An Edible Voyage

September 2021 Pasta. The epitome of Italy.  Having spent 5 days hiking across the Apennine mountains on the Via Degli Dei, a big bowl of homemade pasta with a rustic sauce was even more gratefully received than usual. And I love the way there is so much more to pasta than initially meets the eye, with both the shape and the sauce being traditionally specific to a region, the shape designed to optimally hold that particular sauce. We ate a lot of pasta over our week of hiking, in fact, we had pasta every night.  And despite every restaurant being a totally different style to the others, in every one I could taste the passion and TLC stirred in by the cook. In Bologna, head north of the main train station to the edgy Bolognina suburb where you will find just as many homely trattorias as ethnic eateries.  Trattoria de Via Serra caught our eye, seemingly blending vibe with homeliness, but sadly it was fully booked.  We landed on our feet though, stumbling across the...

July 2021 Looking for a casual restaurant for a laid back lunch with guaranteed flavour, with my mother during a London day trip, I came across Brawn and it seemed to tick all the boxes.  With the smallest of signs, it's unassumingly perched on Bethnal Green's quirky Columbia Road amongst the rows of Victorian shops, and has the high vibe, low pretentiousness of a local hang out. The focus is on seasonal produce sourced through suppliers within the local community, and every dish is vibrant and bursting with flavour.  The dessert really stood out for me - honey parfait with Grappa roasted apricot and pistachios, it was everything I want from a dessert - a little sweet creaminess, lively fruit, a bit of crunch, and a little grappa kick. This is the place for a leisurely catch-up with some good mates. Find Brawn on Columbia Road, opposite Ravenscroft Park. 

November 2020 It seems that creativity with vegetarian and vegan foods these days is exploding and some of the most exciting flavour combinations I've come across recently are in these cuisines.  So when researching food stops for my weekend in Newcastle, Little Green Social was high on my list.  On a lovely, leafy Sandyford street close to Heaton Park, the family-run Little Green Social serves up all things vegan - think pizzas, doughnuts, Sunday roasts, and burgers made with the chef's homemade tempeh.   The Celeriac Reuben caught my eye and oh boy was it good - probably winning the coveted title of the most delicious sandwich I've ever eaten! Creamy salt baked celeriac, punchy sauerkraut, oozy cheese, and the tastiest poppy seed rye.  I left Newcastle wishing I lived close to this place so I could have it on an at least weekly basis! Find the Little Green Social on Goldspink Lane in Sandyford.

 August 2019 For a relaxed evening with a buzzy vibe, look no further than Ta Gente.   Delicious sharing plates, expertly crafted cocktails and a mind-boggling gin selection awaits at this cosy but cool bar restaurant, with it’s industrial, arty feel.   Sink in to the sofas in a dimly lit corner for a pre-dinner tipple, or nab yourself a table and get sharing! Find it on Rua Manual Ignacio Correia in Ponta Delgada.

 August 2019 Being so close to the sea at all times on Sao Miguel, you will no doubt have cravings for fresh fish and seafood at some point.   At Gastronomo, an atmospheric local’s restaurant 20 minutes walk along the sea front from Ponta Delgada centre, the fish that is cooked is up to you.   You discuss with the waiter the kind of fish you’re after and they will bring a selection to your table.   Once you’ve made your choice, it’s taken to the chef to whip up a feast. Find Gastronomo on Rua da Boa Nova, less than a mile east of Ponta Delgada’s centre.

 August 2019 It quickly becomes apparent that Furnas is focussed around lunch.   Crowds begin to gather around the sleepy geothermal lake just before midday in anticipation.   Huge cauldrons of bubbling stew are hauled up from holes in the ground, slow cooked by the geothermal activity.   Each restaurant has their own hole, marked with a small flag, and it’s an early start for restaurant owners.   Taking their cauldrons down to the lake at sunrise, they are buried in time to allow around 7 hours of slow cooking before loading them in to vans to drive to their restaurant where lunch is served.    Quite the spectacle! The flavours of all manner of meats and root vegetable, including carrots, sweet potatoes, cabbage, taro root, pig ears, chorizo, chicken, beef, pork belly and black pudding, mingle together and are served with a selection of surgical-looking implements to attack it with.   The experience is definitely more enjoyable than the ...

June 2020 I have a soft spot for Stoke Newington in London; it's leafy streets, village feel and traquillity are a stark contrast to the bustling city.  I also have fond memories of my time in Australia, and a love of restaurants which have ever changing menus showcasing the best of local, bang in season produce.  And then I came across Wander.  Reading about the restaurant, the story of the chef/ owner Alexis, and how the restaurant came to be really resonated with me and I instantly added it to the top of my list of places to try.  Unfortunately, this was just a couple of weeks before lock down so as soon as I saw they were doing a Wander At Home takeaway banquet, I was bursting to take one to my mum's garden for a socially distanced dinner.  The weekly changing menu sounded both creative and delicious, and I loved the idea of being able to choose paired wine to enjoy with it.   Our banquet kicked off with sourdough and vegemite butter. ...