Sensi, Barcelona

I'm usually one of those people who will plan a holiday weeks in advance, research the hotels, the tourist attractions and of course the 'must-go' restaurants...however our arrival at Sensi came about through a recommendation from a tour guide whom we spent an afternoon biking around Barcelona with when we visited the city last Autumn.

When asking the guide for a restaurant to go to, he made no hesitation in offering up Sensi as his top choice for both it's authenticity and service, as well as a friendly, romantic vibe which is something we requested. Sensi is nestled within the streets of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, and retains so much of this old-world charm, with exposed brick walls, and candle-lit tables (as well as a rather difficult location to find!).

(I apologise now for the photos as my camera that evening seemed to be playing up quite a bit!)

Entrance to the restaurant, hidden in the dark streets of Barcelona!

We entered the restaurant around 8pm - and by this point the place was already absolutely heaving (something we were surprised to see considering the local tradition of eating far later than in the UK) however we were greeted by a lovely man, who said he would make us up a table and be sat down in no time. True to his word we got ourselves sat on a little table directly in front of their (even smaller) kitchen - how anybody is able to produce such incredible food in a space that tiny is a mystery to me!

The menu is unlike any other restaurant I have visited before, it serves traditional tapas dishes, yes, but with a twist, however they also pride themselves on their unique 'oriental tapas' dishes, making for one of the most inviting menus I have ever read! Due to this we felt it best to ask the waiter (who's English was excellent) for his advice on what to order, there was however one condition...and that was to include the Iberian Pork Tataki (another tip off from our bike guide).

He was more than happy to oblige asking our level of hunger, as well as personal tastes and favourite foods, it was lovely to have someone so interested in making our dinner special, especially when he had so many other tables to attend to.

Cherry Tomato and French Brie salad with almonds, crostini and red onion marmalade

The first dish to come was a salad with little cheesy, oniony bread bites. The salad was extremely crisp and fresh and the dressing was to die for. The little cheesy bites were also delicious and I could have polished off all four if I had not been eating with my significant other! If this was a sign of things to come we were definitely in for an absolute treat!

Duck Timbale with potatoes Parmesan

Next came the duck timbale. This dish is very difficult to describe, but as far as taste goes it was definitely up there with one of the best things I have ever tasted! It was kind of crushed potatoes, with pieces of crispy duck and onion and yumminess all rolled up into a cylinder shape and this gorgeously sweet reduction drizzled over the top.

Iberian Pork Tataki

Now I have to be completely honest with you...when this dish arrived we thought it was the steak, we later found out that it was the pork - completely rare in the centre, and marinated in this heavenly concoction. We gobbled the whole plate up without question, and (I know I am speaking for my boyfriend as well) we still speak, and dream of this dish, hoping one day we made find something even nearly as tasty and tender. It just goes to show how western perceptions of whats 'right or wrong' can be so easily changed after sampling a dish of this calibre. 

Fillet of Beef with black pepper sauce and dauphinoise potatoes

We were actually quite surprised how full we were getting after only sampling a few dishes, however when the steak arrived I dived straight into the Dauphinoise. They are a personal favourite of mine, and these were done excellently, crispy on the outside and tightly compacted with hints of garlic and creaminess. The steak (which we requested served Rare-Medium) was perfectly cooked, and the sauce (although quite strong) worked very well to cut through the creamy potato dish.

Seafood Risotto (1/2 portion)

To finish off our wonderful meal we had to choose between either their seafood risotto, or their paella (this was such a tough decision) but as we were a little paella-d out, we decided to opt for the risotto. Something I loved about both of these options was the chance to either go for a full or a half portion (and knowing we were quite full the half portion suited us perfectly). This risotto is the risotto I now hope all my risottos will turn into - however it never happens! It smelt of the sea, was dotted with little prawns and scallops and tasted divine - I think this may have had something to do with the fact that they flambeed the dish with Cointreau (maybe that's the secret ingredient I need to add!).

After a bottle of wine, and five of the single best dishes I have possibly ever eaten unfortunately for us we decided to opt for a little coffee instead of dessert, but I'd imagine dessert here would be just as divine!
To be perfectly honest, no amount of praise can fully show you how much we loved our meal at Sensi. The service was outstanding and the food matched that perfectly, as well as being extremely excellent value. If you need any more convincing I'm trying to find any excuse to go back to Barcelona purely for their pork tataki!

