Tuesday Tasties (Sort of) - The Breakfast Club - A Review

Ad and I have a Bucket List of places we need to venture while we're living in London. Naturally it includes a number of places to scoff as well as some more tourist type attractions. Today's post focuses on the former and is a place we have been to scoff.

This weekend we ventured to The Breakfast Club which has several branches in London. We opted for the Shoreditch branch as we wanted to potter around the markets and explore some vinyl sales around Brick Lane.

The interior was good fun, full of mismatched furniture and quirky features such as the below wall which we enjoyed admiring while we hanging around the queue. Don't worry, we weren't hanging around for too long, around 10 minutes when we arrived at about 2:45.

This sign in particular made me chuckle.

While this made me want to burst into song having viewed Rock of Ages a few weeks prior (the movie is awesome, I don't care what you say!)

Right, that's enough of that, what we're all here for is the food! As you'd expect, on a Saturday, Brunch/Breakfast is served until 5pm with scrummy dishes such as Boston Beans, Breakfast Burritos, Pancakes and even Huevos Rancheros if you're so inclined.

I was ravenous having not eaten since 8:30 and opted for the All American Pancakes with eggs, sausage, fried tatties, bacon and maple syrup for a bargain £11! The tatties were really tasty and crispy and the pancakes were lovely and fluffy.

Ad went for the Boston Beans which were full of slow roasted pork, cannellini and butter beans, a fried egg and egg bread. Ad struggled to polish it off so it must have been filling.

Despite this, we both managed and peanut butter and banana milkshake before calling it quiets.

The brunch menu was pretty substantial so I doubt you'd struggle to find something you liked the sound of. There are plenty of veggie options so don't worry, it's not just for meat eaters.

All in all, we had a great experience and the bill was really reasonable (£30 for the two of us) although I'd like to go back and sample their dinner menu. Ad has his heart set on the fried chicken which we didn't realise wouldn't be on offer till gone 5. Never mind, maybe next time eh?

Have you been to The Breakfast Club? What did you think? Is the fried chicken worth a return visit?

Tuesday Tasties No.52

A while back I featured a chicken recipe which relied on the use of Harissa Paste, a really delicious mix of Moroccan spices. The brand Bart make one of my favourite varieties as it's the right mix of chilli and garlic for my liking, Tesco's version is equally pretty tasty. I would recommend trying a few different brands to find one that's right for you, some are considerably warmer chilli wise than others. Tonight, I want to share a slight shake up of my Cajun Chicken recipe which I've been enjoying, it still relies heavily on the Harissa though, don't worry.

Harissa Chicken with Pickled Onions and Broad Beans

With this recipe, you're pretty much going to get what it says on the tin, the pickled onions really add something extra which I can't quite put my finger on. It shouldn't work, but you're going to have to trust me on this one. 

I'm also going to add, I'm not afraid to use cheats in my kitchen, I don't have time to sit over the stove mid-week so, here I'll be honest, I used pre-cooked broad beans and I cooked the bulgar wheat in the microwave. You obviously don't have to, but this is what I did!

You'll need:

• Skinless Chicken Thighs (for two, four ought to do it)
• 2 tbsp of Harissa Paste
• Either some chilli flakes or one chopped chilli
• 2 finely chopped garlic cloves
• 150g cooked broad beans
• 1 cup of bulgar wheat (sorry guys, I measure my rice and stuffs using cups, it's easier!)
• 1 chopped red onions
• 1 tbsp caster sugar
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• Olive oil
• Chopped parsley

Right, first of all, whack your oven on and stick it at around 200 degrees, then grab a tray and line with some foil etc.

Then in a bowl big enough for marinading add the Harissa, garlic, chilli and a tiny splash of olive oil and give it a good mix. Then pop in your chicken thighs, make sure they're all coated in the marinade and leave for 30 minutes or so, this means they'll absorb all the yummy flavours.

Once they're done marinating, stick the chicken thighs in the oven for around 25 minutes to cook. Be sure not to waste any of the marinade, I slather my left-overs on top! 

While the chicken is cooking, it's time to cook your bulgar wheat, just add water and cook as per the packet instructions. For added flavour, you can always pop a chicken stock cube into the water.

Next step is to pickle the onions! Combine the vinegar and sugar and give things a mix before adding the onions and leaving for at least 10 minutes.

