An Edible Voyage

January 2017 Thin like crepes, try blinis 'Russian style' with caviar and sour cream. Find them in Cafe Singer, and enjoy a moment of decadence in the opulent tea room with huge arched windows overlooking Nevsky Prospekt and the impressive Kazansky cathedral.  Then take a wander downstairs to Dom Knigi, the city's famous bookshop which is housed on the ground floor of this stunning building.

March 2020 I was very excited by this concept and couldn't wait to try it.  Imagawayaki, or wheel cakes, are a Taiwanese hand-held wheel of pancake enclosing a flavoured custard - matcha, chocolate, adzuki bean...  This had the potential to have a crispy outside and fluffy middle, oozing with sweet custard offset by matcha.  Unfortunately it was a bit soggy, I think from being cooked in batches earlier in the day, and the matcha was incredibly bitter.  But if you manage to get your hands on a fresh one, I think they could be great! Find it at Wheelcake Island, Seven Dials Market, London.

February 2020 Shrove Tuesday! Arguably the best day of the season.  So many delicious pre-Lent treats from all different cultures. Dutch Pancakes What better way to celebrate than at a Dutch pancake house.  Dutch pancakes are a slightly thicker version of French crepes, and there are some weird and wonderful flavour combos.  I loved the concept of this one where the bacon is cooked in to the pancake batter.  The sweetness of the apples pair perfectly with the saltiness of the bacon, whilst adding some bite.  Syrup optional.  Does this count as the main course or pudding pancake?! Try it at Little Amsterdam in Banbury. Semla Or go Swedish with a semla.  Generally sold from January until Shrove Tuesday, these are cardamom buns filled with almond paste and whipped cream.  Heavy buns, full of flavour - strong cardamom and almond, which I found a little overpowering, and lashings of cream.  Although I wasn't altogether taken by...