Breakfast in London, Lunch in Barcelona and Dinner in Paris

Hi guys


welcome back , wow cant believe that the year is soon ending so i thought that i would take you on a trip around   Europe all in one day , this is something i would love to do myself one day !!!!.


So as the title mentions we will be starting of in London being a great British tradition we know what we can expect the normal fry up as per say , Bacon, Sausages , beans, toast and maybe black pudding . But London being such a multicultural society there are some other fantastic breakfast to be had....so where to go for the best breakfast in London??


The Wolseley at 160 Piccadilly  , this is the creme de la creme of breakfast and good value you for money. The bacon rolls are legendary and the the whole experience is exceptional . you need to book as this place is normally full of celebs , i came across this quote 
"Breakfast is everything.  The beginning, the first thing.  It is the mouthful that is the commitment to a new day, a continuing life," writes A. A. Gill in his introduction to his book 'Breakfast at The Wolseley'.


the website address is http://www.thewolseley.com/breakfast   there is a online reservation to let you know if a table is available.
Another place is The Providores and Tapa Room 109 Marylebone High Street  , this has a menu that makes my mouth water and already feeling hungry cant wait to tuck in. again a very popular place , a diverse menu but filled with great goodies!!!!
http://www.theprovidores.co.uk/taparoom/tapa_breakfast.php


Time to catch the plane from London to Barcelona for lunch , Spanish food is a big favorite of mine , having lived in Spain during my university days , it gave me my first taste of paella and numerous regional dishes that make up a great country known for food and wine!!!!


Touching down in Barcelona and being  greeted with the med  sea and the fantastic architecture of the old days. I head straight for las rambles. the place people have been talking about is "Moments " in the brand new Mandarin hotel.The Chef Carme Ruscalleda and her son Raül Balam are revisiting Catalan recipes and even inventing the first anti-aging menu of Barcelona..

On the Catalan side of the menu you will discover totally renewed classical dishes like Arroz caldoso de gamba con picada de pescador (rice dish with broth) -  Fricandó (veal stew) and suquet (fish stew) - Shrimp Tartar- Seabass with fig chutney and hibiscus salt - Veal Cheeks with turnip vegetable ravioli and red fruits..
A delight and lot of imagination!!


Having been blown away by the lunch ,i think what a day to manage 3 meals in three different countries of to france. finally for dinner


Paris is the city we think of the romantic influence it has and that is what is so magical about this city , the Parisians are very proud people and have the same attitude  as new yorkers !!!!


The restaurant De La Tour located near the Eiffel Tower. Picked this place on reputation and recommendation . A small cozy little place giving a warming feeling with pleasant ambiance. The menu was small but had a great collection on the menu with your Foie Gras  with Mozzarella cheese and for the main course of duckling breast. the food was simple but executed to perfection and of course could not turn down the Apple Tart !!! magnificent. the pricing is very reasonable.
http://www.restaurant-delatour.fr/en/

well there you have it . a great tour of 3 fantastic cities for food.


until next time    


Bon appetite 

Tuscany, is it wine no, food no but its Chocolate !!!!!!!!!

Hi guys

Hope you are all well and enjoying the latest food and beverages out there!!!

Today ive come with a different and rather interesting concept , David Rocco gave me idea for this blog after seeing what you can really do with Chocolate:-) and not just for dessert or a snack on the run!!!!
So Tuscany is mainly known for its fantastic wines and food but you will be surprised to find out that Florence is known as being in the "Valley  of Chocolate " YES the area produces some of the best chocolate in the world the local producers have won numerous international awards.
One of the great local shops is Vestri they have some amazing flavored chocolate , some infused with Basil some with chilies fantastic!!!. I you get the chance its worth a visit to try the local chocolate and bring some back with you and for me as well ;-)
So here a couple of recipes that you will think are rather strange but why not give it a try!!!!!!!!!

Penne with anchovies and chocolate.


First chop up some good quality dark chocolate 75 % minimum coco powder , the add some oil to the pan olive of course . put the penne on to boil , add some garlic to the pan and lightly brown then add some peppers and the anchovies after 5 minutes add the chopped chocolate , to give texture and some stickiness add some bread crumbs so the sauce sticks to the pasta. Once the pasta is Al Dente add to the pan and stir in and finally add fresh parsley . serve it and enjoy.

