tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89612754407024952642024-02-08T03:15:28.977+00:00 TRUsocialAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-11545037581095812652016-09-18T09:54:00.003+01:002016-09-18T09:54:39.674+01:00FAIL!<div>
Having slept for less hours than most people rightly should over the last 5 days, travelled more than most do in as many days, and spent more hours either pleasing others or hard at work, I feel fairly confident, if not deeply uncomfortable, confessing that I’m no longer operating at my prime. All this considered, I navigated my usual airport routine with precision and collectiveness from Prague this morning; I also made it home for long enough to efficiently swap suitcases, take a shower and do it all over again, this time on the Eurostar (no more ear-popping flights for me today then!). It’s here though, that things start to go slightly awry, all rather unwittingly.</div>
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I bought myself the obligatory trashy magazine and train drink (French beer instead of my go-to gin in a tin a la sophisticate), with sparkling water, a cheap sandwich, crisps (salt and vinegar, obviously…only to make a crisp sandwich with, of course!), and what I can only hope is a low calorie sweet treat. I fear that the sparkling water may be the only inoffensive thing about ensuing events:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Contrary to what the slightly rounded silver-haired and bespectacled older fellow opposite me may think, the reason I took all the crusts off my cardboard sandwich was not because I’m a pre-pubescent child incapable of digesting roughage, but because I have recently lost 22lbs in a very healthy way and my addled mind is telling me that if this is the only thing I can find to eat, I should at least try to remove half the guilt – crusts seem to be the most likely to get the chop in this scenario!</li>
<li>Perhaps I shouldn’t have inserted a fist full of crisps into my now crustless sandwich, but I guess if you’re going to do something wrong, you may as well do it right, no?!</li>
<li>As I sup my beer though, the bubbles made me burp. Not just any burp, but an almighty belch that I think may have started to tip my tutting train neighbour over the edge.</li>
<li>I may think that flatulence of all kinds is one of the funniest things on the planet, but it would seem that not all agree, so apologise I do and a disdainful grunt I receive from thy neighbour, who I’m pretty certain is now beginning to judge me beyond what would normally be considered reasonable from a fellow cross-channel commuter.</li>
<li>The trashy magazine I brought with me is not helping my cause here, by the way.</li>
<li>Note that one can still be intelligent, sane and/or successful while also enjoying the vacuous delights of bottom-feeding celebrity gossip from time to time, just saying!</li>
<li>I had a very engaging book in my bag, by the way (Panama Papers, if you’re wondering)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>But wait…</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Just about to take another satisfying gulp of my beer and it topples over, naturally in my direction, spilling all over not just me, but saturating the trash mag too *gasp*</li>
<li>During my last travel rotation, I cleared my bag out of all old tissues or napkins (indeed, anything remotely absorbent), so while I now have delightfully pristine hand luggage, I also have nothing to help mop up the spillage, except maybe my despairing neighbour…</li>
<li>When he looks up from his laptop, I thought for a moment, he was reaching for his hankie to help, but instead he calmly announces that it’s “…just not my day, is it.”</li>
<li>Off I trot then, squelching my way to the crummy train toilets with my tail in between my soggy legs.</li>
<li>Have you ever stood in a train toilet trying to wash beer off your crotch with water dribbling from a tap that’s operated by a foot pump?! I took them off…</li>
<li>Have you ever stood in your pants with your jeans and vest in a train toilet sink, trying to get beer stains out? Well, I now have…</li>
<li>Hot and bothered from drying my clothing under a microscopic and distinctly ineffective hand dryer, I drag my garments back on, trying to ignore the lingering beer smell permeating from me.</li>
<li>There’s a queue outside the toilet. I can only apologise, but now I smell like I’m drunk, so what’s a girl to do?!</li>
<li>With a relaxed, witty sense of articulated self-deprecation, I greeted my aloof train neighbour with the bashful acknowledgement that none of this had been my most dignified or fortunate of experiences.</li>
<li>Response: A big fat TUT</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
· *silence*</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li> The end</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
