The Olive Tree

I know I’ve kind of abandoned this blog ever since I got back to the UK, being swamped with school work, housework (yes, I actually do household chores here in the UK) and what nots. Well, I did try squeezing out a thing or two but Southampton isn’t exactly what one would consider a culinary heaven and coming across a place worth blogging about didn’t seem likely. Think random Chinese eateries lining a street housed in ugly looking shop-houses and pubs that serve frozen food you get for £1-2 at farmfoods – definitely not something to be raving about.

However, while I just left it as that, I had completely forgotten about the The Olive Tree, a nice little restaurant set at the edge of the city. I had been there a couple of times before and they have never failed to disappoint in terms of food and service but being pretty inaccessible from the University, it was out of sight and thus, out of mind. That was until the boyfriend came over to visit and we decided to go out for a nice dinner. It had been awhile since we last went on a date (time spent at each other’s house studying and cooking and playing the PS3 doesn’t count) so I looked up a couple of pretty restaurants with a nice ambience and came across The Olive Tree again, amongst other swanky restaurants along the same street. The cheapo in me found a voucher that gave me 20% off the total bill at The Olive Tree on vouchercloud.com and that definitely helped in deciding on the restaurant venue (hello there student budget)!

The Olive Tree has a simple air about it, yet it holds its class and charm in a modern, minimalistic manner. Daily specials are hand-written on a large chalkboard that covers one of the walls, while huge mirrors overhang the wooden tables on the far side. Lighted candles gave the place a warm and comforting glow and it felt a little bit like Christmas in there (although it was only October then). Service was impeccable – the waiters and waitresses were very responsive and jovial, making the meal such a joy!

Okay, so enough babbling about inconsequential details. Now, on to the important stuff – the food. We had duck confit with pancetta and black pudding drizzled with raspberry vinaigrette served on a leafy salad for starters!

to start with:)

It was my first time trying black pudding, having put it off a couple of times before due to my knowledge of what it contains.

Not to gross anyone out or anything, but perhaps you may want to know that black pudding is actually made from pork blood and oatmeal here in the UK. It is a type of sausage made by cooking blood with a filler (oatmeal, in the British version) until it is thick enough to congeal when cooled. The ingredients tend to vary in different countries but it essentially involves some kind of blood and grain to make a sausage and is considered a delicacy in the North Western regions of the UK. Yes yes, scrounge up your faces and wonder how it is possible that people can actually make and eat those things, because I did the same for the past two years. However, I was feeling exceptionally adventurous that night and agreed to give black pudding a go. To my surprise, it didn’t taste too odd at all, although the texture was a lot mushier than a usual sausage. I would liken it to taste of pork liver mixed with a pork sausage but that’s not quite it either. It’s hard to describe a taste that isn’t exactly offending yet nothing like anything I’ve ever eaten. I guess you’ve got to try it for yourself to really know what its like. Well, back to the dish on a whole, everything went together perfectly. The duck confit was tender and tasty, the pancetta offered a crisp saltiness to the dish while the tart raspberry vinaigrette and the crisp leaves of lettuce balanced out the saltiness of the dish! It was a good, and pretty interesting, start to dinner.

brilliant char-grilled tuna!

I had a char-grilled tuna steak served on garlic mash potatoes in tomato olive and caper sauce, while the boyfriend went for the rump of lamb served on potato dauphinois for mains. The Olive Tree has an outstanding record (in my mind) for their fish dishes, which are freshly brought daily from sea. The fish dishes that I have had here were always fresh and perfectly seasoned and prepared. The tuna steak was no different. Grilled to perfection with a slightly charred flavour, the tuna was absolutely delightful. The tomato olive and caper sauce complimented it perfectly. A nice blend of salty and sour, it gave each mouthful of tuna a bright burst of flavour, making this dish the star of the night. I almost finished the whole thing up without letting the boyfriend have a taste of it! Whoops!

oh all that meat glorious meat!

The boyfriend’s rump of lamb was cooked perfectly to a medium-rare. It was such a delight cutting into the pieces of meat and being greeted by a pretty pink centre surrounded by well-charred sides. While some parts of the meat were a little tough, most of it was so very tender. Imagine a cut of the meat with a little of the fat on it so tender it almost slides down your throat. Amazing! Well, the only downside to it is probably the fact that the rump of lamb was a little too fatty for our liking so the boyfriend practically cut out a quarter of his serving as they were pretty much all fat. The potato dauphinois was a brilliant tasty side to the dish, rich and creamt and so very satisfying!

just looking at it now makes me want to have it all over again

We were stuffed by the time we finished out main courses but I guess we all have a separate stomach for dessert so we went ahead with a cherry almond cheesecake to share. I plunged my fork into it as soon as it arrived and started having doubts about it. It was a little too soft compared to what I was used to, almost as if it had been left out in the heat and had started melting. However, upon putting it into my mouth, all that doubt was forgotten. It was smooth and creamy (and well-chilled I should add) with nice bites of fresh cherries and crunchy almonds in it to keep those taste buds happy. It sure was nothing like the cheesecakes I’m used to but nonetheless absolutely delicious and gave the night a nice sweet ending!

