London-Based Foodie Reflects on Eating Out During Covid

“How great it feels to eat out in a restaurant again, spritz in hand, al fresco, on a lazy summer evening in London,” wrote London-based foodie and BBC presenter Leyla Kazim in a recent Instagram post. “Turns out I missed it, a lot.”

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How great it feels to eat out in a restaurant again, spritz in hand, al fresco, on a lazy summer evening in London 🍸 Turns out I missed it, a lot. I'm so thankful for the places that have been able to reopen with all the necessary social distancing measures in place, and appreciate the huge amount of planning and hard work that's gone into that. __ No one knows what the future holds, but I very much hope glorious restaurants like @elliotslondon in @boroughmarket will still be a part of it. It's important we support them as much as we are able to – spending our money with the creative, wonderful independents – in order to help them survive. Remember, the big chains will be better equipped to make it through the other side of these strange times. The small places are fighting every day to stay afloat, and it's us – their customers – that can throw them the lifeline they need by giving them our business. Huge thanks to Elliots for the invite and the stellar food – not one dud dish (and @onehungryasian for the great company). My visit was so long overdue 💙 __ What's everyone's thoughts and feelings about dining out at the moment? Have you eaten in a restaurant since more have reopened? If so, where did you go and what was the experience like? Do you plan to start visiting restaurants again any time soon? 🍽️ . . . . . #timeoutlondon #mysecretlondon #loves_london #london_enthusiast #visitlondon #igerslondon #londonsbest #mydarlinglondon #toplondonphoto #londonforyou #ilovelondon #thisislondon #explorelondon #lifeinlondon #wheninlondon #mytinyatlaslondon #londonlove #london4all #london_city_photo #instalondon #londonpop #london_only #londontown #londonlife #londoncalling #londonlondon #londoners #londonbylondoners #london🇬🇧 #boroughmarket

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With her occupation and passion tied strongly with food, “missing it” is an understatement. Known for her bubbly personality and down to earth approach when it comes to dining, Kazim is the mastermind behind The Cutlery Chronicles, where she shares her global culinary stories from around the world.

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Here's a very easy recipe for fantastic Turkish Cypriot lamb köftes (meatballs) – this should help teleport you to the warmth of the Mediterranean ☀️ Organic lamb is my favourite meat and lamb is a staple in Turkish cuisine (I am half Turkish Cypriot). So I'm very happy to be working with @trylamblovelamb sharing my family's traditional recipe for this classic dish. Hit save and if you give it a go, please let me know what you think 😊 So what are your thoughts on lamb? Do you cook with it much? Do you have a favourite recipe? Have you had any amazing lamb dishes on your travels? 🌍 Turkish Cypriot Lamb Köftes Serves 6 / Appx. 30 köftes Ingredients 🛒 1kg / 2.2lbs lamb mince (preferably organic) 1.5kg / 3.3lbs potatoes, peeled and grated (Cyprus potatoes if you can find them) 1 x onion, finely chopped Big bunch flat leafed parsley, finely chopped 1 x egg, whisked 3 tsp cinnamon 3 tsp dried mint Salt Pepper Vegetable oil for frying __ Sprinkle grated potatoes with good pinch of salt and set aside for 5 mins. Squeeze all the excess water out through tea towel or muslin. Squeeze hard! __ In a large bowl, combine mince, onion, parsley, egg, cinnamon, mint, season well with salt and pepper. Add the grated potato and combine. __ With damp hands, mould the mince mix into sausages or balls, about 50g / 1.7oz each. Place köftes on a plate. __ At this stage you can freeze any extra köftes. Allow to defrost in fridge overnight and come up to room temp before continuing with next steps. __ Heat 2 tbsp oil in a frying pan and shallow fry köftes on medium heat for about 10 mins until they're brown all over and cooked through. __ Serve with lemon wedges and extra parsley. Brilliant alongside dolma, hummus, cacik, salad, bread, PICKLES. How did I forget the pickles!! 🙈 #TravelWithLamb . . . . . #gastropost #foodmatters #foodinstagram #foodilike #foodphotooftheday #foodphotograph #foodandwine #beautifulcuisines #thekitchen #tablesituation #bhgfood #todayfood #instayummy #epicurious #lifeandthyme #tastemade #londonfoodie #makeitdelicious #thekitchn #seriouseats #quarantinecooking #healthyrecipe #easyrecipes #cookingathome #cookingwithlove #cookingisfun #happycooking

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Her travels and food exploration also came to fruition with the Lonely Planet guide The Ultimate Eatlist, The World’s Top 500 Food Experiences, which Kazim published in 2018. In other words: Kazim understands the importance of eating out. “I’m so thankful for the places that have been able to reopen with all the necessary social distancing measures in place,” she writes, “and appreciate the huge amount of planning and hard work that’s gone into that.”

Inspired by the exceptional cooking she was brought up with by her Mauritian mother and Turkish-Cypriot father, this is one multicultural food blogger that knows to appreciates the huge range of flavors available in the culinary world.

