Alas, it has been a few months since consistent posting about the sensational things that I come across, visit, and eat. 

This summer has been filled with amazing opportunities and activities that have left little face-time for my keyboard.  The opportunities and activities, crazy things called work and school, ultimately trump grazing farmers markets on lazy afternoons and spending so much time in department stores that I need a macaroon break.

Hopefully I can return to Sensation in the near future!

“You know that thing when you see someone cute and he smiles and your heart kind of goes like warm butter sliding down hot toast? Well that’s what it’s like when I see a store. Only it’s better.”

-Rebecca Bloomwood, Confessions of a Shopaholic

This is the closest I will get to words in describing how I feel about Harrods. 

My entire life I have been at battle with my inner “shopaholic.”  I blame this on my mother - in the best way possible.  My mom is the hardest working person I know, everything she has she deserves. She has gone from running around a rough south LA neighborhood with no hope for a productive future to a rock star business exec living in the “burbs”- her story is inspiring.  The saying “make it better for your kids than you had it” doesn’t even begin to cover it. Now, nothing is ever given to me, per say, but I would definitely consider myself spoiled.  Not spoiled rotten, just spoiled.  Shopping has always been a bonding thing for my mother and I - none of the dressing room fights that you see in the movies.  It is one of the only times we are genuinely patient with each other and can put everything else on hold and just enjoy the day.  I would imagine that psychologically these experiences are the reason that I get “warm fuzzies” walking through department stores. Harrods was the “warm fuzzy” of all “warm fuzzies.”

To put it in perspective, I spent 4 hours alone in Harrods - only breaking for tea and macaroons at Laudrée.

Aside from my incredibly delicious meal, I roamed the never ending rooms filled with luxury apparel items, bagillion thread count sheets, and even an art gallery - but the best room was the antique home deco hall.  There were fossils, one of a kind natural crystal sculptures, globes created using maps from before parts of the world were discovered, etc… It was like a museum, but you could shop. I was obviously so into it.

Harrods was truly heaven on earth… The only downside was that it was one expensive heaven… My credit limit and I agree that it is best kept on the other side of the world.

Borough Market immediately stole my heart (and stomach) a month and a half ago with their endless stalls of street food, cheeses, and produce.  Since then, it has become my favorite place in London. Weekly visits are a must and most of the produce and dairy on my grocery list is picked up there. It is something that I will truly miss about London.

*For more information on Borough Market and my experience there, please visit the original post - The Sensation of Borough Market*

Hand made gnocchi with pesto and pepper

Half eaten spicy beef and jalapeno bomber.  The preservation of this sandwich for a picture is a miracle - I was half way done by the time I walked away from the stall.

Fresh Italian spring salad with tomato, mozzarella, prosciutto, and other tid bits.

On that note, I am headed to Borough Market one last time before my return to the United States - this may get emotional.

Alright, I know.  It is definitely mid-May and there are no new food, culture, or history posts. This is because I’m am cramming all the overeating, sightseeing, and adventures into my last week in London.

In the last few days alone I have been to 2 museums, literally ran into Big Ben, ventured to Camden Town, attended a service in St. Paul’s Cathedral, and walked from one end of London to the other with the river as my map. Stories to come - but first, more exploring.

Also, I’ve been really into traditional Greek Salad lately… So here is a super simple (and I mean SIMPLE) recipe -

Traditional Greek Salad
Ingredients for one:
1 ripe tomato
1/2 cucumber
Handful of sliced red onions (eye-ball it and add to taste)
Handful of Greek olives
Feta cheese (50-100g)
Tbsp of olive oil
Salt & pepper to taste

Slice and dice tomato, cucumber, and onion.  Toss in a bowl.  Add olives, olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste.  Toss again.  Add feta and enjoy! (Hint: I usually get the blocks of feta, where I can slice off how much I want.  I prefer it over crumbled because you can cut it and pair it with other ingredients to make the perfect bite.)

