Pierre Herme, St Germain des Pres - Paris

Herme is dubbed the Picasso of pastry and I can see why. The shop we visited was tantamount to a museum of edible treats. He’s famous for his macaroons so that was a must. We tried the chocolate, caramel and almond (each 2 euros). The build up to trying these circles of joy was immense, so as I stood outside his shop and took my first bite I was both excited and scared it wouldn’t live up to my expectations. Unfortunately my fear was realised. Don’t get me wrong here, there was nothing wrong per say, but it was just too rich, too sweet and not the texture I had come to know and love from the ones I’d previously had.

The shop in itself was a little ludicrous. It reminded me of a very high end jewellery shop, which didn’t put it our of place on a street with shops like Max Mara and Didier Guerin. If you walked past it you’d be none the wiser to the fact it wasn’t a place to buy diamonds. It felt odd having 5 servers in a shop that was no bigger than a walk in wardrobe, and equally odd that the chocolates and cakes were securely locked in glass cabinets.

I wanted to show my husband a genuine French patisserie and unfortunately this wasn’t one. Twas a bit too la-di-da.

Pierre Hermes
5/10
72 Rue Bonaparte
75006 Paris
Tel: +33 (0)1 43 54 47 77

www.pierreherme.com

La Station Rambuteau - Le Marais, Paris

We were hungry. It was close to midnight. La Station was the only thing open. A bistro like every other on the corner of a road that offered nothing of great interest. Places like this are my favourite discoveries. The unassuming, un-publicised little gems you find by accident because you’e desperately searching for food at a late hour.

We sat outside next to an old English couple that looked liked they’d been together for more years than I’ve been alive. That was a sweet little touch and I guess added to the romance of the place.

We had the Charcuterie slash Fromage board to share. It was lovely. There was salami, coppa, serrano and a good mixture of soft and hard cheeses. It came with bread and a healthy dollop of creamy butter. It was a steal at 9 euros for the amount we got.

Our first night in Paris, our first stop for sustenance and our first culinary success. 

La Station Rambuteau

9/10

20 Rue Beaubourg

75004 Paris

Tel: +33 1 42 72 80 85

Healthy Yummies - Location Catering & Street Food, Around UK

I’d first heard of Healthy Yummies when watching the Food Network. The show was called Red Hot and Yummy and focused on the owner of the company (Nicola Smith) as she went from first client contact, to menu planning, sourcing, cooking and serving the event (attention was also given to all the obstacles she encountered during the process: truck too big for the driveway etc…) 

On TV Nicola came across as very down to earth and approachable. A boss you’d like to work for kinda person. With vivacious red hair and always sporting a 50’s housewife headscarf, she seemed far from boring. Her vision was to own a van in which to serve good, seasonal and healthy food and with serious dedication, long hours, a touch of luck and a marketable idea Healthy Yummies was born.

The episode that cemented my liking for her was one in which she was hired to cater for a Jamie Oliver shoot. She was highly excited about the prospect of meeting him and planned a healthy yet scrummy sounding menu. At crunch time Mr 15-minute-meals only asked for a bacon sandwich and moreover had one of his minions get it. Much to Nicola’s dismay he didn’t eat her food or show his face. Ho Hum.

I met Nicola when she was serving her creations alongside her 1970s Bedford Ice Cream Van. She later told me she named it Elvira May to commemorate her grandmother who helped her buy it and sadly passed 2 days after she got it. 

I chose the lettuce cup which was filled with slow cooked black beans, tomato salsa, sour cream, a beetroot puree, coriander and a specially sourced cheese. Sounds simple enough but when done well simple food can be the best. The beans were deliciously meaty, the salsa was well seasoned and had a nice kick, and the beetroot puree was sweet, smooth as butter and somewhat comforting. All in all it was the best thing I had all day. 

Nicola was clever in her choice of menu too, she told me she opted for veggie as the other menus were heavily meat based. This approach allowed her plates to be healthier, both in calories and size. What I had was packed with flavour and colour, ample, and I really didn’t miss the meat.

