🍜 Hungry for [1] More — Miso Udon Carbonara & Dumplings
Your trusty weekend round-up of what to cook, where to eat, and what’s been nibbling at my brain.
Recipe of the Week: Miso Udon Carbonara with Spam
I didn’t think I could love carbonara more - until I tried this combo.
Inspired by all those miso carbonara videos coming out of Tokyo, this dish is a literal umami bomb: miso, silky egg yolks, chewy udon… and then I had to take it up a notch with pan-fried Spam, crispy and golden in all the right ways.
It’s the perfect substitute if, like me, you never have bacon or guanciale lying around - but somehow always have a can of Spam.
Quick, easy, and full of flavour, it’s the ideal weeknight dinner when you want both comfort and character.
Try the full recipe here → Miso Udon Carbonara with Spam
Chef’s tip: If you thinly slice spring onions lengthways and then put it into cold water for a few minutes, they will turn curly and look extra gorgeous for decorating any plate of food.
Restaurant of the Week: Xi Home Dumplings
Tucked away on a quiet strip in Spitalfields, last weekend I popped into Xi Home for some plump, juicy dumplings - and they were so good I had to tell everyone.
These dumplings are handmade, juicy, and unapologetically generous. Get the pork and chive, the lobster, and the cuttlefish. Trust me - no need to thank me, just enjoy.
Read about my full experience here → Xi Home: London’s Hidden Gem for Juicy Dumplings
Warning: May cause repeated visits because you got FOMO from all the other dumplings on the menu that you didn’t get to try…
Food for Thought: Why Don’t We Ever See Ads for Chinese Food?
I saw this TikTok the other day of this guy was saying how you never really see adverts for Chinese food. And honestly? I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Because… it’s so true??
No flashy posters, no TV ads, no “Try the new sweet and sour” campaigns. And yet Chinese food is everywhere. Loved, reliable, completely iconic - and it’s never needed the marketing machine. The food just does the talking.
What do you think about this?