What is…The best way to chop chocolate?

There’s one super easy tip that’ll stop chunks of chocolate flying everywhere when you chop it  – it’s not just me, right?

Instead of using a straight knife, use a bread knife, particularly when cutting through large blocks. The serrated edge reduces resistance, making the cut less jerky and difficult. Keep the tip of the knife on your chopping board using your spare hand as you cut down. No more three-second-rule-floor chocolate. (Sorry. Ew.)

See also: how to rescue “seized” chocolate.

What is…the way to rescue seized chocolate?

Seizing – or, to you and I, “Oh balls, the chocolate’s gone grainy” – happens when chocolate overheats or the cocoa powder in it absorbs water. You can bring it back for use in brownies or puddings by gently reheating it in a bain marie and adding 1 tsbp of vegetable oil, boiling water, or hot cream  for every 175g of chocolate. No more sadly spooning gritty Green & Blacks into your mouth before dashing to the shops again.

William & Florence, Unthank Rd

NR2 is an area blessed with a little food world of its own, with numerous pubs, cafes, and produce shops.

Part of the same family as Chambers, W&F is one such little gem. It’s a pub, but not as you know it – think plenty of sunny spots, classic cocktails, and bottomless brunch.

Goodness, what a brunch. W&F steps the traditional eggs benedict up a notch, with the poached egg perched atop home-cooked smoked ham hock.

The main menu will have a little bit of what you fancy*, whether that’s a light tartine or a grazing board to playfully bicker over. There are full mains too, of course, and a reliable dessert menu.

…did we mention the eggs benedict?!

* Vegan options are thin on the ground, here – see our vegan category for more suitable options.

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Bullitt @ The Mash Tun, Charing Cross

When they left the Fat Cat a few years back, focusing instead on taking their buns on the road, Bullitt left a burger-shaped hole in our lives.

During their adventures, they’ve done numerous festivals across the UK, but the burgers have stayed every bit as excellent as they were last time we got our mitts on them – it was worth the wait.

It’s one of those menus that has you umming and ahhing and asking for just a couple more minutes to make a decision…a few times. It caters to every hunger level, starting at “The Truth”, a fairly plain burger, and escalating to “Ichor”, the double-everything stack that requires some inventive attack methods. A veggie option and available vegan-friendly tweaks mean it’s not just for the carnivores, too, although the quality beef is a big part of what makes the burgers so good.

In collaboration with London’s Five Points Brewery, they’re even serving up beer tasting menus that explore flavour pairings with beers and ciders.

It’s not just about the burgers, though: they’re also doing wood-fired Sunday and festive roasts, with the latter launching at the end of November and taking place from Thursday to Sunday. Think succulent local meats, an abundance, and, of course, Yorkshire puds.

With an emphasis on local, free-range produce and eco-friendly details, Bullitt really care about what they do. We’ll be making the most of them being in the city centre before they hop off to explore once again.

Please note Bullitt will only be at the Mash Tun until the end of 2018! Continue reading