Best 'Dirty' Chinese in Cape Town

Visiting family in Cape Town, you are offered an abundance of glorious food – fresh fish, fruit and vegetables not to mention delicious local wine.  But occasionally on holiday, you just want dirty food!  No, not an English breakfast in 40 degree heat but that retro naughty food that brings with it echoes of all the fun you have had before when eating it – along with a shiver of guilt as you imagine just how bad it was for you.  So when we asked mother what she fancied for dinner and she suggested Chinese, I jumped at the chance.     

Now this posed a problem as Cape Town while being the most awesome place in the known universe (eer, I might be a little biased) does not do Chinese well!   You can find rocking Vietnamese and really rather good if westernised sushi but good old fashioned Chinese or Japanese food is almost impossible to find. 

Secondly, Mom doesn’t want high end authentic Chinese, she wanted ‘dirty’ Chinese – you know the cuisine which is roughly labelled Cantonese where they cheerfully serve sweet and sour sauce as well as chop suey without complaint.

After a bit of research (thanks Aunty Google), we settled on Tai Ping in Newlands!  Arriving at about 8 o clock, we buzzed to be let in and entered the 90s.   Woks on the walls, the faint smell of soy sauce in the air and wipe clean menus with red linen table clothes – inside I was doing the dance of happiness and dirty dirty joy.

The menu was excellent – covering all the important bases including springrolls, chop suey, sweet and sour pork, noodles and hot & sour soup.  A touch of South Africa (curried kingklip and apricot lamb spring rolls) vied with dim sum and a couple of surprisingly adventurous more traditionally Chinese dishes (Ma Po Tofu and Ants Climbing a tree) to create a well-rounded dining experience

The wine list isn’t extensive but they do allow you to bring your own wine and charge a relatively reasonable R28 per bottle.  Still, we didn’t know this so found a perfectly well priced and reasonable bottle of Sauvignon Blanc

We ordered spring rolls, pork buns followed by Ma Po Tofu, Shanghai Steak and Crispy Shredded Beef with rice.   The dishes arrived as they were cooked and the owner – committed to being both the cook and the host – nipped out to check all the tables were happy which took us further back in time to an era when being recognised as a regular meant something.  

The food was excellent – the spring rolls crispy without being greasy and the tofu, steak and beef shining examples of Cantonese food done well.  Admittedly, the pork buns were not quite fluffy or sweet enough for me but then again, I am a Dim Sum fiend who will fight a friend for a well-cooked turnip cake.

We finished the meal with bowties (which apparently are really called butterfly cookies according to one of the blogs I like called Burnt Out Baker).  These are essentially deep fried pastry drenched in sugar syrup which are an essential end to a South African Chinese meal – naturally served with Jasmin tea.

Waddling into the night, we agreed that we would be returning.  It isn’t Nobu, it isn’t posh – but sometimes all you want is food that tastes good because it is just excellent but also because you remember it from your childhood.  

New Street Grill

I’m not a girly girl – explosions of pink concern me and high pitched squeaking with hand clapping generally sends me running for the hills (or alcohol).  I work in finance FFS so while I like to dress nicely, Elle Woods approach to fashion would raise a few eyebrows and not really help with the ‘being taken seriously’ part of my role.   One benefit of people realising this is that they are happy meeting me for lunch in restaurants that they may consider a little too masculine for other.

And I say – bring it on – or rather I was as I met people for lunch at New Street Grill – owned by the D&D London Group – this restaurant exudes masculinity with a hint of English gentleman’s club from its comfy leather booths to service.  While the menu focuses on steak, there are other options and I am confident that – as a woman - if pink is not the predominate focus of your wardrobe, you will find lots of menu options and feel comfortable cosseted as I did.

The wine list is extensive (and the sommelier is patience personified) so it is worth having a good look before you choose.  South African (naturally) Chenin Blanc was our choice followed by a rather nice Shiraz.

Trying to be good, I ordered oysters while my companions went for the gravlax.  Personally, I thought I won as not only are they served in the majestic old style but they were fresh, briny and brought the essence of the sea to Liverpool Street.  However, this did spark a debate as apparently the gravlax was perfectly balanced and just the right size for a starter.