So, now I smell like beer, I have trapped wind from holding in all the other burps that may well have been unexpectedly explosive; I can no longer separate the sticky pages of my beer-stained trash mag, my leftover crusts are sat in a pool of residual beer that I can’t mop up because I still don’t have anything absorbent and I can’t see a bin anywhere. I’ve probably gained an unwanted 1lb with the crustless crisp sandwich, and my grumpy train neighbour is doing everything he can to avoid eye contact.</div>
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<br /></div>
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FAIL</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-71736587945686572132016-05-17T18:05:00.000+01:002016-05-17T18:05:08.638+01:00Posh chips & a culinary eclipse at The Mayfair Chippy!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6wdKfhNj-5nrMUuBK715eu97vVWeJJdyPzNGQuJtSDWOvdUXWtnMKx56CVeTBHXg-Jd1nIqpdk2QCMF0-5mpNwkVwhNtuqTYgk2lS7oDKAIpJIuEqQznrjsdhaWoHz9_PghCnkXFpaWX/s1600/IMG_5051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6wdKfhNj-5nrMUuBK715eu97vVWeJJdyPzNGQuJtSDWOvdUXWtnMKx56CVeTBHXg-Jd1nIqpdk2QCMF0-5mpNwkVwhNtuqTYgk2lS7oDKAIpJIuEqQznrjsdhaWoHz9_PghCnkXFpaWX/s400/IMG_5051.JPG" width="400" /></a>I defy any self-respecting Brit to say anything remotely negative about a humble portion of chip shop chips in all their sweaty goodness, enveloped by paper, smothered with sea salt and saturated in the cheapest of malt vinegars; eaten with either yer grubby fingers or a crap wooden spork! Yes, that's right folks, there's a special place in my heart for a good chippy.<br />
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Raised and nurtured by a mother who viewed the local chippy as the ultimate in culinary treats, it was always clear in our household that chips should only be eaten out of the paper whence it was sold to you, and that your chippy should be chosen carefully - the frying fat must not be old or cold, the correct potatoes must be used, batter scraps are an essential additive and the vinegar must only be malt! Having grown up in a coastal area too, I am altogether rather predisposed to appreciate the greasy goodness of a village chippy. I'm nervous then, about visiting a posh chippy in Mayfair that comes complete with proper cutlery, cheffy thrice cooking tactics, and heaven forbid, actual crockery. Whatever am I doing?!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5IfLipYbuzSIXBhyN30PcvtUI_SI1y6ToG74RbHHZwFxjUIaLMsW7ZDaD6gDBk4fCdtUZbf2WJE9eG0BuL6Q_lhHuO-sx2pWgWtqcsPjZvrpHxZDQOpCa27NxZbEoaWIGbHoe9Q2rqiV/s1600/IMG_5056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5IfLipYbuzSIXBhyN30PcvtUI_SI1y6ToG74RbHHZwFxjUIaLMsW7ZDaD6gDBk4fCdtUZbf2WJE9eG0BuL6Q_lhHuO-sx2pWgWtqcsPjZvrpHxZDQOpCa27NxZbEoaWIGbHoe9Q2rqiV/s320/IMG_5056.JPG" width="240" /></a>Conveniently located in-between Oxford Street and Grosvenor Square, North Audley Street gets a thumbs up from me, albeit mostly because its sister street, South Audley is attached to Mount Street, which is coincidently one of my most favourite in London (I know, I know, it's a tenuous link that requires you to ignore the ghastly eyesore of the US Embassy in the middle of it all eh!). Lest I digress though, the restaurant itself is unassuming from the street, but chic, simple and refined in a way that Mayfair does typically do very well. Inside is super cute too, with décor that plays ample homage to the theme - I'm a particular fan of the tiled tables and chequerboard flooring choices.<br />
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Allow me to start with the epic! There is something divinely decadent about ordering fish 'n' chips with a bottle of bubbles, and I applaud the marriage of perfect opposites. The tables all boast the obligatory bottle of Sarson's, with salt and pepper shakers at the ready. The menu is exactly what you want and need it to be and I don't suppose anyone would go without here, not even the vegetarians! The house piccalilli served with <b>Pea & Ham hock Fritters (£6.00)</b> were supremely tantalising; the smoked cod's roe served with the <b>Baked Sourdough Bread (£2.50)</b> was everything and more than I hoped it would be; and adding <b>Scraps (free)</b> to the menu is nothing short of triumphant (batter scraps remind me of childhood in all the best ways!). Last but not least, <b>The Mayfair Classic (£14.50)</b> was gargantuan in size, with ample condiments, meaty and mouthwateringly fresh fish and a quirky presentation...bravo!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-39f45fcxJpSegvpL9Jk3rYMhEfhXxpy3kNWQFtcLy_T8m-bRyTaaO4wwgKJ5pDFw7IC9yxlS5QyxVJgbnP0yBrPh0dEpstXGXc0YeRm5QjOA6jwmZihzUgQ3UNV1zV3mGo-RBKgVhmAQ/s1600/IMG_5052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-39f45fcxJpSegvpL9Jk3rYMhEfhXxpy3kNWQFtcLy_T8m-bRyTaaO4wwgKJ5pDFw7IC9yxlS5QyxVJgbnP0yBrPh0dEpstXGXc0YeRm5QjOA6jwmZihzUgQ3UNV1zV3mGo-RBKgVhmAQ/s320/IMG_5052.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: right;">Maize Farm Steak & Kidney Pudding, </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;">
with roast onions & watercress (£13.50)</div>
