Swedish meatballs from Bakfickan/The Hip Pocket by Operakällaren in Stockholm. These are definitely not your usual IKEA meatballs. Each meatball is nice, firm, yet tender and moist. The brown gravy was very creamy, super flavourful. I guess for reference purposes, it's like the IKEA one but more substantial in every way - thicker, creamier, incredibly savoury. Luckily the dish came with some mashed potatoes to mop it all up. Paired together with some pickled cucumber and lingonberries which provide a nice acidity, this dish was a good start/introduction to classic Swedish fare.
Aptly termed "Our Favourite", this burger from Burger Brothers really impressed. While I'm usually not that big of a fan of burgers in general, this was one heck of a good burger - the beef patty was done just right, while the creamy goats' cheese and tangy roasted peppers complimented each other really well. The caramelised onions added a nice sweetness, while the spicy Cajun sauce gave it a nice kick. Overall the flavours mixed harmoniously together to give an incredible mouthful with every bite.
Scotch eggs with sweet potato fries from Schotchtails at Borough Market. The fries were crisp outside with a very light and fluffy exterior. The eggs were super well done! The meat and batter wasn't too heavy or thick, while the egg itself was still nice and runny.
Tagliatelle with mixed seasonal mushrooms and summer black truffle. Such a simple dish but so so good. The truffle aroma has been infused thoroughly into the sauce and pasta, allowing it to really come through.
Yummy, deep-fried haloumi fries from Camden Market! The cheese is more chewy than melty-gooey, which compliments the crisp exterior. The yogurt drizzled over the fries provides a nice burst of acidity which helps cut through the greasiness. Great as a snack, or an accompaniment to a main.
Foie gras don with stir-fried mushrooms!!! The foie gras was seared perfectly, while the mushrooms added a nice crunchy texture to the dish. They were topped on a bed of fragrant Japanese rice and drizzled with a sweet and savoury teriyaki-like sauce. Amazing blend of flavours, and seriously who can resist foie gras (that is, if you like it)?
Super duper delicious chicken from Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (@dinnerbyhb). The chicken was cooked just perfectly - so tender that the knife just cuts through it like butter. A little painful on the wallet, but worth the treat once in a while.
One of the highlights from the tasting at Three Little Pigs! Shoestring fries topped with pork SLICES (not minced meat!), sour cream and spring onion. While the fries were fried to a perfect crisp, the meat definitely was a highlight. I really liked how the sliced meat was super tender and well-marinated, and not just minced meat drowning in a tomato-based sauce. The bulgogi marinade made the meat really tasty, and went super well with the fries. Quite a big portion, but no surprises as to why it disappeared so fast!
A sizzling plate of Korean spicy rice cake, fish cake, and vegetables in a spicy and sweet chilli paste sauce. Cheese is an add-on which costs a bit more but totally worth it. This is comfort food at its best - served piping hot with melty cheese all over the top, it is a great dish for sharing with friends. The cheese and sauce really compliment each other. The sauce is sweet, spicy, and slightly tart which helps to cut through the richness of the cheese, while the cheese really brings out the flavour of the other ingredients. Portion-wise, not the most generous, hence best to share with a group of friends.
Was excited to try the ramen from Machida, especially since the broth sounded super rich flavourful. This particular one was their famous tonkotsu broth with garlic oil and butter added. You also get to choose how strong you want the flavour to be i.e. light, medium or heavy.
I would strongly recommend nothing more than medium or you'll be reaching for ice water every few seconds. The broth was good; but a few mouthfuls in and you'll be reaching for a glass of ice water soon as you'll be overwhelmed by how salty it is. Tbh, it really was quite overpowering, so go easy on the flavour of the broth.
Also, the noodles are Yokohama-style yellow noodles - very reminiscent of our own local yellow noodles. While some may get used to it, it just tasted like normal yellow noodles to me which I personally don't really like.
The other ingredients were good though, especially the cha-shu with fats that melt in your mouth. Overall the experience was just marred by the overly-salty soup.
Was excited to try the ramen from Machida, especially since the broth sounded super rich flavourful. This particular one was their famous tonkotsu broth with garlic oil and butter added. You also get to choose how strong you want the flavour to be i.e. light, medium or heavy.
I would strongly recommend nothing more than medium or you'll be reaching for ice water every few seconds. The broth was good; but a few mouthfuls in and you'll be reaching for a glass of ice water soon as you'll be overwhelmed by how salty it is. Tbh, it really was quite overpowering, so go easy on the flavour of the broth.
Also, the noodles are Yokohama-style yellow noodles - very reminiscent of our own local yellow noodles. While some may get used to it, it just tasted like normal yellow noodles to me which I personally don't really like.
The other ingredients were good though, especially the cha-shu with fats that melt in your mouth. Overall the experience was just marred by the overly-salty soup.
Ushidoki uses 'Ozaki' beef, which is their own brand of wagyu beef from Japan that the owner has developed after years of cattle ranching. The lunch course lets you try the beef cooked in various ways.
The appetisers as pictured shows the beef cooked three ways. First, was a mini hamburger patty. It was moist, juicy and full of flavour. The second plate consisted of simple beef pieces, which, of course, were super tender and simply melts in your mouth. The last plate had fried beef pieces, which unfortunately turned out to be a bit tougher than expected. However I really liked the flavour and crispy texture of the fried beef.
The lunch course is a 6-course set (including dessert) that is quite pricey, but good if you want to treat yourself to a nice meal once in a while.
