My must try foods in Okinawa (Japan)

Regular readers of this blog will know that I loooove food! My family loves a good eat and so do my friends, so I find that this is often a "hobby" I am doing!

If you know that I love food, then you will also know that I love travelling, and what better way of combining these two favourite activities then trying new foods when on holiday!

If you have read my blog post on Okinawa then you'll know that I have recently spent a few weeks in the little Japanese island with my mum's side of the family. I have been learning Japanese and this was my chance to throw myself in the deep end and put my learning into practice.

Whilst here I have tried so many new foods, as well as some childhood favourites that my mum used to make, I wanted to share with you my "must eat foods when in Okinawa". The reason I have stated 'Okinawa' rather than Japan, is that here we have our own little sub-culture and foods. Some of the foods listed also originate from Japan but others are local delicacies!!!

Enjoy!

Bottomless boozy brunch at Avenue, St James, London

There is no denying that bottomless boozy brunches are still gaining popularity – the idea of combining brunch (one of the best meals of the day) and booze is a wonder child. The good news with them increasing in popularity isn’t just the fact you have legitimately have prosecco with  your eggs benedict or a bloody Mary with your pancakes, but that places are doing them bigger and better!

Just after Christmas I blogged about Shoreditch’s Forge and Co. Great prices and a decent helping on the bottomless prosecco for two hours!

Well today I am going to blog about Avenue, in London’s St James area. 

Brunch at Brickwood, Tooting Broadway London

After a particularly heavy birthday celebration one Saturday night courtesy of my friend Frenchy, we went to refresh ourselves with a brunch in Tooting Broadway Market.

I used to live in Tooting Bec a couple of years ago but it has developed since then, with cute cafes and brunch places popping up everywhere. 

Our chosen venue was Brickwood, tucked in the corner of the market.

A boozy brunch at Forge and Co Shoreditch

Who doesn't like a weekend brunch?
Who doesn't like a weekend brunch that also involves booze?
Lots of booze at that - unlimited in fact!

unlimited prosecco at Forge and Co 

Boozy brunches are the thing right now. I love it!

I went to one a few weeks ago with the Boy and the girls from home, to Forge and Co in Shoreditch, London. Eggs Royale with bubbles, what's not to love? 

Rome (part 2) - Eating out, where to stay and getting around

Italy is famous for a lot of things - football, the Roman Empire, looking like a boot - but one of their greatest feats has to be their food right?!

So of course, a good proportion of our time in Rome was spent eating! We did do the cultural things too, promise, so for things to see and do in Rome, see part one here. 

Eating out

Here are some of my suggestions where we were eating and drinking...

Vacanze Romane, Piazza Navona
We ate here on the first night, opting for the calamari (a holiday standard for me) and pizza. The food was good, the rose not over sweet and the atmosphere was bubbly, probably helped by the waiter who went around signing and dancing to the music being played by the buskers in the square. This was quite a pricey place thanks to its prime tourist spot.

The "Wine Rooms" wine bar, restaurant and wine shop, Fulham, London

As I prepare to move out of Fulham, I am making the excuse to go back to some of my favourite haunts. I first blogged about Fulham Wine Rooms last October but had to rre-blog about it with an update from my latest trip to say goodbye!

The Boy first took me to the Wine Rooms in Fulham, a gorgeous little restaurant with a wine cellar feel, on Fulham Road, as it had been somewhere I had been wanting to go since I moved to the area in 2013! There is just something about watching patrons sitting there chilling with their wine and enviable food in this cosy setting – I needed to be a part of it!

seating on the pavement - how continental! 

If you go in the warmer months, you'll be treated to the French doors still opening on to the pavement - perfect for people watching and catching the last of the day's breeze. But when they do shut, you’re locked in to this cute, cosy and rustic place with a great ambiance and murmur.

enjoying my South African grape back in October

Staying true to its name, there are 48 options of wine available by the glass, and plenty more by the bottle, so you will not be short of choice! 

The Den, countryside café in Hereford

A couple of weekends ago, I was in Hereford visiting friends. When friends are around for the weekends surely one of the best things to do is to go for a lazy Sunday brunch. That is exactly what we did on that sunny Sunday, and went into the town centre to The Den.

Coming highly recommended from Kate, this place did not disappoint. A cute country-esque café in the heart of the town, so easy to get to, the place was relaxed, airy and the service was friendly.

my awesome brunch 

The menu is pretty extensive offering the usual breakfasts (think hearty full English’s to American style pancakes), traditional hot foods such as fish and chips, and sandwiches with tasty fillings. 

