reshmi Chicken Kebab

Chakna

The mains arrived, a Hyderabadi Murg Ki Pakki Biryani with soft plump cashews, a fragrant and light Malai Chicken Tikka, the Khatti Machli which was a grilled sea bream with a smoky sweet tomato and tamarind sauce to compliment the soft fish. I love a Bhindi Gosht and this one was rich and meaty with spices tingling on the tongue and perfect okra. I didn’t get a picture of the Baghara Baigun, a lovely dish of stuffed aubergines stuffed with coconut, peanuts cumin, ginger and tamarind which was full of creamy and smoky flavours.

Green Pepper Curry

Murg Ki Pakki Biryani and Bhindi Gosht

By this point we were all a little delirious from the amounts of food consumed, I think my tastebuds were a bit overwhelmed from all the flavours but at no point did I feel carbed out, as the dishes we ate were actually quite light. The Khubani Ka Meetha dessert came out, without the traditional cream but after a meal of this proportion I was quite grateful! This incarnation consisted of stewed almonds in sweet syrup with orange zest and pistachios and it came served with a Noble Semillon dessert wine that complimented the fruit flavours to perfection. It’s amazing what a little burst of sugar can do as I left with a little skip in my step and certainly not feeling like I’d just had an epic feast of Christmas-time proportions.

Namaaste is a great place for fine Indian cuisine, my tip would be to share a main course and get a few starters so you can try out as many flavours as possible, or better still go with a big group and order up a storm.

Namaaste Kitchen, 64 Parkway, Camden.

Sea Bass in Tomato Tamarind Sauce

Khatti Machli

Khubani Ka Meetha

I woke up with a real craving for a US-style breakfast on Friday, I was specifically craving Ella’s skillet eggs. I don’t think I will ever forget them, not least because I was out of my mind on jet lag when I ate them, but also because the hearty combo of eggs, potato, peppers and [...]]]>

I woke up with a real craving for a US-style breakfast on Friday, I was specifically craving Ella’s skillet eggs. I don’t think I will ever forget them, not least because I was out of my mind on jet lag when I ate them, but also because the hearty combo of eggs, potato, peppers and cheese was the best way to start the day. When I was over skillet breakfasts seemed to be all the rage, second to oyster bars on the New York food trends.

It’s the perfect dish to use up all all that slightly dodgy end of the week veg, I used a sad-looking courgette and some over-ripe tomatoes but you can vary the recipe according to what you have lying around. You need a really good nonstick pan, because you want all the lovely crsipy bits of potato and bubbling bits of cheese to go onto your plate, not stay stuck on the bottom of the pan.

Ingredients:
3 small potatoes, courgette, 4 mushrooms, 2 tomatoes, shallot, spring onion, two eggs, cheddar. Herbs, salt and pepper to taste. Serves two.

Method:
Cut all your ingredients into small chunks, including the cheese. Parboil the potatoes and then drain and salt. Heat some oil in a skillet or heavy bottomed pan and fry the potatoes. Do not stir too much, you want the potato to get all crispy and browned. Remove from pan and set aside.

Fry the shallots, add in the mushrooms and courgettes and cover to cook through. Once the courgette is soft stir in the tomatom spring onion and cheese. Then make little dips for the eggs to sit in and crack them into the pan. Cover and allow to cook until the eggs are done.

Serve with hot sauce and buttered toast on the side. For a totally authentic Yank experience make yourself a weak coffee with half and half (a mix of cream and milk), cheers!

About half of my friends seem to be Aquarius and we kicked off the first of the birthdays this weekend with choice ales and musical candles at Cask in Vauxhall.

When a chef offers to cook you dinner you don’t say no. We were served up some gorgeous fish, leeks with mussels, samphire and some purple [...]]]>

About half of my friends seem to be Aquarius and we kicked off the first of the birthdays this weekend with choice ales and musical candles at Cask in Vauxhall.

When a chef offers to cook you dinner you don’t say no. We were served up some gorgeous fish, leeks with mussels, samphire and some purple carrots that tasted of toffee. Definitely some good inspiration for future recipes.

