Recent eats – Abroad
For the past month you have been wandering around aimlessly, a ship without a rudder. It’s okay, you don’t need to pretend anymore. I know how much of your life revolves around the Recent eats segment of this blog. Well, my friend, you can take your therapist off speed dial and breathe easy because the time has come for the next installment.
What’s most exciting about this edition, as you may have guessed from the very cryptic title, is that the food featured in it comes from not just London, but Europe as well. Yes, yes I know it’s all very overwhelming. So try and calm yourself down a bit, grab an atlas and a notepad and enjoy the international spectacular that is…. Recent eats – Abroad.
Paris – France
When it comes to food (and kissing) the French have been good to us and you know it. They’ve brought us so many delicious things and none less so than those quaint little bakeries that line the streets of Paris packed full of amazing patisseries.
To be honest I couldn’t tell you what these little cakes are called, they had the texture of a deliciously moist, dense cake but were still so light and filled with a sweet, thick icing. If you visit Paris you have to go to one of these bakeries and try anything that strikes your fancy. Your taste buds will thank you.
More of the amazing sweets on offer at one of Paris’ fine bakeries. So much good food… not enough space in my tummy!
Now some of you may say that it is wrong to visit Paris and have a burger and in some instances you may be right. In my defense though I was watching a very important football game with a group of beer-drinking boys so let’s put the burger down to peer pressure.
Most importantly though, this burger was sensational. The beef patty was bursting with flavour and the salad, pickles, mustard and cheese inside it were absolutely perfect. This has to have been one of the best burgers of my life. The fine staff at Playoff Clubhouse certainly know how to do a fantastic burger.
Of course, what is a visit to Paris without indulging in a crepe? I’d say it’s a rather sad one restricted by your good friends at Jenny Craig and it’s also a complete travesty. This particular crepe was enjoyed at Montmarte and came with a generous dollop of nutella on top. The million dollar question for the regular readers out there is ‘How does it compare to the Hampstead Creperie?‘…. simply put, it doesn’t.
Reykjavik – Iceland
You probably think that this is humble old scrambled eggs on toast. Well, if you are thinking that, you’re wrong. This is an Icelandic dish of homemade rye bread topped with mashed fish. In the spirit of being brave and keeping all of you Recent eats devotees happy, I ordered something a tad daring and it paid off!
Cafe Loki serves this tasty morsel up and it does not dissapoint. The homemade rye bread is sweet and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The topping is hard to describe, it is light and full of so many delicious flavours without being overly fishy or creamy. One of the most amazing and unexpected food experiences I have had while traveling.
This little tidbit probably looks quite tasty to you right about now as you try and work out exactly what it is. Well I’m here to tell you that if an olympic athlete wore the same pair of socks, unwashed, for 2 years then covered them in cat urine they would still not taste as bad as this little bowl of white death.
What you’re looking at here is fermented shark and while I squirm at the thought of ever seeing it, let alone placing it in my mouth again, the Icelandic people adore it as one of their native delicacies. The shark is highly poisonous when caught, to relieve it of its natural toxins it is buried in the ground for six months then dug up and hung out for a further two months then chopped into little pieces and sold to stupid tourists like me. Never again.
Rome – Italy
Without a shadow of a doubt this picture depicts the best bruschetta I have ever had. Words cannot convey how delicious and how simple this really was. The bread was fresh, crunchy and soaked in olive oil. The tomato and rocket were unbelievably fresh and bursting with natural flavours that cannot possibly be improved on. In short, Il Chianti took perfect ingredients and put them together brilliantly.
Il Chianti also provided one of the most amazing desserts I’ve had in a long time. A pistachio semi-freddo with a caramel and grappa sauce – absolutely to die for. At first the sauce seemed a tad too overbearing but combined with the sweetness of the semi-freddo and the big chunks of pistachio it was perfection.
Definitely do not miss out on missing Il Chianti when you visit Rome, get there early at 7pm so you don’t miss out on a table.
The title of Recent eats should probably be changed to ‘the story of how I gained 25kg’. Eh, you only live once and when in Rome….. you MUST eat as much Gelato as possible. It’s a rule, trust me.
