End of an Era

So its been a long time since my last post on here! There has been lots going on, moving house, moving office, and a very busy diary. While all this chaos has been going on, I have been pondering the life of my blog. Its aim was to share food and travel stories with you my lovely readers, but over time my interests have changed, life has changed. I have therefore decided to start a new blog called lifelondonfood.com . It will focus on wider interests…. hopefully lots of exciting things.

I do hope that you will come on over and keep reading my musings on lifelondonfood.com.

thanks for following and reading the ambitious traveller!

xxx

Longleat Ahoy!

The adventure continues…….. where was I going for my 30th, everyone knew but me! But being in the Wiltshire area, I had an inkling, but it wasnt until we saw the first sign was it confirmed we were going to Longleat! Yes that fabulous safari park that we watched for years on TV! Not only were we going to the Safari Park but we were staying on the estate in one of their cottage, awesome!

A cute cottage but the highlight was definitely the view, through the  garden fence was the Park, giraffes and zebra right up to the garden fence, how amazing. Now I have been on safari in Africa and loved it but you do not get to sit and observe the life of animals like this, they were so close and after the park closes it was magical sitting in the garden with a glass of wine watching animal life unfold. Whats better than watching young giraffe playing chase, the monkey troop going crazy after closing time and keepers trying to herd hoofed animals indoors when it’s all just a big game to the animals.

Just chillin Lemur style

Our fabulous vehicle!

Seen as it was my birthday, the being spoilt rotten continued with a VIP tour of the park. This includes going in one of their fabulous zebra print jeeps with a guide and getting to go off-road, up close and personal with the animals. Our guide Steve was fantastic. Having been a zoo keeper for over 20 years he was a font of knowledge and funny! This was a man who enjoyed his job and loved the animals he worked with.

Big kitty!

Cute!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What you looking at?!

Penguin encounter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now as well as the Safari Park, there is an area next to the Big House that houses its smaller animals and Lake cruise. Both are set up to give you full on animal encounters, from walking through the penguin enclosure ( watch out penguin poo is projectile and smelly) to the manta-ray pool. I know some people do not believe in Safari Parks and Zoos, but Longleat was the first Safari Park outside Africa and their work on conservation is vital to keeping species alive especially when maniacs are running around Africa killing animals just for fun or for ‘traditional’ medicine. Not cool! Yes there are places around the world that keep animals in small cages, and they have no form of active life or enrichment but having watched life at Longleat I didn’t see one animal that looked unhealthy or mistreated. Just watching life in the giraffe and zebra field every morning and evening, these were animals going about the life they would lead in Africa and yes they have less space than they would in the Masai or Kruger but they have no threats and enough space from what I could tell for both species to get a good run on.

With Longleats position in Wiltshire its a great base for visiting the surrounding area, one day we went to Bath ( do the park and ride!) and I showed the family around the cute Spa city. But Bristol is also close by and of course you could go to Stonehenge as we did on the way. Wiltshire and the Cotswolds is a font of things to do and see so if you want a base in the area then definitely try here and of course there is also a Centre Parcs.

Bath Cathedral

The fabulous baths of Bath

Fancy a dip

Longleat was an amazing treat and definitely somewhere I would want to go back to as an animal lover and now my friends have seen the pictures I am sure someone will find an excuse to celebrate something there!!

Secret Stonehenge

It has been a while since I properly wrote something on here; I have been rather slack over the summer with so much going on and holidays. It has been a crazy couple of months and there is still so much more going on.

Where shall I start…. I know…. My Birthday, always a good place to start! So it was a decade year this time around, sob, and my lovely family decided to treat me to a fabulous week away to celebrate/ commiserate me turning 30!

My snazzy stonehenge hut!

