Food: Tickling My Tastebuds at The Vincent Kitchen, Liverpool

Food: Tickling My Tastebuds at The Vincent Kitchen, Liverpool

Monday, 23 October 2017

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Of all the things that Liverpool is famous for, I really do believe that it’s fabulous restaurant scene is the one that is the most underrated of all. There are a wide breadth of different cuisines readily available all over the city, with no street no more populous than Bold Street if you’re looking for the perfect place to dine. Whenever I’m struggling for somewhere to eat, I tend to take a wander down Bold Street and see what tickles my taste buds the most. New to the joint, The Vincent Kitchen sits perfectly amongst well-reputed restaurants with their own personal styles and unique palettes and when I was invited to check out their new menu, I was full of optimism for a fantastic evening of food. I was not to be disappointed.

Boyfriend in tow, we arrived at the restaurant with our expectations high and our stomachs rumbling. The place has a cool, chilled out vibe, furnished to a high standard with quirky wall art and a self-serve drinks machine that offered a crazy amount of flavoured fizzy drinks. I loved the added ‘spooky’ touch that had been put in place for Hallowe’en, although Rich wasn’t best pleased with the fake (but very realistic looking!) spiders scattered around the restaurant. The restaurant has built its reputation on the fact that the vast majority of its meals and drinks are suitable for those with special dietary requirements, with vegan and gluten free options available in surplus. I personally eat a predominantly (with the exception of drunken cheese feasts) dairy free diet and I know of people close to me who eat gluten free, so already I had high hopes for the food offerings. Knowing that there were gluten free beers available as well was an additional positive.

Having perused the menu, both Richard and I decided to build our own bowls, to really get the most out of the experience. I combined rice noodles with Moroccan lamb, butternut squash and sweet potato, a teriyaki glaze and cucumber salad. The butternut squash and sweet potato was seasoned in the most delicious chilli, mint and garlic mixture, and the lamb was sweet and minty, the perfect accompaniment to the sharp teriyaki glaze. Richard went for rice noodles with Thai grilled chicken, and after discussion with the waitress over spice levels, decided to try out the recommended peanut sauce; a bit of a kick, but not one that’ll leave you senseless. He went for butternut squash, sweet potato and cucumber salad on top. We were really impressed with the standard of the food, everything was cooked beautifully and went together so well, in spite of the range in choice. You can pair your meat, fish or veg choice with a whole range of different toppings, veg accompaniments and seasonings- there really is something for everyone, no matter your preference.  

I would definitely recommend The Vincent Kitchen to lovers of Thai and Asian style food and I must say that the experience on the whole was a fantastic one and I think we’ll be heading back to The Vincent Kitchen very, very soon.

Food: A Vietnamese Treat at Pho Café, Bold Street, Liverpool*

Food: A Vietnamese Treat at Pho Café, Bold Street, Liverpool*

Sunday, 28 May 2017

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If you know anything about me at all, you’ll know that I really, really like going out for dinner and trying new foods. When I was given the opportunity to check out the menu at a new joint – Pho Café on Bold Street – I absolutely jumped at the opportunity and invited my best friend along for the ride. We booked in for a Wednesday afternoon and arrived ready and waiting to eat some amazing dishes.

Pho café is in an absolutely prime location, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the Bold Street shops and restaurants. The interiors are spectacular and I found myself spending a significant amount of time before looking at the menu just checking out all the artwork and the layout of the place. For a Wednesday night, it was quite busy, with one large table occupied by a family party. Very good first impressions.

We were greeted immediately by a waiter, who ensured that not only were we comfortable and given the help we needed, but ensured that our table was moved once a better one (with much better lighting for pictures…) became available. He told us all about the company and talked us through the menu, explaining different aspects and ensuring that we knew exactly what we were ordering!

Catrin and I decided that we weren’t actually THAT hungry (for us) so we decided to share a starter between the two of us, then grab a main and dessert each. One of the lovely ladies in the restaurant brought over a platter of prawn crackers and sweet chilli dip for us to nibble on, we ordered drinks (homemade lemonade) and finally set about deciding what we were going to eat. We umm-ed and ahh-ed over which starter to go for as they all just sounded SO delicious, but eventually decided on Cánh gà, which were crispy chicken wings with a spicy (!!) sriracha dip. The wings were salty and delicious and while I wasn’t brave enough to try the dip, Catrin was and whilst she used it sparingly, she quite liked it – I, on the other hand, dipped mine in the Sweet Chilli dip.

