2 Weeks of meals in Wales, Chester and Liverpool

Walls of Conwy Castle

Wild Strawberries growing between the
sidewalk pavement

This past June, Adam and I were based in Wales for 2 weeks visiting family. We ate out almost every night and it was not cheap, let me get that out of the way, but it was necessary because the village where we were staying had limited access to fresh meat and produce. 

In my stay, I found the Welsh palette to be very simple - predominantly using just basic flavors like salt, pepper, mint, vinegar and sugar in their meals. I wonder why the restaurants, pubs, and people in general do not take full advantage of all the wild herbs and flowers growing everywhere. In Wales there is literally wild strawberries growing between the cracks in the pavement and garlic, rosemary and camomile growing on the sides of houses. I think this is a great opportunity missed in a culinary, sustainable, and economical sense. 

So, where do the locals go when they want a break from beans on toast and egg and chips?



French Onion Soup



The Cliffs  

Tan Rallt Holiday Home Park

Rhyd Y Foel

Abergele

North Wales

LL22 8EE

tel: 01492 511633

Nice views and a pleasant menu. Older people friendly.

Fish with potatoes and peas



Habit Tea Rooms

Cheetham

12 Mostyn Street

Llandudno

Conwy 

LL30 2PS

 

Good spot for people watching or just talking a break from shopping. Generous portions and friendly waitstaff.

Bangers & Mash

The Groes Inn

Tyn y Groes
Conwy
North Wales

LL32 8TN

A bit expensive but at least here they serve Bangers & Mash with 3 Bangers and a side of vegetables. Also, this was my first opportunity to try out an Eton Mess (strawberries, whipped cream and meringue). This Eton mess was disgustingly good but I'm happy I tried it. 

Eton Mess





Moroccan Spiced Lamb

The Armoury

Victoria Quay

Victoria Avenue

Welsh Bridge

Shrewsbury

SY1 1HH

 

Ordered the Moroccan spiced lamb with apricot and date couscous salad, feta cheese and chick peas. It was disgusting. The Lamb few shaves of lamb served was dried out and salty, the sauce sticky and salad was really just feta and onions.



Paella

Oddfellows

20 Lower Bridge Street
Chester
CH1 1RS

Pretentious, expensive and not impressed. Ordered paella- though the fish was beautifully cooked, the rice was too salty, and clams and rice overcooked. All looks and no quality.



Mussels in a thick cream

 White Lion Inn (no information)

Friendly waitstaff but more importantly bizarre food. I ordered Mussels in a cream sauce and what I got looked like Mussels in whipped cream. The Mussels were nicely cooked and the cream was lightly salted. I don't know if I'd ever intentionally order this again but it was an experience. 

Brown Shrimp

Plas Hafod Hotel

Gwernymynydd

Mold
Flintshire

CH7 5JS

Nice gardens and more very British food. Ordered the Brown Shrimp salad with Rose Marie Sauce (Thousand Island Dressing, anyone?). Smaller and definitely browner than the Shrimp I am used to. Wonder what the shrimp would taste like on their own?

Main course was roasted pork with a sage stuffing and watercress salad. I've never had pork with the rind still attached. It didn't really add to the flavor nor keep the meat any more moist. Stuffing was dry but I'm thinking that's the British style stuffing.

Heaven Sent Fried Chicken v.s. Ma’ono

Last weekend, we drove down to Seattle to visit my cousin. It’s been over a year since I’ve been to the States, so when I’m there I want to seize every opportunity to enjoy the things I can’t find/afford/enjoy in Vancouver. And the very top item on my To Eat List: FRIED CHICKEN

Heaven Sent Chicken – 14330 Lake City Way Northeast  Seattle, WA 98125 (more than one location) (206) 363-1167

There is a back story to this place but it just sounds like drama. Something about the Black guy in the cow boy hat used to work for Ezell's and yadayadayada…drama.  And like I say to my friends: I’m not getting involved—I’m just here for the chicken. 

