Wings To Go

3 days after they're bought, Wings To Go teriyaki and honey mustard wings are still as good as ever (assuming you've kept them in a fridge all this while and put them in the microwave for about 2 minuts). With a little celery goodness for palate cleansing, it's a quick and scrumptious post-lunch snack. The teriyaki wings are my favourite, sweet and saucy but not cloying, which the honey mustard wings can sometimes lean towards being. Try the mild, medium, hot, extra hot, "suicide," and "homicide" spicy wings at your own risk, fire extinguisher not provided.

Wings To Go ~ 77 Ives St ~ Providence ~ RI 02906

Spring Weekend and Hemenways, Providence

"Red lobster, red lobster..."

Once a year, here where I study, a weekend is dedicated to warmth, revelry, drunkeness, fun and relaxation (some might say debauchery). "Spring Weekend," as its organizers have imaginatively named it, was uncharacteristically warm this year. The past two Spring Weekends had been miserably rained out, so it was a pleasant surprise that the rains left us just on time for our springtime fun. There are concerts, both indoors and outdoors, all weekend long, but the one concert that, in my mind at least, is most definitive of the occassion is the Dave Binder concert.

The enigmatic man himself (guy with guitar and black shirt)

Who is David Binder, do I hear you ask? Well, lets just say that he's a fun old-ish man, who always knows the right songs to belt out on his guitar and beat box. He's been coming here for Spring Weekend festivities for a while, and everyone loves him.

Although not everyone loves the crowd. Went to the Dave Binder concert with X, who wanted to see what the fuss (and racket he could hear a block away) was about. Came in time for the fast food song, but X wasn't very enamoured by the throngs of sunburnt, drunk, high, somewhat undressed bodies. After a few songs, I got kinda tired too, so we adjourned to other spring time activities. Such as lazing on the main green whilst drinking and eating ice cream.

X prepares capirinha

Not any old drinks, of course. X brought a thing or two back from his travels in Brazil, and made capirinhas for the lot of us (our number had swelled to 4). The rum wasn't really to my liking. Luckily, I just happened to have (hurhurhur) 2 bottles of Woodchuck cider from Vermont. Mmmm... cool, dry, refreshing, everything a Spring drink's supposed to be.

Strawberry-kiwi bird being cannabilistic

It is my belief that warm weather is not complete without ice cream. This flavor is pretty good, and sorbet's are especially fitting for warmer weathers. I also think the little strawberry-kiwi bird is really cute.

Slightly inebriated and very happy, I headed home to change for my next meal. Was treated to dinner at Hemenway's, a seafood restaurant, by the Starry people. Crazy people these are. Started off with the hot appetizer plater, was good but unfortunately no picture. Next course, England clam chowder! Thick and creamy, full of yummy seafood goodness.


For my main course, simply grilled rainbow trout. Could have used a tad bit more seasoning, but the subtlety grew on me after a few spritzes of lemon.

Hemenways 121 ~ South Main St ~ Providence ~RI 02903

German Food Truck, Portobello Road Market

Boneless Leg of Chicken

Schnitzel

Background: While studying in London in the Spring of 2004, I look myself our for a walk for the first time to Portobello Road Market. It was a typical winter day in London. Cold and grey (thankfully not wet). I had forgotten my gloves that day and as a result of taking pictures, my hands were freezing and I was getting really hungry. Now anyone who has been to this market will know that if you approach from the Notting Hill Gate side, the first stretch is all antique shops and almost no cafes or food shops exist (nothing particularly tempting at least). I was beginning to regret my decision to come out to the market on this cold day when all of a sudden... I smelt something wonderful and warm in the air. The smell of sausages, grilled meat and sauteed onions. I let my nose (and mr tummy) lead the way to the source of this wonderful aroma and true enough there was my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I've been coming back ever since. =)

The Food: I'm a big fan of the boneless leg of chicken because it was the first thing that I ever bought from them that cold first day and the fact that it's extremely juicy and savoury and hits the spot ANY day, regardless of weather. It's grilled to perfection so that the skin is slighty crispy and charred while the meat inside remains tender and flavourful. They probably rub it down with some salt, herbs and spices before cooking it and that's what gives it that wonderful aroma. For £2, it's an amazing deal.

