Showing posts with label tibits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tibits. Show all posts

Tuesday 28 January 2014

Cook Book Review - 'tibits at home'


In my kitchen book stand this month: 

"tibits at home"

stylish vegetarian cuisine

£25 RRP, available from £14




*Note: all photographs are of the food I recreated from the book's recipes at home in my own kitchen.

Many of you will know that I'm a big fan of tibits restaurant in London. You can see my review of the dining experience here.

So I was delighted (and honoured) when they asked me to review their first ever cook book.
Yes, I know, me, new food, and some delicious Vegan options? A match made in heaven...!

And I can tell you that as I excitedly tore open the brown packaging... I wasn't disappointed. There followed much procrastination on work as I made two successive cups of coffee and perused the book cover to cover.

The first thing to say is that this is indeed, as it promises, a stylish book in every sense of the word. The quality of the book as an actual product is beautiful and the layout, graphics and photography is vibrant, modern and stunning.


It's simply laid out in four seasonal sections, each with a poetically written, brief introduction and then selections of juices, soups, salads, sandwiches and more complex main courses.
The style is contemporary, fresh and instantly aspirational! It's a little taste of the perfection we'd all love to secretly achieve in our (home-cooking) lives.

And why not?! A girl can dream can't she?

I was transported for an hour - but, more importantly, it made me want to get into my kitchen and get cooking, and, for me, that's what a good cook book should inspire.

Having spoken to many people about the way in which they use cook books, I find myself not alone in my approach. I skip all the waffle, blurb, life stories and pages of black and white text and cut straight to the recipes. I flick through greedily and see which pictures catch my eye, 'call' to my visual senses and make my tummy rumble. I then fold over the corners of those pages to refer back to later.  

The sign of a really great cook book is when I've given up folding pages over a quarter of the way through, because it's evident that I'm just going to need to try every single recipe!

That's what happened with "tibits at home" (aside from the fact its simply too beautiful to want to go folding corners down) and fortunately they do have two bookmark strands added so that, if you can narrow it down to two preferred dishes, you can safely mark the relevant pages without 'vandalising' the book.

this colourful vegetable jambalaya caught my eye immediately...

So, the important stuff...  

The recipes and what to expect:
  • 53 recipes in total of which 12 are for sweets, puddings and drinks.
  • Out of all of the recipes 15 are non-Vegan, but 8 of those can easily be 'Veganised' (the remaining 7 do rely heavily on the use of eggs and dairy ingredients).
warm dal with spinach - you'll probably have most of the ingredients in your larder already...


What I loved:

Most recipes require only a simple list of tasty ingredients which are easy to find in most large supermarkets. There are only one or two items that might be a little tricky.

The recipe information is laid out clearly with ingredients lists under a photo of the finished dish, as well as simple step by step instructions.

Many of the dishes are 'assembly' cooking and therefore it's ideal for people of all abilities in the kitchen - which is lovely.

bulgar and flat bean salad, with a spicy vinaigrette - why complicate the beauty of simple, delicious ingredients?

How could this book be improved? It's subjective of course, but in my opinion, it would help to have:

Info on how many portions a recipe yields, along with the time it takes to prepare a dish (I'm advised that this will be included in the next book.)

More puddings that are either Vegan, or have the potential to be easily Veganised (there was only one). Although I concede this is a 'vegetarian' cook book.


Recipe feedback:

I did find myself adjusting some of the techniques that are recommended in the cooking guidance - but that's just perhaps me and habits gained from years of experience in cooking a certain way!

Some of the quantities of oil suggested seemed excessive and as a rule, I tended to halve the amounts and the food was still delicious.

While tasty and unusual, some of the dishes can be enhanced by increasing the quantities of the seasoning / flavouring ingredients listed - but again, through years of experience I simply know what I prefer and can 'get away with' in the flavour stakes.

the pasta with courgettes in curry sauce is aromatic & creamy, but you can enhance the flavours if you prefer...


My favourite recipe so far:

The Goa Curry - made with tofu, pineapple and crazy amounts of chilli. But even Dave has made this successfully twice now and you know, I'm glad there are no portion quantities added because I have a sneaking suspicion it might have said [serves 4] when the reality is the two of us can happily consume the entire lot in one go ;)

Goa curry - an unusual and incredibly delicious curry that you could enjoy time & time again...

Overall verdict:

"tibits at home" did inspire me to cook and it delivers simple, contemporary, flavoursome Vegan food. Whilst the price seems high, this is a visually stunning book that is a quality product in it's own right and I know that I shall end up using it time and again throughout the seasons and for years to come.


Now what shall I cook next?...

Much love
Chantal xx



Disclaimer: Whilst tibits kindly gave me this book, free of charge, my review is entirely genuine and without bias. All constructive feedback has been passed on to the creative team for future reference.