Prawns in Chocolate Sauce.


Find the freshest prawns you can and make sure you clean them remembering to move the little black line from the back of the prawn. Remove the shell and tail.  warm the pan and add the olive oil add some garlic and then add the prawns they take only a few minutes once pink and opaque they are ready. chop the bitter sweet chocolate and melt that over a pan add some milk to add texture.   the combination of the pawns and the chocolate is a delight.Arrange the prawns on a large plate and add the sauce.

eat well and enjoy

PS if the stress is getting to much you can get a chocolate massage in the city good for the skin and am sure the smell is wonderful.

Ciao for now

The bakery to die for!!!!!!!

Hi all !!!!

Long time sorry been away but will be receiving my blogs on a regular basis now:-)

I have come back to tell you about a fab place In new Delhi , I used to get cravings for certain foods but could never find the quality I was used to in London but now I have found heaven to tickle my taste buds!!!!

While I was living in spain during my university days , I'd wake up and head to the bakery and get fresh straight out of the oven pain au chocolate a nice way to start the day!!!.
In India I have tried various versions of the same but never found the same even with the 5 star hotels until now .

L'Opera which is based in Khan market , Delhi has come to my rescue and am sure is satisfying a large number of people , a great French setup with a variety of breads and sweet and savoury delights to keep you going back for more;-)
The menu is great and as I say authentic tasting delights made with proper ingredients and technic. Since finding this gem I've become a regular visiter and am working my way through the menu with the help of my daughter Serena who as any 8 year old is had to please and I take her comments into consideration ;-)

Am sure if you have not given it a try please do they are open 7 days a week and the only problem can be parking during the main part of the day.

Please check out their website at www.loperaindia.com

Happy eating !!!!!!!

For love of food & wine then move over "Sideways"

Hey all

Well today i would like to take on a trip of some difference the Film" Sideways" released a few years ago put the wine industry of the US on the map today. The film is centered around a weekend away for 2 guys who were doing the wine tour in the region. So one of the restaurants used for filming the Hitching Post is where i will take you.

If you love meat you are in for a treat .... also paired with some fantastic local wine , i hope to take you on a roller coaster of a ride of terms of  fresh succulent meats to wines that are good alone but add something special to the food taste !!!!!

A real easy place to find heading down the highway on route 101 the restaurant is close to Santa Barbara its only 139miles from LA but worth the journey down the pacific ocean coastline. I have strong memories  of how the place looked on the film but will it live up to what i remember about the wine and food. i laugh as i remember reading about the owner and seeing his the picture that is a spitting image of Gracho Marx. ;-)

The Hitching post was brought in 1986 as then was a Santa maria Style BBQ restaurant.  Withe the ideas of new and old infused in frank mind to come up with a great style of cooking that hopefully both the young and old generation would enjoy.

The story of the wine was actually a home made sample in 1979 , they found a great taste and decided in 1984 to move to a winery nearby to start there own production, most of the wine made was actually going to be for the restaurant.Today they are producing some great wines and mainly being a lover of the great Pinot Noir they are selling a great range to suit everybody pocket.  They decided that they wanted to try something different and went for a dry Rose style as this would suit some of the starters on their menu.

Years later the reputation of the HP has become world known due to the film. But the food defiantly matches up to the quality that you would expect. The streaks, chicken and ostrich are superb of course for the veggies out there the grilled artichoke is a wonder a great hit with all served with a lovely served with a spicy tomato mayonnaise. They also have the rep of having the best French fries in Southern  California as per the LA Times....!!!!!!

This experience is not only for the great food and welcoming environment but how to learn about the southern Californian wine world which has been expanding rapidly over the past few years..

Please visit its worth the drive and look out for Gracho Marx at the door !!!!! ;-)

Bon appetite

Posh Nosh!!!

Hey all

After scratching my head, i decided that i would like to take a peek into the expensive side of food, you will be surprised from burgers to sandwiches what is out there. so a bit of fun today!!!

So lets start with the sandwich , you will be surprised that there are a few  places around the world where a simple sandwich can cost you upwards of  $ 100 yes i kid you not for those who enjoy the richer things in life then you can get the best lobster along with caviar and a topping of white or black truffle to complete this delectable  sandwich full of riches for your palate..!!!

