Palm Court Brasserie

Palm Court Brasserie on King’s Street near Leicester Square is a safe bet. It’s always busy (you should book ahead!), it’s not a chain, it’s affordable (between £10 and £18 for a main), the food is exactly what it promises to be, the service is friendly, the menu features an adequate variety (perhaps not for vegetarians though) and it’s easy to get to. My single qualm is that Palm Court Brasserie is a bit too lively (probably due to the attendance of a disproportionate amount of pre-theatre goers) and thus a bit loud. Still, other than our beautiful French waiter, this place offers me little to rave about. And besides, his attention was entirely devoted to Opa who insisted on speaking French to him throughout.

 Despite the staff being helpful and attentive then, this place is simply too big and full to feel personal. And whilst I’ve credited it with not being a chain, it feels like just another Cafe Rouge nonetheless. Admittedly, since finishing my main of Moule Marineire last night, I have not been able to stop thinking about or indeed googling mussels; of how to make them, when to make them, where to buy them, etc. They were delicious – as was my Tuscan cheesecake dessert. Perhaps that’s also why this place gets such spanking  reviews on the internet. 

Anyway, my grandparents will leave London to return to Germany this afternoon, which means that my week of delicious food, far too scarce family time and legitimised procrastination has come to an end. I’m currently sitting in the library wondering if I can justifiably open another pack of biscuits in the next hour and whether I should have Ramen or Rice tonight..

Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad with Beansprout and Rice

 As I’m writing this I have exactly 46 minutes left to save my gloriously ambitious 365 Days of Food from turning into a not quite so spectacular364 Days of Food. And knowing my own lack of discipline all too well, this number would most certainly then continue to rapidly shrink thereafter. Anyway, I’ve actually had a busy day for a change (my onesie’s feeling terribly neglected) so hopefully that should somewhat excuse my late update.

 Since I’m heading home for Christmas early tomorrow morning, tonight’s dinner is my (rather grown-up!) attempt to use up all the left over fresh food in my fridge. Unfortunately, that amounts to a grand total of barely any cucumber and even fewer bean sprouts. Nevertheless, I love this dish. It’s quick, cheap and spicy. What’s more, I even get to feel good about myself for not biting into any animals’ bums tonight.

 

Serves 2, Peperation Time: 20 mins

 For the Beansprout Salad:

3 handfuls of beansprouts

5 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 heaped tbsp toasted sesame seeds

2 spring onions, chopped

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

Briefly blanch your bean sprouts in salted, boiling water. Fry your spring onions and garlic for appox. two minutes, before adding to the soy sauce and sesame oil. Now combine the the bean sprouts with the soy sauce mixture.

For the Cucumber Salad:

1/2 Cucumber, chopped into thick matchsticks

1 heaped tbsp sesame seeds, toasted

1tbsp sesame oil

50ml of Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce

Simply mix all these ingredients together and serve with boiled rice and bean sprout salad.

Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce – you can get this in any Chinese supermarket, and it’s absolutely fantastic. Unfortunately so fantastic that Jimmy has started to confuse it with seasoning, now determinedly  dressing all his food with it.