</span></td></tr>
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I'm positive that the vast majority of you would be delighted to hear too, that the chips here were almost certainly twice or thrice cooked; they were chunky, fresh and well made. As far as I'm concerned though, this is just so tragically dull! I'm afraid to say that there is unfortunately nothing out there that can possibly even begin to replace a soggy vinegar-riddled chip that's been stuck to paper and sweated in your car for 15 minutes before you've been able to shove your greasy mitts inside the clammy portion of fatty potato-based calories! Similarly, the Maize Farm Steak & Kidney Pudding with roast onion & watercress (£13.50) was rich in sauce and jammed full of succulent meat, but a soggy Pukka pie it was not. I'm beginning to realise that this venture may have been wasted on me, despite my ordinarily refined palate. I should be ashamed of myself, I know! Oh, and by the way, the batter on the Scampi Tails (£9.75) and the Crispy Cornish Squid (£6.50 / £10.50) was a little too much too, I'm afraid, sorry.<br />
<br />
Overall then, a wonderful establishment with a cracking menu, attentive staff, pleasant wine list and jolly good food. I think it just all boils down to the fact that for me, a chippy should be a little more grotty or greasy, and altogether a little more homegrown! There's a time and a place for fine dining, but chips are not it in my book...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rNSkjI0kefI9KM69FDBBMb8MHYRu39VwR9QADW3W9LkH-OH__fQzoSca4iq-bGagrKiIY8RkV8HrnOT59EGnC_0bH-gpRUHbNKNX7hmp_6JUyUBNjBxeesk5EnfrLS44uJq7iH9eWIp6/s1600/IMG_5049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rNSkjI0kefI9KM69FDBBMb8MHYRu39VwR9QADW3W9LkH-OH__fQzoSca4iq-bGagrKiIY8RkV8HrnOT59EGnC_0bH-gpRUHbNKNX7hmp_6JUyUBNjBxeesk5EnfrLS44uJq7iH9eWIp6/s400/IMG_5049.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Maize Farm Steak & Kidney Pudding, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">with roast onions & watercress (£13.50)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/the-mayfair-chippy?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of The Mayfair Chippy"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=c5630ae4a971451b8fe0d5df8595f909" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="https://www.zomato.com/london/the-great-british-mayfair" target="_blank" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about The Great British, Mayfair and other Restaurants in London"><img alt="The Great British Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/6108235/biglink" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0; width: 200px;" /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq72DvZnNdWqswNsFzb-uWoC26stjuKEJlvF4m8wxSuerupITE-twtliQNGVcihtTY6cmva3dG5PTrJ6GKjF0lg4BduGicj6CzBZIXJnw8cAyE4iBKClaED-u4I3uJMyPaHkPHIXgMeOp/s1600/IMG_5047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq72DvZnNdWqswNsFzb-uWoC26stjuKEJlvF4m8wxSuerupITE-twtliQNGVcihtTY6cmva3dG5PTrJ6GKjF0lg4BduGicj6CzBZIXJnw8cAyE4iBKClaED-u4I3uJMyPaHkPHIXgMeOp/s640/IMG_5047.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Crispy Cornish Squid, with roast garlic & parsley mayonnaise (£6.50 / £10.50)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="TA_selfserveprop" id="TA_selfserveprop653">
<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img alt="TripAdvisor" src="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/img/cdsi/img2/branding/150_logo-11900-2.png" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAo4wOPjFWIV_69UKRXeuyGqbyjtnZSGkV3o2a7aW9kHwCQm0asSJXpYMg-gfVJKWePVxMG24N5T2qVW5gcAsbZNXdz61olYOW-VFQuT6coommxhStUE7kbLwts1KVpxLfc3-ROx4frxkr/s1600/IMG_5045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAo4wOPjFWIV_69UKRXeuyGqbyjtnZSGkV3o2a7aW9kHwCQm0asSJXpYMg-gfVJKWePVxMG24N5T2qVW5gcAsbZNXdz61olYOW-VFQuT6coommxhStUE7kbLwts1KVpxLfc3-ROx4frxkr/s640/IMG_5045.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The menu!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9i8QoZjm2VRV4C3XW1aYkOyXlKPHPytHQedrCdfj-JvGU-qWbyJd7HVU5lez4O3ZUjCVOwFuexi6v_pJNdK5f11aIVFOe9oXGr6W8jyMxtJEqXC_dvO3aP0ntmWoZ9NvI4U0OkoIVxwf/s1600/IMG_5044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9i8QoZjm2VRV4C3XW1aYkOyXlKPHPytHQedrCdfj-JvGU-qWbyJd7HVU5lez4O3ZUjCVOwFuexi6v_pJNdK5f11aIVFOe9oXGr6W8jyMxtJEqXC_dvO3aP0ntmWoZ9NvI4U0OkoIVxwf/s640/IMG_5044.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fish Art!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu96cuDOrINx0cCks3rF1ZB-WEmLFWppiuaomGw4hfpgl1WwzzcZGKekvo-5AwAHe8QrMgYwvgJmZ1gWmkhak3zuDmNB-RtVnKMx9PWNwzT76DDPLURtLHPCAMPVdaQTE8v6uHR1xjHSoM/s1600/IMG_5048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu96cuDOrINx0cCks3rF1ZB-WEmLFWppiuaomGw4hfpgl1WwzzcZGKekvo-5AwAHe8QrMgYwvgJmZ1gWmkhak3zuDmNB-RtVnKMx9PWNwzT76DDPLURtLHPCAMPVdaQTE8v6uHR1xjHSoM/s640/IMG_5048.