And although Nicola’s company is called Healthy Yummies I think it would be fair to say that yes, they are conscious of the healthy aspect of the food they produce but that in no way means they compromise on oomph. Take a look at their sample menu (http://www.healthyyummies.com/sample-menus/lunchdinner/). I wouldn’t pass up the chance to try any of those things and I certainly wouldn’t consider myself sacrificing anything for health or dietary reasons. Would you consider a breakfast of ‘black pudding, apple chutney and spelt bread’ a chore, or a lunch of ‘beef fillet, jerusalem artichoke and sloeberries’ hard to swallow? Nah

You can find Nicola’s new and somewhat larger truck (named Theo after her nephew) at food fairs like the Good Food Show where I met her, or indeed you could hire them.

Healthy Yummies

9/10

90 De Beauvoir Road

London N1 4EN

Tel: 0207 275 7120

www.healthyyummies.com

BBC Good Food Show - Olympia, London

The Good Food show was ok. I think however that it would be a little more apt to call it the Good Food Trade Show. Yes, there are food stalls in the street kitchen area but only about 5 and I didn’t feel wholly impressed by the choice. 

When you first walk in you can purchase DC’s or Dining Currency. These come in token form and you can buy denominations of £5. The thing I found very annoying was that they neglected to tell us that these tokens were only accepted at the 5 food stalls in the street kitchen area. All of the other food on offer (artisanal produce, both cooked and to take home) only took cash. It made no sense, either only accept tokens, or only accept cash. That’s what they did at Taste of London and that worked a lot better for me.

So we be-lined to the street food area and the first thing I had was the tasting plate from celebrated Indian TV chef Cyrus Todiwala. It consisted of an Onion Bhaji, a Chickpea Chaat, some Coriander and Tamarind sauces and a crispy cup of some sort. It was ok but honestly nothing phenomenal. About 10 bites cost us £7 or 7DC’s, not worth it at all.

I could go on and on about the other bits and bobs I tried (the salt beef bagel was good) but to be honest the best part of the show came from the artisanal produce for sale. All kinds of cheeses, sausages, salamis, sauces, dips etc… Some of the upstairs stalls were run by individuals just trying to make their product known, and I liked that.

Later in the day we went to see one of the demonstrations (you have to pre-book). Gregg Wallace and John Torode from Masterchef fame were on stage hosting a cook off between 2 previous winners. It was ok but also a bit blah and I’m pretty sure Mr Torode was on the wrong side of tipsy.

I suppose it would be fair to say that my expectations of food shows is benchmarked by Taste of London, because in my opinion that’s the best one. This felt a little like a poor man’s version.

Good Food Show

7/10

www.bbcgoodfoodshowlondon.com

The Great British Sausage Co - Location Caterers & Sausage distributors, UK

What a brilliant yet simple idea. Get really well sourced and high quality meat, turn it into sausages and then go around to trade shows, get them in some shops and why not also cater to corporate and summer festival events. That’s this sausage company’s blueprint and it seems to be working for them.

I came across the company at the Good Food Show where they were selling sausages both cooked and uncooked. I was eyeing up what they called the ‘Full English’, which comprised of black pudding, pork and bacon. Unfortunately for me they weren’t cooking those so I bought a packet for home, which I ate the next day and can now say sits proudly in my top 5 best ever sausages. Equally good was the pork and jalapeño sausage I had at the food show. It was moist and delicious but disappointingly mild (if you’re putting jalapeño in it then I want to taste it). 

These bangers aren’t exactly cheap though. 4 sausages set me back £5 and the pork and jalapeño I had at the show was £5 too. It’s utterly worth it though. Shows that if you can afford to spend a little more then you get back a little more.

If you’re so inclined you can hire the company who can cater for up to 5000. They also do hog roasts and some bespoke dishes, and provide a full bar. Not bad but I imagine not cheap either. Aside from that I’d suggest keeping your eyes peeled for them when you’re food shopping. You won’t regret it.

The Great British Sausage Co

10/10

http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/events/view/6028/The_Great_British_Sausage_Company

Delight Polish Supermarket - Mitcham, London

I have Polish roots (I mean look at my name), however the food has never been a favourite of mine. I like my grandmothers Borsch but my desire to eat the food pretty much stops at that.

The other day I ventured to a newly opened Polish supermarket on Mitcham Road. I hadn’t been to a place that only sold Polish produce before so I was excited. It was clean, well organised and authentic to the point that the only other customers were Polish and the staff barely spoke a word of English. They had everything you could imagine, from cold meats and cheeses in the counter at the back, to pickles, Polish chocolate bars, frozen Pierogies, huge fresh baked breads and so on. It was all reasonably priced too. I bought a huge jar of pickled red cabbage for just over £1. 

