Friday, 21 October 2011

Bristol, the gastronomic experiences


Where to Stay


Radisson Blu Hotel
Radisson Blu Hotel bedroom
The latest addition to the Bristol hotel scene within a reclad 1960s office block in the city centre.
The views from the upper floor bedrooms are spectacular overlooking the Quay.
The rooms are well designed and furnished but the air conditioning is noisy and ineffective. The bathroom design/ layout could be better but these are minor gripes.
Bar and restaurant are warm and welcoming serving above average food .
However the lifts here are a nightmare and the building/ lift  contractor needs to get his act together as the lifts have been only working intermittently since this hotel opened.

Brooks Guest House Bristol
Brooks Guest House Courtyard
 Close to St Nicholas Market this bijou hotel is a real find.
The owner Carla Brooks showed us around the well decorated establishment.
Bedrooms on the ground floor are on the smallish side but are very inviting and comfortable. However the bathrooms more than compensate for this.
We will stay here on our next visit to Bristol as it is close to all local amenities and has a homely touch
 
Where to Eat


Brasserie Blanc Bristol
Brasserie Blanc
Located in Cabot Circus this is a welcome addition to the Blanc chain. Situated in the former Bakers and Cutlers Halls the room is magnificent and retains a lot of the original fittings and plasterwork combined with contemporary furnishings  to create a warm and attractive space.
We had a superb and enthusiastic waitress who talked us through the menu.
I had a fillet steak with chips perfectly cooked the way I like it medium rare and my partner had the Octopus salad which was beautifully presented. 
I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant and will return next time I am in Bristol.
  
Casamia Restaurant Westbury on Trym
Casamia
 Casamia is a truly stunning Michelin starred restaurant run by two young chefs who are clearly passionate about food and its presentation.You enter via a small and attractive alleyway and pass the kitchens on the way to the main entrance.
The dining room is simply furnished with white washed walls with a few pictures of Italian scenes here and there - similar to a local trattoria. But there the similarity ends.
The staff are very knowledgable about the menus and the wines to accompany each course. Tables are well spaced and covered in freshly laundered crisp linen.
The food is superb and served with a theatrical flourish.We had a conversation with the young chefs who are clearly influenced by the EL Bulli restaurant in Spain and are  keen to experiment with food and its flavours. Even the breads deserve a special mention .
This is not an inexpensive establishment but in this reviewers opinion is worth every penny.
An upstairs dining area was due to open in the late summer and we will be back to investigate further.

Spyglass Bristol BBQ boat


I just I am going to quote the welcome Spyglass webpage " this lively waterside restaurant has become a Bristol institution, serving an assortment of meat and fresh fish from the grill to create their popular signature dishes with some new and exciting options thrown in for good measure" because is really true and honest with the place we had a fantastic piri-piri chicken and Cuban burger in an environment that remind me a Caribbean tavern full of people having a great and fun dinner out.


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Bristol Weekend, just brilliant!

Bristol City Centre
The City of Bristol (South West England) seat around the Avon River always has been in my radar for the only reason that was one of the more important cities of the English industrial revolution, but perhaps is a city overshadow by Cardiff in the another side of the Avon River and even more for the tourist eternal thermal city of Bath at the first sight more appealing cities to visit.
But for me surprise and anyone that visit the city for first time the Bristol of today is a cosmopolitan city with great creativity who keep and restore its proud past putting them in a must visit to understand the English past,  present and also a reference city for the own English for the future.
We arrived to the busy Bristol rail station in a sunny summer day; we took a taxi; a mistake because the public transport in the city is comfortable, clean and cheap. Even most of the people recommend stay in the Clifton area where the famous suspension bridge is, for a short break of 3 day I preferred stay in the central Blu Radisson Hotel where you can visit the most of the main attraction just walking.
If the wheatear is nice the best that you can do is take one of the Bristol harbour boat trips, the round trip are very chip and is a good way to introduce yourself in the city.
The two must stop in the boat trip are the Brunel’s SS Great Britain a ship that is part of the humanity heritage since Victorian times (launched 1843) until 1937. This great piece of Victorian engineering has been recovery and transform in an interesting museum located in the same dry dock where was built where you can feel like part of the crew or like one of the first transatlantic passenger.
SS Great Britain deck
SS Great Britain Kitchen

