Foodie Friday - my Paris places

Fauchon

This is like Disneyland for me! All kinds of beautiful pastries and luxury food products. Every time I visit Paris I have to go there. Still saving my tin of caramel tea I got there this summer for an extra special occasion. 

Amorino

I love ice cream! Amorino is a great place to get a snack while taking a walk through the Quartier Latin. They put the gelato into the cone so that it looks like a flower. A very nice touch! 

 

Patisserie du Sud Tunisien

I visit this little bakery every single time I go to France. They serve baklava and other middle eastern pastries and the atmosphere in this little shop is always so warm and welcoming. 

So if you are ever in Paris, I definitely recommend these!


Have a great weekend


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Foodie Friday - Food trucks

Street food fascinates me. I love reading about original food trucks that serve up honest good food with a twist. Unfortunately the food truck culture here in Iceland is lacking. About the only time you will find a food truck in Reykjavík is at 5 am on a weekend when the bars close. So here is my fantasy list of food trucks I would like to have in Reykjavík...in broad daylight.  

The créme bruleé cart, San Fransisco

A San Fransisco food truck that specializes in my favorite dessert: créme bruleé! Now I would seriously consider buying an airplane ticket to San Fransisco just to eat there! Here is their website. 

Bhangra Burger, London 

An Indian take on the burger, just like the name implies. A match made in heaven in my books! Here you can find their website.

Mozza & co, Paris 

A mobile trattoria in Paris. Italian food, I´m sold! Here is their website.  

Jamon Jamon, London

A Paella food truck. I love love love paella so it would be great to have this one here in Iceland.Here is their website! 

Have a great weekend!

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Foodie friday: Comfort food

Now that fall is here, I feel myself being increasingly drawn to comfort food. With the dropping temperatures there are few things I  can think of that I love more than being cosy and warm inside with good food and of course, good friends. Here are some of my favorite comfort foods to get me through the season: 

Ice cream

I love Ben and Jerry´s and Haagen Dazs. Unfortunately they are extremely pricey here in Iceland, plus they are so dangerously good so they are saved for special occasions. My all time favorite ice cream though is a white Toblerone - rasberry ice cream which I try not to make too often....as much as I love food I  do want to fit into my clothes.  

  

French food 

 I really love french cooking, as well as the role food plays in the french day to day life. Food is very important and the french respect the integrity of their ingredients when cooking. Croissants, cheeses, pastries, patés.. if it´s french it´s bound to be delicious.

Pasta

Italians know their comfort food. There is something so incredibly comforting about a large bowl of pasta on a cold winter´s day. My ultimate comfort food

Hot Chocolate

Chocolate can make everything and anything better. Enough said!

Have a great weekend! 

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Foodie Friday : Summer lovin

I can be very picky when it comes to desserts, after all they are my passion. In the winter I tend to go for comfort foods: warm chocolate cakes and apple pies, basically any creamy, chocolatey dessert. But in the summer months I usually go for lighter, fruit based desserts that go perfectly with the weather (although the weather hasn´t been especially summery here in Iceland) as well  as most of the fruits used are in season.

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On my vacation in England this spring I ate at Prét a manger,a British fast food chain with healthy, locally sourced ingredients (it´s a shame I don´t live in England , but I would consider moving there for the amazing fresh food at Prét alone). One fateful lunchtime I decided to grab a lemon cheesecake for dessert. The result was  one of the best desserts I have ever tasted. Ever since I have not been able to stop thinking about it and considering ways how I could recreate this wonderful flavor feast in my own kitchen. Finally I´ve found a  recipe that might come close to what I tasted at Prét, although I would trade in the graham crackers for gingersnap cookies to get an extra special flavor. I´m keeping my fingers crossed that this will work. I need this cheesecake in my life!

 

 

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 David Lebovitz´s blog is one of the few that I follow religiously. I love his recipes and the tales of life in Paris ( where I too wish I would live). His recipe for the  Cherry mess  is exactly how I would envision a summer dessert.  His take on this British dessert  recipe includes beautiful cherries, meringue pieces, whipped cream and candied almonds. Sounds dangerously good. I think this dessert would be good with a little amaretto poured over it, to make it extra special. 

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Another one of his summery recipes I´ve been wanting to try for a while now is the Grapefruit Campari sorbet.  Campari is my all time favorite drink so any dessert (or drink) involving Campari wins me over.  

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At my first job, one of the finest bakeries in Reykjavík, I remember that every summer we would sell these adorable (and yummy) strawberry tartlets, just like I used to eat in in my grandparents backyard in France, after we had all shared a good meal. Having fond memories connected to this fine dessert I would have to say that this is my favorite summer dessert and I will definitely be making my variation of these at some point this summer!

Have a great weekend, hopefully the sun will come out wherever you are

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Foodie Friday: gin and tonic cake

Last Friday I made this recipe for a gin and tonic cake for a friend´s birthday. It was only fitting since it is her favorite drink. I have to admit that I was a little bit nervous making this cake,  worried that it would be too boozy since there is gin in the cake itself, the glaze and the frosting. 
In the end I could not have been happier with the result, a slightly boozy (and delicious) gin and tonic cake. 

here is the lovely  picture that came with the recipe...

