Muscles and Guinness @ The Fellow

Kings Cross, York way. Great Pub. The Muscles were in a White Wine, Leek and Bacon sauce.

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, London

Next door to the Ivy in London you will find one of my favourite London Restaurants. 

On my recent trip back to London we visited L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon for a 3 course pre-theatre dinner. I took a snap of other dishes that looked particularly interesting, however, my dishes were the Mushroom soup, with poached egg and the slow cooked beef stew, topped with creamy mash potato. Obviously Joel Robuchon would describe them with a lot more pizazz, but unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the menu.

Meantime Microbrewery

At L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon

Particularly like the Champagne style bottle

Rick Steins St. Petroc's Bistro

Another one of Rick Steins Restaurants. Our second day in Padstow and lunch was a 3 course meal at St. Petroc's Bistro. Calamari, Mushroom risotto, and Sticky Toffee Pudding with Clotted Cream.  

Cornish Cream Tea

When in Rome, well Cornwall, eat cream teas. 

The scenery was a bit of a contrast from Cambodia the week before.

Rick Steins Seafood Restaurant

On the evening of the London leg of my Design Bridge Food and Wine trail we visited Rick Steins Seafood Restaurant. We had the sample menu and it was fantastic. Fish overload, but what do you expect. My favorite was the Fillet of Sea Bass ‘A La Plancha’. With roasted fennel seeds and sauce vierge. The best fish course I have ever tasted.

Padstow and Rick Stein's Seafood School

With reference from an earlier post:

http://singforyadinner.blogspot.com/2011/06/watch-this-space.html

I was one of 2 lucky winners to fly to the UK and join our London office on their part of Design Bridge's 25th Anniversary. The UK leg of the celebration was in Padstow, Cornwall. 

Part of the 2 day event was a half-day class at Rick Steins Seafood School.

4 dishes were demonstrated by one of his top Chefs. We then had the option to cook one of them. I chose, 'Salt and Pepper Squid'.

Hot Shell Fish Demo

After we polished off all the dishes we had cooked and a few glasses of white wine, the Head Chef demonstrated how to cook several types of shell fish. 1 live Crab, 1 live Lobster, Scallops, Clams, Razor Clams, Muscles and Oysters. All doused in a sauce made from all the shell fish juices and a generous helping of white wine.

Lamb Stew and Dumplings

Whilst in the UK I had a heart warming bowl of lamb stew at the 3 kings pub, Clerkenwell.

Battered Mars Bar at Smith's Fish and Chips, Singapore

A northern UK delicacy has made it 16,000km to the shores of Singapore.... the battered Mars Bar! Oh and Fish and Chips. Both are highly recommended. 

Fresh...Rabbit Paella

My Dad makes a mean Paella, but like all great men he would be lost without his wife, my Mum, who provided the finest ingredients; Scallops, Prawns, Chicken, Chorizo, Saffron. However, after a day out in the country at a friends house I thought I would add an important ingredient to the traditional Spanish Paella... Rabbit!

Earlier in the day I caught a 10pound Carp, feeling lucky, I thought I would try and hunt for a Rabbit in the evening. It was an equally as successful trip and I bagged myself a Rabbit for the dish. I obviously am clueless about preparing a Rabbit so left that to my good friend Archie to show me the ropes and then I delivered it to my mother the very next day, with a big grin on my face!

THE Hot Chocolate Shop!

I used to live in Windsor, UK and just across the bridge from Eton is a little Cafe, the Chocolate Theatre Cafe and I love it!

Every week I used to visit. I have always wondered what Roy the owner thinks of me, because each week I would have a new friend, date, relative, work colleague with me, someone new to introduce to the Hot Chocolates and any excuse for me to indulge in another!

5 years on and when I am back in the UK I always go to visit.

You must try one of their extensive range of Hot Chocolates, accompanied by a breakfast, soup, platter or Sandwich, plus if you too have a ultra-sweet-tooth, then treat yourself to one of the incredible homemade cakes and pastries.

I found this little video on you tube...

The Devonshire Arms - Middle Handley

On a recent trip back to the UK I visited the Devonshire Arms, Middle Handley, Derbyshire.

I strongly recommend you go visit if you are in the area, (I know, that is unlikely for the majority of the people that read this! It's a long way from Singapore) however the food is fantastic and even though it has gone through a modern refurb they have managed to keep hold of that traditional UK pub feel.

I had Scallops, Lamb Shank and Treacle Tart, all top notch.

All washed down with a local ale and a glass of Rioja!