I ordered the 3 piece Spicy Dark Meat dinner with a side of mashed potatoes and corn and not only was it affordable as hell, it was the tastiest chicken I have ever eaten. The skin was crispy and perfectly seasoned. The meat was moist and tender.  The sides were delicious and the roll was lovely, but this fried chicken is good enough to be a stand-alone meal.

Ma’ono- 4437 California Ave SW Seattle, WA 98116

(206) 935.1075

Again, there’s drama in the back story but the most juicy part of Ma’ono is the $38 eight piece Fried Chicken Dinner. Though it is not so affordable- it’s good, but not great. Ma’ono chicken tastes like it’s been brined, has a nice thick crispy skin, but the flavor of the chicken relies heavily on the underwhelming dipping sauces provided. So, eh.

All things considered, I would say Ma’ono is the kind of place where you would take someone you want to impress: there’s a modern ambience, a bar, fancy sides and the waiters have asymmetric hair styles. Heaven Sent Chicken, on the other hand, is the kind of place where you want to go the other 364 days of the year. Heaven sent Fried Chicken all the way.  

Bistro Review: Sardine Can

While coming home last week, I noticed that 26 Powell Street had once again changed hands.  Maybe it's an unlucky spot but this space has seen many different hands in a short amount of time.  That's not to say that the former bistros were bad -- but you could tell every time that the operators were small time and that it was most likely a venture of love.

Yesterday, while I was out and about I decided to check out the space and look at the menu. Immediately I recognized that whoever took over the space was no Mom and Pop operator.  You could see that this space is run by professionals with enough money to pretend this was still a hole in the wall. Also, I noticed that it was a tapas bar. Most items on the menu were $10 (a bit more expensive and with less variety than La Bodega (1277 Howe Street)) but lot more interesting than Notturno (280 Carrall Street).

Gastown is not short of "tapas bars" a.k.a. "Let's serve average quality food in small portions and call it tapas, so people have to order 7 plates to get full."  With this in mind, I decided to try out Gastown's newest tapas bar the Sardine Can and see if this was the case.

"Prove me wrong, kids. Prove me wrong"

I met my friend last night and ordered: The Asparagus with Aioli, Sardines on Toast, The Clams and the Pepper stuffed with salted Cod.

Usually, I define each dish and explain the different flavors I liked but I don't feel that this needs to be the case here. The food in general was not offensive but not impressive either. None of the dishes carried any distinctive flavors or character (unless Spanish is synonymous with salt alone).  All in, I lack to see the value or unique dining experience of Sardine Can.


 

Bistro Review: Kita No Donburi

Yesterday I decided to get some take out from Kita No Donburi, at the bottom of Seymour Street. I was on my way back to the office and was looking for either something quick/cheap and cheerful or quick/value for money.

I noticed that Kita No Donburi opened a couple of months ago, was meaning to try it out but the only thing stopping me were all the bad reviews. Bad reviews and maybe also the plastic food on display (I'm like Colin Ferrall in the movie In Bruges--he has an unhealthy fascination with midgets; I have an unhealthy fascination with plastic food). Decided to try it out myself and I have to say that it's true the service is bad but it's honest. Also, the food portions are fair, the quality is lacking a bit and the prices average.

I ordered the Chicken Katsu Curry around the same time someone else ordered the same. She got her to go order within 2 minutes but I was still waiting 5 minutes when the hostess came over to me and showed me something in a bowl (not a to go container) and asked me if that's what I had ordered. It wasn't what I ordered and for the record, even if I was I would have said "no". I am not about to eat an upside down curry. The hostess then came back and asked me to what I ordered and if I had my receipt. I showed her my receipt, to which she said, "Oh, Chicken KATSU Curry!" and proceeded to yell my order, again to the open concept kitchen. Another staff member then told me I would have to wait two more minutes. The total wait time was around 15 minutes (even with all the hiccups), so I'll give them that Kita No Donburi is quick but not efficient in service.

When I got back to my office--I opened the box and it was a nice portion of chicken, rice and pickled vegetables.  The curry was a bit bland for my liking and the chicken was a little lost in the breading but I wasn't put off by the food.  All in all, I don't hate the place. Next time I'll try the Agedashi Tofu Don and see what happens.