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bakes Sourdough Bread, with smoked cod's roe & butter (£2.50)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1_G4HxR8kjr_pHfHObruaqEUIHhsqDfgmQQ6Tm5hNPKEglASOL-DXTcJ-KAH9JolzBITH9-E62HLKeqqSHba2yd4RIzOX34jYlilo0FfWDC_wbiCawtluzpHp4MbtCJTTjy8B4kcbVgi/s1600/IMG_5050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1_G4HxR8kjr_pHfHObruaqEUIHhsqDfgmQQ6Tm5hNPKEglASOL-DXTcJ-KAH9JolzBITH9-E62HLKeqqSHba2yd4RIzOX34jYlilo0FfWDC_wbiCawtluzpHp4MbtCJTTjy8B4kcbVgi/s640/IMG_5050.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scampi Tails & Chips (£9.75 / £12.75)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAs07X4GZ4jFWbWZWraU5E9GI5-bO4Epc8_r_LcZXcn5MBqYgZm4Kmx9LVd7AapknGQo7bfMfEodV5SFatnLRr1pCEYNL0l2RRQq8rQUWIyIEk4al6QQc0L1XP0mqbdZTjCmBic5fkRy_o/s1600/IMG_5053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAs07X4GZ4jFWbWZWraU5E9GI5-bO4Epc8_r_LcZXcn5MBqYgZm4Kmx9LVd7AapknGQo7bfMfEodV5SFatnLRr1pCEYNL0l2RRQq8rQUWIyIEk4al6QQc0L1XP0mqbdZTjCmBic5fkRy_o/s640/IMG_5053.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Back room, ideal for private dining</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGiWeU2rSjeqol5I1OOFuJ8rpawegdpGqTflZraySFnvfokaaQY0YmTPza9j0i-xvZe1BHJ4FHmvar0EcZibAkadWpN_TjpeMatKMWpejNnaWUc_PMOk7G2pVXqA7qU7AlRzY3sUR0ApX/s1600/IMG_5055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGiWeU2rSjeqol5I1OOFuJ8rpawegdpGqTflZraySFnvfokaaQY0YmTPza9j0i-xvZe1BHJ4FHmvar0EcZibAkadWpN_TjpeMatKMWpejNnaWUc_PMOk7G2pVXqA7qU7AlRzY3sUR0ApX/s640/IMG_5055.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The damage for 4 people</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19w9ZeM_nwfVGbA0C3DOrXPJqaNtOmXjpM8-YX_SX5bnZMK5g6omAaFIgxoO0bcnoGo74Hu3x4ZVqNeVD2vc7s3e0bgZUNztTG-sIVrYducNCyo3JHIpjZutTT2R9vhjaTSEu6DPJyzW6/s1600/IMG_5057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19w9ZeM_nwfVGbA0C3DOrXPJqaNtOmXjpM8-YX_SX5bnZMK5g6omAaFIgxoO0bcnoGo74Hu3x4ZVqNeVD2vc7s3e0bgZUNztTG-sIVrYducNCyo3JHIpjZutTT2R9vhjaTSEu6DPJyzW6/s640/IMG_5057.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Table tiling appreciation!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<script src="https://www.jscache.com/wejs?wtype=selfserveprop&uniq=653&locationId=3599763&lang=en_UK&rating=true&nreviews=5&writereviewlink=true&popIdx=true&iswide=false&border=true&display_version=2"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-57779237570837342172016-04-04T14:46:00.002+01:002016-05-17T18:07:24.354+01:00Gyoza Bar just opens in Covent Garden...<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBv0UD8u3LbrB0J8ou7B75wewWnSeKUwk-l8VWUQBUliH22gmI4s-qDyyDkoBzYZqv_PGpXs6eVyrYISwahYkJVFtGm2YNv1trl3OThOxd3FobVUT5770BQBwwoZb9UZ0Xi7fzu3C0mrs/s1600/IMG_4701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBv0UD8u3LbrB0J8ou7B75wewWnSeKUwk-l8VWUQBUliH22gmI4s-qDyyDkoBzYZqv_PGpXs6eVyrYISwahYkJVFtGm2YNv1trl3OThOxd3FobVUT5770BQBwwoZb9UZ0Xi7fzu3C0mrs/s400/IMG_4701.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gyoza Moriawase (£9.50)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Another day and another new
opening in the West End. And what’s the only thing better than a dumpling den?!
Obviously, it’s a crispy dumpling diner! Yes, </span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">I'm</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> not entirely sure that’s a
thing either, but it’s all a matter of semantics and </span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">I'm</span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> shying away from the
proper debate because almost a year ago, I vaguely recall getting in a cuffudle
over the char siu bao / hirata bun / gua bao distinction when <b><a href="http://baolondon.com/">Bao </a></b>opened its
doors in Soho – now I find myself in a tizz over the between the potsticker the gyoza since the opening of <b><span style="font-size: medium;">Gyoza Bar</span></b> last month in
Covent Garden, next door to <b><a href="http://murakami.london/">Murakami</a></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRu8KmFvUXsf3HN0lup5BUHGIEU4krow46o0APTmhiZ8VJipo3nOKFD8ih9SKpS_WkJXgorA7NwSVNsWBeUThMsyRXUDNaXdU4YMfIxzDyL_ToZIvIl2CBdyZ4SB797AL6wlcGVwKR4h9D/s1600/IMG_4702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRu8KmFvUXsf3HN0lup5BUHGIEU4krow46o0APTmhiZ8VJipo3nOKFD8ih9SKpS_WkJXgorA7NwSVNsWBeUThMsyRXUDNaXdU4YMfIxzDyL_ToZIvIl2CBdyZ4SB797AL6wlcGVwKR4h9D/s320/IMG_4702.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Crispy Japanese Chips (£3.80)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt;">I do wonder if infact there is
a “proper debate” when it comes to humble dumpling, but I am astonished to
learn that I have but merely scratched the surface! Over the years, I have
fallen in love with the Nepalese momo in Kathmandu, discovered Polish pierogi
in London (of all places!), scoffed Chinese har gau for dinner 3-4 times per
week for the last year, and completely overlooked the fact that Italian ravioli
is indeed, also a variety of dumpling (probably why I love it so!). BUT, did
you know that there are over 20 varieties of dumpling from around the world?!