In an attempt to try something different for once, I ordered the Schnitzel as well (in my defense, I did a lot of walking and it was on my way back!) In this case, it's essentially a breaded chicken cutlet. Similar to the boneless leg of chicken I guess except that this is fried instead of grilled. Good batter. Nice crust. A bit drier than the grilled version by just as tasty. This version's slightly more expensive at £3 but still overall a good deal.

I think they are stall 50 something on Portobello Road. Near the HSBC.

Oh... and the market's pretty special too. =)

Springtime and Louis, Providence RI

Finally being almost done slaying my thesis monster (die thesis die!), I had a nice relaxing breakfast with A today. Louis is a pretty amazing diner, practically a rite of passage for all students here. Its filled with photos, articles, off-beat art, and even more photos. The original proprietor, Louis Gianofrancesco (I think) passed away in 1999, but his son is holding the fort and continues his fathers tradition of non-nonsense morning sustenance.

And what a lovely day it was too! The recent week of rain has left without a trace, and it feels as if winter is gone for good. *crosses fingers* Before I reveal my breakfast, let me whet your appetite with some yummy springy pics...


Gotta love spring flowers. Not sure what the white ones are, but daffodils have to be my favourite of all the springy-growy-things. I'm partial towards the all yellow ones, but these ones are beautiful too, like pretty eggs with yellow delicately suspended within the white.


Apparently I'm not the only one hungry this morning. This squirrel is munching on a piece of pasta, penne I think, complete with tomato sauce. If you look closely, you'll see some of the tomato sauce smeared across its mouth and nose.


And this, ladies and gentlemen, was my breakfast. Framed very artfully by A's hands, this is the Nebraska Sunrise, two eggs sunny side up rising above a sweet mountain of corn bread, flanked by a generous serving of home fries. Great company, good food, I don't think there's a better way to start of any weekend (or day for that matter).


The weather was so warm today, that there were tons of t-shirted, skirted, bermuda-ed, and generally skin-baring people on the greens just hanging out. All these pale sun/warmth-deprived New-Englanders, me included. Add some frisbee throwing into the equation, and you have the makings of a pretty content day.

Louis Restaurant - 286 Brook St - Providence RI

Roast Pork Sandwich, Borough Market, London

meant to post this last friday but couldn't get the image off my phone till this morning when i went in to work.

borough market is such a treasure trove of good food. amazing ingredients can be obtained from there as well as good cheap eats. it's a food market on Friday and Saturday selling everything you need for that amazing recipe you've been dying to try along with great good to fuel you while you do your shopping (for MORE food!)

one of the tummies favourites foods at this market is the stall selling roast pork and salt beef sandwiches (only on Fridays). the pork is extremely juicy and the thin layer of skin and fat has a crispy bite. very satisfying. best served when hot of course and the meat almost melts in your mouth. served on a fresh bed of vegetables (for a balanced meal) and your choice of sauce (they have a few to choose from), this sandwich really delivers.

unfortunately, it's only available on Friday (around lunch time) instead of all weekend. pity really coz i'd eat it again on saturday if available. best enjoyed while sitting in the sun and savouring every bite. =)

Lahore One, London

Sheek Kebab

Meathi Chicken
Karahai Gosht (Lamb)
Chana
Karahai Chicken

in my humble opinion (and that of my housemates), this unassuming little restaurant on commercial road in the east end of london serves some of the best curry you'll find anywhere. coming to lahore one for sunday dinner is pretty much a ritual here. we've come to the point where we know the waiters on a first name basis.

the kebabs here are blended with just the right amount of spices to mask the strong taste of lamb grilled to perfection so that it stays moist and juicy. the other lamb and chicken dishes are not spicy enough to scare away those who are afraid of chilli and yet spicy enough to tickle the tastebuds who are used to much more. the meats are all extremely tender and infused with flavour.