For main course, I went with Dry Aged Hereford Rib Eye (as did the other guest) and a pepper sauce with triple cooked chips which my other companions chose Suffolk lamb, hand raised pie, black cabbage, parsnips.  Ordering the steak was a joy – having been patronised and annoyed last time I was at the Hawksmoor – yes, I could have it medium-rare and no, the waiter didn’t feel the need to explain the concept of size orders.

Then it arrived and I almost had to hand back my ‘not a girly girl card’ as I did want to squeak and clap my hands.  Perfectly cooked, tender with a real depth of taste!  Those cows from Hereford are definitely four counties ahead of those awful creations some –loosely named – gastro-pubs serve up.

The lamb was very tasty but as there appeared to be parsnips (food of the devil or carrots with a bad home life, I can’t decide) so I steered clear of enquiring more.  Thoroughly full, we looked longingly at the desert menu which included chocolate fondant, rice pudding and apple crumble and declined in favour of coffee to stave of the food coma.   

Is the New Street Grill good?  No, it is exceptional – not cheap by any means but definitely worth every penny – now off to find someone who fancies taking me there for lunch.

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A South Westerly Lemon Drizzle

I don’t like cake!  There, I’ve said it!  In a world obsessed with the Great British Bake Off, I am probably due to get lynched but I just don’t like fussy cooking.  Yes, some people are bakers and others enjoy making savoury food which works even if you put in 110g rather than 100g.

I fall into the latter camp but working with men, I occasionally have to bite the bullet and bake.  Yes, in my world the application of a little sugar seems to get the wheels turning faster and my computer running far smoother than before.

So a request for a Lemon Drizzle Cake was put in and although - as a South African – this isn’t a cake I am particularly familiar with and reminds me rather strongly of weather condition [a south westerly lemon drizzle is due to hit Scotland sometime on Sunday], I started looking for a recipe.

Yes, Lemon Drizzle for Idiots was my requirement and I found this recipe on Nigella Lawson website. It isn’t actually one from the domestic goddess but rather a post by Welsh Girl

on their community pages.

Ingredients

4 oz [or 113g] of softened butter [plus a little extra to grease your tin]

6 oz [or 170g] of self-raising flour

1 teaspoon of baking powder

6 oz [or 170g} of superfine sugar [castor]

2 large eggs [or three medium eggs]

6 tablespoons [or 106ml] of milk

Rind of 1 large lemon [unwaxed]

For the icing:

Juice of 1 large lemon

4 oz [or 113g] of superfine sugar [castor]

You need to start by preheating your oven to 180 degrees C [or gas mark 4] so I felt confident with this step as I marched towards the valley of the shadow of cake doom.

Then, you need to grease your tin [9” x 8”].  I have a small kitchen and if I bought the different types of tin suggested each time I cooked, I would not fit into it so I fell back on my favourite stand-by [a square disposable foil tin].  So far so good, I thought as I gamely rubbed margarine onto the tin.

They suggest using baking parchment instead of greasing the tin but to be honest, it all seemed a bit of a faff [definitely points off for effort at this point on a Monday night after a long day at work].

Then you are supposed to dump all the other ingredients into a large mixing bowl before beating for 2 to 3 minutes.  And so the pain began!  The original recipe only used ounces so I kept having to refer to the internet to figure out how much I needed to put in. 

I also got enthusiastic so kept having to spoon ingredients back into the packaged, I now looked like an angry blond wine swigging snowman – not a domestic goddess in sight.

BTW – there is such a thing as an Australian tablespoon so I did have an internal debate whether there may be a Welsh equivalent [perhaps the love spoon] but I was a little past caring as I stood in a pile of flour watched by a bemused cat.

Finally, everything was in the bowl and I started mixing!  Lumps and more lumps!  More wine came out at this point as I realised that my butter was too cold and I couldn’t quite get it to mix in.

Giving up, I spooned it into my greased tin and popped it in the oven [for between 30 and 40 minutes] – retiring to the sofa to recover while muttering about cake. 

Getting over the trauma, I juiced two medium lemons and mixed in the sugar.  Aaargh, the fudging oven was too hot [190 to 200 C] so turning this down, I left the cake for 30 minutes until it was golden and firm.