The Vietnamese have a chewy tapioca dumpling (banh bot loc), Mongolia fill
their buuz with mutton, the Korean’s use kimchi in mandu, and the Turks stuff
manti with minced lamb among others. All variations on the same theme I hear
you cry...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, as a greedy food-obsessed cretin,
I would defy anyone to tries to tell me that winkles, chips and batter scraps
from a British seaside chippy are even remotely the same as escargot and pommes
frites a la bourguignonne from a French brasserie, so to that end, herein lies
the difference between a Chinese potsticker and a Japanese gyoza. Very simply,
the latter often has a far finer textured filling, they’re smaller and generally
more delicate, made from a thinner readymade wrapper instead of the thicker
homemade wheat flour dough. And that’s it folks! Both are traditionally filled
with pork and both look almost identical. Anticlimactic isn’t it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicX48Z_6_Yd7Snak0th9lhReZpwyQJsnU2o2RjS6cEITjNv84S1WlBbkutE7G7CX5xT0kGsfnE0kdhKz2dQ-q3zA7saMVWltEiPZh6TFopMMrMUwySSt18Sp325aGcYFJnBVeTSrN5Atej/s1600/IMG_4699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicX48Z_6_Yd7Snak0th9lhReZpwyQJsnU2o2RjS6cEITjNv84S1WlBbkutE7G7CX5xT0kGsfnE0kdhKz2dQ-q3zA7saMVWltEiPZh6TFopMMrMUwySSt18Sp325aGcYFJnBVeTSrN5Atej/s320/IMG_4699.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Lamb Jalapeño Bun (£5.00)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">With dumpling now sufficiently
taking over my mind, I rather fatefully stumble upon this new opening on St
Martins Lane, next door and attached to ; chopsticks at the ready and a time limit to keep to (yes, even I
succumb to the pre-theatre meal on at least two occasions per annum). Sleek and
minimalist in design, with warming wood tones, </span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">I'm</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> a little confused at first
because two doors on a perpendicular angle suggest they are one of the same,
but each have their own sign – I solve this puzzle at the end of my visit, so
all will become clear shortly!</span></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZKzlqo9rJCXk2e5Y6ezljHzzT6qW8V6InWpkZddRfSwpj8WIFFH4AJkRtMCf8fVeNeTSImXD6XmgmBTnntdF4NZXXNN2YPRPlXGzJ9fKpv47gw3V28YO4gU95-j24vafkPYn6J2bb_ZM/s1600/IMG_4700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZKzlqo9rJCXk2e5Y6ezljHzzT6qW8V6InWpkZddRfSwpj8WIFFH4AJkRtMCf8fVeNeTSImXD6XmgmBTnntdF4NZXXNN2YPRPlXGzJ9fKpv47gw3V28YO4gU95-j24vafkPYn6J2bb_ZM/s320/IMG_4700.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Stewed Belly Pork Bun (£4.50)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt;">Greeted by immeasurably
friendly staff, willing and able to seat me without a reservation (I rather
wrongly hadn’t thought to bother), the maitre’d must’ve read my mind because
she tucked in a little alcove, looking out to the restaurant before me
(otherwise known as the best seat in the house…in my world at least!). The
drinks list nodded to the orient in the right places, but also gave me a buttery
dry chardonnay, which was enough to please me very much after a busy day a la
work. The menu is much more than just gyoza too, so brace yourself for some
tasty bao and at least six varieties of ramen. I wish I’d tried the ramen, but I
can tell you that the bao were overall very satisfying (not quite up to the
benchmark set by Bao, but still very good). The breaded chicken in the Chicken
Katsu Bun (£4.50) was a little dry and I wish the lamb in the Lamb Jalapeño Bun
(£5.00) was a little more </span><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">melting, but I was not at all dissatisfied. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HkFvSssdq6WBLhfoaT9727gs5fWCJsH4rvdcW7iJNyBJ2xAGDaCOjYaPkRxUCfXupKhBJZgddrMmb1ZMYz9ANp8W231PoMU82_7CJDkcuC9e1ILwXi0zISTquvdsdWkyQEbmSQ1QYVvR/s1600/IMG_4704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HkFvSssdq6WBLhfoaT9727gs5fWCJsH4rvdcW7iJNyBJ2xAGDaCOjYaPkRxUCfXupKhBJZgddrMmb1ZMYz9ANp8W231PoMU82_7CJDkcuC9e1ILwXi0zISTquvdsdWkyQEbmSQ1QYVvR/s320/IMG_4704.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Chicken Katsu Bun (£4.50)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I must say though, I was a
little disappointed to not see more gyoza on the menu as per its namesake. You
will find the traditional fillings of pork (£6.80), vegetable (£6.20) and
chicken (£6.50), but they also offer a salmon (£7.50) and an interesting ebi dangojiro
(£7.00), all cooked perfectly and delicious to eat, but there was nothing
outlandishly exciting about any of it (I tried all of them for £9.50 in one
mega plate – Gyoza Moriawase). For example, the Nikkei Gyoza (£9.95) at Chotto
Matte are filled with pork, prawn and cassava, then lain on a heavenly bed of
aji amarillo and sweet potato puree, which shows off their fusion concept with
immense precision (the very best of Peruvian flavour versus Japanese classicism).
