The Anonymous Widower

A Superb Gluten Free Meal At Kings Cross

I popped into Kings Cross station and had a superb gluten-free meal at Leon.

As you can see the surroundings weren’t bad either for the sit down part of a fast food restaurant. It made your average burger joint look exceedingly plastic, tacky and in the worst possible taste from across the pond.

To cap it all, the Catalan Salad and White Bean Stew with a Fresh Lemonade was just £8.55.

November 19, 2012 Posted by | Food, Transport/Travel | , , | Leave a comment

Twinkies Goes Bust

I read in The Times yesterday that the maker of Twinkies, a North American snack food, has gone bust. After reading their Wikipedia entry, I don’t think anybody who cares about their food will be bothered. In fact the entry, is one of the funniest I’ve seen in a long time. I particularly liked the part about their shelf life. They can also be deep-fried, like Mars bars.

November 18, 2012 Posted by | Food, News | , | 1 Comment

Not Very Non-Stick

The one-egg poachers have one problem.

They’re a devil to get clean.

November 14, 2012 Posted by | Food | , | Leave a comment

Please Can I Come In?

I took this picture outside Carluccio’s in Upper Street.

Please Can I Come In?

At least they provide a proper place to which to tie a dog

November 14, 2012 Posted by | Food | , | Leave a comment

Poached Smoked Haddock With Poached Eggs

After my experience at the Hope Street Hotel in Liverpool, I thought I’d try to do this myself. I asked an honourable friend how to poach the fish and she suggested using the microwave. I then found this method on Yahoo.

If you don’t want to spend ages with the other recipes just put it in a shallow dish with a little milk and water (equal amounts) and a knob of butter on top then whack it into the microwave for three/mins full power.

Here’s what it looked like before it went in the microwave.

Smoked Haddock Before Cooking

And here it is after the cooking.

Smoked Haddock After Cooking

To poach the eggs, I used these mini-poachers from John Lewis.

Mini-Poachers From John Lewis

Here they are sitting in the pan.

Two Eggs Poaching

They can either sit or hang on the side. The eggs didn’t turn out of the poachers too well.

Poached Smoked Haddock and Poached Eggs

But they tasted alright and I suspect I’ll get them better next time.

By the way it looks like John Lewis is out of the mini egg poachers. Perhaps a lot of mothers are going to get them for Christmas. After all they only cost four pounds each.

November 13, 2012 Posted by | Food | , , , | 9 Comments

A Disappointing Starbucks

After Pudding Mill Lane I went to Eastfield to do a bit of shopping in the Marks and Spencer there. I successfully bought the jumper I wanted and some food for tonight.

However, I was not able to buy any coffee.

A Disappointing Starbucks

Because of my stroke and a slightly wonky mouth, I do not drink coffee from cardboard or plastic cups. And that’s all you now get in this branch in Eastfield! They used to have proper mugs before the Olympics.

So I came home thirsty!

But then Eastfield is one of those gluten-free deserts. Now it seems I can’t get a coffee there in Starbucks. I usually drink in one of their stores, as I can have something to eat if I want.

November 12, 2012 Posted by | Food | , , , | 2 Comments

A Discount For Doing The Washing Up

As I often do, I popped over to my local cafe t0 get a coffee.  As I wanted to drink it at home and I took my own mug, they gave me a discount for doing the washing up.

November 11, 2012 Posted by | Food | , | Leave a comment

The Curry’s Still Working!

Last night’s curry seems to be still working. I feel quite refreshed this morning, despite getting up at three to put some posts on this blog.  In fact that is a good thing, as I always used to work through the night before I had the stroke.

Wikipedia says this on the health benefits of curry.

Some studies have shown that ingredients in curry may help to prevent certain diseases, including colon cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.  A number of studies have claimed that the reaction of pain receptors to the hotter ingredients in curries leads to the body’s release of endorphins, curry is claimed to be one of the most powerful aphrodisiacs.With the complex sensory reaction to the variety of spices and flavours, a natural high is achieved that causes subsequent cravings, often followed by a desire to move on to hotter curries. Some refer to this as addiction, but other researchers contest the use of the word “addiction” in this instance.

I don’t go along with wanting stronger curries.  But here are a few observations on my life.

  1. I was born a day after modern India and I’ve always had a psychological connection to the sub-Continent. I’ve also enjoyed my visits there.
  2. C and myself regularly ate curries.
  3. I do get a craving for going for a curry at times.  Last night was one of those days.
  4. When I moved here I seemed to ask several people, where there was a good Indian restaurant.  I was finally sorted in Boots by a combnation of an Asian pharmacist and a customer.
  5. I was very disappointed when Waitrose stopped making curry and rice for one. Does anybody still do them?
  6. The day C died, I went for a meal in one of the Indian restaurants we used.

I should say that when I have a curry out, it’s usually in a proper restaurant, where they have tablecloths and use gram flour.

Perhaps it’s just down to releasing endorphins, as is stated in the extract from Wikipedia. After all, I feel better when Ipswich win.

November 11, 2012 Posted by | Food, Sport | , , | 2 Comments

Is Curry Good For Me?

Last night I had a good curry at the Angel Curry Centre in Chapel Market at the Angel.

My throat hasn’t been good lately, but it certainly seems to have improved after the curry.

But then it’s not just curry that does that.  Marks and Spencer’s roast pork in a cider sauce has a similar calming effect. There are various articles on the web, which say curry does have good effects. like this one.

But then C and I always used to go for a curry on Monday nights, although in later years we didn’t go quite as often.

So I know one thing I’m going to do to improve my health and that is have a weekly curry.

November 11, 2012 Posted by | Food, Health | , | 2 Comments

Two Gluten-Free Eateries

I went to the Brunswick Centre Waitrose to see if I could find some Musks sausages. Unfortunately, they’ve stopped selling them.

But I did find this food stall outside.

Gluten-Free Gallettes

As I’d just had a big breakfast, I passed the stall. as I walked back to get the bus up Lamb’s Conduit Street, I saw this cafe called Danny’s.

Danny’s – Home Of The Gourmet Wrap

They have quite a lot of gluten-free items and on enquiring inside, the owner could have been coeliac.

I shall return, when my stomach is less full.

November 10, 2012 Posted by | Food | | Leave a comment