A good song stays with you forever, imprinting some feeling or memory into it's melody that when triggered is as vivid as the moment you felt or lived it. These are songs I discovered in 2013, not necessarily songs from 2013.
5. Thames Soup - The Phoenix Foundation
From Fandango released in April 2013, Phoenix Foundation's new album where you questioned whether you were high or transported back to the 80s (or both), came Thames Soup. Sam Scott vocals and lyrics as strong as ever and the song is proof that The Phoenix Foundation are still at top of their game. A self declared song about London, there was something I related to in this song with the reiteration of I don't live here that summed up both my detachment and disconnection from the big city I live in every day but sometimes feel no part of it. Piano, thumping bassline and a spacey outro. Perfect.
4. Leak at the Disco - Baxter Dury
A 2011 release that a tiny wee online radio station London Burning introduced me to and an Amazon MP3 special for £2.49 lead me blindly to download. The sound of birds in the night is a gentle introduction to one of my absolute favourite basslines not just of the year, but ever. Baxter's spoken word verses heavy with accent and metaphors (I was a sexual forest fire, but my flame had been dampened by the monsoons of fear and age) a melancholy organ and a sweet womanly chorus - She borrowed all this from your heart. And no one can be inside your heart.. The song followed me through the end of something I didn't think would stomp all over my heart so much, transforming into that song to turn up and drown thoughts in bass and then by the end of 2013, like the end of the song with the flutter of a helicopter, that reminder that bad feelings mean that the good ones feel even better.
3. Amsterdam - Yesyou
Another song discovery that falls at the feet of London Burning as I beavered away at work. This Australian duo bring a song that has 80s cop show vibes with it's racing drum beat and soft vocals that progress into a chorus that resonated so much for me in 2013 - And what's the difference if I throw it away in Amsterdam? Think with my mouth and I talk with my hands. That constant battle in my head to want to throw caution to the wind and play with sexual fire than listen to my head telling me that it is a bad idea to get involved. The song concludes in perfect fashion dottering out with wailing vocals and a clicky keyboard, leaving me to wonder the decisions I made and the things I talked myself out of doing throughout the year.
2. I Already Forgot Everything You Said - The Dig
Released May 2012, again London Burning was the one who introduced me to The Dig and yet another song where the first basis of my adoration was a rolling bassline. A song that in the handful of early listens could easily be pegholed to just another bitter breakup song, progresses into something a bit more meaningful. I could have let 2013 be ruined by some bad events (L, rogue kidney, the mugging) but there was something more freeing about the refrain that also gives the song it's name. This song was there when I was sad. This song was there when I wanted to groove along to a banging bassline with brilliant ringing guitar. This song was there when I wanted ooooh along. We do and say things and experience things that could stay with us forever and taint the way we act or continue onwards (or backwards). But sometimes it's best just to forget. Well you can ease your heart, you can ease your mind. And you can save your thoughts for another time. Because the sun is rising on your bed. And I already forgot everything you said
1. Don't Swallow The Cap - The National
Having not fallen in love with Demons, their first release from their 2013 release Trouble Will Find Me, I was anxious to whether my anticipation for new The Naional music was bound to be dampened. Then during a tedious day at work, The National tweeted a link to this song and the moment those drums and piano kicked in - I was in love again. Matt's familiar baritone echoed with his own backing vocals like a dark whisper in your ear that epitomises the vulnerability and insecurities that those lyrics embody. The song travels and builds through it's verses in a way that I can't help but involuntarily touch at my chest and my eyes flicker to the sky at the line When they ask what do I see, I say a bright white beautiful heaven hanging over me. There's desperation, there's hope, there's that dark feeling that never quite lets go with a drumline that pushes through reminiscence of their (and a personal favourite) song Guest Room. And there it crescendos, especially live, Matt's voice dropping away to leave you stripped back to that piano, those strings, the bass and drums. This song is 2013 for me. There was awful moments. There were great moments. And then there was every minute where I knew just how much I was loved and how many people I loved in return.
Everything I love is on the table. Everything I love is out to sea. I'm not alone. I'll never be.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Sunday, December 22, 2013
2013 Top 5 - Gigs
While some say that 13 is unlucky for some, 2013 was the year that I finally got back into music again. Especially live music. Being my third year in London, it was as if something clicked and this city with a population twice the size of my entire country became my home. And I realised the benefits of living in such a huge iconic city – quite often if I discovered a new band, it wasn’t that long off that would be playing some small or big gig in London.
I saw 2013 through with 21 gigs and 1 festival. So picking a top 5 is a difficult and contemplative task but also a great way to remember that I’ve been very lucky to see some great bands (and some not so great).
The soul of all music to me is how it makes you feel live. Anyone can record an album. Only a few bands can really sell it when they are in front of you, in a venue full of 10,000 people or full of 10.