Classic is amazing, but innovation in a city full of innovators makes the
competition immensely stiff eh…</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.0pt;">Oh and before I forget the
mystery of the double door! I went to the toilet at the end of a very pleasant
dining experience, but when I opened the door, it was like walking through the
wardrobe into Narnia! OK, perhaps not quite so theatrical, but there was no toilet,
rather the restaurant next door in all its glory. I walked from a casual and
warm bijou gyoza bar, into a buzzy and chic sushi restaurant, a minimalist design
throughout marrying the two halves. I almost loath myself for ruining the
surprise for you!</span></span><br />
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<ul class="TA_links RcyG13y3Pw" id="YAN19OLkqAB">
<li class="Eq8mZlXblVp" id="WeHzitIWmTfO">
<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img alt="TripAdvisor" src="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/img/cdsi/img2/branding/150_logo-11900-2.png" /></a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/gyoza-bar?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Gyoza Bar"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=a14e8e0a25474743b15a89ec4fb91748" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="https://www.zomato.com/london/gyoza-bar-covent-garden" target="_blank" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Gyoza Bar, Covent Garden and other Restaurants in London"><img alt="Gyoza Bar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/18271573/biglink" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0; width: 200px;" /></a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIX5PMpfxxZyWqO_7nUtxzazafIbDBPVBO8Jk8S4l4-oI5vmEsmeSrSF66bVIud4qEvR-DzBiTh2AzlZuRYLb0WRo4mwEF_oRRIOg8fNNtw69UDjmZNIGmctJ8Gme3o35nUMY5WpCdgVM/s1600/IMG_4695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIX5PMpfxxZyWqO_7nUtxzazafIbDBPVBO8Jk8S4l4-oI5vmEsmeSrSF66bVIud4qEvR-DzBiTh2AzlZuRYLb0WRo4mwEF_oRRIOg8fNNtw69UDjmZNIGmctJ8Gme3o35nUMY5WpCdgVM/s640/IMG_4695.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">St Martins Lane entrance</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5say9FXUbGYpbAMc5wkexDELrB4QdLZmIVRfoXcjYIQzOBuCtYvO1G1xs3uOhJS9XAzJHdZPsP_Paz7ngVFbr7212hmNiih4Akv7qSPhJJD_bzcGwgbo4-vDrqAPbcPJQK5E55zidSKF8/s1600/IMG_4696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5say9FXUbGYpbAMc5wkexDELrB4QdLZmIVRfoXcjYIQzOBuCtYvO1G1xs3uOhJS9XAzJHdZPsP_Paz7ngVFbr7212hmNiih4Akv7qSPhJJD_bzcGwgbo4-vDrqAPbcPJQK5E55zidSKF8/s640/IMG_4696.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Inside Gyoza Bar, with view of toilet door to Narnia!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8vpH_rYM49ejHrPqNpQ25NGJHHNb1Z736Ms8_D5l3cPaVZxGW-kldPS3r3r433cCP_DGplqZJNGREmbxA8rzeQsPSUF5eV8r-0RnNSEzJ9i3oKgzHzxKnyR_g9mrvLR9se68NWvdGy-u/s1600/IMG_4697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8vpH_rYM49ejHrPqNpQ25NGJHHNb1Z736Ms8_D5l3cPaVZxGW-kldPS3r3r433cCP_DGplqZJNGREmbxA8rzeQsPSUF5eV8r-0RnNSEzJ9i3oKgzHzxKnyR_g9mrvLR9se68NWvdGy-u/s640/IMG_4697.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">My perfect little alcove!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Nrg85X-z1FtDG64_RsvBkB501XRQUWgXuwz6jQ9jiCKvhUUy75k8yGtt6-KR9ZRrtUU8qvfS3w9VmNyccEcJoQ0RYn5QArGZjdSNM8UvRUaZqQsm2dNMhz8HJ34Pc4JJOZEmDR-TyuWa/s1600/IMG_4698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Nrg85X-z1FtDG64_RsvBkB501XRQUWgXuwz6jQ9jiCKvhUUy75k8yGtt6-KR9ZRrtUU8qvfS3w9VmNyccEcJoQ0RYn5QArGZjdSNM8UvRUaZqQsm2dNMhz8HJ34Pc4JJOZEmDR-TyuWa/s640/IMG_4698.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Menu</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRO-pR5lUkGGswFxitjqM3DqLFnk4Qx7MiZbz1I-ZhwXXKoOoBKGa8rHhm_u9muSu7Jv05iGkPtr8YRXcTa5oZTTsF-iLE1kBTzy94Qj1O0SaLTFAfxaaXNk5bhE3lBVp29_pBtwgc1L4/s1600/IMG_4708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRO-pR5lUkGGswFxitjqM3DqLFnk4Qx7MiZbz1I-ZhwXXKoOoBKGa8rHhm_u9muSu7Jv05iGkPtr8YRXcTa5oZTTsF-iLE1kBTzy94Qj1O0SaLTFAfxaaXNk5bhE3lBVp29_pBtwgc1L4/s640/IMG_4708.