If we now are looking for a great burger then you yo have to fly of to the US to be exact Las Vegas know for all the glitz and glamor where a lot goes on but they say"what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas". Celeb chief Hubert Keller came up this master piece at the renowned famous hotel The Mandalay bay hotel and casino. So what do you get for a staggering $ 5,000 , yes i just heard some gasp's out there and no this is not made up. Well the best beef in the world Kobe topped with a rather generous piece of Foie Gras with a truffle sauce and pieces of black truffle all on a Brioche truffle bun. i should mention that you get a bottle of Petrus  95 thrown in for free , which probably makes up for the price of a burger!!!!!!
One more funny thought was that a few years back Burger King came out with a £100 burger of its own , i wonder why a fast food chain would do that , imagine going through the drive through , 2 whoppers and a the burger as it was simply known as . yes that will be £ 103 pounds please and would you like extra ketchup with that!!!!

Finally not to leave one of the other fast foods out we head to Malta for the most expensive Pizza just around 1,800 euros .Claude Camilleri, owner of Margo’s Pizzeria in the Mediterranean island’s capital, said the idea for the gourmet pizza came about last winter when he and pizzaiolo Giovanni Staiano were handling truffle at another restaurant which Camilleri owns, according to the Times of Malta. It comes with White Truffle and 24carat Gold leaf and some mozzarella cheese . Well im sure next time you are out there dont forget to take out a mortgage before you leave home to pay for such food  in life !!!!!!


Until next time Bonn appetite 

Wines for the summer or winter

Hey all my foodie and drinky friends.!!!

I thought with the arrival of summer  or winter depending on which part of the world you are in, it was time to come up with a few suggestions to hopefully tickle your taste buds :-)

We will start with the summer as its 42c where i am and mind frame is in lock down mode with the lovely warm breeze that greets you as you step out :-( . So with summer we think Rose, whites sparkling champagne if we are lucky or a great prosecco.

If you are looking for a great rose then there is no better place to start then france and the region of Provence. Rose from here as a typical light pink in colour with a fruitier taste with less red berry aromas. The rose wines can be sweet on occasions so you need to see what suits your own plate. This region has around 50,000 hectors of vines planted mainly for rose wine. If you are feeling hungry in the meantime try some spicy sausage or parma ham to go with your rose.

The whites there are a large number of cool crisp wines to choose from for those who like more mineral and dry then you could have a great Chablis or if you like a more tropical aromas in your nose then a great sauvignon from New Zealand , and a great Piont Gris from say Alsace or from Oregon  region. Food wise a bit of fresh fish a great salad or chicken would be a great option. i still recommend you get your nose and palate to tell you which are your favs because your friends taste might not be your cup of tea!!!

and now to my favs the sparkling selection. whether its champagne or prosecco you can find great options even that suit your budgetary requirements. there are a great number of champagne houses out there but mainly you only get to see the top names but that doesnt mean the smaller houses dont produce great quality wines but due to there budgetary restraints they might not be well known. if you ever get the chance take the champagne tour around the region fantastic!!!!!. Otherwise a great prosecco from Italy does a great job a little reduced alcohol content more fruit either apple or from the rose a great strawberry taste. off course you dont need food but a small selection of canapes or tapas would be ideal , sushi is a great option of course.


Lets head to the southern hemisphere where the weather is a bit on the colder side bbbrrraaaa.
Reds are the best option and we see it gives a warmth to your winter days. A great Shiraz which is a little spicy from OZ or a great pinotage  from South Africa. then off course you can forget get the south american wines from Chile and Argentina full of fruit great blackberry and fruit hits your palate!!!!!!!!!!. Well balanced wines with Tannin( tannin is what we find in tea as well ) that gives you that stringency in your cheeks and gums. Then if you looking for a great hallowed red look at the Burgundy region or Bordeaux of course.

At the end of the day try wines from not just the well known regions of the world explore the slighter less known as well you might be surprised and remember price is not everything sometimes.

Salute and happy and responsible drinking

Bordeaux Bonjour

Hi all

With the heat in Delhi taking off now i thought that it it was a trip to the beautiful city of Bordeaux.