 

.....and this is mine(a slightly less styled photo, as you can see) 

Have a great weekend!

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Foodie Friday: My Reykjavik places

 Reykjavík is the love of my life....
 This is where most of my childhood memories have taken place. This is where I have loved and lost and most of all, lived for the greater part of my life.
 Yet the main reason why I love Reykjavík is that it never ceases to amaze and fascinate me. What I love the most about this city is that despite being small it is bursting with opportunities and fun things to see and do. Here are some of my favorite foodie places in Reykjavík...

Lemon 

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 Fairly new in town. Open from 7 am each morning (which is why I love them) Lemon is a juice bar that serves fairly good coffee as well. For me, this usually means I can grab a coffee and some porridge en route to work in the mornings (a great, and more satisfying alternative to the "instead of breakfast" granola bar).

Sandholt 

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Sandholt is one of the oldest bakeries in Iceland. Family run from the start, this charming bakery has always been close to my heart. I worked there for some time and this is where I discovered my passion for well made, good food from quality ingredients. Their sourdough breads are amazing and the mango coconut cake is a treat not to be missed. Also give the handmade chocolates a try! 

 

Frú Lauga  

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A lovely farmers market in the city center, on  Óðinsgata, right off of Skólavörðustígur. I can completely lose track of time in there and more often than not emerge with bags filled with goodies. I love the atmosphere in this little shop, almost like stepping into a time machine that takes you to a simpler time. Fresh, locally grown produce is their main focus, although there are some imported gems to be discovered, such as Amedei chocolate, olive oil and fruit from Sicily and England. I go there during the summer to get my dose of fresh, Icelandic rasberries. 

Sjávargrillið

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My all time favorite restaurant in Reykjavík, I have yet to be disappointed by Sjávargrillið. Fresh fish, great atmosphere and friendly service. My fail safe pick for a fun and delicious dinner out.

Happy weekend, 

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Foodie Friday: The little Paris Kitchen

Hey guys,

Stumbled upon a really cute show while watching television with my mother the other night:  The little Paris kitchen with Rachel Khoo. I haven´t exactly been quiet about my love for the city and this show is almost like it´s tailor made for me as it combines my love for Paris and my love for food. Rachel Khoo is the perfect host, a warm and inviting person and it is clear that she enjoys what she does.
Here below is a clip from the show where she is making quiche Lorraine. 

Rachel also has a cookbook out, with the same name as the television series. I can´t wait to get my hands on this one and start cooking. 

 If you are interested in the book, you can find it here

Have a great weekend 

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Foodie Friday: Easter

 Hi guys, 

With Easter just around the corner, I wanted to dedicate this week´s post to one of my favorite holidays. Basically any holiday that involves good food and good people instantly becomes a favorite of mine. But Easter feels extra special as for me it also signals  the beginning of spring. The fact that the long cold Icelandic winter is finally coming to an end. 
That, and the chocolate of course!
Many cherished childhood memories of mine are bound to this holiday. When we were little my sister and I would excitedly search for the Easter eggs the bells had brought us(In France bells bring the Easter eggs). 
We would get the most amazing chocolates: easter bunnies, easter hens and  little chocolate eggs in colorful foil wrappers. 
Maybe this explains my  love of this holiday, as well as my obseesion with chocolate. 

Although I´m technically a grown up now, picking out a chocolate egg for Easter is still a great source of joy for me. It´s a small piece of my childhood self I have managed to hold on to. But now, according to age, my choices are a little bit more grown up( Still, I will never be too old for Kinder eggs and Easter bunnies). This year I´m thinking of splurging on one of these beautiful eggs: 

Handmade chocolate eggs from my favorite bakery here in Reykjavík: Sandholt. Yup, I think that´s it. 

Making your own easter eggs is also really fun, I´ve tried that myself once. The upside to that is you get to decide on the design of the egg, what kinds of chocolate you want to use, the decorations, the size. The Possibilities are endless.A homemade easter egg also makes a great gift! Here you have a step by step guide on how to make your own easter eggs and just for fun, here is a list of traditional easter foods around the world 

Have a great weekend

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Foodie Friday: My must try restaurants

Hi guys,
These are a couple of restaurants in Reykjavík that I have wanted  to try for a while. 



Forréttabarinn
This one opened last spring and they only serve appetizers. The concept of the restaurant is that you can go there, get a glass of wine and a little something to go along with it. The menu looks very nice, but somehow I have let a year go by and haven´t tried it yet. 

Lemon
Lemon is a new restaurant ( it actually opens today). According to the owners it is modeled after places like Prét a manger in London and Joe and the juice in Copenhagen. Needless to say I am very excited to give it a try.

icelandic fish and chips
Described as an organic bistro.Here you can get fresh fish with hand cut fries and skyronnaise. Skyronnaise is a healthier take on the traditional mayo. It is made with skyr, which is similar to greek yoghurt, only slightly thicker. The skyronnaise comes in a variety of flavors. A healthier take on the traditional fish and chips. Think I will get around to try this one soon!