Once the bulgar wheat is cooked, add the broad beans, pickled onions (be sure not to waste the pickling liquor) and the chopped parsley before giving everything a good stir.

Then it's time to plate up. Pop the bulgar wheat on the bottom and plonk a couple of the cooked chicken thighs on top. Who said good food had to be complicated?

I hope you've enjoyed this twist on the Cajun Chicken recipe, the pickled onions add a real sweetness and the whole thing takes less than 30 minutes to fling together.

Tuesday Tasties - Taking A Wee Break

Aloha folks, I'm afraid that this week I'm taking a little break from the usual recipe post, Ad and I are trying some new bits and pieces in the kitchen which we want to get just right before sharing!

New dishes we've tried in the last few weeks include a variety on our old Harissa Chicken recipe with Broad beans and Pickled Onions (yes, really), Pork, Peach and Noodle Salad and Salt & Pepper Roast Chicken with Kale, Orange and Avocado.

Thanks for your patience, please stick around, it'll be worth it!

Tuesday Tasties No.51 - My Favourite Foodie Experiences in the Last Year

So today, to celebrate my blogs 1st Birthday (well, it's actually Thursday) I thought I'd share my Top 5 places I've munched in the last year, it's been pretty crazy all things considered, and to be fair, I've mostly snacked on burgers but eat to their own right?

#5 Boho Gelato

 I pretty much said all that needed to be said about this place in my post (click on the name and it should take you there), this place holds a lot of sentimental value for me and Ad and I come here every single time we hit Brighton, it's tradition. If I had to sum it up in one sentence?

Gorgeous gelato in a variety of unusual flavours which will delight the senses.

#4 Honest Burger

In my mind, this place is one of the best in London for a good burger. They have a few branches now so it's even easier to get your mitts on one. The burger is well seasoned, the rosemary fries are cooked to crispy yet fluffy perfection and even if you're on a budget, you can grab something tasty for under a tenner. Well worth a visit if you find time!

I should point out that they also do chicken and veggie options if that's more to your taste so there really is no excuse not to go.

#3 Yalla Yalla

This small but quaint little place specialises in Lebanese in a street food style. The food was incredibly tasty and I love that this particular branch was small and intimate, it made me feel like I'd stepped outside of London. No wonder it's in the Time Out Top 50 places to munch, the food is delicious.

When I go back, I'm definitely getting some more Shawarma, that stuff was seriously seriously good.

#2 Joes Southern Kitchen

I have seriously not stopped harping on about this place to anyone who will listen. I actually cannot get over how good the food was. I mean that pulled pork man, the pulled pork (forgive me, I'm lost in my thoughts at the moment.) I NEED to go back here as soon as possible and induce a cocktail/meat based coma pronto.

Guys, if you're reading this, I am missing your eats!

#1 Rock Tea at the W

I'm sure it's not really much of a surprise this place was at the top of my list, after all, Ad did take me here for my Birthday so it has a lot of meaning attached. After almost a year of saying how much I'd wanted to go here, I finally got to indulge with Ad and it was everything I'd hoped it'd be. Delicious, very laid back with a twist on the norm.  I'd highly recommend it.

Better still, it was a girly indulgence which Ad could actually enjoy as it wasn't too stuffy - Hooray! 

What do you think of my Top 5? This was the last of my anthology posts to celebrate my blogs 1st birthday, I hope you've enjoyed them.

Tuesday Tasties No.50 - Comfort Food Ahoy

Don't worry guys, I only plan on doing a couple more of these anthology style posts, there will be one this week and the final one next week to celebrate my blogs first birthday (18th September in case you were wondering). Today, I want to focus on comfort food! 

We all have days when we're feeling pretty crummy be it tiredness, being full of a cold or generally just having one of those days. On those days I find curling up on the sofa and having a hearty dose of trashy TV  makes things a wee bit better, but some good grub always manages to help things seem not quite so bad.

First up, we have Chicken Hotpot which is so simple to make but wonderfully satisfying. I suspect it has something to do with the fragrant star anise, combined with a slight chilli hit balanced with the saltiness of the fish sauce and sweetness of muscovado. The flavours just work together perfectly,plus, there's no guilt as this dish mainly features chicken and pak choi which makes it pretty darn healthy.