Okay, so I’m only in the airport, but it is one pleasant airport! Very white, very clean, very geometrical -very Bauhaus (as to be expected).

For the next two weeks I will be traveling to Florence, Italy and Corfu, Greece.  There will be little or no activity - just assuring you that I’m still making everything sensational.  Look for new posts about my adventures starting the first week in May***, and until then - auf wiedersehen, ciao, and however they spell goodbye in Greek!

***Oh, and finals are coming up.  Hate to break it to you, but my life still revolves around school and successful planning of my future (cross your fingers & kiss your rabbit’s foot). Against my will, semester finals trump Tumblr in my list of priorities. Please bare with me until the end of May when my life settles down a bit.  Until then, busy yourself with perfecting and customizing things under my Recipes page! Cheers, and remember to live each day like you meant it to happen.

Somewhere, in the heart of London, there is a place similar to heaven.  It goes by the name of Borough Market.  Its pearly gates welcome you with an understated collection of Spanish cuizine and rabbit bombers… But inside you find an even more amazing selection of specialty foods, produce, drinks, and products in the plethora of food stalls and drink kiosks

The first time Borough Market was open for business is said to be from as far back as Roman times.  It was first mentioned as a market on High Street in 1276, and has been at its current location on Southwark since 1550.  It is a wholesale market on all weekdays from 2am - 8am, but open as a retail market during daylight hours on Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays. In 2010 Borough Market received the award of London’s Best Market, and is one of the largest in the world.

When I first walked down the stairs next to the Southwark Cathedral to enter the market area, I was greeted with large vats of authentic Spanish paella (which I came back for at the end - it was that appetizing), gourmet burgers, and fresh sandwiches.

After walking through the narrow passageway, you are thrust into the bustling market-stall cacophony of aromatic cheeses, heaps of fresh made bread,  colorful bins of candy, vats of stuffed olives and garlic, meats and fish from around the world, and so, so much more.

Beers imported from around the world - I search for Spotted Cow (an exclusively Wisconsin brew), but no luck.

Two pigs chilling (no pun intended) with their body parts.

Fresh stuffed olives that I couldn’t walk away from.  Ended up with a large jar of caper stuffed, red pepper stuffed, and lemon stuffed olives.

Lunch.  Chorizo, rocket, and red pepper sandwich.  Amazing.

Before visiting this market, I was not very impressed with the diversity of affordable food in London.  Sure, you can find authentic ethnic delicacies at the latest and greatest gourmet restaurants somewhere in between a 50 course tasting menu and your credit limit.  But at Borough Market, you can taste the world in 2 hours without zeroing out your bank account.

Along with the diversity and pricing of the food, what I loved about this market was the atmosphere.  Granted it was much more crowded that I prefer public places to be, it was easily navigable and there were sitting areas to enjoy your goods.  The warm, sunny weather didn’t hurt either. Spending time wandering around the diverse stalls of Borough Market resulted in one of the most enjoyable afternoons I have ever had in London.  I will definitely be going back. Although I have to admit - a large reason for my revisit will be be because you can make a meal out of the tasting bits.  It puts Sam’s Club to shame in the sample arena.

There are three things you will never find in London without serious research, reviews, and luck: crystal light, a beer under £3, and good Mexican food. The first one I can deal with, based on the fact my mother replenished my powdered drink supply when I saw her in Paris.  The last two have been at the core of my emotions longing for the States. 

Well, ladies & gentleman, Tortilla kills two birds (not to be confused with British women!) with one stone. A cheap Corona and some delicious taco comparable to the American way of Mexican-food-fraud.  And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I (pictured above) ordered a Corona and 2 carnitas tacos with chips and guacamole on the side.  The Corona was, as expected, delicious - with lime, of course.  The carnitas were seasoned very well, definitely comparable to American Chipotle - which is not as good in the UK.  The guacamole was also pretty good, but not as spicy as its Mexican/American counterparts.  It could have used a little something more, but the chips were pretty good! And they came in a heaping basket - definitely worth the money.

