Rosemary Roast Chicken

Can I just say how incredibly hard it is to style meat and fish?! That’s why most of my recipes on Add A Little are vegan – the bright colours of the vegetables are naturally very appetising and pleasing to the eye! But every time I try to style meat or fish, I try real hard to make it look real good but I’m never 100% happy with the shots – if you have any tips it would be greatly appreciated!

 

But I couldn’t not share this recipe with you guys because this tasted outtathisworld good! I’ve also made a video! (Don’t know if you can tell, but I’m trying to get back into the video vibes!)

Rosemary Roast Chicken gluten free, dairy free
Serves 2

An easy and delicious 1 pan meal (aka. barely any cleaning up!) that’s full of flavour. Perfect with a side of salad for a light meal or with roast potatoes. 1o minute prep and the oven does the magic!

2 chicken legs
1 large carrot, cut into chunks
2 small white onions, sliced
5 or so cloves of garlic, smashed and still in the skin
A few stalks of fresh rosemary
Coarse sea salt
Extra virgin olive oil
Splash of white wine

Preheat your oven to 180ºC.

Put your carrots, onions, garlic and rosemary in a baking tray with a liberal amount of salt and olive oil.

Set aside and rub the chicken with olive oil and salt then place on top of vegetables.

Place uncovered in the oven for 30 minutes until the skin starts to brown and crisp up.

After 30 minutes, cover with tin foil and turn the oven down to 160ºC and leave the chicken in for 30-40 minutes until cooked and tender.

For the last 10 minutes before serving, take off the foil so the skin can get crispy.

Serve with an (optional) sprinkling of coriander and a squeeze of lemon to liven the dish.

Review: Neo Bistro

2018 and I’m back with a bang!

2018 is the year of food and boy am I excited to go to loads of restaurants this year and eats tons of good food. Add A Little: the rebirth here I coooome!

Obviously I can’t help but start 2018 in any other way than a review of a delicious restaurant situated in Bond Street called Neo Bistro. I hadn’t previously heard of this place but was recommended by my friend. The restaurant describes themselves as modern British and rightly so, the food is delicate and full of flavour. No heavy steak and ale pies coming your way, but rather, sea bream ceviche or home cured charcuterie. You can see a European influence amongst the dishes and every one was 10/10.

I went for the tasting menu and every dish was new and innovative.

The first course upon arriving was homemade sourdough, house churned salted butter, fennel cured charcuterie, chorizo and truffle mousse with hazelnuts. Honestly nearly cried because it was so delicious and it always surprises me how a restaurant can make something so simple so incredible.

Next up was sea bream ceviche with creme fraiche, pine nuts, fennel and grapefruit slaw and lovage oil. A beautiful palate cleanser.

The Parmesan gnocchi’s were clouds of cheesiness and the raw oyster mushroom and pickled walnuts added a lovely contrasting texture whilst the pumpkin purée provided a lovely sweetness.

On the menu, I didn’t know what to expect from quail kebab but this was probably my favourite course. Confit leg of quail and grilled breast were cooked to perfection, accompanied by the fresh, lightly dressed leaves and the creamy, decadent chestnut purée.

This dish focused on duck with a few accompaniments. There was a homemade cranberry jam, roasted onion and a bacon wrapped date that was roasted until gooey and sweet.

A palate cleanser of whipped goats yoghurt with orange blossom honey and candied linseeds came next. A lovely light dish.

The dessert was a rich chocolate mousse with malt ice cream. The chocolate was dark and slightly bitter, a perfect way to end the meal.

But of course, they manage to bring out one last dish of a freshly baked pistachio financier. Couldn’t have ended the meal any other way!

I would highly recommend Neo Bistro to anyone. £50 for an incredible tasting menu is a great offer and they cater to allergies and have a vegetarian tasting menu if needed too.

Neo Bistro
11 Woodstock Road, London, W1C 2AE
020 7499 9427

L’as Du Fallafel

First day in Paris is done and dusted and ofcourse I’ve already managed to tick off basically the main reason why I came in the first place.

I came hesitatingly five years ago after my mum highly recommended I checked this place out. To say I had my doubts was an understatement. I didn’t even like falafel that much and I just didn’t understand how there could be so much hype over, essentially, a sandwich. So we decided to share one and what a mistake that was. Those preconceptions shot out the window after my first bite and I wished I had got one to myself!

The bread is soft and pillowy and almost mochi-esque which provides a great contrast to the falafel which is herby and crunchy. The salad provides an element of freshness and is comprised of thinly sliced cabbage, cucumber and tomato. The aubergine is silly and smooth and in bite sized pieces to make it easier to eat. And last, but certainly not least, the lashings of tahini dressing which is cool and slightly bitter.

So, onto the technical stuff. It costs €6,50 and is definitely big enough for a meal for one. It’s filled with falafel and salad and will keep you full for a matter of hours (until the compulsory afternoon pastry break)!

Wow, I can’t believe I’ve actually spent all morning raving about falafel when I could have been at a Parisian bakery but this is the best of the best. If you find yourself in Paris, you must stroll around the alleys of Marais and get yourself a falafel. You’ll never look back!