Tag Archives: food

Jamie Oliver Italian Restaurant Leeds

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Friends and us went to try the new opening Italian restaurant – the famous chef Jamie Oliver Italian restaurant in Leeds city centre. The chef was not Jamie in person, but follows his recipes. It was opened few weeks ago, and we alway wanted to give it a try as a food lover.

The starts was amazing, like tapas style. We had one vegetarian dish and one for seasonal meats. It was like the picture – look and taste were really gorgeous with cheese and bread! And we also ordered the white wine called Trebbiano Gargenega Del Veneto (2009) was light and fruity (reason price, but good value) I really enjoy the wine and the starter.

I ordered the lamp chop as my main course and I did try others pasta as well. My lamb was perfect – not too pink, not over cook, and it provided three sauces for me (mint, nuts and basil) I really enjoyed the main course. The other pasta was not bad. However, my friend’s pumpkin risotto was a little bit runny, but tasted not bad either.

The portion was big and great, some of them we could not finish. The environment was quite posh and stylish. The service was excellent and really helpful.

Overall 4 star out of 5. I will definitely recommend it to you.

My Friends Visiting Leeds

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Eileen and Miwa came up to Leeds this week and stayed with us for 3 days. I miss them so much and all the good time we spent in London, and I haven’t seen them for 3 months since we moved to Leeds. Sadly the weather was terrible – raining and cold while they were here.

I showed them a little bit Leeds City Centre, and went to Jamie Oliver Italian Restaurant in the evening, and had a such a wonderful dinner, then went to the Sky Lounge in City Inn for more wine and chatting. It did feel like we usually see each other and catch up in trying good food in London.

In second day, Melanie joined our group too, so we drove them to York. Unfortunately it was raining so we saw the raining side of York. The positive side of raining is that all the trees and garden were so green and we had the fresh air. York is always lovely to visit. The only downside of York is too expensive on food because it is a tourist town, and everything is over-price.

After touring around York, we drove back to visit Temple Newsam. It was such a historical house and full of histories. I love big old house like that, such as Henry VIII’s Hampton Court in London, and Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. It always make me think what if I were living in that era and what I would be, or doing what things? I am always fascinated about 14th -19th Centuries histories and culture.

Friends were back to London on Weds, and I felt like we are not being apart that long, just doing our normal life in London, rather than in Leeds. I miss them and doing girls things while we were in London.

First picture was in Jamie Oliver Italian Restaurant, and second one was that I made Gong Fu Tea for them while they were playing the Ipad.

You can see more pictures in York and Leeds here.

28th Birthday!

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Before my birthday, I already got the best present ever! Plus John’s family bought some presents for me as well – they are incredible nice and sweet. Nothing really special happened on my birthday day. We shopped some households stuff and John treated me to have a big sunday roast, which is my favourite food ever!

We walked to the Whitehall road, and the restaurant called The Roast near the canal served really nice british food. It was sunday, so they only served sunday roast. It was £5 per person, then we had some sticky toffee pudding with custard too! Yum! Beef was tender and juicy with a lot of vegetable and the home-made gravy. The yorkshire pudding was nice and light, not flowery at all! Oh, comfort food is the best sometimes. Definitely need to return!

Trini sent the song from Lorene Scfaria called 28 , singing that we are turning to 28! Things ganna be great!

Friday night out in Leeds

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Since moved to Leeds, we have been so busy organising the new house. After two weeks, we finished it mostly, and decided to eat out on Friday night.

Piccolino Restaurant

I haven’t try a lot of restaurants yet, but it certainly plenty in city centre. On John’s birthday, we went to the Italian restaurant Piccolino Restaurant in Park Row. It was really expensive like London price. Main courses are like £12-14. I ordered a sausage risotto and was really a good one. However, portion was small, but taste really authentic! John and Mel ordered the chicken pizza and they both said it was really good. 4 out of 5 stars

Primo Ristorante

On Friday night, we tried another Italian restaurant downstairs of our building called Primo Ristorante. It had really fancy decoration inside. Price is really good – main courses are from £10, and pasta / Pizza was £6-7. Wine is from £14. Dishes was well presented, and really tasty; services were friendly too! However, I wish the dishes could be bigger portion. For example, I ordered a duck with berries sauce, and it came with 4 pieces meats. Despite the portion, it tasted really good. 4 out of 5 stars

Sky Lounge

Then we went to the popular bar called Sky Lounge on the top of the City Inn Hotel. The decoration and atmosphere was fantastic. Drinks are same price in London, but worth a try and certainly will bring my friends there again!

It all thanks to Melanie and Paul to take us to experience these good places!

Japanese Okonomiyaki

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It was our ast weekend living in London, so we met Eileen to try the Japanese Okonomiyaki in near Leicester Square Station. The restaurant Abeno is really famous Okonomiyaki in town. I remember Eileen took me there last year, and I loved it so much.