5. 27 August 2013: The Drowning Men, The Islington, London
The only reason I knew about this gig was a couple days beforehand I received an email from a promoter mentioning this free gig. Likening them to Arcade Fire I was intrigued so had a listen, thought why not and dragged a friend along to North London unsure of what to expect.
Quite late, a band of mostly bearded men rolled onto the stage in a way that you’d expect them to break into some bluegrass. But there wasn’t a banjo on stage but a Theremin which started a blazing set.
What made this set stand out so much? These guys were so slick playing together and it didn’t matter that they were playing to a small room of about 30 people, these guys played as if they were playing to 1000s. Despite only knowing 2-3 songs, every song felt familiar and if I knew them intimately. It was a crime that there wasn’t more people there because this is a band that everyone should know live.
4. 19 July 2013: Bloc Party, Latitude Festival, Southwold
The Friday night headliner, Oren and I wandered in mid crowd and on a dark summer night watched what is very possibly the last Bloc Party gig ever. I had seen Bloc Party only once before, Leeds Festival in 2007 and had since then lost most interest in them only ever hearing snippets of awful new releases. I guess the benefit of a festival show when you are in love with their older more familiar material is they are more likely to play it and they did not disappoint. The setlist of 19 songs did not have one bad step and the crowd moved back and forth in small waves to Kele’s inciting. The five song encore was absolutely crazy and I left that mess with smiles ear to ear and fully reminded why Silent Alarm will always be one of my top ever albums.
3. 9 July 2013: The Veils, Scala, King's Cross, London
It had been a very long period between drinks for The Veils. Having seen them twice only in 2007 (and last time in London in Borderline where they played 5 songs only at a supposedly headlining gig), it meant it had been a long six years. Time Stays, We Go their brilliant new album set my hopes high and when I rocked up to Scala that night I wondered if they could really meet all my expectations.
Despite having seen them live before, I had completely forgotten just how Finn can produce his unique voice and sound live. A 15 song setlist missing out thankfully most of their dullest album in between their two best, Finn screamed and wailed and sung softly with the drums so high in the mix that I wanted to jut all over the place like there was no tomorrow. Oren commented to me, having been with me at the last Christchurch gig in 2007 “Finn is a lot less of a spaz now”.
Finn started the encore with a sweet lone acoustic rendition of The Tide that Never Came Back and Lavinia that set a tone that made Jesus for the Juglar even more epic and crazy than it is. It says something that as soon as I heard about the London show in March 2014 that I had snapped up two tickets.
2. 14 November 2013: The National, Alexandra Palace, London
I’m not gonna lie. I saw The National three times in five days back in November and one of those gigs were in a different country. Had I not been mugged in Paris, I might have just gone to see them in Belgium and France too. All three gigs had their merits and quirks (Belfast if just for the fact that Matt would not stay out of the crowd; London night 1 for screaming along to Available to deathly silence around me) but I assume because I knew it would be the last one – the second night at Ally Pally was when I absolutely fell in love with that band all over again. Learning from the night before, I decided to take minimal possessions and warm clothes so I could go in as deep as possible and even downed a few beers to mask the freezing winter night. The crowd was the same as the first night. Unmoved to take off their jackets and standing still. Why go 3 rows from the front to stand there as if you don’t even want to be there? I took my own cue and as soon as Bryce and Aaron break into Don’t Swallow The Cap, I danced to my own beat and was glad to hear that Matt’s attempt to ruin his voice the night before had been unsuccessful. The setlist was mostly the same although there were perfect bonuses of All the Wine and Exile Vilify. For Graceless I found someone to dance with as Matt screamed “GRACE!” and then to sing along with to Fake Empire. The crowd finally came alive to Mr November as Matt stumbled through a surging crowd. He headed straight for me and for no reason I grabbed at him and rubbed his stomach. Nearly falling, my dancing friend pulled me out and I screamed Mr November until my throat hurt. Vanderlyle Crybaby Geek acoustic with Matt telling the crowd to shut up ended a night that I just didn’t want to end. This is the only band that I would not hesitate to see live and live again and the only one I would trek to see at Ally Pally – not once but two nights in a row.
1. 26 October 2013: El Ten Eleven, Windmill, Brixton
I nearly didn’t go to this gig. I was studying for an exam on the Tuesday and the thought of having to venture to Brixton, a place tainted by the ghost of someone who treated me badly, with a combination of overground, tube and bus was almost too much. I had arrived at 9pm expecting El Ten Eleven to be on at 9:30pm at the latest. The L shape of this tiny estate bar made it difficult to even get anywhere near the stage and I was really wondering if it was worth it. A band finished and I managed to sneak up to the front and stood through 2 decent supports. By this time it was 10:30pm and I was concerned about how I was going to get home, already planning in my head to leave early as not to miss last tubes or buses.
