Wake Up Hungry in London? Try a "Full English Breakfast"

This morning, I checked off another item on my To Try British food list - the Full English Breakfast.

On the recommendation of my hotel staff, I went to Mike's Cafe in Notting Hill to try one of these huge breakfasts. It was very good, but more than I could finish.

The version at Mike's comes with a fried egg, two sausages, bacon, hash browns, baked beans, grilled tomatoes & mushrooms, toast, & coffee for £18 ($24.30). I chose mocha coffee and told the server to hold the toast. 

The item on the right side of the dish that looks like toast is actually hash browns.

An Extraordinary Persian Meal in London

I was very fortunate to find  Beluga, a Persian restaurant in Notting Hill. My experience there was a perfect combination of food, atmosphere, and service. The decor inside is upscale elegant.

I am only familiar with a few Persian dishes. One of them is Fesenjan, which I really, really love. It is a mild stew with walnuts and pomegranate juice. It can be made with duck, lamb, chicken, or other meats. It is generally served with Persian rice. 

Beluga serves a unique and wonderful Persian rice, Polo ba Tahdig, that is topped with crispy potatoes & saffron further topped with pistachios & barberries. It is incredible.

In this photo, a bit of the stew is to the left of the rice.

To get these dishes at home, I would have to drive to a restaurant about 120 miles away - out of the question.

I accompanied these dishes with a slightly sweet Armenian pomegranate wine. It was a great match.

My server, Arezoo, was wonderful. She showed me how to eat the Fesenjan.

The total, with coffee came to £45 ($60.75).

Beluga has many other dishes that I would love to try and that I've never seen before. It's worth looking at their menu just to get a sense for Persian food

https://www.beluganottinghill.co.uk/menu/

I have tried making the Fesenjan and rice. The results were decent, but did not begin to compare to the Beluga versions.

Dishoom - An Indian Dining Delight in London

In view of Britain's deep historical connections to India, London is a great place to find savory flavors of India. 

My good friend Wayne recommended the Dishoom restaurant on Derry St. In Kensington. It's one of a number of Dishoom eateries in London  It was a great choice. It's clear that lots of diners feel that way because the restaurant was packed. The decor was warm and the atmosphere was vibrant.

I started with lamb samosas with Gujarati filo shortcrust & filled with minced lamb, onions, & spices. They came with three toppings:

- mint & coriander, 

- tamarind,  

- spicy  

I really loved the samosas and the first two toppings. I didn't try the third topping. The price was £7.90 ($10.67).

My main course was Tandoori (grilled) lamb chops They are marinated overnight in papaya, yogurt, seeds and spices. They are then grilled and finished with lime, butter, and masala. They were very, very savory. I would have liked a sharper knife to cut them with, but none was available £19.70 ($26.60)

I had a side of Basmati rice for £5.10 ($6.89) Unsurprisingly, it was nothing to write home about.

For dessert, I had Basmati  kheer - rice pudding cooked with vanilla infused coconut milk, cardamom, & cashews, & topped with blueberry compôte for £8.70. ($11.75). I love rice puddings; and this was one of my favorite.

I finished with a double espresso. for £4.30 ($5.81)  For my taste, it captures the record as the worst after-dinner strong coffee I've ever had; and I've had espressos, Arabic coffees, Turkish coffees etc. all over the world. 

The service was excellent. 

Coffee aside, I highly recommend Dishoom. Thanks Wayne!!!

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Maramia Cafe - A Palestinian Culinary Surprise in London

In doing restaurant research prior to my trip to London, I was quite surprised to discover two Palestinian restaurants in the Notting Hill area not far from my hotel. One of them - Maramia Cafe - had a wonderful menu and two venues. The other one had a very limited,  uninteresting menu.

I grew up eating a variety of delicious Palestinian dishes which my mother used to make. However I have never seen a Palestinian Arabic restaurant. I have enjoyed very similar Levantine Arabic cuisine at a number of Lebanese Arabic restaurants.  I was very excited at the prospect of dining Maramia Cafe.

The cafe exceeded my expectations for delicious food. There were only two things missing:

1. I wish my sister and brother had been here to have shared the delights with me.

2. The menu I saw online showed several Palestinian wines. Unfortunately, because of the conflict in Gaza, the restaurant is no longer able to acquire these wines, which are produced in the West Bank. So, I had a Spanish Rioja instead.

I struggled to choose from among the many enticing selections on the menu  I ended up selecting:

Kibbeh Maklieh - Lamb & bulghur wheat shell filled with marinated minced lamb & onions - deep fried for £9.50 ($12.83).

