bron's Profile
Goose sandwich @ the stuffed goose stall, Borough Market, London
I was delighted to see the goose stall back again! I bought a thick slice of stuffed goose that we made into sandwiches later on Saturday. They will be there for the next 3 weekends and will then disappear again till next November. Make the most of it!
St. John or Hereford Road? and please help round out my addtl restaurant choices [London]
The lunch deal at corrigans is really good.
I add my vote to St John - seriously love the place, it serves utterly brilliant food.
If you're around the south bank/tate modern do try Anchor & Hope near Southwark tube, no reservations but extremely consistently great british food.
Dried Beans in London?
I second checking out Brindisa - their produce is brilliant. The other places are any of the Carribbean stores on Electric Avenue in Brixton, any of the Indian stores on Tooting High Street, Green Valley on Upper Seymour Street and Taj Stores on Brick Lane - all of them amazing and with very high turnovers, always fresh produce and much cheaper than supermarket beans.
Ideas for Tarragon?
Tarragon is a great addition to a herbed white bean salad - http://practicallydaily.blogspot.com/2006/05/cannellini-bean-salad.html - adds a whole other dimension.
Cooking duck breast--what temperature for done?
Agree with pigloader but would add it is best if you rub salt into the scored skin and leave to rest for an hour or two. Then into heavy based pan at the absolute lowest heat possible and leave to render. I go often to sw France where duck is speciality and the breasts are well ridged with fat - it can take 20-30 minutes to melt. Obviously it needs to be drained off a couple of times to make great chips. Then wap the heat right up, crisp the skin - takes about a minute, turn and cook on the flesh side for 3-4 minutes then allow to rest for 3-4 minutes. Serve with chips and salad.
Lazy Man's Jerked Chicken
Jerk chicken is good - also try this one that combines the spiced chicken with rice and peas for a really festive dish - that's also quick and easy. http://practicallydaily.blogspot.com/2008/07/caribbean-chicken-and-rice-pelau.html
I can buy green seasoning in London at Brixton market in the Carribean shops there - not sure of the availability in the States.
Just discovered Quinoa!
Quinoa really needs a little bit of attention to make it tasty but is well worth the effort. I played around with a little while ago and this final result was definitely fabulous.
http://practicallydaily.blogspot.com/2006/05/quinoa-salad.html
Ignore the photo - tastes way better than that!
Office Worker's Lunches in London
Actually Mario and Carol had the tiny shop called Alba next to the restaurant - called Alba - but did indeed close after Somerfield turned into Waitrose as they lost a lot of their business. They make fresh food every day but if you don't get there before about 1 o'clock they have probably sold out - which is sooooooo disappointing.
The little shop then got taken over by one of the Italian guys who worked in Barbican Grill - currently closed for refurbishment - selling pizza and pasta. But with roadworks and building and stuff at the front it too seems to have gone under and the shop now looks a bit shabby.
I am also a fan of Vinoteca for a sit down lunch with a glass of wine.
Do you know that St Johns also sell bread and cakes - they have the most utterly fabulous sourdough.
Anchor & Hope
Though it's true it is a noisy pub it's usually not too bad. If you want to eat there you need to be there when a table comes up - it is the way they operate except on Sundays when you can book for lunch. Personally I love the place - I have never had a bad meal there and I've eaten there regularly since it opened.
If you want a reservation then eat somewhere that takes them! But don't be tempted to go the Gt Queen Street route - it is so noisy in there that when you call to make a booking they can't hear you. Nor can they hear you when you arrive and tell them your name - you have to point to it on the list. Then shout your order. And then the food ain't so great.
Do try A&H another time when you could maybe sit at one of the outside tables for a drink - or go early for lunch or a 6pm table with the pre theater crowd.
Office Worker's Lunches in London
Never do the pret route, don't like the smell! Mostly do option a) because my OH works in the food wasteland that is ST James's and had stopped eating lunch... I plan most weeks to make something Sunday that is good cold for a couple of days and then later in the week I make something I can take in next day as leftovers. So this week I had friends round to dinner Sunday and made spiced roast shoulder of lamb and new potatoes - http://practicallydaily.blogspot.com/2006/05/roast-spiced-shoulder-of-lamb.html Had cold lamb and potato salad Monday. Made stewed lentils with herbs Monday night had leftovers with lamb Tues/Wed. Tonight is penne with arrabiatta and enough with luck for lunch. Friday I shall buy - I'm lucky I too am close to Whitecross Street and Mario and Carol's Italian stall is also my favourite - always great food. Or else try the chorizo stall on Fridays or there is a small Austrian deli in Chartehouse Street towards Smithfields that makes great soups and wurst and black bread. And lovely cake. Or go to Comptoir Gascon next to SOS and buy baguette and some cheese for a truly decadent lunch.
Chinese egg noodle recipes?
Try this recipe for sesame noodles - it is utterly fabulous and is also great next day.
http://practicallydaily.blogspot.com/2007/08/sesame-noodles-as-told-to-me-by-vicki.html Bon appetit!
Suggestions for food tour
You could try Edgeware Road near Marble Arch for vibrant Lebanese shops, restaurants and belly dancing in the evenings, particularly fabulous is Green Valley on Seymour Street, an almost magical food emporium. It is then only ten minutes walk to Marylebone - Ginger Pig, La Fromagerie,Paul etc and a fine market on Sundays 10-2.
