09/26 tonight my meal took place somewhere over the atlantic. i was on a plane, and therefore subject to airplane cuisine. attempting to stick to a meatless monday option, i had the pasta. the sad tasteless overcooked pasta..... but with airplane cuisine? that's expected!
09/27 tonight i ate at a ukranian restaurant that specializes in "vareniki", tiny dumplings similar to pirogues. i had a plate of the potato and onion vareniki with a side of borscht. ukranian comfort food!!!
09/28 a co-worker recommended a georgian restaurant for tonight's meal. as in the country, not the southern state. they are known for the "khachapuri", or cheese bread. holy cow this stuff is amazing. a simple flat bread with the most amazing blend of cheeses melted on top. that and a dish of chicken in a garlic cream sauce made for a spectacular meal!
09/29 we had a "ladies" night at a steak house tonight, were the special was a filet mignon in sour cherry sauce. and you know how much i love sour cherries! the sweet and tart sauce paired quite well with the red meat. definitely something i'll have to try in the future!
09/30 i have had many a burger in my days, but nothing quite like the hamburger i had tonight. a place near our hotel is famous for it's "black burger". which got it's name for the dark pumpernickel bun it's served on. it's then topped with boursin cheese and a plum chutney. a fantastic combination of flavors! even if the burger does look a little "goth".
10/01 with my pleasant experience with georgian food a few nights ago, i tried another one tonight! starting again with the khachapuri, but this time trying to pork dumplings. very similar to dim sum "soup dumplings", but a little larger. but let's be honest....it was all about the cheese bread.
10/02 i was surprised to find a mexican(ish) restaurant tonight. and with the heavy meat laden meals i've had lately, i was desperate for a salad! so i had a simple chicken taco salad. not the fanciest meal, but it hit the spot!
10/03 for a simple meatless monday meal tonight i had a basic cheese sandwich. but with a very lovely red leister cheese, and a sun-dried tomato ciabatta!
10/04 tonight was one of my favorite comfort foods, beef stroganoff with mashed potatoes. such and indulgence! and now it's off to another flight to another city....
10/05 i have to say, tonight's meal may have been one of my most disappointing this year. i have fond memories of eating amazing "salmon cakes" in scotland, so when i saw them on the menu at a the bar in my hotel? i was very excited! but these over fried flavorless pink hockey pucks? left much to be desired.
10/06 tonight was another comforting meal of good ole fashioned "pub grub". steak and ale pie with roasted potatoes and mushy pies.
10/07 the wonderful meal i had tonight more than made up for the lousy salmon cakes earlier this week! for the long weekend, i've taken a road trip to wales to meet up with a friend. in cardiff we went to the "potted pig". a gorgeous local haunt that specialized in their seasoned and pulled pork served in a small mason jar. delicious! they also had a fantastic grilled pork belly. and since it was my first time in wales, i had to have welch rarebit!!!! basically an open faced grilled cheese. and another creation i must learn to make!
10/08 tonight i am at the very edge of wales, just along the coast. it is a gorgeous and remote area. but there's a little pub within walking distance of the b&b. it seems only appropriate that i get the classic fish and chips! and with mushy peas!! i have to say this fried haddock was some of the best i've had....
10/09 today was a long and beautiful day of hiking (i will have to post picture on a different thread!) so all my friend and i wanted to do was curl up watching bad movies and eating cheese. so we raided a local grocery store for cheese, fruit, salami, bread and wine to have a little cheese and charcuterie!
10/10 for my meatless monday evening i went to a little restaurant adjacent to my hotel. their seasonal special was the pumpkin risotto (yay pumpkin meal!) served with a caprese salad and parmesan crisps. a perfect fall meal!
10/11 tonight i wanted to explore a thai restaurant that everyone had been recommending. since it's cold, dreary and grey, it seemed like a good night for pad thai and tom ka!
10/12 i met some friends from work to go outlet shopping this evening, so we grabbed a quick bite at an asian style fast food cafeteria there. vegetarian dumplings and chicken jaipur noodles.
10/13 so i have learned that the british? let me rephrase.....specifically the ENGLISH have overall disappointing and underwhelming cuisine. with one exception. meat pies. holy cow do these people know their way around a good savory pie!!! this restaurant features 25 specialty savory pies nightly. we went with a larger group and agreed to order several different ones and share "family style" they were all fantastic! the peppered steak and brandied cream sauce, chicken and leek, boar sausage and cranberry, pork with apple and sage stuffing. i've already started trolling pinterest for recipes to make when i get home! if you ever happen to be in the midlands of england? i absolutely recommend this pub: http://www.crownandtuns.co.uk
10/14 tonight was back to the thai restaurant. i was desperate for food with a little spice to it. an appetizer of crispy duck pancakes followed by red curry chicken hit the spot!
10/15 i've had so many heavy meat dishes lately, that when i saw salad on the menu tonight? i immediately ordered it! crab salad with roasted red peppers on a bed of field greens and tomatoes. so good to have some fresh vegetables again!
10/16 a new group of friends has come into town tonight, so we all met up at a highly rated indian restaurant nearby. i agree with they hype, the food here was delicious! i had the "chicken alfonso". which was strips of white meat chicken in a red curry and mango sauce. a little on the sweet side, but the sauce was so perfect for dipping naan into!
10/17 for tonight's meatless meal i wandered to a nearby pub for their minted pea and risotto cakes. a delightful combination!
10/18 it is another cold and dreary night, so when i saw a food cart that was selling udon noodles and steam buns? i was hooked! the idea of the comforting noodles was exactly what i wanted. and i never pass up a chance for steam buns. i'm not sure if i was just really hungry? or if this food was really amazing? but i swear these were some of the best noodles i've ever had!
10/19 tonight i wanted to check out the restaurant in my hotel. i once again ordered the fish and chips and sat in the corner for some excellent people watching. this fish was amazing. one of the most crisp pieces of haddock i've ever had! and the serving size was more than enough for two people!
10/20 my last night in the uk, and i had to get one more shot at the pies at pudding face! this time our group tried the following: beef and horseradish, minted lamb, chicken chorizo and game pie. once again, all were fantastic! though i have to admit, i'm ready to get home and back in my own kitchen. and back to fresh vegetables!!!
10/21 i have returned home! and so very happy to be back in my house!! and back in an area where fresh vegetables are so readily available. so before my jet lagged knocked me out? i made it to chick fil a for a "south west grilled chicken salad". never has a salad tasted so good!!!!
10/22 tonight i was back at the 'rents to retrieve my dear puppy. while there i met my sister and niece to go to the local italian restaurant "the olive tree" for some more salad!!! i ordered a piece of lasagna too, but filled up on all the salad, so that will be lunch tomorrow!!
10/23 finally i have a night back in my kitchen. since it is autumn, which is my favorite cooking time of year, i had to honor it with one of my all time favorite recipes. sausage and barley stuffed acorn squash. it's a simple enough recipe, and easy to adapt to personal tastes/preference. i start by cutting the top off of an acorn squash and scooping out the seeds. then i roast at 400F for an hour. meanwhile i prepare the filling by mixing: one dice green apple, 1 c cooked barley, one sautéed yellow onion, 1/2 c shredded cheddar, 1 egg beaten, 1/4 c golden raisins and 1/2 lb cooked sage sausage. this makes enough for about four acorn squashes. stuff the roasted squash with the filling, then pop back in the oven for 20 minutes (until the egg is set). your kitchen will smell amazing and the flavors are perfect for the season!!!
i promise i'll be posting more picutres/recipes in the weeks to come!
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