Sujuk  Palestinian sausages with lamb, tomatoes, garlic, & dipped in lemon juice £8.50 ($11.39)

Fattoush salad - greens tomatoes, toasted Palestinian croutons, marinated with sumac, mint, thyme,  & pomegranate molasses - £9.50 ($12.73)

The meal came with a very thin, unique, wonderful pita bread (which Arabic speakers never call pita bread they use Arabic words instead).

After chatting a bit with a very nice staff member, who had escaped from Gaza five months earlier, he kindly brought me on the house some hummus and some yogurt for dipping the kibbeh in.

I finished off the meal with some wonderful Palestinian coffee.

The cafe is very casual, with both indoor and outdoor seating. Vibrant modern Arabic music adds to the atmosphere.

Traditional British Sunday Roast - Comfort Food at its Very Best

 

One of the must-have culinary experiences on my London food list is the traditional British Sunday Roast.

On the basis of reviews and proximity to my hotel, I chose to experience it at the Duke of Wellington on Portobello Road in Notting Hill. It was a great choice.

The food was savory; the atmosphere was warm and welcoming; and the service was great.

The meal comprised West Country Beef Rump with horseradish sauce,  rosemary and garlic roast potatoes, maple roast carrots, charred hispi cabbage, celeriac puree, Yorkshire pudding and gravy - for £23 ($30.82).

Everything was very tasty. I loved the carrots & the cabbage.

The photo is very deceptive. The large bowl-shaped item at the top is Yorkshire Pudding. It's hiding the other generous components of the meal ("Pudding" has a very different meaning in British cuisine from the American use of the word. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_pudding)

I accompanied the food with a nice glass of Bodega Norton Fince La Colonia Malbec.

Despite being busy, friendly server Jack took the time to answer my food questions & to chat a bit about language differences.

A Delightful Culinary Surprise - from Georgia - the Nation

I had noticed a few doors down from my hotel a cafe/bakery by the name of Entrée. I hadn't paid much attention to it until today, when I felt like a pastry for lunch.

When I arrived, I saw that it said "Tbilisi bakery." That was very intriguing becauseTbilisi is the capital of the nation of Georgia. I had never seen any place offering Georgian cuisine.

Inside, there was a large table where a number of the Georgian baked goods were displayed; and there was a counter where Georgian dishes were displayed.

A woman behind the counter explained the various Georgian dishes to me; and I chose one - Chakhokhbili  -stewed chicken & tomato with fresh herbs. It came with freshly baked Georgian rye bread for £16.10 ($21.57). I confirmed before ordering that it is mild.

Both the stew and the bread were absolutely fantastic. The stew has a very unique flavor.

(The "kh" in the stew's name is pronounced like the Spanish "j.")

It turns out that Entrée is an international family chain headquartered in Georgia with a number of outlets there and three in London.

Windsor Castle Pub - Savory Delights and Great Ambiance

This evening, I had another scrumptious traditional English dinner -  this time, at the Windsor Castle Pub - which has a wonderful atmosphere. It's located on a Notting Hill side street. (Despite the name, it's nowhere near Windsor Castle.)

I started with a Scottish egg - a British specialty of soft boiled egg wrapped in pork sausage meat & coated with bread crumbs, then baked or deep fried. It came with a side of golden beet piccalilli - a mixture of pickles and spices. It was fantastic - £8 ($10.72)

My main dish was a chicken, ham hock, & leek pie, with red wine gravy, mashed potatoes, & Savoy cabbage. It was scrumptious - £19.50 ($26.13)

My drink was Portuguese Post Scriptum Red Wine from the Douro. it was very nice.

My server, Sam (Samantha), was a warm, ebullient professional.

A Great Reunion Lunch at London's Oldest Restaurant – Ruless

 

Having a delicious lunch at Rules, London's oldest restaurant was a very special experience. However sharing that experience with my British friend, Mike, whom I had not seen for 30 years made the experience perfect.

The food was delicious; the interior was very elegant; and the service was excellent. The restaurant was established in 1798.

This photo doesn't begin to capture the beauty of the much larger interior

It was great catching up with Mike and reminiscing while we enjoyed the savory traditional dishes.

I had:

- Steak & kidney pie £25.50 ($34.17)

- Apple & blackberry crumble with custard £10.50 ($14.07)

- 2023 Andrei Brunei "Est-Ouest" Cotes du Rhone - a decent wine.

I guessed correctly that the pie and the dessert would be enough that a side would be unneccessary.

Rules is located in the Covent Garden area; and is an easy walk from Trafalgar Square.

One can easily make reservations online.

Sausage & Mash Lunchtine Energy Replenishment

For lunch, I had another delicious combo - Cumberland sausage & mash - a version of the and the immensely popular bangers & mash comfort fiod. The mash refers to mashed potatoes. In this case it was in a red wine gravy. The dish was terrific. The cost was £16 ($21.44) 

I had it at I'm Notting Hill place called Prince Albert. The name is royal, but the atmosphere is ordinary.

