Genesis, Comics & Vegans

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Confetti Girls do Vegan

Meet Genesis.

Those who know me know well that I am a self-confessed meat lover. In fact, I love meat so much that I despise fish. Unless its seafood, obvs. Who would resist champagne and oysters?

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Aaaanyway, my vegan gals have been trying to make me more conscious about the benefits of a healthy green diet, and given my recent stomach problems, I decided to listen more carefully. As if somebody was listening to what I was thinking, I encountered GENESIS on my Sunday stroll in Shoreditch. A 100% plant based alchemy restaurant concept specialising in fast casual dining and organic comfort food.

Fit for the millennials, this pretty in pink restaurant is trying to make the non-vegans like vegan food. And I must say, they pretty much convinced me.

For starters, they venue is very stylish. A mix between geeky comic book store and a heavy metal album cover! All very colourful, just as I like it.

The menu is vast and the portions are big, which is becoming a rarity these days. And the food is yum. Mexican tacos, super food salads and meat-free burgers are on the list, along with plenty of shakes and ice cream deserts. I almost felt in heaven! Though I did miss my meat a bit.

WHERE IS IT EXACTLY? 114 Commercial St, E1 6NU

WHEN CAN YOU GO? Wednesday to Sunday from 11.30am til 11pm :) GO GET IT!

Stay tuned, TCB xx

The Good Egg

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I thought it was about time I talked about one of my favorite brunch spots, and coinciding with its new launch in Soho (the original is in Stokey) this Friday, I needed to introduce you to The Good Egg (and not The Bad Egg). 

Think of Israeli brunch. THE DREAM, right? Now think of Middle-Eastern cuising with a NY twist. Still THE DREAM, right? Well, that's what you get at The Good Egg. Dreamy dishes and terrific service. 

I would love to share with you what we had for dinner last time I was there but unfortunately those pics disappeared with my stolen phone. However, this little think called internet managed to gave me a good vibe of its brunch menu, which is what this place is known for. 

WHY should you go there? Let's talk business. Their menu is short but precise. Food here is a delight that can be filled with bagels, za'tar fried chiken, roasted cauliflower (that amazingly is to die for) or dak dak salad, to name few things. Not to forget shakshuka, their breads with olive oil and tahini or the tahini ice-cream. DANG! If Middle-eastern cuisine is your think, I wouldn't hesitate trying this. You'll regret it!

WHERE is it? In Stoke Newington in 93 Stoke Newington Church St, N16 0AS; In Soho it is located in Kingly Court

WHAT time is it open until? 9 til 11pm pretty much everyday except for Mondays, when they close at 4pm, at least at their Stokey location.

TCB x

Ottolenghi, The King of Middle Eastern Food

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What?Ottolenghi.

Where? It depends. If you don't mind splashing the cash, I'd say go to his high-end restaurant Nopi, near Picadilly Circus.  If you are a bit tight with your budget but still would like to try something new, then you've got 3 more options to choose: Islington, Notting Hill and Belgravia. They first one is a restaurant and the other two are a deli, which is an excellent option for lunch time.

Why? Oh  dear, where to begin. For those who are not living in the London Bubble, you need to know that Ottolenghi is God over here. A renowned israeli chef that has brought to England a contemporary way of cooking. His style, known by mixing Middle Eastern cuisine (including Sirian, Turkish, Lebanese, Iranian, Israeli and Armenian) with Western style food, is great. A perfect combo, as I say.

As a newbie in the City, I went to Ottolenghi few months ago, completely unaware of the relevance of my dinner. But the minute you get into one of his restaurants, you clearly see you are going to have more than just a meal. It's a whole new experience. The restaurant in Islington (which is the one I went to) has a deli counter at the front, welcoming you to see what you can indulge for supper.

The menu is not vast but is more than enough. I like things kept simple. I suggest you to go with few friends so that you can to try as many dishes as you can. Since the portions aren't super big, I think sharing plates is the way forward. Although it took us a bit too much to be served, the wait was SO worth it.

My top 3 from the kitchen where the braised octopus with kalamata olive puree, mustard seeds, harissa and cavolo nero; (ii) the seared fillet of english beef with sweet coriander-mustard saucethe and (iii) the Seard duck breas with red cabbage puree, pickeled celeriac, date & walnuts. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

As for my veggie favs I'd definitely go for the roasted aubergine with walnut yoghurt, herbs and spicy walnuts (see picture below) and the couliflower, onion, turmeric parsley and coriander fritters with chilli jam yoghurt.

Don't forget to have some bread with your meal (there's an excellent range) and eventhough you might be full by dessert time, you HAVE TO have dessert.

O.M.G. Desserts. I keep dreaming of them. But if you have to go for one, please try the passion fruit meringue tartlets. I wish I could have one of those everyday for the rest of my life. SO GOOD.

When? They are open Monday to Sunday, although opening times vary depending on the restaurant. Both Nopi and Ottolenghi Islington close their kitchens by 10,30-11pm (Mon-Sat), while the delis in Notting Hill and Belgravia usually close by 8pm.

So regardless of the timing, don't forget: BOLD.BIG.DELICACIES. A complete cultural explosion in the kitchen that is not to be missed.

TCB x

P.S: the pictures have been edited by me but have been collected from Ottolenghi's site and other sources, as I was unable to take pictures when I went there!

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