Okonomiyaki is like the omelettes with different meats, or seafood or vegetables inside, and on top with Japanese mayonnaise sources. So we decided to take John there for his first Japanese meal in town. The restaurant is small with only three tables and a round sussi bar. Luckily, we got a table, then we tried some Japanese beers, two okonomiywaki with different meats, and one Om-Soba.

Waiters bought all the raw ingredients in a bowl and used teppan-yaki grill to pan-fried everything into a pancake. You got the entertainment from the waiter cooking in front of you. Then at last, dressing with Japanese mayonnaise, BBQ sources, then some fish flakes on top. (dressing are optional)

It was so tasty and highly recommended. Surprisingly John really loved it. I was not sure that Japanese food is his cup of tea, but he tried, and he liked it.

Girls’ Fun weekend + Jin Go Gae Korean BBQ

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Fun Girls’ weekend

John went to Ireland a week for his business trip, so I asked Eileen to stay my house for the weekend, so girls can enjoy some champagne and eat different food. As we planned before, we went to eat unlimited PingPong Dimsum on Friday night, then we were back home and we drunk two bottles of Rose Wine while we were chatting. It was dizzy but so much fun to get crazy sometimes.

Next morning, I cooked my new recipes Green Thai Prawn with baby spanish and Jasmine rice for lunch. It was so easy to cook and we enjoyed it so much. Then we decided to travel to Wimbledon where Eileen lives and had a walk in the park, then went to try the famous Korean Barbecue in New Malden.

Jin Go Gae Korean BBQ Review

Eileen from Soul of South Korean so she introduced to us a lot of Korean food and culture. We have been tried different Korean food in Central London. However, people say that New Malden is one of the popular Korean communities and the food from there is more authentic and cheaper. While we were in Wimbledon, New Malden is just 10 minutes by bus.

Eileen has booked the table of the famous restaurant called Jin Go Gae, and Miwa joined us for dinner as well, so we hopped on the bus 131 from Central Wimbledon and went to Burlington Road. We are so glad that we booked the table, because it was a small restaurant, and packed with Korean, Japanese Asian people eating there.

First, we were served with several compliments dishes which is impossible to find in Central London. Then Eileen ordered three portions of BBQ Beef Ribs and two portions of Pork Belly. All the meats were Marianne with delicious sauces, and you Barbecued by yourself. Then when it was done, you need to use the raw Vegetable rapped with the meat plus some spicy green onion or rice. The meat was unbelievable tender and juicy. Miwa and I was eating non-stop and Eileen was laughing at us.

It was the most delicious Korean BBQ ever. I gave it 5 stars and we only paid £15 each! What a good meal and bargain!

Place: 272 Burlington Road, KT3 4NL
Tel: 020 8949 2506
Tube: Nearest Train station: Motspur Park Rail / Raynes Park

女人周末大吃会

约翰去爱尔兰出差1周，我叫好朋友Eileen周末过来我家住，两个女的一起吃喝聊天。约了周5见面，先去PingPong喝茶吃点心。然后回到我家，两人买了1瓶香槟喝酒聊天，然后感觉还不够mood, 再去买多一瓶。聊天到凌晨1点然后睡觉。

隔天，我煮了泰国绿咖喱大虾加菠菜给Eileen，她说味道十分正宗也十分美味，全都吃完。然后我们去温布顿Eileen的家坐会，决定晚上吃期待已久的韩国BBQ烤肉料理。Eileen幸好定了位置，因为那家人十分受欢迎。美和决定加入我们的大吃团。进了餐厅，哇，烧烤肉的味道都漂入你鼻子，再看看，里面都是坐的全是韩国人和日本人。

韩国烤肉我实在太喜欢了，正宗的吃法是用碳熏肉，然后加生菜和辣葱和肉一起吃。我们点了3大份牛肉2大份猪肉。我和美和吃得太高兴，生活肉是奄过，烤完一点都不老，多汁加十分鲜甜！实在太野味了。Eileen总笑我们吃得狼吞虎咽，韩国烤肉实在太好吃了，我天天吃都没有可以。我们实在享受这次女人周末大吃会。

Jazz Cafe + Konaki Greek Restaurant

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Eileen and I went to the Jazz cafe to seeRay’s Jazz live above Foyle Book shop near Tottencourt Station. It was a small cozy cafe with Jazz Live band. It was very full and everyone went to listen their performance. Fantastic Music!

After that, we booked a table to Konaki Greek Restaurant according my research and it voted 4 of 5 Greek restaurant in town. Meet John inside the restaurant, and enjoyed our great lamb and greek pasta and wine.

Lamb is exactly tender as it should be. Eileen’s lamb shank and John’s BBQ chicken was perfect cook and very tasty. It was a good meal with friendly environment. It was my first time to try the Greek food and I absolutely love greek’s pasta.

It was a satisfied meal and chatted so much with Eileen.