Fish &:Chips + Sticky Toffee Pudding - Taste Treats at the Fish House

 

Fish & Chips + Sticky Toffee Pudding are two wonderful, traditional English dishes that are now partially off my list thanks to a delectable dinner experience at the Fish House. I say partially, because my appetite has been whetted for more after my experience this evening.

Both dishes are extremely popular in Britain, and are on many, many, many menus. I decided that I had to have the fish and chips at a place that specializes in them. So, I chose the Fish House which is a very short walk from my hotel. The choice was a good one. 

For the fish, I chose Cod. Haddock is another popular choice. I'll have to try that next. The cod was wonderful. The chips (French fries) were softer that I like, but that's a matter of taste. The order came with mushy peas, which I haven't had before. They were decent, but  unexciting. I chose the large cut of cod - for £18.99 ($25.45).

For good reason, Sticky Toffee Pudding is an immensely popular item. In researching menus prior to my trip, I found it on many, many menus. It came with a side of ice cream. The two complement one another very well. It has to be very rich in calories. It was £6.89 ($9.23).

I had several nice conversations with the mamager, who added another dish to my list - beef wellington.

Glad there's not a weight scale in my room. 

A Wonderful Dining Experience At the Mitre Pub, Notting Hill

I had planned to have my first London dinner on this visit at a local fish house here in Notting Hill. However, my plans went down the tubes as I was taking a  pre-dinner walk on Holland Park Avenue, a lovely tree-shaded boulevard with huge majestic trees.

I discovered The Mitre, a pub with very nice outdoor dining, in addition to its indoor dining. I took a look at the menu and decided to give it a try. I'm so happy I did. The Maitre d', Aaron, gave me a nice table outside. 

When I asked Aaron for his suggestions for traditional English dishes to try, he pointed out a couple of main dishes, sides, and desserts that fit the bill. I took one of his suggestions for each course. They were perfect.

I had:

- Chicken Pie - the pie of the day for £19.50. it was droolingly scrumptious, but the potatoes and cabbage that came with it were pretty blah. I only took a couple of bites of each.

- Beetroot (beets) & goat's curd, toasted  with toasted kasha (fruit seeds), & lemon & dill dressing for £8.70. it was absolutely fantastic. (Fortunately, I did not realize that the potatoes and cabbage came with the pie. Otherwise I would not have ordered this great side.)

- Strawberry shortbread cheesecake with basil & meringue chantilly cream for £9. It was wonderful.

- A glass of 2024 Domaine Guy Allion Sauvignon blanc, 2024. It was nice.

A great way to start a trip!

Choripan – An Incredible (& Simple) Grilled Argentine Sausage Sandwich

When I was in Buenos Aires, I had what I consider the most delicious sausage sandwich I’ve ever eaten - Choripan. The name is a combination of two words – “chorizo,” a type of sausage, and “pan,” meaning, “bread.” The chorizo is grilled and put on toasted baguette with chimichurri sauce. One can also add Creole Sauce – chopped tomato, onion, olive oil, and red wine vinegar.

 Chorizo is a tasty pork sausage that originated in the Iberian Peninsula, but is popular throughout Latin America, in the Philippines, and elsewhere.

The place where I experienced this incredible delight was at Booth 53 in the San Telmo Market (Mercado de San Telmo). The market is an interesting mix of food booths and of stalls with thrift, vintage, and antique items. There are a number of antique shops in the vicinity of the market, and an outdoor antique & flea market on the weekends.

 

 Booth 53

The Booth 53 Choripan.

Since returning home, I’ve made choripan three times – served on a toasted hoagie roll and topped with chimichurri sauce. I love the results and will continue making it.

 I buy the chorizo at Fresh Market. For the bread, I use Publix hoagie rolls. For chimichurri sauce, I use a brand called La Parmesana. It is imported from Argentina and available on Amazon. I’ve tried three chimichurri sauces; and this one is my favorite. (It’s not surprising that the brand name is Italian. Buenos Aires has a very large ethnic Italian population, which has had a significant influence on the local cuisine.)

 Grilling the chorizo is very simple. I use a gas grill on a relatively high setting.

- Before grilling, I make a row of shallow v-shaped cuts on two sides of the chorizo. (I do that with any sausages I grill.)

- I first grill the chorizo on the cooler side of the grill for 20 minutes, turning every 5 minutes.

- Then I grill it on the hot side of the grill for 10 minutes, turning it at 5 minutes.

- Four minutes before the grilling is finished, I put the cut-open hoagie roll on the hot side of the grill, with the inside facing down.

 After the grilling is finished, I top the sausage with chimichurri sauce. If you’re interested in the creole sauce (salsa criolla), you can easily find recipes on line.

  My Choripan