special mention must certainly go to the "melt in your mouth" chana. we still haven't quite figured out how they cook the chickpeas such that they are so soft and creamy. it's so good that my otherwise carnivorous housemates even contemplate the thought that they could turn vegetarian as long as they had this dish.

the pictures of the dishes hardly do the flavours justice. one of my housemates calls it "soul food" coz it sure hits the spot, makes you forget all the indifferent meals you've had since the last time you were here, fills you up and comforts you all at once. heck, it's almost a spiritual experience. =P

218 Commercial Road * London E1 2JT

Spitalfields Market, London

went for a walk today around spitalfields market. believe it or not, i had never actually been there before despite hearing so much about it. it's a huge market of quirky items, mainly clothing and accessories situated near liverpool street station. hugely popular on the weekends and i suspect increasingly popular on the weekdays among the bankers who work in the area. (as evidenced by the massive refurbishment of the market and many more trendy food outlets that have sprung up)

it should be said that the focus of this market is clearly not the food (unlike borough market) but it's impossible to separate markets from food.

mr tummy walk around market looking at interesting things => mr tummy get hungry => mr tummy want FOOD!
(i'm using mr tummy as an example but you get the idea)

needless to say, mr tummy had a very tough decision to make. where should he eat??? eventually decided to stick with the stalls in the market for some grub rather than the packed cafes and restaurants that lined the newer parts of the market.
(mr tummy: I'll be back!)

used my nose help in my decision as i could smell these falafels from a few stalls away. decided to give them a try. healthy serving of 4 neatly packed falafels in a toasted pita bread with free flow of salad toppings. clearly a mistake on their part with mr tummy around. muahahaha. proceeded to PILE it on. (what!... veggies are good for you! didn't your momma ever tell you that?) halfway through eating the pita, i went back to get more sauce and more salad. =) they did say free flow afterall.

now to the falafels themselves. a little disappointing actually. too hard and dry for my liking. in fact, the fact that it took me some effort to chew wasn't a good sign. even the sauce couldn't really hide the fact that it was very dry. definitely prefer when the falafel is slightly moist and softer. overall i've had much better both in Paris (L'As du Falafel) and NYC (Chickpea).

the search for the elusive falafel stall in London to rival that of these 2 other major cities continues...

Cay Tre Vietnamese Kitchen, London

Went out with my French Vietnamese friend tonight to test out the authenticity of this award winning vietnamese restaurant that boasts that this is "as authentic as it gets".

the tummies actually ate there a few weeks ago and both found it pretty good. subtle flavours that come together nicely. but is it authentic?

initial impressions were good. she recognised quite a lot of dishes as being food that her mom might cook. but as everyone knows, the true test of the quality of food is in the taste. it may be able to fool non-vietnamese people like us, but will it survive the true test of authenticity!

ROUND 1

Goi Ngo Sen

(Lotus stem salad of pork, shrimps and Viet herbs. Bags of Crunchy fresh lotus, limey zap and a jolt of sweet chilli sauce filled to boot)

Judge's comments: not bad. good crunch. nice blend of flavours. just the right amount of sauce.

Mr Tummy's comments: great appetiser. interesting use of prawn crackers as little edible plates. kitschy but totally fell for it. i want MORE!!! give me MORE!!!

ROUND 2

Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Pizza)

(A traditional Vietnamese pancake with prawns, chicken and vegetables. Served with marjoram, fresh Vietnamese Watercress and a special dipping sauce)

kinda looks like a big stuffed omellette! eaten by cutting by the pancake and wrapping it in the leaves and dipping in the sauce. MMMmmm. hungry yet?

Judge's comments: pancake should have been thicker. not quite up to the mark. mom makes a better version.

