Tortilla de Patatas – A Thrifty Taste of Spain

Posted by Raissa Nebie on August 11, 2009 | 4 Comments

tortillaespanola61

Last year, I spent a great portion of my summer shuttling between Paris and San Sebastian. I was shooting mini video series on the restaurant scene of the Basque Country. It was a great experience that allowed me to dine at amazing restaurants and interview incredible chefs. If you’re foodie, then you know that San Sebastian’s culture is deeply rooted in gastronomy. From mom and pop’s shops to 3-star Michelin restaurants, the food is certain to blow your mind no matter where you eat. Read more

Filed under: Brunch, Cooking, Travel

A Thifty Gourmet Roadtrip: LA’s Korean Wonder Food

Posted by Erin Patinkin on May 1, 2009 | No Comments

They’ve been blogged, written, and twittered about all over the place, and, before I took a recent trip to LA, the six food-loving friends that I emailed for eating advice all suggested that I try them. So, on a very cool evening after a very hot day, I headed to the Alibi Room in Culver City, CA to check out the hoopla. Before I divulge the antecedent, it should be noted that the Alibi Room is a pretty great bar. After mediocre experiences at the posh Sky Bar, hipster Brite Spot, and the overrun-with-men-and-women-who-had-gone-under-the-knife-one-too-many-times The Otheroom, I was happy to go to a place that was well-designed, nicely-sized, and filled with normal folks looking for a spot to enjoy a drink with friends. Read more

Filed under: Eating Out, Korean, Travel

Fat Matt’s Rib Shack in Atlanta

Posted by Thrifty Gourmet on April 16, 2009 | 1 Comment

fat matts menu

If you find yourself in Atlanta, Georgia with a craving to try some great southern BBQ, Fat Matt’s Rib Shack is not to be missed. The restaurant serves tender ribs dripping with barbeque sauce that can be pulled straight off the bone and sandwiched between slices of white bread or licked off your fingers alone.

A full slab brings twelve thick ribs, more than enough for two hungry people, but you also have the option to order half a slab. Other items on the menu that regulars rave about are the chicken and chopped pork. Sides include potato salad (creamy, crunchy, just tart enough), “rum” baked beans, and the southern specialty, Brunswick Stew. Read more

Filed under: Eating Out, Travel

Summer Food Festivals for a European Vacation

Posted by Thrifty Gourmet on April 14, 2009 | 1 Comment

Foodies planning a vacation in Great Britain this summer should check out the Taste Festivals in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Hundreds of exhibitors appear at these outdoor events (fingers crossed the British weather’s feeling kind) and you can rub shoulders with Michelin-starred chefs, winemakers, organic farmers, micro-brewers, chocolatiers and cookware vendors, among others. Read more

Filed under: Eating Out, Travel

Champor-Champor – A Recession-Proof Deal in London

Posted by Thrifty Gourmet on January 14, 2009 | No Comments

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Has London become affordable again? Absolutely YES, when it comes to dining! The days when one British pound equaled $2.00 are gone. Well… For now at least. Add to that a struggling economy and restaurants that are lowering their prices to attract and sometimes just retain customers. What do you get? Delicious deals like the £15.00 Early Bird Dinner Special at Champor-Champor in London.

Champor –Champor is a Malay expression meaning “mix and match.” As you step through the door of the restaurant, you are transported into a world of Asian wonders where oriental artifacts tango with chef Adu Amran’s creative Malay-Asian cuisine. The atmosphere is “cozy, yet chic, with a hint of a bohemian flavor.” Champor-Champor is conveniently located near London’s Borough Market.

The food, which is Malay-inspired, incorporates a wide variety of southeast elements, reflecting the inherent concept of the restaurant. The menu is seasonal and usually includes exotic meats such as ostrich, soft-shell crab, crocodile and water buffalo.  The presentation of the dishes, along with the décor of the room is nothing less than superb.  The £15 Early Bird special includes a choice of a starter and a main course.

champor-dishes2

What we recommend:
Stir-fried frog legs with ginger, galangal and XO sauce (picture above)
Fish balls, silk tofu and okra soto; sweet and spicy soy (picture below)
Hibiscus tea and brown sugar granita
Roast fillet of ostrich; peanut & Szechuan peppercorn sauce; compressed rice

champor-dishes1

Make sure to try to the Singapore Sling, renowned for being one of the best in town. You also have a choice of unconventional wines from India, China, Uruguay and Georgia, all hand-selected to perfectly pair with the food.

Champor Champor
62-64 Weston Street
London SE1 3QJ
Telephone:  +44 20-7403 4600

Filed under: Eating Out, Travel
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