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Category Archives: Food

Belgravia, Chelsea and Sloane Square

10 Saturday May 2014

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, Food, London, Travel, Uncategorized

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Belgravia, Chelsea, Duke of York Square, Saatchi Gallery, Sloane Square

Last summer, I walked from Victoria Station through Belgravia towards Chelsea one morning, two new neighborhoods which I really had never visited before.

Great take-out from this lovely Italian Deli right up the road from Victoria Station. Photo by me

Great take-out from this lovely Italian Deli Le Bottega right up the road from Victoria Station. Photo by me

It was lovely, and I understand why the area is a popular place to live, shop and stroll.

The shops turned decidedly upscale. Photo by me

The shops turned decidedly upscale as I turned in to Belgravia. Photo by me

As soon as you head up Eccleston Street, behind the station, towards Belgravia, the scene transform from a gritty train station neighborhood to lovely shops and tree-lined streets.

This shop offered pink champagne and cupcakes. Delightful. Photo by me

This shop offered pink champagne and cupcakes. Delightful. Photo by me

IMG_9295 There are rows of lovely townhouses around green squares like this row at Eaton Square.

Photo by me

Photo by me

Soon I was entering Chelsea.

The beautiful red brick of the Chelsea neighborhood. Photo by me

The beautiful red brick of the Chelsea neighborhood. Photo by me

It became more commercial with shops and buses.  Early morning was very busy.

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I could understand the reputation for shopping, with one fine storefront after another presenting itself.

Photo by me

Photo by me

Photo by me

Photo by me

It was fun to see busy London on a workday morning.

Photo by me

Photo by me

Sloane Square stood in the middle of all the activity.

Photo by me

Photo by me

I wandered in circles for a bit, before finally realizing I was near the Duke of York Square, with its lovely shops, hairdressers and cafes…

Duke of York square shops. Photo by me

Duke of York square shops. Photo by me

as well as the adjacent Saatchi Gallery.

The entrance to the courtyard where the Saatchi Gallery stands. Photo by me

The entrance to the courtyard where the Saatchi Gallery stands. Photo by me

All in all it was a morning of discovery.  I always like to think I have become familiar with one more London Neighborhood on a trip. And this past year it was Chelsea.

 

Broadstairs, Kent

09 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by pat in Food, Travel, Uncategorized

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Broadstairs, Kent, Morelli's

A bit up the road, north of Ramsgate, is the seaside resort of Broadstairs.

Broadstairs. Photo by me

Broadstairs. Photo by me

It was “Folk Week” when I visited this past summer, and the resort area was absolutely chock-a-block, as the Brits say.  After driving in circles and finally finding a convenient parking spot, a friend of mine, who had spent summers there in her youth, and I walked in to the resort along the chalk cliffs.

The town of Broadstairs overlooking the sea. Photo by me.

The town of Broadstairs overlooking the sea. Photo by me.

We walked along the cliff top and noticed that Charles Dickens had lived and written here in centuries past, from 1837 until 1859. He described the town as “Our English Watering Place.  He wrote David Copperfield while staying at Bleak house, located along the cliff-top.

But of course, the main attraction was and is the beach…

Broadstairs Beach. Photo by me.

Broadstairs Beach. Photo by me.

…and the popular ice cream parlor in town, Morelli’s. The line wound down the street outside the shop. Beach towns are all the same, aren’t they? Sand and sweets.

Ice cream. Photo by me.

Ice cream. Photo by me.

 

 

 

Ship Shape

26 Saturday Oct 2013

Posted by pat in England, Food, Travel, Uncategorized

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Ramsgate

Tucked away in a small corner of Ramsgate, a coastal town on the English Channel…

IMG_8883You might miss it and just walk by on your way down to the marina…

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But there is a sweet little cafe  almost like a cave in the seawall near the water.

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It has cakes and jacket potatoes with beans, and little sandwiches.  All the British staples.IMG_8878

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I love England.  There are these little hidden gems to be found in every old place.

Sunday Roast 2013

11 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by pat in Food, Travel

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Roast Chicken, Sunday Roast

Nothing says England like a Sunday Roast, and at the beginning of this visit we were treated to a memorable one at My Beloved Brit’s sister’s home once again.  Chicken, roast potatoes, veggies, and brown gravy.  Yum.

Sunday Roast 2013. Photo by me.

Sunday Roast 2013. Photo by me.

The holiday has only just begun and I am already eating way too much, but loving every minute of it.

The Pub

12 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by pat in Cornwall, England, entertainment, Food, Music, Uncategorized

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a pint, beer gardens, chips British, fish and chips, pubs

On a windy, rainy, March day, there might be nothing better than a visit to an English pub. It can warm you up and cheer the day.