 C is for cookie 
I have passed this cute little café several times. It is relatively hidden away in a side street from Skólavörðustígur. I would say that I am a creature of habit, because I tend to  go to the exact same places to get my coffee. srill I have heard great things about this place(the cakes are supposed to be amazing) so I will be breaking out of my routine soon to give this place a try! 

Grillmarket

Grill market or Grillmarkaðurinn like it is called in Icelandic is relatively new on the Reykjavík restaurant scene. Owned by  Hrefna Rósa Sætran, who owns another popular restaurant here in Reykjavík, Fish market. Fish market mainly serves seafood and they have the most amazing sushi, so I really reccomend it.
However I have never eaten at Grill market but I have only heard rave reviews, so I am excited to give it a try.

Have a great weekend!

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Foodie Friday: 5 favorite foodie spots in Reykjavík

Hey guys, 

This Foodie Friday I will share with you my favorite foodie spots in Reykjavík: 

1. Vínberið 

This the only chocolate shop in Reykjavík selling chocolates and candy from all over the world. This charming little shop has been a favorite of mine for a long time now. Across the street is the Sandholt bakery, which is also one of my favorites. It is a family owned bakery with wonderful breads, cakes and handmade chocolates. 

2. Frú Lauga 

A kind of a farmer´s market in Reykjavík. They sell local produce  and regularly they import Italian blood oranges among other fruit and greens.

3. Piccolo Italia

 The best Italian restaurant in Reykjavík! A great lunch spot and I am a frequent visitor there. Wonderful food with honest ingredients. The flavors take you all the way to Italy in one bite.  

4. Litli bóndabærinn

Wonderful little organic cafe and the staff are always so warm and nice. One of the best places for coffee in Reykjavík. They also serve up some amazing British pies. 

5. Búrið - Fromagerie 

This one is a little way outside the city center but sooo worth it. Cheese shop, with a wide variety of both local and imported cheeses. You will also find organic honey, organic Icelandic ice cream and Italian salami among other things. 

Have a great weekend!

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Foodie Friday: My favorite food bloggers

                          

Hi guys, 

This Friday I have a list for you over my four favorite food bloggers. I reccomend you add the to your blog list. 

1. David Liebovitz 

Living the sweet life in Paris, i love reading his posts and dream myself away to Paris. Who knows? maybe one day I will be living the sweet life in Paris myself. Maybe I´ll by the book and live the sweet Parisian life here in Iceland. 

2. Smitten kitchen 

All the recipes are so yummy ( although I have yet to try them) and the accompanying photos are really beautiful. 

3. Joy the baker

A lot of interesting recipes like for example pickle fries and vegan muffins. I really should get around to trying those out.

4. Eva Laufey Kjaran 

An icelandic blogger. I love her blog posts. She is so positive. I especially love all the cupcake recipes she posts. Tried baking a recipe for Cheesecake cupcakes once that turned out great. 

Have a great weekend! 

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Foodie Friday: homemade snickers bars

Hey guys,

My friend posted this recipe on Facebook a couple weeks ago, and since I am a big fan of Snickers I am obligated to try these. Judging by the photos they are seriously yummy, with  layers of nougat and caramel. I am going to make these this afternoon and serve them at our housewarming party tomorrow night. Will post pictures.

 

 

 

Have a great weekend!

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Foodie friday: My foodie wishlist

Food is a huge part of my life, it is one of the things that bring me the most joy in life. I love how a good meal can bring a family together and create wonderful memories. I love the comfort food can bring, whether it is a deliciously warm soup on a cold  winter´s night or a refreshing ice cream on a warm summer's day. Maybe it has something to do with my french heritage, but I am always happiest when I am in the kitchen. Therefor I felt it was time for me to share some of the things on my foodie wish list with you guys.
Voila!

Best foodie book ever
Saw this one at the bookstore the other day.
Really want to buy myself this book.. and set off on the adventure of a lifetime.

A subscription to Jamie Oliver´s magazine.
I always browse through his magazine when I stop by Eymundsson´s for a coffee. Perfect British comfort food recipes

A Kitchen Aid mixer
This has been my dream for some years now, preferably in a funky colour.

Any book by Nigella Lawson
Or all her books, don´t think I would be able to pick just one. I used to watch her cooking shows all the time. I love her!  

A trip to Paris 
Paris is my all time favourite city, it feels like a second home to me. I could spend days browsing through the Fauchon gourmet shop, stuffing my face with croissants and macarons, packing a picnic consisting of cheeses, bread and fresh summer berries to spend the day at a beautiful park and last but not least my absolutely favourite thing to do in my beloved Paris is to sit down at a café and people watch with my Café au lait. Oh boy! I think it´´s time to go "home"


have a great weekend!
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