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Open kitchen in Murakami (adjoining Gyoza Bar)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyTOapFAlBy939JNtHG_ebQSzfErwIPPbFe_1dssUp9IUcxm0GGCygjliCpFiZouqNgsvr1CBpTkO_5ZYYKxgZu9aGddc94kj3ALywR3-ARKAAkDmIgaPCcwm5KBM6HAQdy3Gf86lf2KZ/s1600/IMG_4703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyTOapFAlBy939JNtHG_ebQSzfErwIPPbFe_1dssUp9IUcxm0GGCygjliCpFiZouqNgsvr1CBpTkO_5ZYYKxgZu9aGddc94kj3ALywR3-ARKAAkDmIgaPCcwm5KBM6HAQdy3Gf86lf2KZ/s640/IMG_4703.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The damage for 2 people!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbCnFfRHLQ-Ojf8RJ0DDCubEX3FzuDfCsovNtgWos0zT4Y2hpljHmfKan1bCrmq8bJPT20svcX7dxQAJfLp12-D-A1-dhSB8yIXGMRxKhBREDbMv2C5fV5x4NqkdNK0IVDIDwwAhfcCXc/s1600/IMG_4705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbCnFfRHLQ-Ojf8RJ0DDCubEX3FzuDfCsovNtgWos0zT4Y2hpljHmfKan1bCrmq8bJPT20svcX7dxQAJfLp12-D-A1-dhSB8yIXGMRxKhBREDbMv2C5fV5x4NqkdNK0IVDIDwwAhfcCXc/s640/IMG_4705.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Toilets accessible through Murakami, downstairs!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4i9F2Rg_WsAnirRAHs-b-9BFk9hFrMH7za75ltZfwEEoYnu_HMKzRhj111PNhMBHeklAp-aLHhIOZc9XRnl9c3nfP_R_-Nn0PCoWqzjtfICSEdIwbFrdK1pdFXWWlGCFUJdCsXbsJfkd/s1600/IMG_4706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4i9F2Rg_WsAnirRAHs-b-9BFk9hFrMH7za75ltZfwEEoYnu_HMKzRhj111PNhMBHeklAp-aLHhIOZc9XRnl9c3nfP_R_-Nn0PCoWqzjtfICSEdIwbFrdK1pdFXWWlGCFUJdCsXbsJfkd/s640/IMG_4706.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Inside Murakami Sushi & Sake - adjoining Gyoza Bar</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPPJ10gsc80-9mzlmJsCTUQUdI8XPJkJh3E_Dhko3cpumj9SYyRhENKDFjmMHF8Vy_gawqrsJZiSGh2BCwVzoBfKzxpV75WE-_XpF-5Np560jBktNly8KD21ZhGd9r_Mbbm84crV6Jv1Y/s1600/IMG_4707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPPJ10gsc80-9mzlmJsCTUQUdI8XPJkJh3E_Dhko3cpumj9SYyRhENKDFjmMHF8Vy_gawqrsJZiSGh2BCwVzoBfKzxpV75WE-_XpF-5Np560jBktNly8KD21ZhGd9r_Mbbm84crV6Jv1Y/s640/IMG_4707.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Inside Murakami Sushi & Sake bar - adjoining Gyoza Bar</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-73846351969216152922016-03-21T15:00:00.000+00:002016-05-17T18:10:12.658+01:00An affair with Mele e Pere<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Do you ever have those moments
when you genuinely consider making a den under your desk, complete with
cushions and an oversized fluffy duvet, just to save yourself the bother of yet
another morning rush hour commute?! You know, those days when you’re either
still in the office at 21:00 or still drinking in some Soho dive at midnight
(just long enough to miss the last tube, naturally!), but you have to be back in
le office again in just a few short hours and the only thing happening between those
times is a mildly restless sleep (my mandated 09:00 start has over the years, somehow
morphed into a silently tolerated 09:30, not because I’m a hip corporate dissident
you see, but because at 33 years old, I still cannot drag my burger-encrusted rump
out of bed at an hour that seems altogether socially unacceptable, especially
in dark winter months). Anyways, tonight was yet another of those nights. I
finished work late and conveniently baited a friend into a wanky cocktail before
journeying home. The cocktail never happened (too late for BOGOF at B@1 it
would seem!), but we did stumble upon </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.meleepere.co.uk/">Mele e Pere</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> neatly blushing on Brewer