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A pub in Charlestown, Cornwall. Photo by me

Most likely there is a fire in a corner of the room somewhere…at the very least, a heated discussion at the bar about the latest football match (our soccer).

A country pub in Castle Combe. Photo by me

A country pub in Castle Combe. Photo by me

A pub is one of my favorite places to eat.  They usually have a huge menu with lots of choices, both healthy and otherwise, and if nothing else, I can get a warm jacket potato (baked potato) with baked beans and cole slaw.  These pubs are cozy and usually “Cheap and Cheerful”, as the British say…a social gathering place as well as a place to eat or grab a drink.

The "High" Street in Burnham has several pubs up and down.  Many have their favorite, or "local". Photo by me

The “High” Street in Burnham has several pubs up and down. Many Brits have their particular favorites, or “local”. Photo by me

And there is almost always someone you know if it’s your “local”. Rather like Cheers, UK style.

IMG_6606

Southwold is a brewery town (Adnams Brewery-we did the tour), and has many, many pubs at the edge of the sea in eastern England. Photo by me.

I remember growing up in New York and there was an American version of the English pub in every town, or town center.

The pub at the Broadway Hotel in the Cotswolds...a modern twist on a classic Inn. Photo by me

The pub at the Broadway Hotel in the Cotswolds…a modern twist on a classic Inn. Photo by me

The front room would have the bar and most likely a dart board.  The back — the family dining room, often with great inexpensive Italian food.

A pub in Bath, with a great restaurant upstairs. Photo by me

A city pub in Bath,England with a great restaurant upstairs. Photo by me

It’s much the same in England, although the front room bar serves the pint of beer warm, the dining/family area most likely serves fish and chips and gammon (ham) and chips (fries), and there almost alway is a karaoke night.

A friendly pub lunch stop while touring Norfolk area of England between country estate house tours. Photo by me.

A friendly pub lunch stop we made while touring Norfolk area of England between country estate house tours. Photo by me.

If weather permits, there is also usually a beer garden with tables and space for the children to run around.

There is usually space outside to sit.  We are always amazed to see people outside on a chilly grey day. Photo by me

There is usually space outside to sit.  Hunstanton, Norfolk, England. Photo by me

We are always amazed to see people outside on a chilly grey day sitting in the garden.

A pub on the water in Fowey, Cornwall with great fish and chips. Photo by me

A pub on the water in Fowey, Cornwall with great fish and chips. And mushy peas! Photo by me

One pub I remember even had a room upstairs with a bouncy castle.  This definitely is a family affair in England.

A pub in the Lake District on our way to Scotland.  Photo by me

A pub in the Lake District on our way to Scotland. Photo by me

The interesting thing is that the social dynamics are very similar to what I remember from New York.

In Essex, our last stop to meet friends before heading to Heathrow. Photo by me

In Essex, our last stop to meet friends before heading to Heathrow. Photo by me

One night sitting in a pub waiting for dinner to come with My Beloved Brit and cousins in Cornwall on the Southwest coast, we watched as the ladies came in and stood at one end of the room, and the men came in and stood at the other.

The White Hart in Burnham. A popular place to meet. Photo by me

The White Hart in Burnham. A popular place to meet. Photo by me

By the time we finished dinner, and a few pints later, the two sides had begun to talk to each other, and it might just prove to be an eventful night.

A London pub at Happy Hour. Photo by me

A London pub at Happy Hour. Photo by me

Of course we elders were gone way too early to really see all the excitement.  When the music started, it was time to make our exit.

Congo Bars and Sausage Rolls

26 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by pat in Food, Uncategorized

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Christmas dinner, Christmas Eve, Congo Bars, sausage rolls

Christmas just would not be Christmas without baking sweets in the kitchen for weeks before the actual holiday arrives. Since I was in my early 20s, I have baked for Christmas.  For days, and then for weeks. And one of my go to classics is something called “Congo Bars”, a sweet confection with brown sugar, walnuts and semi-sweet chocolate chips.

A view to the kitchen where Christmas magic is made. Photo by me

A view to the kitchen from the dining room where Christmas magic is made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I made my last batch this year on Christmas Eve day to take to a gathering of friends that evening, and enough to take to another friends’ house to add to their Christmas dinner the next day.  I used to make huge batches of sweets before Christmas to give to my clients when I had my graphic design studio in Georgetown.  Many of my best clients got extravagant gifts from their ad agencies and other vendors.  I was a small boutique studio with a limited promotion budget starting out and couldn’t compete with Lalique Crystal and even TV sets.  So I made beautifully decorated tins of various sweets and delivered it to the art departments and creative directors the week before Christmas.  It became such a popular tradition I never gave it up.  Staff would begin asking me at Halloween if I was going to deliver the treats in time for Christmas, and I didn’t disappoint. There was almost applause when I came through the door with bags loaded down with tins, enough for every sweet tooth in the department.

