Roasted Aubergine

Or known as eggplant for Aussies. I love the stuff, whether it's in moussaka, stuffed with fishcake or roasted on it's own.

Making roasted aubergine is ridiculously simple. I don't bother with salting if it's medium sized or smaller. Just slice 2 cm thick and slather it with olive oil. Place single layered on a baking tray covered with foil. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and mixed herbs. Roast in the oven for 20 mins at gas mark 7 (200 degrees in a fan forced oven).

After I take it out,  I let it sweat by wrapping it with foil for 5-10 mins and voila! Tasty eggplant which melts on your tongue. I'm not sure if I'm the only person who enjoys the skin as well.

For an even tastier treat, I add shredded cheese on top and skip the sweating part. Yummers.

Snow Hits London

As Siberian winds swept across Europe, we anticipated a proper winter. And the big chill finally came as Hampstead Heath pond froze on top. I threw pebbles to make sure and they bounced. Yup, frozen ponds fascinate!

Like my Daniel Boone hat?

There was talk about snow that was expected on Saturday night. I was skeptical but by the evening, grey clouds gathered and I got an excited call from a friend telling me to go outside.

I burst outdoors and indeed, dusty snow was falling and the ground was white. The council was hand scattering salt and grit on the footpaths. People walked hurriedly to get to their homes. 

This is what London winters should be all about. The blanket of whiteness has a cleansing effect on this city. 

By 10pm, ground cover was easily 3 inches. Cars travelled at a snail's pace and there was little traffic. The only ruckus was caused by snowball fights on the streets.

The snow crunched delightfully when walked upon. I wanted to stamp my boots wherever it was untouched.

On my stroll, an older lady opened her window on the top floor of a building. She pointed to the street and said: "Snow!" 

"Sure is!" I replied cheerily and clumped away in the snow that she'd proclaimed. 

At 1 am I snuck out in my bathrobe, PJs and puffy jacket to take more photos. I did'nt think there would be anyone around but at my front door was a girl holding a giant snowball, poised for a fight. If I had my gloves on, I would have contended!

This is the real winter wonderland.

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L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon

As a belated Christmas present, I was taken to lunch by a lovely friend. It was at L'Atelier in Covent Garden, a two Michelin star French restaurant.

The food is culinary precision to an art form. Over the Japanese sushi-counter style setting, we watched chefs prepare dishes with intricacy and a fervent eye for detail.

Le Fois Gras Terrine-garnished with tangy apricot and pear to help cut through the richness. 

L’oeuf Coque Sans Coque-Egg cocotte topped with light wild mushrooms cream. The bed of mushroom infused foam as light as a cloud.

L'Agneau Du Limousin-Confit saddle of lamb served with white beans from Tarbes. Exquisitely tender and the lamb had a feather thin crust. (Perhaps flashed by a blowtorch?)

Untitled cabbage accompaniment. The creation of it's delicate flavour and softness shall remain a mystery.

La Joue De Boeuf-Ox cheek braised in black grenache grapes then served with celeriac mousseline. Can't remember how many hours the waiter said the beef was cooked, but as you can imagine, it's done very slowly.

La Mango-Mango-Coulis mousse of mango, Joconde biscuit and exotic sorbet. A multi-layer dessert that's decadently presented.

Even the Japanese lacquered spoon is dusted with gold.

What I Ate Today

Homemade scotch Egg from The Hampstead Butchery. Perfect with sriracha sauce.

Pumpkin pie from Lanka, Primrose Hill. OMG this was devine. The crust was thin and the filling was delicately fluffy. Really tasted like pumpkin. 

Braised pork belly with "mui choy" (preserved radish) and rice. It took almost 2 hours to make but the pork was meltingly soft.

My First Pantomime

Ironic that on Australia Day, I spent the evening watching a British theatre production rather than partaking in a piss up.

PWC runs an annual performance and this year it's Aladdin. I've never been to a panto before and it was hilarious fun. The audience is supposed to boo and hiss at the villians, cheer on the good guys and shout: "look behind you!" when the hero's about to be sprung upon.

The songs were popular new tunes and even the the kids in the audience (and only the kids) sang along to Justin Beiber's Baby.

After the show, I went to the Walkabout in Temple to check out the festivities. There was a massive queue to get in. Since I could'nt be arsed listening to inane Aussie twanged chatter and breathing second hand smoke, I just went home instead.

So that was Australia Day. Another year, another non-event.

Chinese New Year Prep

This weekend I got the flat to myself because my flatmates are on holidays. I'm loving the quietness and free reign!

However in preparation for Chinese New Year, I did a shiteload of cleaning, grocery shopping and laundry.

You see, I was brought up with Chinese traditions (ie, superstitions).

Its bad luck on CNY day to:

1) Fight or argue.

2) Break anything.

3) Wash your hair (as it means to wash away your good luck)

4) Eat fried squid (because directly translated in chinese, it means to "get fired")

5) Do cleaning or heavy exercise.

6) Run out of food.

You're supposed to live a good day that's meant to reflect the rest of the year. Superstitious Chinese people are paranoid about jinxes, usually derived by negative sounding words and symbolic experiences.

This weekend I indulged with a dinner feast in Royal Albert Docks, Yum Cha in Mayfair and steamboat at a friend's. All for CNY.

Suckling pig with flashing cherry eyeballs. How peculiar looking is this?