Next, I've turned my hand to something more Italian in fare with this Ricotta Pasta Bake which takes a wee bit more time and effort but is seriously worth it. It's a layered pasta dish which alternates between a sausage ragu and cheesy lemon ricotta. Full of my favourite things, stodge, cheese and sausages. Yummy!

Another pasta dish for your consideration, and this one is a classic which can be tweaked to suit your fancy. This is Mac 'n' Cheese and given that it combines two of my favourites listed above, it should come as no surprise that this dish features in my comfort food anthology. I can't quite put into words how satisfying it is to cut into, especially when the top is crisp and golden and the filling is a combination of gooey/stringy goodness. This never fails to hit the spot.

The final dish I want to share with you today is another quick and easy one to fling together. This being my take on Patatas Bravas  namely crispy paprika coated tatties, a perfectly fried egg and posh baked beans. Heck, this is fit enough for a veggie style fry up or dinner if you're lazy like me and can't really be bothered to cook.

What are your go to comfort food dishes? 

Tuesday Tasties No.49 - Feeling Sweet

Yay, my blog is almost 1 year old, I've decided to put together a compilation of some of my favourite recipes from the past. This week, it's time to appreciate some you time with something for those of you with a sweet tooth.

So first up we have the Clean & Lean Pancakes which formed my second ever food based post here on What Laura Loves Today. These little beauties are delicious and make more than enough for four which is ideal if you're hosting and don't fancy cooking up a full English. The not so secret ingredient is actually cottage cheese, everyone I've made these for is pretty surprised they can't taste the cheese at all! They're well worth a go and only take minutes to fling together.

Next, it's time to sing Ad's praises as he's a dab hand when it comes to baking and this loaf is one of his signature bakes. I mean, he has seriously got the technique on this bad boy down. Of course, I'm talking about his Lemon & Poppyseed Loaf which is quick and fairly easy to fling together and doesn't require to many ingredients so is pretty darn cheap to boot.

The final recipe which I'm going to share with you today is another one of Ad's creations. By this of course I mean that he baked this lovely looking cake with his bare hands including the crumble topping and the whisking of the eggs. Of course, this is the Apple Streusel Cake, I've always imagined that this is what it would look like if apple crumble and cinnamon cookies decided to have a baby. It is that good, the cinnamon is lovely and comforting and the crumble topping against the softness of the apples just warms the cockles of even the coldest of hearts. This is one of my favourites, Ad really is good isn't he?

Be sure to keep your peepers peeled for some more Tuesday Tasties Compilations coming your way, if there's something specific you're after be sure to let me know.

Tuesday Tasties No.48 - Hache - A Review

Yes, I am still trekking across London in a bid to find the perfect burger, I currently have a very definite top 5 in my head but would point out that this obviously subjective to me! There are still a few places I need to head to before compiling a top 5 post but I don't think we're far off now.

This week took me to Hache which I'd read nothing but rave reviews about so I was pretty excited to see what was on offer. The menu offered a range of salads and burgers including duck and the more unusual beef variety, namely peanut butter and cheese. I was assured that this is actually one of their best sellers although I can't say I was brave enough to try that on this occasion.

I do feel a special shout out should be given to the decor which was beautifully femine, think chandeliers, bird cages and delicate touches of pink. As the restaurant was a little on the dimly lit side, this does mean my pictures aren't as crisp as they usually are, but I tried my best!

So this week I wasn't quite feeling up to the usual beef burger and I therefore opted for the duck burger which the menu promised would come complete with spring onions, cucumber and hoi sin sauce which seemed to tick all the boxes of what I was craving at that moment in time. I had a choice of either a brioche bun or a ciabatta roll and asked the waiter to bring me whichever was best.

I have to say, I'm not entirely convinced that the burger sauce was meant to be on the bottom of my burger, it didn't quite seem to fit with the oriental flavours. Don't get me wrong, the duck was incredibly tender and it was clearly a fabulous cut as it wasn't too fatty. The crisp spring onions and cucumber complimented the sweet hoi sin sauce fine enough but I just have no idea why the orange burger sauce was there.Sadly, it made my burger overly rich and I actually found it very difficult to finish.

