"Simply does it " Ristorante Sirena – February 2013

London has an abundance of Italian restaurants to choose from. This is the cuisine I find myself craving the most, but I was yet to find an authentic taste of Italy in the West End.

My Mum and I were looking forward to our evening outing, and after a full day of walking through the Capital and shopping, we were looking for a quick bite to eat, leaving us time to hop in a black cab to Theatre Land!

The restaurant which has been open for over 25 years had a welcoming atmosphere. James Street- conveniently placed a stone’s throw away from Selfridges, has a number of Italian restaurants to choose from.  I was sold on trying out Sirena once I saw green, white and red colours of the Italian flag on the shop front blind. The small tables with white tablecloths, candles and Italian music playing softly in the background all add to the ambiance. There are additional tables set in the lower ground floor, which would be perfect for larger parties.

 After indulging on the beautiful bread selection dipped into olive oil and balsamic vinegar, our two main courses of course for the evening were a classic beef lasagna, and Penne Arrabiata.

 I am so often disappointed by a watery béchamel sauce and overcooked lasagna sheets. This was by far the lightest lasagne I had ever eaten, the waitress told me the secret was that the béchamel sauce is mixed together with the meat sauce. The Pasta Arrabiata, perfectly cooked aldente pasta was fragrantly hit with garlic, and a fiery chili tomato based sauce. Both dishes at our request were seasoned with a generous helping of fresh Parmesan and black pepper.  A no frills side salad to share was the perfect accompaniment to the pasta dishes. Simply belissimo.

Italian cooking has an emphasis on using simplistic flavours, in order to create spectacular dishes you will want to order again and again. A quick coffee for dessert, and we were ready to jump in a black cab to finish our evening out at the theatre.

44 James St  London, Greater London W1U 1EY
020 7486 5620

www.sirena-restaurant.co.uk/‎

"Yorkshire Girl" Haley and Clifford, Leeds March 2013

Growing up Haley and Clifford was always my local deli whilst living in Leeds. My first taste was around 10 years ago and I still enjoy eating the same pastrami, cream cheese, pickled cucumber and coleslaw sandwich.

The award winning deli is open for breakfast, brunch and late lunch, showcasing local Yorkshire produce, aswell as inspiring ingredients from all over the globe. Walking into the store, you really are spoilt for choice as your eyes wander from the impressive cheese counter, over to the barrels of shiny green olives, selection of cured meats, homemade cakes, handpicked wines, impressive collection of store cupboard ingredients and the largest meringue nests you have ever seen. Haley and Clifford is the perfect place to purchase a personalised food hamper, and makes a fabulous gift.

One of my best friends Dalia and I love to “do lunch”. The casual atmosphere, ultra friendly staff and reasonable prices make this a perfect environment to have an informal catch up. I always find myself holding up the queue, as I gaze at the blackboard menu, and peer at the specials through the glass counter, finding it hard to make a decision as everything looks  so appetising.  For lunch there is a large variety of fresh seasonal salads, quiches, pies, tarts, generously filled artisan baguettes and soups- this being just a snippet of the savoury selection. There are often delicious tasting samples on offer which I always take advantage of.

I ordered the goat’s cheese, spinach and tomato filo pastry pie served with green salad leaves drizzled with a locally produced lavender, lime and black pepper dressing.  The crisp filo was light and delicious. To drink I ordered a pot of earl grey tea.

Dalia ordered a portion of spiced lentil soup, which was thick and hearty and had the delicate warmth and earthy scent of cumin. She also ordered a roasted vegetable panini on the side.

Although the filo pie was a generous portion, with all the talking, my savoury taste buds were telling me I needed to order the rare roast beef, watercress and Dijon mustard baguette- which is exactly what I did! For dessert we shared a portion of homemade of banana cake which was comforting and substantial.

For around £11 each, this is great value for money. Although I have lived in London the last four years, I will always be a Yorkshire girl at heart, and will continue to support this lovely local business.

"Two Amigos", Café Condesa, New York August 2012

It was a humid afternoon in the city, and my good friend Richard and I enjoyed an afternoon outing in the West Village. After walking for what seemed like 100 blocks, we were on the lookout for a place to eat, rest our feet and dry off- as an afternoon storm with no umbrella had got the better of us. We stumbled across a Mexican gem called Café Condesa just in time, as my flip flops were soaked through!

The Mexican owners have created an inventive menu serving New York favourites for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner with a Latin American edge. The restaurant, a former cell-phone store is around seven years young, and has a space saving open faced kitchen, where you can watch how the freshly prepared ingredients come together in a flash.

Café Condesa fits in so well with the uber trendy vibe of the West Village neighbourhood. It is intimately sized with a relaxed, warming atmosphere. The owner Emir Dupeyron who was a fan of our British accents helped us through the menu. I ordered an unsweetened iced tea to drink, which is so thirst quenching. I chose the Torte de Milanesa, which is a sandwich made with breaded chicken breast on a crusty ciabatta served with tomato, onions, avocado and chile mayonnaise. The creamy, buttery texture of the Mexican avocado against the crisp breaded chicken was the perfect combination. The humble sandwich is something New Yorkers seem to get so right. This is not only due to the size, but the variety of breads and adventurous filling combinations.

Richard ate a Mexican corn on the cob which was simply grilled to bring out the natural sweetness; alongside soft steak taco’s served with avocado and zesty lime. I will always find an excuse to go back to New York and on my next visit will be returning to sample the dinner menu and wine.

The rain continued through the afternoon, and after buying an overpriced umbrella from a street corner stand, we continued walking for what seemed like another 100 blocks in order to get to the lower East side.  We found Yonah Scimmal’s Knish Bakery which was our final destination for the day. Their doors have been open for over 100 years, and after sampling a traditional cherry cheese knish followed by a well-earned cup of tea, we gave up walking another 100 blocks and me and my amigo caught the subway back up town.