…then El Ten Eleven came on and then there was no question that I would stay out until forever and take 100 night buses home if I had to see this right through. Right from the first song, Kristin on his double necked guitar, smiling almost manically, Tim on drums, I stood with my mouth open and then moved my body to the crazy looped guitar/bass/drums sound. The venue was tiny and hot and everyone was sweating, including Kristin dripping down his guitar and bass but they both didn’t miss a beat. When I first heard them, from a random recommendation on bandcamp, I couldn’t believe it was only two guys. That disbelief carries over to their live show. How?! I’ve never seen live looping to that level before and can’t imagine ever seeing it again (unless they come back). I felt so lucky that I discovered them, let alone that only a few months later I got to see them play their first London show ever. When Kristin explained Connie, about letting people go that aren’t with you anymore because they died, they left you, you left them, they were never with you, about letting that weight off your shoulders, it felt like a moment I could never reproduce again and one so appropriate to that ghost lingering. Drenched in sweat, legs aching from jumping, and my face hurting from smiling so damn much I stepped into the freezing cold knowing I had just seen something amazing that I could never ever be able to adequately describe.
If you ever get the chance, see them live and I hope you could understand.
I saw 2013 through with 21 gigs and 1 festival. So picking a top 5 is a difficult and contemplative task but also a great way to remember that I’ve been very lucky to see some great bands (and some not so great).
The soul of all music to me is how it makes you feel live. Anyone can record an album. Only a few bands can really sell it when they are in front of you, in a venue full of 10,000 people or full of 10.
5. 27 August 2013: The Drowning Men, The Islington, London
The only reason I knew about this gig was a couple days beforehand I received an email from a promoter mentioning this free gig. Likening them to Arcade Fire I was intrigued so had a listen, thought why not and dragged a friend along to North London unsure of what to expect.
Quite late, a band of mostly bearded men rolled onto the stage in a way that you’d expect them to break into some bluegrass. But there wasn’t a banjo on stage but a Theremin which started a blazing set.
What made this set stand out so much? These guys were so slick playing together and it didn’t matter that they were playing to a small room of about 30 people, these guys played as if they were playing to 1000s. Despite only knowing 2-3 songs, every song felt familiar and if I knew them intimately. It was a crime that there wasn’t more people there because this is a band that everyone should know live.
4. 19 July 2013: Bloc Party, Latitude Festival, Southwold
The Friday night headliner, Oren and I wandered in mid crowd and on a dark summer night watched what is very possibly the last Bloc Party gig ever. I had seen Bloc Party only once before, Leeds Festival in 2007 and had since then lost most interest in them only ever hearing snippets of awful new releases. I guess the benefit of a festival show when you are in love with their older more familiar material is they are more likely to play it and they did not disappoint. The setlist of 19 songs did not have one bad step and the crowd moved back and forth in small waves to Kele’s inciting. The five song encore was absolutely crazy and I left that mess with smiles ear to ear and fully reminded why Silent Alarm will always be one of my top ever albums.
3. 9 July 2013: The Veils, Scala, King's Cross, London
It had been a very long period between drinks for The Veils. Having seen them twice only in 2007 (and last time in London in Borderline where they played 5 songs only at a supposedly headlining gig), it meant it had been a long six years. Time Stays, We Go their brilliant new album set my hopes high and when I rocked up to Scala that night I wondered if they could really meet all my expectations.
Despite having seen them live before, I had completely forgotten just how Finn can produce his unique voice and sound live. A 15 song setlist missing out thankfully most of their dullest album in between their two best, Finn screamed and wailed and sung softly with the drums so high in the mix that I wanted to jut all over the place like there was no tomorrow. Oren commented to me, having been with me at the last Christchurch gig in 2007 “Finn is a lot less of a spaz now”.
Finn started the encore with a sweet lone acoustic rendition of The Tide that Never Came Back and Lavinia that set a tone that made Jesus for the Juglar even more epic and crazy than it is. It says something that as soon as I heard about the London show in March 2014 that I had snapped up two tickets.
2. 14 November 2013: The National, Alexandra Palace, London
I’m not gonna lie. I saw The National three times in five days back in November and one of those gigs were in a different country. Had I not been mugged in Paris, I might have just gone to see them in Belgium and France too. All three gigs had their merits and quirks (Belfast if just for the fact that Matt would not stay out of the crowd; London night 1 for screaming along to Available to deathly silence around me) but I assume because I knew it would be the last one – the second night at Ally Pally was when I absolutely fell in love with that band all over again. Learning from the night before, I decided to take minimal possessions and warm clothes so I could go in as deep as possible and even downed a few beers to mask the freezing winter night. The crowd was the same as the first night. Unmoved to take off their jackets and standing still. Why go 3 rows from the front to stand there as if you don’t even want to be there? I took my own cue and as soon as Bryce and Aaron break into Don’t Swallow The Cap, I danced to my own beat and was glad to hear that Matt’s attempt to ruin his voice the night before had been unsuccessful. The setlist was mostly the same although there were perfect bonuses of All the Wine and Exile Vilify. For Graceless I found someone to dance with as Matt screamed “GRACE!” and then to sing along with to Fake Empire. The crowd finally came alive to Mr November as Matt stumbled through a surging crowd. He headed straight for me and for no reason I grabbed at him and rubbed his stomach. Nearly falling, my dancing friend pulled me out and I screamed Mr November until my throat hurt. Vanderlyle Crybaby Geek acoustic with Matt telling the crowd to shut up ended a night that I just didn’t want to end. This is the only band that I would not hesitate to see live and live again and the only one I would trek to see at Ally Pally – not once but two nights in a row.
