A trip to the seaside by tram. No tram.
Walk through National Garden to Kolonaki to Cocona.
Then retrace my steps to Plaka, then to Morning Bar. Google maps thirty minutes. It took about an hour.
Posts Tagged ‘street food’
Cocona beef
March 9, 2023National Garden Benaki Museum Kolonaki
February 21, 2023Walk through National Garden, passed Benaki Museum, to Kolonaki.
I asked of the deli overlooking Kolonaki Square , did they have fresh pasta 🍝 or know anywhere that had? No.
Cocoona street food not to the usual high standard.
On my way back, Benaki Museum closed, Turing cold and dark.
Cocona
November 8, 2022On leaving the National Garden, the route I usually take through Kolonaki to Taresso was being dug up. Rather than retace my steps, I took what I thought was a shortcut.
Hence I stumbled across Cocona.
A street food outlet.
Curiousity got the better of me. I did not need to eat but decided to try one if the dishes.
Not pies. But what? I would describe as dosa. But not dosa.
A small pastry ball put through a pasta machine. Repeatedly put through until a thin sheet.
Cooked minced beef sciooped into the doungh. Folded in half, cooked on a domed hot plate, heated from beneath by a hot flame
Sliced into small pieces, served with yoghurt in a paper tray.
Delicious.
Millstream Square Street Food and Artisan Market
September 4, 2021The last of Street Food and Artisan Market at Millstream Square in Sleaford.
Walking from the station I was surprised how busy the town centre, Millstream Square was packed.
Three markets, this was the last. July I was not aware of, the August market was worth a visit.
Good weather makes all the difference. Today a pleasant warm sunny afternoon.
Stalls I saw last time were not there, many new stalls.
Missing the two wood-fired pizza stalls, but there was a wood-fired pizza truck. At a guess each decide two was one two many and pulled out.
Neither was the honey from Nottingham. Last market, three stalls selling honey Today only one, or I only noticed one.
I regret I did not buy any honey. I never buy from a supermarket, never cheap low quality imported honey, only English honey direct from the producer. It would though have been too much to carry. A couple of days later, I gave a stranger apples from the garden, windfalls, to thank me she gave me a jar of English honey from Washingborough, a village outside of Lincoln.
I was pleased to see the dosa stall. Highly recommended.
Not pleased to see a burger van. This is junk food.
Three Caribbean stalls: food, cakes and fruit juices.
Samples of juice, tiny flimsy paper cups. I suggested put on a compost heap. I came away with a bottle of juice.
I also bought a Caribbean ginger cake.
Craft beer stall and gin stall. From the craft beer stall four cans of beer.
What was the point of the horsebox bar? It was possible to have obtained a drink from Tablez. Or a can of craft beer from the craft beer stall.
I am bombarded with messages on social media, reduce beer tax. Why?. Beer tax is not whey pubs are failing. They are failing because badly run, not pleasant places to be. Cans of beer off the Castle Rock stall a fiver a can, some cans were six quid. But worth it for quality craft beer, something do do find in a pub.
What was needed, a coffee truck serving specialty coffee.
Last market, Jackalope Joe with coffee beans. No stall with coffee. I learnt from the tea stall, July three coffee stalls selling coffee beans.
A chocolate stall, at least had the honesty to admit all they did was bag the bought in chocolate. If a chocolate stall, invite a bean-to-bar craft craft chocolate maker, for example Luisa’s.
Spice stall, different mixes for different dishes. I wanted Sri Lankan for Sri Lankan golden masala.
Interesting discussion with one stall, Great Taste Award scam. Producers pay for this meaningless award. It lacks merit and is no guarantee of quality.
I noticed the stalls I talked to, packaging easy to recycle or compost. I do not know if this is a requirement of the market, cf South bank street food market in London, if yes excellent, if not it should be.
Natty Roots organic juices, Castle Rock craft beer, had plain card boxes to carry away their bottles and cans, easy to recycle or compost.
Pleased that complaints about the music had been heeded. People wish to talk. But better still, spin off the music as a separate summer event.
For each market publish a list of stalls
- name – produce – twitter – web address
Why close at three? The market should be open until at least four.
I looked in the Thai restaurant. They were closed. Helpful young girl who I met in August shared with me her snack. It was excellent.