After arriving at Charles De Gaulle airport after a 7 hour flight i was looking forward to taking the TGV( the fast train) to Bordeaux , roughly taking about 3 hours while travelling through some of the most beautiful countryside.
The train ride is great plugged my laptop and watch the Simpsons movie to keep my occupied , the great thing is you can get a fresh baguette with all the fillings and a glass of wine or beer to wash it down.Before i knew it we were pulling into the station and once i got of  grabbed a taxi to my hotel. The drive took me on a tour of the city  past most of the historic buildings and palaces which i will come back to later.

What everyone knows is that Bordeaux is the home of the finest wines in the world , the local economy is based around this and is valued around 14 Billion a year. After checking into my hotel i take a stroll around the river Garonne following the trail and passing the 18th century buildings of fine architecture you have Place de La Bourse and the railway bridge that crosses the river built by Monsieur Eiffel.

I was now i need of food and with any French city there were plenty of cafes and restaurants to visit being by the coast i went for the fresh fish beautifully cooked   and served with potatoes and French green beans and of course a glass of white wine. I wondered of to Rue Sainte Catherine one of the longest shopping roads in Europe where as i walked up the prices increased and more luxury was appearing in the windows!!!.

I leave this city with my mind full of beauty and wonderful food and wine and a place to relax !!!!

Bye for now

Looking for a great British Pub ? look no further!!!

Hey all

Sorry been away for such along time, but now back with a bang!!!!


I would like to introduce you to a fav of mine a pub with a classic culture but a history that will blow you away.
The Hinds Head Pub in Bray(near Maidenhead) comes packed with some of the best British pub grub you could find, being owned by one of the most iconic chef in the world know for owning and running the "Fat Duck" (which is a few doors down) Heston Blumenthal so you know you will be in for a gastronomic treat to tickle those taste buds:-).

The History behind this place is remarkable The Hinds Head was built in the 15th century with an obscure origin, some say a royal hunting lodge and others a guest house for the local Abbot of Cirencester. Whatever it’s past it has been at the very heart of life in Bray as a welcoming and loved local village pub for over 400 years. The Hinds Head has played host to the British Royal Family, entertaining the young Queen Elizabeth II and other European royal heads of state in 1963, to celebrate the engagement of Princess Margaret to Lord Snowdon. It was also the chosen venue of Prince Phillip, who celebrated his stag night at The Hinds Head, before his marriage to the Queen in 1947.


The restaurant has a great tasting menu for the food and a great selection of beers with a ever changing guest beer available.


A must see . please book in advance its a busy place !!!!!!!!


 http://www.hindsheadbray.com/#welcome,introduction

until next time ciao

Working alongside food historians including the Tudor Kitchens at Hampton Court Palace in Surrey, Heston Blumenthal is also rediscovering the origins of British cuisine in a bid to recreate dishes inspired by a bygone era, for the Hinds Head.

  

Back to the Food!!!! Setz the talk of the town

Hi all.

sorry for my absence but been hiding !!!!.

Am out of town at the moment but thought would catch up been missing my writings !!!!!!!!!!!

as im presently very hungry i thought that i would talk about the place that is happening in Delhi , has won numerous awards in its short period of time and a place where you really need to book!!!!

Setz  restaurant based in DLF  Emporio mall , Vasant Kunj ,New Delhi.....

This mall firstly is home to the top designers in the world both foreign and top Indian designers, so the type of clients expected to dine have a good idea of top quality food and wine!!!!  This is met with all expectations as mentioned i do recommend a booking as which ever night you go its always full to the rafters, the first thing that hit me when i walked in was the chic look and great ambiance which sort of remained me of the fifth floor bar at Harvey Nic's in London, no loud music lovely relaxed comfortable chairs around the bar in case you have to wait not a bad place to wait and look through the great beverage list , the wine list is well constructed and gives a great choice as you can get in Delhi ( thanx to the excise dept!!!!)  we ordered a few snacks at the bar very adequate and great flavors  was careful not to order to much or would not be able to eat in the main restaurant.

The main restaurant is a great open plan system there is seating outside for the cooler months and also  a couple of private dinning areas for the larger groups who do not disturb  the others . nice touch.
the food covers the world cuisine from the major favs Chinese, Thai , European, Middle east , Indian and Japan but to name a few. The service came with a smile and the order taken for the starters , being an open planned kitchen as well you get to see how it is all made , the chefs have been flown in from different parts of the world as well to make it as authentic as poss nice touch !!!
I think what was  ever ordered was quality and full of the local flavors , no doubt this is a place that is here to stay for the long term great job by all the staff and will be making this a regular of mine ;-)

Please visit if you get the chance and there numbers are  
43119900, 46767770, 43119999 

Bon appetite 

Burgundy Food and Wine Trail!!!!