Everything is written in Polish so I found it pretty hard to decipher what most of the things were, however not knowing added to the fun of the experience and to the feel of authenticity. I bought something simply because of its funky packaging. I still don’t know what it is (and it’s not like I could have asked the staff for help). So it could be a soup powder, or a jelly powder maybe. At any rate it’s like playing Polish-powder-roulette.

Delight Polish Supermarket
6/10
284 Mitcham Road
London
CR4 2BA

Spice Village - Tooting, London

When you feel like a curry in London a lot of people will tell you to head to Brick Lane or Southall. There’s nothing wrong with either of these places, however I can’t understand why Tooting is always overlooked.

As a place Tooting is a little bland, but the many Indian restaurants that flank the high street is reason enough to stop by.

On this occasion we went to Spice Village. From the outside the restaurant looks huge and quite generic. There’s a large tv in the corner (which I hate) and the decor is standard. When we went the restaurant was full (of mainly Indian people, always a good sign). 

Before we ordered we were given a salad and a selection of dips. Bizarrely though there were no papadums. These had to be ordered and were 50p a pop(adum).

We had 1 Pilau Rice, 1 Lamb Vindaloo, 1 Butter Chicken, and a Naan. For the 2 of us it was ample and we actually took a little home. The vindaloo was nicely spiced and quite hot, but the lamb was a little tough. The butter chicken was delicious but very very oily. The rice was extremely fluffy and the naan was charred and fantastic.

The entire bill, including a Lassi and diet coke was £22, so very reasonable. I would only go back if all the other restaurants on Tooting Road were packed and I was starving, because effectively SV is really only a slightly better local. I spent a great deal of time eyeing up the place across the road because the queues were endless and the smell emanating was the stuff of dreams. That will be my next stop. So actually if I’m telling you that the food here was ok but next time I’ll be going across  the road then it couldn't have been that good.

Spice Village

6/10

32 Upper Tooting Road

London SW17 7PD

Tel: 0208 672 0710

www.spicevillageltd.com

Chislehurst Caves - Chislehurst, Kent

The cafe is truly bad, the inside waiting area leaves a little to be desired. The caves are scary, dark and cold. The tour guide is slightly cheesy in his delivery. The entire experience is wonderful.

I’ve lived in London since I first opened my eyes. I know of all the main tourist attractions. Chislehurst Caves slipped by me. It’s not that well advertised and I’m sure that not a huge amount of people know about it, or indeed think it worthy of the trip, but it really is.

The tour lasts over an an hour and is effectively a mile walk around the caves (lantern in hand) with  regular stops to allow our delightfully witty guide to tell us about what happened where. Hendrix played in the Saxon’s part of the cave. The hospital was in the Romans’ part etc…

It’s a very powerful snippet of what life must have been like for those during WWII. The caves were very much a home for many and as such became an underground village/community. This isn’t a history lesson so I won’t go on but suffice to say that spending £6 on a lazy Sunday morning to grab some cave air and a little culture was a truly good start to the coming week.

I wouldn’t eat in the cafe unless I was highly hungover and in need of a greasy helping hand (chilli con carne and the full English were top choices) but its vibe added to the low rent (in the best possible way) vibe of the place. I did however pick up a book on war-time cookery, which I will consult when I need to ration my food intake and drop a few pounds, so basically a daily read!

Chislehurst Caves
10/10
Caveside Close
Old Hill
BR7 5NL

www.chislehurst-caves.co.uk

Rotunda Bar & Restaurant - Kings Place, London

It wouldn’t be fair to give a lengthy review of Rotunda’s food as we only had a bar snack, however a few words about the ambience, service and setting would be fair to comment on.

We went to watch a film and gig. In the interim we stopped here because it was right in the middle of the venue and time was of the essence. In that vain we stuck to something quick, which turned out to be their Chunky Chips in Beef Dripping. They were very good (crispy, fluffy, hot) but we were shocked that we literally got a handful for £4.

I can see why Rotunda works as it’s got a lovely outside area on the water. The vibe works for the late twenties and up crowd who are perhaps stopping in pre or post show. When we went the bar was busy so not a great deal of emphasis was on the food, which was probably a good thing because we’d of been hard pressed to of found a table. The service was slow but then again the bar staff were rammed.