Norwich Outdoor Market, Gentlemans Walk

The sun was shining one sunny Saturday afternoon so I thought I'd head into my own city of Norwich to check out the Norwich market. It is often the things right on your door step which do not get the appreciation they deserve, and I think the outdoor market in Norfolk's capital is easily one of those (not so hidden) treasures!

The market itself consists of around 200 stalls, all individually enclosed within brightly coloured sheds (which in my opinion look like beach huts), and is situated on Gentleman's Walk - one of Norwich's most popular shopping destinations. The fact it is here is no coincidence, a market has been on this site for over 900 years, and used to supply the Norman merchants and settlers who moved to this area within the United Kingdom after the Norman conquest.
Nowadays this market is something of an icon, claiming to be the largest outdoor Monday to Saturday market in the whole country, attracting both shoppers and tourists alike.

Norwich Market with a view of the castle behind.

Not only is the market a bustling tourist attraction, there are plenty of very good vintage clothing and books stalls to keep you returning, as well as the more traditional foodie suppliers of meat, fish, vegetables, cheese and all types of spices.



Shoppers enjoying the sunshine

One of many fruit and vegetable stalls
 

Unique Spice Stall

The Cheese Man

I have bought fish, meat, and cheese all from this market and thought the choice, quality and price of these items was excellent. Not only does a market such as this one have the opportunity to have these perks, but also you get the plus of talking to passionate people about their produce, and each stall owner I have encountered have been lovely, each with their own personalities and handy tips to help you choose the perfect produce - something you would be hard pushed finding in your local supermarket.

The market is also home to a number of florists

I couldn't make a trip to the market without stopping at one of the stalls and having a bite to eat. The choice is great, with the classic fish and chips, burgers and hot dogs, but also there are stalls containing street style food by Chinese and Indian vendors. My choice was easy though as I decided to stop at one of the more unique eateries, and sample a pot of mushy peas with mint sauce!

Mushy Peas and mint sauce

Now it might look like a pile of slop, but it was actually very tasty (if you like mushy peas that is!). Think I was a bit over keen by not opting for a portion on top of some chips - that would have been delicious, but for roughly £1, you can't really go wrong! And it's a bit of a tradition - so why not!

The Norwich market is a lovely place to come and peruse what's best of Norwich, meet some lovely people, and maybe even pick up a bargain or two. I'd definitely recommend a visit, like I said before you sometimes don't even realise what is right on your door step, and if you have a couple of hours to kill, I'd suggest you spend them here, although be warned your purse might come back a little lighter.

 

 

The Kensington Hotel - Afternoon Tea, London

I love afternoon tea. Anything with a bit of tradition seems to make me smile, and if that tradition involves food then I'm more than happy! After last Christmas, 'afternoontea.co.uk' had a January sale on and I thought it would be lovely to spend a rainy afternoon in London sampling the delights of the Kensington Hotel's personal selection of sandwiches, scones and cakes.

The offer was a 25% off deal - which is quite common, so I would suggest always looking for offers on line when you can as it could save you quite a bit of money...usually £28 pp, this was reduced to £21 which softened the blow on my card considerably!

The Kensington hotel is situated on Queens Gate in the notoriously grand area of South Kensington, and has recently reopened after undergoing a £20 million renovation. The hotel itself is actually quite difficult to find as it is made up of four townhouses, and therefore matches the look of the street perfectly so doesn't particularly stand out, but once you enter the reception area, the staff are more than happy to show you to the drawing room - where the afternoon tea is served.

Drawing Room, The Kensington Hotel

The drawing room itself is very luxurious, complete with chandeliers, oak wood flooring, Persian rugs and a roaring fireplace (perfect for a cold winters afternoon). We both had high hopes for the afternoon tea as after doing a bit of research we realised that the chef had a Michelin star - and, although not eating in the restaurant, we were expecting some pretty awesome creations!

Our Sandwich selection

First the sandwiches arrived, and they looked as pretty as a picture. There were five finger sandwiches stacked up as you can see in the picture above and these included: Honey roast ham and redcurrant butter (tomato bread), Scottish smoked salmon horseradish creme fraiche (granary bread), egg mayonnaise with watercress (white bread), cucumber and cream cheese (caraway seed bread) and roast chicken with whole grain mustard (onion bread). They were all delicious, and I thought very inventive both using a range of traditional combinations, and adding twists with the different kinds of bread. I think my favourite was the chicken, but I also loved the tomato bread which came with the ham and redcurrant butter - it packed lots of flavour and was also extremely striking in colour.