Hi peeps!!

I want to take you on a trip through one of my favorite places this time for food and wine!!!!!!!!!!

The Burgundy region is about 2.5 hrs from Paris, starting with Auxerre in the north of the region following on to Dijon ( the provincial capital) then just as you leave the region by Macon. Of course you can also get here by the TGV , local train services and finally by Air.

Once you arrive in Burgundy you are immediately taken in by the breath taking views of the rolling landscapes and  one of the largest canal systems. Here it is not about your super stores for your shopping, the market is the place to buy your fresh ingredients which are the produce of the local farmers , whether it is the fresh vegetables, cheese or meats , you will surely find all here!!!!.

Burgundy cuisine is very rustic and they love home style cooking, for them it is not about making sure that the weight and measures are exact but they have made the food before and know from memory how the recipe should be. Even in the kitchens you will find unusual rolling pins they are actual empty wine bottles why waste !!!!.
The regional cuisine consists of  Trout, Pike and Carp for the fresh fish. Then Chicken and the famous Charolais Beef which is world renowned( they can tell the best cows by the size of their bottoms........)
With Dijon you have the world famous home to mustard, you can try over 40-50 varieties of mustard today in the town whether you like it mild or very hot its all available. all in all you can find great food at a 3 star restaurant or a small cafe depending on your budget.

The region is of course world renowned for great wines... the home to some of the best and chic Pinot Noir in the world today. after giving you a bit about US Pinot Noir people have a love affair for French Pinot , the history of wine in Burgundy is iconic with areas such are Beaune, Macon and Chablis. You can spend months wondering around the wine regions of Burgundy and never want to leave , the passion in the wine makers is plain to see through the wines itself.

A must visit if you ever have the chance  further details can be found at
http://www.burgundy-tourism.com/good-food-and-wine-the-wine-road--0205en.html


Bon appetite and happy tasting!!!!!!! 

Willamette Valley !!!! Great Pinot Noir

Hi all
I thought that i would like to take a different approach as most of the people in the world know that most of the wines come from Napa in the US but there is one other place that i think is very underestimated in the world of wine and that is the state of Oregon around the Willamette valley area.
People have come to love the Napa wines and they are producing some fantastic wines from Duck Horn to Opus one and the iconic Screaming Eagle.... but now there is somewhere that has been quietly amassing award winning wines and now has taken the Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Riesling to new heights.!!!
If you want to go wine tasting at the greatest number of Oregon wineries, head to the Willamette Valley -- it's the largest wine-producing region in the state, and home to more than 200 wineries, or more than two-thirds of the state's total. The area is huge, 150 miles long and up to 60 miles wide, including more than 12,000 acres of wine grapes, and six sub-appellations:Chehalem Mountains Dundee Hills Eola-Amity Hills, McMinnville,Ribbon Ridge and Yamhill Carlton . Not bad, considering that wine making only arrived in this area during the mid-to-late 1960s. 

Watch out Burgundy as the Pinot Noir has now a new home ....... 
Also they have become very ECO friendly which is a great way for the future  you can catch more in the video below

Italiano !!!!

Hi guys hope you had a good weekend.

We are back of to London for a new but unpretentious and authentic home cooking!!!!

Restaurant 500 ( Cinquecento for my Italian friends) is a great small and pleasing restaurant to come up in London. Being based in Archway north London , you normally dont find many half decent restaurants around but 500 has put that to rest.

The owners chef Mario Magli and manager Giorgio Pili ( both have worked with Antonio Carluccuio at Neal Street)  have sprung a little gem of a restaurant where you feel like" mama has cooked the food" and the ingredients are fresh everyday even the breads to the pasta is made in house only. The name 500 comes from the stylish icon of the Fiat 500 back in 1957 which has just been re launched last year as  fashion on wheels!!!!!

The interior is simple but elegant with lovely wooden chairs with simple tables. The menu small but has everything you need from the Prosciutto with peaches to the  great soup.  The main course you have to try the gnocchi with sausage and tomato sauce, light fluffy pasta with great flavors. The desserts from the ice cream to the sorbets were great choice.