Prep for Congo Bars. Photo by me

Prep for Congo Bars.

So now I continue the tradition for me and My Beloved Brit and our friends at Christmas.  And he’s added a few items of his own (sausage rolls is truly one of his favorite treats when we go to England). But for now, let’s focus on Congo Bars.  So easy, and perfect with a cup of tea.

Congo Bars/Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, and a pat to grease the pan

2 1/3 cups packed light brown sugar

4 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 cups walnuts

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate morsels

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 baking pan with butter, and then put a spoonful of flour in the bottom.  Shake it about, coating the bottom and sides, and turn over in the sink and pat the bottom to remove any extra flour. Set aside.

Image 21

Melt 2 sticks of butter in a small pan on simmer.

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In a large bowl place 2 1/3 cups of gently packed light brown sugar (you can also use dark, but I prefer the light).

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Stir in the melted butter. Add 4 beaten eggs to sugar and butter mixture.

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Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and stir until smooth.

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Sift together 2 2/3 cups of all-purpose flour and 2 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder, Stir in to brown sugar mixture until it is smooth.

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Add 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips (if you lightly coat them with flour they will not sink in the batter, a trick I learned from The Barefoot Contessa), and 1 1/2 cups of chopped walnuts.

Image 19

Pour into the greased and floured pan.

Image 6

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes, until the top is golden brown.  Cool completely, cut in to squares, and store in a tin or zip-lock bags…or eat immediately!

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I love this treat, and luckily there are a few left over for us to share on this rainy Boxing Day (the day after Christmas celebrated in England).

Image 58

And now for the British side of the kitchen…

Sausage Rolls/Ingredients:

1 sheet of Puff Pastry, defrosted ( there are 2 sheets per box of Pepperidge Farm)

1 lb. mild or hot sausage, depending on your preference (we like the spicy)

1 egg, lightly beaten to brush the rolls

Flour for rolling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Image 50

Take one defrosted sheet of puff pastry, and roll it out on a floured board to 9 x 12.  Cut lengthwise in half.

Image 46

Take 1/2 of the sausage and roll it in to a long strand 12″ long.  Place in center of 1/2 of the pastry.

Image 38

Wet the edge lightly with water to seal. Roll pastry over the sausage, and crimp the edges closed.

Image 39

Repeat with the other half of the rolled pastry. Brush with beaten egg for a golden color.

Image 40

Cut slices, 12 or 24 per roll depending on how large you want the bites to be. We did 12. If you want to do 24 smaller pieces, reduce your baking time a bit.  Just watch until they turn golden.

Image 33

Place the pieces on the parchment lined baking sheet.

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Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees until golden. Serve warm, or at room temperature.

Image 56

They are lovely, and disappeared quickly at the party.

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Packed up and ready to travel.  I love this time of year! Happy Boxing Day!

Image 57

All photos by me in our kitchen, with great assistance from My Beloved Brit.

Food, glorious food

15 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by pat in Bath, England, Food, Travel, United Kingdom

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

restaurants, Sally Lunn's

I am bound to have put on a few pounds this week taste testing my way through Bath.  It’s a tough job but somebody has to do it.

Part of my research is to find suitable restaurants for a couple of group dinners for the planned workshop, and there are so many good dining venues in Bath that My Beloved Brit’s cousins from Andover are joining me for a night to help me out. We taste-tested Hall and Woodhouse, the new hot restaurant in Bath, and it was great.

Hall and Woodhouse–a brewery re-born as a modern restaurant. Photo by me

A tiny chicken and chips. Photo by me

I tried Jamie’s Italian for my first lunch in Bath and it was quite the experience.  It is celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s chain, so I was thinking it might be run of the mill, but the building was a funky take in a historic old Georgian building, with lots of fun decor and a rustic feel to match the food.

Wild mushrooms in pasta pillows with a rocket and parmesan salad. Photo by me

The food was quite good and a very different menu. Across the courtyard they also had a small deli and gift shop.

The bar area at Jamie’s Italian. Photo by me

Jamie’s Italian floats above Bath in this renovation of old Georgian space. Photo of me

I also tried a wood burning oven pizza restaurant for dinner.  (Italian is big is this town–I guess it is the Roman influence). The atmosphere was great, the pizza ok.  But when I saw “California Grill” on the window, I thought this is not what Americans would travel overseas for.

Firehouse. Photo by me

And of course while I was in Bath, I had to try the Sally Lunn’s, home of the original Bath Bun, in one of the oldest homes in Bath.