One minor burn later [and more cat judgement], I poured the lemon juice mixture over the hot cake and left it to fester [probably not the right term but I was rather cranky].  

Next day, I dropped it off with our IT department to their surprise and delight! While this might have been my first lemon drizzle cake and to be honest it wasn't much to look at, it apparently tasted great and they were merrily humming around high on lemon and sugar!

Not a bad recipe for a good result but as I rather value my fragile grip on mental health, I doubt I will ever enter the Great British Bake Off.

Thanks

L x

P.S. – Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @littleofwhatyou 

Don't choose a fast-food restaurant for a slow-food catch up!

Eating out is one of life’s great joys but occasionally, I find myself in a restaurant which I just don’t feel comfortable in.  Either, I’m not cool enough or too old or perhaps want more from a dining experience but DF Mexico in the Old Truman Brewery just didn’t float my boat.

And it was a huge shame as the food is excellent!  But let me explain, I arrived with one of my best girlfriends bent on putting the world to rights over a bottle of wine into an industrial space with a hint of Mexico.  A bit bright and shiny but I had had a day when I needed to escape from harsh light [which weirdly didn't help the photos] so it wasn’t their fault.

With thanks to hyhoi.com

We were seated within 2 minutes and then the dreaded question came – ‘Have you eaten here before?’  Personally, I find that this never bodes well [unless it is at the temple of Nandos] but we both shook our heads and enquired what we needed to do.  It was 8:30 and I would have done the chicken dance if they promised to feed me.

We were instructed to look at the menus, remember our table number, trot to the bar over there [wave of the hand], order and pick up our drinks before awaiting our food.  Okay!  A bit complex after a long day but we both decided to put our big girl pants on and deal.

The very well-priced menu ranges from Mexican standards such as tacos to burritos to tortas to grills and salads – o glory be, something I can eat and enjoy!  The wine list has red, white or pink as an option plus a selection of Mexican drinks, beers and margaritas.  

Getting up to order, I found the counter bare of humanity and faced using the automatic touch screen system.  The fear set in!  Had I tapped something too hard?  What did they mean do you want to make the Burrito Mexican?  I can be a bit of a techno-phobe but I do prefer ordering from a real live person rather than fighting with a machine.

Order placed, the nice man behind the bar asked me if I needed help and then handed me a bottle of well-priced white Pino Grigo which was actually really rather nice.  We had gone with Guacamole and Tortilla [blue and white] chips to start and it didn’t disappoint – although a little salsa might have been nice.

The veggie burrito [Roasted vegetables. Habanero and pumpkin seed mayo] arrived shortly after and my friend said it was really good.  In fact, she was delighted with the vegetarian offerings and did have a moment of menu paralysis as she contemplated numerous choices.

My steak arrived [I wasn’t asked how I wanted it done but it was nicely medium rare] with chilli fries and a pot of Chipotle hibiscus salsa.  The salsa was a revelation and I WANTED MORE as the portion was a little small for my portion of chips.

Having set the world to rights [and potentially blocked a table for a bit], we wandered off into the night, full of glorious food and annoyed that we had chosen a fast-food restaurant for a slow-food catch up.  Don’t get me wrong, if I needed a quick meal, I would go again but it probably isn’t the place to solve the worlds problems.

L xx

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @littleofwhatyou

A Bonny Gull in Fitzrovia

My name is X and I am a recently converted fish fan!  Yes, that would be my introduction to fish fanciers anonymous if such an organisation existed.  I should have been a lifelong fish fan but having been born in Cape Town, I arrived in London and found that in the late 90s, the quality just wasn’t there.  So, I wandered off to pastures new [or rather chose pastures with cows in and looked at beef as my favourite food].

However, the quality has improved and with the UK food renaissance, some of the dishes are really lovely.  Therefore, when I had to meet up with a contact for lunch, I chose the Bonnie Gull on Foley Street which went down well as apparently my guest comes from ‘fishing folk’.  It says it’s a shack – and in a world with Unicorns and Fairies, it may well be - but I would suggest it is a charming bright restaurant done out in ‘faux fisherman’.