A Saturday trip to the Salvation Army was a total revelation, there were masses and masses of the most incredible dresses, all handmade. I tried to find out who had owned these incredible frocks but no one in the store really knew, such a shame I could totally see these dresses in a museum. If you’re medium to short and a size 6-8 get yourself down there pronto.

After a few days of eating nothing but burgers all you want is some green veg and some brown rice. All you have to do is blanch the beans then fry off with black sesame seeds and garlic, then add a little soy. So simple and tasty!

Giselle made this incredible stout and chocolate cake for a birthday, it’s a Delia recipe so inevitably a little lengthy (sifting flour onto parchment?) but the stout gives it a really moist texture and a dark base note to complement the chocolate.

A little before Christmas I went on a country escape with some friends, what with a house move, viruses and other annoying obstacles I’m only putting the pictures up now. Pett Level is tucked between Hastings and Rye, south coast beach towns rule my world.

Getting away for a bit is highly recommended, even if it’s [...]]]>

A little before Christmas I went on a country escape with some friends, what with a house move, viruses and other annoying obstacles I’m only putting the pictures up now. Pett Level is tucked between Hastings and Rye, south coast beach towns rule my world.

Getting away for a bit is highly recommended, even if it’s just a country walk. We spent the weekend charity shopping, walking along beaches, drinking ales, listening to Radio 4 and freaking out over the Magic Eye book left in the cottage. 90s mems a go-go. Even the journey back was good, in-car karaoke courtesy of Magic FM and googled lyrics. Can’t wait to go back.

View from my bedroom window

Country fanzines!

You can actually try these Magic Eyes

First time I came to St Leonards I thought this was a chippie, it’s not. It’s a Christian cafe.

Buds in the pub, same jumpers, same hair.

Wearing New Look  jacket, Lacoste dress, EMU boots

Apologies for the near blog silence, my life has turned into a bit of a technological comedy of errors of late, but hopefully everything should be back on track soon. Update yer spyware kids and don’t ever move house, s’all I’m saying.

Granola, greek yoghurt and compote at Ginger & White in Hampstead.

Had a lovely Ephiphanie/Twelfth [...]]]>

Apologies for the near blog silence, my life has turned into a bit of a technological comedy of errors of late, but hopefully everything should be back on track soon. Update yer spyware kids and don’t ever move house, s’all I’m saying.

Granola, greek yoghurt and compote at Ginger & White in Hampstead.

Had a lovely Ephiphanie/Twelfth Night celebration with a traditional Galette des Rois cake, where you hide a ‘feve’ and the person who gets it is crowned king or queen. A good reason to have friends over and bust out the gold sparkly plates.

Out in the Wild West, i.e. Boston Manor, looking out at the tube depot.

Homemade pork and spring onion dumplings at a friend’s house. Want to try and make them for myself, they were delicious.

I have a love affair with oysters which runs deep, I’ve converted many people to their briny charms and even after a horrific bit of Christmas food poisoning I could still happily gulp down a dozen, down the hatch, no problem.

My recently documented trip to Canary Wharf was an invite from Boisdale to celebrate the [...]]]>

I have a love affair with oysters which runs deep, I’ve converted many people to their briny charms and even after a horrific bit of Christmas food poisoning I could still happily gulp down a dozen, down the hatch, no problem.

My recently documented trip to Canary Wharf was an invite from Boisdale to celebrate the results from the Boisdale & Wright Brothers Oyster Tasting Championship. We were greeted with a platter of native and rock oysters from all around the country from Scotland’s Loch Ryan to the Duchy of Cornwall.

Oyster need to knows:
-If you’ve never had an oyster before go for a small one that isn’t too plump, it will be easier to tackle than a great beast.
-Chew or swallow? I really like oysters and if you have a slight chew all the flavours spread around your tongue. I personally think whatever makes you happy.
-I only like oysters with a squeeze of lemon and a drop of Tabasco, the lemon is fresh and works well with the salt while the Tabasco adds to the kick of downing an oyster. Horseradish and shallot vinegar to my mind just seem to overpower the flavour.
-Native or rock? Rock are the most commonly found oysters, with a teardrop shape while the slower-growing natives have a more rounded appearance. Natives usually taste more delicate and complex.
-If you can see a lot of white flesh, it can mean your oyster is pregnant, congrats! This is considered a delicacy by the French who prize the oyster milk. Of course they do.

