All I want for Christmas is….
Posted: 28 July '10 by Kelly
Wagamama - coming to Belfast!
.. for Wagamama to come to town.. And guess what?! It is!! The much-loved Japanese restaurant will be opening in Belfast’s Victoria Square in time for Christmas.
Niall and I are so excited by the news! If you’ve been to a Wagamama resturant then you’ll know why – If not, then you are in for a treat!
I lived in Nottingham for a while and I was lucky enough to have a Wagamama at the bottom of my street – I originally ventured in when I couldn’t face another evening of cooking for one person, but after that I subconsciously found more and more reasons to eat there. I loved everything about the experience: the smells and sounds of the open kitchen when you arrive; being seated at the ‘communal dining’ long benches that replace the traditional table and chairs, creating an authentic Asian dining experience; and the arrival of the food, with steaming bowls of delicious broth and noodles being a specialty.
Wagamama is all about Positive Eating and Positive Living, a philosophy that they explain as “combining fresh and nutritious food in an elegant yet simple setting with helpful, friendly service and value for money”. The food is certainly fresh and you leave the restaurant feeling very virtuous (and satisfied) which is perfect if, like most of us, you love eating out but are worried about putting on weight.
Our favourite meals at Wagamama in Nottingham (and this is hard to pin down as there were many!!) were -
- ebi katsu – deep-fried prawns in panko breadcrumbs, served with a spicy chilli and garlic sauce garnished with lime
- edamame – steamed green soya beans with either salt or chilli and garlic salt
- miso soup and japanese style pickles
- seafood ramen – noodles in a vegetable soup topped with grilled smooth dory, prawns, squid and seasonal greens.
- teriyaki soba-grilled teriyaki beef on a bed of teppan fried soba noodles with curry oil, mangetout, chillies, bok choi and sesame seeds
There was also an amazingly gooey chocolate cake with wasabi.. I could go on and on and on as the menu really is delicious!! And the best thing is that everyone will find something they like – there are lots of chicken and rice dishes for those who aren’t as adventurous or who have a plainer palate. Knives and forks are available but it’s alot of fun trying to master the chopsticks.
Roll on christmas is all I can say!
50 new jobs for Belfast
Wagamama’s opening in the run-up to Christmas means that there will be new jobs in the service industry, including waiters and waitresses, administrative staff, line chefs, managers and supervisors. They’re currently recruiting for a Head Chef and Senior Management positions – CV’s should be submitted with a covering letter to chris@wagamama.ie.
Other information
“Wagamama” means “naughty/wilful child” although it is probably more accurately translated as “selfish”.
You can visit the Wagamama website at www.wagamama.com.
Categories: News
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Happy New Year!
Posted: 07 January '10 by Kelly
OK so we are seven days late… But we are still getting over the festivities of the Christmas season. We hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and New year and are looking forward to the year ahead.
If you’re anything like us and don’t ever want to see another piece of chocolate, a mince pie or any left-over turkey again then watch this space for some quick, tasty and healthy recipes for 2010.
Twenty Ten will hopefully be an exciting new year for Chilli and Chocolate, with plenty of new ideas, recipes and events coming up.
For our new members, you will be pleased to know that you can pick your own password as soon as you register instead of having to go back and change it again. Another little gremlin in the site sorted, thanks Niall.
Categories: Site Messages
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Anyone for eggnog?
Posted: 27 December '09 by Niall
A glass of eggnog
Eggnog is an essential part of the Christmas and New Years’ celebrations in the United States and Canada but doesn’t really feature in our preparations for Christmas. After working right up to Christmas Eve and in need of some seasons’ cheer I thought that is was time to change all that.
Be warned though – eggnog (or at least this recipe for it) is deceptively potent! It’s creamy and sweet like Baileys Irish Cream, with almost no hint of alcohol, making the eggnog very easy to drink – and before you know it you’ll be very merry indeed.
The recipe does require raw eggs, which can be off-putting to a few people – but if it doesn’t bother you or you can overcome your squeamishness you’ll find out just how good eggnog is. Let me assure you that there is absolutely no hint of egg, nor any strange or unpleasant consistency. Because of the raw egg, however, it should be served within 24 hours of making it.
You can see more photos hereImage 1Image 2Image 3Image 4
Ingredients
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup of caster sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 2 cups of milk
- 2 cups of whipping cream
- 3/4 cup of brandy
- 1/3 cup of dark rum
- A little more grated nutmeg for serving
Method
- Make sure the ingredients are chilled before you begin.
- Beat the eggs until they are frothy, then add the sugar, the vanilla, and the nutmeg.
- Slowly stir in the brandy, the rum, the cream and the milk.
- Pour the mixture into a suitable container and place in the fridge until chilled.
- Remember to stir the eggnog just before you serve, and grate a little nutmeg on top to complete the recipe.
Enjoy
Categories: Drinks and Beverages > Featured Post > Recipes
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Ooh, saucy..
Posted: 24 December '09 by Niall
Cranberry sauce with port and orange
Turkey, stuffing, brussel sprouts, roasted potatoes and carrots.. Have you noticed what’s missing?
Cranberry sauce is one of the most important ingredients in the traditional Christmas dinner, a deliciously piquant sweet and sour accompaniment which cuts through all of the meaty flavours of the meal.
After making chutneys and jams during the year, I thought “Why rely on the usual store-bought sauce this Christmas?” To my mind, making your own sauce is a nice addition to your yule-tide meal – you’ve worked hard enough producing the rest, why let yourself down at the last by buying an over-sweet, preservative-filled cranberry sauce?
This recipe is very straight-forward and gives you a perfectly sweet, orange-infused cranberry sauce that would grace any table. And the aroma of all that port and orange fills the house with a real Christmas-y atmosphere. What more could you ask for!
You can see more photos hereImage 1Image 2Image 3Image 4Image 5Image 6Image 7
Ingredients
- 1 orange
- 175g/6oz caster sugar
- 5 tbsp port
- 359g/12oz cranberries, fresh or frozen
- 1, skinned, cored, and finely chopped
NB. You’ll also need an empty, washed jam-jar to store the sauce.
Method
- Heat the oven to 100 and place the washed jam-jar inside.
- Finely grate the zest from the orange
- Squeeze the juice from the zested orange into a separate bowl.
- Place the sugar, orange juice, and 4 tablespoons of port into a deep saucepan, and allow the sugar to dissolve into the liquid over a low heat, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the cranberries, chopped apple and the orange zest.
- Raise the heat and cook the ingredients in the uncovered saucepan until the fruit is soft and is breaking down, and the juices are slightly thickened.
- Stir in the remaining 1 tbsp port.
- Remove the warmed jam-jar from the oven, making sure to protect your hands, and spoon the cranberry sauce into the jar. Place the cap on the jar.
- Set the jar aside on a heat-protected surface to cool.
Enjoy.
Categories: Featured Post > Jams and Preserves > Recipes
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Merry Christmas
Posted: 24 December '09 by Niall
Merry Christmas from Chilli and Chocolate!
We’ve had a great year, have done some really interesting and enjoyable things, and have much more planned for 2010 – we hope you’ll be there to see it all.
Kelly and I would just like to thank everyone who has been involved: all the members, our readers (and why haven’t you registered!?), the producers that we’ve been talking to, and friends of the site. We’re having a blast writing this stuff, but it wouldn’t be the same without you guys.
Hope you have a happy, safe Christmas,
Niall and Kelly
www.chilliandchocolate.com – A Belfast Food Blog
Categories: Site Messages
