[Review] Turkey Curry at Leon Restaurant

Originally I was planning to eat at Padella next door but it turned out to be an hours wait so had Leon instead as they were doing a Turkey Curry over the boxing day period.

According to the ad, it was British turkey, carrots and parsnips in a creamy curry sauce, topped with a sprinkling of crispy onions.

The food was served in a flash but then Leon is classified as a fast food chain with healthy food in mind.
The curry sauce looked a bit dry and dehydrated and to my disappointment I was given the cold turkey but they were happy to change it for a hot one without quibble.

The piping hot Turkey curry was absolutely delicious with a taste similar to Coronation chicken but much better as it had starchy parsnips and soft carrot chunks.

Overall, I was so glad I tried the Turkey Curry because the creamy curry paired with Italian brown rice which has a lovely al dente texture.

[Review] Breakfast at Debenhams Cafe, Eastbourne

Debenhams Cafe has been in Eastbourne since I don't know when but sadly quite a few stores are closing down nationwide including Eastbourne.

At Debenhams Cafe they serve breakfast, lunch in a traditional British Cafeteria style where you order what you see.

 Photo taken the previous day with bubble on the left.

As they are closing down, I went last time for breakfast.

Previously dined here in my younger years but sadly I didn't take photos.

I was late so many items had run out including the bubble which was served the previous day so I settled for 4 items with an extra black pudding.

Overall, it was your usual breakfast fare with a lovely view of town through those wooden pane windows.

The blurred edges of the glass transom windows added to the ambiance which you won't find in modern eateries.

[Review] Vegan Steak Bake at Coughlans Bakery

Approaching the end of the year to January, many restaurants and shops will be launching vegan foods for #veganuary .
I like the way Coughlans has the vegan steak bake way before Greggs which I will try later.

As well as the Vegan Steak Bake, they also have the Vegan three cheese and onion pasty which I didn't get the chance the try as I was not in the area.

The Vegan Steak Bake at Coughlans has sesame on it to distinguish it from the the steak bake.

The price of this vegan steak bake is £2.95 which is slightly more than Greggs at £1.55 according to online media photos.

Anyway, when you bite into the vegan steak bake, the pastry is just as good as any pastry in the sense that it is crisp and flaky.
It took me a while to get to the centre of the bake but I was greeted with a lovely gravy loaded with mushrooms and vegan steak.
The vegan steak pieces was tasty and the texture was like firm bouncy tofu that is just the right bite without being too rubbery so overall I really enjoyed this vegan steak bake.

Sadly, Coughlans was closed on Sunday so I didn't try the vegan cheese and onion as well as the Vegan sausage and leek.

They also have other captivating treats like Butterscotch yum yum and the iced apple lattice.

Will definitely give them a try when I am next in town!

Veganuary 2020

2020 is exciting with Veganuary.

KFC will launch a vegan chicken burger, while Costa will serve a vegan ham and cheese sandwich.
Greggs will be serving a vegan steak bake following the success of the vegan sausage roll so January will be a appetizing month for my curious stomach.

Fast food chains like Burger King have joined in as well Subway!

Burger King uses Vegetarian butcher while the suppliers of Subway uses vegan cheese from Violife and vegan meatsballs from Nestle.

Weatherspoons vegan burger sourced from meatless farms co!!

 TGI Fridays and Wagamama are both offering Watermelon!!

McDonalds was a little disappointing though as the only new item was the vegetable dippers!

[Review] IKEA at Ampere Way

Having tried IKEA in Hong Kong, I was curious what the IKEA in UK offered.

Before I went, I browsed the UK IKEA site to see if there was anything exciting.
I was pleased to see that they had the Miso Beef Rib, Chicken & Mushroom Wellington and the Beef Bourguignon on their website.

Unfortunately, all of that wasn't available so I had to try other dishes which were the Marinated salmon with mustard and dill sauce and salad mix, Quarter Jerk Chicken with Chips and the Vegetable Biryani with Veggieballs.
So the only new stuff I ended trying was the Jerk chicken and the Biryani which is not available in Hong Kong.

The salmon was pretty much the same in the sense it was flavoured with dill served with salad.

The Jerk chicken was surprisingly good as the Jerk sauce was spicy with a nice kick to it.

The Vegetable Biryani was a little too soft and it was not hot enough.

Hopefully if I get to visit IKEA again, there will be a different menu.

The thing I like about the IKEA in UK is the tea selection as they offer PG Tips Earl Grey and Breakfast Tea.

A few years ago they used to serve Twinings until they changed to PG Tips.
If you have an IKEA family card, the teas are free.

Menu from the IKEA website.
Miso Beef Rib -
Miso glazed beef rib served with sticky jasmine rice and seasonal vegetables
Contains: Cereals containing Gluten (Wheat), Sesame, Soya

 -
Chicken and Mushroom Wellington served with seasonal vegetables and a vegetarian gravy
Contains: Cereals containing Gluten (Wheat, Barley), Eggs, Milk, Sulphites

 -
Beef Bourguignon served with crusty artisan bread
Contains: Cereals containing Gluten (Barley), Milk, Sulphites
-
Marinated salmon with mustard and dill sauce and salad mix
-
Quarter Jerk Chicken with Chips -
1/4 Jerk Chicken served with chips, wedge of lime and jerk gravy
-
Vegetable Biriyani with Veggieballs -
Vegetable biryani with chunky cauliflower, red peppers, green beans and cashew nuts served with 10 veggie balls (V)

Michelin Hong Kong 2020 statistical analysis

Since I am updating the Michelin status for a lifestyle guide, here is a summary of 2020.
Please correct me if I am wrong.

In the 2020 Michelin Hong Kong guide, we now have 7 restaurants with Three Stars, 12 restaurants with Two Stars and 51 restaurants with One Star.
Bo Innovation has come down from Three Stars to Two, while Forum has risen from Two Stars to Three.
Arbor has risen from One Star to Two while Yan Toh Hin has dropped a star from Two.
On the One Star Michelin restaurants, it has increased from 43 restaurants last year to 51 restaurants this year, while 65 bib gourmands has been awarded down by 5 compared to last year.

Gaddi's, Fook Lam Moon and Petrus has risen from The Plate to One Star while Liu Yuan Pavillion has risen from Bib Gourmand to 1 Star.
New One Star comers are: aaharn, L'Envol, Louise, Roganic, Run, Ryota and Zest.
Strangely Bombay Dreams has changed from Bib Gourmand 2019 to The Plate 2020.

Loss of Bib Gourmand/Closure of restaurant after obtaining it in 2019:
Yuet Lai Shun, Snow Garden, Fu Shing CWB, Siu Shun Village, Lan Chee Koon and Fu Shing WC

Loss of The Plate/Closure of restaurant after obtaining it in 2019:
Peking Garden Central, CHE Cantonese, Fofo, Hugo's, Tri, Fish School, I love you dessert, Akrame and the list goes on......