Mains were much easier to decide between – I’d actually decided what I was going to eat at lunch whilst at work earlier in the day and Catrin was very quick to decide what she was going to have as well. I went for Beef Phở Xào, which were wok fried noodles, with a generous serving of beef, lemongrass, beansprouts and peanuts. I’m always a little bit apprehensive getting foods with peanuts in them, not for my own safety but for other peoples’, but this dish was more than worth that. The portion sizes were fantastic, there was more than enough of everything. The entire dish was full of flavour, filling and very moreish. I’ll more than likely be returning and ordering this dish again. Catrin ordered the traditional Vietnamese dish, the Phở chín. This dish was an interesting one, as you were given the broth aspect of the dish, and then a side plate with herbs and sauces to make it exactly to your own taste: there’s absolutely no room for disappointment here. Again, the dish was plentiful in both quantity and flavour. This is another dish that I’d really like to go back and have a taste of, as I had some serious food envy watching Catrin eat it. Stomachs full, our thoughts turned straight back to the menu and what was to come next!

At this point in the meal, the lovely lady who had been so attentive towards us all evening suggested we try a few of the restaurant’s signature cocktails. I only had to see the word “Prosecco” on the menu before I pounced on the Rose Apple Bellini, whilst Catrin opted for the Phojito: a Vietnamese twist on the classic mojito. These drinks were interesting, simply because of the inclusion of rice spirit, something I’d never tasted before. The Bellini wasn’t really to my taste, as it was quite strong, but as a treat it was definitely something I was glad to have tried. On the other hand, the Phojito was absolutely delicious.

Of course, we couldn’t go to a restaurant and not get dessert. I avoid dairy, for health issues, so I decided to get the Kem sorbet, so I wouldn’t miss out. I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn at all when I say that it was probably the best sorbet I’ve eaten outside of Italy: it was absolutely delicious, sweet but not overbearing and was a fantastic, light end to a delicious meal. Catrin chose the Bánh sô-cô-la truffle, a delicious looking chocolate truffle slab served with a generous helping of green tea ice cream.

All in all, the food and service at Pho was incredible. The staff were attentive to our (and more importantly, to other customers) needs and I can see myself returning time and time again. I’m always looking for good and consistent places to eat so I can see this place becoming a staple in my life.

(Food and drinks were complimentary, thoughts and opinions remain my own)

Food: VIP PRESS event at Liv, Bold Street

Food: VIP PRESS event at Liv, Bold Street

Friday, 12 May 2017

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Being invited to press events is all good fun- it’s even more fun when you get invited to VIP openings of brand new businesses! Last week, myself and a few blogger friends were fortunte enough to be invited along to the Grand Opening of LIV on Bold Street, a brand new organic food market in the heart of Liverpool City Centre.

Bold Street is quickly becoming THE place for good food and independent stores – whenever I’m stuck for where to go to eat, I tend to gravitate towards this little wonder and I’m never disappointed. Whilst I was living in France, the option to eat organically was pretty much the only option- Organic supermarkets play a massive role in French society and you can find one on pretty much every street corner. Having a shop like this in Liverpool will make all the difference and definitely be there to actively encourage people to consider what and how they eat. 

You may well be aware that I try to keep dairy out of my diet as far as I can, although I am very easily tempted by cheese. Dairy doesn’t agree with me or my stomach, so usually the safest option is to just avoid it entirely. LIV specialises in vegan and vegetarian products, products which mean that I can enjoy the amazing, fabulous things in life – like chocolate brownies, for example- without the horrendous after effects that being lactose intolerant causes. I’m in no way vegan- or even veggie – but cutting down on meat and eating more plant based food can only be a good thing, right? 

The market itself was absolutely fabulous. We got there a bit earlier than the hosts were expecting, which caused a bit of a coffuffle but nothing that was too much of an issue. When we arrived, we were offered lovely flutes of fancy lemonade and invited to try a range of different hors d’œuvres, all of which were presented in the most appetising way. We were also able to speak to different brands who had set up stalls inside the market, including Mi Vida, an independent store based on Bold Street (and one of my favourite places to browse for birthday gifts!). I also tried out a number of organic crisps (MMM) and had a talk with a brand about magnesium salts. I’d only been complaining ten minutes prior about having a bad back and this lovely godsend of a man provided me with a generous sample of one of their products to try and get rid of the pressure a little! All the while, it was lovely to catch up with my fellow bloggers and do it in an engaging and organic environment. I’m really excited to go back at some point and try out the food in their café; there really is something for everyone, as they even choose to serve meat, in spite of their vegan background. Absolutely no discrimination or judgement here. 

I have absolutely no doubt that the market will be a total hit! LIV Organic Market is open now on Bold Street. 

