Wafflemeister

I came across this photo from my holiday a few years back and couldn’t resist sharing (#flashback). Waffles are a legitimate breakfast food. Really! They’re even more so when you’re on holidays. I met friends of mine also holidaying in London to check out the Natural History Museum, but before a day of museum exploration, a sturdy breakfast was in order. That’s where Wafflemeister came in. Near the South Kensington tube station, this outlet of the waffle-producing chain was just too tempting to resist. I chose a ‘waffle au chocolate’, and picked milk chocolate for the drizzle on top (dark and white also available). You can add fruit to your waffles and I opted for fresh raspberries. This turned out to be an excellent choice – the waffle was fresh, crisp and light, and the milk chocolate was rich and smooth, with just the right amount to stop the waffle from being dry. But the absolute highlight was the raspberries – they were juicy, tart and intensly flavoured. I can honestly say I’ve never had such delicious berries before in my life! The serving was quite large and I couldn’t quite finish it, but I did finish all the raspberries! They also made me feel a bit less guilty for having a sweet treat for breakfast.

Wafflemeister, 26 Cromwell Place, South Kensington London, UK http://www.wafflemeister.com/

Mickey’s

Ok, I’m a bit ashamed to admit that we had a burger whilst in Turkey, but after an eight hour meeting I think we were entitled to a menu we could navigate without too much thought. Mickey’s offered an inviting outdoor setting where we could enjoy the summer sunshine. We started with daquiris – I had a strawberry one, which came out in a big glass and was sweet and not overly alcoholic. Whilst the menu offers food from a range of non-Turkish cuisines, we both opted for a burger – I had the ‘Mickey’s burger’, with beef, cheddar cheese, caramelised onion, lettuce, tomato, pickles and relish, and accompanied by fries and coleslaw. The beef was tender and went well with the sweetness of the relish and caramelised onions. The sauce was very oozy but had a good kick, and I soaked up the excess with my fries. Overall it was a very filling meal – if I went again, I would order the smaller of the two sizes – and whilst it wasn’t the best burger I’ve ever had, it was a good, reliable meal at the end of a long day.

Mickey’s, Arjantin Cd, Gaziosmanpaşa Mh., Ankara, Turkey http://mickeys.com.tr/

Lo and Loud

Lo and Loud was my local breakfast place for the two days my colleague and I spent in Ankara. Within walking distance of the hotel and stocked with incredible, mouthwatering pastries, it was no hardship to pop down for breakfast in the mornings. Turkey seems to run on tea (çai), and I had my first taste of it here. As someone who usually drinks black tea, I quite enjoyed the brew with one sugar to counteract the bitterness. We tried a variety of savoury pastries across the two days, although never reached the point where I knew their names. Favourites included a slice that was filled with meat and potato (served warm), and a glazed bread topped with black sesame seeds – simple but tasty. We were lucky enough to meet a Turkish gentleman who spoke fluent English on the first day, and he graciously talked us through the pastry options and then ordered for us – hospitality is flawless in Turkey. We were delighted to see him again on the second day, where he repeated the favour. Obviously Lo and Loud was his local too, and I can understand why.

Lo and Loud, Barbaros Mh., 06700 Ankara, Turkey, no website

Mikla

After enjoying the views from the bar, we moved down a floor to the restaurant, where we had been told the ‘tasting menu’ (degustation) was well worth the price tag. Mikla is known for modern Turkish with an emphasis on local produce, and it showed – not only were the ingredients fresh and flavoursome, but all of the matching wines were local too. We had seven courses, with highlights including the crispy sardines adhered to olive oil bread, the salted and dried beef tenderloin, and the caramelised rice pudding with sour apple sorbet for dessert. Each course had its own distinct flavours, and we felt that the progression from entrees to main to cheese to dessert was well paced over our three hours there. In between courses we oggled the spectacular views as Istanbul put on weekend fireworks and the haunting call to prayer echoed through the city. The staff spoke excellent English and were very accommodating – they happily wrote out a list of all the wines we’d had so I could remember them. I would definitely recommend Mikla as a memorable, modern Istanbul food experience with views to die for.

Mikla, Cafe Marmara Pera, Meşrutiyet Cd No:1, 34430 Beyoğlu, Turkey http://www.miklarestaurant.com/en

Mikla

Thank you, thank you, thank you Lonely Planet. This is in contention for the best bar I have ever been to. On a balmy summer evening, emerging onto the 17th storey rooftop and being met with 360 degree views of the city was breathtaking. So too was the line up at the bar – there is no cocktail or spirits menu, the bartender comes over to your seat and just asks what you feel like. I was definitely in the mood for a mojito, but I imagine that if you didn’t know what you wanted, they would happily guide you in the right direction. Having said that, the wine list was actually a book – there was more choice than I’ve ever seen anywhere! My mojito was well-balanced and utterly refreshing. I was given a small dish of warm, spiced almonds to snack on while I waited, although I spent more time taking photos and admiring the skyline of Istanbul. When an accoustic version of Swedish House Mafia’s ‘Don’t You Worry Child’ came on, I turned to my left and saw the man sitting there propose to his girlfriend – I couldn’t imagine a more perfect place to become engaged.

Mikla bar, Cafe Marmara Pera, Meşrutiyet Cd No:1, 34430 Beyoğlu, Turkey http://www.miklarestaurant.com/en/mikla-restaurant/bar

France Scrapbook

Pretty pages from my time in France.

1. “Fairytale” – The back of Notre Dame in Paris.

2. “Breakfast in Paris” – Breakfast with Amandine

3. “The House of Victor Hugo” – Self explanatory really!

4. “Wonder” – First sight of the Eiffel Tower up close

5. “Wallpaper” – Unfinished page about the wallpaper at Versailles.

6. “French Sweets” – A selection of the yummy sweets I ate in France! Definitely a favourite page!

UK Scrapbook

I’ve made a few scrapbook pages about my time in the UK.

1. “Mission Accomlished” – Achieving my goal to try wild boar on my first day in England.

2. “Pub Lunch” – Catching up with Luke in Covent Garden and having my first fish and chips in the UK.

3. “Sophisticated Scones and Jam” -A snack in the Parliamentary cafe in Westminster after taking the tour.

4. “I waffle therefore I am” – Wafflemeister chocolate and raspberry waffle for breakfast with Jasmin and Owen in South Kensington.

5. “Tower Hill” – An afternoon exploring this area of London.

6. “Grow” – Catching with with Janelle and Kelly”

7. “Bedknobs” – The bedknob I found on Portobello Road, like in the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks from my childhood.

8. “Coastal Treasure” – A favourite shot from Conwy in Wales