The things that were eaten in Spain

This blog started as a food photography/review blog in my earlyish twenties with a bad camera and annoying commentary. These days nature/travel photography is more my thing but I still love photographing the delicious things I eat like everyone else on Earth. 🙂

Food in Spain is amazing in general but Barcelona was pretty next level…

The best burger I’ve had in my entire life happened here (seriously, I wouldn’t lie to you) at Granja Petitbo 

Root Vegetable crisps + honey & sesame seeds at Negro Carbon

Tempura fried veggies, craft beer and some rare and wonderful bavette at Bier cab.

Dreamy pina coladas and guacamole at El Pachuco

Followed by mojitos…

daiquiris…

Then an exquisite dinner of tapas at Betlem.

Steak tartare

Octopus, artichoke & pea

Crab ravioli

Roasted Octopus

Apparently when on holiday, all I eat is Octopus so I decided to order a whole one roasted in paprika in Figueres.
It was the best thing I ate on the whole trip (next to that legendary burger because it was EPIC)!!

It’s a shame I don’t have anything for scale. Let’s say bigger than a rabbit smaller than a cat. I ate the whole thing. Obvs.

My pants no longer fit. No probs. x

Paris, FINALLY! Part One

My folks flew over for 10 days (they are still here actually!) and we took the Eurostar over for a little Parisian city break!

We rented a beautiful flat in Ternes for 3 nights and had the dreamiest time exploring Paris!

Our lovely apartment…

A beautiful first meal near the flat at L’ANNEX.

I enjoyed a few well-deserved glasses of crisp grassy Sancerre…

Followed by the most gorgeous Escargot…

Rare Rib of beef…

And SWEETS!

Apple Tart…

Panna Cotta with Raspberry…

Then a night walk to the Arc du Triomphe for some magical night photography fun.

Love them!!

…and many many stairs to the top!

We awoke the next day to gorgeous electric blue skies and had a beautiful little breakfast at Maison Lacombe.

I had read that people travel all over for their croissants and I completely understand why as I was unable to get a photograph after shovelling the croissant into my face in record speed.

I shall leave you with these and pick up at Notre Dame and all the rest tomorrow! x

Going Home…

It’s been a year! First stop – CLEVELAND. Seeing my beautiful Aunts. x

I even got to spend some quality time with the family pets!

And no trip to CLE is complete without stopping by Cedar Point.

We rodes some epic and terrifying coasters…

Ate some massive BBQ turkey legs…

Then we passed out from jet lag exhaustion!

Followed by a quick flight to Nashville!!

I immediately had a bar party and invited everyone to come out and give me a year’s worth of hugs.

They complied!

Toasts were made…

I was so excited to spend time with some of my besties…

And baby!

OOooohhh baby!

There were lots of babies being made whilst I was away…

Big fat squooshy pretty babies!!!

Aunt Jamie ❤

And some of the babies I knew a year ago weren’t babies anymore, but little tiny people…

Lunch with my LaLa. ❤

My mom was just as pretty as I remember her being…

My brother was still a massive fantasy football dweeb…

Becca and her fantastic fiance Josh took us out to Dinner at Silo 

Elevated Southern cuisine welcoming me home proved to be JUST what I needed…

Especially deviled eggs three ways…

Deep fried greenbeans…

And pork belly…

We even visited my beloved Bombay Palace

They were all super excited to see me too! HA!

Actually, we did a lot of eating.

And of course, we had to work some of it off…

No better place than Edwin Warner Park…

See ya soon Nashville xx

Food in Spain.

I just wanted to share some of the food I DEVOURED in Spain

A simple lunch…

Followed by a decadent dinner…

Tomato and goat cheese salad

Beef carpaccio with sheep’s-milk cheese

Tuna carpaccio with pink peppercorn and dill

Filet mignon with foie

Vanilla bean panna cotta with black currants…

Me in action!

Grilled calamari for another yummy lunch…

A little scampi party…

Tasty tapas…

x

Adventures with Duck

My spectacular trip to London this Summer involved my first ever Peking Duck experience, which I shall never forget, no matter how many more brain injuries I sustain in my life.We did a little sight-seeing…

Before you know it we were on a tipsy mission, wandering the streets of London in search of a duck feast.

Soon enough we were seated in a fabulously elegant Chinese restaurant ordering a duck and a half, and even more wine…

Patiently awaiting the duck feast!

Snacks!

THE DUCK!!!

MMMMmmmmmmm…

Duck Skin…

The spread…

So here is what you do to make your taste buds have the biggest most fantastical explosive party in your mouth ever…

You take a pancake, you spread some plum sauce on it, you add cucumber and spring onions…

You grab a nice tender chunk of duck meat and top it with a crispy crunchy lacquered duck skin crackling and you roll it up as quickly as possible – inhaling it is preferable.

Oh! And they clean the rest of the duck and stir fry it with bean sprouts!

