Some Japanese and English similarities in food

While I was dining at Marugame, I suddenly noticed some similarities between the Japanese food and English chippies.
Things are battered and fried in English chippies which is the same as Japanese tempura and with chippies they have chip scraps which is similar to Japanese tempura scraps!
At the chippies we have pickled eggs and gherkins while the Japanese have pickled ginger!
The scraps are a good way of telling if their frying oil is clean because you can tell from the taste.

Yakisoba and chocolate mochi button review at Wasabi Sushi and Bento

Clueless what to eat as there was not much to offer in a particular area in London I dined at WASABI.

I had the Vegan Chi’king Katsu with Yakisoba Noodles.

Quorn savoury fillets, made with Mycoprotein and coated in panko breadcrumbs, served with stir-fried yakisoba noodles mixed with vegetables.

The quorn fillets were rather dry but the yakisoba was tasty but a bit too soft.

I remember a few years ago I had the curry tofu and it was really tasty as their curry isn't too sweet like the Asian ones.

Friend had the Tofu Tom Yum:

Tofu, fresh crunchy veg, rice noodles, fragrant spices & herbs all mixed up in a flavourful creamy coconut broth.

Also had the Chocolate mochi button which I am kicking myself why I didn't try earlier.

It is so different to the Mochi is Asia which is too soft and sticky.

The mochi button had a really nice firm chew almost like a gummy texture but it was not that gummy.

Just like tofu, I do not have an Asian palate to appreciate the smooth pudding like texture, I prefer it firm.

Despite being vegan, the chocolate coating and chocolate filling was really tasty without being too sweet.

Festive Swedish Turkey Meatballs at Pure Foods

I always see Pure around in London but have never tried it until now!
They specialize in healthy fast food much like Leon Restaurants.
The Swedish turkey meatballs looked good with the peas and cranberry sauce so I ended up trying it.
Strangely I couldn't find any meatballs in the bowl so I wonder if they forgot the meatballs or there were none left in the pot at the end of the day.
The meatball sauce was delicious and full of mushrooms which tasted a bit like stroganoff not so creamy and the cranberry sauce was a good one as it was not sweet. The peas were to my liking as they were tender and sweet that they pop in your mouth.
Also, on the festive menu is the parsnip soup.

Sainsbury's Pud You Dare Cafe experience

 As a foodie, I am always upset when traditional food disappears hence, I like to eat and document as many traditional foods like pie mash, English bakery and old school food as possible.

The humble Christmas pudding is also in danger, so I was elated that Sainsbury's are doing a Pud You Dare Cafe experience to put the pudding back on track.

Not only do they have traditional pudding but there is also a modern Caramelised Biscuit Pudding served with a spiced caramel sauce and a sprinkling of biscuit crumb.

The cafe is only there for two days where I went along and tried the puddings.

Although, I am not much of a Christmas pudding fan, it is a must during Christmas.

The Taste the Difference 18-Month Matured Christmas Pudding was seriously good and even better with double cream while the Caramelised Biscuit pudding had a modern twist without being too sweet yet decadent.

To appreciate the puddings, I opted for custard and double cream that was not spiked so that I could taste everything properly.

At the experience, you get to choose different sauces and topping with the pud complimented by drinks.

For drinks, I had the cranberry orange presse which was refreshing.

Overall, I was so glad I got to the cafe which was free of charge held at Hello Love in Holborn and for every attendee at the café, Sainsbury’s will donate £3 to Comic Relief.

More info:

https://www.about.sainsburys.co.uk/news/latest-news/2022/10-11-2022-pud-you-dare

Opening Days: Thursday 24th & Friday 25th November 2022

Address: HELLO LOVE, 62–64 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AR

Opening Times: 12pm – 7pm on Thursday 24th November, and 11am – 7pm on Friday 25th November

Cost: FREE

Booking: Via www.opentable.co.uk/r/sainsburys-pud-you-dare-cafe-london 

Spaghetti bolognese and Lasagna at Classic Cafe

Classic Cafe has been around for quite some time and is still going strong!

I finally tried it one day when I ran out of things to try in Croydon.

The service is quite friendly or one might find it too friendly.

It is can open cafe so you can see all their offering in the cabinet, the spaghetti and sauces looked fresh as well as the lasagne.

On the first visit I had the spaghetti bolognese which turned out to be fantastic hence the return.

What was impressive about the pasta was that it they actually tossed the spaghetti in the sauce after reheating it unlike other places where they just slap the sauce on top and reheat it in the microwave.

The bolognese sauce was really tasty and the meat was good while the spaghetti had a good al dente texture and elasticity.

Also on that visit, I had the apple pie with custard.

The second visit, I had lasagne which also didn't disappoint as the cheese and sauce was balanced without being too heavy.

Will be returning for the jacket potato with cheese.

Classic Cafe Croydon

1019, Whitgift Centre, 21 N End, Croydon CR0 1UT

Subway festive sticky toffee puddings

Quite a nice cookie with chewy toffee bits and you get that Subway cookie standard with the crunchy sugar crystals.

As well as toffee, I could also taste cocoa in it as well.

There were some dark bits that looked like dates but I wasn't quite sure.

Cake Forest opens in South Croydon

Cake Forest opens in South Croydon offering eggless cakes.