restaurants | Seeking Felicity

London Eats: Quartier at Eight Members Club

A few months back, I met some amazing ladies who share the same love for food! This love for food led to several dining out sessions, a few cook ins, and even a wine tasting trip to France! In an amazing stroke of coincidence, a multi course dinner that I organised for us happened to fall on International Women’s Day! I thought it perfect that I’m celebrating this one with women from different countries and with various background – it felt truly international! Plus I think they’re pretty kick ass to boot! :D

I’ve booked a table for 6 in Eight Members Club’s Quartier Restaurant, with 2 being vegetarians. The place was tucked in an inconspicuous street off the bustling Liverpool Street. It’s a quick 15minute walk from the station. However, a friend had a really hard time looking for it that she had to get an uber eventhough she wasn’t that far off. I wasn’t even certain I got to the right place but I guess the big 8 sign you see once you go in is a sign that you’re in the right place! You won’t see any concierge here… you’ll have to get on the lift which only has 2 button, the other being “8.” hehe

First course was seared scallop with with cauliflower velouté. Veloute is considered one of France’s five “mother sauces.” It is made from a light stock such as chicken or fish and subsequently thickened with butter. I thoroughly enjoyed this dish and wished there was more of it! Seconds please! :D

Second course was goat cheese, roasted beetroot, and topped with caraway tuile.

Third course salmon gravadlax – a Scandinavian dish where dry cured salmon is marinated in herbs; quail egg, avruga caviar, and créme fraiche.

Fourth course roast quail, celeriac gratin, port jus. This was another dish that tasted really good!

The vegetarian option was risotto with truffle oil. I can’t remember the whole name as it wasn’t mine but my friend was saying that it felt uncooked still. I gave it a bite and I gotta agree -a few more minutes on the fire and it would have been perfect!

Fifth course seared tuna, prawn wonton, wakame, tokiko, wasabi, and soy dressing. Another friend declared this as her favourite dish in the lot so far.

Sixth course wild mushroom linguini, truffle oil. Sweets aside, this was our hands down favourite for the night!

There was an average wait of 10 minutes per course it seemed. Since we started a bit late, 20 past seven, and it was getting to be quite late… we asked for our deserts to be served one after the other (since we were waiting for 15minutes already). And suddenly, 3 plates were in front of us!

Seventh course was fondant choco choux. I thoroughly enjoyed this one! Outside is this crunchy, chewy biscuit with chocolate on the inside. Yum!

Eight course was passion fruit loli tart. This, for us, was their most creative dish. Plus the contrast of flavours felt like a refreshing burst and play of flavours in your tongue.

Ninth course, petit fours. We were served small, bite sized confectioneries. 2 kinds of chocolate and third was something akin to a Turkish delight but wayyy sweeter.

The food was good but it didn’t really make me go “wow!” The pace of the meal could have used some picking up. I would recommend going there if you get a good deal like us (via Groupon)! Overall, it was a nice night out spent with good friends. :D

2017: 03/29
CATEGORY: Europe
Trips
United Kingdom
TAGS: Eight Members Club
England
fine dining
groupon
Liverpool St
London
multicourse meal
restaurants
UK
Leave a comment

Boracay: Where To Eat

Andok’s

They have the most number of food chain on the island. It’s a popular choice for people who are on a budget. They serve their chicken roasted or fried plus they have other dishes too like chopsuey and sinigang among others.

Bar Lo

Two Seasons

Bar Lo at sunset

Mojito shots in a pop!

Located in Station 1, this is Two Seasons Hotel’s own bar and restaurant. Uhmm.. my cousin is the executive chef here. haha Should I have said that? Anyways, he’d come up with out of the ordinary dishes like serving crocodiles (okay, that’s more crazy & adventurous ;) ) in his menu. He orders them from the crocodile farm in Palawan. They’ll serve it barbecued, grilled or cooked in coconut milk. I tried it and it was just like chicken (really) though chewier. ;) They also have these cocktail drinks in a bubble. You pop them in your mouth. He’d give me mojitos coz he knows I like it. Their pizzas are good too! I like it a lot so I’d always get one. :D

Cyma

For a dose of Mediterranean cuisine, head inside Station 2’s D’Mall. This place is almost always packed. Cyma was recommended to us by my chef cousin when I first visited the island. I always enjoy eating their spinach and artichoke cheese fondue. Mmm!

Jonah’s Fruitshake

Yummy!

Located by Station 1’s beachfront, this is probably the one food place that got the most write ups and reviews. They relocated a year ago to the mainroad because of the high rental fee. But they opened another place by the beach so business must be doing great. Good for them! Open from 8am til 12am, the place is popular for their shakes (95-180php). Although they have other foods in their menu, I’m not crazy about them as I found them too expensive for the serving size. However, some of their shakes are heavy enough to be a meal that you don’t really have to order foods. ;)

Mang Inasal

Mang Inasal counter

Located inside D’Mall, Mang Inasal is quite similar to Andoks that sometimes I’d confuse one for the other. Mang Inasal is a big hit to people in the area for their unlimited rice and soup offering (available if you’d order one of their value meals, 99php) !

Real Coffee and Tea

Foods you ordered are cooked in front of you :)

Baking muffins! Made me wanna jump in and take over from them! :D

Omelette with pesto and toast for breakfast :D

Located in Station 1, this is my hands down favorite breakfast place! With Boracay Regency’s breakfast buffet at a close second. If you do manage to get up by 11am, you can have either free coffee or tea with your order. Popular for their calamansi muffin, a good friend of mine suggested that I try out their omelette with pesto (220php). I kept ordering it everyday for the whole week I was there. I liked it that much! The owner, a warm lady who hails from the Bay Area, is usually present and chats with her customers.

Sea Breeze Cafe

Sea Breeze’s buffet table

A hearty meal to start the day ;)

One of Boracay Regency Hotel’s many restaurants, this one offers buffet (500php) all day. I like the breakfast here. When I am feeling that I can eat lots, this is where I’d head to. So many choices to choose from. :D

Smoke

Located inside D’Mall, this place doesn’t seat that many people at a time but that hasn’t discouraged people from eating there. Relatively cheap but good tasting foods are their strongest point. Drinks range from 20 to 60php while you can have a dish from 45 to 120php. Service here varies, they’re sometimes really slow but they there are also times when they’re quick and efficient.

True Food

True Food’s interior

Vegetarian dinner

Not to be confused with Real Coffee and Tea, this is an Indian restaurant located along Station 1. Their brightly colored huge pillows looked so inviting, I had to give in! hehe We had a North Indian vegetarian dinner here. A set (600php) is more than enough for two people. It was kinda expensive there though. That’s probably why there were more foreign than local customers.

Note: There are tons more to choose from in the island – here’s a list of 15 budget restos you can eat at when in the island. One of the reasons I’m excited to visit Boracay is because of the variety of food choices. I love food that’s why. At night, there are many buffet along the beach. Take your pick. The last time we were there, my dad literally gorged himself (he looked pregnant afterwards!) on delicious oysters! OR if you really wanna save, cook your own food and/or eat at local carinderias. ;)