What you are about to read is not for the faint of heart, or stomach.
Be warned: if you are vegetarian or vegan, press button to turn screen into kitties now.
Americans are infamous for large portions. We overfeed, overindulge, live large and waste wantonly. We are a new country and we're as proud as a teenager with a new car. Seven miles to the gallon? Sure, so long as the wheels are sexy, shiny, and get us laid.
But we're not the only country without control in the portion department. Sometimes food is so rich in spice, flavour, potency, intrigue, intellect, and fatty ingredients; one 250 gram portion of this does not equal 8 ounces of that.
A plate's weight in grams or ounces can determine servings per individual, as can depth of flavour.
Have you ever put a forkful in your mouth and thought,
"Wow, that's enough.
There's an entire city full of side streets, dead ends, dark alleys and disparate populations in that bite." ?
{The first time I ever felt this was after tasting Indian Lime Pickle for the first time.}
I may look slight, but boy can I eat.
Word.
I'm hungry all the time.
Some have even wondered if I've made a deal with the devil...
Delicious food be warned: I could eat all of you. And then some.
The more fat the better.
This is a list, in no particular order, of everything I've eaten in the last coupla days in London; land of massive portions, celebrators of butterfat, succulent swine, Builder's strong tea, mince, serious salt and people trained in frying for sport. Hearty Eating happens in London.
No time for shy, yo.
Dig in.
Grouse with Madeira de-glazed Grouse Heart-Kidney Pate Toast [the color of this pate was black-blue-aubergine. I kid you not. Paynes Grey, to be exact.]
Calves Liver with Braised Endive
Organic Beef Stew with Potato Gratin and Cavolo Nero
Lamb Sweetbreads
Beef Bone Marrow with Parsley-Caper-Shallot Salad and a huge pile of Grey Salt [this is love on a plate.]
Potato Soup with Foie Gras
Cream of Cauliflower Soup with Hazelnuts
Boiled Amersham Bacon with Spatzle [drowning in double cream]
Konstam Castle Cake with Fennelseed Ice Cream and Fresh Strawberry Preserves
Fried Potato Wedges
Lemon-Almond Drizzle Cake with Lemon Confit
Partridge with Chestnuts
Charred Sardine
Eccles Cake with Lancashire Cheese
English Muffin smothered in French Butter
Lebanese [Lemon oil fried] Chicken Livers {Beirut Express 112-114 Edgware Road London W2 2DZ}
Country Chicken Liver with Peach Chutney
Chicken Livers in Double Cream and Mushrooms
Chicken Liver Pate
Apple-Raisin Crumble and English Custard
Black Velvet Chocolate Cake with Creme Fraiche [the first bite of this warmish, silky, deep chocolate cake felt like it looks like getting deepthroated]
Pure Raspberry Sorbet
Lemon Curd & Mascarpone Tart
Whole Orange-Almond Cake with Chocolate Ganache
Chorizo Sandwich with Rocket and Piquillo Pepper
Honeyed Sheep's Milk Yogurt
Victorian Fizzy Lemonade
[Pacific Northwesterner Approved] [on-site coffee bean roasted espresso] Cappuccino {like a speedball this one}
Malt Custard and Shortbread [don't think malted milkshakes; think wheat, hopps, bitters. guinness. think molasses, treacle. what a night feels like with no moon and a lie-down by the fireplace.]
Tomorrow, Petersham Nurseries with Ms. K herself (!!!!!!!), Tapas for supper and then a big dance at Duckie, for a fantastic send off.
Shuna, where did you have the cauliflower soup with hazelnut? Was it a cream soup? Years ago I had such a soup at La Luncheonette in Chelsea in NY and the smell and flavour are still strong in my memory. The was just a little bit of truffle oil drizzled on top.
Maia! Look at you go. You just described what I had the other night! It was at KONSTAM at The Prince Albert in WC1. the restaurant sources 85% of their produce from around Greater London! Beautiful interior, too. It will match your outfit if you go... - Shuna
Posted by: maia cybelle | 10 October 2008 at 06:27 PM
Sounds delicious. My arteries are calcifying just reading it. Although I didn't notice any coffee on your list. London is home to multiple (current and former) world barista champs at Square Mile Roasters - I haven't tried their coffee yet, but I imagine its pretty phenomenal.
Hello Christian, I might not know you well enough to say hey silly! but hey silly! Did you click on the cappuccino link? I went to Square Mile Roasters on Poyser. I met the people! I drank the drink! I will return! And spread the gospel! - Shuna
Posted by: Christian | 10 October 2008 at 07:25 PM
Shit I feel like I ought to be reading this post in the ER!
Oh I do recall being a chef and cooking some of those dishes. I had a Chef who taught me how to make a gallantine of capone...you know forced meat. So I have clue.
Eat Girl EAT!
Can't wait to see all the photos!
Posted by: Lovebabz | 10 October 2008 at 09:22 PM
Shuna, six years ago my daughter spent 6 months in London studying at RADA and her main complaint was restaurants (that she could afford) did not serve salads... she said on could not find a lettuce if her life depended on it... true?
Hello Natalie, I have seen "leaves" or salad almost everywhere I've eaten, but I have saved my pennies for some fantastic meals and cooking at home the rest of the time. A lot of salads here refer to potato and egg but the odd leafy green salad I've ordered has been gorgeous. - Shuna
Posted by: Natalie Sztern | 11 October 2008 at 02:31 PM
Bit of a chicken-liver frenzy, eh? And that deep-throat comment? TMI. Glad you've eaten well and heartily, and that you're coming home full. Sorry I'm not there to meet you.
xoxo
Posted by: Athen | 12 October 2008 at 12:27 AM
What a happy list, full of real food... I've had a few things on the list, but not nearly enough.
I don't see Silver Shred anywhere om your list; oh please ask for some next breakfast for your toast, it's lemon marmalade and it's a wondrous thing!
Posted by: Elsewhere | 12 October 2008 at 01:51 PM
Ahh, I am silly. I read this at first in my RSS reader and so I didn't see the links. Of course, now I'm just jealous.
Posted by: Christian | 14 October 2008 at 05:45 PM
Holy crap, if y oate all that I'm guessing they made yuo pay excess baggage charges on yourself, never mind your bags! Why didn't you get in touch before you came? In any event, though, I would probably have missed you as I'm newly back from 2 weeks in... the USA! Another of life's ironies - passing like planes in the night ;-)
Posted by: Jeanne | 24 October 2008 at 08:31 PM