Dum Dum Donutterie

Welcome to the baked doughnut evolution - Dum Dum Donutterie - where doughnuts are baked multiple times but not fried. These doughnuts are light, fluffy and sweet rather than oily and greasy - which let's be honest in some cases does the trick as well. They say these doughnuts have just teh right amount of fat. It all sounded too good, we just had to check out their new store at Boxpark.

Dum Dum don't only make 'traditional doughnuts', no that would be too easy. They also make cronuts, also known as crodoughs, and in this case croissant doughnuts. They are a mix between a croissant and a doughnut. We tried the the Zebra croissant doughnut - Layers of Croissant dough and chocolate croissant dough. Filled with chocolate butter crème and decorated with dark chocolate. I couldn't resist and had to try their Peter Andre's yum yum dum dum - I mean with a name like that. This little wonder is filled with Dulce de Leche crème and glazed while still warm and drizzled in chocolate.

The 'traditional doughnuts' come in a variety of flavours and fillings - we went for the double dipped almond glaze, the crème brûlée, the chocolate ganache and hazelnut and the strawberry purée fondant. So basically the only two we didn't try - now I really feel like a pig - were the raspberry preserve and the banatoffe. Oh well I guess we have an excuse to go back. 

The result was an empty and sad looking pink box. I found the Zebra cronut absolutely delicious and delighted it didn't have all the oil from a traditional cronut - which was my big disappointment with the cronut, and that filling was just perfect - chocolate butter crème and decorated with dark chocolate. My favourite was probably the traditional crème brûlée doughnut which was filled with fresh custard creme coated with a crunchy caramel glaze.

Where:
Boxpark
Unit 31, Box Park
2-4 Bethnal Green Road
Shoreditch, London - E1 6GY

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Burro e Salvia

In my books there is simply nothing like a good bowl of fresh pasta - this reminds me I have to share my Mac n' Cheese and white Truffle oil recipe with you guys soon. 

The great thing about living close to Shoreditch is that we are also close to so many delicious places to eat, and Burro e Salvia - Pastificio is no exception. 

Burro e Salvia - Butter and Sage - makes fresh handmade pasta, and when I mean fresh I mean you can actually see them making it in front of you. First and foremost the place is a 'pastificio' which is both a fresh pasta shop and workshop, but it is also a restaurant. 

In the front of the shop you can buy your fresh handmade pasta, some delicious sauces - I mean cream, parmesan and truffle sauce just sounds divine - and a selection of Italian produces and wine.

If that wasn't good enough, you can also eat in and try something from their small but perfectly thought-out menu. I have yet to sit down and try out their menu but there is very little doubt; we will be coming back soon.

In the meantime we didn't walk away empty handed - we took away a lovely box full of filled paste with ricotta and tartuffo. Tonight we will be eating fresh truffle pasta served with butter and parmesan and a drop of white truffle oil - a table.

Where:
Burro e Salvia, Pastificio
52 Redchurch Street
London E2 7DP

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The Venezuelan Deli

I finally got round to trying out Arepa & Co - the Venezuelan Deli at De Beauvoir Crescent. A great little place for a quick lunch - even better on a sunny day - along the canal. 

Arepa is a traditional dish in Columbia and Venezuela. It is a flatbread ( somewhat like a pitta) made of ground maize dough or cooked flour prominent in the cuisine of Venezuela. They serve arepa with all kinds of ingredients - chicken, pulled pork, grated cheese, guacamole, avocados, cucumber, tomatoes... you name it, they have the filling (picture above).I went for the chicken, cheddar, guacamole and plantas (basically grilled bananas).

Arepa & Co also do some amazing traditional Venezuelan scrambled eggs which are delicious with cachapa - also a traditional Venezuelan and Colombian dish made from corn. They look a lot like pancakes but made out of fresh corn dough and taste a bit sweater than you traditional flour-based pancake (pictures above with the sunday special - traditional scrambled eggs, beans, pulled pork and cheddar cheese. 

If you go on a weekend, they will automatically hand you the special weekend menu, but don't hesitate to ask for their full list of arepa and cachapa options.

Where:
Arepa & CO
58A De Beauvoir Crescent, London
Greater London, Haggerston - N1 5SB

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#TFCmovestoLondon

I thought I would share with you the good, the bad, and the overall confusing things I will need to get use to now that I live in London.

My biggest surprise was the "mind the gap" and "look right/left" notices on the floor. Although I just might have found them crazy in the start, I am now very happy they are there. Seriously the traffic never stops and the gaps are definitely ready to take anyone prisoner.  The rows upon rows of nearly identical houses are both charming and confusing. One can easily get lost is a see of similarity. But I do love how people play with colour to differentiate their house from their next door neighbour.

British food is an acquired taste but they do love their snacks and boy do I need to be careful when walking down the chocolate/sweets/biscuits and cake aisles. The nice thing about London - and yes I am still in the food department - is that brunches are never far away, and they are always a treat. It's nice to see the restaurants buzzing with people, and food.

Then there is Primark and Topshop which are a nice change amongst the Zaras and the H&Ms, but I am sure I will get tired of them soon. Then again, there is a new shop to discover  just around every corner. Finally, London's markets are just fantastic. Great for a bargain and unique pieces, or just to grab a quick bite to eat. 

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