1. 26 October 2013: El Ten Eleven, Windmill, Brixton
I nearly didn’t go to this gig. I was studying for an exam on the Tuesday and the thought of having to venture to Brixton, a place tainted by the ghost of someone who treated me badly, with a combination of overground, tube and bus was almost too much. I had arrived at 9pm expecting El Ten Eleven to be on at 9:30pm at the latest. The L shape of this tiny estate bar made it difficult to even get anywhere near the stage and I was really wondering if it was worth it. A band finished and I managed to sneak up to the front and stood through 2 decent supports. By this time it was 10:30pm and I was concerned about how I was going to get home, already planning in my head to leave early as not to miss last tubes or buses.
…then El Ten Eleven came on and then there was no question that I would stay out until forever and take 100 night buses home if I had to see this right through. Right from the first song, Kristin on his double necked guitar, smiling almost manically, Tim on drums, I stood with my mouth open and then moved my body to the crazy looped guitar/bass/drums sound. The venue was tiny and hot and everyone was sweating, including Kristin dripping down his guitar and bass but they both didn’t miss a beat. When I first heard them, from a random recommendation on bandcamp, I couldn’t believe it was only two guys. That disbelief carries over to their live show. How?! I’ve never seen live looping to that level before and can’t imagine ever seeing it again (unless they come back). I felt so lucky that I discovered them, let alone that only a few months later I got to see them play their first London show ever. When Kristin explained Connie, about letting people go that aren’t with you anymore because they died, they left you, you left them, they were never with you, about letting that weight off your shoulders, it felt like a moment I could never reproduce again and one so appropriate to that ghost lingering. Drenched in sweat, legs aching from jumping, and my face hurting from smiling so damn much I stepped into the freezing cold knowing I had just seen something amazing that I could never ever be able to adequately describe.
If you ever get the chance, see them live and I hope you could understand.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
#19 Yauatcha, Soho (*) & #20 Medlar, Chelsea (*)
I really wanted to post about both of these restaurants when I went to them as I was really impressed. Also it had been so long since I clocked up a star. Sadly, it's just going to have to be short and sweet.
Yauatcha
Way back on May 8th I venture to Yauatcha as a work dinner with our service provider. I had always wanted to go here but they don't publish their prices on their website so it was far too risky for someone with my wage. Let's just say my fears were confirmed on seeing the menu and I was so very glad that it was on them!
Knowing me rather well (afterall, the first time I went out formally with them I ended up at the senior manager's house playing with his pugs - not a euphemism, I was actually just playing with his dogs), I am always being plied with cocktails. Glowing on lemonberry martinis, the array of starters we got were amazing. But my favourites were the mushroom dim sum, especially the wild mushroom dumpling. Then it was followed by cripsy ducks and pancakes. And then ridiculously, some mains. One of the waitresses came over and told us we ordered too much food and decided not to bring out two dishes. We could have eaten it all. It is a beautiful restaurant, it was no wonder it was a backdrop to a scene in that (terrible) film I Give it a Year (I was on a plane, there was nothing to do!).
Having got a brief glimpse of the bill, I suggest you come here with someone with deep pockets or a good credit card. That or get your service provider to take the hit.
Medlar
I had been dying to go to Medlar since it opened and prior to it getting it's star. This is because I madly fell in love with The Glasshouse in Kew when I venture there in January 2011. The great thing about Medlar and her sisters (La Trompette and Chez Bruce) is they have a set menu. There's no worry about breaking the bank and calling in a mortgage here for your dessert.
My sister and I dined here on a quiet Sunday night for £35 for 3 courses. Yes. I'm serious. I'll let the food do the talking.
And don't think for that £35 that you are going to get tiny dishes. These were the largest dishes I've seen ever at a Michelin star restaurant. So many of those bright beautiful petit pois to bed my beautiful lamb! And I thought having scoffed that main I'd get something lighter for dessert...but that serving of macadamia cookies and luscious sorbet had other ideas.
Just don't ask what the weeds on the wall are because you feel like a dick when they tell you it's medlar.
--
I was supposed to tick off number 21 on my 29th birthday but writing myself off a 9:30pm the night before meant I spent my actual birthday getting acquainted with the new flat's bathroom.
But if anyone wants to go on a foodie adventure, I'm ready!
