Polish Mushroom Soup

I popped into this spiritual something cafe something for a snack, then the cafe is actually partnered with a Polish diner.  I chose a mushroom soup, but I didn't expect it to be a Polish mushroom soup.

It has got wild mushrooms, root vegetables, herbs, some type of stock, it tasted interesting...

Working from Home

I spent all morning clearing up the emails, then Austin turned up with a pile of paperwork.  Let's the work commence.

Two Person Hotpot

We finally broke open the mushroom soup base Sarah got from her visitors.  It tasted okay, and we had suitable amount of food.  I am now dreading the next soup, curry...

Santa in October

We were in town and Leeds City Council has put up a big marquee with information about how to save money in preparation for Christmas.

Sarah said it is not for us, but I countered that freebies are for us!  We popped the head in, chatted with a few people, got a few freebies.

I still cannot believe they put a Santa outside the marquee!  It is only October!

Inferior Food

I went to a restaurant with a heavily discounted menu.  Apparently that's what everyone is having so I also picked from that menu, what a mistake.

The food was horrendous, I might even say it is top 3 of worst ever food I ever had.  The mushroom soup has no sign of mushroom.  The mashed potato was the only food with any flavour on the main course.

I will choose more carefully next time.

Bone Dissolving Dragons

My friend's baby hasn't come yet, and she is already complaining how expensive they are.  I also have witnessed my sister's four bone dissolving dragons.

I will try to help as much as I can.  First up, baby formula.

Biryani Centre

This shop on Granby Street has changed at least 4 times in 5 years.  The latest installment is Biryani Centre, and it maybe here to stay.  Simple and agreeable food, reasonable price, popular with students, I may even go back to try something else next visit.

All Crows Are Black - Engineering

I made a mistake talking the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge with my friend, and she started ranting about Chinese engineering.  I made a few examples that Swiss engineering on the Ngong Ping cable cars weren't that brilliant either.  Having been working in engineering, I have seen enough bad designs, bad results, much like the rest of globalisation effects, I don't think any countries can boast about their engineering records anymore...

Dubbed Shows

I have been watching some Chinese period drama.  I recognised an actor being a Hong Kong actor, when I read his lips, realised he spoke Cantonese and dubbed into Mandarin.  I wonder if all the other actors are dubbed for the version sold to Hong Kong.

Cedars Lebanese Restaurant

Sarah and I went to try the Cedars Lebanese Restaurant.  We were worry about the food being too rich and we were careful with our starters.  The starters were quite nice.  I always said, if in doubt, chicken rice.  So I had a roasted baby chicken with rice and Sarah had the roasted sea bass.  Both mains were very nice, the serving size were also quite big, we left very satisfied!

Bucatini

As early as when I was in Nashville, I have seen holey spaghetti.  I finally came across some to try.  I was meaning to make pastitsio, but I only made bolognese instead.  They just turned out to be chunky spaghetti.  I will try to make pastitsio in the near future.

Tiny Waitrose Mountsorrel

We stopped at Waitrose hoping for the Fish Friday, only when I walked around the shop to find out this Mountsorrel Waitrose has no fish counter!  It also has no meat or hot food counter.  Noted...

Blatant Double Yellow Parking

I was visiting Sarah on campus, and I saw an ice-cream van blatantly parked on the double yellow.  I said loudly, "WHY ARE THEY PARKING ON DOUBLE YELLOW?!", and I heard some maniacal laughter...

Freestyle Tarka Daal

I liked the tarka daal near Angela's, and we made it a few times.  The previous trials all a bit too wet to my taste, this time I freestyled it.  It tasted very well, I could have put more spice in, otherwise turned out well.  Next time when I finalise the recipe, I will write it down.

Blessing in Disguise

I was listening to Sarah Kendall and she told a story about an old Chinese story.  It is so funny when I hear the Chinese stories being told in English.

Patisserie Valerie is Falling Down

I always knew Patisserie Valerie being in Soho, then it expanded everywhere, I thought it seemed unsustainable.  Then their products were all over Groupon, I bought a Groupon for a meal at one of their sister restaurants, Philpotts.  Then they made the news and I cancelled the Groupon as soon as I could...  I still wonder why they had to expand...

Freestyle Cookies

I had these out of date chocolates and excessively sweet caramelised nuts, I thought I would throw them into an unsweetened cookie base to balance it out.  Sarah was skeptical, but I quite like the turn out.

Expats in Southeast Asia

Two of Sarah's friends were off to Southeast Asia to travel and teach English.  I am sure they will come back with a lot of tales...

Homemade Kedgeree II

We made another kedgeree, made with the best undyed haddock.  This recipe used very little spices, I am not sure it qualified as a kedgeree.  We shall try another recipe another time.

Carr's Deception

We got a packet of Carr's crackers completed with Carlisle's City crest, only when we read the box to find it they were made in the Netherlands.  Even though made in the UK was not why I bought them, but I still feel cheated.

Benito's Hat

We finally got to try Benito's Hat in Leicester.  It was edible. but it was not cheap.  I will take Taco Bell over them anyday.  I am not sure Sarah would go as far.

Canadian Bread Flour

I have been having bread machine bread daily as planned.  The bread made with the Canadian bread flour is so good!

Fibrous Chocolate

As part of the recovery preparation, we read up what is high fiber food.  Dark chocolate is on the list of high fiber food, but obviously we are not suppose to eat a lot of it.

Then when we saw two marked down desserts, we were going to get only one, the chocolate dessert that I wanted has twice the fiber than the cheesease that Sarah wanted!  Anyway, we bought both!

Let's the Recovery Begin

After getting the surgery and recovered at the hospital for two days, I was finally discharged and got back to Leicester.  Let's the recovery begin...

Cocoa Tree Manchester

Angela and Sofy came to see me in the hospital and brought chocolate.  The chocolate was from an Artisan shop called Cocoa Tree.  I was still very drowsy, but I dived straight into the dark chocolate covered coffee beans.  They are some of the nicest I had before!

Autumn Mowing

I was hoping the mower will hoover up the leaves, most of the leaves are now left around the edges.  Maybe I should have raked them into the lawn first...  Let see if I need another mow in November...

Konjac Rice

Konjac should never be made into rice shape, as it has no taste or texture reassembles rice...

English Miso Paste

I got some Asda Miso paste, horrible!  It is so bad, I am throwing it out!

Spirulina Bread

We are still looking for ways to use up the spirulina, and I suggested to add some into the bread.

It might have affected the yeast, and the bread did not rise as much as normal.

It tasted okay, it could be the way we use them up.  It is important to fortify homemade bread!

Sharwoods Japanese Katsu Curry

I got this to try, and I won't be getting this again.  It tastes nothing like a normal Katsu curry...

Dolfin Crystallised Orange Dark Chocolate Bar

I didn't know what to expect when I got this orange chocolate bar, everything is in French.  It tastes good, tastes like posh chocolate orange with will candied peels.  I am glad I tried, but I am not buying it again.