A RETURN TO MANDRAC AND TO BLOGGING! (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

After a long month of difficult times coupled with holidaying in Croatia as well as moving into a brand new home I am finally back ready to share some of my latest dining experiences and some brand new recipes. What better way to start this next chapter than with a return to an old friend. Last year we visited Mandrac on Lopud and instantly fell in love with the amazing setting, friendly laid back staff and most importantly, the incredible food. Would they be able to work the same magic 12 months later when we visited again this September?

CURIOUSLY DELICIOUS COURGETTE, LEMON AND PISTACHIO TRAY BAKE

Sometimes I see a foodie trend pop up regularly in magazines and on TV which I'm not really quite sure will work. Courgettes being used to make cakes was one of them. I just didn't like the sound of it at all but last weekend I bit the bullet and decided to give it a go as I had been quite curious about how it would taste. I'm so glad I did as it transpired that it would actually taste most delicious especially when flavored with ground pistachio and plenty of zingy lemon both in the cake and the lemon curd icing on top!

AZUL BALI (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

I initially didn't want to go into the Azul Tiki Bar when we first passed it the previous day whilst walking along the beach in Legian, Bali. I don't know why but maybe I just thought that by having the mantle of being the island's first tiki bar that it was just going to be a bit cheap and nasty. I gave the menu another look the next day though and decided to give them a whirl. Well, they did have barramundi on the menu (which I've always wanted to try!) and there were cocktails ahoy so even if it was bad I could get bladdered on those. Off we trotted to see if my feelings would be correct or if I needed to eat my words.

PANORAMA RESTAURANT DUBROVNIK (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Our adventures in Croatia continued when we took the ferry from our base in Lopud over to Dubrovnik. When we got there we took a trip up the famous cable car and little did we know that at the top we would find Panorama Restaurant And Bar. Lunch now seemed like a no brainer.

MANDRAC LOPUD, CROATIA PART 2 (MATTY B RECOMMENDS)

If you read the first part to my review of Mandrac, located on the island of Lopud just off the Croatian coast you will remember how I said  it was so good we would have too go back for a second time before we left! On the last day of our wonderful holiday this is exactly what we decided to do. Was the first magnificent visit to Mandrac just a spectacular fluke or would this small family run restaurant be able to deliver the goods again and really show itself off to be a glorious jewel of the Adriatic sea?

MANDRAC LOPUD, CROATIA PART 1 (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

So I've just returned from a week away sunning myself on the beautiful island of Lopud, just off the coast of Croatia. During this week of rest and relaxation I had some of the best food of my life including two meals at this little restaurant called Mandrac. Situated on the same stretch of seaside strip as our hotel we discovered this little beauty on our first day and enjoyed it so much we went back on our last day. Let me tell you in this post about our first meal and exactly what made us fall in love this amazing restaurant.

GORGEOUS GREEK MINI MUFFIN FRITTATAS

When it comes to the weekend, there is nothing I enjoy more than having a couple of eggs for

breakfast. Whether it be as some scrambled eggs on toast or fried as part of a good old full English, its easy to forget how versatile they are. This weekend I took my eggs and used them to make these little mini frittatas. Now I love the flavors of Greece so by popping some feta into the mix alongside some peas and freshly chopped mint, I turned these little handheld treats into gorgeous mouthfuls of yumminess that are perfect lunchbox ammo.

THE REAL GREEK BANKSIDE (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Many years ago before my little blog was born I visited The Real Greek in London and really enjoyed it. Last month during a visit to the capital we realized we were close to another branch and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to revisit them too see if the experience was as enjoyable as I remember! This time around we popped into The Real Greek in Southwalk. Situated on the Bankside next to the Shakespeare Globe Theatre, we arrived for a late lunch and the area was booming with tourists and people from the nearby workplaces enjoying a late lunch.

GRILLA LIVERPOOL (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

Back out and about in Liverpool last week and upon suggestion from my gig going buddy, we decided to take a trip down to Grilla in Liverpool. Located in the centre of the vibrant Hardman Street area of the city centre, I had never heard of them and neither had any of my work colleagues when I mentioned I was going that day. I was interested then to find out weather I had stumbled across a little hidden gem all for myself so and entered with a little hint of giddy excitement!

TABBOULEH TIME

To round off a week of mezze based treats comes the jewel in the crown! This stunning tabbouleh looks gorgeous but you won't believe how super quick and simple it is to whip up. All you need is to soak some Bulgar wheat, prepare a zingy marinade and chop up a few herbs and veg, whiz it all together and you have a middle eastern masterpiece ready to plonk on your table for everyone to dive into. Throw over some glistening pomegranate seeds to finish for a burst of fruitiness and you have the perfect tabbouleh feast!