Overall great value for money for authentic home style Italiano cooking. The wine list is perfect for this place and the pricing is good value

A must try !!!!

http://www.500restaurant.co.uk/index.html

Ciao

Chip shop but with a twist!!!!

Hi all

well today after  the epic journey of Sake yesterday!!!, its time for another OMG restaurant.

The Chip Shop is not your local ordinary chippy in the UK but this is in New York, you wouldn't  think that the Yanks are into the fish and chips seen but with a twist of something special they  have fallen in love with this place. WHY ????

Well the owner from the UK was fairly home sick and missing his comfort food decided to open up this for all who were missing there friday night of fish and chips. This place based in Brooklyn has become a favorite of all its a great place where the family can come or a place after a few beers late at night. ;-)
The surprise is not the perfectly cooked chips but what else goes into the fryer!!!!!!!! I thought at first i was seeing things or the fish was cut into unusual pieces but no , so as i read the menu i realized that it was a snickers bar in the fryer!!!!!!!!!!!!.  Yes now i understand what the twist was everything was placed in the fryer first , even deep fried cheery pie, mac & cheese you name it and of course the one and only TWINKIE!!!(US health food hahah)

this place has become iconic and a great place to visit if you wanna gain weight fast !!.

drop by http://www.chipshopnyc.com/

see you next time

Going Japanese its Sake time!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi all!!!!!!!!!!

Today we are going a little of course into the world of Sake!!!.

The Sake world in Japan is Huge! trying to understand it takes a long time and can be a little intimidating at times. So i though a basic run through of what it is made of and how to try it and a few examples to try.

Sake is made from  rice but this particular rise is not what you might find on the dinning table, the rice has to be polished to remove the undesirable elements which just leaves behind the starch factor. because of the polishing it stops the process of malting thus an enzyme is added to help with the process turning the starch molecules into fermentable sugars.The enzymes are provided by a mold called Koji-kin this is cultivated with the steamed rice, this is like the malting process used in the making of Beer. ( hope you still with me , i know it can be complicated thats what makes it fun!!!).Koji production is the heart of the Sake process, we must realize that this soft and complex process takes years to master( not surprised the Japanese skills of cooking and beverage making is a masters degree before anyone undertakes it).

After the process of adding yeast , Pressing, Filtering and Pasteurization, we finally come to the finished article!!!!

I will now give a few terms which will allow you to understand what you are drinking or what to look out for is looking for something special...
http://www.sake-world.com/html/glossary.html

http://www.esake.com/Brewers/brewers.html

these are great sites to help because this discussion could go on and on.

Futsushu: “Standard” grade sake.
Tokubetsu: “Special” grade sake.
Ginjo: “Premium” grade sake; at least 40% of the rice grain milled away.
Daiginjo: “Ultra-premium” grade sake; at least 50% of the rice grain milled away.

Honjozo: Sake with added brewer's alcohol; creates lighter-bodied and more fragrant sakes.
Junmai: “Pure Rice Sake” (no alcohol added); creates fuller-bodied and more acidic sakes.
Karakuchi: Dry sake.
Onikoroshi: “Demon Slayer”; refers to very dry sake.
Nama-chozo: Sake that is not pasteurized until bottling; creates zestier sakes.
Nigori: Unfiltered sake with more rice particles; creates a cloudy sake with a distinctive sweet taste.

Finally Sake can be as little as Yen 2500 to 12,000.

あなたと幸せな飲料に感謝
(thank you and happy drinking)

Going Lebanese but not for the Food !!!!!!!!!

Hello mateys


Welcome to a rather interesting and intriguing  wine journey today. We are taking about Lebanese wines!! yes you heard right . The Beqaa Valley is home to Lebanon's famous vineyards and wineries. Wine making is a tradition that goes back 6000 years in Lebanon. With an average altitude of 1000 m above sea level, the valley's climate is very suitable to vineyards. Abundant winter rain and much sunshine in the summer helps the grapes ripen easily. There are more than a dozen wineries in the Beqaa Valley, producing over six million bottles a year. The Romans even built a temple here to the God of wine Bacchus. 