All in all, Tortilla is an awesome place to grab a quick bite and a drink.  Amazingly priced for the quality of food, and it has many locations around London.  I pride myself in my 25% Mexican heritage, so my vote should count for something - this place is two thumbs up!

The thing that makes me never want to cook again is what most cook books are guilty of - over ingredient-ing simple dishes.  There is no reason for grilled chicken to require a list of 25 ingredients (most of which I’ve never heard of) or for you to have to take a trip to a specialty grocery store to make chocolate cake.  Who has the time or patience for that? Not this girl. Especially with my living situation abroad. The grocery stores available to me are only express branches or expensive organic co-ops.

Although recipes containing hundreds of ingredients from the back room at Whole Foods are most likely delicious, simple is always a good way to go. The biggest culprit in this case is Rachel Ray and her 30 minute meal bull-shit. It may take 30 minutes to do the actual cooking, but takes double that to Google the ingredients in her recipes. 

The best recipes that I have ever used are usually family recipes or triggered by accident and a good idea.  My parents, who placed a huge value on family meals, always managed to put something good on the table for us most nights of the week.  They of all people definitely did not have the time or patience for excessive recipes. Whether the secret was left-over ad-ins or liberal Lawry’s - it was always balanced and edible.

It is the utilization of a few ingredients and your valuable time that can make some pretty tasty meals.

Here are a few meal ideas which all use under 6 ingredients (personalize them with extra toppings, sauces, or marinades):

This was the inspiration for this entry - Today I made homemade pasta sauce and drizzled it over fresh mozzarella for less than £2. Cha-ching.

Never-Fail Pasta Sauce
**Awesome on pasta, cheese, lasagne, whatever.  Also, amazing as leftovers so make a lot and save for later!**

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Garlic (fresh or jarred)
• 4 large basil leaves (preferably fresh)
• 28 oz can of peeled whole tomatos
• Salt & pepper

In a large saucepan bring 2-3 tbsp of EVOO, 1 tbsp of garlic (3 cloves), and the basil leaves to a simmer.  Add tomatos and reduce heat.  Simmer for 45 minutes stirring occasionally, chop tomatos with mixing spoon if desired. Season with salt & pepper.

Avocado & (insert protein here) Pita
**This is perfect for lunch at home, to bring to work/class, or just for a snack.**

• 1/2 Avocado
• Meat (I like chicken - but steak is awesome too!)
• Large pita
• Salt & Pepper

Season the meat liberally with salt and pepper and grill until crispy.  Shred or cut into peices and set aside to cool. Microwave the pita for 30 seconds to soften it. Cut in half and set aside.  Chop the avocado into long, vertical slices.  Insert the avocado into pita, add the meat & enjoy.

Barbeque Pizza

• Boboli ready-to-bake pizza crust
• Boneless, skinless chicken breast
• Sweet Baby Ray’s barbeque sauce
• Shredded provolone & mozzarella cheese
• Red onions, if desired

Bake the chicken until cooked.  Shred with fork.  In a large bowl mix with a few squirts of barbeque sauce and set aside.  Spread a liberal amount of barbeque sauce on the pizza crust and top with as much cheese as desired.  Distribute the chicken evenly over the cheese.  If using red onions, slice into small peices and sprinkle over pizza.  Bake at 375F for 20-30 minutes basen on desired crunchieness.

Chopped Salad
**My parents called this “bag salad.”  It took me 20 years of my life to figure out that chopped salad was just a fancy way of saying the same thing.**

• Lettuce
• Anything in your fridge that you can chop (cheeses, left over meat, veggies, hard boiled egg, noodles, etc…)
• Desired dressing or balsamic vinegarette/olive oil combo

Chop selected random-fridge ingredients into bite sized peices.  Combine chopped ingredients and lettuce in a gallon bag and add desired amount of dressing. Shake & serve!