2010 Wishes

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We have walked through the 2009 – a recession economic year! However, it is a whole new world to discover 2010. My wishes for 2010 are very simple:

Luck & Bless

Money & Pass Driving License

Health & Happy

Travel & Different experiences

Good food & Music

Is it too much? I have already had a good start in the New Year, and wish all yours and my dreams will come true this year. The picture was from one of my favourite fashion blog Stockholm Street Style in Sweden.

大家已经经历了09年的经济萧条，2010年刚来，我真心祈祷我2010年的愿望成真：多多运气＋福气，多多钱运＋拿到车牌，多多衣服＋鞋子，多多食物＋音乐，旅游多多＋经历多多，开心和健康就好了。是否太多呢？愿望不算多的，祝福大家的愿望和我一样，都会实现。开年的一月八号已经是我人生的第一个好的开始，结束了5年的爱情长跑，约翰和我终于结婚了。婚礼简单浪漫，也是我一生中最开心幸福的一刻。希望今年愿望实现。封面照片是我最爱的瑞典街头时尚照片。

My Passionate Home Cooked Food

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I enjoy baking and cooking different types of food at home. Normally we cook Italian and British food at home, though I could cook some indian or chinese sometimes, it take a lot of preparation and the chinese ingredients are expensive here. I always think my Mum cooks the most amazing chinese food. However, I discovered that my Mum tends to put some pork and nice real meat stock inside the food, but John doesn’t like much pork because it is too fatty and greasy he said.

As John nowadays can eat some beef and it is cold winter snow day. I decided to make some Jamie Oliver’s recipes. Beef stew is the easiest winter food. It tastes meaty with different herbs. You can eat with some garlic bread or some Jasmine rice. Superb!

I always cook Bacon Asparagus Tortelloni and it is the quick and health dish, but delicious. Asparagus needs to be careful, hot water 3 minutes, and ice water for 1 minutes, then fried with garlic and butter 1 minutes. It will be the most crunchy tasty Asparagus ever. Trust me. I think I know different herbs and meat combination since I learned so much from the chef from TV.

I made some of the scones from James Martin’s dessert book, eat with clotted cream and Jam! As the dessert expert John said it was the most moist inside, crunchy outside and delicious scone ever, and better than a lot of shops are selling. It gave me so much joy and confident about my cooking.

The pumpkin pie we normally make at the weekend. I just made some chocolate cookies yesterday. I love cooking and I think it is nothing happier than people you love eating well and enjoying the food.

Good food, good music and good accompanies, then Happy Day!

Vapiano Italian Restaurant in London

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Vapiano is franchise Italian restaurant in Europe and the State. My friend Kevin took me there when we were working together. From their website page, it is described the restaurant is ‘Somewhere between the nicest of fast casual and hippest of casual dining restaurants is Vapiano’.

The interior design is clean modern, open-space, casual with high standard quality food, especially there is fresh basil plant in every single table. Pasta is home-made, and it cooks in front of you, so it makes sure all fresh. It comes with a big portion as well, and you can choose your pasta types. My favourite pasta is Scampi E Spinaci, which is king prawn with pesto and baby spinach and Salsiccia Con Fichi , which is spicy Italian sausage with fresh figs. (both £8.50,  I just made it sound so fancy, did I? ) They are the best. Pizza is making in front of you including the dough, crispy edge with interesting filling.

Price is incredible cheap and so reasonable. Pasta and pizza starts from £6. Dessert from £3 – £5. All the staff and chef speak Italian. It is a friendly and self-service restaurant, so suitable for a quick lunch and dinner place, but also somewhere you can enjoy hang out with your friends.

We have been there many times and it is always my favourite quick Italian health restaurant. You can see more restaurant picture and memu here. 4.5 stars out of 5 for sure and highly recommended. We always went to the one behind Topshop in Oxford Street, you can not miss it.

Vapiano是一个在欧洲和美国十分流行的意大利连锁餐厅，在牛津街Topshop后面是我们经常去的地方。朋友介绍我去，之后我就几乎是他们的常客。店里装修十分时尚及现代，干净又整洁。每台桌面上都有一盆新鲜的Basil香叶，随时需要随时栽放在你的意大利面里。所有的意大利面都是厨师每天新鲜制作，所以十分新鲜美味。有8－10种意大利面条给你选择，我最喜欢的2道是 ‘菠菜大虾意大利面’ 或是 ’新鲜无花果加意大利辣香肠‘ 超级是我的最爱，价格十分诱人，才8镑多，大大分量加新鲜原料。pizza也是新鲜到连馅底的面粉都是现场撮然后加下原料的。

价格实在便宜，这么新鲜好的餐厅意大利面从6镑起，甜点也是3－5镑。所有的东西都是现场炒和煮给你看，你可以学到东西又可以吃到好吃的意大利菜，当然所有的厨师也是意大利人，都说意大利话。不仅是自助式服务，健康，简单快捷的意大利餐厅。假如你赶时间又想吃个健康的意大利菜，Vapiano绝对是我首选。你可以从这里看到 菜单和更多图片。绝对推荐4.5星！