London: get some MEAT in ya

The storm of all things burger related has well and truly hit London, and we were damned if we weren't gonna get ourselves in on the action. 

We were so keen in fact, that the day we arrived (after a little 24 hour transit from Australia) we had our eyes on the prize in a bid to cure our awful jet lag. 

And what better place to go to experience this phenomenon than MEATliquor! The dark, dinginess was perfect for our time clocks that were telling us 8pm while our watches were telling us midday. We were very lucky, usually there is a line way out the door for a table, but the meat gods were in our favour and we were seated straight away. 

The table centre piece is non-other than a roll of paper towel which becomes extremely necessary once the food arrives.  

I ordered their standard Cheeseburger (nothing standard about it) while Nick was a tad more adventurous and went for the Green Chilli Cheeseburger. 

I hate the word moist but there's just no other way to describe it. Moist goodness. 

Get your lips around that! 

The burgers were absolutely delish, and I love that they were just that, burgers. There was no fancy pants-ing around. They were just there in all their glory, on a tray, and then they were gone. Very very quickly. 

If you want to Liquor your own Meat: 

74 Welbeck Street, London, W1G 0BA 

Or check out one of their other joints:

MEATmarket

MEATmission

MEATwagon  

London: by morning

Let's be honest, Europeans don't particularly do breakfasts. For me a croissant, espresso and cigarette each morning just does not suffice. 

London, however, probably to do with the insane number of us Down Under folk there, have really started to blossom in this area with cafes popping up everywhere. Funnily enough every breaky spot we went to looked like it had been pulled straight from an Australian street, was owned by an Aussie or we were served by one. 

Here is a short list of some of the places we thoroughly enjoyed! 

Prufrock coffee: 

Social media is such a funny thing. A simple instagram post led to Nick and I meeting up with people we knew from Brisbane who are now working their magic in London. One barister-ing, the other cooking up a storm in a hidden cafe behind a dingy looking food market in Shoreditch. 

The coffees were amazing, and the food was definitely the best breakfast we had in London. 

We called this one the heart attack: brioche bun stuffed with braised beans and oozing with cheesy goodness, so worth it. 

We followed it up with something a tad lighter but equally delicious, figs and prosciutto with a soft boiled egg on sourdough, so good! 

Two very satisfied Prufrock customers! 

Keep an eye on their going's on @prufrockcoffee

Or find this mystery gem at: 

23-25 Leather Lane London, EC1N 7TE

Workshop Coffee Co.:

In place of what was St. Ali London, the charming cafe Workshop fills a beautifully styled place with lovely staff, delicious coffee and pretty dang tasty food. 

The apple bircher muesli

The braised beans we found to be a tad blander than what we were used to but were told throughout our days in London, that that is how the locals liked it. Still went down a treat!

Finished it off with a yummy (but totally unnecessary) muesli and honey slice. 

Try it for yourself at: 

27 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1M 5RN 

Ozone Coffee Roasters:

The fit out of this joint was amazing. A double story cafe with the roasting downstairs and the diner/industrial styled cafe upstairs. (Don't even get me started on the bathrooms, you must check them out!!) 

  

Tasty filter coffee!

I loved my breakfast here, it was a kind of "tasting plate" for breakfast with vanilla bean yoghurt and berries, sourdough toast with jam and a soft boiled egg. (Warning: do not mix all of these together). 

Come have a sniff at:

11 Leonard St, London, ECTA 4AQ

Pavilion Cafe:

A really unique cafe in Victoria Park doing their own thing, serving local and organic produce. The setting is very casual and the perfect location for a sunny morning breakfast (it was pouring when we were there) looking over the lake. 

I munched on a mushroom sandwich, served on their house baked bread! 

While Nick and Alex (my long lost Melbournian buddy) both had the salmon on rye bread. 

You got to be 'avin' a laugh- this place is tops! 

Situated at:

Victoria Park Pavilion- Crown Gate West, London E9 7DE

Well, there you have it, that is my thoughts on the early hours of this terrific city, to think this all occurred before about 10am, I wonder what is in stall for the rest of the days' days.

Sophie xx 

The perfect Melbourne morning

I've been in Melbourne for a few days before heading overseas (I'm currently writing this from the airport, so freeeeaking excited). Many judge Melbourne on its 'arctic' weather but there's a charm to this place that you just can't fault! 

Friday morning was one of those 'god I really miss this place' moments. Having moved to the Gold Coast just over two years ago, I feel that I have really made the sunny town my home, but everytime I visit the city that I was born and bred there's something that tells me I'll be back here one day. 

My boyfriend and I woke up on Friday to a sunny (but oh so crisp) morning. With the Italian holiday of 3 weeks fastly approaching we thought it would be responsible for us to head to 'The Tan' for a little trot (for non-Melbournites it is a well known track around South Yarra's Botanical Gardens).

Having taken in some of the beautiful gardens and conquered the dreaded vertical footpath of Anderson St, we decided we'd continue on our way to Top Paddock. Yes we were 'those guys' in their leggings out for breaky.

We both ordered Top Paddock's controversial avocado on toast, I had mine with the most amazing green tomatoes. There's been a bit of banter around the dish as some diners don't like the 'DIY' feel of a $16 breakfast. 

I don't mind it for two reasons: 

1) So many places these days you order avo with your breakfast and you are receive a salsa of mushed up brown looking avocado full of red onion, leaving you with no mates for the rest of the day due to your terrible breath.

2) The Barham avocados they use are soooo bloody delicious! With your first pissed off bite they are laughing back at you for judging the dish. 