It was a total surprise, so as a control freak it was hard to let someone else take the reins on my holiday planning. However, these guys did good!!! The journey began with a sibling road trip. Trying my very best not to look out of the car window as we three kids drove to the destination the first stop on our tour arrived, Stonehenge. It was very exciting indeed as I have never been before. It was amazing, driving down the road and all of a sudden there on the horizon was the famous, glorious stone ring. It looks exactly as it does in the pictures. So we clambered out of the car (minus the delicious strawberries we picked up from a guy selling them by the side of the road – only in the countryside!) and dashed for the entrance trying to beat the buses full of tourists. It’s a popular spot and there is no way of getting away from the tourists that visit, but it’s not the end of the world.

delicious road side treats

ingenious!

Now there are two ways to get up to Stonehenge from the new snazzy visitors centre with its 360 degree view of the stones, you can walk across cow dotted fields or take the little shuttle bus service. We had time limits on the visit as we had places to be so we chose the lazy option and got the bus. Naughty!

Getting off the bus the walking route takes you around the stones, it may have been cloudy but on occasion the clouds cleared and the sun shone through and even more the crowds cleared and there was periods when you could see through the stones and not people, hurrah! As you walk around you cannot help but be amazed at the sure size of the stones, their age and the skill that went into getting them to this spot and carving them. The sheer wonder of this ancient site!

The Glorious Stonehenge

If you are ever in the area then I highly recommend a stop. Even if ancient history isn’t your thing, you have to appreciate the wonder of these things.

Anyway, exiting through the gift shop, where else, we headed back to the car for the next stop on our secret adventure…… lunch! And what a great lunch stop it was, the Lincoln Inn. This is a small local pub that serves delicious food. The staff were friendly and attentive, the food was great and it was in a stunning location. This was of course the location that my parents arrived as a ‘surprise’ …. Not going to lie the table set for five was a giveaway, plus a few other things! But a fabulous gastropub lunch it was.

Setting sail one more, now in convoy, where on earth were we heading……..

The River Cottage Canteen, Bristol

Any trip to Bristol is a good trip to me, and on a recent jaunt to visit my friend she introduced me to the River Cottage Canteen, part of the Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall empire.

Now I like a bit of Hugh, a little bit of me wants to live at River Cottage, spend my day making bread and cooking fabulous food grown on my land, but then I suddenly remember I do not like gardening and I get bored easily so me and the countryside only ever have a short romance. Hugh in the city is just what I need.

In this relaxed and open plan restaurant you are greeted by cheerful staff who make you instantly relaxed. Set out on two levels we sat within view of the almost now traditional open kitchen. The restaurant was busy but in this bright and breezy open plan converted 19th Century church it never felt crowded.

The menu is of course seasonal and simple. Not over loaded with too many options but enough that if you came regularly you wouldn’t get bored.

The delightful menu at the River Cottage Canteen in Bristol

The menu is set up as small plates and big plates. Small plates are a great size to share. We went with the Merguza sausage and fava bean houmous and the Slow Cooked cauliflower with cumin, yoghurt , almonds and flat bread. They were just the right size before tucking into our bigger plate of pork shin ragu with Orecchiette pasta. I would have prefered the ragu if the pork was smaller as the chunks were quite big and a tad on the dry side but the sauce was bursting with flavour and the wild garlic was so good. Of course after all this there was still room for desert – chocolate torte!

Merguza sausage and fava bean houmous

Roasted Cauliflower

Bursting with flavour, Pork shin ragu

Chocolate torte with ice cream and caramel

This was a lovely meal. It felt home cooked, it was warming and filling. If you find yourself in Bristol or at one of their other venues then dive on in to River Cottage Canteen for their relaxed and friendly menu.

Enjoy! xx

(ps. since writing this I have been back again- different menu but just as lovely!)

The Sloane Brothers Frozen Yoghurt

It’s the hottest day of the year, and it only seems to be getting hotter, what is going on! I am typically British wishing for the sun, then complaining as soon as it gets over 20 degrees. So of course it made perfect sense to take up an offer of checking out a new frozen yoghurt place that has just opened on Brick Lane, the Sloane Brothers Frozen Yoghurt.

There I was wandering over to Brick Lane trying my best not to look like I have just walked through a desert, when I came upon the bright airy shop, instant relief. The shop was empty, but it was only just 6pm so the after work crowd hadn’t started pouring in yet, but the staff instantly greeted me with a smile.