Due to the un rest between Israel and Lebanon the vineyard owners have had to work under tremendous conditions at times when  missiles  fly over head !!! but they just get on with their lives. There is a great story about the Ghosn Brother who run Massaya Wines in the heart of the Beqaa Valley
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1664031,00.html.


I have tried the wines from this part of the world and i agree that with the influence from their French counter  parts are producing some amazing wines.


So what i say is you get the chance give your taste buds a change and give them a real treat , you dont know what your missing .


Until next time 


Salute !!!!!!!!!!!

We are going French today!!!!!!!!!

Hi guys , hope you all had a great weekend.

Today we take a trip down to one of the best cafes which has grown from one single store in 1889 near the city of Lille , France , to day having outlets across the world from Japan, UAE to the UK. Pauls bakers which was recommend by a friend in Dubai ( thanx vineetha) has had an incredible journey over the past 100 years,. family run and like the village bakers you would find  in France, rustic and proud of the French cooking skills. the menu as you would expect is made of  die for pastries along with traditional salads and sandwiches. They also have restaurants as well with a typical Parisian cafe menu. I for one will be heading to a pauls at the first opportunity after having a look at the products on their website;  http://www.paul-uk.com/content/whats-news.php

Being a big fan of the Pain Au Chocolate and the tarte au citron. cant wait to get my hands on that. They have also had their Hot Chocolate compared to  Krug Champagne !!!!!! thats something you dont hear every day .

Well happy feasting

Bon Appetite !!!!!!!!!!!!!

A piece of Italy

Hi guys the weekend is approaching and would love to take you to one of the most beautiful countries i have visited ITALY!!!!!!

Firstly will take you on a trip to a place just outside Milano( Milan for those who are not sure!!!) called Oltrepo Pavese , here they have been cultivating wines for the past three thousand years!!! the heritage in the small towns and picturesk sites of the sea of vineyards for miles around. The Torti family has been producing wines since 1910 and as a totally family run estate have put all members involved from Dino ( wine maker )his wife Giusy and  daughters Patrizia and Laura who work tirelessly to  promote the family across the world. They have always believed in giving the best quality to their production. I visited the estate and in true Italian hospitality was welcomed into the family. taking a tour of the facilities and meeting the people behind the production and harvesting was an eye opener maybe one day would love to do a harvest some where!!! 
Today this estate is producing DOC wines using grapes of  Barbera , Bonarda and last but not least Pinot Noir. They are also producing wines for the famous Local football team Inter Milan along with the Japanese  giant Hello Kitty. You will find their labels across the world so if you get the chance  try and judge for yourself.


Stop by for a visit and tasting im sure they would love to see you.


http://www.tortiwinepinotnero.com/ehomepage.htm

Ciao and Salute !!!!!

Wine Trail in South Africa

Hi Peeps.

Today i thought i would take you on a great wine tour of Stellenbosch , Cape Town. While i had a couple of days doing nothing a group of us decided to take this wine route of around 44 Vineyards , we hired a small mini van very cheap and luckily we had a non drinker , so he was going to do all the driving. ( thank god!!!)
travelling through this picturesk  landscape where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic at Cape Point. The locals are great hosts and at our first stop we were welcomed in with open arms , seeing the history of this fabulous country where they love their tradition still reminiscent of the Dutch.
After  tasting about 4 lovely wines we headed off with a few collectors items  this day was going to be hard of  sampling!!!! by mid afternoon half the group where sleeping , i found to my surprise a fantastic port in one of the wineries and could not  buy enough to take home with me.;-)

Overall a great day and the heritage and culture second to none.

for more details see below.

Enjoy and see you soon

http://www.wineroute.co.za/welcome.aspx

salute !!!!

Yum Yum Tree New Delhi

Hi guys.

welcome , back to the Food !!!!!!!!!!!

This Pan Asian restaurant based in New friends Colony has  become a favorite of mine. The restaurant is split into 3 areas , Fine dining, Causal dining and a bar. Coming from London , i have always craved a place which is not all about Hakka noddles and Manchurian  (Indian Chinese) from the starters the Spare ribs had me dreaming of sitting in the orient , the dim sum was perfectly steamed and full of flavor. Not to forget the vegetarians out there would love the menu great choice but for  me a meat eater could not believe the Peking Veg  Duck yes veg Duck. this for me made it worth while and for all you veggies out there. I would never guess that was a vegetarian dish !!!!!!!!!!!. a great combination of China , Singapore and Malaysia with a new twist!!