Ad opted for the Steak Catalan which came with grilled chorizo and tomato jam, he also asked for his burger to be blue (yuck!). Sure enough, I've never seen a pinker burger so Ad was pretty darn chuffed, the chorizo was sweet yet spicy and the patty itself was well seasoned.

For sides we kept things simple, some beer battered onion rings and Hache frites. The onion rings were tasty but a little greasy for my liking which probably contributed to the feeling of an incredibly rich meal. The frites were thin and crispy, just how I like them.

Overall, Hache just felt like a very rich experience for the both of us, whilst Ad was able to polish off most of his burger, the two of us really struggled to finish the meal. I think if we were to go back, we'd keep things simple, opting for ciabatta over brioche and maybe skipping the sides. Given that I've had so many awesome burger related experiences lately this didn't quite hit the mark for, maybe I need to gives things another go?

Have you been to Hache? How did you find it? Do you think I need to give things another and keep it simple?

Tuesday Tasties No.47 - Stax - A Review

I know, I know, Ad and I eat a lot of burgers, but when they're this good, it's understandable why we just can't get enough of them.

This week, we headed to Stax, which is situated in Kingley Court just off of the famous Carnaby Street. For those in the know, Stax is actually owned by Bea Vo and looks set to bring a delicious twist to London's burger scene. For the record, yup, that is the same Bea Vo behind the wonderful Bea's of Bloomsbury. 

As you'd expect, there's burgers a plenty, fried chicken and waffles, a Po' Boy and even a Duffin Sundae. The decor has a retro twist with metal stools, solid tables, drinks arriving in jam jars and the food arriving in little baskets.

Oh, and of course there's a well stocked bar, the perfect compliment for a hard milkshake or even a cocktail or two!

Right, onto the food. Let's be honest, that's what we're all here for.

Obviously a good burger needs a couple of sides, Ad and I went for the Cajun Popcorn Shrimp Bucket and a portion of Boardwalk Fries. Oh my lordy those fries were awesome. In a market where everyone seems to have their own version of rosemary fries, these were actually a welcome change. Taste wise, I could detect a hint of rosemary, but also Cajun spices and potentially thyme but it's hard to put my finger on what was actually used here. Either way, they were frikken delicious! The shrimp was light, juicy and just, well, just plain yummy, there's no other way to put it.

This time round I didn't fancy a beef burger so I opted for the Chickadee. Buttermilk marinated chicken which is fried to perfection and served in a brioche bun with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Whilst not particularly lady like to eat, the chicken was juicy and flaky and really hit the spot.

Ad took one for the team and had the Bring Home the Bacon Burger cooked as rare as they could make it. This bad boy was only a single stack (you can double up if you like) and came with cheese and maple glazed bacon. The burger itself in Ad's words "felt like a pure bred home-made burger, in that the meat wasn't compacted and melted in the mouth." It could have done with a tiny bit more seasoning but it turned a traditional burger on it's head in that instead of relish, you had the sweetness of the maple cutting through the saltiness of the bacon.

All in all Stax was great, the food was delicious, cooked to perfection and incredibly juicy. This place isn't first date friendly if your date doesn't appreciate getting a wee bit messy. Next time I come back, I reckon the fried chicken and waffles will be where I head.

Have you tried Stax yet? Do you think I enjoy one too many burgers (actually, don't answer that bit).

Tuesday Tasties No.46 - Weekend Winners with Chicken

As my blog is approaching it's first birthday, I thought I would start taking a look back at some of my favourite recipes and foodie posts I've shared with you, starting with Weekend Winners with Chicken. Or, as Ad has just said "winner winner chicken dinner." 

This will be a brief compilation of some recipes which take a wee bit more time to fling together along with a photo for ease of reference and I've linked to the page so you can give it a go. I'm nice like that!

First up we have the Chicken Mole and Green Rice whilst this does take a good hour or two to fling together it's pretty darn cheap and is packed full of chocolate and has a subtle chilli heat. Ladies, if you're craving chocolate this is a good and sneaky way to get your fill, plus, your man will be grateful for something with a kick.

Sticking with the chicken theme and keeping things that little bit sweet, we have the BBQ Chicken and Sweet Potato Chips which I love for several reasons. The first being that there always something oh so satisfying about ripping a fully cooked chicken to shreds, and the second being that this chicken dish will make more than enough leftovers for a cold cut salad or sandwich the next day and another main meal. I like to use my leftovers to make a risotto style dish, but you can do what you fancy.