We finished off the meal with a tarty grapefruit juice, and moved our little legs back to the car before the winds hit!! 

NB: Anyone who has been to Top Paddock and has frother over the avocados as much as I do, you are able to enjoy them in your own abode and even better have them delivered to your front door. Barham avocados do subscriptions! Best delivery of my month, when 12 avocados of different 'ripeness' arrive. Check it out at www.barhamavocados.com.au.

I want my baby back, baby back, baby back, baby back ribs.

Holy moly!

What a find! (Vegetarians, look away now).

Yesterday morning my boyfriend and I were informed of one of the greatest treasures on the Gold Coast, the BBQ butcher.

To many it seems like an ordinary (extremely tasty) butcher, but for those that know of the smoker out the back it is something special. (A kind of business in the front, party out the back situation).

Greg and Costa own the Burleigh Heads' butcher and have combined their BBQing knowledge from some time in the US and in Australia to deliver some of the best meat I have ever tasted.

Order the meat already cooked for dinner (just need to whack it in the oven) or invite the gents to come and heat up your next party. There are so many delicious options: pulled pork, American styled pork and beef ribs, smokey roasted chicken, the list goes on.

We ordered the American styled pork ribs with their signature rub and special sauce. The serving we got was huge, and only 25 or so dollars, this should have fed far more than two people but we got a bit excited!

Can you blame us:

We had ours with pickled cucumber and fennel and a cabbage salad. Makes it healthy right? 

I am a little worried that I have discovered this place. Drooling just thinking about it.

Check them out at www.thebbqbutcher.com.au

Sophie xx

The not-so-naughty (but still kind of) Apple and Rhubarb Crumble

Last night I headed to a friend's house to celebrate one of our girlfriend's birthdays.

Not being much of a dessert-queen and with exams quickly approaching, I thought what better way to procrastinate then challenge myself to a bake-off. 

I looked up heaps of recipes on 'healthy' apple crumbles and fruit stewing and kinda chucked them all together to create my own apple and rhubarb crumble.

Ingredients:

...for the stewed fruit

6x granny smith apples
4x rhubarb stalks
1x tablespoon of honey
1x tablespoon of brown sugar
1x cup of water
1x vanilla bean
3x cinnamon sticks

...for the crumble

The amount of crumble you need is totally dependent on what dish you are putting it in! My dish was pretty wide but shallow so I needed a fair bit of crumble to cover it. Just make the crumble in this ratio, and make more if it doesn't cover nicely!

1 cup oats
1/2 cup of almond flakes
2x teaspoon of honey
2x tablespoon of coconut oil
1x tablespoon of ground cinnamon

How to get it did: 

Peel the apples, core them and chop them and the rhubarb into rough pieces. 

Add them to a saucepan and add the rest of the 'stewed fruit ingredients'. Allow this to simmer on medium heat for 40 minutes to an hour. Keep an eye on it, you are watching for the fruit to soften right up, but don't boil! 

While that's going on, mix in a bowl the 'crumble ingredients'. At this stage you will get a feel for how many times you need to multiple the crumble mix (I did two lots). 

When the fruit is stewed to perfection, transfer it to a baking dish and make sure you pull out the cinnamon sticks and vanilla bean while you are at it. If you've made a bit too much fruit as I did, pop it in the fridge for your porridge or oats in the morning! 

I am aware that this looks in no way appetising, have a little faith! 

Cover the fruit evenly in your crumble mix.

Then whack it in the oven on 160° for about 30 or so minutes. 

Once the crumble is cooked serve it with whatever you wish. We added some berries and roasted walnut Gundowring icecream (see I said it was still a bit naughty). 

Simples. 

Sophie xx 

BB Market Day

What a weekend! Saturday morning, I helped out at the inaugural market that Blackboard Local Grocer was putting on to showcase the suppliers and produce that they have in store. 

The market itself looked absolutely incredible and the hordes of people were in agreeance. Kids, university students and adults basked in the sun as they gauged themselves with goodies and samples from the local farmers, butchers, bakers etc. 

The market gave a good insight into the passion the suppliers have for their produce and the incomparable quality of the items available from the grocer. 

Due to the success of the first BB Market Day, it is without doubt that another one will be happening soon, possibly monthly, bimonthly or seasonally (do not suggest weekly #heartattack)!!

Here's what you missed out on:

Flower stand by Elyssium Blooms 

Incredible delish pieces by Japanese pastry chef Nobu!

My favourite was the chocolate fondant croissant, mmmm. 

Bagels from Bagel Boys in Brissy

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Noosa River hot smoked salmon, Bangalow Cheese Co. creme fraiche and chives 

Bangalow shaved ham, roquette and Cunliffe & Waters capsicum and tomato relish 

Coyo! 

Coconut milk vegan and dairy free yoghurt goodness. 

Farmer Joe Muesli samples, my pick would have to be the burnt fig. 

What better way to start the morning?

Blackboard bottled iced coffees

Double shot of espresso, maple and milk

Make your own pomegranate soda from Six Barrel Soda Co. 

The tastiest of cured meats from Salumi Australia.

Would bathe in that spreadable chorizo!

Two thumbs up for Bangalow Cheese Co. 

Cannot go past the duck, orange and macadamia sausages from Jack Sprat's butcher!

Would never think to stuff them in a sausage, but bloody hell its so right. 

So many fresh goodies from fruit and veg guru Graeme Twine.

The best kind of pink eye!

All in all a tiring amazing day, I say! 

Sophie xx