Great atmosphere and if you are around at the weekend , they do a great Sunday Brunch and the kids are well looked after.. nearly forget a good balance of wines that suite the cuisine very well.

A real treat and a must stop by if you are in town. Please call ahead and book.

http://www.theyumyumtree.in/

Bon appetite!!!

Wine Time!!!!!!!!! Champagne

Hi all

I hope you are enjoying my blogs so far it is time to turn back to the wine side and have a little cracker for you today!!!!!!!!!

Champagne Louis De Sacy. 


Situated in the heart of the Montagne De Reims.the Sacy family which can be traced back to 1633 has produced over the centuries some fantastic Champagne made with the best quality grapes. The Vineyard is 20 hectares and  Alain Sacy has put in some major investments to maintain the highest quality of production but to keep the traditional methods in place. I visited this beautiful vineyard and met with Alain a charismatic gentlemen with the drive a passion that show in his champagne production, tasting was worth the cold as i had gone in October very unseasonal weather to say the least. 

Get the chance to go to Reims for not just the champagne but also the cultural heritage of the city with a magnificent cathedral. I am  sure Alain would welcome you with that beaming smile :-)

http://www.champagne-louis-de-sacy.fr/uk-accueil.php

enjoy salute!!!!!!!!!!!

La Cabrera Restaurant

Hi guys last restaurant of the day.

4. La Cabrera, Buenos Aires, Argentina.


A small local quiet restaurant , but as usual the food is fantastic, recommend the Bife De Lomo, mash potato and creamed spinach.Good local wine good value for money , might not look much from the outside but the food is a treat !!!. have a look at the website for all events and timings but they normally dont eat early in Argentina!!!!.


http://www.parrillalacabrera.com.ar/contactos.html.


Ciao for now will be back with a new cuisine this week.

Gaucho Restaurant London

3. Gaucho restaurants. Various locations , UK.

This Argentinian delight lives up to its reputation , the chic decor and the ambiance from the moment you step through the door. This place is defiant  pre book , had to wait an hour but after you have eaten from the culinary delight on offer you would have no complaints. The King Scallops for starts then the Bife De Lomo for main course just vanished into thin air , soft and tender and melted in my mouth!!!!
An extensive wine list centered around some great Argentinian wines.

This is a must stop can be a bit pricey but value for money never the less.

 http://www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk/

Wine time!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bava winery in Piemonte

Today i would like to take you to Italy , to be more exact Piemonte. The family have owned there Vineyards since the 1600 in a  village called Cocconato. The Bava tradition has stretched four generations now and Roberto Bava wine maker and Musician has the love and passion that shows in the wines he produces today.

His love affair with music is illustrated on the label of his wines. the Barolo 1999 or 2003 quiet magnificent but above all has recently introduced a Rose for the Indian market, a perfect wine for the Indian palate ?, well time will tell.

You can see further details at their website. look forward to hearing from you if you have had the experience of trying his wines which are available through out  the world.

http://www.bava.it/html/eng/frame.php

happy tastings!!!!!

  

second steakhouse

2. Squires Loft , South Yarra,Victoria, Australia

A great place to go for steak, the choice that you get is very reasonable with a fair wine list , would normally opt for a local Shiraz , good atmosphere can be again very busy so patience is required, price wise compared to going to a local pub for a steak is value for money.  enjoy further details check out the website.

http://www.squiresloft.com.au/index.asp

For the Real Meat eaters!!!!

Hi all,
Well lets get under way with some great steakhouses from across the globe,  today will be giving you 4 in total to wet your appetite with.

1. The Butchers Shop & Grill, Sandton , Jo burg , South Africa.
South Africa being one of the few homes of great steak across the world, this restaurant is normally packed to the rafters( booking advisable). Choice from a great selection of fresh beef and enjoy a great Pinotage home grown to go with that lovely medium streak. I have visited this restaurant on numerous occasions and never been let down by the food or service. A must visit if you are in the area.

Welcome to you all

This week i will be going through some great restaurants from across the world. Also with some fascinating wines which i hope are available in your region.

so here is to great Food and Drink.

Bon Appetite and salute!!!!