St.Albans' street marketOnly 20minutes outside of central London by train, you can visit the markets of St. Albans, here are some pics of my last visit there which was on a Saturday morning. The street market is held in Market Place and St Peter's Street on Wednesdays and Saturdays, as it has been for many hundreds of years. There is also a monthly farmers' market, normally on the second Sunday, and a French market every four months. I always love the vibe, sights and sounds of a street market and just visited Borough Market on Saturday after a very long time -yes even on a chilly winter day it was packed full of people! And Happy Birthday Dearest Sister!!!!

Greek lunch
It is now officially winter in London!? It is very cold, wet and grey which is just the type of weather that is perfect for August, non?

This is what lunch consisted of last week - fresh, simple and delicious. The tomatoes were delicious and juicy, the bread was fresh and the Spanish chorizo (from Borough Market) was delicious. Along with the view from the boat, you couldn't have a more relaxing lunch.

Hopefully Mother Nature sends some sun our way -maybe she can take a little heat and sun from Greece, they had plenty. Gotta run and shut the windows as another downpour has just started!

x

Truffle hunting on your next vacation?
A travel idea: travel to Italy for a truffle hunt! It may be muddy and dirty but it sounds like fun and you stay with a family or in a small town and eat like a King (or Queen). In the past, truffles were only found by trained pigs but it seems like dogs are now the main way that these precious fungi are found.

They are edible subterranean mushrooms that are hard to find and therefore a much sought after delicacy. Pungent tasting and rich smelling, round and not quite hard - they are brown and wrinkly and plain ugly (see pic above). They are used very sparingly in dishes and am not sure you can really taste them when they are on menus (in truffle oil, truffle infused sauce etc.).

I have been meaning to make a truffle themed dinner for a while and will have to get some fresh truffles from Borough and make it happen, maybe when Momma Dolce is in town.

Free Paella - Borough Market


They were handing out free paella at Borough Market on 5 & 6 of June for a Spanish/city of Valencia showcase. The queue was massive but it looked good and everyone was enjoying their little dish of rice.

Baxters at Borough

Going to the Beijing Olympics?
It will be a gastronomic adventure! Chinese food is always very interesting and these pictures depict how interesting it can get. Although, I always thought sea horses were magical and fairy tale-like - to see them skewered on a kebab stick shatters some childhood images. We had a dead starfish in our rental car when we went to Disney World as kids, who knew we could've deep fried it and ate it if we got stranded anywhere in Orlando!

I saw some sea urchins in Borough Market this week and was curious to buy one and try it. Maybe next week!

Jessica Rabbit

Who Framed Roger Rabbit - remember that movie? Just another day at the market! Not sure if this budding actress even eats rabbit - will have to ask her during our next market adventure.

Several times while growing up, our dad brought home a few rabbits and sometimes skinned them in the basement after a hunting trip. I think we even had a pet rabbit once that suspiciously 'disappeared' and we were only told after the fact that we had eaten it for dinner! And...our parents told us that everything that was put on the dinner table was 'chicken', including rabbit. Gotta love the tricks parents use to get their kids to eat - apparently Dolce Senior and I were poor eaters when we were little.

Here is a recipe for rabbit stew that I like - there are no measurements - just use your judgment e.g. a handful of vegetables and for the wine about 1-2 cups same with water and one can of chopped tomatoes:

Coniglio (rabbit) stew

Fresh whole rabbit cut into pieces
Olive oil
Zucchini
Carrots
Celery
Anise
Garlic
Onions
Mushrooms
Potatoes
Oregano
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Chopped Tomatoes, canned or fresh
White wine
Chicken stock

In a pan, heat olive oil until hot. Add onions, garlic and fry them til they become lightly golden. Add the rabbit to the onions and garlic and cook quickly on both sides until brown. Add vegetables sliced and diced (maybe pre boil the potatoes first or slice them very thinly so they cook).

Once the rabbit has browned nicely add the wine and spices. Let the rabbit soak up the wine and the medley of flavours from the vegetables, onions and garlic. Add salt and pepper.

After 5-10minutes add the tomatoes and some water or chicken stock. Reduce heat and let this all simmer until the sauce thickens. Test a piece of potato and rabbit to see if it is cooked –should take another 30-45min to thicken the sauce on low heat – slow cooking will bring out the flavours so no need to rush.

Serve with fresh, crusty bread and rice!

Evaporating seawater produces...
This sea salt comes from Noirmoutier Island near Brittany, France and is sold at Borough Market. It comes in some lovely flavour combinations e.g. sea salt and sea weed, sea salt and hot spices (cumin, curry & chili's), sea salt, ginger and coriander and more. As Momma Dolce always says, 'it is the presentation that counts', and the vendors know this well as salt is not the sexiest product to sell. With very well designed labels, modern and fresh signage, beautiful large wooden bowls and scoopers and a lovely french-y checkered tablecloth, the stall at the market looks inviting. The two gentlemen who run the stall have created such a simple, yet pleasing way to view and display salt. It made me want to put my hands into the bowls and feel the texture and salt on my skin -which is most likely frowned upon.

Apparently sea salt tastes different than normal iodized salt as its makeup is different. It is generally more expensive than normal salt and usually found in gourmet restaurants and also in those lovely hand baked crisps. I think the sound and texture of sea salt and fresh ground pepper coming out of a grinder onto your meal adds to the experience and theatre of cooking!

I might buy some seasoned sea salt tomorrow and ask the gentlemen who sell it what best to use it with. I am thinking a steak or a nice fish filet drizzled with salt and olive oil and broiled in the oven. Tomorrow is market day.