Now I do not like yoghurt, never have, but I am open to the concept of frozen yoghurt. The plain one has that tang of yoghurt, but flavoured ones are good. There is one near my office who have been going crazy with samples now the sun is out, and it would be rude not to try! The question was could the Sloane Brothers completely convince me of their product, could they win me over?

One thing I wasn’t sure about when looking at the website and menu before arriving was that they only offer 3 flavours, Vanilla, Chocolate and Dulce de Leche. They do have a dairy free option as well made with coconut milk which I thought was interesting. Many frozen yoghurt places offer many more flavours so I wondered what did these guys had to offer up to make themselves different when they only had three flavours. That question was answered rather quickly on meeting the owner Joseph, Biscuits!!!!

Yes that is right biscuits, the best of British, bourbons, custard creams and jammi dodgers to name a few. Joseph explained that the idea behind the frozen yoghurt shop was best of British, something that instantly made me warm to him. As written on the wall of the shop, legend has it that Frozen Yoghurt was invented right here in London, in the east end no less, and not the USA which many presume. It was created by accident by the Sloane Brothers. With frozen yoghurt being British he wanted to make sure it was British, so the yoghurt is British made, all the fruit is sourced from local providers, the biscuits all British, and the cakes are locally made.

So you may only have 3 base flavours ( they do occasionally do guest flavours) but you get a whole host of toppings, from sauces, to fresh fruit to the best of British biscuits and baking. I was overwhelmed with the choice. All three flavours, and the dairy free were refreshing. The chocolate one tasted of chocolate and was rich and creamy and the dulce de leche was sweet and creamy, and quickly shot to the favourite spot. Flavour picked I stared at the topping cabinets… so many choices. After much debate I went with bourbon biscuits and crumbled red velvet cake. This definitely was no longer fat-free but it was delicious!!

YUM!

I would highly recommend the Sloane Brothers if you are in the mood for some frozen goodness in the Brick Lane area. It’s a friendly place that offers lovely frozen yoghurt at a reasonable price. These guys have been open for less than 2 weeks and in that first week ran out of frozen yoghurt more than once due to the high demand. With the biscuit selection it is offering something a little bit different from your normal fruit or sprinkles. Joseph wants to create a firm British brand that provides great quality British products. This is a friendly establishment offer a great product so head on over and give them a go, I certainly will be going back whenever I am in the area!

Tomato and Za’atar Couscous

I love a simple recipe, something that can be whipped up quickly but tastes delicious like you spent hours making it. I especially love a simple but delicious dish on a sunday evening when you are faced with the prospect of returning to work in the morning, the fun of the weekend is almost over and the sun is starting to dip. For me couscous is a saving grace of many a lunch or dinner. It takes only a couple of minutes to prepare (boiling water and some seasoning) and you can add almost anything to it.

On this particularly sunny Sunday I decided to raid the somewhat bare cupboard and see what I could make from the sparse looking contents. As is always staple in my cupboards I found chickpeas, but of course chickpeas!! they bulk out many a meal so why not add them to my couscous. Throwing in a mix of herbs and a good helping of Za’atar I had myself  a fresh couscous salad that was going to make a lush dinner and of course enough for lunch in the week ( a good lunch is salvation to being locked in an office when the sun is out).

This is a super quick salad, and can be adapted to include a range of other things depending on what you have in the fridge and cupboard. You can serve it warm or cold if making it in advance or taking it for lunch the next day.

Ingredients

100g couscous ( dried)

Boiling Water

1 chicken or vegetable stock cube

1 tin of chickpeas (400g)

2-3 sundried tomatoes

handful of mini plum or cherry tomatoes ( if using big ones 1/2 should be fine)

2 teaspoons of Za’atar

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 lemon ( juice)

olive oil to drizzle

1. Put the couscous in a large bowl, sprinkle the stock cube over the couscous and cover with boiling water ( twice as much water as couscous). Mix with a fork and then cover for 5 minutes ( or as the packet instructions).

