[eating] timberyard

I spent my Sunday afternoon in Timberyard, located between shoreditch and clerkenwell. 300 steps from old street station to be precise (according to their website). I was feeling sorry for myself as not only was I alone, but I had also just burned what felt like a million calories in the gym over some punch & pad boxing action. No ordinary comfort food was going to do the trick so I went for toasted cheese, rocket & pesto.   

Cheesy oozy satisfaction and your 5 a day greens -Two birds one stone, seriously.

I did actually have some work to get through (i.e. moving papers around and pulling spreadsheets), it was all going quite well (lie) until 3 o'clock came around - I was feeling sorry for myself (again). A little trip to the counter and weighed up my options between smoothies, cakes and cookies.

Being the greedy pig, the "everything" cookie ticked all my boxes as I got sweet, salty, soft and crunchy all in one bite - chocolate chunks, peanuts and pretzels.

Timberyard was my perfect Sunday cozy corner. 

Timberyard: 61-67 Old Street, London EC1V 9HW

[cooking] simple terriyaki steak

TERRIYAKI STEAK

Step 1. Wash and prepare vegetables of your choice (Onions and mushrooms - especially shitake - are a no fail combo)

chop cry chop cry chop cry.....

Step 2. The meat - Lightly pan fry the beef and set aside for later use.
Step 3. The veg - Stir fry together mushrooms and onions. I went down the healthy route and added just half a cup of water to simmer the veg instead of using oil. Don't forget to add a few table spoons of terriyaki sauce or soya sauce.
Step 4. The sauce - Add some water to a pan, add quite a bit of terriyaki sauce (I believe in feelings not measuring spoons) and bring it to boil. If it looks a bit thin, add a bit or cornstarch mixed with water to thicken up the "sauce".
Step 5. The final touch - Slice up the beef into chunks and add to the "sauce".

Ingredients:
- Meat of your choice (Thin cut feather steaks usually work well)
- Onions & Mushrooms
- Broccoli, cauliflower or carrots to bump up your five a day
- Terriyaki sauce

I have a habit of eating the same thing over and over and over again.
Slightly more exciting version with broccoli being replaced with tofu -

[eating] - R3D market

This post is from a while ago when it was still summer.

I love food markets as its the closest thing to the epic night markets we have in Taiwan (totally saving the night market goodnes for another post). We headed over to shoreditch, where the R3D market was on in full swing.

Boys and girls, I present to you the frenchie duck confit.
First, you have to make a tough choice between goats cheese & truffle honey or smoked cheddar.

Secondly, you have a choice between brioche or big bap. I've shamelessly tried both (on separate occasions, obviously.). Personally, I prefer the brioche and all its buttery goodness, but hey let us not forget the fact that the big bap is ermm bigger in size.

 Waiting for everything to sizzle.

 and here you go, no further description required.

Three minutes later....

and we rounded our meal off with some gin based cocktails.

I will miss the summer food markets.
But Christmas markets are just around the corner!

[miscellaneous] - back from study leave

I have been on study leave for too long and my only companion has been duck (pictured below). RL and I rescued it from drowning in my cocktail at lounge bohemia (true story) and it has lived in my bag ever since.

During our absence, the world has moved on and I have had to wave good bye to my sad little chinese blog as they are shutting down the blogging platform. Here's to a new chapter of blogging - go, fight, win.

ps. If a child is crying and begging his mom to buy a box of cereal, trust the child, that is a sign of an epic cereal.