I can imagine that by day sitting outside by the water while having a bite to eat would be a lovely thing, however the price of the food is steep, and the restaurant has no accolades to warrant it. It’s one of those ‘I’m going to make English food sound fancy by adding the word béarnaise wherever I can and telling you where I source my meat so I can charge £5 more per plate’ type menus.

I wouldn’t eat here, but I would have a drink if I was waiting to see a show (for the aforementioned reasons). In future if I find myself going back to Kings Place I’ll give myself enough time to go to one of the many restaurants in King’s Cross that are far less pretentious, more delicious, and wouldn’t send me bankrupt: Fore rib of beef on the bone, bèarnaise sauce, triple cooked chips - £26 per person. C’mon, you’re having a laugh!

Rotunda
6/10
Kings Place
90 York Way
N1 9AG
Tel: 0207 014 2840

www.rotundabarandrestaurant.co.uk

Ben's Canteen - St John's Hill, London

A short stroll up from Clapham Junction station lives Ben's Canteen. To look at it from the outside you'd be forgiven for not thinking much of it or for thinking that the huge BC sign on the outside is a little garish, but after stepping in you'd change your mind.

I first heard about it when I was looking up dog friendly places to have brunch in my area. Ben's Canteen was one of the few places that allowed dogs. I know, this doesn't strike you as the most hygienic of ideas, but if you're a dog lover and you'd like to have a delicious brunch with your husband and dog at your feet (not both of them obviously) then this is the place to go.

The Canteen in of itself is rustic yet trendy. Old wooden desk type tables seat diners at the back while the front has a quiet bar type feel to it, by day a nice place to grab some juice and by night a nice place to grab a beer.

I can best describe the dinner menu as eclectic. It's got quite a few diner type dishes: Mac & Cheese (£4), Fish Tacos (£5) etc... But then they throw in a few curve balls like Pig's Cheeks in a Green Sauce (Salsa Verde I came to understand, and I think by calling it 'green sauce' they were purposefully trying to dumb down the fanciness £6). There was also quite a lot of Mediterranean slash Moroccan flavours running through the menu.

What I think they are trying to do (and rather successfully) is portray themselves as a more upmarket diner. This can be construed as contrived, but it's up to you to decide that. Personally I thought it was a little try-hard, but equally successful in its aim.

Between the 6 of us we pretty much tried all of the dishes from the 'small plates' section of the menu. This included the rather delicious 'Epic Scotch Egg' (£6), the Braised Lamb Flatbread (£4.50) and the Grilled Squid and Chorizo Salad (£6). The flatbread was so so, the egg was indeed very good and the squid was nothing special. My favourite thing however were the Deep Fried Pickles (£4). They were absolutely fantastic. The concept of frying a pickle is truly American and hard to get your head around at first, but once you try it you'll be going back again and again. I also have it on good authority that the BBQ Chicken Wings (£6) were wonderful.

Burgers take up a large part of the 'large plates' section of the menu. A few of our party had the BC burger (Beef Patty topped with Salt Beef and Smoked Cheddar £9) which is described as 'one of London's best'. That's worthy of note, they do tend to big themselves up on the menu: 'epic egg, best burger' etc... Fries you have to order separately so expect a cool £12 for a burger and chips (my husband had the Sweet Potato Fries £3.50, which weren't all that crispy but still good).

All in all it's a great place for food. The feel and ambience is lovely also. I look forward to going back because their brunch menu looks ridiculously good. Dinner for 6 totalled £150 including drinks so it wasn't diner cheap, but you get what you pay for and on this occasion I think their prices matched their food.

Ben's Canteen
9/10
140 St John's Hill
London SW11 1SL
Tel: 0207 228 3260
www.benscanteen.com

NB: We went for brunch this morning. The Eggs Benedict were delicious if not slightly cold. The Breakfast Burrito was to die for. Cheesy scrabbled eggs, warm chorizo, pure luxury. £27 for brunch was a little steep though, but worth it.

Wing Yip Supermarket - Croydon, London

Wing Yip is a mammoth sized Chinese supermarket that sits just off Purley Way. It's a place you can go to and spend the entire day walking down aisle upon aisle of every kind of oriental sauce, dip, dumpling you can imagine.

The frozen section is vast too. Case in point, they have an entire aisle dedicated to prawns.

At the back you'll find industrial sized things (for restaurants I imagine). I'd never seen a 1 ton bag of rice before or indeed a little Chinese man trying to manoeuvre it.