Gerry at the market week 2
Unfortunately the Gerry at the market series is coming to an end as he is leaving ol' Blighty for a 3 month holiday in sunnier climes. LA, Australia and Thailand to name a few of the lovely spots he will visit. Today is his last day in the office so I thought I would post pics from the last outing we had to Borough Market. As usual Gerry is a stage hound so posed appropriately for the pics. I am trying to figure out how to post a pic of him in his fluorescent green, Borat man-kini on the blog?! It is hilarious. Maybe will have to write about food in Kazakhstan and slip the pic into the story.

At our last outing to the Market I opted for the scallop wrap again as I couldn't resist and Gerry diversified and got the fish and chips from the FishKitchen!

Fish! restaurant located in the market also have a standalone take away stand. Owner of the Fish! group of companies Tony Allan started with the fish restaurant at Borough in 1999 and now has this little fish and chip shop and owns Jarvis The Fishmonger in Kingston which sells fish to wholesale and retail customers. Fresh, sustainable and good quality fish is part of their mantra. And only fish. Their restaurant menu is 99% fish and their Fish! stand sells only fish and chips. Specialize and you will become an expert!
If Gerry goes to the market today will get him to take a farewell pic for the readers. The Cottle family are born entertainers (they had the largest circus in the UK at one point) so am sure I will have more Gerry news in the future! Have a great trip Geronimo! x

C'est raclette oui ou non?

Raclette is a specialty that comes from France/Switzerland. At Borough Market they sell raclette (see pics)and for £5 you get a plate of potatoes with the melted milky traditional cheese on top -served with a gherkin (pickle) or two.

I went to a few parties where raclette was served and at these parties the cheese was ladled over cured and cooked meats - like ham, chicken, beef, fish along with all types of vegetables like onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and more... in addition to roasted potatoes.

At work on Friday, British members of the team were baffled at the cost and desire for raclette as they argued, 'Isn't it just jacket potato and cheese?' which is standard British fare that you can get on any corner for £2 for double the portion. I never thought of it that way and laughed...I actually agree and think that stall is puling a fast one on visitors. It is essentially baked potatoes (cut up into cubes) and cheese.

At least they scrape the cheese from the large traditional cheese wheel. To scrape is where the word raclette comes from...but they give you nothing else?! The guy even sells olives on the side. Maybe a piece of crusty bread would be nice? For £5 that is a lot to pay for a French version of jacket potatoes and cheese, non?

Am sure the French man who wears his fancy apron and speaks in his French accent is scratching or scraping his head all the way to the bank in wonder how people would pay that much for some cheese and potatoes!

Pic of a traditional raclette spread.

Gerry at the market



Gerry is a natural born performer - he comes from a circus family and entertains us at work with his circus routines. He is always 'clowning' around as it is in his nature - he is a former clown and he and his dad ran the great Cottle circus and now Wookey Hole. Here he is eating his favourite olives from Borough Market - they are stuffed with garlic and he is entertaining as usual, some of his lines are classic and can make you spit that olive out into oblivion as you laugh so hard.

He is standing in front of Applebee's where I got my Cajun fish wrap on Friday and where we all had our lovely garlic prawn wrap the Friday before....mmmmm....can't wait til Friday again!

Mammoth at MonmouthThis is the mammoth queue to get a coffee at Monmouth Coffee. Saturdays at Borough Market are total madness and even during yesterday's lunch hour I had to wait in a smaller queue to try out the legendary coffee. When you order they make the coffee right in front of you drip-style (see pic). A regular filter coffee costs £2.00 ($4.20CDN) which I thought was a bit expensive. But one must never do the conversion when in London or elese you would only eat discounted bread and butter when visiting.

Monmouth started roasting and selling coffee in 1978 at its first location in Covent Garden (the old flower market). They source beans and form relationships with growers in South America, Central America, Asia & the Pacific and Africa. Their builds relationships to ensure sustainability and fair trade from their partners so perhaps that explains the quality and price of the coffee. Also for the sweet tooths, they serve cakes and sweets from Paul which is another of my favourite French bakeries in London.

I must admit I wasn't impressed by the coffee probably becaues I took it black with sugar. Since I have been dairy free I have not taken to the black style of coffee or really enjoyed coffee that much; I think I just loved the combination of coffee and milky goodness.

Monmouth only use whole milk which could explain their popularity...all in all an interesting place to visit but until they use lactose free milk I will have to only listen to Diana's squeals of delight in regards to her visits to Monmouth.

Streaky BaconThe bacon we eat in North America is called streaky bacon here in the UK. See the tray of streaky bacon that is in the back of the shot. I think the name they give it is funny!

The Brits do not really eat streaky bacon much they eat larger slices of bacon which is shown in the tray on the right. Borough Market is open again tomorrow so will try and get there for some Monmouth coffee and some more pics!

Ahh Borough MarketThis was my lunch on Friday. The wrap came from Borough Market which is only open on Fridays and Saturdays. Located near London Bridge on the south bank, the market is a wonderful experience. You can get great fresh fruit and veg, fresh meats, fish, cheeses and chutneys along with other items like flowers, food related gifts and more...

I didn't get the name of the fish shop we went to but they had a queue out the door. The shop sells fresh fish at the front and on Friday's, in the back, they cook up and make two types of wraps for customers. The one above is a garlic prawn wrap (prawn=shrimps for the Canuckers) and the second one is a cajun white fish wrap. Mmmm. For £4 and £5 respectively you can get a decent serving of fish wrapped in salad with some fish sauce. It was divine and so fresh - I shall return next Friday for lunch again - this time stopping at Monmouth's coffee as per Diana's recommendation.

Our office smelled like garlic prawn as about four of us ordered the special - next week we will have more recruits as a few other staff were curious as to what smelled so good - am sure some were prob grossed out by the fish and garlic smell too ; )