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GIVEAWAY! 🌟 People often ask me if I could only eat one cuisine for the rest of my life, what would it be? My answer: Japanese 🎌 I love that it can be so clean but also ridiculously indulgent, and everything in between 🍣 __ To celebrate the variety of cuisines that can be found @CanaryWharfLondon {AD}, I'm running a tasty competition for one lucky person to win: 💥 a £150 gift card to spend at any Canary Wharf shop or restaurant 💥 Perhaps with a blowout yakitori and sushi spread like this from Copenhagen-born @sticksnsushi (this meal was so good) 🤤 To enter into the draw, you must do ALL FOUR of the following ⬇️ __ ✅ FOLLOW @thecutlerychronicles and @CanaryWharfLondon ✅ LIKE this post ✅ COMMENT if you could only eat one cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? ✅ TAG the friends you'd invite to join you in the same comment __ Competition closes: 11pm Wed 18th March. The winner will be selected at random and announced in a comment under this post. Multiple entries permitted, you just need to give a different answer and/or tagged friend each time 🎈 __ The important bit 🤓 T&Cs in first comment below ⬇️ GOOD LUCK! 🤞 #CanaryWharfEats . . . . . #gastropost #foodmatters #foodinstagram #foodilike #foodphotooftheday #foodphotograph #foodandwine #beautifulcuisines #thekitchen #tablesituation #bhgfood #todayfood #sushitime🍣 #sushiporn #brunchtime #epicurious #lifeandthyme #sushilove #sushiaddict #londonfoodie #makeitdelicious @todayfood #thekitchn #timeoutlondon #seriouseats #mysecretlondon #loves_london #eaterlondon #london_enthusiast #visitlondon

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And while it might take some adjustment to travel in the days after COVID-19, Kazim acknowledges the importance of supporting small restaurants and local eateries in the meanwhile. “Remember, the big chains will be better equipped to make it through the other side of these strange times,” she writes. “The small places are fighting every day to stay afloat, and it’s us – their customers – that can throw them the lifeline they need by giving them our business”

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Sourdough Neapolitan pizza is always an excellent idea, especially when it's from @francomancapizza 🍕☔🙏 I'll be doing a little eating tour around a handful of the 120 restaurants in @CanaryWharfLondon {AD} over the next few days, to show you guys the variety of cuisines and the great dining destinations that can be found here. My culinary tour will finish in a competition post where you can 🌟WIN a £150 gift card 🌟 to spend at any Canary Wharf shop or restaurant – keep your eyes peeled 👀 __ For example, I had no idea there was a Franco Manca here – still one of my favourite pizzerias in London. Anyone remember when I did that little trip to Naples with them a couple of years ago to see where they source their ingredients? 💚🌋 __ So tell me, what are your favourite pizza toppings? Mine are always and forever: buffalo mozzarella, anchovies and spicy 'nduja. All at the same time, preferably 😏 (please also note yet another burrata 🤷‍♀️) #CanaryWharfEats . . . . . @pizza #pizzalovers #pizzaporn #pizzas #pizzeria #pizzaria #pizzaparty #pizzaislife #pizzalovers #italianfood #pizzapizza #gastropost #foodmatters #foodinstagram #foodilike #foodphotooftheday #foodphotograph #foodandwine #beautifulcuisines #tablesituation #tastemade #bestfoodworld #teampixel #breakfastclub #breakfastfordinner #breakfastgoals #foodbible #cheeselover #pizzamania #pizzaiolo

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You’d want to join in on her journies (either around the world or around London).

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Return flights for two to Holland! ✈️🇳🇱🧡🚲 Where you can double up with freshly made and still warm stroopwafels like these from @waffel_nl in Utrecht – oh boy, SO good 😶 __ A few weeks ago I ate my way around the Dutch cities of Utrecht and The Hague with @visit_holland and @easyjet {AD} – check the previous post to catch the video! 📺 To celebrate, I'm running a very cool competition for one lucky person to win: ✈️ return flights for two from any UK airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol! ✈️ To enter into the draw, you must do BOTH of the following ⬇️ __ ✅ COMMENT which city would you like to visit on your trip: Utrecht or The Hague? ✅ TAG in the same comment, the person you'd take with you __ Competition closes: 11pm Thurs 28th November. The winner will be selected at random and announced in a comment under this post. Multiple entries permitted, you just need to give a different city and/or tagged friend each time 🎈 __ The important bit 🤓 Full T&Cs at easyjet.com/en/terms-and-conditions/competitions/vanderers, with some in first comment below ⬇️ GOOD LUCK! 🤞 #vanderers . . . . . #gastropost #foodmatters #foodinstagram #foodilike #foodphotooftheday #foodphotograph #foodandwine #beautifulcuisines #thekitchen #tablesituation #weekendbrunch #breakfastfordinner #breakfastgoals #breakfastporn #breakfastlover #breakfastideas #breakfastclub #breakfastfood #tastemade #stroopwafel #pastryporn #lpfood #bestfoodworld #teampixel #ig_discover_holland #wonderful_holland #dutch_connextion #igholland #madeinholland

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