Yauatcha
Way back on May 8th I venture to Yauatcha as a work dinner with our service provider. I had always wanted to go here but they don't publish their prices on their website so it was far too risky for someone with my wage. Let's just say my fears were confirmed on seeing the menu and I was so very glad that it was on them!
Knowing me rather well (afterall, the first time I went out formally with them I ended up at the senior manager's house playing with his pugs - not a euphemism, I was actually just playing with his dogs), I am always being plied with cocktails. Glowing on lemonberry martinis, the array of starters we got were amazing. But my favourites were the mushroom dim sum, especially the wild mushroom dumpling. Then it was followed by cripsy ducks and pancakes. And then ridiculously, some mains. One of the waitresses came over and told us we ordered too much food and decided not to bring out two dishes. We could have eaten it all. It is a beautiful restaurant, it was no wonder it was a backdrop to a scene in that (terrible) film I Give it a Year (I was on a plane, there was nothing to do!).
Having got a brief glimpse of the bill, I suggest you come here with someone with deep pockets or a good credit card. That or get your service provider to take the hit.
Medlar
I had been dying to go to Medlar since it opened and prior to it getting it's star. This is because I madly fell in love with The Glasshouse in Kew when I venture there in January 2011. The great thing about Medlar and her sisters (La Trompette and Chez Bruce) is they have a set menu. There's no worry about breaking the bank and calling in a mortgage here for your dessert.
My sister and I dined here on a quiet Sunday night for £35 for 3 courses. Yes. I'm serious. I'll let the food do the talking.
And don't think for that £35 that you are going to get tiny dishes. These were the largest dishes I've seen ever at a Michelin star restaurant. So many of those bright beautiful petit pois to bed my beautiful lamb! And I thought having scoffed that main I'd get something lighter for dessert...but that serving of macadamia cookies and luscious sorbet had other ideas.
Just don't ask what the weeds on the wall are because you feel like a dick when they tell you it's medlar.
--
I was supposed to tick off number 21 on my 29th birthday but writing myself off a 9:30pm the night before meant I spent my actual birthday getting acquainted with the new flat's bathroom.
But if anyone wants to go on a foodie adventure, I'm ready!
Vegetarian Classics
A few years ago now - wow, okay 2009 - I decided to try do better myself through healthy eating and the environment by reducing meat. This was by introducing several vegetarian dishes into each week. A couple times in 2010 I managed to eat fully vegetarian for a few weeks (yeah I know it's not much but I came from a town where it wasn't considered food unless it meat and three veg). If anything, it's just a good way to think about new ways to cook. That and that's how I fell in love with mushrooms.
There were two favourite dishes that resulted out of this and in the last two weeks I've managed to revive them after long absences.
Bean Burgers
The only reason I haven't cooked my bean burgers in a while is that I always make quite the mess I make them. I always think I should cook double the recipe so I only get beans fragments on the floor and in my hair every few months. But I kept only having one lonely tin of Sainsburys Basic Kidney Beans in my flat and one day I just couldn't resist anymore.
1 Can Kidney Beans
Half an Onion
Olive Oil
1 tsp of ground cumin
1 tsp of ground coriander
1 tsp of curry powder
1 tsp of grated/cut ginger
Good splash of soy sauce
Handful of bread crumbs (blitz one slice of bread)
Heat the oil in a pan and toss in the onions until soft. Throw in the spices and mix around. Take off the heat.
Blitz your kidney beans in a food processor - this is the fun part. And is why it doesn't matter how cheap your kidney beans are. They're gonna end up mashy mushy beans anyway. You can also mash them like potatoes but I love my food processor. Keep them a bit chunky at this point.
Put the onions in the food processor along with the soy sauce, ginger and bread crumbs. You can add in chilli at this point if you like - fresh or flakes. I sometimes sprinkle flakes in if I'm feeling spicy. Blitz until it's a kinda disgusting looking mincey paste. I will not deny that this mix looks absolutely disgusting.
Roll out and separate into equal sized balls. Flatten with your hand. With a little more oil in the pan, fry on both sides until warmed through and cripsy on the outside. Again at this point, still not attractive.
I like to serve mine in a bun with the other half of the onion fried up with some mushrooms, rocket salad and garlic aioli and ketchup. Oh, and of course kumara chips.
These patties freeze really well. No, they still look very unappealing that way too. But trust me, these things are super tasty and will up any beef burgers (or is it horse...?)
Curried Parsnip Soup
Parsnips are one of my favourite smells. I could peel parsnips for hours just to have my hands fragrant with their sweetness. There's nothing that says autumn/winter more than parsnip. This is a great creamy and warming soup. The only drawback is that it will stain everything it touches that curry yellow.
2-4 large parsnips chopped in 2cm pieces
Half an onion
Teaspoon of chopped garlic
1 teaspoon of curry powder
1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
2.5 cups of vegetable stock
Half a medium potato sliced
200ml coconut milk
Fry the onion and garlic until soft. Put in the parsnip and fry briefly before adding the spices. Then add the potato and stock. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until the parsnip and potato are soft. Take off the heat and blitz either in a food processor or with a hand blender until smooth.
