I’ve recently tried my hand at rabbit stew. The outcome was so good I thought, heck, why not share the recipe. It’s pretty standard with no added chocolate, goat cheese, samphire, parsnip ice cream, or other weird stuff. On a few occasions in the past I’ve been told that I’m a decent cook. Compared with most passably passionate amateur cooks, who usually have a ton more talent, I’m pretty rubbish. One of the reasons I post recipes here on Berkeley Square Barbarian, is to get some ideas out there. You’ve never cooked rabbit stew? Well, now might be as good as any time to get started. This was my first time. By all means, do shop around, google other recipes. I’ve achieved all I wanted to achieve if a few of you readers out there get thinking about trying out new stuff. INGREDIENTS (2 persons) Whole, skinned, […]
Emperor Franz Joseph’s favourite Schmankerl: Kaiserschmarrn – Our Keto-friendly Recipe
One of the greatest joys of going on a skiing holiday to Austria is all the lovely food: Germknoedel, strudel, schnitzel, Tafelspitz, Landtmann Cake, Käsekrainer, and… most importantly: Kaiserschmarrn, or Emperor’s Mess. During our last such trip in mid-February, earlier this year, I must have enjoyed this dish on at least four occasions, even though we were only in the country for a long weekend. Locals often label it as a main, but let’s be honest, it’s really more of a dessert or something you have between meals. It’s not just me, right? The dish takes its name from Austrian emperor (“Kaiser”) Franz Joseph I, who was as fond of this shredded pancake as I am. Princess-aficionados probably know the man better as Sisi’s husband. Franz Josef was a popular emperor who ruled peacefully for nearly half a century, while everyone else was at war with each other. […]
Ye Olde Mitre, Holborn – London’s best-hidden pub and a gem of a boozer
The Barbarians are always in for a good challenge. So when fellow travel blogger David from Stray with David recently visited town and suggested we should meet up for a couple of quick pints at London’s best-hidden pub, we turned it into a competition who would find it first. We literally bumped into each other at the signposted entrance to the tiny alleyway off Hatton Garden and called it a draw. Apparently the entrance at the other end of the alley is much harder to find. Half way through the passage the path widens and opens to the sky, letting a healthy amount of light in, and there it is: the beautiful, award-winning, top-ranking, famous Ye Olde Mitre with its oak-panelled ground floor façade and dark leaded stained-glass windows. Even though the only thing that remains from its initial existence today is a single corner stone, the pub traces its […]
Hostaria Osottoosopra, Venice
Friends had recommended Hostaria Osottoosopra to us and finally we were going to check this place out for a very late lunch. Tripadvisor (#26 of 1,323 Restaurants in Venice, certificate of excellence) seemed to agree with our friends’ opinion. The slightly odd-looking name is pidgeon Italian for “Below and Above,” referring to the two floors. Osottoosopra is just across the Canale Grande from Palazzina Grassi (even though a fair walking distance, unless you hop on a boat), where we had enjoyed brunch the previous day (blog post here). This is where the three neighbourhoods of San Marco, San Polo, and Dorsoduro touch. It is one of our favourite parts of Venice. Despite the physical proximity to San Marco you might find yourself walking along canals and down crooked alleyways for several minutes without spotting other human beings. Quite the opposite of super-busy San Marco. There are other quiet areas such […]
Bistro Mirey might be for you, if you love French breakfast with baked beans
UPDATE – Bistro Mirey permanently closed on 31st October 2019. We’ve just come back from a catch-up with good old friends, fellow food blogger Karen (The Veggie and I) and her husband at Bistro Mirey. Mirey is a Franco-Japanese bistro, which was opened in Fulham early last year by the professionally trained chef Gerald Mirey and former supper club originator Ko Ito. The restaurant doesn’t look like much from the outside. It was empty when we arrived and slowly filled up to about one-third capacity while we were there. We liked the bright, friendly, relaxing vibes with a lot of wood. As a tall person, I have to say, that the legroom at all the tables is tiny (even though in some cases, you might be able to move the table away from the wall respectively the chairs away from the table). The service was very friendly, welcoming, and generally […]