That Conversation We've both been Avoiding

Hi, this is awkward. I know I haven't written in a while and then I kept on putting it off. Finally, I was just embarrassed to even bring myself to Blogger.  Today I'm recovering from my work out yesterday and I'm home alone, so I'll put in the effort and see what happens.

Since December, I went on a Gym kick (40 minutes of cardio and strength training 3-4 times a week) and have been committed ever since. And anyone who works an honest living and goes to the gym regularly knows: work + work out + shower = one tired and cranky girl.

Most times I  don't even want to think about cooking--let alone blogging about it. Often I'm so tired I don't even bother to eat with utensils. Rice, veggies, whatever--just get in my mouth and replenish me!

I'm still trying to find my balance between eat to live and live to eat but one thing's for sure: if you want to eat as much fried chicken as I do--working out regularly is a must.

I don't know how much weight I've lost/gained because I don't own a scale (and sometimes wish I didn't own a mirror) but I can definitely tell that I look a hell of a lot healthier.  And more importantly--I feel a lot better.

You know, a way to make a tired and cranky girl feel appreciated? A natural face mask. There are loads of recipes available on the internet but I discovered some real gems.

Egg Face Mask

A basic mask great for re-hydrating your skin after laps in the pool. The Egg white draws out the oils in your skin and the yolk moisturizes. 

Ingredients

* 1 Egg

Preparation

Wash and dry face. Separate the Egg white and yolk. First, with the Egg white spread it across you face and neck with your fingers, cotton pad, brush or spatula. Avoid Eye and mouth areas. Lie down and relax until the wash has hardened.  Wash Egg white off your face and pat your face dry.

Second, spread the yolk the same way you applied the whites (you may want to scramble the yolk a bit).  Lie down and relax until the mask hardens.  Wash yolk off with a wash cloth and warm water. End with a slash of cold water and pat your skin dry with a towel. To seal in the moisture, add your face cream/moisturizer.  

Poached Pears and incidentally Pear Mulled Wine Recipe

Ingredients

1 bottle of Red Wine (or enough to cover Pears)

1 sliced Lemon

2 sticks of Cinnamon

Sugar to Taste 

Bag full of Pears (any kind peeled, stems left intact and at any level of tenderness)

Preparation

In a large Pot bring ingredients Wine to Sugar to a rolling boil.

Add Pears and let boil for 10 minutes and then turn heat down to a gentle boil. Pears are done when they are fork tender.  With a slotted spoon transfer Pears to a plate to cool. Serve at room temperature with a side of Vanilla ice cream (if you're feeling like a fatty). Reserve wine and drink with good company.

Smoked Sausage, Shredded Cabbage and White Beans in a Tomato Broth

Adam had his operation this morning and it looks like soup's up until he gets his strength back.  He's weak and vulnerable - so tonight I made him a comforting Smoked Sausage, Shredded Cabbage and White Bean soup.  This soup is easy on the stomach, filling, and the Smoked Sausage makes it so good--no one would suspect that this was my "I'm sorry you needed to have surgery and I understand that you need to build your strength, so I made you this Recovery Meal."

Ingredients

* 4 sliced Mennonite Smoked Farmer's Sausage or your favorite Smoked Sausage

* 1 can of White beans- drained and rinsed

* 1-2 cups sliced Cabbage

* 1 can of Plum/Diced/Pressed Tomatoes or a container or your favorite Tomato soup

* 1-2 cups Chicken Broth 

* Favorite Spices to taste

* Fresh Parsley

Preparation

Add Sausage to Wok on medium-high heat (no oil necessary). Cook for until Sausages turn slightly golden. Add Beans. Add Tomatoes (if using whole tomatoes--make sure you crush the tomatoes in the pot). Let cook for a minute. Add Broth, Cabbage and desired Spices. You should taste as you cook. Cover with lid and simmer until cabbage is soft.  Garnish with fresh Parsley.