food – Page 2

B230 – A CHINESE BREAKFAST

November 23, 2017November 23, 2017 joshfspear1 Comment

I never seen Chinese buffet for breakfast and don’t think its something I have much of an appetite for, but you cant knock it till you tried it right. so this morning was all about me digging in for a proper orientatal breakfast with chop sticks the lot. I decided to go for the cold noodles, rice and some other things which im not too sure what they were, my mistake involved soy sauce, I over did it a bit meaning it was all a bit too salty. but I dont think that was my main mistake, if I played it safe and stuck with rice, rolls and weird green thing I would have been ok. it was all the other stuff that put me over the edge.

A few hours later and its lunch time, thats when I really regretted my breakfast, it was more rice, noodles and other Chinese food. I definitely think a ham and cheese croissant for breakfast goes down a lot better with a coffee. rice and coffee isn’t really a good mix. I was a bit suprised at the cold chow main noddles as well, I thought that it was a global tradition to eat noddles hot, cold noddles are bit to weird.

most of the time when i’m eating Chinese its at 3am and I’m in the middle of London somewhere trying to book at taxi home and struggling to remember my address, so eating one from breakfast felt unnatural, but who am I to judge. it they like it then thats there choice, i just hope one day they try and full english breakfast and understand what makes a great breakfast.

I know this is a bit of a weird breakfast review, but I hope it makes sense and doesn’t make me look naive.

B230-1-2 — – dont ask me what was on my plate, I have no idea –

B230-1-3 — – the pastery section i think –

B230-1 — – sorry for the bad photo, it was taken on an iphone –

B217 – SHES TAKEN OVER

November 7, 2017November 7, 2017 joshfspearLeave a comment

THIS IS AMY CHAPPELL WRITING THIS. IM TRYING TO GET HER TO START WRITING A BLOG. SO SHE IS GOING TO WRITE THIS ONE AND CAN EVERYONE READ IT AND TELL HER HOW GOOD SHE IS AT WRITING THESE. BY THE WAY THE PHOTOS ARE MINE.

Day two in Paris began with a very easy going start after a heavy evening that ended with death by Baileys coffee; I reckon Josh must have poured half the bottle into them! Instead of dealing with an overpriced and fairly overrated breakfast at our hotel we headed out and found a small café that did the best ham and cheese toasties ever!

Our first venture of the day was this really cool shop called Colette on Rue-Saint-Honore which I have always wanted to visit, its like a really niche concept store that just so happened to have an exclusive Chanel takeover this weekend much to my pleasure! I think even Josh may have even enjoyed it as they even stocked a hassleblad X1D camera (I promise I have no idea what that is, he literally just told me what it was as I was writing!) If you ever end up in Paris I would recommend giving the shop a visit.

The rest of day we went on a serious hunt for moulet et frites. Can you believe it took us over an hour to find somewhere that did mussels and chips! Even though it took a while, I quickly realised this is one of the best cities to just walk around, you see something different on every street and so many interesting characters along the way. We ended up in a little restaurant on the Champs – Elysee and of course we had to order some traditional French cuisine of slimy escargot which I am sorry everyone tastes bloody great! I know what your thinking this blog post features me mainly talking about food but what’s a weekend away without stuffing your face full of local cuisine!

We couldn’t end our trip without seeing the Eiffel tower so we headed up there at exactly the right moment, when golden hour was emerging. Its amazing how one hour of the day can make a beautiful city look even more beautiful especially in the autumn with the golden brown colour palette. Check out a few snaps Josh took of our adventure today and ooh before I forget Josh thank you so much for a wonderful birthday present away, you’re alright you know!

B217-1 — – Nothing beats walking around Paris in November –

B217-1-6 — – it would be a complete trip to paris without a shot of the eiffel tower –

B217-1-2 — – i like this guys style, he knew what he wanted –

B209 – IM NOT IN A GOOD WAY

October 30, 2017October 30, 2017 joshfspear4 Comments

Its sunday, a day where most people are sitting at home watching a movie and looking forward to a week of work. while I have made the fatal error of accidentally eating Avacado, something I am really really allergic too, it literally brings me to my knees over night and takes me out of the game for a few days. there nothing I can do apart from sleep and rest. Its currently 8pm and im in bed, trying to get this post done.

