Paris: A weekend getaway

Chez Marianne

FOOD:

The falafel takeaway line at Chez Marianne

This trip was the best trip hands down when talking about food.  I took some time and planned out our meals because in the past we relied on the concierge and that just wasn't cutting it...  This is what I found and not a disappointment in the bunch. I highly recommend ALL of the ones below.

1) Falafel pita takeaway: in the jewish district... Chez Marianne - they have a sit down and a takeaway... We did the takeaway... Its the only falafel sandwich that I've actually finished-delish!

2 Rue Hospitalières St Gervais
75004 Paris, France
Subway: St Paul

2) Ristorante Al Caratello: Italian... Looks like a dive type place...very basic looking, but oh so good. Prices are fantastic and so is the staff and the food.  The appetizers are larger than most entrees so you definitely need to share the apps. Its ranked #15 on tripadvisor out of 6777 restaurants... Mike had ling and clams and I had the ricotta and spinach raviloli with black truffle, gorganzola and spinach cream sauce WE ATE EVERY BITE!

-5 rue Audran. 75018 Paris. France (not too far from Moulin Rouge)

Ristorante Al Caratello

Ristorante Al Caratello

Ristorante Al Caratello

Ristorante Al Caratello

3) Breakfast in America: OH YEAH! Fab diner! The french toast was amazing! The pancakes also VERY good! Mikes omelet was very tasty too! Sausage was eehh... and so were the home fries...just not crispy enough... The wait staff were all Americans. Their milkshakes looked to die for but we were stuffed and couldn't swallow another thing. Next time!

Breakfast in America

Breakfast in America

Breakfast in America

Breakfast in America

http://www.breakfast-in-america.com/main/
4, rue Malher
75004 Paris, France
Metro: St Paul
Tel: 01 42 72 40 21

and

17, rue des Ecoles
75005 Paris, France
Métro: Cardinal LeMoine or Jussieu
Tel: 01 43 54 50 28

We also wanted to have a french dinner at a place called Chez Marcel, but they are closed all of August like most french do... that's on the "for next" time list too.

Hummus Wrap Recipe

I have been asked to post the hummus wrap recipe... I can't find it... but I've made it enough now to where I think I can wing it...

• Get your favorite wraps... I prefer the biggest I can find... warm/cold that's up to you... I do cold on these...
• Get your favorite hummus and spread it all over it... edge to edge
• then get some chick peas and chop them up into little chunky bits and then spread them all over... this will make a nice texture
• then add some thinly sliced red onion (if you don't like red onion thats fine too)
• throw on some quartered small piccolo tomatoes (or whatever tomato you have)
• cut a cucumber (no seeds) into chunky cubes... to give a nice bite/texture
• in a separate bowl dice up some red and yellow peppers and zucchini (courgettes) and throw those into a freshly made vinaigrette (my fave is a mustard, but a red wine or white balsamic vinaigrette would be nice to...just grab a recipe from the internet) let it sit for 30 minutes or if you are in a hurry at least 15 minutes... then spoon on the peppers & zucchini and even some juice if you like but not that much because no one wants a soggy wrap
• then put on as much lettuce mixture... I like a mix of something, but whatever you have or like will work...except for crisp iceberg lettuce I think that'd be gross... try a mesclun mix or some rocket...
• be careful on your portions because you still need to wrap this!
• pull in the bottom and then pull one side over to the other and carefully slide one side back until you cant push the guts of your wrap back any further and then wrap it... if you need help holding it together just stick in a couple toothpicks (smile) Its not pretty but it sure beats the wrap falling a part. My wrap, is more of a burrito so the toothpicks are usually always needed.
• Enjoy!

Cornbread Muffins

My Cornbread Muffins!

For some reason I was craving cornbread muffins the other day so guess what I MADE SOME! Yep, made some right in my very own oven with my very own hands.  I ate them with soup and they were SO good!  Be jealous. Very Very Jealous!

I apologize for the shadow of my hand in the picture...oops...

AMERICAN PANCAKE MIX

If you like American pancakes and you live in London you need to read the below ASAP!

I recently found Betty Crocker "AMERICAN PANCAKE" shake and pour mix at Waitrose at Westfield London!  For only 99 pence!!

Now to see if I can get them to carry Quacker Oats Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal packs...

Here is a picture to prove it:

Waitrose @ Westfield London

The Grazing Goat

As I told my friend who invited to eat here for breakfast "You had me at goat"!

I arrived at the Grazing Goat located at 6 New Quebec Street
(Marble Arch Tube)
Located just around the corner from OLD Quebec Street..DUH!

From the outside I thought "This place is cute!"

The Grazing Goat

So I walked in and thought "This place is cute and cozy, I like it!"

The staff was super nice which is really rare in London.
We looked over the menu and I was torn between the blueberry pancakes (which was described to me as somewhere between an American Pancake and a French crepe, he said it was medium fluff and very good... but in the end the eggs benedict with Ham and Spinach won! Oh yeah, and a decaf cappuccino.

This is what it looked like when it arrived:

DELICIOUS!

It was absolutely delicious probably one of the best egg benedicts I've eaten. The spinach and ham was delicious, the sauce was perfect, the English muffin was perfect. I just loved it.

Would I go back? IN A HEART BEAT!

Lupita Mexican

I'm on a hunt for good Mexican food in London!

My latest try....   Lupita which is a mexican place at Villiers Street located in between Embankment and Charing Cross Tube Station...

Guacamole at Lupita

Here's the run down:

Atmosphere: OK
Tables: Too Small
Bar Area: OK
Service: Awful

Food:
Gaucamole: Good and a lot of it for a mere £4.95
Beef Burrito: Mike gave it a 3. He hated it. It had mayo on it. Weird.
Chicken Tacos: WAY too tiny and not very good. I said NO cheese and got CHEESE and the CHEESE ruined the taco. Total Bummer. £4
Pork Tacos: WAY too tiny and ok. As you can tell from the picture one taco was totally shorted on the pork. £5

pork tacos with gross onions. they may have been old?

I asked Mike if he'd go back and he said NO WAY.
Would I go back? Only for the guacamole and that's it...

Benito's Hat Mexican Kitchen

I'm on a mission to seek new and delicious Mexican food in London...

Here is my latest find 

"Benito's Hat Mexican Kitchen"

It's a go to the counter and order and build your own taco, burrito, etc... concept. Like Chipotle if you've ever been to one...  I ordered 2 braised chicken tacos and a bottle water and the bill was right around £5 (approx. $7.60) and they give you a splash of chips on the side.

What did I think?

• Fair prices 
• Nice staff
• Clean facility
• Corn Tortilla on the almost stall side
• Tomatoes were a bit hard/not ripe enough
• Black Beans were delicious
• Guacamole looked chunky like I like it but on the verge of turning brown on them...
• Braised Chicken was tender and very good
• They also have 2 For 1 Margarita's during Happy Hour
• They also sell beer and provide tap water

Would I go back? Yes, more than likely.

Where are they?
They have 2 locations:
1) Soho on New Row (Thats the one I went to)
2) Goodge Street


Opening times: Sun - Wed 11:30-22:00, Thurs - Sat 11:30-23:00

Cheers,
WMMc

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