Cooking
Elderflower spritzers served in test tubes
Having been to London many times for vacation, I couldn't help but notice things were a bit different this time around. Sure, the recent foodie focus of London has been documented ad nauseum, and restaurants like St John, Moro and Fifteen and celebrity chefs are all the rage, but there were subtle differences I noticed too.
I've never really thought of England as the vanguard of health food, but everywhere I went I saw low-fat, low-sugar, sugar-free, organic and plenty of fresh food packaged in convenient ways. Convenience seems to be balanced with health. Chains like Pret A Manger and Wagamama highlight nutritional information associated with their offerings and I was impressed with the food at both places. In addition to healthier food, I saw healthier packaging and wooden utensils, healthier for the environment.
Taste. Yes, a focus on taste is clearly a priority! The upscale market Waitrose announced they were going to start selling "uglies" not THE ugly fruit, but ugly-looking fruits and vegetables that still taste delicious and are perfectly suited to making preserves. Waitrose also is involved in local sourcing and has a team of buyers that seek out local and regional sources of the best quality food that is not often found in other supermarkets. The crowds at the Borough Market also signal a heightened enthusiasm for great-tasting fresh food.
Another sign of the foodie revolution? The Taste of London event took place for the third time and was a sell-out for many sessions. People paid 15 pounds just to get in and then paid more for tastes of food from celebrity chefs and restaurants--participating were some of the top chefs in London including Angela Hartnett, Vivek Singh, Tom Aikens, Marcus Wareing, etc. For more on this event check out my pal Lulu's post.
Whenever people ask me where to eat in New York I always rave about the Bread Bar at Tabla. I love the concept and the execution, sophisticated Indian food made fresh with the best ingredients available. Indian food is nothing new in London but whether Michelin starred or simply innovative versions of street food, there is a lot more to Indian cuisine than takeaway curry in London these days. I relished tastes from the kitchens of Imli and Cinnamon Club at the Taste of London. I wish I could have tried even more of these restaurants.
I couldn't believe how popular Elderflower was, from cordials to soft drinks it seemed to show up everywhere. On my return I discovered Delicious Days had posted about it too. I may have thought "aromatherapy water" was silly when I saw it at the Fancy Food Show in January, but the Brits seem to be taking this kind of thing seriously!
FOOD + LONDON
- New Site Design!
At long last! The redesign has launched! I hope you like it as much as I do. First and foremost I want to thank my amazingly talented web designer, Cat Batacan and my coding guru Christine Vilar. I highly recommend them both. The photo in the banner is...
- Gourmet Indian Food
Indian food is hot. Not just spicy hot but trendy hot. Or on the verge anyway. I've always been a fan of Indian food, but ever since I ate at the Bread Bar at Tabla I've seen new potential for the gourmet side of this cuisine. What I experienced...
-
Now that I'm heading to London it should come as no surprise that I'm paying even more attention to London food blogs, this week's feature on Richmond from a Passionate Cook really got me planning ahead. How much do you love spinach? As...
- Amy Goes To Europe
I am going to spend a week in London and a week in Barcelona. So now is your big chance to influence my plans: Where should I eat? Where should I shop? What sights should I see? I've been to both places, but not for a while so the more current...
- Tabla:restaurant Closed
In New York, I wanted to eat at some special places, places that New Yorkers really love. Reading the New York Collectors edition of Gourmet magazine, I happened upon a mention of Tabla Bread Bar. I've just recently discovered Indian "chaat" or snack...
Cooking
London Food Trends
Elderflower spritzers served in test tubes
Having been to London many times for vacation, I couldn't help but notice things were a bit different this time around. Sure, the recent foodie focus of London has been documented ad nauseum, and restaurants like St John, Moro and Fifteen and celebrity chefs are all the rage, but there were subtle differences I noticed too.
I've never really thought of England as the vanguard of health food, but everywhere I went I saw low-fat, low-sugar, sugar-free, organic and plenty of fresh food packaged in convenient ways. Convenience seems to be balanced with health. Chains like Pret A Manger and Wagamama highlight nutritional information associated with their offerings and I was impressed with the food at both places. In addition to healthier food, I saw healthier packaging and wooden utensils, healthier for the environment.
Taste. Yes, a focus on taste is clearly a priority! The upscale market Waitrose announced they were going to start selling "uglies" not THE ugly fruit, but ugly-looking fruits and vegetables that still taste delicious and are perfectly suited to making preserves. Waitrose also is involved in local sourcing and has a team of buyers that seek out local and regional sources of the best quality food that is not often found in other supermarkets. The crowds at the Borough Market also signal a heightened enthusiasm for great-tasting fresh food.
Another sign of the foodie revolution? The Taste of London event took place for the third time and was a sell-out for many sessions. People paid 15 pounds just to get in and then paid more for tastes of food from celebrity chefs and restaurants--participating were some of the top chefs in London including Angela Hartnett, Vivek Singh, Tom Aikens, Marcus Wareing, etc. For more on this event check out my pal Lulu's post.
Whenever people ask me where to eat in New York I always rave about the Bread Bar at Tabla. I love the concept and the execution, sophisticated Indian food made fresh with the best ingredients available. Indian food is nothing new in London but whether Michelin starred or simply innovative versions of street food, there is a lot more to Indian cuisine than takeaway curry in London these days. I relished tastes from the kitchens of Imli and Cinnamon Club at the Taste of London. I wish I could have tried even more of these restaurants.
I couldn't believe how popular Elderflower was, from cordials to soft drinks it seemed to show up everywhere. On my return I discovered Delicious Days had posted about it too. I may have thought "aromatherapy water" was silly when I saw it at the Fancy Food Show in January, but the Brits seem to be taking this kind of thing seriously!
FOOD + LONDON
- New Site Design!
At long last! The redesign has launched! I hope you like it as much as I do. First and foremost I want to thank my amazingly talented web designer, Cat Batacan and my coding guru Christine Vilar. I highly recommend them both. The photo in the banner is...
- Gourmet Indian Food
Indian food is hot. Not just spicy hot but trendy hot. Or on the verge anyway. I've always been a fan of Indian food, but ever since I ate at the Bread Bar at Tabla I've seen new potential for the gourmet side of this cuisine. What I experienced...
-
Now that I'm heading to London it should come as no surprise that I'm paying even more attention to London food blogs, this week's feature on Richmond from a Passionate Cook really got me planning ahead. How much do you love spinach? As...
- Amy Goes To Europe
I am going to spend a week in London and a week in Barcelona. So now is your big chance to influence my plans: Where should I eat? Where should I shop? What sights should I see? I've been to both places, but not for a while so the more current...
- Tabla:restaurant Closed
In New York, I wanted to eat at some special places, places that New Yorkers really love. Reading the New York Collectors edition of Gourmet magazine, I happened upon a mention of Tabla Bread Bar. I've just recently discovered Indian "chaat" or snack...