Saturday at the Broadway Market

Okay, I post this with a bit of delay, but it's been busy these couple of days (shopping, but hey, it's sales!). So, last Saturday we went with BH to the Broadway Market a)because I have a thing about markets and b)I assured BH that there would be plenty of delicious food. Thus, off we go.

From a foodie's point of view, I have to say that it exceeded my expectations. We found everything we would need for a very promising meal, and of course things we would not find in our local supermarket.

You've got to have bread. Always.

...and cheese of course.

...and charcuterie.

We even found dolmades!

and Gigantes! (that's 'giant' beans cooked in
a tomato based sauce with herbs and onions)

I simply couldn't leave without a tub of my favourite olives.
The tarragon and garlic ones are highly recommended!

If you have a sweet tooth you won't be disappointed:

Nor if you have a soft spot for Middle Eastern food:

Four different types of baklawa!

Now, concerning BH's favourite time of the day (lunchtime), we loved the bahn-mi from a stall selling Vietnamese food: I got one with the sirloin, and BH got a 'cha cha chicken' one (you can't really say no to a sandwich called cha cha, can you?). Unfortunately, we wolfed them down almost immediately and I didn't manage to take a proper photograph. However, while waiting, I did manage to take this picture (only because I wasn't eating at the time!).

However, if you're more on the vegetarian side, I loved this little stall with the delicious-looking veggie burgers:

Now, if for some unforeseen reason you're not into food, there are other cool stuff you can get:

Impressive headpieces

bicycles

and my personal favourite: candles in mugs!

The bottom line is, there's something for everyone, particularly if you're a foodie (and there are plenty of photos to prove this!). So I'd say give it a shot, you might find something you haven't tried out before, and bear in mind that the above it's just to give you a small taste. I assure you you'll find a lot more unique bits and pieces if you go yourself. For directions click here, and let me know what you think :)

Your S/S SALES guide

I don't need to say more to get people excited: sales. Particularly designer sales. If you love designer fashion and a good bargain, be wise and make a note of these dates in your diary. Ready?

Harvey Nichols (think Alexander McQueen, 3.1. Phillip Lim, Rag & Bone and Tory Burch) and Liberty (think Vivienne Westwood, Helmut Lang and Sonia Rykiel): Today! 13/Jun
Brown's (think Proenza Schouler, Jil Sander and Alexander Wang): Tomorrow, 14/Jun
Selfridges (think Acne, Miu Miu and Etro, with up to 70% off): 15/Jun
Harrods (think Marc by Marc Jacobs, Chloe, Lanvin, DVF and the last collection of D&G): 16/Jun

Bonus: If you're a fan of Nicholas Kirkwood's eccentric designs, there will be a sample sale on the 14th and 15th of June with up to a whooping 80% off at The Music Room at South Molton street.

Bonus 2: If you don't manage to get your hands on a dress by Stella McCartney, head to the Stella McCartney stores on the 20th  for a 40% off.

Happy shopping!

Probably the most tender chicken souvlaki you've ever had

After the much dreaded exam period (which was also the main reason I haven't blogged for a while), I'm back with a bang! I came to London a few days ago to be with BH who's not yet liberated from this year's exams, but with his appetite of a black hole, and his food-loving flatmate, I could cook and know that my food would be eaten and appreciated. The bang mentioned above came last night with my recipe for super tender souvlaki, one of the most sought-after comfort foods of Cypriot students in the UK. Although nothing beats the authentic souvlaki you find in Cyprus and Greece, I truly believe this comes as a (very) close second. Here I use a yoghurt based marinate to tenderize the chicken, but if you're using pork I'd suggest you replace the marinade with a blend of olive oil, fresh lemon juice and oregano.

For the marinade, you'll need: (for 2-3 people, depending on greediness)
- 1kg of boneless chicken thighs (unlike chicken breast, the fat from the thighs will melt and make the chicken even more flavorsome!)
- 200g plain yoghurt
- juice of half a lemon
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp dried oregano

To make magic happen, just put everything in a large bowl (or a freezer bag if you really don't like the washing up afterwards), and give everything a good stir. No salt at this point to keep the chicken as moist and juicy as possible. Refrigerate for at least a couple of hours or overnight and when you're ready to grill, take it out of the fridge and bring it to room temperature. About half an hour before starting to grill, thread the chicken onto pre-soaked wooden skewers or metal ones which you can find from a supermarket.

I would even suggest to thread alongside the chicken some quartered onions or chopped peppers if you feel like it.

Now, for the grilling part! We were fortunate enough to have this little guy:

But if you don't, worry not! An ordinary grill will do just fine. Preheat it to medium-high and cook for about 7-8 minutes per side until slightly charred on the outside and cooked through (the cooking time is a bit longer for pork). Season with salt.

Done.

To serve, grill some pitta bread to desired crispiness, slather generously with tzatziki, add some sliced tomatoes and onions and top with the chicken.

Nom!