Taking ages to decide what I wanted, I finally opted for the chicken, chorizo, mozzarella and sundried tomato ciabatta, with a side of sweet potato fries and token side salad to less my guilt. 

chicken, chorizo and cheese - one the of best flavour combos! 

The ciabatta was huge though – the sweet potato fries were totally unnecessary but worth it. Amazing. It was a close toss up though between this and the duck wrap or home made fish finger sarnie (a personal favourite!) Oh and the meaty burgers stacked up high looked pretty bloody good too!

The others succumbed to the fish and chips, with a batter I had never seen before – it was more pancake like than the usual chip shop batter. This was served with the chunkiest potato-y chips. Totally tasty.

Le Petite Cafe and Bistro

Thanks to a work meeting I found myself staying in Guernsey overnight a few Thursdays ago. After my meeting, my colleague took me to the cutest French café in St. Peter’s Port for a delicious glass of rose (I am told that the 11 year old bottle of Malbec was delicious but I can’t do red wine) and a charcuterie platter* of the most delicious cold meats, cheeses and bread. 

heart warming soup

the history of Le Petite cafe and bistro

Le Petite Café is on the corner of Lower Pollet and Le Truchot and has now made it into one of the best eateries I have been to in recent years!!!! I really wish this place was in London! 

Having a few hours to kill before my flight back on the Friday (turns out it was even longer than I wanted thanks to fog grounding all flights for 5 hours), I decided to go back for lunch.

melted cheese. I am in love 

#foodporn! 

I got there bang on 12 and the place was already packed – thank god it was a table for one! It’s fullness a testament to its popularity and excellence.

Miller and Carter, Steak House, Hereford (various locations)

I love a good steak so when the friends we were visiting in Hereford last weekend asked if we wanted to go to Zizzi’s or a steak house, well sorry Zizzi’s, but the words “steak house” fell out of my mouth quicker than a drunken falling off a bar stool.

The Thorny Cow cocktail 

me and Kate enjoying our cocktails 

Miller and Carter is a steak house in the city centre. Looking at their website, there seems to be a few across the country, like in Harrow, Manchester and Poole. With their hand cut, 30 day ages British steaks, I was pretty excited for this.

The one in Hereford was pretty big, with an upstairs where we sat. The place is smart and sophisticated but not in such a way that it is pretentious or you feel too under-dressed in your jeans and tieless shirt!

for the love of steak!!!

The Boy went for the bread selection to start

Having filled my belly with a fair few ciders that day, I wasn’t ready for a starter, but the steak meals already came with their own starter of the classic lettuce wedge and blue cheese dressing (other sauces are available though) so it occurred to me that it would be rude to refuse it!

Beef Wellington

cooked to perfection

Three of use opted for the delicious beef wellington with sweet potato fries (although I was tempted by the mash with this) and their homemade ‘onion loaf’ and of course a delicious sauce. I went with my usual, peppercorn sauce, but if that doesn’t tickle your pickle then I would recommend the beef dripping sauce. Trust me, it tastes better than it sounds!

The Big Easy Bar.B.Q Crabshack

The other day, me, the Boy and a few friends ventured to Covent Garden for a Sunday lunch at The Big Easy Bar.B.Q and Crabshack (it is also labelled as a lobstershack which seemed to totally confuse me!). There is a Big Easy on Kings Road near to where I live but since moving to the area, I had yet to go, so I was really looking forward to it! 

After being seated with the others (at first the waitress tried seating us with a 70 year old couple - we might have been drinking heavy the other night, but not that heavy), we were offered a menu that was tasty BBQ come American diner, offering steaks, grilled seafood and of course, lobster. 

served with a bib for you messy eaters! 

Seeing as the lobster was a pretty good deal, this seemed obvious choice. 

the whole lobster deal

leather jacket - River Island,
top (with matching skirt) Miss Guided 

For £20, you can get a small whole lobster, with a portion of tasty chips and sauce, which seems to me a pretty sweet deal but it also comes with a slushy cocktail! Yea it was a Sunday but when it is technically free, it would be rude not to have a strawberry daiquiri slushy. 

lobsters are actually blue, they change colour when cooked 

crack 'em open for a low cal meat 

Afternoon tea at The Ritz, Mayfair, London

As a treat, I took the Boy for a spot of Afternoon Tea at The Ritz last week.  We have done our fair share of afternoon teas but I think this is up there as one of the best! Not surprisingly I guess, as the world famous hotel is renowned for its sophistication and well, poshness!

ready to tuck in! 

doing my best posh pose

my afternoon tea outfit - white shirt & tulle skirt

Walking in to The Ritz, you are instantly met with an elegant decor. A gorgeous colour scheme of cream, gold and rose (one of my favourites actually) decorates the Palm Court where Afternoon Tea is served.