Food: Crust, Liverpool Review*

Food: Crust, Liverpool Review*

Wednesday, 11 May 2016

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If there’s one amazing thing about Liverpool (aside from the football teams, the docks, the parks, and the city itself) it’s the cities amazing restaurant scene. New joints seem to be popping up all over the place, left, right and centre and each is as good, if not better, than the last. Crust is one of these places, and boy is it a mighty fine addition to an already impressive list of dining experiences. Bold Street, where the restaurant is homed, is pretty iconic in itself, with a whole streets worth of restaurants, cafés, cute little kitsch stores and bars to get lost in! I’m pretty lucky in the sense that I’ve already eaten at Crust a few times, with my friends, but when I was approached by them asking to come and try out their menu, I definitely jumped right at the opportunity!

It’s fair to say that I’ve never really seen a menu as interesting and original as the one at Crust, and I think that this definitely adds to their appeal and to their inevitable success. My accompanying pal and I were greeted at the door by one of the waiters, Andrea, and he saw to it that we had a nice little table slap bang in the middle of all the action. The restaurant was full to the brim, which I was surprised at because not only was it 6pm on a Thursday night, but Liverpool were playing at Anfield so I (wrongly) presumed that town would be quite quiet as far as the restaurant scene goes. Me being the clumsy old me that I am immediately knocked a knife off the table- Andrea immediately whisked it off the floor and brought me over a nice, clean new one and his excellent customer service spoke volumes from the offset. He made sure that we were comfortable in our drinks choices, explaining about the number of different beers on offer as well as answering all of my questions about the different choices of wine. I went for a classic Cosmopolitan cocktail whilst my friend had a glass of one of the Italian red wines, the Primitivo del Salento. I absolutely can’t stand red wine myself but even I agreed that this one was absolutely delicious, so if you’re a fan of the red stuff definitely give this one a go! We also ordered water for the table and everything arrived as we ordered, incredibly quickly. Staff were super attentive and made sure all our needs were catered to whilst we were waiting, which was absolutely fantastic.

For starters, we decided to order two different ones and share between us (by share, I mean as soon as my friend's food arrived, I instantly decided it looked much better than mine and wanted to try some of theirs. Luckily a good friend meant sharing!) I went for the Prosciutti di Parma, which was a platter of parma ham, buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes. The portion size was incredibly generous and I wasn’t disappointed by the taste either. The tomatoes were some of the freshest that I’ve ever tasted, the mozzarella was dressed with olive oil and the Parma ham tasted like nothing I’ve ever tasted before. I lived in Italy for a four month period a few years ago and had Parma ham, mozzeralla and tomatoes (or often melon) for lunch pretty regularly. I thought I’d tasted the nicest ever Parma ham there, but I was definitely wrong. The stuff they serve at Crust might as well have been gold plated, it tasted that good. My friend went for calamari, which was cooked perfectly, chewy just as it should be, and lightly battered. He did underestimate the “spicy” salsa it was served with and was blown away with the spice but otherwise was pretty chuffed with his choice of dish as well.

Between courses, the guy who runs the joint, Paolo, came over and introduced himself to us which I was really impressed by. You could tell that he has a real, genuine passion for his business and prides himself on the traditional Italian menu with a twist that Crust provides. We asked him about a breakfast menu and he let us know that such a thing does actually exist, so I think we’ll be coming back at some point to try that one out for ourselves! We then ordered our main courses, and unsurprisingly, we both went for pizza. Andrea returned and explained all about the different types of dough that Crust offers, from plain pizza dough to five grain to an incredibly inventive black dough blended with natural vegetable charcoal. Apparently this dough helps with your digestion and detoxes the body! I’m a bit of a bore when it comes to pizza and tend to order the same thing everywhere I go, so I went for the Diavola pizza- spicy salami and mozzarella. Simple, tasty and satisfies me every time. My friend was much more exciting than I was and went for the Italiana: cheese, rocket, cherry tomatoes and Parma ham, on the black dough.

At this point, we were both feeling pretty stuffed. We got the little bit of pizza we had leftover packed up in takeaway boxes, which was fabulous (I enjoyed my lunch the next day!) We were going to order a dessert between the two of us but we spied tiramisu on the menu and decided to get one for the road.

Did I say tiramisu? I meant BIRRAmisu. As in, beer flavoured instead of coffee. Think that’s weird? I got ravioli chocolate. So wrong but my, oh my. It tasted so right. I think I’ll be returning just to taste that sweet dessert again! It tasted like everything that is good about the world and was well worth the stomach cramps I got for the rest of the evening. Dairy probs.

Overall, I was absolutely overwhelmed with the service and the food provided by Crust. Andrea was an absolute star and made sure that everything was perfect for us for the entire evening. I have to say, this was the case on the previous times I’ve been to the restaurant so they’re definitely consistent in their service and were in no way just playing for the review. Thank you to them for the invite, we will definitely be returning soon with our tummies empty and our expectations high!

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