Paella time [On The Road: Madrid]

“Well they better come, I got all this Paella” 

Estelle Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Raincoats”) 

I was back in Madrid for the bank holiday and this time I wanted to try Paella. So after a bit of research and some recommendations we ended at La Barraca. Opened in 1935 by the Solis family bringing Valencia flavours to Madrid. After three generations they have kept the traditional recipes. 

The place

We got to the place got a nice Rioja and then went for starters. Callos a la Madrileña and Gazpacho. The tripe was great, excellent balance with the chorizo and black pudding. The gazpacho was amazing, perfectly executed, all the trimmings, great flavours. 

Rioja

Gazpacho

Callos

For main we got the Paella Marinera. Perfect seafood paella, full of clams, King prawns, squids, grouper, mussels and a giant red prawn or carabinero as they call it. A touch of Sherry to complete the flavours, really good executed. Our waiter commented that the key on the flavour was the carabinero. 

Paella time

To end a nice lemon and vodka sorbet to refresh the palate. 

Sorbet

Great food, nice service, and a relax place. Definitely a paella you should try if you’re in Madrid.

Aioli

One more look at the amazing paella

La Barraca

T: +34 915 32 71 54

Spanish Cuisine

Approx Damage: €20pp

Area: Centro

Madrid

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Back for Story Scout Hut Pizza

“It's a pizza the moment you put your fists in the dough” 

Poppie (Seinfeld episode “The Couch”) 

One of my favourite pizzas in London is Story Deli or now Story Scout Hut Pizza. I have written in the past about them but they keep moving the place so finding the place has become a challenge. So after having a great time in the London Coffee Festival I decided to track and visit them back. 

Story entrance

A Coffee from the London Coffee festival

The place décor is pretty similar to the previous locations, same communal tables and old rustic furniture. Also same formula of organic ingredients, and thin crust or should I say cracker style pizza. 

The table

Say hi!

Got to the place and shared a pizza with my significant other. We got the chorizo & mushrooms. The toppings are chorizo, garlic roasted mushrooms, buffalo mozzarella, mascarpone, roasted sweet red onion, olives & a little sweet chilli sauce. 

Pizza

The pizza was great as usual, crispy, fresh ingredients, great flavours. In fairness it’s not a pizza but I couldn’t like it more. 

Cracker style

If you haven’t visited it what are you waiting for? Hardcore Italians be aware that is not what you would consider a traditional pizza. Also they weren’t taking cards when I visited so get cash before hand just in case.

Story Deli

T: 079 1819 7352

Pizza

Approx Damage: £20pp

Area: Bethnal Green

Borough: Tower Hamlets

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Your Majesty King Akaushi at the Burger Palace [On The Road/BurgeReview: Houston]

“I say we leave now, we go to Skyburger and we scarf them down” 

Elaine Benes (Seinfeld episode “The Chinese Restaurant”) 

A good friend of mine has been telling me about Akaushi beef or the American Kobe from a long time. So as soon as I mentioned that I was going to Houston he invited me to try the Akaushi burgers at The Burger Palace. 

Silverware

The Akaushi beef is extremely tender with excellent marbling. This Wagyu cattle is original from Japan where it’s a national treasure, but got its way to the US in 1994 thanks to a loophole in the law. HeartBrand Beef sized this opportunity and adapted a 747 to bring to the states a total of 11 Akaushi bulls and cows. Nowadays they are the largest and only purebred group of Wagyu beef outside Japan. 

InstAkaushi

Got to the place with Reuter and we ordered a Franziskaner weissbier. Studied the menu for a couple minutes to decide what burger to have even asked the waitress for the best seller. The final choice the Texas cheeseburger. The amazing Akaushi beef cooked medium rare with cheddar cheese, jalapeño, caramelised onions, apple wood smoked bacon, spicy mustard, and garlic aioli. As a side some fries with Parmesan and rosemary. 

The Burger

The Fries

The burger is excellent, there are no words to describe the flavour of the beef other than awesome. The beef was perfectly cooked, it was juicy, just amazing. Hope this doesn’t sound cliché but it was one of the best I burgers have tried. The fries were perfectly cooked, nice flavour, crunchy crust and inside quite soft, couldn’t be better.  

The amazing Akaushi burger

If you’re in Houston don’t waste more time in other places and go to try the Burger Palace. I’m a bit afraid, as the place was quite empty, I hope business improves giving me the chance to try again that amazing burger.

The Burger Palace

T: +1 713 877 9700

Burger Joint

Approx Damage: $20pp

Area: Galleria

Houston

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