Now for a cheap and cheerful chicken dish which I first stumbled upon in the Jamie Oliver 30-Minute Meals cook book and have fiddled with until it's just how I like it. Sweet, hot, fragrant and just a little bit boozy, the Jerk Chicken with Rice & Beans is always a winner with friends and can be made well in advance if you're busy.

My final recipe isn't really something I think is for summer, but it's definitely a Weekend Winner as it needs that little bit of extra love and care to really make it sing. My Chicken and Leek Pie tastes delicious and is as cheap as you want it to be, I used Basics/Extra Value/Smart Price ingredients when I made mine for the blog and it tasted a heck of a lot more pricey than it actually was. This is not only a Weekend Winner but it's purse friendly as well.

That's all for this week, I hope you've enjoyed a little refresher, I certainly have, it's been really fun to look back and oogle all of the really scrummy food I've been scoffing over the course of the last year. I've spotted that all of the above recipes are pretty purse friendly, which just goes to show, you don't need to break the bank to eat well. 

Let me know if you've given any of these recipes a go, I love to hear from you all!

Tuesday Tasties No.45 - The Rex Whistler Al Fresco Picnic - A Review

Something that seems to be quintessentially British is to dine al fresco and have a picnic with Pimms. Naturally any picnic plans seem to be hampered by the rain, but on this occasion, I got lucky! 

Ad and I have been trying to get out more and see more of London so this weekend we decided to venture to the Tate Britain to try out the picnic lawn at the Rex Whistler Restaurant which comes complete with picnic blankets and deck chairs. How very British of us!

Naturally the most important question upon our arrival was what to drink? As we were getting into the spirit of things, we opted for a jug of the Tate Pimms, rather than the traditional stuff. The difference being the Tate Pimms is much more refreshing and less sweet than what I was used to, the Tate stuff is served with rosemary, mint and cucumber as opposed to all the fruit you'd usually expect.

As I've already said, Ad and I came to the Tate Britain to sample the Rex Whistler Picnic which we'd booked a few weeks ago to ensure we weren't left waiting for a picnic spot. The terrace felt as though it had been set up just for us, it was really lovely with a great attention to detail, there was even a dedicate space for our drinks.

It was great to have both the picnic blanket and the deck chair to choose from, I'll be honest, after a while things can get a little numb on the old bum department when sat on the grass. Moving swiftly onto the picnic hamper, yes, I said picnic hamper!

It's obviously not a picnic without a hamper and this one was wonderful at only £28.50 for the two of us (excluding the Pimms of course).

I'll give you a moment to take in all of the gorgeous treats which you see before you and then I'll show you some of the highlights.

So what did we get in our hamper? A selection of cheeses including cheddar, this lovely creamy white cheese you can see above (it tasted similar to a mild goats cheese) and something blue which remained in the hamper as both Ad and I cannot stand blue cheese. Then there was some smoked duck, some rather delicious ham and a smoked salmon pate which was just incredible. Apparently the pate had been made from scratch on site, I seriously need the recipe for this as it was yummy and probably my favourite part of the picnic!

We also had a selection of bread rolls, biscuits, and an ale chutney to accompany all of the savoury elements.

Oh, and these rather enormous olives. I had to take these home with me as Ad isn't a fan and I couldn't bear to waste them.

Our hamper also included some strawberries, two scones, some clotted cream and raspberry preserve. Unfortunately I was rather taken in by the delightful company and the Pimms and forgot to take a photo so you'll need to take my word that they were wonderful. There's just something about clotted cream and jam on a scone that makes me all nostalgic and somewhat forgetful.

All in all, I had a great time at the Rex Whistler, the staff were attentive and friendly, the food was fantastic and the great weather was a bonus. Once we paid the bill we were left to own our own devices and decided to dawdle around the Tate Britain and take in some of the new exhibits. This was a lovely way to spend an afternoon in London and meant we were able to check off some new things on our list of bits and pieces to do. If you fancy a visit, I'd recommend booking in advance before September to secure your spot.

Have you ever been to the Rex Whistler? What do you think of the Tate Britain?