Gin and Tonic Sorbet

Next came the gin and tonic sorbet. This was a lovely touch, and did what it was supposed to by cleansing the palette for the sweeter treats which were about to follow. My only negative was there was quite a lot of it and it was quite citrus-y which kind of totally nummed my mouth and left the tea tasting a little odd.



 Scones (with Cornish clotted cream, winterberry jam and lemon and passion fruit curd)

Next out were the mini scones. One plain and one Raisin for each of us. They came all wrapped up in a cloth parcel, which meant they kept nice and warm whilst we were finishing our sorbet, and were served with a passion fruit and lemon curd (absolutely divine) and a winterberry jam, with Cornish clotted cream. All components in this section of the meal were absolutely delicious, the scones were buttery, yet still crumbly, and the fact the cream melted slightly when it was spread on was great!

The finale should always be the posh cakes! This is when the chef can really come into their own and make sweet treats almost looking too good to eat, and I have to say, I'm very happy the Kensington Hotel opted to serve these on a tiered cake stand (I was slightly upset that the other bits hadn't arrived traditionally like this so I was pretty relieved when I was proved wrong with the final 'course' of the meal.

Cake Stand

 

We had 7 different treats to choose from, so decided to split each one down the middle so I could try them all! On the top there was a blueberry cheesecake, a hazelnut and caramel pyramid and a lemon tart, and below a chocolate and raspberry mousse, bakewell tart, coconut panna cotta with passionfruit jelly and a strawberry, lavender and lemon mille feuille.

By this point we were quite stuffed, and found the mousse, and the pyramid - which was kind of a nutty creamy cheese-cakey thing, far too heavy (however loved the touch with popping candy). The other bites though were lovely, especially the panna cotta which was so light and tart which cut through the over powering sweetness of the other choices!

The service was excellent, and the staff very knowledgeable about the choice of teas. All of the teas I tried were outstanding with some really interesting choices (and another perk is you could choose more than one). One of the ones my boyfriend opted for on the day was a smokey one wasn't to my taste particularly but he seemed to enjoy it, and you could also opt for coffee if tea wasn't your thing which I thought was great.

Pouring our tea!

All in all afternoon tea and the Kensington hotel is something I'll remember for a very long time, and for the right reasons! You can tell the amount of detail that has been put into each taster, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My only tip (as mentioned before) is to try and find a deal or discount on line!

Angels with Bagpipes, Edinburgh

'Angels with Bagpipes' on the Edinburgh Royal Mile seems to have established itself as one of the best Scottish restaurants the capital city has to offer since its opening in 2010. I have to admit, I was somewhat concerned about how good the food would be due to it's location on such a prominent street known for attracting tourists, however I followed the many positive reviews online, and decided to try it for myself.

Exterior of Restaurant

My boyfriend and I arrived fairly promptly on a Wednesday evening, straight after getting off our train at the Waverly station - so around 6pm, and thought we would have no trouble getting seated, however it seemed that we were wrong, and the waiting staff were great fumbling around to get us a table laid at the front of the restaurant so we could enjoy our meal - must be a good sign! Although extremely grateful, I'd recommend booking a table for whichever night you intend to eat, as this area of the restaurant is quite near to the door, and on a cold February evening it was a little drafty. The interior is like tardis though, when trying to find the toilet I saw that there was a seating area towards the back of the restaurant, as well as another downstairs, all decorated wonderfully - keeping simple and modern, whilst retaining as much of it's 'Old city' charm as possible.

Inside 'Angels with Bagpipes'

Being a Scottish restaurant, and travelling to Scotland for what could really be described as a 'Foodie Holiday' we both thought it best to order the 'Haggis, Neeps and Tatties' for Starter. This would be the first of I think four different types of haggis we tried in Scotland, and I have to say there was none I hated at all!
If you are unaware of what Haggis is, or how it tastes, it is very unique (but totally delicious - although it might not sound it!). Traditionally it is a savoury pudding made from the sheep's pluck, a.k.a. heart, liver and lungs. Each butcher will have their own secret recipe of spices which they add to the pluck, as well and oatmeal, onions, salt and suet, and this is all encased in a sheep's stomach (or more commonly now, sausage casing). This mixture is then cooked in a water bath, and the casing cut open when ready revealing the haggis inside.