Return to the heat and stir in coconut milk. Season with crack black pepper. The best touch is to serve it with fresh coriander on top but I didn't have any. Also do I need to mention crusty bread with butter?
Both these recipes take minimal time really. Especially the parsnip soup. If you've got 25 minutes, you'll have a nice yellow soup to brighten those dark England winter evenings.
There were two favourite dishes that resulted out of this and in the last two weeks I've managed to revive them after long absences.
Bean Burgers
1 Can Kidney Beans
Half an Onion
Olive Oil
1 tsp of ground cumin
1 tsp of ground coriander
1 tsp of curry powder
1 tsp of grated/cut ginger
Good splash of soy sauce
Handful of bread crumbs (blitz one slice of bread)
Heat the oil in a pan and toss in the onions until soft. Throw in the spices and mix around. Take off the heat.
Blitz your kidney beans in a food processor - this is the fun part. And is why it doesn't matter how cheap your kidney beans are. They're gonna end up mashy mushy beans anyway. You can also mash them like potatoes but I love my food processor. Keep them a bit chunky at this point.
Put the onions in the food processor along with the soy sauce, ginger and bread crumbs. You can add in chilli at this point if you like - fresh or flakes. I sometimes sprinkle flakes in if I'm feeling spicy. Blitz until it's a kinda disgusting looking mincey paste. I will not deny that this mix looks absolutely disgusting.
Roll out and separate into equal sized balls. Flatten with your hand. With a little more oil in the pan, fry on both sides until warmed through and cripsy on the outside. Again at this point, still not attractive.
I like to serve mine in a bun with the other half of the onion fried up with some mushrooms, rocket salad and garlic aioli and ketchup. Oh, and of course kumara chips.
These patties freeze really well. No, they still look very unappealing that way too. But trust me, these things are super tasty and will up any beef burgers (or is it horse...?)
Curried Parsnip Soup
Parsnips are one of my favourite smells. I could peel parsnips for hours just to have my hands fragrant with their sweetness. There's nothing that says autumn/winter more than parsnip. This is a great creamy and warming soup. The only drawback is that it will stain everything it touches that curry yellow.
2-4 large parsnips chopped in 2cm pieces
Half an onion
Teaspoon of chopped garlic
1 teaspoon of curry powder
1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
2.5 cups of vegetable stock
Half a medium potato sliced
200ml coconut milk
Fry the onion and garlic until soft. Put in the parsnip and fry briefly before adding the spices. Then add the potato and stock. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until the parsnip and potato are soft. Take off the heat and blitz either in a food processor or with a hand blender until smooth.
Return to the heat and stir in coconut milk. Season with crack black pepper. The best touch is to serve it with fresh coriander on top but I didn't have any. Also do I need to mention crusty bread with butter?
Both these recipes take minimal time really. Especially the parsnip soup. If you've got 25 minutes, you'll have a nice yellow soup to brighten those dark England winter evenings.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Chinese style chicken noodle soup
I thought since Nicki asked me for this recipe I might as well blog about it (since it's been such an unbelievably long time). I started making this in the winter of 2012 and it has been a staple ever since. Well, when Sainsbury isn't thwarting my attempts by not stocking pak choi.
Chinese Style Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients:
2 Chicken breasts - cut into strips/chunks
1 Clove of Garlic - crushed
Small piece of ginger
750ml of chicken stock
1 Green Chilli - sliced thinly
4-5 Brown Mushrooms - chopped
2 Spring Onions - chopped
1 Pak Choi - chopped
Handful of coriander - chopped
1 tsp of soy sauce
1 tsp of rice vinegar
Pack of preferred noodles (I used Amoy Medium Straight to Wok)
In a large saucepan, add a small amount of oil and stirfry the garlic and ginger together for 1-2 minutes. Add the chicken and fry until it is coloured white on all sides. Add the chicken stock (I used Kallo's organic cubes, I think with stock in a soup you don't want to go cheap and always check the sodium levels of your cubes. One day I'll make my own stock...), green chilli, and mushrooms. I keep them sliced chunky because I love mushrooms cooked in stock like this. Also I used only half a green chilli as it was burning for me as it was. These days I'm usually lazy and use those pots of lazy chilli, ginger and garlic. Blame on this on being single and cooking for on.
Bring to the boil and then set to a simmer for 5-10 minutes until chicken appears cooked. My stock always turns it a funny yellow but don't let that put you off!
Add the chopped pak choi, spring onions and coriander and simmer for a further 5 minutes. Prepare the noodles per their instruction (the Amoy ones I microwave for 60 seconds with a tablespoon of water to loosen them up) and add to the saucepan. Add the soy sauce and rice vinegar, taste to see if you should add more or salt/pepper. Serve in a large bowl.