Mr Tummy's comments: quite oily but very tasty. quite a messy eating experience. never had watercress that big before! always thought they were little leaves that inevitably found their way into soups or sandwiches

ROUND 3
Pho
(The classic Vietnamese noodle soup dish, based on a fragrant broth, served with either beef, shredded corn fed chicken or combination and Vietnamese herbs topping)

in my humble opinion, any proper vietnamese restaurant worth it's weight HAS to get this dish right, otherwise don't bother calling yourself a vietnamese restaurant.

Judge's comments: broth could have been more flavourful. should be more "beefy". in true vietnamese style, they should have other beef parts with the noodles instead of sliced lean meat

Mr Tummy's comments: been craving this for so long... *SSSSSLLLUUURRRPPPP* agree that the broth could be more flavourful especially since that's what really holds the dish together. whoops. all finished. heh.

Overall verdict: Not quite "as authentic as it gets" but i think mr tummy still liked it anyway *burp* =)

301 Old Street • London • EC1V 9LA

Breakfast of Champions

This has to be one of my most favourite ways to start a morning. First, take a bagel out of the freezer, pry it out from its coat of tissue, and stick it in the oven. This morning's lucky bagel was a plain bagel.


Fresh bagels or any variety toast just as well, untoasted fresh bagels are okay too. In fact, any sort of bread, toasted, untoasted or fried, will do fine (I also recommend fried whole grain), although nothing says "heck to the calories" quite like a bagel. Does 1 bagel really equal 5 slices of bread?

Then, the king of all breakfast foods, bacon. I usually use two slices, each cut into half. Which is just about right to cover the entire face of my bagel. Mmmm... Make sure you're wearing clothes that can afford to smell like bacon and fried food, especially if you're like me and don't have a working ventilation hood. Oh, and don't forget to check on your bagel! A word of caution about this regal food: it bites back! This photo was taken all of 10 seconds before the bacon spit at me.


If bacon is the king of breakfast foods, then the egg is his resplendent and highly versatile queen. Soft boiled, hard boiled, scrambled, or omelette-d, the royal egg is wonderful in all forms during breakfast. But, on a bagel, the egg has to be fried. Now, I know some people like to mess around with the yolk so that it cooks completely, which makes sense if you're eating breakfast on the run and don't want a mess. But if you've got the time and space to savour this breakfast, either alone or with loved ones, keep that yolk runny!


Now to assemble the feast. I like my yolk facing the bottom slice of bread, that way when pressure is applied to the bagel, the bread can sop up some of the lovely runny yolk and lessen the mess. On top of that goes the cheese (Provolone, in this case), the bacon, and the other slice. Tip: pop the entire thing into the oven, which not only warms everything back up again, but also allows the cheese to melt around the egg, further sealing it from yolk-seepage.


Doesn't Ms Tummy look like she's ready to devour the entire meal in one bite? Serve with your favourite morning drink, if you're starting to feel a bit guilty then some fruit juice might help alleviate that. With the yolk exactly as I like it, this is a messy, but supremely satisfying breakfast.

I am TUMMY, hear me ROAR!

not to be outdone by ms tummy, mr tummy has burst onto the scene (thankfully not bursting AT the seams)

glad to see that this blog has been started in anticipation of the many yummy meals that the tummies share together on their intrepid adventures as well to share the yummy-ness across the miles. =)

that being said, even super heros have flaws. cheese is mr tummy's kryptonite. the mere smell of it makes him dizzy and yet it is one of ms tummy's favourite foods. gah!

(that being said, not ALL cheese makes mr tummy queasy. he is somewhat immune to mozzerella cheese on pizza! it's so weird, you just can't make it up)

stayed tuned for the continuing adventures of... THE TUMMIES!!!
(along with more pictures of yummy food in future!)

Hullo fellow tummies!

It's finally happened! I've stopped merely talking about starting up a food blog, and gotten down to actually doing it. (while of course procrastinating other things, like my thesis) This should be really interesting because I've got lots of trips coming up, and I really want to chronicle all the yummy food (and other) experiences while I travel, as well as recording the great meals I have and people I've met before I graduate. So many possibilities! But first... let me get this little thing called my thesis out of the way.