Burger Joint - Buenos Aires, Argentina

Customer graffiti covered walls -- burger fumes drifting out the front door. 

These are burgers that any cow would be proud to be part of.

Fast like fast food without any bullshit. Choose between La Mexican, La Blu and La Jamaican!  And if you have extra belly room on the day order two burgers instead of the fries - 

All with at least 5 toppings representing their name, they come packed with flavour, with the beef perfectly pink inside. 

Enjoy - leave no leftovers - but leave your mark before the walls here fill up! 

L O C A T I O N  -  Borges 1766,  4833.5151

Pop up hit list for London!

The Nudge release their popular Pop ups for London this year
Click here to view -

Aisamacs Guacamole - RECIPE

Aisamacs Guacamole (vegan) 

My friends in San Francisco have been raving about Aisamacs guacamole since I arrived. This chunky guacamole has a citrus punch to it and is quick and easy to make


A I S A M A C S   R E C I P I E


Take 3 avocados 
Scoop out with spoon in to a bowl and use a knife to roughly slice

Finely cut 3 large tomatoes in to cubes (skin on) and add 1tsp salt and

1tsp freshly ground pepper.
Finely chop 1/2 of 1 large onion - just the outside do not us the centre
Add the juice of 4 limes  - (a proper lime juicer was used if you don't have one use 5-6 limes)
Mix  well

Finely chop one large Jalapeño and one hot red pepper if you prefer it hot. ( Keep seeds to one side and add at the end to taste )



Finely chop a large bunch of flat leaf parsley add to mixture.


The guacamole should not be dry or stiff to stir, if it is add more lime juice 


(Photos generously supplied by Robert barbutti.com)

Rons Banana Bread - RECIPE

Rons Banana Bread - (Vegan)

Rons cakes are notoriously popular here in Rurrenburque, Bolivia, so if you find yourself in this area keep your eyes open! 
He doesn't have a shop front, and doesn't need one, his daily bakes are sold by him I'm the mornings on foot. If you're waiting to leave for a Pampas or Jungle trek you'll be sure to see him. For the rest of the day he has his goodies stand at the side of the road - (opposite Fletcha Tours) - if you're lucky there'll be some left.

Good ingredients are key to good food and good baking ! Ron comes with a wealth of healthy food knowledge! 
His Secret  ingredient -
Meo de Cana (honey of the sugar cane) - distilled sugar cane. After trying a tablespoon of the stuff its sweetness is milder than you'd expect. If you can't get hold of this try something similar like honey but use slightly less and add according to taste to ensure it doesn't produce to sweet a cake. 


R O N S   R E C I P I E

Makes three pun pans - tin size diameter 8.5 inches

First mixing bowl - 
X4 1/2 cups of plain flour - (Reg coffee cup - full with an ice burg top) 
X1 large tbs of baking soda - (not powder! This version doesn't  contain aluminum)
Mix well together in one bowl 


Second bowl (wet bowl) -
X4 cups of smashed bananas (flat top) - riper the better because they're softer but not over ripe (completely brown) 
Smash bananas - chop roughly with knife then finish with potato smasher
3/4 cup of cooking oil sunflower oil 
3/4 light brown sugar
Then add 3/4 cup of meo de Cana
1tbs of salt add
Add 1  1/2 cups of water gradually
Mix with whisk, mixture should be lumpy but runny in consistency and fall out of whisk

Add wet mixture in to dry mixture bowl. Mix well then pour in to greased pun pans

Cook at 250 f Low temperature for the first half an hour then
375f for the last half hour to prevent the cake cracking 
Bake for a total of one hour, do not remove from tin until cake has cooled 

Wishbone - London

--> - Clucking for M O R E -

Addictive - you've been warned. I am now so far down the line I have been unashamedly visiting for lunch and the odd takeaway ...

Tucked away in Brixtons food court, currently my favourite eating destination in London, it more than stands up to its neighbours. 
Bright graphics and a  hip hop playlist good enough to host a house party, we sit surrounded by baskets of chicken and other goodies. 


Eat the deep fried macaroni first - crispy outside and stringy strong cheese. But this is only if you can keep yourself away from the buffalo wings for long enough. My hand is in this basket first without fail, the thought of this sauce alone has me salivating. Salt and pepper crust coats little chicken balls of goodness, and do not leave without ordering the black eyed pea pot of great potential! 
Despite ordering so many sides and baskets there is no issue distinguishing between them, the flavours are so different and so enjoyable. The sides bring everything together, but the mac and cheese is practically another dish in itself. 


I am still bewildered by the price. These are no ordinary sized wings, and these are NO battery hen, steroid pumped chickens. 

Could it be the chickens here are sourced based on their happiness - ? 

Is it a kind sorcerer or sheer witch craft that created this menu of wanting more - ? 

Perhaps when you get to my height of addiction you'll wish these were bones you never stripped - ? 

Carnitas Shack

 

L O C A T I O N - San Diego, Old Town 

P R I C E -  $

R E V I E W

We're driving along at tortoise pace as we eagerly look for the iconic iron pig that guards the shack. 

We've come on a Sunday around 3-ish on purpose. With only 4 people in front it's no doubt we're lucky - the sign next to us apologising in advance for the wait - which can take up to 45 minutes....

Hot fuss ---

And it's certainly living up to it!!

 You don't get sides with your mains - and to be honest you don't need them. 

Come hungry - very hungry.  

Most people leaving as we arrive are packing their carnitas goodies to take home. This is not food that can be left behind without regret!

With all it's startlingly good reviews i feel like i need to find something not quite right. Apart from the restless wait to indulge [which in reality was all of 18 minutes]; there isn't anything... 