After the oysters we were served a delicious saddle of rabbit with foie gras, black truffles and chestnut velouté.

Next up was an Aberdeenshire dry aged fillet of beef with potato purée, this was so tender and soft my mouth is watering right now just thinking about it.

Dessert was a crème caramel with chantilly and almond cookie, unctuous and soft. By this time I was lolling about in my seat dangerously close to passing out in a food coma, so I could only finish half of it.

I didn’t touch the petit fours, instead I went for a reviving cup of tea which came loose leaf and served in the same pot that they use at the Wolsey. Full marks!

If you’re into your oysters, Boisdale and Wright Brothers are have got a ‘Crazy Hour’ from 5-6pm Monday to Friday when oysters are half price. Visit Boisdale in Belgravia, Bishopsgate or Canary Wharf and Wright Brothers in Soho to get your oyster fix. There is a limit, but it’s 84 oysters per person and even I couldn’t eat that many in an hour, although I could be tempted to try.

Late Sunday Sundries with a Scandinavian flavour as I went to the Christmas Market at the Finnish Church in Rotherhithe and stumbled on another Christmas Market at the Norwegian church a few steps away. I say Scandinavian but I actually mean Nordic as Finland isn’t strictly speaking part of Scandinavia. Just a bit of weekend [...]]]>

Late Sunday Sundries with a Scandinavian flavour as I went to the Christmas Market at the Finnish Church in Rotherhithe and stumbled on another Christmas Market at the Norwegian church a few steps away. I say Scandinavian but I actually mean Nordic as Finland isn’t strictly speaking part of Scandinavia. Just a bit of weekend pedantry there.

Lots of fantastic treats at the church, including salmiakki salt liquorice, lovely Finnish mustard, rye breads and elk meat paté as well as pretty Christmas decorations. I had a pretty good time playing spot the Finn, there’s something very distinctive about a Finnish face. Something like very straight hair and watery blue eyes.

I’d heard about a rumour and thought it was a joke, but they do actually have a sauna in the basement. Finns are SRS about saunas.

Down the road the Norwegian church is much older and has amazing little details like anchors painted on the the guttering and little wooden plaques dotted about inside. The boat-topped weathervane blew my tiny mind and inside the ship theme continues. I definitely want to make a return trip, especially as I headed out sans SD card and only have grotty camera phone pics to show for it. If you find yourself in the area I definitely recommend having a wander over, it’s smack bang next to the Rotherhithe tunnel over the road from a boozer and an estate.

Continuing the Scandi-themed Sunday I tucked myself into bed to catch up on the new series of the Killing. Already addicted.

This blog is becoming rather food-heavy at the moment, which is no bad thing but I do have a stack of fashion posts lined up for this week to even things out a little. Caphe House on Bermondsey Street is a great find, fantastic quality Vietnamese food for a more than decent price. I had [...]]]>

This blog is becoming rather food-heavy at the moment, which is no bad thing but I do have a stack of fashion posts lined up for this week to even things out a little. Caphe House on Bermondsey Street is a great find, fantastic quality Vietnamese food for a more than decent price. I had a lovely shredded pork bahn mi and a delicious rare beef pho, I couldn’t finish it all and my bill came to under a tenner, bargain.

Loving the luxury of taking your bike on a train for a little trip up north (London).

Finally got my hands on Revlon’s Facets of Fuchsia and I love it. Sparkly and subtly purple, it’s just the thing to ease me into the Christmas spirit. COS jewellery is always worth a punt, currently got my eye on this lovely box chain and leather bracelet.

Sundays are made for Billie Holiday, there are tons of pictures floating around of her in full emo-singing swing, but I like this one of her and her dog, Mister. There are plenty more Billie pics here, happy Sunday!