That simple! Please excuse my mobile phone quality photo and lack of presentation. When it comes to my food I'm in the camp of if it tastes good, who gives a fuck what it looks like.
Chinese Style Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients:
2 Chicken breasts - cut into strips/chunks
1 Clove of Garlic - crushed
Small piece of ginger
750ml of chicken stock
1 Green Chilli - sliced thinly
4-5 Brown Mushrooms - chopped
2 Spring Onions - chopped
1 Pak Choi - chopped
Handful of coriander - chopped
1 tsp of soy sauce
1 tsp of rice vinegar
Pack of preferred noodles (I used Amoy Medium Straight to Wok)
In a large saucepan, add a small amount of oil and stirfry the garlic and ginger together for 1-2 minutes. Add the chicken and fry until it is coloured white on all sides. Add the chicken stock (I used Kallo's organic cubes, I think with stock in a soup you don't want to go cheap and always check the sodium levels of your cubes. One day I'll make my own stock...), green chilli, and mushrooms. I keep them sliced chunky because I love mushrooms cooked in stock like this. Also I used only half a green chilli as it was burning for me as it was. These days I'm usually lazy and use those pots of lazy chilli, ginger and garlic. Blame on this on being single and cooking for on.
Bring to the boil and then set to a simmer for 5-10 minutes until chicken appears cooked. My stock always turns it a funny yellow but don't let that put you off!
Add the chopped pak choi, spring onions and coriander and simmer for a further 5 minutes. Prepare the noodles per their instruction (the Amoy ones I microwave for 60 seconds with a tablespoon of water to loosen them up) and add to the saucepan. Add the soy sauce and rice vinegar, taste to see if you should add more or salt/pepper. Serve in a large bowl.
That simple! Please excuse my mobile phone quality photo and lack of presentation. When it comes to my food I'm in the camp of if it tastes good, who gives a fuck what it looks like.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Coriander dahl
I was sitting at work this afternoon trying to think of something different to do with the two fillets of salmon that needed to be eaten in my fridge. A bit of sly googling later, I found a BBC Good Food recipe for Salmon with coriander dahl & rice
I altered it slightly and this is how it ended up:
1/2 cup of split red lentils
600ml of chicken stock
Half medium onion chopped
One large tomato chopped
1/2 teaspoon of tumeric
1 heaped teaspoon of garam masala
Small handful of chilli flakes
6 springs of coriander
Salmon fillets
Lemon wedge
Rinse the lentils under cold water. Add to a medium sized pot with the chicken stock, chopped tomato and onion and bring to the boil. Add in the spices and stir. Allow to simmer and add more water if it gets too dry before the lentils are soft. It takes about 20 minutes.
Add a small slice of butter and half a teaspoon of garam masala, when melted, put the salmon in skin side down. Rub in a bit more garam masala on top of the salmon. Fry on each side for about a minute.
While doing this, stir in the chopped coriander into the dahl and season with black pepper. Make a bed of dahl on a plate and rest the salmon on top. Squeeze the lemon juice all over, including on the dahl. Eat!
I enjoyed it so much I forgot to take a bad quality camera phone photo before eating half of it.
I definitely think this will be an easy dinner snack without the salmon in the future. The lemon adds a nice kick because lemon and coriander are just such a beautiful pair.
Been reading up on Indian dishes and next I definitely want to try a rajma (kidney bean) curry.
I altered it slightly and this is how it ended up:
Rinse the lentils under cold water. Add to a medium sized pot with the chicken stock, chopped tomato and onion and bring to the boil. Add in the spices and stir. Allow to simmer and add more water if it gets too dry before the lentils are soft. It takes about 20 minutes.
Add a small slice of butter and half a teaspoon of garam masala, when melted, put the salmon in skin side down. Rub in a bit more garam masala on top of the salmon. Fry on each side for about a minute.
While doing this, stir in the chopped coriander into the dahl and season with black pepper. Make a bed of dahl on a plate and rest the salmon on top. Squeeze the lemon juice all over, including on the dahl. Eat!
I enjoyed it so much I forgot to take a bad quality camera phone photo before eating half of it.
I definitely think this will be an easy dinner snack without the salmon in the future. The lemon adds a nice kick because lemon and coriander are just such a beautiful pair.
Been reading up on Indian dishes and next I definitely want to try a rajma (kidney bean) curry.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
#18 The Ledbury, Notting Hill, London (**)
On Thursday I took a half day from work to meet my old flatmate Fritha at the Ledbury. A few months back I told myself that I finally had to do The Ledbury since Masterchef had made me want to go several times over. Also during the August Riots last year, there was a lot of rumours on twitter about rioters attacked The Ledbury which seemed far fetched at the time but were actually true!.