2. In a smaller bowl put the drained chickpeas and then sprinkle over the za’atar and herbs, lemon juice and drizzle with the olive oil. Give it a good mix. Put to one side.

3. Chop the sundried tomatoes and fresh tomatoes into small pieces and mix into the chickpeas. Taste at this point and add more za’atar if necessary.

4. Once the couscous is cooked, give it a stir with a fork to break it up ( it should be nice and fluffy), then mix in the chickpeas. Taste and season if necessary.

There you have it a fresh and delicious salad that took no time at all.

Serve it with some fried halloumi and roasted vegetables. It will also go well with a green salad. A fabulous summer salad full of flavour that takes as long to cook as a microwave meal!

Enjoy xx

The Secret Garden

Now I think it’s fair to say from previous posts I am a fan of the lovely chef Jimmy Garcia and his wonderful food. His new summer pop up launched a couple of weeks ago and I was lucky enough to snag a table on opening night (hectic days has caused a delay to this being posted!). Called the Secret Garden, it leads your imagination to think of all things summer, and even though it was raining the night we went, I do believe the restaurant exudes summer!

Buzzing the bell to get in you make your way up stairs through the vines, candles are lit and you are on an outside terrace. As you make your way inside and are greeted by the front of house you are not quite sure what to expect as the diners are behind a set of double doors. Walking in you are greeted by quite a dark room, lit with candles, the floor covered in grass ( the fake kind, don’t worry ladies no mud to be had in this garden), vines and flowers hanging from the ceiling and there in the middle in all its grandeur a beautiful wooden tree. Its like the kind of garden everyone wants, low maintenance, no bugs or mud and it has a bar in it!

The centre of attention, the grand tree of the Secret Garden

Sitting at a table by the bar, long grass created a bit of a divider from the bar area which was a nice touch, we had a view of the whole place. It was busy, and tables continued to empty and fill throughout the evening even though we didn’t sit until 9pm proving the popularity of this pop up chef.

Now the menu has changed a bit since we first went, the indoor BBQs have unfortunately gone and the menu is now a standard Starter, Main and Dessert using the dishes that made up the small plates element of the original menu. Do not let this put you off because we had the small plates (which are now bigger plates) and they were great. The menu like with Jimmy’s other pop ups are seasonal, using as much local produce from small producers as possible and of course his dad’s Spanish chorizo. The meat on the menu is varied using a range of game and fish such as pigeon, rabbit, Guinea fowl and sea bass, which adds a varied depth to the menu and when paired with ‘garden’ inspired foods you have delicious plates.

‘Run Rabbit’ Wild Rabbit Loin, Pickled Baby Veg, Rabbit Veloute, Rabbit Pop Corn

‘Porky Beans’ Belly, Smoked Eel Beignet, Fava and Bacon Beans, Carrot Puree

Papa G’s Chorizo, Guineafowl ballotine, Chorizo and Parmesan risotto, skin shard, cherry tomatoes and Spinach

Seared Sea Bass, Deep Fried Oyster, Radish,
Squid Ink Aioli, Chardonnay Foam

As always presentation is faultless. The plates are delicate and beautiful even though some are carrying these hearty and robust meats on them. My favourites were the ‘Run Rabbit’ rabbit ballotine and the Chorizo and Guinea fowl, both hearty, delicate and busting with flavour.

If you have room for dessert then go for it. The Edible Garden is lovely and chocolate heaven while the Ice Cream Factory allows you to fill your face with sugary goodness and throw caution to the wind for any future dental visits!

This is definitely a must try so if you can get yourself a reservation do, as this is great food in a cleverly put together theme.

Memories of Nepal

The beautiful land of Nepal has been in the press an incredible amount since Saturday due to the horrific earthquake that struck. This has been the worse quake in over 80 years and has caused awful damage throughout the country and an incredibly loss of life. The current death toll is over 5,500 people but this will only continue to go up as they clear the rubble and slowly get to the communities outside the capital. I know for friends and myself who have traveled there and have worked with the Nepalese for years it has been shocking to see the images flash across the tv and media. Luckily everyone we know out there is ok but with infrastructure damaged its going to be a long road to recovery for the country.

