Check it out – what a thing of beauty!

After seeing this on TV last night, by this morning I am already looking up Amtrak fares to Philadelphia… and all for a sandwich! The roast pork and broccoli rabe sandwich at DiNic’s in the Reading Market Terminal.

Image thanks to a fellow sandwich lover at Flickr

Looking for something to do this weekend?

From today Friday 5 November through to Sunday 7th, the Real Food Market decends on London’s Southbank. La Fromagerie will be there serving up delicious cheeses (usually reserved for visitors to Marylebone), along with 40 other producers including the Flour Power City Bakery for great brownies and Woodward Farm for free-range beef and eggs.

I’m keen to check out the goods from Cafe-on for what is decribed as “French Patisseries with Asian flavours”. The macaroons on the Cafe-on website look delicious, and are gluten free!

Image borrowed from Cafe-on website

Opening times: Fri 11am-8pm; Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 12 noon-6pm

For more information and the complete list of producers: Real Food Market website

Another reason to be happy about my recent move to the South East of London – the London Particular. I read about this on the lovely Scrambling Eggs blog, and I can see it becoming a brunch favourite. Nice!

I’ve not yet had the chance to try this out, but it’s a great idea. Marky Market sources the best meat and fish from various markets around London, and then delivers it to your door. Prices are reasonable, and the produce no doubt tastes a million times better than what you’ll find in your local supermarket.

More info over at www.markymarket.com

London taxis are world-renowned, but this is usually referring to the fact that drivers are knowledgeable, safe, and friendly.

Once in a while you get one that’s even better… and last night, the lucky one ferrying me and my curry coma back home from dinner at Lahore Kebab House (great food = amusingly unfriendly service. dinner for 4 = £55)  had Joan Armatrading on the stereo. I couldn’t quite remember what I was listening to… so I asked the driver, and not only got the song name, but the full story about how one of his mates played guitar in her band, and that she’s actually an exceptional electric guitarist. He was proper excited about my interest in the song. So there you go… enjoy!

A weekend in Melbourne or New York would feel incomplete without brunch in a cafe somewhere; so can you believe that after more than two years here, I’d never been out for a classic English breakfast? Well, now I have. And it was well worth the wait – yesterday morning I finally had one at SOS Cafe in London.

The place is owned by an Australian to be proud of – John Torode (of Masterchef fame) – the food was simple, classic stuff.  I had the number 2 – poached eggs, sausage, bacon, beans and toast. Tasty! The best bit was the atmosphere and staff -  totally warm, friendly and unpretentious. Just like the person I had breakfast with. I think I have found my No. 1 breakfast place in London!

This weekend I visited Zurich for the first time, and I’ve instantly fallen in love with the city. It does help that it was an unusually sunny and beautiful 27c on both days, but still – the place is gorgeous in every way. It’s noticeably lacking in hawkers, rubbish and unsavory humans; instead teeming with happy types, cute little independently-owned cafes and bars. It’s  lush with trees, and then it’s got THAT lake. It was perfect for what I love to do most – eat, wander, drink, chat, nap… repeat as desired.

After a quick glass of Perrier Jouet in our suite (with terrace!) we headed out to dinner at Restaurant Seerose, right on the lake. We ate all manner of delicious seafood and met some lovely Zurich locals at the next table. One of these gorgeous locals has the most envious job of all time – he travels the world making over hotels. His latest project is the Hotel Eden Au Lac, a palace of a building right on the lake. We went back there and enjoyed a cocktail on the hidden roof terrace that has views of the city and lake – divine.

The next day just got better with some lovely macaroons from Sprungli, a wander through the flea market, a walk around the lake AND a bratwurst! That evening saw the BEST steak sandwich ever (I’m suspecting it’s all in the chive and garlic butter…) from the Park Hyatt, and a visit to Katie’s soon to be new house.

Zurich – what’s not to love?!

The new Yotam Ottolenghi cookbook, Plenty, will hit the shelves in early May – just in time for summer BBQ season. The last one was full of delicious salads, tarts and sweet treats that could (mostly) be prepared in advance, meaning there wasn’t any fussing about when guests are around.

I look forward to trying out the new recipes on my unsuspecting BBQ friends in the coming months.

One Saturday morning a few weeks ago there was an unexpected knock on the door of the GF… two minutes later Katie walked into the kitchen with this box of Lola’s cupcakes. Our gorgeous friend Jordana from Melbourne had organised a delivery for our birthdays… how cool is that!

We’ve been loyal to the Primrose Bakery cupcakes since moving to London, but these were outstanding and a serious contender to our local cupcake baker loyalty. They were pretty to look at, we had a variety of flavours  – chocolate on chocolate, lemon, carrot, strawberry cream and so on.. too good!

On another food note, a few weeks later I had friends over for b’day celebrations and we enjoyed pizza from Marine Ices (the ‘Roundhouse for about 9 quid is the GF favorite) and Lanson champagne… except for the torrential downpour of rain the night couldn’t have been more lovely!

This weekend my old friend ben frost visited me at the GF en route from reykjavik to adelaide – first time we’d seen each other in years… so exciting!

london graced us with a spectacularly sunny and warm day, so we walked over to primrose hill. i somehow managed to get us lost but it was to our fortune – as we accidentally stumbled across l’absinthe, a cute little french bistro on chalcot street. it was lovely from the get-go. we sat at a little table out on the pavement in the shade, our waitress was cute and friendly and the host-chef guy was endearing.

We had the goats cheese and walnut salad to start, then the duck confit with potato gratin for the main, and espresso chocolate mousse for sweet. it was all delicious, huge servings, and the service was warm and non-intrusive. i have walked past this place so many times but never eaten there, but now i think now they’ve won themselves a new regular. i want to try so much on their menu… all the classics: french onion soup (4.75), steak frites (14.95), apple tarte tatin (4.65) – or just go there to hang out and enjoy some cheese and wine. so beware to those visiting me in london soon, I will be taking you there for brunch/lunch/dinner!

and the picture above? ben’s new album ‘by the throat’ will come out in just over a month on the bedroom community label.

listen & free download here