A Chocolate Tour of London

Posted in Food Occassions by Miss Foodie

For chocolate lovers, Great British Tours’ Chocolate Tour of London would be a perfect day out! Earlier this month my friend Sarah and I undertook the walking tour that consists of visits to seven chocolatiers around Soho and Mayfair that can vary slightly from week to week. Our tour guide, Ferry, was friendly, knowledgeable and very enthusiastic about all things chocolate.

We began our voyage at the Algerian Coffee Store; a vicinity with an overwhelming scent of coffee and cocoa to get you in ‘chocolate-mode’. Here we were introduced to our tour group of approximately twenty people. At each stop Ferry filled us in on a few chocolate facts specific to the place we were visiting. The chocolate information was not excessive, but rather a set of fun facts to make the journey interesting.

At each stop we sampled some chocolate and had a chance to browse their chocolate range. The diversity of chocolate we tasted throughout the journey was extensive, ranging from a white chocolate ‘Eton Mess’ truffle at Hotel Chocolat, to a delectable plain chocolate truffle coated in cocoa powder at Prestat (my personal favourite), so there are treats available to suit all tastes.

The amount of free samples we received were enough to give you a flavour of each chocolatier without leaving you in a ‘chocolate-coma’ and unable to walk, however, for serious chocoholics, all Great British Tourists recieve 10% off at each chocolatier. If, like me, you have a small appetite and can’t quite handle seven chocolate tastings in a row, it would be a good idea to bring along a small box to keep some chocolate samples in to save for later!

The chocolatiers were all fairly close together, at most a ten minute walk between each, however I would recommend comfortable walking shoes since you are on your feet for the entire tour. Our tour fell on a particularly hot day, resulting in some slightly-melted chocolate purchases so remember to consider seasonal conditions when booking. The tour lasted just over two hours with a small fifteen minute break in Fortnum and Mason’s to have a quick browse and refresh. Watch out for Fortnum’s tea and coffee infused chocolates in the shape of teacups!

Overall, I would definitely recommend the Great British Chocolate Tour as perhaps a fun day out, an occasion to meet new people and a chance to learn a bit about London’s greatest chocolatiers. For tourists it is an added opportunity to explore London’s West End. The tour is good value for money considering the free samples of high quality chocolate that you get to taste, and the discount you receive at each chocolatier. The day was made entertaining by our tour guide, and would be a fun day out for chocolate lovers of all ages.

Chocolate Tour Information:

Website: http://www.greatbritishtours.com/gbt/the-chocolate-walking-tour-of-london.html

Price: £30

12Aug2013

Sopwell House’s Afternoon Tea

Posted in Afternoon Tea, Restaurant reviews by Miss Foodie

‘A cosy, comfortable and quiet environment to consume delectable sweet treats’

Overview:

Price: £22.50 for their Afternoon Tea.

Overall rating: 4 stars

Cuisine: Afternoon Tea

Location: St Albans

My thoughts:

I visited Sopwell House for their Afternoon Tea in celebration of my good friend Hannah’s twenty first birthday. In the heart of Hertfordshire, in St Albans, the hotel building is surrounded by greenery and gardens, making it a perfect country escape for a spot of tea all year round. The tea room is warm and welcoming, with cosy sofas, bookshelves, wall paintings that add touches of colour, and lamps which make you feel as if you are in the comfort of your own living room.

The tea itself is great value for money. Between six of us we shared three tea platters, which was more than enough since they arrived piled high with sweet treats and sandwiches, along with your choice of tea. Their presentation is super, with the plates exhibiting an abundance of colour.

My personal favourite was the chocolate cake, filled with thin layers of cream that made it light and delicious. Having said this, all their pastries and cakes were fantastic. The cakes were moist and soft, and the scones were light and fluffy. The menu was wide-ranging to suit all tastes, varying from carrot and chocolate cake, to tiramisu or chocolate éclairs.

Although the sandwiches were enjoyable, they unfortunately did not live up to the extremely high standard of the sweet options, due to lack of inventiveness in fillings and flavour. The sandwiches we tasted included tuna, salmon, egg and cheese, which can be varied according to personal preferences or dietary requirements.

The service was good, with welcoming and friendly staff. The dress code could be described as smart-casual and the tea rooms were not particularly busy at the time of our visit (which was midweek). However, booking in advance for large groups would be advised, especially on weekends, to avoid disappointment. At the time of our visit customers were mainly adults, however, I would say that the afternoon tea would be a nice idea for a family day out as well. Visiting the hotel itself is a great experience. The luxurious décor and quaint grounds make it a perfect place to explore on a day out. The hotel is situated just outside the M25 and has substantial parking, however, it is not very accessible by public transport.

Overall I would definitely recommend Sopwell House’s afternoon tea as an occasion for catching up with friends or family, as we did, due to its cosy, comfortable and quiet environment and its delectable sweet treats. It is slightly cheaper than other London afternoon teas, making it great value for money considering its generally high quality food and service.

Restaurant Details:

Sopwell House Hotel
Cottonmill Lane,
St. Albans,
Hertfordshire,
AL1 2HQ

Tel: +44 (0) 1727 864477

E: enquiries@sopwellhouse.co.uk

Website: http://www.sopwellhouse.co.uk/afternoon-tea-hertfordshire

29Jul2013

Red Velvet Cookies

Posted in Recipes, Sweet treats by Miss Foodie

If you love red velvet cake, you must try making these red velvet cookies! The subtle hints of buttermilk and cocoa powder that give red velvet cakes their distinctive and delicious flavour apply to these cookies as well, resulting in a cookie that is not quite chocolate and not quite plain vanilla.