There isn’t much I can say that this photograph doesn’t already tell you. Italian Gelato is so rich, creamy and simply indulgent – mmmm.
Corfu – Greece
This insanely good looking meal is a Greek Pita with Chicken, although it is very similar to a traditional Greek Gyros. For the bargain price of €3 you can have a huge pita stuffed with homemade tzatiki, chicken, chips, salad and sweet-chilli sauce to top it all off. These are absolutely delicious!
Because it’s Greece you simply have to have a fresh, crunchy Greek salad loaded with olives, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion and the most amazing feta cheese in the world.
Venice – Italy
One of the best things about Italian food is how simple it is, they never overcomplicate delicious ingredients. This pizza from Da Sandro in Venice is a perfect example. A delicious homemade base, mozzarella, tomato and prosciutto make for the perfect Italian pizza – light, indulgent and dripping with great flavour.
Similar to Paris you will find quaint little bakeries throughout the streets of Venice. This little almond cake was a little too dry but the pastry was buttery, light and simply amazing.
Another photograph that just does not do the meal justice. It is safe to say that this is a photo of the best pasta I have ever eaten thanks to the hidden away Antico Calice in Venice. The homemade pasta was melt-in-your-mouth perfect, laced with fresh tomatoes, crab and a light sauce with just a hint of white wine. In a word, perfection.
London – United Kingdom
It is only fitting that I round off Recent eats back where it began – London. This delicious burger from The Cannonbury was amazing. The beef patty covered in cheese and smokey BBQ sauce, fresh salad and a perfectly toasted bun were enough in themselves but combine them with chunky chips and you have nirvana.
Mien Tay in Clapham Junction is well known for serving up fresh, tasty and very well priced Vietnamese meals. The spring rolls and beef noodles (pictured below) and chicken clay pot curry (pictured above) were all sensational. They were light, full of fresh, traditional flavours and absolutely mouth-wateringly delicious! If you do get the chance to visit, I highly recommend especially as it is BYO.
Sensational spring rolls from Mien Tay.
Beef noodles from Mien Tay.
Lola’s Cupcakes serve up beautiful, delicate and tasty cupcakes of all sizes and flavours. Without any hesitation I can confirm that my favourite flavour is Red Velvet with a cream cheese frosting but sadly, I don’t think this photo conveys just how amazing it tasted.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the international stylings of Recent eats – Abroad. If you have any great food suggestions please let me know! Next up on my food adventure list is New York and Toronto so please feel free to give me any tips on places to try.
littlegreybox.
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14 Comments on “Recent eats – Abroad”
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What is littlegreybox?
littlegreybox is a meeting point of humorous perspective, food and travel experiences and my life journey. It's my outlet, a source of inspiration and a way to share and connect with people around the world.
I am getting hungry when I see a post like this!
Hahahaha sorry ;)
I miss French pastry…and your post is not helping haha.
Hahahaha sorry! Guess you’ll just have to visit France again – sorry there’s no other solution :)
that food looks amazing….
Oh it was deliciousssss
I’m not surprised you found a good hamburger in France, even if it wasn’t in Lyon. I’ve been making ‘Bifteck Hache a la Lyonnaise’ at home for decades and guests always rave about them. Another recipe from ‘Mastering the Art of French Cooking’ (details in my Tournedos Rossini post under ‘Food’).
Nothing “humble” about scrambled eggs, though I’ve never, ever found a restaurant that could make them well.
I had no idea the French could make a burger like that! It was so good. Ah I’ve never been to Lyon but would love to go, I’ve heard nothing but good things. Will check out your post – thanks :)
I’m so hungry and envious of your wonderful food adventures now!
Hahaha sorry – these posts aren’t good for the diet. I’ll have to do a special diet edition when I get home from my travels. It’ll be photos of apples and salads.
Oh my God! Made me so hungry.
Mission accomplished! :>
:-)
Luckily I just ate a delicous meal AND cupcakes because otherwise I would be incredibly hungry!