There is no shame! Only joy!

xx

Borough Market

It is impossible for me to do this place justice in one post.
I didn’t have the opportunity to take as many photos as would be needed to really explain the massiveness and sheer volume of edible delights waiting within.

But I would love to share with you the photos I did get, and the spoils that I took home with me!

Where to begin?!

The Juice Bar!

Of course, being the juice lover that I am, I cut a path through the insane swarms of people directly to the juice bar without any previous knowledge of its existence. 

This finding was quickly matched by my next discovery of the Indian spices/chutney stall where I sampled very very spicy things and made happy/painful faces.

Which was followed by the joyful arrival to the chocolate area, where my face-making turned to lustful amazement.

And the gigantic vats of Paella! And the samples of Paella! Yummmm

Mussels!!

I could spend an entire day here. Just eating. Everything.

Fungi!

Squids!

Exclamation Marks!!!!!

My Personal Spoils…

Tomatoes, the most delicious lemon & garlic olives on Earth, crusty sourdough, elderflower & apple juice, brie, local honey, local raspberry preserves, drunken cheese, and lemon & rose Turkish delights…

SNACKY TIME!

XX

So where were we six months ago?

Ah! Arizona! Yes. I went to visit my best friend Abigail…it’s all coming back to me now.

There were lots of treats consumed in Arizona.
Specifically Sedona, Jerome, & Cottonwood.
Home of everything magical, mystical, and holistic.

I ate quite a bit of yummy vegan and vegetarian fare and visited the cutest little breakfast/gelato cafe.
Also, a visit to candy mountain (sort of) and a cute wine bar with an insanely scrumptious foccacia appetizer.

Let us begin!

The following delights are from New Frontiers in Sedona…

Kale salad that made my face happy.

The best cold falafel I have ever eaten, also from New Frontiers grocery store.

Deviled eggs (because they are delicious)

Pear and Mesclun salad.

Magic healing bars!

Now, onto my breakfast at Crema Cafe in Cottonwood, AZ.

THINGS TO EAT! Just my kinda place!

Quick and gorgeous little egg & cheese croissant delivered by the sweetest server.

Close-up!

Pretty much the lightest, fluffiest, most breakfasty cloud of sunshine you could possibly introduce your taste buds to.

Oh, and the super sweet server!

Isn’t she just adorable?

AND, there was gelato!

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to sample the gelato as the croissant was the size of my face and very filling!

Scones & biscotti

Who wants to take a trip to candy mountain?

Rock candy in everyone’s favorite flavor “BLUE”

SCOOPS!

There was a time in my life where I would have attempted to eat all of these lollies in one sitting.

Finally, the Focaccia to put all other Focaccia to shame at Grapes Restaurant & Bar in Jerome, AZ.

It doesn’t look like much, but trust me, a little olive oil or marinara dipping action and you have a masterpiece of textures and flavors that satiate all carb-loading desires.

Crunchy, pillowy, buttery, sweet, savory…

MOUTH MAGIC!

http://grapesjerome.com/
http://www.cremacoffeeandcreamery.com/

Super fun Indian wedding!

So….

I went to an Indian Wedding, with tons of catered food, but due to the open bar situation…I sort of forgot to take pictures of the food.

Ooopsy!

Here is my buddy Ernie and myself clearly enjoying the open bar…

And My lady friends Rebecca and Melissa enjoying some light reception snacks…

And the wedding cake…

I know!

All those curries begging to be photographed and I was too busy taking pictures of my friends dancing their asses off.

What a failure!

Next time, less dancing, wine, and socializing! More Food photography!

Congrats Dana & Hitesh! Super fun and gorgeous wedding!

TACOS ARE LIFE

Yesterday was a seriously super rad day.

Work was bearable.

There was a delightful afternoon rain shower that kind of cooled off the hot nasty summer day.

And to top that all off, the lovely and talented Teresa of Mas Tacos was sweet enough to offer me an invite to the trial run or “soft opening” of the new brick & mortar Mas Tacos!

First of all, the design aesthetic of her new place is killer.

Definitely retro, but done with a smart minimalist approach.

Her jukebox is the best thing ever because:

1.) It’s free
2.) There are no record/song titles listed, so you just choose a letter and a number and see what happens! FUN!

WHO WOULDN’T WANT TO BUY TACOS FROM THESE ADORABLE LIL LADIES?

I asked Teresa if she was tired and this was her response!

Delicious creamy-dreamy-magical-cool-that-fiery-mouth-off horchata.

Always order this. It is god’s super special gift to the universe. And well, sugar.

And now, THE TACOS!

TACO #1: Quinoa with roasted tomatillo salsa, potato, jalapeno, corn, red cabbage, sour cream, lime, and cilantro!

TACO #2: Fried Tilapia with spicy dill yoghurt, red cabbage, red onion, fresh lime, and cilantro!

I took a lot of pictures. They are just so pretty.

Mas Tacos will be opening officially this coming Tuesday, July 27th at 11am til 8pm!
732 McFerrin Avenue
Nashville, TN
37206