To everybody out there, here’s a peek of what you can get in Southampton (I know I’m not exactly leaving the best of impressions but…hey, just read the post, it’s got its gems!). To my pals in this town, if you’re feeling depressed over the lack of places to eat and are feeling like a posh kid, go on and give it a go!

29 Oxford Street, Southampton

SO14 3DJ, 023 8034 3333

The Pretend Bakers: All Butter Cranberry Scones

I guess everyone knows by now that I had my tooth taken out and was give a week off work, had a swollen face and was in a lot of pain. Since I was stuck at home, I took to my favourite past time – making a mess in the kitchen. I think by the end of my 3rd day on MC, mum was already wishing I was out of the house sooner.

The first day after the surgery, I decided to take things easy. With minimal kneading, minimal mixing and minimal washing, I made a batch of cranberry scones. It turned out a nice shade of golden brown, with a rich buttery taste and slightly crumbly texture that slowly melted away in one’s mouth. The cranberry added a nice burst of fruitiness to it. Yes, I’m praising my own baking because I liked it pretty damn much!

The boyfriend came over and together with my parents, we sat down with a cup of tea, eating scones with creamed cheese and jam (give me a tub of clotted cream and i’ll give you a million hugs and kisses). A seemingly perfect afternoon, except that my mouth could hardly open and chewing on one side of my mouth was exhausting, so I had mugs and mugs of tea while the family devoured the rest of the batch.

When I said that I was taking it easy, I meant it through and through. Here’s the recipe for the batch of scones (adapted from BBC goodfood) I made. All it took was 30-45 minutes (can’t remember exactly) and those golden babies will be sitting in front of you, warm and ready to be eaten!

Ingredients:

• 350g self-raising flour , plus more for dusting
• ¼ tsp salt
  
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 85g butter , cut into cubes
• 2 tbsp caster sugar, 1 tbsp icing sugar
• 175ml milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract/vanilla paste
• squeeze lemon juice (about a quarter lemon)
• a handful of cranberries
• beaten egg to glaze

Method

1. Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Pour the flour into a large bowl with the salt and baking powder and mix. Add the butter, then rub in with your fingers until the mix looks like fine crumbs and then stir in the sugar and cranberries.
2. Put the milk into a jug and heat in the microwave for about 30 secs until warm, but not hot. Add the vanilla and lemon juice, then set aside for a moment. The lemon juice adds acidity to the mixture and gives the scone a lighter texture.
3. Put a baking sheet in the oven.
4. Make a well in the dry mix, then add the liquid and combine it quickly with a cutlery knife – it will seem pretty wet at first. Scatter some flour onto the work surface and tip the dough out. Dredge the dough and your hands with a little more flour, then fold the dough over 2-3 times until it’s a little smoother. Pat into a round about 4cm deep.
5. Take a 5cm cutter (smooth-edged cutters tend to cut more cleanly, giving a better rise) and dip it into some flour. Plunge into the dough, then repeat until you have four scones. By this point you’ll probably need to press what’s left of the dough back into a round to cut out another four.
6. Brush the tops with beaten egg, then carefully place onto the hot baking tray.
7. Bake for 10 mins until risen and golden on the top. Eat just warm or cold on the day of baking, generously topped with jam and clotted cream. If freezing, freeze once cool. Defrost, then put in a low oven (about 160C/fan140C/gas 3) for a few mins to refresh.

Group Therapy Coffee

Nothing matters more (to me) in a cafe then the ambience it sets and the vibe that reverberates through it. A cafe with character, whatever it may be, is almost enough to form a good impression in my mind. Never mind the food, take me out of my usual grind for that hour, play some music to invigorate my soul or sooth my mind, and you would have won my affection. Oh but wait, the coffee must be decent at least. Pet peeve 101.

I was wondering around Duxton late this afternoon, looking for a place to settle for the evening when I came across Group Therapy Coffee. The little doorway that was opened (amongst the many shops around it that were shut in the day), glowing a slight amber, led to a flight of stairs which eventually led to the cafe upstairs. It felt a little like finding a secret cosy enclave as I walked up the stairs and into the quirky place above.

It had a nice, laid back vibe, taking me out of my mid-week misery almost immediately. Mis-matched furnitures, decorative pieces and crockery dotted the spacious cafe. A twinge of vintage, a touch of rustic and a dose of randomness worked to the cafe’s aesthetic advantage. It’s a place that makes you feel like anything goes – a pretty rare occurrence in this day and age (and country).