my plan for todays post has gone completely out of the window, I wanted to talk about this old hill near our location which was were the revolutionary war was basically start and also were the army kept there Gun power. if you want to know more, here some links to the history for anyone who wants to know more.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerville,_Massachusetts

http://www.muldermedia.com/prospecthill/history.html

http://www.unionsquareneighbors.com/prospect-hill.html

so really cool stuff, but all that really happened to day was I did some work and moaned the whole day that I felt unwell. I like everyone to know what I am going through and feel my pain, im not really a suffer in silence kind of guy. That doesn’t mean this is just Man flu, this is a medical condition that must be treated with the highest respect. The clocks are also going back tonight so hopefully the extra hours sleep will work in my favour.

back to my photos the plan for today now is to show some photos I took on my Iphone over the last couple of days, I of course have to include the photo from my flight over New York a few days ago and some other cool photos from Massachusetts.

if anyone is allergic to Avacado too and knows any top tips for getting rid of this please please let me know. I’m scared to google it because the webdoctors always make me feel like a limbs going to fall off when I google something.

Hope you like my photos.

B209 (1 of 1)-3 — – someville, Massachusetts on my trip today to find something to sort me out –

B209 (1 of 1) — – leaving New York the other day, I love that city –

B209 (1 of 1)-2 — – this was the ceiling in the car rental place at Boston Airport, looks pretty cool –

B202 – 17 HOURS LATER…

October 23, 2017October 23, 2017 joshfspearLeave a comment

Tomorrow we leave Florida and head back to New York, its fair to say that we are now in the middle of filming and if we can get through the next 11 days of pure craziness and long hours we will be sitting on that flight home with a beer in hand. But first back to reality, before we leave florida tomorrow morning, this place has left us with one last gift a heard of blood thirsty mosquitos, which have really just aimed for my legs and attacked both my pale white bread sticks with all they have. my legs have lost the battle and the war to these mosquitos and now I can stop itching them.

My post today is about the other famous restaurant in town, it wouldnt be fair to write about one and not the other, this time im talking about the BBQ joint called Sonnys. this place is everything I hope for an more, they know what they are doing when it comes to baked beans and BBQ meat, both times Ive gone for the two meat, two sides option and it hasnt let me down. today I had some kind of sausage and pulled pork with Mac “n” Cheese and BBQ Baked beans and it was just what I needed. its totally different to Catfish country which was more of a family run place, this is a small food chain in Florida, but it packs a punch, they even make their own range of sauces, from what I can remember I had only had the Spicy sauce and that had just the right amount of spice, not too hot not too mild. no one wants a really spicey BBQ, its just not right.

if you’re ever in Bartow, please go and try both Sonnys and Catfish Country and let me know which on you think is better! for the experiacne I would say Catfish Country but if you really want to reach food coma levels go to Sonny’s.

Anyway I think ill keep todays nice a short, I cant really keep my eyes open much longer, its been a proper long day. the next few weeks are jammed packed, so ill do my best to keep these post top notch, but sorry in advance for any rubbish days that might pop up (like this one). I haven’t done Sonny’s justice.

Also you know the rules, any spelling or grammer just ignore them, we all know it’s one of my downfalls.

Enjoy these snaps.

B202 (1 of 1) — – it may look simple on the outside but this place serves some proper food –

B202 (1 of 1)-2 — – It just looks like a southern BBQ joint, happy days –

B202 (1 of 1)-3 — – did what to show a picture of my food, but it arrived I ate it and forgot to take a picture, so heres a photo of a beer and some of their own sauce –

B201 – CATFISH, SOUTHERN STYLE

October 22, 2017October 22, 2017 joshfspearLeave a comment

If anyone has driven from Tampa to Bartow, or even been to this little town somewhere in florida called Bartow, you will hear the local talk about Catfish Country as a place you need to go an eat it. you will hear them talk about how great the cat fish is and how its such a famous place to go and eat at. Ive never had Catfish before and today was really my first time, ( I had a cat fish Sandwhich the other day but I spilt most of it down my top and covered the whole thing in ketchup. So Im counting this as my first time, this is kind of my review of cat fish and the restaurant Cat fish country.

One thing I wont talk about is the service, America waiters and waitress are the best in the world, where ever you go you’ll get a good service and thats because they work for tips. so its unfair for me to talk about their service. As someone whos a huge fan of the traditional cod and chips, this is a biased opinion. but when cod and chips isnt on the menu, would I go for Cat fish, probably not. but if I was in florida again, would I go for Cat fish and chips, probably. its got an OK taste and is a bit like cod in the texture, but no where near the same amount of favour.

but what you get at this place Catfish Country is the whole experience, if feels like a food restaurant in the south should feel, and has all the right things, a massive TV showing the sports highlights, unlimited ice tea and the perfect atmosphere, these places always feel like they’ve spent 50 years collecting things from passers by, including their number plates and other weird items and this place is no exception, its full of just about everything you can image from over the size bud light neon signs, to taxidermy, to things that look like they belong to on a boat. but all done in a real aesthetically pleasing way. its just all looks like it genuinely belongs there.

