Posts

Posted on

Spinach Rarebit

Spinach Rarebit

Having some time to kill at Bristol airport, combined with missing breakfast, and a reasonably early flight, I decided that once I got through security I would find somewhere and get something to eat. I didn’t want to go down the takeaway coffee and pastry, I was more in the mood to have a seat at a table, and get served that way.

On a previous visit to Bristol Airport I had enjoyed my experience at Alembic, and as they weren’t too busy, I decided I would have something there. In addition they have a lovely intriguing menu with a range of choice of different kinds of breakfast. If you are looking for the traditional full English breakfast, then you won’t find it here.

Across the range of twelve choices, I narrowed my choice down to the Chorizo, Feta & Egg Croissant Roll, then there was the Mushrooms & Chargrilled Artichokes on Sourdough. I did like the sound of Scrambled Eggs on Schiacciata Romana (a traditional Italian bread). In the end I went with the Spinach Rarebit& Baked Egg.

I did think it was a bit early for mushrooms and artichokes which was my second choice and was an interesting choice for breakfast anyhow. 

In the end I went with the Spinach Rarebit & Baked Egg was wilted spinach, baked free-range egg, served over a rich mustard rarebit, finished with smoked sea salt.

Though you can order with a member of the waiting staff, I went with using the QR code on the table. Alongside my dish I also ordered a flat white. The coffee arrived promptly. The food arrived a little later.

I thought it might be too hot to eat initially, but I think it had been under the hot lamp for a while, as it was at an eatable temperature. I found the rarebit delicious and a great dish to start the day. I think it was slightly overcooked, but not by much. Certainly I would have it again.

The coffee was excellent as well.

What I really liked was that this was rather relaxing, I wasn’t rushed and was a perfect way to prepare for the flight.

Posted on

Big Lounge Breakfast

Ritorno Lounge on the Bristol Harbourside

I have had breakfast and lunch at various Lounges before, but had never been to the Ritorno Lounge on the Bristol Harbourside. Having had a lovely walk around the Harbourside, it was time for brunch. I chose the Big Lounge Breakfast, which was  smoked back bacon, Cumberland sausages, hash browns, baked beans, roasted tomatoes, black pudding, flat mushroom, two fried eggs and two slices of toast.

Though the place was really busy, it wasn’t that long before our food arrived.

big breakfast

It was a massive plate of food, but then I was hungry. Actually it looked a lot bigger than it was (well that’s my excuse I am sticking to that).

This was a lovely breakfast, tasty sausage and bacon, nice mushrooms and tomatoes. If I was to make one minor criticism, for me the sourdough toast was a little dry. I did like black pudding and the eggs were cooked well.

It was, for breakfast, I think quite pricey, but it was a good quality breakfast, served to your table in a nice environment. Would I go again, yes I would.

Posted on

Japanese-Style Crispy Chicken

The last time I was in the Netherlands was in October 2022 when I visited Amsterdam for a conference. Having spent a few days in Delft at a conference, and meetings in Utrecht I took the train back to Schiphol Airport where I had booked a hotel, the CitizenM, which is literally next door to the airport.

I ordered some Japanese-Style Crispy Chicken, which was described as karaage inspired juicy chicken bites, served with lemon and Kewpie mayonnaise dusted with Japanese 7-spice.

This was beautifully presented dish and looked great. The chicken was cooked well, with a nice crispy coating. The spice level was perfect. I really enjoyed these.

Posted on

Orecchiette pasta

Cooked pasta for tea. I like eating Orecchiette pasta since eating it in London a few years back at the now sadly closed Paesan restaurant close to Exmouth Market. Orecchiette are a pasta typical of the Apulia region of Italy.

I cooked the pasta according to the instructions on the packet. I then in a large frying pan cooked off some pancetta. To this I added some crème fraîche, a portion of Laughing Cow cheese  and some freshly chopped parsley. I didn’t have any mushrooms. I added the cooked pasta and served with some freshly grated parmesan.

Posted on

Another Small Cod

On a previous visit to Minehead I had a lovely fish and chips from The Cod Shop. So, on a recent return visit to Minehead I sought out The Cod Shop to get some fish and chips. I was given a warm friendly welcome, there was quite a bit of choice. Like on my last visit I went with the small cod and chips, which I thought was good value for just £6.50.