With thanks to www.localdatasearch.com

We were seated by the windows [there is outside seating but it is summer in the UK so not a hope] and we chatted away as we perused the menu.  Bonnie Gull uses only fresh fish from British Day Boat but the menu doesn’t stick to our green and pleasant isle – no, it veers across continents focusing on ‘what makes seafood great’.    Seafood platters and oysters are also available for those who prefer their seafood less sophisticated.

Sipping on a very pleasant white Albarino, we finally made our choices – starter and main course as neither of us are sweet fans.  Along with some excellent bread, we were brought what is hands down one of the weirdest amuse bouches I've ever had - it looked like crisps threaded onto a skewer with marie rose sauce - not easy to eat at all.

O heck, I thought, what is next but it really did improved.  My guest started with ‘Isle of Man Queen Scallops, Oak Smoked Bacon, Sweetcorn Hollandaise’ which looked very pretty indeed.  Not being a fan of sweetcorn, I didn’t taste it but the flavours were apparently well balanced and the scallops cooked perfectly.

Instead, I chose ‘Seared Brixham Squid, Spinach, Aioli, Black Olive Crumb’.  I love squid but it isn’t a dish which less specialist restaurants have much success with so I save it for special occasions.  And this was very special indeed, the squid was melt in your mouth tender and the Aioli was just the right side of pungent.  Now I get the need to add a little texture but I’m not sure black olive crumb is ever going to float my boat.

The main course arrived in a timely manner with ‘whole Looe Lemon Sole Almondine, Dorset Cockles, Almonds, Capers, Samphire’ being enjoyed by my guest.  Samphire is something I recently discovered and added the salty taste of the sea to a well thought out dish.

Aware, I was about to de-carb my life shortly, I chose Scottish Langoustine & Lobster Ravioli, Hispi Cabbage, Lobster Bisque.  The pasta was good with a firm filling what was quite obviously crustatian and the bisque was very tasty [so tasty in fact,  I sneaked a chip off my companions side order and enjoyed it as a sauce].   Not being a cabbage connoisseur, the Hispi aspect to this brassica passed me by but I’m sure it was an excellent example of the variety.

Finishing with coffee and a final drink in the summer sunshine, we agreed that the food had been excellent, the staff charming and a good polished all round experience.  Would I go back if I was in the area?  Probably but it was perhaps just a little too polished for a restaurant which bills itself as a shack.

L xx

Don't forget to follow me on twitter @littleofwhatyou

Old Tea Warehouse

As I work in PR, I get to eat out often.  Quite obviously the ideal profession for someone as food obsessed as me but I need to cater to the audience so when I had lunch with two male unassuming business contacts, I though PUB. 

I’m fussy when it comes to this UK institution – the floors can be wooden but only, if it has character rather than being a cookie cutter clone.  And, while I don’t mind music, if it is before 10 and I can’t hear myself speak then we need to have a word.

So, trawling the options in the City, I found Old Tea Warehouse which lives in the shadow of the Gherkin.  It was hidden down a little alley – tick!  It could trace its history back to the 1500s –tick!  And, it served real artisan beer [tell two grown men that and there is a sad display of dad dancing].

Arriving, down a little alley, we found a character filled pub that could have hosted Dickens and the building may well have been designed by an utter nut.  Several bars, a games room with a pool table down stairs and a toilet that you need a compass to find – now I know I could spend a good evening here.

With thanks to pubandbarnetwork.co.uk

Perusing the menu, it looked to cater for the city lunchtime crowd with a selection of UK classics.  Not ‘Hestoned’ classics but honest to gosh, good solid staples that taste really good.  Between discussing pensions [yes, we are sexy like that] we ordered a gin & tonic as well as two lovely lagers – not that the wine list wasn’t good but well, we were in a pub.

I ordered Roast lamb rump, crushed Jersey Royals, truffle minted peas, wild garlic & beetroot jus with my companions choosing Pan fried salmon, green beans, olives, new potatoes, tomato, cucumber, anchovies & soft egg and Chicken Caesar salad, pesto croutons, parsley crumb, anchovies & shaved parmesan.  Okay, the menu is a little wordy for a pub but it is in the city and I’m sure someone knows what truffle peas are.