And alongside the frozen food and sauces they also have a section dedicated to Chinese cookware and a section for fresh fish and oriental vegetables. You can get hard to find veg like Morning Glory (a long stemmed leaf that are used in stir fries).

The only downside to Wing Yip is that it's quite expensive. I spent over a hundred for not much at all.

If you're heading that way then I recommend you park up in their free car park and make a day of it because aside from the supermarket there are a few restaurants and a Chinese bakery.

Wing Yip Supermarket
9/10
544 Purley Way
Croydon CR0 4NZ
0208 688 4880
www.wingyip.com

Franco Manca - Brixton, London

I first came across this place, nestled in between the various food shops in Brixton market, a few years back. It had a lot of hype in the area at the time. I went, I ate and I then knew why.

2 main things make Franco Manca stand out from all the other pizza places in the area: 1. Their complete respect for produce and 2. The fact they only use slow rising Sourdough bread as their base and the pizzas are 'baked in a wood burning oven made on site by specialised artisans from Naples.'

At first when I saw Franco's location I was a little stumped. Brixton market is a highly West Indian market selling everything from pigs feet to cassava to Scotch bonnets, so how could a trendy pizza place work amidst all this? For whatever reason it did, and did so well in fact that they have expanded to Chiswick, Northcote, Westfields and Balham.

The pizzas are a good size and they lie just between thin and deep crust. The sourdough was good but I don't think it was any sort of new revolution in pizza making. I just told myself it was healthier so I could eat more. The toppings were also of very high quality (mind you they could have stuck a few more on, I counted 4 pieces of Chorizo on my £6.95 pizza).

Some people think that with only 6 pizza choices on the menu it's a little limited. I'm in two minds. On the one hand it's nice to have a simplistic and clean cut menu, but on the other I like my old favourite of Pepperoni and Jalapeños (which I can get there but need to pay extra). Maybe it's a good way to make you try new things. Like I said, two minds.

All in all Franco's offers high quality pizza at very reasonable prices and that's all you really need when you feel like a slice.

Franco Manca

8/10

Unit 4

Market Row

SW9 8LD

tel: 0207 738 3021

www.francomanca.co.uk

Menu: http://www.francomanca.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/FRANCO-MANCA-WINTER-20131.pdf

Ranoush - Kings Road & around London

Ranoush is dotted here and there around London. It's an offspring of the larger Maroush empire (Maroush own not only this one but also, Beirut Express, Randa, Sidi Maarouf to name a few). There is very little difference between them. Ranoush serves juice, Maroush is slightly more expensive and bigger but in essence they all serve good quality Lebanese food, all to the same standard and all in very similarly decorated surroundings.

The first time I heard of Maroush was when I was in school and in the same class as Mr Maroush's daughter Randa. On lucky days we'd pop over the street for a Shawarma wrap. From the first bite I took around the age of 14 I was hooked.

Up until last night Maroush, Ranoush or whichever oush I went to was always a place to grab a Shawarma wrap on the go (they open late too). They're not huge and cost around £7 but they are damn tasty. Hot freshly sliced and well seasoned chicken wrapped in fluffy bread and filled with garlic sauce, chilli sauce, pickles and salad. How could you go wrong?

A few nights ago I went to Ranoush on the Kings Road. Rather than have the same we sat and had a proper dinner. The inside was very small and tightly packed, but pleasant enough. We decided to share 4 hot Mezza (tapas style plates of food). We had the Falafal (£5.50), Hommos Shawarma (£7.50), Grilled Halloumi (£6.50) and Soujok (spicy sausages tossed in lemon £7).The Falafal were huge and crispy on the outside yet fluffy on the inside, and the Tahini sauce it came with complimented it immensely. Wow is all I can say about the Hommos Lamb Shawarma. It comprised of a small bowl of Hommos topped with crispy yet succulent pieces of lamb. This along with the hot balloon like pieces of bread meant we could make little wraps. The Halloumi was odd in texture. They were cut in huge chunks and were spongy. Normally when you buy Halloumi and grill it at home it crisps up on the outside, stays soft for about a minute and then hardens. This one however did not, leading me to believe the cheese was made in-house. The texture didn't bother me but my husband wasn't convinced. Finally to the Soujok. They looked a little like Merguez sausages. I really did not care for them. I know they were home-made but the meat tasted odd to me and the lemon sauce it came with just didn't work. Oh well, 3 out of 4 ain't bad.