This recipe will make around 40 medium sized cookies.

Overall time needed: 30 mins.

Ingredients:

1 box Red Velvet Cake Mix (I would recommend Betty Crocker’s Red Velvet Cake Mix)
225g cream cheese
75g butter (room temperature)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
75g white chocolate chips

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees/Gas mark 4
Beat together the cream cheese and butter until well combined. (Hint: I like to use an electric whisk for this – saves muscle power!)

Beat in the egg and vanilla
Add the cake mix and beat until you are left with a smooth mixture

Stir in the white chocolate chips (Best to use a spoon or spatula for this part)

Prepare your baking tray by lining it with greaseproof paper.
Use a spoon to create balls of dough and place on the lined baking tray. Pat down with the spoon to create a circular cookie shape. You may want to drop a few more white chocolate chips on top of each cookie at this stage.

Bake for 10 – 12 minutes or until the top is set but the centre is still gooey
Cool on a wire rack, then, the cookies are ready to eat!

26Jul2013

Easy Cheesy Pasta

Posted in Main courses, Recipes by Miss Foodie

This delicious yet simple pasta recipe is one of my favourites! It is my go-to recipe when I want a quick yet tasty meal and can be tailored to your taste by adding your own choice of vegetables or cheese.

Overall time needed: 20 mins

Ingredients (for 2):

4 mushrooms
1 red onion
4 garlic cloves
4 tablespoons plain flour
100g mature cheddar cheese (or to taste)
300ml milk
200g pasta
Pinch of salt
Pinch of pepper
Tablespoon of olive oil

Method:

Boil the pasta as instructed on the packet and leave to boil as you prepare the sauce.
Prepare your ingredients for the sauce: Chop the mushrooms, onions and finely chop the garlic cloves. Grate the cheese.

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Add the olive oil to the frying pan (for this recipe, a wok-style pan works best) and leave to simmer on a medium heat till the oil is hot.
Add the onions, garlic and mushrooms to the pan and fry for 3 – 4 minutes, stirring constantly.

Add the plain flour to the pan and stir so all the vegetables are covered in the flour.

Turn the heat to low, and pour the milk in the pan. Stir to avoid lumps, and leave to simmer on a low heat for until the mixture starts to boil. This should take approximately 1 – 2 minutes

Add the grated cheese to the pan and stir until the cheese is melted

Add a pinch of salt, pepper and any other seasoning to taste, A few sprigs of fresh rosemary can add a great touch.
Add the drained pasta to the sauce, if the sauce is too thick you may want to add some more milk to thin it down.

The pasta is ready to serve. You may want to add a few chopped cherry tomatoes or spinach leaves to garnish.

20Jul2013

Al Fresco

Posted in Italian, Restaurant reviews by Miss Foodie

“A décor that visually transports one to Italy”

Overview:

Price: £10 – 15 for main course and drink

Overall rating: 3.5 stars

Cuisine: Italian

Location: Whetstone

My thoughts:

The highlight of Al Fresco is its décor that reminisces an Italian garden and can visually transport one to Italy. Its leafy decorations surrounding each table, partial glass roof and some exposed brickwork allows for an outdoor dining experience all year round. The lighting, in the evenings, is provided predominantly by lamps fixated to the ceilings and walls, contributing to the warm ambience of the restaurant. The tables’ decorations collude with such themes, with dainty flowers placed on each table, adding a touch of colour.

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The menu features a wide choice of food, encompassing a variety pizzas, pastas, seafood, meat, poultry and salads, with an extensive choice for vegetarians. For starters, I would recommend the mixed platters to share. The ‘antipasto marinaio’ is perfect for seafood lovers, far more than enough to feed the suggested two to share. These platters really are the best starters on the menu, which is let down slightly by its other dishes. The funghi pan fried with garlic, for example, was a basic dish of chopped mushrooms fried in garlic and butter and was far too oily and sloppily piled on a plate.

I ordered the ‘Chicken in blue cheese and asparagus sauce’ ( which is unfortunately no longer on the updated menu). The chicken was moist, and well complemented with the creamy sauce. It was served with a side of well seasoned sautè potatoes and boiled broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, which were fairly plain and unfortunately did not live up to the chicken and potatoes.

The service could be improved slightly. Although the staff are friendly, I feel that greater attention could be paid to their customers, for example, greeting guests upon arrival in a swift and friendly manner, as opposed to leaving them to wait around for a few minutes and then vaguely guide them towards a table.

Al Fresco is always busy, being popular amongst locals, therefore booking is recommended for large groups. Its relaxed atmosphere makes it appropriate for all party types, including children and families. The dress-code is fairly informal, however, its picturesque setting makes it the kind of place that would be suitable for a special occasion. I, personally, celebrated my 21st birthday here.

Overall, I would recommend Al Fresco as an alternative to the Italian chains that are overvisited in suburban London. It is definitely one of the better Italian restaurants in the area, and its unique selling point is most definitely its décor and consequent atmosphere. The wide-ranging menu offers something for all tastes, however, some dishes are of better quality and taste than others. What lets the venue down slightly is the service, which could be improved in order to enhance customers’ experiences.

Restaurant details:

Al Fresco

1327 High Road

Whetstone

London N20 9HR

Tel: 020 8445 8880

Email: whetstone@alfresco-restaurant.co.uk

Opening Times

Monday – Saturday : 12 noon – 11pm

Sunday : 12 noon – 10pm

Website: http://www.alfresco-restaurant.co.uk/