Haggis, Neeps and Tatties with a Whisky sauce

This particular haggis was wrapped in streaky bacon, and served on the creamiest mash imaginable - not a lump in sight! The neeps (turnips) were cubed so intricately, and all cooked perfectly with just a little bit of bite - definitely a texture needed alongside the mash and haggis. The whisky sauce had just the right kick of alcohol and wasn't overly creamy, which made a lovely addition, but the real star of the show (as it rightfully should be) was the haggis. Of all the haggis I tried during our three days in Edinburgh it definitely had the most peppered taste, but that wad excellent with the cream of the mash, and sweet turnips, and the bacon added the extra element of saltiness which was gorgeous.



Lamb with pearl barley risotto and roast vegetables

 

My partner ordered the lamb after much deliberation; I have to say it looked fantastic, and smelt wonderful. I was allowed to try a little sample, and from what I tried it tasted as good as it looked. The lamb was served nice and pink so none of it's flavour was lost, and again the vegetables were cooked with a little bite which I personally think is perfect. I found the risotto a lovely accompaniment, and definitely something I will look forward to trying again in the future, the creamy flavour really suited the rich meatiness. 
The dish I chose was hake, and it arrived with a parsnip puree, little tempura battered mussels, also some risotto and a sort of concentrated coriander gel.

Hake with tempura mussels, parsnip and coriander.

As you can see, the dish was presented as pretty as a picture, and I could not wait to dive into it! It was to die for! The salty fish just flaked apart and matched the sweetness of the parsnip extremely well. To add to this the quite strong 'clean' taste of coriander just seemed to cut through the creaminess leaving your mouth more than ready to take it's next bite! To finish the little battered mussels were totally scrummy, I could have devoured a whole bowl of these, let alone only three, and added a much needed salty flavour and crunchy texture to the dish.

Banana Parfait with Innis and Gun ice cream, Chocolate and Caramel

We were both a bit stumped after 6 hours on a train and then a fantastic first two courses we decided to share a dessert from their excellent menu, which was a unique take of a kind of banoffee, crumble...thing! The parfait was light, and smooth, and the caramelised banana perfectly sweet and crunchy. As well as this there were little blobs (for want of a better word!) of rich chocolate, and sticky caramel sauce so it gave you the opportunity to mix and match what was on your taste buds which I really liked. This was all served on top of a nutty, crumbly, oaty mixture which tasted lovely and again added another texture to the dish - all in all, two rather full people polished it off no problem at all!

'Angels with Bagpipes' was an excellent start, to what would end up being a wonderful few days in Edinburgh. Although the food was not cheap, I definitely think it ticked all of the boxes on presentation, service and flavour so could not recommend more highly.
If you are ever on the Royal Mile and pass this restaurant give it a go, I was worried initially, and it didn't disappoint!

Gordons Wine Bar, London

Possibly one of the most unique establishments I have ever visited would be Gordons Wine Bar, just outside the Embankment tube station in London.
From the second we stepped down the stairs and into the dimly lit basement, this place became not only one of my favourite bars in the UK, but possibly one of the best 'hidden secrets' in London.
If you did not know what to look for you'd most definitely miss the bar from its inconspicuous exterior, and i'd imagine you will probably think it is closed for business when you pass by, but believe me when I say it is definitely worth checking out, you'll probably intend to stay for one drink and end up staying all evening.

Exterior of Gordons Wine Bar

Gordon's is thought to be the oldest wine bar in London - therefore could potentially be the oldest wine bar in the world, and despite being home to Samuel Pepys in the 1600's the bar as we see it today was established in 1890.
As you enter the bar, the first room you come to has wooden walls and is covered in old newspaper clippings which makes it not only one of a kind but also highly interesting if you find yourself bored whilst inside (not likely to happen though!). However the real star of the bar is it's cellar, you have to stoop to find your very private candlelit table, and the atmosphere when full (it doesn't take long to fill up so arrive on opening, especially at the weekend) is absolutely fantastic.

Cellar in Gordons Wine Bar

I would have to say my favourite thing about Gordons is its strong identity; they make a point of only serving wine (so if you're not a fan then this place is most definitely not for you) and the food, although absolutely delicious, is extremely good value. You can choose from hot daily specials such as cottage pies, or marinated fish, and then you get to choose from a wonderful selection of salads to go with it. However my personal favourite is the charcuterie section including, but not limited to, cold meats, pork pies, pates and a wonderful selection of cheese from all corners of the globe.

The cheese boards are outstanding, and for around £11 you can get yourself three big slabs of cheese, any pickles or chutneys which take your fancy and a large french baguette to enjoy it all with. For an additional £5 or so, you can have a large slice of pate as well - we have tried the duck and orange one which is extremely tasty!