At the end of the meal they gave us a very generous plate of fresh fruit and a few little pastries like Baklava.

The total bill came to £33.50 including two Cokes. We were truly stuffed and very happy. Ok it's not the most comfortable environment to eat in, and if you go at the weekend I can imagine it would be so packed you'd have to stand and eat, but the quality is so high I would consider eating on my feet.

Ranoush
10/10
338 Kings Road
London
SW3 5UR
Tel: 0207 352 0044
www.maroush.com

South Beach Club - Formentera, Spain

The South Beach Club is an oasis away from the vast cog that is the Insotel Hotel. It's slightly hidden away from the main part and sits directly on the beach below. It's very hip, funky and mellow.

We were at the Insotel in an 'all inclusive' capacity so we only ventured down to the SB club after dinner to indulge ourselves with their comfy sofas.

Unfortunately if you don't pay you don't get. It's confusing. You are all inclusive, the Insotel and SB bar are affiliated and linked, however it's also not part of it. We didn't understand it but we befriended a lovely bartender that had no issue with us sitting there. Bartender or not you'd still have to pay 30 euros a day for the beach bed!

Occasionally after having our buffet dinner in a 2000+ dining hall we'd pop down to the calm club to soak in the atmosphere. It was especially nice because it was always near empty. September doesn't seem like the busy time, which was nice for us, but I'm sure would also be very fun at a busier time of year.

Starters begin at 8 euros and end at around 29 for the Sushi platter. They range from things like Gaspacho or Aubergine with Scallops and Langoustine. Mains consist of Pasta dishes, Rice, Meats and Fish dishes. In my opinion the menu is very muddled. I suppose you'd call it Fusion but I always find it odd when you've got a French inspired dish such as Magret of Duck (21 euros) sitting next to the Tataki of Tuna on Shitake and Alga Wakame (23.10). Nah, pick a theme and stick with it.

Contrarily though fellow guests did comment on how nice it was so who am I to argue having not sampled the goods (I was too cheap to pay for food when I was all inclusive upstairs).

With that said I did pop down for an evening when they were serving free tapas and that was well done. Bits of Iberico, Manchego, Pan Tomaca were welcomed after our day on the boat (which incidentally we rented from the SB water sports shack next to the bar).

The thing about this place is that it's very lush. The toilets have couches in them for crying out loud and it is directly on the beach, so while you're lounging on the comfy seats you can simultaneously run your toes through the sand.

I loved it, just wish it was included in my all inclusive.

South Beach Club
9/10
Playa Migjorn, S/N
Ca Mari
07860
Formentera
Tel: +34971321800
www.southformentera.com

Es Cupina - Formentera, Spain

My view of Es Cupina will be a little unfair as I went to it when it was rented out for a wedding. This of course meant that I couldn't order from a menu. What was on offer was still very good however.

To begin with let me talk about the location because I think this is what makes the restaurant stand out. It sits modestly at the bottom of a hill right next to the sea. Not only does this mean that you know your seafood has to be fresh but it also allows you to hear the crashing waves as you eat. We didn't, the music was loud and the party too frantic, but I imagine that would be the case under less celebratory circumstances.

We began with an Octopus, Potato and Red Pepper combo that came on a wooden board for sharing. It was perfectly fine but if you can't produce a decently cooked potato then maybe you should go back to culinary school. The second plate that came out was a Goats Cheese, Tomato, Bacon tower type sandwich. It was nice but a nightmare to divide between 4 and a slightly odd thing to have at a wedding. Third came the steamed Mussels in a Mariniere sauce. I don't eat mussels but they were huge and those that did eat them said they were delicious and juicy. Fourth were the clams which came in a more garlicy sauce. Everyone scooped those up pretty quick. Finally the savoury leg of our lunch ended with Fideua. Fideua being a paella with noodles instead of rice. It originates from Valencia, as does the groom, so it was a nice touch. It was passable, nothing special, but the prawns were huge and the ratio of seafood to noodles was generous.

Later that evening we had a BBQ. Es Cupina opened up their back garden and cooked up huge quantities of steak, sausages, and pork chops. All of which came with buns, lovely sauces and beautifully roasted potatoes.

It's a place to go without doubt. The location is second to none. The food is seriously fresh and the staff are very kind.