I visited Nepal for the first time in 2008 as part of a trip that went through North India and into Nepal. When I crossed that border it was an odd experience, leaving the chaos and mayhem of India behind and entering the tranquil world of peaceful Nepal. The first stop was Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha so of course there was an air of peace around the place. We then headed to Chitwan, onto Pokhara and explored the Annapurna region and then onto crazy Kathmandu. I have such great memories of the country, so great that I am supposed to be going back in October to trek up to Everest Base Camp. With the devastation going on at the moment I have found it hard not to think about my time there, the country I have worked with for so long and a place I desperately want to return to as its such a welcoming country with wonderful people.

With all this in mind I thought I would share some of my favourite images and memories to remind people of the country it was and how the people need help to get back on their feet and recover. It will be hard, it’s a poor country who cannot simply snap their fingers and quickly rebuild everything. The world community will have to help!!

Leaving the chaos of India behind for the peaceful boarders of Nepal

Lumbini – the birth place of Buddha – this is one of the most tranquil spots I have ever been. Prayer flags coat the trees and on a sunny day it is all just rather lovely to sit under a tree and listen to them gentle rustle in the wind!

What a way to commute to work!

The humble tuk tuk!

A family who live within Chitwan National Park, we visited their village and their farm while we were on safari there. They were so welcoming. It is not only the people initially effected by the earthquake that will suffer. Those that escaped the damage will have the knock on effect of tourism stopping, supplies not getting where they should.  They may not have lost their home or a loved one but they may be loosing their lively hood as so many people in Nepal rely on tourism to put food on the table.

The beautiful Pokhara Lake

Pashupatinath Temple, dedicated to Shiva, it is where Hindu’s come to say good-bye to their dead. On the banks of the river funeral pyres are lit and the bodies washed away with the river.

Boudhanath stupa – the eyes on this stupa are synonymous with Kathmandu, they seem to watch you from wherever you are standing, it is a wonderful structure

I like this image as it shows old Kathmandu against new Kathmandu. The stunning architecture of Kathmandu’s past against a modern building in the background. This is like much of the city, and is part of the problem they have now as so many buildings are old and they just were not able to withstand the earthquake.

The narrow chaotic streets of Kathmandu, shops pouring out onto the streets, people selling things from everywhere. It can feel a little claustrophobic but you get used to it – this is a way of life that has not changed, the warren of streets that spread through the city.

It is such a beautiful and charming country, if you are able to help then please do through the many charities and organisations raising money!

Chorizo Sausage Rolls

The sun is out, spring is here which can only mean one thing, summer is on its way and picnic season is upon us!

I love a picnic, it’s all about grazing, sitting in the sun and grazing as you watch the world go by. Hell, I like any meal that’s about grazing maybe that’s why I end up in the local Lebanese a little too often. I was inspired to make these fabulous chorizo sausage rolls after an afternoon tea at the Ham Yard Hotel, I had never had them before but combined some of my favorite things, sausage, chorizo and pastry! I immediately went home and started looking at recipes.

Depending on what equipment you have, you can blitz the chorizo up with the sausage meat or dice, depends whether you want a full on red roll or just chunks. Adding the chorizo just adds another layer to home made sausage rolls. If you get a good quality chorizo you will have those wonderful spices, the deep red running through the meat and of course that sweet paprika smell.

