Tasty Sweetheart

I love spreading the word about 'new' places that I discover. I had walked past the Sweetheart Bakery on Renshaw Street (near Lime Street Station) in Liverpool many times before I went in. I finally went in with my friend Dec, when we were in need of a pre-lunch snack before our Lebanese lunch this Easter. It was that day that I discovered the fabulous combination of char siu (cantonese style barbecued pork) and slightly sweet bread buns.

Currently, the Sweetheart Bakery is the only Chinese bakery in Liverpool, having opened in 2011. The bakery makes sweet and savoury combos like rolls filled with pineapple and char siu, as well as plain sweet buns, like the 'extra creamy' buns and pineapple and butter buns. If you fancy something more savoury, the pork floss and spring onion rolls are grand too, but still a bit sweet. Other popular buns are hotdog and cheese and ham and spring onion. Don't worry if you don't like pork - there are lots of options. All of the buns are under £2.00 and you can see the chef making the dough in the back! If you speak Cantonese, you can have a wee chat directly, if not the helpful assistant will translate for you.

If you're in Liverpool city centre and you feel like something quick, sandwich-like (but not a sandwich) and you only have a handful of change,the Sweetheart Bakery is worth paying a visit. Or you can just go anytime,  pick up a brightly coloured 'Hello Kitty' tray and tongs and get started.

!Viva Mexico!

Two days ago was Mexican Independence day! Three belated cheers for Mexico! I’m not going to get into the politics that surrounds ex-colonial nations finally becoming recognised states – that’s for another day.

Here’s my take on Viva Mexico, “Edinburgh’s Original and most authentic Mexican Restaurant”.

Last week, Noelle, my amiga americana, and I were looking for lunch in the Royal Mile area of Edinburgh. We were so hungry, we could have eaten a scabby horse (a Liverpudlian phrase). We walked up the street and I said “Viva Mexico”. Noelle smiled. We went in.

I picked from a set menu lunch plan – the kind that runs out around 4pm, not 2.30.  For only £8.50, you get  cheese nachos or sonoras (refried beans with classic Mexican trimmings) and sopa de tortilla, plus whatever you actually order. I like good quality food, but I also like bargains.

We had fish tacos and pork in salsa verde enchiladas.  Both served hot – unfortunately, this is not a given in many eateries. The pork was soft and there was just enough salsa verde surrounding the pork, which generously filled the enchilada. The soup was spicy and deceptively filling, although it came in a small bowl. If you’re not too keen on spice, if you let the staff know I’m sure they’d accommodate you. They seemed nice like that. I’d never had sopa de tortilla before, but Noelle, having lived in Mexico had assured me it was good stuff.

 My only disappointments were that there was no Hibiscus flower water available, but the replacement horchata (made from rice milk, sugar and spices) was really creamy. It was so delicious; Noelle smiled even more and ordered two. The other slight disappointment was the music, as many of the ‘Latino tunes’ were exactly the same as the ones we had danced to the night before. Not everyone likes to listen to Pitbull when they’re eating.

So, if you’re looking for some homemade style, classy comfort food, which doesn’t skimp on the sour cream, Mexican authenticity or service, go to Viva Mexico on Cockburn Street in bonnie Edinburgh. You won’t regret it.

Lemon slice intro

When I was a child, there were many jobs I wanted to have, including a vet, a lawyer, a millionaire and a food critic. Also, when I was a child, the internet in our house was dial-up and you were paying for it by the minute. Faffing around on the internet was limited by my parents (as it should be with children). However, now, as every blogger and social network user knows, the internet is HUGE and anyone and their grandma can put anything on here!

As a 21 year old, there are still many career paths I may end up perusing, but whatever happens being a foodie is not something that will be shelved. I might never get paid for it, but that is not the point, as my fellow foodie friends know. Food is a necessity. A joy. A gift. However, it can be a poison, a problem and quite literally the death of you.

Life hits you with a plethora of reality checks, when you don’t want them but I thank God for the twisted kick they can often give you. When life gives you lemons, you can make lemonade, lemon drizzle cake, Roobios tea, sticky lemon chicken or lighten your hair with lemon juice. The choice is yours.

I’m actually allergic to citrus fruits, but I’m quite happy to make a virtually lemon sprinkled food for thought, lunch/dinner suggestions and comments on food and maybe even inedible things...

It’s not always the time to eat, but it’s always the time to write.