Thursday, October 31, 2013

Day 1053 : The most unique cheese pairing, period.

Apologies about the radio silence on my end, it has been a whirlwind of a few weeks. London for five days, Paris for ten, but I am back to stateside with plenty of cheese stories and experiences to share.

The first of which is the most creative cheese pairing Fromagical has enjoyed in long time. In France and elsewhere, cheese is typically served after a meal as a precursor to dessert or as a substitute. Most times there is a selection of a few cheeses or even a tray to choose your own melange from. Not here at Akrame, in Paris' 16th arrondisement. 

Here, they offered a mushroom and Comte pairing that was served as though it was a sliver of cake bathed in an herb mushroom broth. This was umami at its best. Decadent and savory, fragrant and delightful, unique and absolutely lovely - an expansion of the idea of the cheese plate that's for sure.



Akrame
19, Rue Lauriston
Paris 75016

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Day 1052 : Bocca Di Lupo

Gosh my dear friends it has been a while, what a whirlwind of a few weeks! Back in Londontown since this previous Wednesday, I have had the grand pleasure of trying some fabulous eating establishments that I look forward to sharing with you all in the coming days.

So let's start with the highlights of Bocca Di Lupo, located on Archer Street, just removed from the Friday evening madness of Soho. Highly rated for its wine list and with a focus on obscure and delectable food highlights from all of Italy's regions, it was the perfect place to catch up with old friends.

Chianti Classico, check! An excellent and extensive selection of reds, whites, and sparkling wines was on offer.

I liked how the menu provided the diner with the option of ordering the small or the large portion of many of the shareable starters - allowing us to cater to the size of our group. 

There was a spectacular burrata served with roasted Aubergine, cherry tomatoes, chili and mint that was out of this world. The burrata melted in your mouth and was complimented by the rustic earthiness of the eggplant and the bright juiciness of the tomatoes and the aromatic punch of the mint and chili. Overall an excellent dish and the perfect beginning to the meal.



Next up a raw watermelon radish, celeriac, pomegranate and shaved pecorino salad topped with a truffle dressing that just delighted. An excellent melange of flavors that highlighted the freshness of the ingredients in an elegant harmony. 



And for mains - some had pastas, some had meats, some had fish, but everyone was truly pleased with the rustic elevated cuisine.

And last but not least their cheese selection served with a muscat wine jelly - Zaffero, Rocco al Carbon and Lingotto d'Oro. Truly unique Italian cheeses hailing from Fattoria Corzano and Paterno. What a true treat!

Overall - a delectable meal with some of my dearest friends - what could be better?

Not much!

Bocca Di Lupo
12 Archer Street 
W1D 7BB

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Day 1051 : Hype

You know when everyone tells you have to try that new restaurant, see that fantastic movie, check out that awesome show and so on? Then you go and the talk is better than the experience?

I had one of those moments this morning at Good Enough to Eat. Classic Upper West brunch place. Been around since 1981, always a line out front. Supposed to be amazing. But was it?

No, in one word. It was good, but not great and definitely not worth the hype. Their brunch cocktail list was surely one of the most extensive and it always excites me when a brunch place has my absolute favorite brunch cocktail on the list -- bubbles, Aperol, and grapefruit juice. Check in that department. And what of the food?

I ordered their Little Italy omelette but with a few amendments. Supposed to be -- roasted mushrooms, sundried tomatoes and fresh mozzarella; I had egg whites with the same filling except instead of mozzarella, gruyere cheese. It was served with their homemade biscuits and strawberry jam -- no salad, homefries, fruit or anything of the sort. The omelette was loose -- allowing you to taste all of the ingredients which was nice. Not too much cheese, good mushrooms and sundried tomatoes as well. A solid meal, but it didn't blow me away. Sure I would go back and enjoy it often but maybe I didn't order the right dish to merit the hype. If I had walked in without the hype, who knows, I would have probably said, that was a lovely neighborhood brunch place worth coming back to. Interesting to see what hype does right?

Hype fuels fads but doesn't necessary make places and experiences better. Sometimes it is nice to go into an experience blissfully unaware and be surprised.

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