Mónica

My Lunch : Opa!

“What you mean YOU DON’T EAT NO MEAT!… it’s okay… I make lamb…!”

Cyma’s Lamb Gyro with a greek yogurt, onions, tomatoes wrapped in pita bread. Great food, bad service.

“It comes from the GRRRREEEK word….” (…and this time it really does!)

The name comes from Greek γύρος ‘turn’, a calque of the Turkish name döner kebab ‘turning roast’; the dish was formerly called ντονέρ [don’er] in Greece as well.

The Greek pronunciation is [ˈʝirɔs], but in English, the pronunciation of ‘gyro(s)’ usually follows English spelling rules, giving [ˈdʒaɪɹəʊ(s)], or “JAHY-ROH”; though sometimes the Greek pronunciation is approximated (the intent of the spellings ‘yeeros,’ ‘yiros’ and ‘Year-Oh’), giving [ˈjiːɹəʊ(s)], or “YEE-ROH”.

My Lunch : Dim sum

One steamed and one fried dim sum, with a side of boiled spinach and bean sprouts. Not so impressed with the Dim sum I had today, it was lunch nonetheless. I have had better. In college there would be a dim sum kiosk and for 60p you could get 5-6 pieces for lunch. Better yet, dim sum in Ping Pong in London. Mmmm, how I miss thee!

“It comes from the GRRRREEEK word….”

The Cantonese phrase dim sum (點心) means literally “touch the heart” or “order to your heart’s content”. It may be derived from yat dim sum yi (一點心意), meaning “a little token”. (”A Touch of Heart” is perhaps the more poetic translation.) Though the English word “dim sum” refers to the Cantonese variety, the idea of a wide variety of small dishes for lunch also holds for other regions of China. — Wikipee

My Lunch : Salad de Roquette au Chèvre Chaud

Today’s lunch was Arugula salad with Basil Vinaigrette, Cherry ‘Oma’oes (2 pieces — I’m counting!!), with Pine Nuts with warm Goats Cheese at Cuillère (French for spoon). Très bon! Although, there wasn’t a spoon in sight, their cutlery was rather cool. I don’t normally eat out this often, but with Christmas shopping, it is getting rather frequent. I would have posted my regular lunch from the past 2 days, but posting about porridge or a ham sarnie is hardly interesting.

Anyone know how one can get a job working with the Michelin Guide?

I’m dreaming of a… Swedish Christmas

I just got off the phone with the Swedish Embassy. And I just really can’t get over how rude that particular embassy is. They act like they are the freaking MI5! I had no problems with the Swedish Embassy in London, but every time I need to communicate with the one here, I am aghast at how rude they are. Let me just disclose the fact that the people I deal with there are not the Swedes, but locals working for the Swedes. Don’t get me wrong; I love the Swedes, hence why I made a call in the first place.

Let me give you a background and motive behind the call. I rang them up to find out if there were any events that the Swedish community might have for Christmas or perhaps for Santa Lucia. Similarly to what the Spanish community have here, or even the Swedish community in London. However, this is the phone conversation I had which I absolutely did not expect.

Me: Oh hello, I was wondering if there were any events for Christmas?
Bitch on the line: What about?
Me: Errrm, well I was wondering if the Swedish community perhaps had an event to which I could go to? Something for Christmas or Santa Lucia?
Bitch: But, who are you?
Me: (WTF!?) What do you mean?
Bitch: Who is this?
Me: (Like you would know me?!!!) Umm, my name is Monica…? I’m not with any company, I am just inquiring really.
Bitch: Why is it you want to know?
WHAT THE HELL?? I all of a sudden felt like a criminal for wanting to celebrate some Swedish Christmas cheer!! I’m not asking for a fucking visa you know! Perhaps some mandelmusslor or a bottle of gurka!
Me: (Errr, well I would like to terrorize your people for the recipe of Janssons Frestelse, Bloody hell!!) Errr, because I realise that 13th of December is Santa Lucia and it’s Christmas and I thought perhaps the community might be having some events. (Obvously!)
Bitch: But why?!
Me: (WHAT DON’T YOU GET!!!??? – I decided to use the relative card…) Well I have my in-law who is Swedish coming down , and it would be nice to take them to a Swedish event here.
Bitch: Who is your in-law?!
Me: (Like you would know him!!! Good god woman!!!) Look, I just want to know if there is an event or not with your embassy.
Bitch: You must be invited by the ambassador to be part of his guest list.
Me: So it’s not open to the public then?
Bitch: No, only for the ambassador and his guests.

Would it have killed you, to just say that in the bloody first place???!!!

It reminded me what an awful experience it is getting ones visa and dealing with these bastards. Oh well… guess I will just have to stick to whatever Spanish events there may be. Joke is, I am not even related to any Spaniards. (Yet.)

Oh the joys of the third world.

My Lunch : Enchiladas

I am nicking this idea from Ellen. I’m not a fan or anything, however, I am always taking photos of my food and I don’t know why I never thought of doing this regularly! Especially because when I was working in London, I was known for planning my lunch just after having finished my breakfast. …and at times posting it here and here.

Anyway, today’s lunch was Chicken Enchilada from Mexicali. Quite an old restaurant here, but decent nonetheless. According to Wiki, the Enchiladais a traditional Mexican dish, typically made with a corn (maiz) tortilla dipped briefly in hot lard or oil to soften then dipped in the chosen enchilada sauce. The tortillas are filled and rolled up, placed in a casserole dish, then layered with sauce and possibly other additions such as cheese and chopped onions or olives.

“It comes from the GRRRREEEK word….”

Enchilada comes from the verb enchilar (= “to add chile pepper to”). Enchilada literally means “in chile”. The traditional enchilada sauce is just that—dried red chile peppers soaked and ground into a sauce with other seasonings. However, red enchilada sauce may also be tomato-based with red chiles, while green enchilada sauce is usually made of tomatillos and green chiles. Mole may also be used as enchilada sauce.

The Enchilada I had today was quite good, but I couldn’t help missed the ‘typical’ Mexican food you get in Chimichanga. Better yet, the ones in Mexico!

Chin chin! (That’s Spanish for Cheers — and in Italy too if I am not mistaken)