No far either for the SS Great Britain and the City you can visit the new Bristol historical Museum situated in the old harbour, the building has great view over the city and you can touch and interact with a lot of objects, great for kids, grandparents and vintage lovers.
If you want art (or kind of) visit the Arnolfini centre of contemporary art, or for more family adventures cross the pretty design Piero´s bridge and visit the aquarium and the millennium square.
Then is time to get lost in the city, the best two walk can start from the historical Hippodrome theatre. First you can go to the Bristol Cathedral an impressive Hall Church at the level of the best European cathedrals. After that a quick look the college next door and start to walk to Park Street, where nice cookery shop, galleries, restaurant and coffee shop with some surprises like Banksy graffiti’s and a well-kept Georgian House will make easy climb the hill until the university tower. Beside is the Bristol Museum, totally avoidable unless you can find a good exhibition.
Vegetable stall outside St Nicholas Market (Wednesday´s)
 The another great walk is taking the Corn street, where you find nice church towers and Victorian buildings until arrive to the St Nicholas Market where stalls sell fresh and deli local foods, cafés, second hands book and clothes, tourist crap, even curtains and a bike workshop, but the more interesting for us is the farmers food market and the Slow Food market outside the building.


     
Cabot Circus Shopping Centre (Above). Working in a new grafiti (left)

No far away you can go the shopping malls area, In your way you can appreciate several gratifies in a good attempt to bring to live some awful 70´s buildings with the art of the imaginative Bristol youngers (Is believed that Banksy born in Bristol). Really I ‘am not the kind of bloggers that recommend  go to a shopping centre, but when half of a city recommend to you must be a reason and the reason is Cabot Circus where you can’t miss the opportunities to watch a movie in the Director halls which offers bento boxes and a great cocktail menu. Also you can have a nice gastro-experience in Brassiere Blanc by Raymond Blanc.
Before left the city doesn’t forget to relax in some of the several boat terraces or in Queen Square.

Where to Stay

Radisson Blu Hotel
Radisson Blu Hotel bedroom
The latest addition to the Bristol hotel scene within a reclad 1960s office block in the city centre.
The views from the upper floor bedrooms are spectacular overlooking the Quay.
The rooms are well designed and furnished but the air conditioning is noisy and ineffective. The bathroom design/ layout could be better but these are minor gripes.
Bar and restaurant are warm and welcoming serving above average food .
However the lifts here are a nightmare and the building/ lift  contractor needs to get his act together as the lifts have been only working intermittently since this hotel opened.

Brooks Guest House Bristol
Brooks Guest House Courtyard
 Close to St Nicholas Market this bijou hotel is a real find.
The owner Carla Brooks showed us around the well decorated establishment.
Bedrooms on the ground floor are on the smallish side but are very inviting and comfortable. However the bathrooms more than compensate for this.
We will stay here on our next visit to Bristol as it is close to all local amenities and has a homely touch
 
Where to Eat


Brasserie Blanc Bristol
Brasserie Blanc
Located in Cabot Circus this is a welcome addition to the Blanc chain. Situated in the former Bakers and Cutlers Halls the room is magnificent and retains a lot of the original fittings and plasterwork combined with contemporary furnishings  to create a warm and attractive space.
We had a superb and enthusiastic waitress who talked us through the menu.
I had a fillet steak with chips perfectly cooked the way I like it medium rare and my partner had the Octopus salad which was beautifully presented. 
I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant and will return next time I am in Bristol.
  
Casamia Restaurant Westbury on Trym
Casamia
 Casamia is a truly stunning Michelin starred restaurant run by two young chefs who are clearly passionate about food and its presentation.You enter via a small and attractive alleyway and pass the kitchens on the way to the main entrance.
The dining room is simply furnished with white washed walls with a few pictures of Italian scenes here and there - similar to a local trattoria. But there the similarity ends.
The staff are very knowledgable about the menus and the wines to accompany each course. Tables are well spaced and covered in freshly laundered crisp linen.
The food is superb and served with a theatrical flourish.We had a conversation with the young chefs who are clearly influenced by the EL Bulli restaurant in Spain and are  keen to experiment with food and its flavours. Even the breads deserve a special mention .
This is not an inexpensive establishment but in this reviewers opinion is worth every penny.
An upstairs dining area was due to open in the late summer and we will be back to investigate further.

Spyglass Bristol BBQ boat

I just I am going to quote the welcome Spyglass webpage " this lively waterside restaurant has become a Bristol institution, serving an assortment of meat and fresh fish from the grill to create their popular signature dishes with some new and exciting options thrown in for good measure" because is really true and honest with the place we had a fantastic piri-piri chicken and Cuban burger in an environment that remind me a Caribbean tavern full of people having a great and fun dinner out.





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Basque group Eta says armed campaign is over


In an historical declaration ETA the Basque Separatists has yesterday announced the Halt Campaign of Violence that has caused more than 800 fatal victims. Today an historical cycle is closed, but the more important start is a new era of opportunity for a new relationship between the government of Spain, France and Country Basque. Today Kitchenvoyage is celebrating the democracy and we are happy to think that violence is over.