* * Have YOU got a Vegan or vegetarian book that you'd like me to review? * *
'Veggie Soup for the Soul' blog attracted over 10,000 page views in it's first year alone and myself and my fellow Association Partner have more than 38,000 followers on Twitter between us.
So if you'd like to reach a wider target audience and for me to independently review your book here, then please do get in touch with me through the contact page on the rhs of this screen.

Thursday 28 November 2013

Restaurant review - tibits, Heddon St. London

tibits


Regular readers will know that I have a bit of an issue with some vegetarian restaurants - in that most of them are not that 'contemporary'. Fabulous tasty food - yes, but decor (and sometimes service) that appeals to the omnivore masses? - no.

outside tibits - a little oasis in the City


So when I was kindly asked if I would like to dine at tibits and write a review, I was very excited indeed!...


tibits is situated in a fabulous location - in a leafy little oasis just off the hustle and bustle of Regent Street. It's a haven of plant-based deliciousness.

With modern Swiss styling, yet a warm and welcoming vibe it did not disappoint. Ahhhh! Bliss!!!! 

Even worth leaving my Devon oasis for...



 
fresh, funky & unusually contemporary - hurrah!

It's bright, clean, tidy and set over 2 floors with plenty of eclectic seating and room for special events if you need to hire a great space. When I was there it was lovely to see such a mixed clientele and that even on a Monday lunchtime it was buzzing. 

The service was relaxed, friendly and efficient.




a boat of vegan food you could just sail away on!
The format is a help yourself buffet - with salads, soups, hot dishes, breads, desserts & fresh juice options - all set out in an eye catching boat-shaped island! I'm not usually a fan of the buffet scenario (yes, really!) but given that vegan choice is usually quite limited - to suddenly be presented with masses of it (80% of the 40 daily dishes) all clearly labelled as vegan, it was like being the proverbial 'kid in the sweet shop'! 


Decisions decisions.....
Now you WILL want to try everything. And indeed I'd recommend that you do take small morsels of everything that takes your fancy! Why not?!

Here were just some of the day's dishes when I visited:

My 'starters plate:



















My 'mains' plate: 

There's just a teensy catch though...

You pay for your food by weight.
[no, not your weight - if that was the case I'd have been in serious financial trouble!] The weight of the food you've taken. I've never come across this before, and admit to some trepidation at having my food weighed! I'm unsure as to the business reasoning behind this, but given the tendency for many to overindulge at a buffet it does actually prevent you from taking too much, and consequently eating too much and possibly wasting too much?



And little samples of several different dishes does make for a varied, yummy meal experience. And tasty it was! I found plenty of variety, everything tasted different, all was well seasoned and flavourful. One more note though - go easy if you want to make it to pud! And you should. My combination of sticky toffee pudding, passion fruit 'cream' and fresh pineapple was inspired, if I say so myself.

Dessert:


















Some other typical dishes on the menu:

Mulligatawny soup

Oven roasted veggies - shallots, carrots, pears, figs

Glazed chestnut, pupkin, sesame tofu avocado & dried bean salads

 
black hummous with olive bread


Pricing: My starter plate weighed in at approx £5.00, main at £8.50 and dessert at £4.50 - incredibly reasonable for London pricing and indeed for good food anywhere!

So what else can I say about tibits?

Well, to me, it's the ideal place for brunches, lunch dates, dinner dates, business lunches, food on the go and casual 'I can't be bothered to cook tonight' dining .

Obviously if you're veggie or vegan it's a joy to just go and eat free from worry and the need for a magnifying glass to read small print. But I adored the fact that a non veggie/vegan would still love it too. tibits champions all that's great about meat-free, plant-based foods - the infinite colours, flavours, tastes and textures - all presented in a style for 2013.
THIS is what's needed. Something that omnivores can be tempted by, try and love. As a passionate vegan advocate, yes of course I'm looking for 'converts' - I make no secret of it - and tibits is now one of my secret (peaceful) 'weapons'. TYTYTY! Keep up the great work guys.

p.s. Please open a branch in Exeter!

Chantal x



Next up! I shall be reviewing the first tibits cook book! Stay tuned for my recreations of some of their favourite dishes at home.



Details:

Vision:  tibits was founded and is run by three brothers - Reto, Christian and Daniel Frei, together with business partners Rolf and Marielle Hiltl, who run Hiltl, the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the world, which is located in Zurich.

tibits
12-14 Heddon Street
off Regent Street
London W1B 4DA
Phone +44 (0)207 758 4110
Fax +44 (0)207 734 0428

Opening Hours:

Monday to Wednesday
9am – 10.30pm

Thursday to Saturday
9am – midnight
Sunday
11.30am – 10.30pm
Food served until 30 mins before closing.

Disclaimer: Whilst I was a guest of tibits on this day for lunch, my review, is, as always, entirely without bias and reflects my honest opinion.