The whole place is so striking, with the high ceiling, decorated walls and ornate features. Even the ladies "powder room" was impeccably polished!  
I absolutely loved it. 

how decadent is the ceiling! 

gold statues, this must be posh! 

I had to take a photo of the powder room! 

Smart waiters in their tail-coats start the tea by bringing you your tea (there is a selection of 16). The Boy went for the English Breakfast, a classic, but I opted for an orangey one. There was so much tea as well! The tea pot was huge!!! Although I would advise that you don't fill up on tea before you get to the sweet stuff! 

In true tradition, the afternoon tea is served on a three tier rack with finger sandwiches (with the crusts cut off of course), a plate of tempting pastries and a plate of fresh scones which comes with a huge pot of cream and strawberry jam! 

cakes and finger sandwiches 

Eat Tokyo! Japanese restaurant Soho, London

I have blogged about this before but the restaurant has moved so U feel I have a duty to my fellow Japanese food lovers to let them know! 

My favourite Japanese is called Eat Tokyo and their Trafalgar Sqaure branch has gone bigger and better (and less queue time) and moved to Soho. I am addicted to Japanese and have to get my fix every couple of weeks! 

Eat Tokyo serves up the tastiest, freshest dishes which are totally authentic and delicious. Call me biased but Japanese is my favourite cuisine (Lebanese follows in second). 

a salmon and chicken teriyaki bento 

tucking in to my bento! 

If like the Boy you're unsure what "takoyaki" "udon noodles" and "jyu" are, fear not. The whole menu has pictures so you know what you're ordering! 

I have been eating Japanese food for 20-something years and I am still learning! They do everything from set menus, sushi, sashimi, noodles, tempura, the list goes on. The feel inside is relaxed and friendly, unpretentious and cosy.

kobacha - pumpkin croquettes 

Four Corners cafe, Lower Marsh, Waterloo London

The other day at work, me and my friend grabbed a bite to eat on our lunch break, popping over to the Four Corners Cafe in Lower Marsh, Waterloo. I have been there a few times but haven't got round to sharing it on my blog. It is such a cute little place though, I want to share it with you as it is worth a lunch if you are in the area. 

the four corners cafe, lower marsh 

friendly staff serve your needs

Serving decent sandwiches, soups and tempting cakes, this is a great place to grab a quick bite to eat. It also has that vibe where you could happily sit all day with your laptop, working away, ploughing through tea. And you'd be there a while as it has the largest loose tea selection!

mozzarella and rocket 

serrano and cheddar 

I love the concept of the cafe, which as the name suggests, has a focus on world travel. From the decor to the merchandise, you'll feel at home if you like to travel. They even have lonely planet guides on the side for you to browse whilst you dine. 

travel inspired decor 

plan your next trip with your cake! 

We opted for the ciabatta style sandwiches - I went for mozzarella, rocket and pesto and Georgina went for serrano ham and cheddar. I was trying to be good that day so skipped the cake, but they did look good! 

soya hot chocolate for me 

slurping on my hot chocolate 

Unlike other cafes, Four Corners sells wine and beer, which is a nice touch I think! My favourite though is their tea and coffee infused spirits, such as their earl grey gin and tonic (which I have confirmation from my dad that this is pretty good).

X x X 

Christopher's restaurant Covent Garden, London

Last week I took my dad for a treat of a meal to celebrate a new promotion. Seeing as my dad now lives in Cambodia and is forever moaning saying that there aren’t enough nice restaurants in the area, I knew he’d be wowed by my choice of restaurant – Christopher's in Covent Garden.

our feast! 

Christopher's Covert Garden

He’d mentioned before that they have a fabulous bar downstairs, serving the best martinis, although he had never eaten there, and he was right. Accidentally arriving 25 minutes before our booking, I had no other choice than to prop up the bar and order  myself a martini. 

My choice? The Earl Grey Mar-tea-ni. Get it? A tasty blend of Earl Grey infused gin, Earl Grey tea syrup, fresh lemon juice and orange bitters. 

Earl Grey Mar-tea-ni and a classic Martini 

When my dad arrived we ordered some particularly strong dirty martinis and headed upstairs to the restaurant. To be honest, I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I was impressed by the place!!! Elegant and classic, this was a lovely setting to celebrate.

tuck in!