CLASSICS REVISITED: HOORAY FOR HOMEMADE HUMMUS

I said it last time and I'll say it again, I really should make homemade hummus more often. The amount you can make for the fraction of the cost is amazing! My previous homemade hummus was a simple roasted garlic affair that perfect for whipping up in big batches to tuck into at your leisure. This time around I'm making a balsamic and caramelized onion hummus which you can top with herbs and spices and present as a sharing dish at a dinner or party alongside some of my fabulous garlictastic focaccia. A stunning centerpiece for any spread. 

QUICKIDY QUICK AUBERGINE DIP

To round off a trio of quickidy quick dips from this weekends mezzeathon here is my take on the classic Baba Ghanoush. A Middle eastern classic made from roasted aubergine (eggplant for my American chums!) blitzed with lemon juice, tahini, tomato paste, garlic and spices and topped with a handful of my new best friend the pomegranate seed. The only real work involved is roasting the aubergines but once that is done it's just a case of whizzing everything in a food processor and your done. Quick, simple and delicious!

QUICKIDY QUICK RED PEPPER DIP

It all went a bit mezze mad at MattyB Bakes this weekend what with my tzatziki and now this gorgeous red pepper dip. It is essentially blitzed roasted peppers, walnuts and breadcrumbs flavored with pomegranate molasses to give it a delicious sweet edge over the garlic and smoky spices. Finish off with a smattering of fresh parsley leaves and a couple of pomegranate seeds for a real fruity burst of flavor. You are going to fall in love with this delicious treat the second you take your first bite. I can you for sure that I certainly did!

QUICKIDY QUICK TZATZIKI DIP

Tzatziki is another one of those things that I really thought I didn't like, mainly because I'm not a fan of cucumbers. However when I made this Greek dip from scratch at home I was once again won over by an old adversary, it was delicious! I think the key is to remove some moisture from the cucumber before mixing it with the yoghurt, lemon, garlic, herbs and spices so that they have a bit of crunch and add texture to the tzatziki and preventing a sloppy mess. It certainly helped in making the only Tzatziki I've ever enjoyed!

MATTYB'S GREEK SALAD

The flavors of Greece are fabulous. I've used the like of feta and halloumi in a couple of my recipes over the years but I've never attempted to give thee ultimate Greek dish a whirl. That my friends is the Greek salad. I'm jazzing my version up by baking a marinaded block of feta in the oven and then serving it on top of a fresh salad fulled of little treats all dressed in a sharp and zingy herby lemon and vinegar dressing.  It's so quick to prepare but will look an absolute delight when you bring it over to the table ready for everyone to dig in!

ROZAFA MANCHESTER (MATTYB RECOMMENDS)

I spend quite a bit of time in Manchester going to concerts and gigs and several times I had walked past Greek restaurant Rozafa and thought "you know what, we should really give them a go one day". Today that day finally arrived and we finally took a walk down to see if the food could take us back to our holiday in Rhodes a few years ago. The weather certainly was doing that as it was in the centre of a Great British heatwave so all Rozafa needed to do was provide the authentic Greek dishes to send us back to that fabulous island!

NATIONAL BBQ WEEK HALLOUMI

It can be so hard to find BBQ alternatives for vegetarians when you want to step away from a boring burger or hot dog. This national BBQ week why not try my char grilled blackened halloumi fingers. Marinated in a spicy herby dressing, these bad boys really benefit from that authentic smoky flavor being pumped in from your grill. Grill them on kebab sticks for that true campsite BBQ experience and your going to have everyone fighting to grab one of these tasty treats, not just the vegetarians at your shindig!

MINTY FRESH PASTA BAKE

This delicious dish (inspired by Jamie Oliver's "Kushari Al Forno") is a fabulous comforty meal that is perfect now that these spring evenings are getting warmer and staying brighter for longer! It has a carbalicious base of tomato, chili, rice, pasta and lentils topped with fresh parsley, mint and crumbly feta to create a hearty dish perfect when piled high on your plate flying solo as a main, dished up as a side with some salad or presented at a BBQ or party for people to help themselves too with their sausage and burgers. 

MATTYS MOUSSAKA FOR TWO

Ever since I went on holiday to Rhodes a few years ago I fell in love with Greek food. The fresh salads and amazing cheese such as feta were delicious as well as the lamb produce such as their kofta kebabs and of course the moussaka. Being a half veggie household I decided to create this meat free version using Quorn mince in a herby tomato and  vegetable sauce covered in a cheesy white sauce and baked until golden and crisp. Perfect for two and super delicious!

MY BIGGER FATTER GREEK VEGGIE PASTA

My big fat Greek veggie pasta bake has become one of the most popular recipes on MattyB Bakes but its more suited to a warm summers day. This recipe originally came from a family friend and is great for a more warming and comforting evening meal on a wet and chilly night. Spread over the top is a Greek yogurt layer which really adds a twist to the traditional tomato pasta bake. I'd never seen anything like it before but its such a fab idea I implore you to give it a go and experience it for yourself.