Cappuccino from Tablez was not good. A long time coming, they were not busy. I took one sip and left for the station. I missed the train. Well strictly speaking the train was cancelled. I walked back to Tablez. My awful cappuccino still sitting on the table. I took it back. Another long wait. Young server apologised for long wait and poor quality.
Looking at the menu Tablez take pride in the food they serve, quality, sourced locally, or so they claim. Why not therefore take the same pride in the coffee they serve, not insult with cheap crap catering supply coffee?
Ambiance pleasant, very pleasant to sit outside, quiet.
Luckily the next train not cancelled.
Street Food & Artisan Market
August 7, 2021Mixing street food with artisans an interesting concept. Adding in live music not a good idea.
Thunderstorms and rain forecast. Midday in Lincoln sunny.
A choice, an hour by bus or half an hour by train. I decided on train.
The first train journey since before Christmas. An old train, windows open, a minority not wearing masks.
As the train neared Sleaford, dark clouds.
I had no idea where I was heading, well ok a rough idea.
Sleaford Station on the edge of the town centre. I headed roughly North into the town.
I almost walked past where I was heading, Millstream Square, but luckily I noticed some stalls off to the left.
A quick look round, then I noticed more stalls across the millstream.
An interesting mix, a couple of wood-fired pizza trucks, an Indian dosa, a couple of cake stalls, India spices, fresh fruit juice, oak chopping boards, honey, loose leaf tea, coffee beans and live music. Between the stalls park benches to sit and eat.
Dosa from Delicacy Of South Asia was excellent. A chat before I decided. Then later I popped back to thank them.
Not enough park benches, at least that was my initial impression. But no, ignorant people sitting to chat with their friends forcing people to eat standing. Organisers should have had polite words.
The live music was a bloody pain. Too loud, female singer last session, could not sing, distorted and far too loud. I had gone for a walk out of the town centre, along a river and could hear the music.
Conversation with the stall holders nigh impossible.
A chat with Hanna of Jackalopy Joe, coffee stall, less about the beans, more about the packaging. It would have been good to have a more in depth conversation but impossible due to the music.
An interesting chat with an Indian stall selling spices, Kiran’s Spice Kits. Not individual spices but spice mixes. I asked of Sri Lankan golden masala. Yes, but not today. I described the dish. She knew what I was making and was envious.
A stall with a selection of tea. Sadly I did not chat to, I was getting a headache from the music.
I went for a walk in search of a coffee shop. Could I find, no. Not even a greasy spoon café masquerading as a coffee shop. I did later double check on google maps, possible yes, had I doubled back to the station and checked a few side streets, but I headed the opposite direction, not having seen any on my way in.
I walked past the Market Square, headed out of town, through a field, Lollycocks Field, and out along a river. I guess the River Slea.
I thought maybe the Market Square a suitable location for the market, but then thought no, passed on two sides by traffic.
The centre of Sleaford not pleasant, lined with the same shops found everywhere, continuous flow of traffic, not pleasant, lacking in character, though not as bad a Markey Raisen.
Were it not for the market, Sleaford not worth a visit.
On my return, as the market was packing up, a chat with a man hand-crafted oak chopping boards, Simply Crafted. Did I want one? No, too heavy and bulky to carry. A reduction. Ok then.
I realised too large. A refund and a smaller board. But yes, I did want a good chopping board.
Why did the market close at three? A pleasant afternoon and still very busy. In the summer remain open until four, spring and autumn three -thirty, winter close at three.
I contrast with the travelling junk food circus held in Lincoln.
The market good for local business. A bakery Emily’s Bake House and Thai restaurant Thai Sabai said they were very busy and closed later than they usually close on a Saturday afternoon. Staff at both, friendly and helpful, especially the Thai restaurant, a little girl went in and brought me out a menu.
I was directed to what I assumed to be an Italian restaurant for a coffee, it was a bistro, Tablez Cafe Bistro. I walked in and was stunned by their machine, a lever operated espresso machine. Very pleasant ambience inside, and very helpful friendly staff
.
I did not have time for a coffee, ran the risk of missing my train, but how could I not have a coffee from this machine?
Pleased to see the girl ground fresh for my coffee. It also looked as though the grinder provided a calibrated dose, but no time to inquire further.
Sadly my coffee not very good. Cheap crap catering supply coffee. They need to source quality coffee. I would suggest try Seven Districts. Their machine deserves better coffee.
