Tag Archives: healthy

Healthy Eating Special: Lunch BXD

July 3, 2015 Fork & Talk Leave a comment

I have already been on a rant about how hard it is to maintain a healthy diet while working in the city, you read read all about it here. So moving onto the next installment of ‘Healthy Eating Special’ I’d like to introduce you guys to Lunch BXD.

I came across this company as I was sitting at my desk, searching for food delivery service that can provide something different to your usual burrito or a pizza. I wanted something tasty, fresh and healthy, delivered to my office, was that too much to ask for?

Turns out not!
London BXD does exactly that.

Freshly prepared lunch delivery company was started by two girls that met in a culinary school. They used to make lunches and bike them across London themselves, but now with kitchen in Waterloo, where they employ a number of skilled chefs to put together innovative lunch boxes.

Whether it’s butternut squash in satay sauce with noodles or smoked salmon with spelt risotto – it’s guaranteed to be at your desk by 1pm. (as long as you place your order by 10am that day)

And it really is that easy. Delicious and nutritious!

My colleagues and me agree that ‘Take away’ is no longer a dirty word.

http://lunchbxd.com/

Korean

Bibigo Bar & Dining

March 3, 2015 Fork & Talk 1 Comment

Bibigo Bar & Grill is the latest addition to restaurant scene in Islington. Offering healthy and fresh Korean cuisine Bibigo gone somewhere no one’s been before. But perhaps not without calculated risk.

How many of you had ‘Health’ on your new year resolution lists?
I bet quite a few, me including! But you have to admit that it’s so hard to keep up, especially if you hang out in a buzzing place like Angel. So with that in mind Bibigo’s new branch launch in mid January was very clever indeed.

I have a few Korean friends who have taken me to many great Korean restaurants and Korean supermarkets. We sampled delicious traditional bbq and Korean home cooking. And with all that experience I have always thought of Korean food as healthy, so when Bibigo claimed to serve just that i didn’t think much of it.

We walked into a stunning room with tall ceilings and timber slate walls. I was pleasantly surprised to find this restaurant packed on a Tuesday night. But having made a booking earlier that day we were quickly seated in a darkly lit corner.

Menu is quite large with four pages per course. As tacky as it is, that’s when I appreciate having a photo next to the names of dishes.

We stared with Korean style pancake with courgette, sweet potato and butternut squash served with rocket salad. Having picked it from ‘small dishes’ menu i was surprised by how massive it was. It was crispy and soft with delicate steamed chuncks of sweet potato on top. Although it was very delicious, between two of us we couldn’t finish it.

Pancake was followed by Green Taco. Perhaps this is the dish that takes ‘healthy’ too far. These ‘tacos’ are lettuce wraps with pickled mooli and jalapeno, and fresh tomato salsa and tofu topping. I would have preferred this dish served as a side salad and not as a starter.

Soondae – Korean black pudding with glass noodles and pork. This dish was presented beautifully but lacked true deep gritty flavour of black pudding.

Bibigo skewers of char-grilled beef, oyster mushrooms and spring onions were also fun to look at, but i found their ginger sauce a little too salty.

Four starters down and still hungry we ordered Bossam (pork belly) and Galbi Jjim (braised short rib). Both these dishes in their meaty glory have finally satisfied us.

It is very clear to me that this restaurant doesn’t call them selves healthy for the sake of it. It is the perfect hangout for conceous eaters and people on a diet. For meat lovers like me and dad it didnt hit the spot but i wouldnt write it off just yet. I look forward to coming back but this time ordering with help of Bibigo’s waiters.

Bibigo Bar & Grill
407 St. John Street Angel, Islington London EC1V 4AB
http://bibigouk.com

English

Healthy Eating Special: Pure

January 30, 2015 Fork & Talk 1 Comment

It’s funny to say this as an owner of a food blog but – I am very conscious about what I eat.
Although it hasn’t always been like this, I have managed to successfully work healthy eating into my busy lifestyle.

Most of the reviews you see here are when me and my partner in crime get together, which is usually on weekends and holidays, and these of course count as ‘cheat days’. During the working week you won’t find me tucking into pasta and burgers.

Ever since I have become conscious of what I consume, i have realized that for people on the go there are really not that many places where you can get your healthy fix.

Everything that’s branded ‘healthy’ just because it has a spinach leaf sticking out of it, is usually overloaded with sugar. And if you want to avoid eating diary or carbs then forget about it , your options for lunch would be limited to a tomato soup, come-on that’s hardy appetizing!

Finding a good place to grab lunch was probably the hardest bit about switching to healthier lifestyle! That’s until we moved offices and I found myself next to branch of PURE.

Everything inside looks fresh, nutritious and yummy. You can see the kitchen behind the counter so you know its been prepared right there and then.

First time I came in for a quick breakfast. Had scrambled eggs with spinach, sweet peppers, chili and feta cheese. Under 300 calories, not bad for a delicious breakfast full of protein!

I was hooked and came back for lunch the same day.
Ordered one of their best, in my opinion, salads ‘Pure Protein’. It’s very low fat, gluten free and packed full of goodness! If you don’t believe me here is the full list of the ingredients:
Turkey breast, quinoa bean mix, beetroot, avocado, sweet peppers, dried cranberries and omega seeds on mixed leaf and baby leaf spinach.
+With optional Fat-free Kale dressing.

Now this was a good sized portion for £6.29, it felt like i was eating it forever. Dried cranberries gave it a nice sweet kick and I loved the crunchiness of omega seeds. Although it was a salad by name, it kept me full until dinner.

Aside from wonderful salads, Pure also serve hot food like curries and soups, as well as snack pots with salmon and quinoa. The also have a coffee and juice bar, so it’s officially one stop shop for all your needs.

I couldn’t be happier to find this gem next to my office!
If you see Pure around town, please do give them a try!

Pure
http://pure-madeforyou.co.uk

Italian

The Food Lab

November 28, 2014 Fork & Talk 1 Comment

It was a grey Saturday morning and we (slightly hangover) fancied a good filling breakfast that would boost us with energy. Great spot for a meal just like that is The Food Lab on Essex road. Cute Italian cafe with a healthy twist. They sell everything from hot breakfasts and lunches, to wraps, paninis and cold meats. We ordered a few smoothies, that were delicious without being overly too stiff and sweet.

For mains we both had eggs Benedict Simple, hot and delicious, that was the fuss free breakfast we were after!

These is a really lovely friendly atmosphere in this restaurant, i like coming here when i want to catch up with friends without feeling like we are being hurried through our meals. I am really happy that it’;s just around the corner from my home, which means i pop around quite often!

Star Rating: ***

The Food Lab
56, Essex Road N1 8LR London

http://foodlablondon.com