Champneys Wellbeing Food Range

Champneys (a spa chain) released a range of food products a couple of months ago, only available at Sainsburys. I picked up:


Thai style King Prawn Curry with Quinoa (served with flame-grilled aubergine, water chestnuts and pak choi) at left, and Wholewheat Penne Pasta with Mediterranean Style Roast Vegetables (served with mozzarella pearls and a herb creme fraiche sauce) at right

The pasta dish, post-microwave heating

I didn't quite like this dish, it was rather bland and the wholewheat pasta thing doesn't do it for me.

The quinoa dish, post-microwave heating

This was the exact opposite of the pasta dish. Delicious! Although, as always, British curries are rather mild and could ALWAYS do with more kick!

What is quinoa, you ask? It is a grain which is native to South America, and is a more 'complete' grain compared with wheat. Shame the Europeans didn't export it, choosing maize instead (apparently Malaysians have only heard of it very recently, thanks to some recent Malaysian magazine article).

Here it is a little bit more close up:


How does it (the quinoa) taste? Not bad. I could live with having quinoa as a substitute for rice, to be perfectly honest.

Saffron @ One Bangsar Review

Located along One Bangsar, Saffron specializes in Mediterranean dishes.


Saffron @ One Bangsar


The olive oil (Italian influence) and some lemony-tasting (if I recall) topping to be eaten together with the olive oil dipped bread (I presume).

Some impressive service came at this stage. The bottle of olive oil was almost empty, and when I raised my hand to call for the waitress' attention, she knew what it was for (she must have noticed me inspecting the bottle), and promptly took the empty bottle away for a new one.

Blue Curacao

(forgot to switch the macro mode on, oops.)

The main dishes soon appeared:

Oxtail stew. Pieces of stewed oxtail, served with a portion of risotto and some bread with olive paste.



The few pieces of rather miserable oxtail (both size wise and texture wise, it was not tender at all but instead a bit tough), in a watery stew (Eh? the oxtail stew I had in Spain was nice and thick) with a tinge of curry, which I did not appreciate at all.



The risotto. It was decent. Overall dish rating: 5/10.

The other dish for the night, a large plate of grilled lamb chop tapas (large tapas? what the heck, that should be either 1/2 racion, or a racion).


The first lamb that the companion cut into was disappointingly overcooked. The other two were so-so. Nothing to shout about. 5/10.

Canon 500D enquiry comparison

Enquiring about the Canon 500D in the UK:
I'm afraid we do not quite have stock at the moment, because it has been discontinued. But perhaps we can interest you in a tube extender, or some other close up lens?

Enquiring about the Canon 500D in Singapore:
This lens... we don't have it, Canon discontinued it. But we sell Hoya close up filters (lens), but its single element, not double.

Enquiring about the Canon 500D in Malaysia:
Huh? 500D? Do you mean 400D? Don't have that camera... *Checks database/ stock/ internet* Close up lens? What is that? Don't have.

Maoz: Healthy "Fast Food"

The Jewish friend brought me to this place one fine day as he had been promising me some Israeli food!

Located in Soho with a gay bar just a couple of doors to the side, the bright signage invites people inside


Healthy, delicious smile-inducing "fast food" for hungry people, as the models suggest...


The description on the wall reads: "Falafel is made from a paste of chickpeas, mixed with fresh garlic, parsley, coriander, and cumin, fried in vegetable oil."


Well there's more than that, but its basically talking about chickpeas.

I picked the Royal Maoz Sandwich, which comes with hummus and aubergine

Pita with falafel, hummus and aubergine

Customers are allowed free flow of salads and dressings/dips/toppings.


The salad bar


The deal (and canned drink), very healthy and filling with the free flow of salads which are irresistable! The chunky chips will nullify most of the health benefits though!


Maoz
4 Brewer Street
London W1

Maoz
43 Old Compton street
W1V 5PN
London

Regarding the iPhone

I don't understand it. What's the big fuss about the iPhone anyway? Frankly, who cares about the iPhone when you've got the Prada phone?