The only down side is you have to cab it or drive to get there. I drove but I have it on good authority that the fare from the middle of the island to this restaurant would have been around 17 euros.

Es Cupina

8/10

Venda de sa Talaiassa (Platja Migjorn), S/N

07872, Pilar de la Molar, Formentera

Illes Balears

Tel: 971327221

Disco Burger (aka Va Bene) - Ibiza, Spain

You get those times in life where you just luck out. On the way to Ibiza from Formentera Eddy was going on about having a hamburger before jumping on our flight. We hopped off the ferry and wandered around for around 5 minutes before stumbling across Disco Burger.

It's a kitsch American inspired diner, with all the normal perks you'd find: a waitress with a slight chip on her shoulder, a big old mannequin holding a burger outside and decks and vinyl behind the bar.

I had the Chicken Burger, Eddy the Beef Burger (both with onions, tons of mayo, pickles). Each set us back under 6 euros. The burgers were a good size, that is to say not mammoth but big enough to fill you up so you don't feel overwhelmingly full. I especially liked that my chicken was not coated and fried, simply grilled.

Fries are a 1.50 euro extra bonus if you're so inclined. We were. They're hand cut, skins still on and covered in sea salt. They were good but the portion size was non existent. I think I had 7 on my plate.

Louis Lassen apparently invented the burger (by accident) in a lunch wagon in Connecticut in the 1900s. The story goes that he ground up beef trimmings to make a patty for a ravenous customer and then stuck it between two pieces of toast. They're still doing that today I believe, and Disco Burger are doing the same because you can choose between a burger sandwich or regular burger bun. I doubt they've done this on purpose but it's still nice.

It's a great place to stop if you fancy a burger. Certainly would head back if in Ibiza, mainly because it's the first time in a long time that I didn't feel like I'd just put on a stone after eating in a burger joint. By all accounts it seemed pretty healthy.

Disco Burger (Va Bene)
Avinguda de Bartomeu de Rossello, 15
Ibiza Town
Ibiza
Balearic Islands
07800

Pizzeria Macondo - Formentera, Spain

Macondo was my favourite restaurant in Formentera. Amidst a myriad of highly priced places it was a joy to find somewhere that was not only cheap but had very good food. We went three times during our 9 day stay and each time I ordered something different (not quite the same with my husband, he's a Calzone fiend). 

First time around we were with a huge group of people, all of whom were sharing mussels to start, followed by large pizzas. The mussels were as you'd expect when being by the sea, big and juicy with a Mariniere type sauce. The pizzas looked delicious too (however it was only on our second visit that we'd know exactly how good). They also had the most delicious and indulgent starter imaginable. It comprised of a lovely terracotta bowl filled with molten, bubbling hot cheese. With this you could dip in bread, vegetables, your hand perhaps. A steal too at under 10 euros.

After this experience we had to venture back, not only for the food, but also for the ambience and vibe of the place. It sits on a side street (the main drag of a very small town/village) and takes up the entirety of it. The lighting is great and I suggest you sit outside on the street and be ready to wait for a good 20 minutes for a table.

Second time I had the Diablo pizza and my husband of course had the Calzone. This time round it was Calzone Tony. Tony is filled with Speck, Pepperoni, Ham and 2 cheeses. It comes out looking like a huge pillow filled with meaty smelling air. It was very good and very reasonably priced. Likewise with the pizza I had (9 euros) which was wafer thin and really very good. I believe that when a slice of pizza doesn't flop and fall apart when you put it in your mouth then you're in for a treat. This one didn't flop. Good job.

And finally our last visit to Macondo comprised of yet another Calzone for my husband (this time aptly named Vegetal and filled with goats cheese, walnuts and spinach), and I went off piste and had the Tagliolini with Ragu. If you know me you'll know that I always adapt my food, usually it needs more salt and always needs more chilli. On this occasion I didn't add any salt but of course heated it up a bit. In all fairness it didn't really need it, because it was utterly delicious by itself.

At the end of the meal they offer you a shot. I wondered if that touch was a Macondo thing or a Spanish thing. I hadn't seen it anywhere else so I concluded that it was just a Macondo perk. We didn't take them up on it but everyone else did. It made me think 'no wonder everyone leaves here satisfied and merry.'

We left entirely satiated but equally saddened that we were heading back to London with no Macondo food in our near future.

Pizzeria Macondo

10/10

Calle Mayor, 3

07871, Formentera

Tel: 387065555