When the food arrived it didn’t disappoint!  The lamp was perfectly cooked offset by the sweet peas and lovely meaty potatoes.  I’m sure the wild garlic and beetroot jus added an earthy flavour but was too busy eating to notice this.  My beautiful companions reported that the salmon was ‘great’ as with the egg cooked just right and the Caesar salad was a ‘pleasant surprise’. 

Apparently, he had ordered it to be good and it was rather more than the normal sad arrangement of dry chicken on tired lettuce.  Dessert was a final tipple before we headed off to be adults again.

If you want posh, don’t visit the Old Teahouse as you will be blocking the table for someone like me who just wants a great meal in a lovely environment.  But do find out where the loo is before you have too much to drink as I’m sure there are some poor people still merrily trotting around from the 1500s.

Lxx

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @littleofwhatyou

Fresh Spring Farm Drop - Good All Year Round

Foodies are a little subculture!  We know that if everyone would just put down the takeaway and cook local ingredients from scratch then the world would be a better place, so if the rest of you would get with the program, it would be most helpful.

So when I was invited to try the Farm Drop Spring menu at The Chequers [a gorgeous pub on Walthamstow High Street], I did the happy dance.  Farm Drop is a fantastic service which allows small producers to share their produce via a convenient ‘veggie box’ style delivery offering. 

I arrived at the Chequers [a gastro hipster pub with an endearingly old soul] to a Woodford and Warner sorrel & hibiscus bellini.  One of the features of the evening was that producers were on hand to talk about the passion they put into their products which was a great touch.

I’ve never had hibiscus before but it added a sweet floral note to the bellini which was very refreshing [and moreish – note to self, could be dangerous].  We were seated at a long table and the debate started, covering everything from allotments to the social good cooking can provide to the vulnerable.

The starter arrived Calabaza globe artichokes, Oliveology shallot vinaigrette!  Silence descended and there were the happy noises of foodies grazing.  The artichokes were incredibly fresh and tasty complemented by the sharp vinaigrette.  Gosh, I really wish I had the patience to do artichokes at home.

We returned to Woodford and Warner for a sorbet to clean the pallet, this was becoming addictive and the intro from the founder made me smile!  Yes, local and passionate – tick.

Almond crusted Park Farm lamb cutlets, Wild Country sorrel, Chegworth charlotte potatoes & Calabaza radish chutney followed.   Andy Clarke from Park Farm explained his philosophy around raising animals and well – being shallow – he was rather nice looking but sadly, did mention a wife.   O well, I’m a city girl at heart!

The meat was free-range and you could tell.  It was complemented by the potatoes and sorrel but the radish chutney did rather pass me by.  Obviously being nosey, I looked at my seat-mates meal - La Tua ravioloni with new season Chegworth Valley asparagus, asparagus sauce & Montgomery Cheddar crisp.

Quietly sobbing inside as a gluten-intolerant lactose-intolerant weirdo, I ate her meal with my eyes.  It looked lovely and the sheer passion when one of the La Tua founders spoke about his products went to the heart of all assembled.

The meal finished with Calabaza rhubarb fool, Ivy House cream which was sadly so good, that I didn’t take a photo but loved it.  Sharp rhubarb, little dabs of cream [blasted lactose] was the perfect end to the meal.

And as I staggered off into the night [my easyjet flight had been delayed by 2 hours the night before so I was a little sleepy rather than tipsy], I did so with a light heart.  While there may be mass production, others continue to produce high quality products with love.

Visit Farm Drop to see what they offer as I can guarantee you will find something that helps you find your inner foodie.

L xx

Don’t forget to follow me @littlebitofwhat

Welcome to the House of Ho .....

Okay, I admit it!  I have the sense of humour of the average geeky-16 year old boy [but in my defence, so do most of my friends] so when I chose to visit the ‘House of Ho’, it was the name that initially attracted me but it was the menu that intrigued me.