Cheese Plate

The atmosphere in Gordons is so unique you really have to experience it for yourself to understand how awesome a place it is. I have been when it is full to the brim at a weekend (and waited for a seat for 45 minutes) and also when it opened on a weekday lunch, and managed to get a seat in the cellar, both times I have loved my time there - but there is something special about Gordons when it's alive with conversation. The wine list is extensive, and I suggest that if you have a favourite type of wine let the extremely knowledgeable bartenders know, they will be able to suggest one I'm sure you will love - I know my boyfriend and I have found our personal favourite on their advice.

Therefore I suggest if you're in London and puzzled for something different to do, arrive early at Gordons, take a seat, crack open a bottle of wine, sample some of their delicious food, and soak up the atmosphere as it starts to fill!

The Assembly House, Norwich

The Assembly House in Norwich stands rather proud in the centre of town just next door to Chapelfield Shopping Centre and down the road from Norwich Theatre Royal.
A building has been on this site since the mid-1200's when it was originally home to a hospital, however the house which we see today dates back to 1754 when it was designed as a 'House of Assemblies' for the gentry of Norwich holding various dinners, dances, meetings and concerts. For this reason the interior is extremely grand, and perfectly suited to weddings which frequently happen within its' walls.

Dining Room in The Assembly House

We decided to try the pre-theatre menu - served 5 - 6.30pm  (£20 per person for three courses, and a carafe of house wine) and our hopes were high - we tried 'The Pigs' in Edgefield a while back, a pub owned by the same people, and absolutely loved it!

Upon arriving we were shown to our table, and the waiters were accomodating, knowledgable about the menu (which is always a plus) and friendly throughout our whole visit. I opted for Pressed Norfolk Ham Hock with spiced bramley apple chutney, and my mum went for the warm smoked mackerel salad with roasted peppers.


Ham Hock and Apple Chutney

Smoked Mackerel Salad and Peppers

Warm crusty bread was bought to our table first which was really tasty, and definitely a welcome extra seen as my really quite large portion of ham hock came with only one piece of melba toast! The hock was delicious though, and the salty meat went really well with the sweet apple chutney. My mother assured me that her salad was really light, fresh and tasty, however (as I feel is sometimes the case) there was quite a lot of rocket which seemed quite unnecessary.

Pork with mustard mash and greens

For main course I think I made a bit of a duff choice in that I opted for the pork, which came with mustard mash, green veggies and (the same) apple chutney! Duhhh! However the flavours were classic so you couldn't really go wrong, the pork was cooked perfectly, and I do love creamed cabbage! One small negative (and it may just have been that i'd already had it on my starter - so it was my own fault) was that the dish was lovely without the chutney, and this was very sweet so overpowered the flavour of the meat.

Chicken Breast, Bubble and Squeak, red wine, bacon and mushroom sauce.

My mum had the chicken dish (see above) which looked and smelt lovely! The sauce was rich and was teeming with the flavours of Burgundy, which suited the roast carrots and parsnips very well. To top it off, it was served on lovely rosti style bubble and squeak, crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle! She was very happy to say the least!

We finished our meal off with a vanilla panna cotta and raspberry coulis, and a rich chocolate tart with vanilla ice cream.

Chocolate Tart and Ice Cream

The chocolate tart was very rich - as the descriptive name on the menu suggested! However I'd have liked the chocci filling to be a little softer due to the fact the cold ice cream made it quite hard to break into! Nevertheless it definitely did what it said on the tin, and I polished off the lot!

Panna cotta and Raspberry Coulis

I do love a panna cotta! And this was a very good one! Creamy, and just enough 'gloop-i-ness' to make it smooth and silky when you put it into your mouth. The raspberry coulis which was on top was sharp, and matched the sweetness of the vanilla perfectly. The only thing which could have propelled this dish into real greatness would have been come sort of crunch...something like a shortbread biscuit or tuille would have been wonderful!

Just a final word about the wine (a carafe was included in our set menu price), there was a selection of red, white and rose (which was nice, as rose is so often not included). We decided upon the white, and for a house wine it was definitely drink-able so that's definitely worth bearing in mind! Also worth noting is that you get a carafe, so I'd say this works out as slightly more than a large glass - making this menu excellent value in my opinion!

So to conclude, The Assembly House is a gorgeous period building, with decor and grandeur to match. The food was great, nothing spectacular, but certainly worth a visit, and i'll definitely be recommending this menu to any norwich-goer wanting an early dinner, coupled with excellent service and tasty, classic dishes.