Having been craving for a some egg benedict for quite some time now, I eagerly ordered a serving of poached eggs that came with smoked salmon, toast, gruyere cheese and hollandaise sauce ($15). Dessert is always a must, hence the lemon meringue tart ($6.50) and a cup of roasted almond latte ($6.50).

Poached eggs with smoked salmon, gruyere and hollandaise

The food was quite pricey for the potion given, its taste was decent but nothing spectacular. The eggs were nicely poached but the thick slice of toast given was a little too hard and dry. Fortunately, the runny yolk saved it from being too bad. I couldn’t taste the gruyere cheese and actually forgot that it was part of the dish until I began writing this a few minutes ago. I’m now thinking they might have forgotten to put the cheese in but oh well.

Run, egg! Run!

The lemon meringue tart was not bad, bursting with flavour with a tangy custard, coupled with a sweet meringue top. The only complaint was that the meringue was a little soggy, as pointed out by the boyfriend, but I liked that the custard was filled with real lemon zest, that gave it a nice bite. Not the best I have had, but enough to make a gloomy, rainy day a little  more cheery.

Lemon Meringue Tart

Digging into that tart

Roasted Almond Latte

The latte was satisfying, boasting a bold coffee flavour tinted with the aroma of roasted almonds. A warm drink on a gloomy rainy evening, in this pretty little place, away from the big bad world. Pretty much as perfect as one’s evening goes.

The next time I need an escape from demands/datelines/work, I have got a place to run for some respite and perhaps some much needed therapy. Food or desserts aren’t exactly their forte but a place like that, with its quirkiness, ought not to be overlooked. It’s a pretty great place, whether for a meet-up with the girlfriends, or for chilling alone with a book. Just try not to go there hungry I guess?

Address:

49 Duxton Road #02-01

Contact no.:

6222 2554

Butter Studio

It was purely accidental. I had no intention of looking for cakes. In fact, a couple of minutes before, I was just complaining about how I was too stuffed to eat anymore. We were terminal 3, changi airport, about to send a friend off to Australia, when Butter Studio caught my eye. It was a brightly-lit, yellow coloured shop at the basement of T3 displaying simple, yet enticing cupcakes, chiffon cakes and macaroons. Cakes and sweets have that special effect on me, an effect I am still trying to comprehend. Feeling full after a huge-ass burger and chili cheese fries at carl’s junior?? Nahhhhh.

I have a soft spot for cupcakes, ever since i sank my teeth into the ones at The Hummingbird Bakery in London. There is something special about a ton of sugar, cream and butter, swirled beautifully atop a moist, buttery cake that overrides the guilt that would normally overtake one in waves.

I approached the counter at Butter Studio, peering curiously at the cakes, fighting the urge to buy one of each flavour to try. The guy at the counter greeted me warmly and informed me of the late-night promotion they were having – 3 cupcakes for $6 instead of the usual $2.90 for 1. I continued staring a little longer and he waited patiently. He was really helpful in informing me of the different flavours they had, recommending me their most popular items and answering my friend’s really random questions. He offered us samples of the chiffon cakes they were selling and they were pretty impressive! I had a taste of the blueberry chiffon, which was delightfully light and flavourful. I figured their cupcakes wouldn’t be too bad if they could make decent chiffon so I ordered a red velvet cupcake, a blueberry cupcake and a milo cupcake to try. The cupcakes offered at Butter Studio are pretty simple, and most come with a cream cheese frosting. Nothing extraordinary but something simple can do wonders sometimes.

I gave the milo cupcake to my friend before she flew off so I didn’t get a taste of that unfortunately 😦

I dug into the red velvet and the blueberry ones as soon as I got the chance to. I favoured the blueberry out of the two as the red velvet sponge was a tad bit dry and lacking in flavour. The blueberry had nice and moist sponge that went well with the light cream cheese frosting. I liked that the frosting was not too sweet, but it was a little too light in texture for my taste. I would have preferred something richer and creamier, well basically something more sinful, more indulgent. I guess simplicity doesn’t work too well for me at times. Then again, contradicting myself immediately, I was really fond of the simple swirls and decor employed to primp the cupcake up.

Blueberry (left) and red-velvet cupcakes from Butter Studio. Simple pleasures in life.

Hey there cupcake 😀

Overall, Butter Studio is a cute little stall, tucked in a corner at Changi Airport, offering simple treats to satisfy one’s cake cravings. Nothing fancy, nothing that gets one swooning in ecstasy but each cupcake is no doubt made with love. Its laid back, down-to-earth feel, coupled with their very pleasant service gave Butter Studio a special warmth, making it feel like you’re eating baked goods right out of someone’s home kitchen.

Address:

Changi Airport Terminal 3

Basement 2

Opening Hours : 7.00am – 11.00pm

Tel : (65) 6543 9809