Posh Petrus Dine

I was über excited for Petrus for two good reasons. 1) Kate claims a PR ate there and nearly cried because it was the best thing she had ever eaten. 2) it sounds a bit like my name. The Stofberg's ascended en mass (prepare for a lot of plate posing) and we had a jolly old time.

Pre starter starter- posh dine standard. Basically a yummy fish cake in tartar sauce. (No tears yet)

                   Ballottine of foie gras and duck. Basically rich meat cake (moist eyes no tears)

Rita with her sea bass- looking proud and every so slightly like Harry Potter's mum.

Sam looking smug over his sea scallops. They were a taste sensation.

Paps with Langoustine, Dorset snails?! and crispy chicken wing (apaz it worked, I remain unconvinced)

Me with my pork lion and suckling pig belly (I LOVE MEAT)

Sam's lamb with sweetbreads(not what you think) roasted butternut squash and pine nuts

Gareth's beef wellington (I was slightly jels on this it looked amazing, both him and my dad  ate theirs so fast none of us where offered a taste, apparently they forgot, greedy.com)

    My chocolate sphere which then had chocolate poured over it....

                                                                                                     FIT!

                Burgh more chocolate felt like Augustus Gloop.

                                My fave pud bite white chocolate covered popping candy ice cream and mini cornettos

Marga and her star anise creme brulee, with liquorish. She found the plate posing hiler!

All in all it was a delightful, fun dinner, no one cried which was a shame , and although the food was 5 star I  wasn't blown away. Maybe it was the hype, maybe it was the name but I just expected a little something more WOW.

A Sunday Sausage Roll

After being inspired by a rival food blog, getinmygob we <3 you. I decided to make some sausage rolls, the turtles excitement could only possibly be surpassed by Liverpool winning the league....Seriously if I get sent anymore pictures on Steven Gerrard celebrating a goal I won't be responsible for my actions,

So The pressure was on!

Ingredients,




Chop up red onion, I used my BRAND NEW chopping equipment, middle age I'm coming to get you.





Oven fry with some fresh sage.





Get some good quality sausages and take out of the skin... This looks gross and rude. lolling (maybe nearing middle age, doesn't mean I have to act it)









Flour a board an roll out some puff pastry, and cut in half








Mix the sausage meat and the cooled down sage and onions and some breadcrumbs, and place down the middle of the pastry.





Glaze the pastry with some egg and milk wash.










Chop into size and place on a baking tray. Fold the pastry over and seal with a fork.





Cook in the over for 25 mins.










The most delish sausage rolls ever, even better than greggs, which coming from me #greggsnumber1fan is saying something.

And I've never seen the turtle so happy, instant marriage material, done.

Nellist

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The Perfect Steak

So ... The turtle, whose cooking skills start and end with omelette and chips, reads an article about how to cook the perfect steak in the Times and decides that he MUST cook us one.
Now for someone who would opt for iceberg in a sandwich over rocket and salad cream over mayo, this began to slowly fill me with fear.
His recipe which he repeated to me about 30 times thoughout the day went as follows:
1. Buy steak.. I made him buy fillet for fear he may go go for braising.
2.Leave out for an hour to breathe.
3. Get a frying pan so hot, you can't hold hand above it.
4. Depending on thickness of the steak, cook for 1 min per cm on each side.
5.Warm oven for a minute then serve.
The result: it actually turned out extremely tasty, despite the fact I couldn't help myself interfering which resulted in us both telling the other to F-off. Ahhhh sweet.




Good work Currie, maybe there's hope for you yet. Looks like those similarities with Simon Rimmer just keep on coming.

Nellist

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Aubergine Parmigiana

Now on the fash desk this meal is a firm fave. Wheato Downie can eat it, calorie concious Kate can eat it, no carbs after 3pm Petro can eat it, and it incorporates both my number 1 and number 2 favourite ingredients. Cheese and tomato ...
Total winner, and Only 188 kcal per serving, but whose counting, obvs not us.
I decided to whip one up for last weeks pack ups, serve with rocket and Parma ham and I was the lunch envy of the rest of the team.
Step one:
Griddle aubergines, buy from local Indian shop and not tesco
#powertotheindependetretailers








Fry off red onion and garlic








Add in the tinned tomato, basil and seasoning




And begin to prepare, layer tomato, grated Parmesan, aubergine and repeat








Top with mozerella and put in the oven for 40 mins








Et voila - delish, low in kcals and easily reheated for chic lunching in the blue fin canteen. Pizza express eat your heart out. Result.
Nellist
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NOPI Brunch

As a fan of Ottelenghi (never actually knowingly tried any of his stuff but it looks BEAUT) I was well up for trying out Nopi for brunch.

Me, Sweeney, Jonesy and Grace met up for chats over Shakshuka, french toast with star anise sugar, courgette fritters with lime mayo and borlotti bean stew with chorizo.

I went for this



Shakshuka; a rich slightly spicy tomato sauce with braised eggs and topped with creamy smoked labneh (er.. It's a cheese idiots!!)

Omg. Delish.

Jonesy of course opted for courgette and manouri cheese fritters with a lime mayo




Amazing. I tried some.

So just as we had finished and discussed how much we all enjoyed it I made a trip to the ladies.

WOW. I'm not joking.... The BEST toilet experience ever. Nope, I'm talking finding a winning lottery ticket or a cracking ingrown hair but these toilets are something else!!

You're encased in wall to wall mirrors making it tricky to work out where the toilet doors are - or even the door to leave. It's totes Crytal Maze but super swank at the same time. Fun times!!

The pics don't do it justice but trust me it's that good - I revisited purely to get these so APPRECIATE.






Amazing brunch and the best bogs in London. They've got a USP right there.


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Sunday lunch at Corrigan's of Mayfair

So the Stofberg's hit Corrigan's in Mayfair for Mothers Day, only the best for Mamma Rita! We opted for the Library dining experience which means you literally eat in the kitchen, next to the chef. Now despite the thin glass door which you can close there isn't anything to separate you from the kitchen and the on suing chaos a high end restaurant goes through on a mothering Sunday lunch sitting. Perhaps it was the blood, sweat and pain that we could literally hear from the kitchen "That plate is hot, now I don't give a shit if you burn yourself but I care if the customers do", but the food tasted the better for it.

The Kitchen- so close you could dress your own dinner, nearly offered once when the lanky waiter got shouted at. (Cue stories about Sam working at Cafe Rouge)

Canape, olives stuffed with feta deep fried- what's not to love, followed by rosemary buns and rock salt butter! 

My froie gras pate on brioche. Melting moments for carnivores.

Lady of the moment- my mom with her lamb mains (she is a Saffer!) Big C in the background.

                              

Lamb close up (mouth watering just looking at it)

Sam and I went fishy, Red Mullet with crab ravioli pour moi and fish pie for him (he was going for colour co-ordinated eating)

Roast beef with all the trimmings.

                                  

Chocolate trio, not sure exactly the combo but the dark chocolate sorbet going on my death row meal.

Coffee with orange Madeline's.

Do you want to know what this feast cost us, £27 for the menu! £27! I've spent more in Nando's. I say go, go before they wise up and realise they're undercharging. Mamma Stofberg's verdict 'Well we can go there again.' High praise indeed.