This is a fairly easy recipe and the best thing is you can freeze them so you have a supply ready at all times. See no excuse not to be whipping up a batch!
Ingredients

Filling

25g butter plus extra for greasing

dash of olive oil

150g peeled shallots, peeled and thinly sliced

1 tsp granulated sugar

450g pork sausage meat

2 tbsp finely chopped flat leaf parsley

100g cured chorizo cut into small cubes

1 tbsp fresh soft breadcrumbs

black pepper

Pastry

375g sheet of ready rolled puff pastry

plain flour for dusting

1 large beaten egg to seal and glaze

1. For the filling heat the butter and oil in a frying pan and add the shallots. Gently fry for about 5 minutes until they have softened. Sprinkle in the sugar and continue to cook over a low heat for another 10-15 minutes until they have caramalised. Remove from the heat and allow them to cool.  At this point pre heat the oven to 200 degrees/180 degrees fan. Lightly grease a baking sheet and line with baking paper.

cook the onions until they are sweet and caramalised

2. Put the sausage meat in a large mixing bowl and add the parsley, chorizo and breadcrumbs and season with black pepper. Then mix it all together really well so the chorizo is well dispersed.

Your three main ingredients, sausage meat, chorizo and lots of parsley

Mix everything together

Until it is well combined

3. Lay out the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface and cut in half lengthways. Divide the shallot mix in half and spoon one portion onto each piece of the pastry in a 5cm wide strip lengthways down the centre. Divide the sausage meat mixture in half and shape each into a sausage shape as long as the length of pastry. The lay it on top of the shallots. Brush the long edges of each pastry piece with beaten egg then take one long edge and roll around the meat and shallots to encase. Pinch the pastry together to join and cut away any excess. Turn each roll over so that the join is underneath.

spread the caramalised onions onto the pastry

then top with the sausage meat

and roll that bad boy, roll!

4. Brush each roll with beaten egg and cut the long sausage into pieces. I got about 8 small sausage rolls out of each roll but you can make them as big or as small as you like. ( If you are going to freeze them then do not do the egg wash just cut them up and wrap them up and pop in the freezer, only egg wash when you are read to cook them)

Cut to your desired size

5. Place the sausage rolls onto the pre prepared baking sheet and bake in an oven for 25-30 minutes. Make sure you give them space on the baking sheet as the pastry will puff up and you don’t want them sticking together.  Once cooked all the way through and golden brown remove them from the oven and allow them to cool.

Golden brown gorgeous sausage rolls!

Yum!!

Serve these delicious sausage rolls as a snack or with a salad or accompaniment to a fabulous picnic.

Enjoy xx

Berlin: New Food Discoveries

Having the luck of being to Berlin many a time now I have started to branch out and explore the food scene of this great city much more. As much as I love Bratwurst mit Brot as a lunch time stop there has to be more to Berlin than sausage. This trip I ended up having the least German food of any of my trips to this fabulous city but it just shows the diversity that Berlin has, that like London you can find any cuisine, fun restaurants and great people watching.

First stop on the trip The Bird. Now this restaurant come recommended by my sisters friend. I am always one to check out a new burger place especially as Berlin does them so well.  We headed out to the Kreuzberg branch ( they have two one in Kreuzberg and one in Prenzlauer Berg ). As it was a Friday night the place was packed and from recommendation we booked a table and glad we did because walking in and getting a table would have meant a long wait or no table at all. Turning up 10 minutes early we waited at the bar and all the staff here spoke English and seemed to prefer to communicate in English rather than my terrible German. So beers in and our table was ready. The list of burgers is vast, and there is really something for everyone. They also offer a range of steaks that come all the way from the US of A!

One of the longest burger lists I have ever seen

Having wandered through the restaurant to get to the table I saw the burgers and they looked good, so was excited to get one ordered. However, this is where the issues started. We ended up having one of the weirdest experiences of bad customer service I have ever had in a restaurant. We were ignored, then inundated with apologies, food didn’t turn up, and then we were asked to vacate our table before our allotted 2 hours was up ( you are told on booking you have the reservation for 2 hours!). I would like to say it was because it was busy, but this is the kind of restaurant that is always this busy so therefore should know what they are doing. Thank goodness the food was good because otherwise we maybe wouldn’t have seen the funny side of how terrible the service was.  The burger, 250g of premium German beef, was great, the meat juicy and full of flavour . Cooked to order and served in what looked like an English muffin it was piled high with toppings.This was an outrageously big meal but good as a rare occasion. The fries were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, but were huge in number. The size of the meal was like you were in the States. The second beer may have been a mistake, not enough room in the old stomach.

