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Yosma

A TURKISH MEYHANE, MANGAL & RAKI BAR INSPIRED BY THE STREETS OF ISTANBUL.

I love Turkish food and eat it often; so it was an absolute delight to find a restaurant in Baker Street that doesn’t do generic Turkish food but excellent  Turkish food with a twist.  Every dish melted in the mouth from the bread and humous to the lamb dumplings.  Even the salad was amazing.  Mouthwatering, with excellent ingredients where I could taste the quality. This is a true find for Turkish cuisine.  Beautifully presented and served with a smile. Easily the best Turkish inspired restaurant I have eaten at in London thus far.

http://www.yosma.london/

Traiteur – New London N4 Restaurant

The other night I went with my friends to the new hot Spot, Traiteur in Crouch Hill.  Anything new in The Manor I need to know about and quickly.  Well well well, what a fantastic find.

Le Traiteur 1

The above was a surprise gazpacho with crab Hors d’ouevre for us to have before our meal.

As soon as I took a bite of the beef short rib Croustillant, I wished that it would never end.  But I’m greedy so I ate it in about one minute and felt sad it was gone after.  It tastes better than my picture.  I then had gnocchi, which is one of my favourites and it did not disappoint. No packet gnocchi here.   Everyone had enviable meals. I wanted to go back again the next day.

Traiteur 2

 

This place is not fancy to sit in, but it’s intimate and it works. The only downside is BYOB.  We didn’t pay corkage and if you own this restaurant – do not charge corkage please.  You will ruin what is an amazing thing that has happened and annoy people like me who would write about it. I have a feeling that they won’t be there for long and it will expand quickly, so If I was anyone interested in food in London, I would book IMMEDIATELY.

They also cater for events. My birthday is soon and  this is happening all over again.

http://www.traiteur-n4.com

Barcelona – supermarkets and paella – discuss

Tricky to say so took a pic.

 

We arrived and for once did not go to the main area of Las Ramblas and the Gothic District. I’ve been to Barcelona a few times before so it was time to go off piste and see what the city had to offer. We air b n b’d a great apartment in the area of Rambla del Poblenou and it was less than £100 a night for a two bedroom. I took a photo of the street name on my iphone as it was particularly difficult to pronounce. This proved a life saver when getting home in a cab.
We searched for a supermarket because everyone knows that European Supermarkets are ridiculously good and should be high on your list of important points of interest to see as soon as you land. Never has fruit tasted so good. It puts England and the States to shame when it comes to tasty fresh produce.
Things that you immediately need to buy to keep for a weekend away in spain. Chorizo, nectarines, tomatoes, tortilla, bread, emergency drunken pizza, sweet peppers in a jar, fresh anchovies, Strawberry twizzlers, milk, condensed milk to make iced coffee, coffee. Rose wine, red wine, beer. Water, fresh limes and lemons.

paella

This photo does not do the Paella justice in Vell.

 

We went on the hunt for Paella and Sangria.  Which isn’t hard being in Barcelona, but it had to be right. We had a gourmet Paella from what was like a local cafe looking restaurant in a place called Vell. Not the real yellow type this was a treat gently simmered in stock and tasted like it had been cooked in a top restaurant even though we were in what felt like a cafe. We had a great paella the day after which was the dirty saffron kind but once I’d had the gourmet one it was like comparing steak to a greasy kebab . Both have their own merits but are right for different times in life.

Need Meat and Malbec in Barcelona? Go Patagonia

Image   I was too greedy to stop and take a picture of my steak so took this pointless picture of the wine instead.  But it was a good wine. 

We had had enough of the tapas and we needed steak. And not small bits of steak but lump sums. We saw the ribeye.  It was for two, but we wanted it split in half and cooked two different ways.  This was no pizza hut. Could they do it?  Would they do it?   It was tense for about two minutes.  But the answer was positive and service swift and friendly. There was a plethora of Malbec to choose from too.  We were too drunk to eat dessert.  Was it the best steak I’ve ever had?  No, but it was very good.  And local peoples were eating in there, which is always a good sign. 

 



Dorset Square Hotel

Image

Taken from the Telegraphs pics online because I was too drunk to take one.

 

If you could picture it I was on the fourth from the left trying cocktail on the menu with my two girlfriends.  Then I was eating my fish and chips to the left.   The place was empty bar a few people mooching around so it felt like my girlfriends and I had run of the place. Why on earth was it a Saturday night and this place without the people?  Such a shame.  It’s  a great little find in Baker Street just minutes walk from the tube.  We stayed and ate, and the food was good, but not as good as the drink where a lot of care and attention happened in the arrays of colours into a glass and the service was excellent.  Great for friends catching up, great for a romantic meet up. Not great if you want a party atmosphere but what the hell take your own party.  Keep this place alive people!