If you are ever driving down highway 98 towards Bartow definitely stop off and give this place a try, you cant miss it theres a massive sign that says “Catfish Country”.

Heres my photos from the meal, I’m sorry to the locals but nothing you cook will be able to beat fish and chips from Brighton Pier.

B201 (1 of 1) — – this place definatly looks 10 x better than any fish and chip shop in the UK –

B201 (1 of 1)-2 — – I wasnt even aware there was a catfish festival –

B201 (1 of 1)-3 — – It looks almost the same to standard fish and chips but they do give you this little corn do ball thing –

B201 (1 of 1)-4 — – I really like the fact every table had a paper hand towel roll, that always means you going to be in for some good food –

B190 – HOW HAVE I NOT DONE THIS YET

October 11, 2017October 11, 2017 joshfspearLeave a comment

Its been 190 days since I started this blog and I still cant believe this hasn’t come up before. Im talking about dedicating a post the Restaurant across the road La Forchetta, the place for food in East London and possibly London (bar charlotte street which is home to Siam central) has the best food.

La Forchetta is on Bethnal green road just up by the Underground station and a stones throw away from Mcdonalds, if you can see Mcdonalds you can see La Forchetta. some people might think this is a biased opinion on my behalf but I can honestly say anyone who goes there would agree there pizza’s are the best and the service is up there too, not voodoo rays friendly where people just slag off politicians and talk about vintage markets, then charge you £4 a slice of pizza and a £1 for a pot of Ketchup. but La Forchetta is somewhere thats stood the test of time and proven that good food doesn’t have to be expensive, they even offer the occasional post dinner shot of Lemoncello.

The main waiter’s been there since I started going like 3 years ago and from what I can tell has been running the place ever since. He’s a pretty quite guy but always up for chucking a few jokes out there every now and again.

Living in London is a weird thing, before I moved here I didn’t think I would find an area and spend 99% of my time there, but thats not the case. when Im in London its almost like my life revolves around a 2 mile square radius full of pubs, shops and things todo when Im bored and inside that radius is where I feel at home. Then I might travel to west London and that could be a different world for all I know, full of different shops and people. its definitely true what they say about people not leaving the area in London. from now on I’m going to make a more conscious decision to try and break that cycle and start seeing new parts of this city.

but for now, I’m packed and ready for my next destination, tomorrow morning I leave for New York. see you in 24 days London!

Anyway enough of the talking, heres some of the photos from today.

B190 (1 of 1) — – theres no pizza that can compete –

B190 (1 of 1)-6 — – they even have a picture of the godfather up and an actual boat stuck on the wall –

B190 (1 of 1)-4 — – these olives maybe from a local supermarket but that doesn’t matter –

B188 – GOPRO GOPRO GOPRO

October 9, 2017October 9, 2017 joshfspearLeave a comment

As some of you may know it was my birthday yesterday and I was given a Gopro from Amy. Since they came out Ive wanted to have my own Gopro, but just never got round to getting it. well yesterday Amy made that happen, so naturally all my photos yesterday were taken on the Gopro.

We weren’t jumping off cliffs or anything life that, just out of a family meal at some local pub near me called the white bear for a roast. fast forward 12 hours and im now sat on my sofa, writing this post, really wishing I had wrote it last night. Im in full Monday Morning mood, and need to pull myself off this sofa and actually get dressed.

Ive got one of those days again where an extra 3 hours fitted inbetween 2 and 3 O’clock would make a whole lot of difference to my day, but I suppose thats not going to happen so I just got to do what I can.

Back to the Gopro, this thing is insane. My main reason for like it, was because its basically josh friendly, I can drop it, submerge it underwater and it wont break. 95% of the time when my camera’s break its my fault, but now I really think this camera will be able to stand up to what ever I put it through. Im really looking till I can use the gopro for what its made for, capturing those crazy moments, that a normal camera cant or just doesnt get. maybe its time to finally learn todo backflips and see how they look on camera.

but for now its time to pull myself off the sofa, make myself look half presentable for work and head out the door and kick off those Monday Morning blues, otherwise I think Ill just end up sitting on the sofa watching netflix and not doing anything ever again.

Heres som photos I took yesterday with the Gopro. its not a 5D, but its definitely going to be fun to use.