It then chucked it down. I saw the black clouds, decided to head to the station, but then dallied.
I made it to the station in time and luckily a fellow passenger more alert than me. An announcement half way across the bridge, wrong platform.
Back in Lincoln, warm and sunny.
High Street, far fewer people than would expect at five o’clock on a Saturday afternoon. I later learnt that footfall was less than half the the previous Saturday. Who measures, how measured, I do not know.
A cappuccino at Coffee Aroma.
Additions to the market, a coffee truck, maybe craft beer, a hog roast. I suggest Cafe Classique invited for coffee, they could serve tea and coffee from the two stalls, mutually beneficial stalls direct to the truck, truck directs to the stalls. For hog roast invite Redhill Farm. Craft beer problematic, not problem obtaining a license, the problem do not want drunks hang around. Thee focus should remain on local and quality. No junk food. No burger and kabab vans.
I thought there was two stalls selling honey, there were three, one too many
Ditch the live music. It was a nuisance. Stallholders whish to be able to discuss what is on their stalls.
A list of stallholders an absolute must, name, product, twitter and web address.
Sticky Rice n friends revisited
December 2, 2020Three weeks ago Tuesday lunch from Sticky Rice n friends .
I had visited Sticky Rice n friends a couple of days before and had lunch, enjoyed, decided to try again. Athens was in lockdown, very little open.
Lunch from Sticky Rice n friends, Filipino street food.
Grumpy Greek not around. Young Filipino guy who I had not noticed before very helpful, together with Filipino chef discussed what to have. Deep fried chicken in batter with stir fried rice and vegetables.
I walked to a little square outside Thissio Metro Station. Very warm in the sun.
My lunch tasty and generous portion size. Stir frying the rice with the vegetables made a big difference to the taste.
I had made myself lunch, cheese and bread. I gave to a guy on a park bench, maybe homeless. He thanked me.
Backtracked to The Underdog for a takeaway coffee.
Later, I looked in Sticky Rice n friends, thanked for my excellent lunch.
Larnaca International Food Festival
October 28, 2019Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the second International Food Festival in Larnaca (Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11-13 October 2019).
Was it worth visiting? No, not at least not what I saw setting up, worst type of junk food would find on a bad street food market in England.
The only stall of quality, Nick’s Coffee Bike, and having relocated from his usual pitch outside Larnaca Marina, a dramatic drop in customers
I assumed he was not there and it was only because I chose to investigate the Larnnaca International Food Festival I found Nick.
As always an excellent cappuccino.
Travelling street food circus returns to Lincoln
September 20, 2019It is bad enough this travelling circus of junk food, poor quality street food, German sausages, chips, kebabs, poor quality cheese, passes through Lincoln once a year. Now it seems twice a year.
Added to which, as if Lincoln has enough problems with drunken yobs in the High Street on a Saturday afternoon, without adding a bar in the street in Corn Exchange.
Quality street food this is not, and yet another example of how Lincoln BIG wastes public money and why they should be wound up.
Quality Street food can be found in Lincoln for example Curry Jacks (outside Central Market, St Mark’s and once a month at Coffee Aroma), The Mint Box (outside Central Market), Barbell Burger Co (Lincoln Castle during Lincoln Steampunk Festival), Redhill Farm slow roast pork (Lincoln Castle during Lincoln Steampunk Festival).
It is long overdue these quality street food vendors got together as the founders of a Lincoln Street Food Festival, locally organised, local traders, invite only, if not quality, do not get a repeat invite. Would need a craft beer stall, a quality coffee stall, possibly cheese stall, if also served cheese in bread, pasta, paella, wood-fired clay oven pizza.
Godalming Food Festival 2019
July 7, 2019The first food festival I went to a few years ago was excellent. Has slowly gone downhill. Each one worse than the previous. Today was dire.
Why a Sunday? Public transport is non existent on a Sunday. So much for reduce reliance on the car and that we are facing a Climate Emergency.
In the past one train an hour to Guildford, one train an hour from Guildford to Godalming, with nearly an hour wait at Guildford.
Revised timetable, two trains an hour to Guildford, two trains an hours to Godalming, which is an improvement.
But try catching a bus.
Whilst waiting fora train, cappuccino off FCB kiosk.
Sunday, no butcher open, no greengrocer open.
