Union Jacks new Jamie Oliver Restaurant

Yesterday, I was invited for a private taste before the opening to the public on Monday 14th.
The new Jamie Oliver and award-winning American- Italian chef Chris Bianco restaurant concept called "Union Jacks".
The Main dishes are wood-fired flatbreads with great British flavors and nearly all of the ingredients for the toppings are local produce.
It's the first time I've noticed a list of suppliers on the menu : farmers, winemakers, growers, all British.
The wine list is also made with British wines - I had a Pinot Noir from Kent!
For starter I had a prawn, Dorset crab and shrimp cocktail, served with home made melba toast.
For main I had pork shoulder, apple and Stilton flat bread, very rich, quite salty for my taste, I guess it was the Stilton cheese. I had many glasses of water and wine to balance the palate.
For dessert, I had unusual flavored ice cream, "Eton mess and apple crumble", all ices named after famous British desserts. The place has an American- retro- meet- British style.
I am sure it will be very popular for a" local/quick business lunch".

"El Pez Gordo" - Jazz, wine and tapas bar

In my wander through Madrid city center I found a atmospheric Jazz bar.

Its owner, Andreas is a great host and introduced me to two great red Spanish wines, served "traditionally chilled": a Crianza and a Douro.
Crianza: red wines are aged for 2 years with at least 6 months in oak

Douro : The heart of the Ribeira Douro is the Milla de Oro, or Golden Mile, a short strip of land hugging the Douro River (which runs west toward Portugal, slicing through the Spanish wine regions of Toro and Rueda before becoming the Douro and nourishing Portugal's Douro and Porto regions). 
El Pez Gordo is also great for tapas and meeting friends "for a glass" as the Spanish people say, it is a quirky, bohemian, and yet modern.
Take a note  "El Pez Gordo" is word of mouth place. Andreas emphasizes that he doesn't want it to be mainstream, "customers are like friends to me, I know them by name." 
It doesn't have a web page . 
open from 7:30 pm


El Pez Gordo 

C/ Pez, 6, 28004 Madrid, Spain+34 915 22 32 08 ‎

Madrid

Tapas, tapas, tapas...

During my stay in the Spanish capital I have eaten in many places.
I have had many tapas and interesting local cuisine but one place stands out from the others: "Mercado San Anton".
A cutting-edge structure in which a perfect twin wood, steel and glass give it a cozy feel - daring but still remaining a traditional market.

It's only been open for 3 months and already is a very trendy place to go for socializing, buying groceries and of course tasting delicious tapas.
It is vibrant, elegant and has a wonderful vibe.
Downstairs is the market itself, where you can buy meat, fruits, sea food/fish, vegetables, etc.
On the first floor you will find a great variety of tapas places, sweet shops, shakes, Italian food, Mariscos (sea food), assados (grill), Japanese food, foie, Tabernas, Vinacotecas (wine bar),etc.

                                                                                                                          On the second floor, you will find a huge restaurant with a great balcony to eat "al fresco" and it has a great view too!

These are samples of the delicious tapas I have had there!

If you are in the Spanish Capital I strongly recommend a visit.

 Mercado de San Antón 

C/ Augusto Figueroa, 24, 28004 Madrid, Spain+34 913 30 07 30 ‎

Elephant Brixton Village

The inspiration for the decor comes from "Victorians visiting India" , says Imran Bashir the owner. The name I guess, comes from the wallpaper, a beautiful Roccoco drawing of an elephant carrying tourists in a scene from the past. There is a beautiful framed mirror on the opposite wall to the wallpaper, making the tiny place look a bit bigger.

Imran Bashir is always there, charming his customers and he is hugely hands on - he cooks, he buys the ingredients, he decorates, he explains.

The food is Pakistani street food, I would call it Pakistani home cooking. The inspiration for his recipes comes from Bashir's mother and the food he grew up eating.

                        The menu is small and clear

I started with Lamb Samosas served with raita and salad, very crisp, light and spice, delicious! I could have had 2 portions easily!

Lamb curry with peas and potatoes, you can have it with rice or naan bread, very aromatic (the lamb is minced)

 I tried to get Imran talking about the spices, but he is no fool.
 "These are the magic ingredients" he says.

I had a great lunch yesterday,  it felt like I was eating in a friend's kitchen.

55 Granville Arcade (Brixton Village market), Coldharbour Lane, SW9

Phone: 07590 389684

Nearest train: Brixton 

Nearest tube: Brixton 

Cuisine: Indian

Average price: two courses meal for £10

Brixton Village

Brixton Village, aka Granville Arcade is a 1903 indoor market in South London.

By 2009 most of its shops were standing empty, with funding from market's owners and support of local people and organisations, the place is now full of creative projects, pop up restaurants, cafes, shops. It suits all tastes, there is bound to be a shop or restaurant out there for you.

The place is exciting, vibrant, full of interesting people and you can find good "REAL" food.It is going to be big for winter days! You get the "al fresco" feel without the cold.

               


Address:
Entrances on Coldharbour Lane, Entrances on Atlantic Road, London SW9 8PS
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm
Late night on Thursdays: open till 10pm
Sunday: closed
http://www.facebook.com/brixvill
Get directions

 Tube:

• Brixton Tube Station (0.2 km)

 Nearby stations:

• Brixton Station (0.1 km)

Spuntino Soho London

Spuntino, Soho, London, loosely Italian tapas style, the name means "snack" in Italian, it is open all day, very handy for a late lunch or early dinner.

There is no reservation, get a seat around the bar (go off peak hours).

The place has only one table, the rest of the seats are around the bar, 26seats  in total. The place is owned by Russell Norman the same of Polpo, Polpetto and  Da Polpo.

I was lucky enough, did not have to wait to be seated, got there around 3pm.

                                     
Squid, chickpeas, rocket, red pepper and black ink.

Aubergines chips with caraway seeds served with the fresh and cold fennel yogurt.

Roasted pork and apples served in a mini brioche (very small for the price!)

A must try: Pizzettas with mozzarella figs and fennel slices
Shoestring fries ( not very good) served quite cold!

                                                      Dessert Peanut butter & jelly sandwich.
Food is good, small portions for the price, specially mini sandwiches, nice relaxed atmosphere!
I might go back to try other dishes on the menu.

view from the entrance door

My favorite food writer has a new book out!

Claudia Roden

Claudia Roden was born and brought up in Cairo. She finished her education in Paris and later studied art in London. She now lives in London. Roden writes about food with a special interest in the social and historical back-ground of cooking. Her books include The Book of Jewish Food, which won eight international awards, as well as The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, Arabesque, Coffee: A Connoisseur's Companion, The Food of Italy: Region by Region, Everything Tastes Better Outdoors, and Mediterranean Cookery. In 1989 she won Italy's two most prestigious food prizes, the Premio Orio Vergani and the Premio Maria Luigia, Duchessa di Parma. She has also won six Glenfiddich awards.