The Ledbury is the second two star Michelin restaurant I've been to, following L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon which I have graced twice with my presence and both times been seduced by their dessert choice of a selection of five tarts (always order this, it is amazing). But anyway, yes The Ledbury. It's a lot smaller than I expected and is basically one big square room with big glass windows to make it very light and airy. As I had to book more than six weeks ahead, I would have expected it to be packed and noisy but it was perfect. It buzzed with other guests but nothing that distracted you and there were plenty of staff floating around.
The reason I picked lunch at the Ledbury was because they have a set menu of 3 courses for £35. Brett champions having a seasonal menu so I knew it would be a bit of surprise to what we would get. While perusing the menus we were given a delightful little canape. After a bottle of wine the night before, I wasn't much in the mood and was happy to see a decent beer selection on the menu that wasn't overpriced. Frith and I both selected the 500ml £6.50 Notting Hill Blonde by Moncada, a West London brewery that seems to have passed me by. The staff were very apologetic when they revealed they had only one bottle so we ended up sharing it which I was happy with. It was a foggy golden colour with a quite smooth taste, it didn't detract from our food at all.
We made our choices and were given a selection of three breads from a huge basket. We both chose this bread that was in the shape of a a small muffin or mushroom with a long stalk. I think it was malted caramel, but whatever it was, it was delicious. My only criticism would be they seemed to be a bit withholding with the bread but then maybe I'm used to Gauthier, their 7 amazing breads and their knack of offering it to you constantly.
Frith and I chose the same starter - a warm partridge salad:
We both declared this our favourite course. For the main I decided to be a bit adventurous and get the fish, which was a brill topped with black quinoa on a bed of crab with a broccoli stem! The fish and crab were stunning, fish was cooked to perfection and melted in your mouth. Also it was so pretty I didn't want to ruin it by eating it!
Then for dessert, we both had the mille-feuille with mango. Pastry was perfect and the vanilla icecream perfectly favoured.
The table beside us made me well jealous with their cheese plate and I delighted in watching the waiter explain all the different cheeses. They also got the passionfruit souffle which when served had the vanilla icecream dived into the middle by the server. This was enough to make Frith and I promise to return to try the a la carte menu one day.
My verdict on the Ledbury - I really enjoyed the food but there wasn't a lot to me that distinuished it from a one star restaurant. With L'Atelier, the service was completely above anywhere else I had been, with The Ledbury it may just have been because we didn't have the a la carte and missed the full experience. It's well worth the visit for lunch at any rate for £35, the only drawback being you'll have to think well in advance and have your credit card handy for your reservation.
The Ledbury is the second two star Michelin restaurant I've been to, following L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon which I have graced twice with my presence and both times been seduced by their dessert choice of a selection of five tarts (always order this, it is amazing). But anyway, yes The Ledbury. It's a lot smaller than I expected and is basically one big square room with big glass windows to make it very light and airy. As I had to book more than six weeks ahead, I would have expected it to be packed and noisy but it was perfect. It buzzed with other guests but nothing that distracted you and there were plenty of staff floating around.
The reason I picked lunch at the Ledbury was because they have a set menu of 3 courses for £35. Brett champions having a seasonal menu so I knew it would be a bit of surprise to what we would get. While perusing the menus we were given a delightful little canape. After a bottle of wine the night before, I wasn't much in the mood and was happy to see a decent beer selection on the menu that wasn't overpriced. Frith and I both selected the 500ml £6.50 Notting Hill Blonde by Moncada, a West London brewery that seems to have passed me by. The staff were very apologetic when they revealed they had only one bottle so we ended up sharing it which I was happy with. It was a foggy golden colour with a quite smooth taste, it didn't detract from our food at all.
We made our choices and were given a selection of three breads from a huge basket. We both chose this bread that was in the shape of a a small muffin or mushroom with a long stalk. I think it was malted caramel, but whatever it was, it was delicious. My only criticism would be they seemed to be a bit withholding with the bread but then maybe I'm used to Gauthier, their 7 amazing breads and their knack of offering it to you constantly.
Frith and I chose the same starter - a warm partridge salad:
We both declared this our favourite course. For the main I decided to be a bit adventurous and get the fish, which was a brill topped with black quinoa on a bed of crab with a broccoli stem! The fish and crab were stunning, fish was cooked to perfection and melted in your mouth. Also it was so pretty I didn't want to ruin it by eating it!
Then for dessert, we both had the mille-feuille with mango. Pastry was perfect and the vanilla icecream perfectly favoured.
The table beside us made me well jealous with their cheese plate and I delighted in watching the waiter explain all the different cheeses. They also got the passionfruit souffle which when served had the vanilla icecream dived into the middle by the server. This was enough to make Frith and I promise to return to try the a la carte menu one day.
My verdict on the Ledbury - I really enjoyed the food but there wasn't a lot to me that distinuished it from a one star restaurant. With L'Atelier, the service was completely above anywhere else I had been, with The Ledbury it may just have been because we didn't have the a la carte and missed the full experience. It's well worth the visit for lunch at any rate for £35, the only drawback being you'll have to think well in advance and have your credit card handy for your reservation.
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