Waitrose had a cookery demonstration. Weirdest cookery demonstration I have ever seen, the cooks were silent. The guy who was doing the talking was trying to sell stuff from Waitrose, completely ignored the cooking.
The Waitrosee demo meant I missed the hog roast.
Hog roast, dosa off Ollo Foods, Dylan’s ice cream, paella, the only stalls worth knowing about.
In the past there has been a range of beer and wine, and far wider range of food.
A stall selling fake-meat burgers. Why? Why not provide quality vegetarian food? I was surprised to see a long queue. I think they were too. Only the queue was for the neighbouring Thai stall.
A stall with adulterated cheese shrink-wrapped in plastic.
Godalming Deli has improved, or at least expanded, now has zero waste. But crap coffee from Redber.
Cafe Mila busy. Crap undrinkable coffee from Cupsmith. I saw a a cappuccino, full of froth and foam, chocolate dumped on top, yuk. In the street a sign barista coffee, meaningless.
Why is no one in Godalming capable of serving decent coffee?
Cafe Mila is usually empty during the Food Festival. That it was busy a reflection of how bad the Food Festival.
A stall with what was claimed to be craft artisan chocolate only it was not. Wrapped in plastic, bulked out with emulsifiers. Quality chocolate it was not. The guy manning the stall did not even know what was bean-to-bar chocolate.
Chocolate
– cocoa mass, sugar, vanilla
– cocoa mass, cocoa butter sugar, vanilla
Purists do not add vanilla.
Why do council markets have abysmally low environmental standards? Why not plastic free?
Worst stall by far, stall with turkey sausages sitting on the stall on a hot afternoon, sausages in polystyrene boxes. Sausages cooked, popped back in the box for people to sample. Cooked sausages crawling with flies.
Hot weather and food do not mix. Why environmental health not patrolling these markets?
Meat, cheese, should be on refrigerated stalls.
With no greengrocer, no butcher, not even a fruit and vegetable stall, it was to Waitrose.
I never made it. I saw a coffee shop called Roost. I had seen a sign for it earlier but no indication where it was.
I looked in. It goes further back than external appearance would indicate, with a garden out the back. Very pleasant ambience.
I sat in the garden and had a chat with the owner.
Coffee from Fire Chimney Coffee. The only place in Godalming that sources other than cheap crap coffee. I did not try a coffee, too late. Maybe another time.
Waitrose now closed. Made do with Cook.
On the way to the station, am ice cram parlour, crap coffee, but interestingly had bean-to-bar chocolate. And no emulsifiers.
I tried a pistachio ice cream. He said it was made differently. Taste was much different. Not sure if I liked or not.
The Vegan Hot Dog Man
June 26, 2019I have never understood why anyone who wishes to eat vegan or vegetarian food wishes to eat fake meat.
Winchester street food markets gets smaller each time I visit Winchester, what is on offer worse.
The Sicilian guys guys with their excellent pasta have gone, the guy doing pizzas from a horse box has gone.
The only stalls worth knowing about, cheese stall which is exceptional, French stall which is only once a month, and the bread stall which is ok.
I was too late to eat at The Square.
Signs of desperation a vegan hot dog off The Vegan Hot Dog Man. I would not wish to eat a real hot dog and there I was ordering a fake hot dog. Excellent Lincoln sausages yes, hot dogs no.
To say the vegan hot dog was disgusting would be an understatement. It was unbelievably disgusting. I hate to think what processed crap went into the vegan hot dog.
I asked the guy why serve vegan hot dogs?
That’s what people expect on a market.
Not true, a good street food market has excellent food.
Why not have quality vegetarian food, not fake meat? If this was meant to showcase vegan food then an abysmal failure.
But is is not only this vegan hot dog stall that has completely lost the plot, at Lincoln Vegan Festival disgusting looking hot dogs served with equally disgusting looking French-fries that would expects to find on a best avoided roadside kebab stall. It goes without saying I did not try.
Years ago in Covent Garden I used to enjoy bean burgers made from different beans not processed crap, not trying to emulate crap from McDonald’s.
Vegan food can be a delicious mix of fruit, nuts, grains, cereals and vegetables, added oils, ideally olive oil not highly processed so-called vegetable oils.
The push for fake-meat is coming from Big Business.
Always support local.
On Guildford farmers market, delicious dosa off the the India stall Ollo Foods.
Keithpp's Blog 