Learn more at: BBC news - The Independent - The Nytimes.





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Wednesday, 19 October 2011

Bad and good news for La Rioja Wines


Future Rioja Cultural Centre in Logroño
I have been in La Rioja a few weeks ago visiting my family and enjoying the best wines and food of the area, but despite the great weather the new high-voltage towers has been shadowing the Rioja Alta Vineyards creating a big tension between winemakers and the electrical companies.
But fortunately i have been told good news also; WWF Spain is working in a project to re-introduce the natural cork in the wines bottles. Learn more about these two histories in the Nutrition-Food Industries blog section.

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Monday, 17 October 2011

My three favourite’s alla Diavola recipes.

Peperoncini by Antonio
Despite most of the European Mediterranean countries like Italy has traded which spices around the world since 500 years ago, for some reason is very difficult find really spicy dishes in their cuisine, and not surprise most of them came from the south where the mix of cultures was stronger. Alla Diavola (as the devil cooks it) is a Italian style to hot mild  spice some dishes, perhaps become popular because was an accessible spice to the poor, tasty and also works well cleaning your system and help the digestion. The next three recipes are my favourites and also the most popular.

BBQ Chicken alla Diavola.

BBQ Chicken alla Diavola
Ingredients / 4 serves:  1 whole chicken of about 1.5 kg -  1 lemon juice – 2 tbsp. crushed chillies. 2tbsp crushed chillies. Olive oil. 1 lemon (halved) for later.




1.    Spatchcock the chicken, I followed this BBC video. Then transfer to a container that can be refrigerated
2.    In a little bowl mix 2 tbsp. olive oil, with the lemon juice and the chillies, and pour over the chicken. Cover and refrigerated overnight for a best result marinade.
3.    Light your BBQ, and 20 minutes before the charcoal is ready for cooking remove the chicken from the fridge. Season very well.
4.    Now wrap the chicken with it´s own marinade in a layer of foil. I don’t go to give cooking times, because all depends of the quality of charcoal or wood that you are using and your bbq techniques, but the idea is after you almost finish cook the chicken in both side, unwrap and cook for another 10 – 15 minutes until you get a crispy skin and of course no pink meat.
5.    When cooked rest apart, meanwhile grill the lemon halves (cut side down) for 10 minutes, and then pour the bbq lemon juices over the chicken.
6.    Ready to serve with fresh salad and beers!

Penne alla Diavola.
Penne alla Diavola
Ingredients / 4 serves. 
60g penne pasta by person (nutritional value recommended)
1 to 3 fresh or dried chillies (depend how strong you like it)
100 ml extra virgin olive oil – 1 Small onion- 1 garlic clove (chopped)
1 can chopped tomatoes
8 basil leaves (chopped) 1 tbsp. chopped parsley to serve.   

1.    Start to boil the salty water for the pasta and cook following the packet instructions, fewer 2 minutes.
2.    For the sauce: Heat the olive oil in another pan, in a medium low heat, add the garlic, onion and chilli, fry for 2 minutes.
3.    Now add the tomatoes and cook 8 minutes further. Season and add the basil.
4.    Finally mix the pasta and the sauce very well and let to rest for 1 minute.
5.    Serve and sprinkle over some of the parsley.

Remember. Traditionally in this dish not to use parmesan as this cheese.

Pizza alla Diavola.
Home made Pizza alla Diavola
I am going straight to the pizza sauce and topping that make the pizza alla diavola. I guess most of yours already have your own dough recipes. At the moment I am improving my family recipe dough.

Ingredients:
Sauce: ½  can chopped tomatoes –  1 garlic clove (peeled) – 1 red chilli - 6 basil leaves – 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar and 2 tbsp. olive oil. 1tbsp sundried tomato puree.
Topping: 10 hot salami slices – 125 mozzarella ball (break it in small pieces) –   1 chilli (chopped and deseeded)

1.    In a food processor mix the tomatoes, tomato puree,   6 basil leaves (or more if you like it), the garlic, red vinegar and 2 tbsp. olive oil, and blend until is very smooth. Season.
2.    Spread the sauce over your dough, just cover dont put too much. Then sprinkle over the mozzarella and arrange the hot salami and finish it with the chopped chilli.
3.    Cook until your dough is ready and the mozzarella is golden bubbling.

Tip: Not all the Mediterranean chilli are “mild” compared  to South-Asia or Central America, watch out for the Spanish guindilla and the Abruzzi diavolilli ◦
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