Some of the best pulled pork i've tasted comes in the majority of their mains. 

I'm a sucker for pork belly [bottom left] - this one was so soft chewing was a waste of time, it just falls apart in your mouth. I won't deny that i missed the crackling though 

The homemade carnitas sauce they serve with the chips should come bottled! Made with bacon fat, tomatoes and other surprises i found myself pouring it over everything. And the Snack Shack Burger comes with bacon jam. Yes, bacon jam!!!

The Regency Cafe

L O C A T I O N - London, pimlico

17 - 19 Regency Street, London, SW1P  4BY

P R I C E - £

R E V I E W
***Essential cafe visit***
This little cafe became famed for its role in the film Layer Cake, but it has only itself to thank for its glowing success.

Everything is perfect, the food the atmosphere - Bold fast service, traditional British cafe setting. The walls are covered with autographed football memorabilia and Vogue shoots that have taken place here.
Breakfast for me is my favourite meal of the day - nothing can happen until I've eaten and had a good cuppa! Tell them what you want, they'll price it, and cook it! If you're coming for lunch turn up in good time and be prepared to wait to order, it gets busy in here. I can only describe the food as best, British, greasy spoon cafe!

Considering all this it's hardly surprising that its just been voted the 5th best restaurant by over a million users on yelp!

Telegraph Review - Regency Cafe has got top London restaurants licked!

Is this cafe becoming a London icon?
For me it already is

The Swiss Hotel

L O C A T I O N - Wine Country, Sonoma

18 West Spain Street, Sonoma, CA 95476

P R I C E -  $$$



R E V I E W
Idyllically located and with only 5 rooms this is more of a guest house than a hotel, but this is what makes it special. This building dates back to the 18th century and its history is evident throughout.

They have an Italian like menu and dining set up - get a table outside in their garden. The patio is picturesque - A wood fire and overhead canopy of vines as you eat.

The food here is good but needs more attention to live up to its surroundings. Surprisingly the pizza came out top amongst the friends I ate with - punchy flavours, especially with the goats cheese.

Pasta was ok ...  the flavour of the duck seemed to be lost in the pasta sauce, despite it being light - none of the ingredients gave it a memorable taste.

A beautiful place to stay-over enjoy a drink and snack - but I would not go out of my way to eat here

Bistro Ralph

L O C A T I O N - Wine Country, California

109 Plaza Street, Healdsburg CA, 95448

P R I C E  - $$$

R E V I E W
This little understated bistro brings all the goodness of this beautiful region together in their dishes!
This place is a must if you're in the area!!

Fresh, light and local - probably the best sort of late lunch you can ask for after a morning and afternoon of wine tasting.

Starting with the cheese board may sound unusual but in this case is a must! This restaurant is located a stones throw away from Sonoma valley in California. Many localised goats cheeses are
made there so it makes sense to have them on your plate. They bring the perfect amount
to wet your appetite and at the same
time leave you yearning for more!

Our mains have arrived - it's hard not to order fish when you're so close to the coast. My heart sank slightly when the plate appeared with the typical lightly toasted and garlic brushed bread slices -

BUT ...
Excluding their dull dipping companion these are the best muscles i've ever tasted!
Served in a white wine and cream sauce i will be forever comparing future dishes made in this way to this bistro. Perhaps the fact that they are ideally placed in the wine region and next to the sea is their secret to this dishes success.

Fish of the day was not far behind - pictured above.

But for me it's all about the muscles and goats cheese here!

The Encinitas Cafe

L O C A T I O N - Encinitas, San Diego

P R I C E -  $

R E V I E W

I'm a sucker for is old school like local cafe look - and looking at the menu what the hell am I going to eat.

There's so much on the menu that I know this will take more than one visit. They cook your eggs however you like them here and you can easily make up an order. Homemade hash browns, yes please!

What's more they even have an on site bakery chef who will bake to your order to collect the next day - being a local here must be hard ;)

Truckers haven - Ranch House restaurant

Breakfast on route -

L O C A T I O N - America, California

Gorman off motorway 5 - exit 202
(travelling towards San Francisco or Bakersfield but you can access as well if you're travelling in the other direction towards San Diego)

P R I C E -  £

Breakfast for two inc tea and coffee and tax came to $22.34

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, bar they have the lot here. Get comfy in a diner like booth in a dark ranch like setting and order away. They have a whole page of breakfast options. It's hard not to order anything with hash browns here as in most places in America they're always home made.
Lunch and dinner plates between $6 and $12

OB Noodle House

L O C A T I O N - America, San Diego    
2218 Cable Street, San Diego, CA 92107                    

P R I C E -   £
(ridiculously cheap for what you get!)                       

W E B - obnoodlehouse.com





A refreshing Asian fusion feast - this is no American pre prepared food!
And you won't be left short on the drinks front either with 40 beers on tap - which surprisingly are all 1/2 price if you rock up during Sundays happy hour.

Their menu is made up of Pho, sizzling plates, crispy noodle dishes, grills, hong kong and dry chow fun and of course rice dishes. Appetisers include rolls, wraps, dumplings - all of which are so good that you'll be tempted to have a main of just all the dishes on that page!

My favourite -- Pho OB Special pictured above and below.
You even get a side plate of fresh goodies to spice it especially to your taste - basil, lime, bean sprouts and jalapeno peppers. And with only an extra 75c to make it an extra large it's impossible to leave hungry or with a dent in your purse

You may have to wait to eat but it's worth it!

Parties of 8 or more can book by calling 619 450 6868