I ordered my fish and chips and took a seat on the benches outside. It was quite mild for October, so was happy to eat outside. Having said that, there is plenty of seating inside if you want a more formal affair for your fish and chips.

It wasn’t long before the food arrived and I was pleased with it. Yes it wasn’t a huge portion, but if I wanted a huge portion I would have ordered a large cod and chips. The chips were better this time. The batter was nice and crispy and didn’t go soggy at all. I really enjoyed the food.

Posted on

CitizenM Margherita Pizza

CitizenM Margarita Pizza

I am never really a fan of hotel pizza, either it’s a ready made base, or a ready made pizza. However there are exceptions. The Drayton Court Hotel for example has a proper pizza oven and use proper fresh pizza bases. 

The last time I was in the Netherlands was in October 2022 when I visited Amsterdam for a conference. Having spent a few days in Delft at a conference, and meetings in Utrecht I took the train back to Schiphol Airport where I had booked a hotel, the CitizenM, which is literally next door to the airport.

I did wonder about out the pizza, but once I saw what they looked like (as another guest had ordered pizza) I decided to have one for my dinner. You would think that if I was in the Netherlands that really I should be eating Dutch food. However there wasn’t anything typically Dutch on the menu.

I ordered the margherita pizza, this was a hand-stretched pizza topped with tomato sauce and rich buffalo mozzarella, with fresh basil. 

It wasn’t long before it arrived, and I have to say I was quite impressed. The base looked good, and I liked the addition of the fresh mozzarella and basil.

It was a really nice pizza and I enjoyed it. The base was nice and doughy, with an element of crispness. The tomato sauce was tasty and there was enough cheese on the pizza as well. They do a range of pizza, so there were other choices as well.

Posted on

Screaming Beans Flat White

Amsterdam

I was visiting the Netherlands attending a conference in Delft, I had some time before my flight home to explore part of Amsterdam. After walking around a bit, I decided to stop for a coffee.

I quite liked the look of Screaming Beans, even if the name was a little unnerving. I ordered a flat white and took a seat.

Flat white coffee on a table in a cafe

This was hand crafted coffee which looked great and was delicious. Though small and cosy, it was a welcoming environment and a pleasant place to spend some time drinking coffee.

Posted on

Ravioli al Tartufo

Delft

You would think that if I was in the Netherlands that really I should be eating Dutch food. The challenge I sometimes have when I am travelling abroad for work, is finding places to eat, but also finding places to eat that are within budget. Not that I sometimes mind paying more for excellent food, sometimes I do mind.

The last time I was in the Netherlands was in October 2022 when I visited Amsterdam for a conference. This time I was attending a conference in Delft and attending meetings in Utrecht as well. 

Upon my arrival in Delft, I did have a chance to explore the city and looking around there were some nice looking places for dinner, but they all seemed out of budget. In the end I went to an Italian restaurant, Pavarotti, which is situated in what was the old railway station. It certainly doesn’t look like a station from the inside any more.

They had an extensive menu, but I decided I would have the ravioli al tartufo. This was filled pasta with wild mushrooms, cream sauce, truffle tapenade, mushrooms and arugula (rocket).

The pasta was well cooked and still had a bite. The sauce was nice and you could taste the truffle. The sauce did contain mushrooms, think I would I like to have had some wild mushrooms in there. Not sure how much the arugula added to the dish, but it was nice to have some greenery in the dish. I enjoyed the pasta.

Posted on

Halloumi Bowl

Halloumi Bowl

I was in Bristol working and popped out at  for lunch to the Temple Quay street food market. Lots of choice as usual, in the end though I decided I would try something new and different, something that I wouldn’t necessarily be my first choice.

I went to the Hummusapiens van and ordered a halloumi bowl. This was honey glazed halloumi in a bowl with quinoa and hummus. It came with salad and all the trimmings. I did like the look of their flat bread they were using for their wraps, but you couldn’t order a plain one, though they do do artisan pitta bread. However, that is not the same thing.

The halloumi was delicious, and all the stuff in the bowl really made the dish. I absolutely loved it. The pickled vegetables added bite and sharpness. I enjoyed the quinoa and the hummus was excellent.