Sally Lunn’s. Photo by me

I wasn’t expecting much, and yes, it was flooded with international tourists.  But I had the salmon and dill “bun” and a fabulous pot of green tea, and on a chilly rainy day it was just perfect to be packed in with other bun lovers.

Salmon and Dill on Sally’s bun. Photo by me

And just for My Beloved Brit back home safe from the cold rain, I saw this sausage stand out on the street the other day…and thought, I have to take a photo.

There’s nothing like an English sausage. Photo by me

The best meal of the week goes to the day trip I made with MBB’s cousins to Castle Combe and the Castle Inn. Even though it was grey all day, it was the absolute perfect English outing.  I promise a more detailed post later on about Castle Combe and the Castle Inn.

Castle Combe. Is this the perfect English Village, or what? Photo by me

The Castle Inn, where we had lunch. It was perfect. Photo by me

And for my last meal, I was back in Bath for lunch before I left for London to fly from Heathrow in the morning.

One of the hidden courtyards in Bath where you can find all kinds of secret treasures. Photo by me

This is one of the last independently locally owned restaurants left in Bath, and it was packed. Good for them. Photo by me.

Chicken and parma ham to sustain me for the train ride back to London/Heathrow. Photo by me

Back home tonight! Back to sensible eating.

 

Sunday Roast

10 Sunday Jun 2012

Posted by pat in England, Food, London, Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

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Sunday Roast

We arrived at My Beloved Brit’s sister’s and her family’s home right on the edge of London to spend a weekend catching up with the family.

A Street in Upminster. Photo by me.

It’s the perfect accommodation, and we get to catch up with our three nieces who still reside under this roof

The city house where three small English cars can fit out front. Photo by me

This is a wonderful way to spend an English day, preparing Sunday Roast with family all around and good food flying out of the kitchen onto our plates.

Preparations begin with dad and the youngest taking control of the kitchen. Photo by me

The Bold Brother-in-Law orchestrated the cooking with much help and cajoling from all around.

Family stays close by. Photo by me

It was a classic.

Can we have a bit of help here. Photo by me.

A gorgeous pork roast with crackling, yorkshire pudding, lots of veggies and roast potatoes.

Dishing up. Photo by me

Aaaaaaaah!! Photo by me

Let the feast begin…

The attack. Photo by me

Two of our lovely nieces, fondly known as the seagulls for the amount of food they can consume in a short time. Photo by me.

It was the best of Sunday afternoons, and an English tradition that is unparalleled anywhere in the world.

After the meal... the remnants of a pitcher of "Squash" a very British refreshing drink. Photo by me

Road to Scotland

25 Friday May 2012

Posted by pat in England, Food, Lake District, Travel, Uncategorized

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On our way to Scotland, we stopped at a motorway hotel in the countryside near the Lake District.  After a full day of driving it was a relief to get to our destination for the night, but it was a bit of a chain hotel.

The Westmorland on the motorway. Photo by me.

After looking over the high priced menu we decided to venture into the nearby village for dinner at the local pub.  I agreed to forfit my glass of wine with my meal, and drive us back along the narrow roads.

These narrow country lanes put you in fear of oncoming traffic. photo by me

It was well worth it.  We found a great pub, and enjoyed dinner with the locals. And I managed to get us back safe and sound quite easily.

The perfect spot for dinner. Photo by me.

I was quite proud of myself and we immediately retreated to the hotel bar for a glass of wine. I’m not sure I will ever get totally used to driving in this country.

Meanwhile, many areas in the country have difficulty with internet connection in the small inns.  If I miss posting for awhile, you’ll know we are enjoying the peace and quiet of a country inn.

Hail to the Sandwich

09 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by pat in England, Food, Uncategorized

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sandwich

My Beloved Brit is a devoted sandwich fan.  And you will be happy to know that this year England will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the sandwich.  People were probably slapping something between two pieces of bread before that, but that is when it “officially” got its name.

wikimedia, photo by Jon Sullivan

The 4th Earl of Sandwich, John Montague, was playing a game of cards one day in 1762, when he asked his manservant for some meat to be served up to him between two slices of bread so he could continue playing uninterrupted. Soon, his friends, were asking for a light repast “same as Sandwich” and, voila, the meal of infinite variety was born.

The Earl, who was also First Lord of the Admiralty, also funded Captain Cook’s exploration of the Pacific and was rewarded when Cook named the first land he discovered the Sandwich Islands (now known as Hawaii).

Sandwich, which is located in Kent, will be celebrating this anniversary in high style along with the rest of the UK this May12-19 which is British Sandwich Week.  An astounding 11.5 billion sandwiches are eaten in Britain every year. The nation’s favorite is chicken, but egg and ham are nipping at the chicken’s feet, so to speak.

Keep you posted on fast breaking sandwich news.


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