A happy meal?

People say food doesn’t cure what ails you, but you know what…they are so wrong. Sometimes food is the answer and today it definitely was. After a gruelling session at the dentist, I was feeling disturbingly low and also hungry. After contemplating sushi takeout, sandwiches etc, I spotted the food Mecca of the civilised world… Mc Donald’s. First, can I preface that I never go to Mc Donald’s, sometimes on a long drive to Sligo we would stop off there at the halfway point, but normally never! So I went in (on my own, another rarity) and ordered a Happy Meal, as ordering an adult meal is very un-me! And you know what, I DID feel happy after it, more relaxed and less low. Maybe it’s the simplicity of the food, jovial atmosphere or perhaps just plain trans fats… Whatever, it truly was a happy meal!

How do you eat yours?

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/food/2008/04/quirks_at_table.html

Am really loving this article as I can definitely be accused of a bit of food quirkiness. I am a dipper; mostly everything I eat must be dipped in something. I have to have some kind of mayo, ketchup, sauce or condiment on the side of the plate. I cannot abide dry food and at the same time hate overly wet food. I also never use a knife to eat and always use my fork to cut food. A totally primitive habit, I know! C always saves his favourite bits till last and on a few occasions I have inadvertently plucked the last morsel off his place, to see his face fall. I ask, mouth full ‘oh were you saving this?’

making the most of it

I have started to suspect recently that I may have a food allergy, surely the worst fear of any food blogger. I was told before that I am allergic to gluten, wheat and should only have dairy once a week. As a vegetarian and self confessed food glutton, I cannot imagine a world in which I couldn’t eat cheese, breads, cakes, cookies… Apparently 1 in 100 people in the Uk are gluten intolerant, this is not a group I want to be a part of.

As much as my first instinct is to run away and eat a cream cake, I have decided to go and get checked out. I tried to go off these foods before and lasted a day…a miserable day in which I was starving. Fruit, people, does not fill you up. I’m not sure how I am going to manage not eating all the foods I love. Till then I am going to make the most of gluten and dairy…

Korean barbecue

Last Friday night we headed for Arirang on Poland Street, which advertises itself as a Korean Barbecue. We hadn’t really gone in for the barbecue, but the waitress said we would have to sit downstairs otherwise as the barbecues are built into the table top. In the effort to be adventurous, we went for a seafood barbecue concoction.

Firstly they delivered some pickled veg, which C refused to eat as it was cold, he hates cucumbers and anything spicy. Out of a sense of politeness I forced down some pickled cucumber, chilli lettuce and slimy beansprouts, but I’m not going to lie to you, it was gross!

After the waitress lit the gas barbecue, she brought the plate of raw seafood, rice must be ordered separately, but you do get some miso soup. The barbecue experience was a bit strange, as the waitress stood silently at the table, grilling and putting the pieces of prawn, squid and mussels into our bowls. It was a bit weird to have someone wait on you so quietly.

As we are noted gluttons, we also ordered sushi…which was actually needed, as the barbecue was far from filling.

The barbecue was really delicious. I love seafood and this was really well cooked, the only downside is unlike a full meal, you are only getting little bits at a time. Also eating in front of the omni present waitress was a little bit uncomfortable.

The best part of the meal had to be the two drunken, city types sitting next to us. Totally intoxicated, they ordered a lot of random stuff, telling the staff to just bring enough for two. This was clearly a dubious decision, as when it arrived it looked like more of the pickled veg variety.  I nearly choked on my food, when the drunker one said to the other ‘look at you tucking into this shit already’. We had to take a picture of them as they were so entertaining. So drunk, they were just shovelling the food in.

The verdict on Arirang was that it was a great experience, but I don’t think I’d go back. The staff were lovely and they even give you orange slices and melon at the end of the meal, but it was too gimmicky for me.

blog lethargy

Recently I have been suffering a bit of blog lethargy, while I had places to write about, I just could not summon up the energy, or even photograph things I’ve eaten. I’ve read about this kind of writer’s block on other blogs so it is nice to know I’m not the only lazy one. We have moved into a really nice new flat in Borough, near London Bridge, so I have been a bit complacent and too relaxed to write. The good side of the move is that I will be blogging about different places, like the Borough market, Bermondsey Street and surrounding areas. Bye bye Camden, hello South London!

Camden

Borough Snow