Clean eating Bandits

Whilst proud of having a blog since 2015, I am by no means a tech-savvy person and have only just joined the crowds of Instagrammers around the world. I don't do face-book, snap-chat and I'm certainly not a tweeter. I like to text and whatsap but I constantly have a back-log of emails. You get the picture.

Fuelled by a younger generation, social media is being used as a platform to share vegan and vegetarian food stories, pictures, information, recipes and guides, often sponsored and endorsed by the very celebrities we follow. So far so good. I love to gaze at plates of beautifully presented food. My only quibble is when so called experts pop up claiming miracle diets which heal. It seems there is always someone out there ready to endorse one of these:-

Gluten free, sugar free, processed food free, dairy free, anti-cancer, meat free, healthy heart food, anti proteins in grains, alkaline eating, plant-based, clean eating ...

They begin with a beautiful/handsome healthy looking person cooking, presenting and eating the food and replacing everything we know with a substitute. These people are well-meaning and whatever they're doing has worked for them but it might not suit everyone. Their theories are not scientific. They are not always qualified nutritionists. The medical industry does not always recognise their theories.

Our diet is a personal thing and we can choose to follow whatever suits us. I am a happy vegetarian who does eat dairy. I have pescatarian, flexitarian, gluten free and vegan friends and family. There is nothing wrong with anyone's choices. All I'm saying is that social media, rightly or wrongly, has driven this way of eating and there is a pressure on us for everything (and everyone) to look perfect.

Father's role

It's Father's Day here in the UK. Its origins date back to the Middle Ages although we probably followed the Americans who began this celebration in 1910. A young girl named Grace Golden Clayton lost her own father in a mining accident along with 360 others. This left approximately a thousand fatherless children. She suggested to her pastor that we honour fathers everywhere.

My maiden name is also Clayton, although I am not blessed with the same middle name. We have celebrated today with my own father, father-in-law and husband and father to my children. 

Here is the card my husband received -

What about vegetarian sausage rolls, vegetarian spring rolls, vegetarian sushi rolls ...

Bet they don't make cards for we vegetarians!

Holly and The Ivy

This week was my third visit to The Ivy in Harrogate. Once with husband of our anniversary, once as a treat for my daughter Holly post university exams and pre trip to do Camp America. This week was a visit with my octogenarian parents. 

The Ivy was first founded in 1917 as an Italian cafe in London and its proximity to theatre-land made it popular with theatre goers, actors and celebrities. This Art Deco gem has been rolled out across the country in the form of Ivy Cafes and Ivy Brasseries.

My daughter and I had recently visited the Granary Square Brasserie near Kings Cross and had enjoyed our rushed meal very much before having to rush for our train. On visiting The Ivy Harrogate we were struck by the similarities and now realise they are part of the Ivy Collection.

On both occasions I went for a roasted butternut squash base with chickpeas, feta, leaves and pomegranate. Both delicious. (The Granary Square was a bigger portion!)

Dad had steak with eggs and chips. He didn't manage all the steak and so we asked to take it home for my dog. Beautifully packaged, I won't show you what's inside the box!

This little veggie went to market

On 26.11.17 I wrote a blog about vegetarian eateries in London. A further visit this weekend led to another discovery. 

If you're seeking tasty vegetarian and vegan food, like any little piggy, you must go to market. Camden Market to be precise. As well as finding bric a brac, jewellery, clothing, art and music, there are food stands galore. KERB has 34 street food stalls open 7 days a week and there are many more besides. It's like taking a trip around the world from the Caribbean to Indonesia, Mexico to the USA, Holland to India, Hungary to China ... You get the idea.

The stall holders take pride in their food and the presentation is a delight. We brunched at Cafe Chula which serves authentic Mexican food bursting with flavour and colour. I ate the breakfast taco - soft tacos with tomato, avocado and eggs emitting a comforting bit of heat presumably from chillis. On offer were hot sauces to accompany - rather like playing Russian Roulette!

Camden Market is definitely worth a visit. There is a great vibe, good shopping and fantastic food. Take in another sight and burn off those calories by taking a ten minute walk to Primrose Hill, sit on a bench and admire the view.

Overseas with the Portuguese

Dear reader, sorry I missed writing a post last week. I was spending a few days in Portugal and spent Sunday afternoon to evening at Thai Beach; a restaurant/bar with DJ and dancing, at Vilamoura. To be frank, I was in no fit state to write a blogpost.

Whilst having a great time with husband and friends, the vegetarian cuisine was nothing to write home about. We hired a catamaran and kayaked into a small cove for a meal on the first day. My companions tucked into fresh fish dishes whilst I was offered a mixed salad or vegetable stew. This turned out to be carrots and green beans and was a mere accompaniment to the fish. The young waiter explained to me that it was a fish restaurant. It was as if my friends were welcome but I should have stayed on the boat!

The following evening an even larger crowd of us went to a fabulous restaurant called Parilla with beautiful gardens illuminated with fairy lights. After cocktails on the terrace we chose our food. It turns out that parilla means grill and yes, it was a steak restaurant.  Luckily there was a vegetarian option of asparagus and sun dried tomato risotto. It tasted a bit like boiled rice with specks of vegetables but was passable. The starter was delicious; melted provolone cheese with oregano, cherry tomatoes and pesto.

At Thai Beach the following day my starters were served separately upon request but the only dish I could eat from the banquet was Pad Thai noodles whilst those around me tucked in to fish and meat dishes. To be fair, when the heavens opened and we had to rush inside, they reset a table and provided more food. The copious amounts of rose wine and the pouring of sambuca along with the sun reappearing, the dancing and the most beautiful sunset more than made up for any culinary disappointment.

So, on the last day I decided to try Pastel de nata, a delicious Portuguese sweet egg custard encased in a crisp pastry shell. Delicioso!

Saluti

A short break in Venice provided the perfect excuse to drink my favourite wine-based cocktail/aperitif; Aperol Spritz. I prefer this to the bitter Campari Spritz which has a higher alcohol content.

They are made with:-

Aperol/Campari

Soda Water

Prosecco

Ice cubes, olive and orange slice

This time I encountered a third contender. The Hugo Spritz:-

Gin

Elderflower cordial

Soda water

Prosecco

Ice cubes, mint leaves and lime wedge

All delicious and refreshing

Not so poison Ivy

It's Bank Holiday weekend, the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race has been on, it's been my wedding anniversary and YES the weather has been amazing. Yorkshire has been shown in all it's glory - God's Own County indeed.

Our anniversary celebration was spent at The Ivy in Harrogate where I enjoyed:-

Mozzarella di buffalo - asparagus & endamame with roasted pine nuts, pesto & baby basil

Chargrilled halloumi with Padron peppers - red pepper sauce, toasted fregola, San Marzanino tomatoes, olives and a chilli and mint sauce

Everything tasted fresh and was beautifully presented. Thirty-four years on, it's our opal anniversary.