Vietnamese Tapas?  The opportunity to try lot of different options while enjoying a pretty decent cocktail list?  Bring it on.   Thus I found myself on Old Compton Street watching life wander by as I waited for my dining companion.  House of Ho is decorated in the ubiquitous dark wood, non-fussy clean lines of many modern Asian restaurants but it does have touches of whimsy to remind you that this restaurant has a sense of humour.

 We were seated in the window and following a chuckle at the intro to the menu got down to the serious business of choosing the food.   At around 3 to 4 dishes each and from £5 a dish, it isn’t cheap but you only live once so we dove in.

First to arrive was the Morning Glory [again it made me snigger] with shallot oil and crispy garlic which was cooked to perfection with the crispy garlic adding a satisfying crunch to the experience.  Then the dishes started to arrive thick and fast ..............

Hot crispy rolls with pork, mushrooms, cellophane noodles and herbs which are far better than spring rolls and much healthier [she devoutly hopes].   Smoked Chilli Glazed Chicken Wings which were glorious although [heathen] a little blue cheese dressing might have worked]

With thanks to the Motleyspicer

Seven Spiced Quail with Lime and Kumquat seasoning [tasty but a little too gamey for me], Crispy Vietnamese 5 spice marinated squid [lovely crunch but could perhaps have done with a little more 5 spice but I am an addict].  

I pretty much lost count as each glorious Vietnamese dish flowed into another and then the Smoked Aubergine with warm scallion vinaigrette finished with scallions and crispy shallots arrived.  It was lunch with a business contact and after one mouthful I seriously considered stabbing him with my fork [before demanding satisfaction] as he reached for it.  I’m not sure ‘back off buddy’ is quite the right way to make friends and influence people.

With thanks to Cocktails and Caroline

To finish, we tried the glorious selection of tea on offer and then trotted back off into the hustle and bustle of SOHO.  A little poorer but wiser in the understanding of Vietnamese Tapas!

Definitely worth a visit!

Lxx

Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @littleofwhatyou

Cross Dressing Squirrels and Chocolate Beetroot Cake

Cake and I have a relatively dysfunctional relationship!  I don’t like to eat it and don’t like to make it but I do want to master it.  Yes, I am like one of those neurotic Disney Princesses – “I know you are a cross-dressing squirrel with nut neurosis but you will love me [until I get bored that is]” - determined to have what I don't want/need.

However, I work in a company with a variety of men who like cake and having been born on Machiavelli’s birthday, I am aware that a well-placed chocolate offering can get the wheels turning slightly faster.  So, last night I made a Middle Eastern Chocolate and Beetroot Cake …..

Cake:

250g raw beetroot [I cheated and bought cooked without vinegar and the world did not end]

200g dark good quality chocolate

180g butter [softened]

200g soft brown caster sugar [I used coconut sugar which was good]

4 free range eggs

220g plain flour

80g cream cheese

0.5 tsp baking powder

1tsp ground cinnamon

1tbsp stem ginger [I used a ginger date flax seed topper instead]

2 tbsp dates, finely chopped

Pinch of salt

• Pre-head the oven to 180 and crease your tin.  I used a bundt tin but they suggest a 24cm springform cake tin.  Break the chocolate into small pieces and melt in the microwave.
• Blend butter, cream cheese and sugar until fluffy [use a mixer as no-ones upper arms need that much of a work out].   Then add the eggs one by one beating until smooth.

Blend the chocolate into the mixture and sift the flour, cinnamon, baking powder into the bowl.  Stir in the beetroot which has been finely grated/blended as well as the dates and ginger.

• Pour into the greased tin and say a little prayer to the cake fairy before putting into the oven for 50 minutes to an hour.  Have a large glass of wine as you inspect the devastation which is your kitchen [sob quietly]
• Remove from the oven and the tin when it is cool enough.  Do not leave it to get too cool in the tin or you may find yourself hitting a tin against your kitchen surface swearing like a sailor

Topping

250g cream cheese

75g caster sugar

Coco powder to taste and colour [about 25g]

Mix all ingredients together and when the cake has cooled, use it to hid any cracks.  Sprinkle with something like nuts or stars or something!

Reward yourself with something that makes you happy [honey bourbon but sadly not at 8 in the morning want I was icing this thing]!

Thanks

Lx

Don't forget to follow me @littleofwhatyou