The monstrous burger and fries at the Bird

Cheesecake, not the best, not the worst

However, as good as food is I would be dubious to return as I cannot bear paying my hard earned money on bad service!  This was a good burger, but there are burgers just as good in Berlin, such as the one at White Trash, so with bad service marking it down I am not sure about returning any time soon. Maybe I will try the other location before closing my door to The Bird altogether, we will see.

The second discovery was a much more peaceful affair. We discovered a little bit of Californian Mexican at Delores. This burrito restaurant with its neon sign, brightly decorated inside and music beckons you in from the cold winters eve. It’s counter service and it’s small inside but do not be put off by this because it’s fairly quick turn around, so loiter for a few minutes I am sure someone will have left. So with a table secured it was time to decide, burrito, quessadila, taco or bowl! Loving the simplicity and pleasure of a burrito I had to go all carb, choosing from a selection of meat fillings you place your order ( nachos on the side with a range of dips of course obligatory) at the counter and you are given your number so when its ready you just come back. This is great as it means the staff have time to prepare the food properly rather than the conveyor belt style you get in the UK and can sip your beer at a table. The staff were all rather chirpy which was a nice change to the evening before staff.

The bright and welcoming decore of Dolores

The burritos turned up and they were fine, mighty fine. Big and bulging with their range of fillings. The nachos fresh and crispy and the guacamole was big and chunky, none of this smooth stuff you get from supermarkets, this bad boy was made by hand. Everything in the burrito tasted fresh and had flavour and the difference between the chain burrito places that are popping up all over the place.

Nachos!

The monster burrito

Now I know burritos are not everyone’s cup of tea and certainly not the meal you think of when you go to Berlin, but as someone who goes at least once a year it’s all about discovering these hidden gems and avoiding the tourist traps.  It’s the perfect stopping point after a busy day sightseeing and being on your feet all day. It’s also the perfect location ( just behind Alexanderplatz) for a lunch stop. This place had a constant stream of people coming and going the whole time we were there. Gosh if you lived near by it could be dangerous.

The final find, was a meat haven. I love meat, and am always on the hunt for a new spin on meat. I have now found a new favourite, a new meat paradise and it is called Chicago Williams! It’s hard not to fall in love with this place straight away, as you walk in from the street you are beckoned to the bar area and offered a small cup of soup – perfect when its freezing outside, and the spicy corn chowder hit the spot. The guys working there were so friendly and explained how it all worked, the different things on the menu, instantly feeling like you have been coming here for years. The menu is easy, its meat, it’s all on one big black board and you order up at the bar.

Nothing beats a cup of welcome soup

Nice Wall Art

Inside my new meat haven

What’s also great about CW is that it pairs great American BBQ with a great array of German beers, one of which they brew themselves. These are guys passionate about meat and beer – amazing!! And whats more they are happy to talk you through the beer selection so you find the right one.

Back to the meat, this is all about the meat now, its easy, your order your BBQ meat, be it ribs, pulled pork, sausage, brisket or chicken, then you order your sides. The mash was so creamy, and the beans full of flavour, I would recommend them both. There are the options of sandwiches or full on meat platters so you get a bit of everything to try. I went crazy and ordered the lady like ribs and I am glad I did. The BBQ glaze was brilliant, sticky, sweet and full of tang. The meat was tender and just fell off the bone, this was not a meal you had to work at. With everything turning up on a big plastic tray you could have through yourself at a BBQ joint in the deep south. I couldn’t fault this meal. It was everything it said on the tin, relaxed American BBQ with great German beers. This is somewhere I will keep going back to, because it was great good, great service and so relaxed!

No mess plastic tray ribs – dig in!!

Cheesecake with a frozen shot!

This was a trip of many new discoveries and a couple that will be regular haunts. Berlin has so many great restaurants to try so do not get bogged down thinking you have to eat sausage and schnitzel every night. Do as the Berliners do and dive on into their great restaurant scene.