– no idea how this happened, but I kind of like the effect –

– running round after flo trying to get a decided picture of her is not easy –

B180 – THE BEST FOOD IVE EVER HAD – SKETCH, LONDON

September 30, 2017September 30, 2017 joshfspear3 Comments

Yesterday was all about getting some good food, so Amy and me headed off the this little restaurant in town called Sketch. If you’ve heard of it before its probably becuase its one of the coolest places to eat. I booked that table about 4 weeks ago and was struggling to get a good table, thats how packed this place is. the food was incredible too, we had the duck Foie Gras for starts with the leeks and razor clams. both of us have never had clams before, they we actually really good.

for mains I though it would be rude not to have the Kent Lamb loin, as i am from kent and know that we do good food. it was perfect and the sauce they put on the top was unbelievable, no meal is complete without a side of chips. so thats what finished us off.

Amy let me have a taste of her Sea Bass main meal and after spending a month in america where you think fish is fresh, this was a different level of fresh. its fair to say that all the processed food in the states, was starting to become more of a mission and having that food has brought me back to reality. its now lie that america josh had started to put on the pounds, a mixture of 1 minute pancakes and Chuckey cheese, had started to show. but lucky I’m now back to good fresh food.

I do love going to new cities and countries and exploring loads of places, but I think theres only one city I can call home and thats London. I even love the rude people that give you funny looks on the tube. even they have a certain London look, that you don’t find anywhere else in the world.

B180-1 — – This place is like no other restaurant ive been in –

B180-1-3 — – this photo was taken by turning the table lamp upside down and using the light from it –

B180-1-2 — – a bad quality photo but I still like it –

B162 – New day, New state

September 12, 2017September 12, 2017 joshfspearLeave a comment

That us done with North Carolina, next stop St. Louis Missouri, im currently at the airport watching planes take off at Raleigh Airport with a beer and burger. tomorrow is our first proper no work day off since getting to this side of the world and I actually cant wait. There’s not a definite plan but I think a water park is on the cards.

I have to say that North Carolina has been interesting from their choice of food, its just steak and deep fried fresh asparagus to the amount of guns that everyone has. In the uk you think that people in America might own one or two guns, but everyone I have spoken to seems to have about 20!

I defintatly want to come back to this part of the world not to work and rush around but to just take photos and meet the people. Its one of the those places where everyone has so much to say and its pretty cool to hear peoples views. You can’t agree with everyone but you can hear him or her out. Then make your opinion. I think we could each other learn a lot from each other.

My last day here has been filled with Pancakes, Burgers, Fries and extra large coke. I’ve had a burger for lunch and dinner and now cant wait to find a gym tomorrow and cycle till I fill normal again, its fair to say I’ve eaten the southern way these past few days, and now I’m ready for something that’s been grown and put on my plate with out any sugar or preservatives.

Anyway onto to the next state, I have no idea what Missouri is like and really excited to have a day off there and explore the city. St Louis is meant to be amazing so im looking forward to getting there and not spending the day on a schedule or with a Peli case.

Thank you Goldsboro for the big plates of food and for make me appreciate organic vegetables.

Sorry for the lack in creative photos, today I was just trying to get through it in one piece.

160 (1 of 1) — – the waffle house near downtown Goldsboro –

162 (1 of 1)-3 — – sitting at releigh airport waiting for my plane –

162 (1 of 1)-2 — – getting the back end of the storm over here, so pretty rainy and cold, St louis is meant to be a bit warmer I think –

B140 – thats what you call a sky

August 20, 2017 joshfspear1 Comment

this weekend is paint the living room weekend, we’ve chosen the sunniest weekend in the whole of August to do this, but we are half a room down and tin of paint in and too far gone to quit now.

but after painting for 5 hours yesterday, amy and me decided enough was enough and that we should head out for a walk and to grab a drink and maybe some food. so we headed for some fresh air, the River Thames, lucky and for some un planned reason we got there just as golden hour was kicking in, so I got some absolute smashers. We also saw some armed police take someone down, not shoot just arrest pull him off his bike and arrest him. not sure what he done, but he must of annoyed someone.

After all that palaver, we ended up getting some food for a cool little restaurant on the river called Cote Brasserie, its some french restaurant chain but does really good food.

We are now getting dressed to head over to Homebase to grab supplies to finish the living room, my DIY skills are being put to the test, but i’m confident in my abilities and amys style to get us across the finish line.

Todays a bit of a ramble from me, Ive talked about a lot but nothing important. so just enjoy these snaps.