Foto Friday # 69

The best elevenses you can have anywhere in the world. 

Fernandez and Wells : Do They Sell the Best Egg Custard Tarts?

When we had our extended stay in Hong Kong a couple of years ago, I went a bit mad on trying to find the perfect egg custard tart. In Hong Kong I think I did. They were being sold by the Tai Cheong shop. 
A fantastic place in the Mid Levels, which was within easy walking distance of where we were living at the time. This small shop was made more famous by the then Governor Chris Pattern, who used to stop there on his way to work to buy a few for his mid morning snack.

I’ve tried a few places here in Chinatown, but they really are poor by comparison of their Hong Kong counterparts. But that is Chinatown all over really. Save that rant for another blog. I can feel it coming soon though.

Now, Fernandez and Wells, which have been trotting along for the last 3 years, delivering great food, and great coffee to the wonderful people of Soho.

I reckon, through reading a lot of blogs about the place. I have to be the only person who hasn’t eaten one of their sandwiches. No idea why I haven’t tried them, but so far I have been a bit shy on that front. Although I was tempted this morning by a Cumberland sausage roll, but the guy in front of me took the last one. Ho hum.

What I have to say though, is about their egg custard tarts, or to give them their Portuguese name pasteis de nata. These tarts were being baked in the 18^th Century in Belem, Portugal.

I cannot actually remember eating any on our trip to Lisbon, but we must have. I mean it’s like going to France and not eating frogs’ legs. Oh yeah, done that. Shameful I know.

We did however, in our few days in Macao eat a shed load. Very good and tasty. Quite Portuguese in a Chinese sort of way.

After a few recent trips to Fernandez and Wells on Beak Street. I have come to the conclusion that I am now at peace in my egg custard tart adventure. These are really, really, really very good.

The pastry is of the puff pastry persuasion, but it’s the interior that has driven me to new highs of egg heaveness. The filling is soft, smooth and sweet. It’s a delight in the mouth. I think I can now die a happy man. But I will continue to look for one better, but that may never happen. It would be excellent if it did.

Their double espressos are strong and not bitter. They give me that needed pick me up when I need it. Especially after wandering around the “do-shop”. I really want to buy everything in that place. Such stylish and decadent gifts for the home. Makes me cry that I cannot afford everything. Actually some of it I don’t need, but I want it all anyhows.

I’ve also had a lovely and warming bowl of Catalan stew in the St Anne’s Court bar. It did not remind me of Catalonia but it was a very good bowl of pork stew. The meat was so tender it melted on my tongue. Yummy.

All in all Fernandez and Wells has it all. Great coffee, good food and a nice ambience. It really is made for Soho.

Long may it continue to serve us fantastic produce.


PS - I went into the St Anne's Court branch again at lunch time today. Finally had one of their rolls. A spiced chorizo and aged manchego one. Awesome. Enjoyed every last bit of it... Will be returning sooner rather than later for more.

Eu Não Falo Português

I did not know what to expect with Macau. Maybe another Hong Kong, where everyone works 24/7 making loads of money and sending it just the same. Thankfully no, Macau, compared to Hong Kong is asleep. Well apart from the Las Vegas style casinos that greet you as you leave the Ferry Terminal. 

Macau sure is lacking in the sheer quantity of food joints that Hong Kong has. They have a lot of bakery stores, but the bits we tried were not that good. They do however have some great Portuguese custard tarts. The burnt custard topping sets them apart from their Hong Kong counterpart. 

Now as we were in an old Portuguese colony, why not indulge in a few Portuguese treats. We found a nice place off the tourist drag. Now as Portugal makes some pretty fine wine, they are still kind enough to send a lot of it to their former colony at very good rates. No import duty here. So we ordered a bottle of red. After nearly 6 weeks with hardly no wine, it tasted fantastic. 

The menu consisted of some old time classics, like grilled sardines, Caldo Verde and countless Baccahlao dishes. There are supposed to be a Baccahlao recipe for every day of the year.

So as we were in a former Portuguese colony, why not have some dishes from its other colonies as well. So for starters we choose some Baccahlao balls. Well it is a Portuguese restaurant after all. We shared tow dishes, African Chicken, which was coated in a picante sauce. Delish. And as I am a sucka for beans and off cuts of meat, had to have the Feijoada. Never had it before, but it really tasted of Frijoles from Colombia. It was especially good with the pigs trotter still in it. Also came with a bit of chorizo and morcilla. Black pudding. Yummmmm .... 

All in all it was pretty good and a change from what we had been eating over the month before.