Street.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85gEQivggJs5qqJYS5nsQFYAHhx9Ytns_0EFa_jR7KHrkLMBxBXaXaCOm_VYE74KTaKuBw06Cqj2xtxCixuE1SA5dQ-yhIaXKL1WLCXu4Ns3UxTehH3G9NLJ3eSxTUAKXecAozQDh_XQk/s1600/IMG_4593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi85gEQivggJs5qqJYS5nsQFYAHhx9Ytns_0EFa_jR7KHrkLMBxBXaXaCOm_VYE74KTaKuBw06Cqj2xtxCixuE1SA5dQ-yhIaXKL1WLCXu4Ns3UxTehH3G9NLJ3eSxTUAKXecAozQDh_XQk/s320/IMG_4593.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1I5oYxbpuaocgGhqDD8WWlm6-GggoWTItVYmAf0ND_mwu7IzbIeQprxlGdLeCeLZ5i2PEa2ch6jRs2IycaT2EWBMbhwpelfh-86kEbr2tQ2sdOEhAQ_O9Jw-BsM85cjrwsdQsh9zgrq5/s1600/IMG_4594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1I5oYxbpuaocgGhqDD8WWlm6-GggoWTItVYmAf0ND_mwu7IzbIeQprxlGdLeCeLZ5i2PEa2ch6jRs2IycaT2EWBMbhwpelfh-86kEbr2tQ2sdOEhAQ_O9Jw-BsM85cjrwsdQsh9zgrq5/s320/IMG_4594.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Designed to mimic a traditional
neighbourhood trattoria as best it can do on the urban streets of Soho (not so
much, by the way!), it appears to be a tiny bolthole on first impression, quietly
humming with folk occupying the window seats with small plates and vino. But of
course though, because this is London, there is a staircase leading to an
intimate basement that positively buzzes with occasional diners and peppy workers;
so peppy infact, that </span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">I'm</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> pretty sure our waiter offered himself on a plate at
least twice! I forget his name now, but whoever you are treasure, long live
your opportunistic table manner and I hope you are by now philandering as
frequently as your Latino pants can carry you! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LcrUnbLhFBj-xp9DvGBx5tZXcHMoTNxbxqdBxBEhwngQ7ISkhyphenhyphenB5_btzOjJ1SMNP4qKJJ2v45donK6mr-cNlZ2webkLgNwXOD6KXABF9t2ZPXrziqGswf4jFjEa2g0sxEyZqamXKXswZ/s1600/IMG_4596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LcrUnbLhFBj-xp9DvGBx5tZXcHMoTNxbxqdBxBEhwngQ7ISkhyphenhyphenB5_btzOjJ1SMNP4qKJJ2v45donK6mr-cNlZ2webkLgNwXOD6KXABF9t2ZPXrziqGswf4jFjEa2g0sxEyZqamXKXswZ/s320/IMG_4596.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tagliatelle with beef ragu (£8.00 / £15.00)</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Leading with drinks, I realise
all is not what it seems! Yes, I can get some pretty decent Italian wine and of
course, I can bathe in Prosecco (which I did!), but first and foremost, this is
a vermouth bar. Who knew such a thing existed?! Not I, it would seem! Are we
staring down the barrel of a new trend, set to usurp the resurgence of gin in
the capital?! I thought vermouth was just an odd tasting liquor that gets splashed
into a martini and fondue – evidently though, as I have since learned, this
stuff is a type of Italian fortified wine, flavoured with various botanicals that
comes in white, red, amber and rose varieties, and is either sweet or dry
(sometimes extra dry). I bow to the concept and wholeheartedly applaud the
extensive choice on offer, but </span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">I'm</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> afraid that since my very subjective palate
tells me I don’t like its medicinal tones, I must stick with my bubbles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ra31s-oNaxbR_sV0GZnvQmok16-CB-ctpSMpvjtgVWgxu0gmis0ssA3-CIrI-ugUYzc3ih1EP7d-OwQZcEkvkAsg6pXxRLbHgRxDVrnKUqL122NtHXB5XTg3DnarmfgepJGqfMWuynsr/s1600/IMG_4595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ra31s-oNaxbR_sV0GZnvQmok16-CB-ctpSMpvjtgVWgxu0gmis0ssA3-CIrI-ugUYzc3ih1EP7d-OwQZcEkvkAsg6pXxRLbHgRxDVrnKUqL122NtHXB5XTg3DnarmfgepJGqfMWuynsr/s400/IMG_4595.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Black ink orecchiette, parlourde clams,<br />courgettes and chilli</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Moving onto the food then,
bubbles in tow, I am drawn to the small plates because the main meat and fish
options seem rather overpriced for the unfussy trattoria concept </span><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">I've</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> been thus
far sold on. After the obligatory <b>Bread
and Focaccia (£3.00)</b>, I reverted to my default plea when I can’t decide between
two dishes – can I have a small version of both please, kind sir?! Thankfully, the </span><b style="font-size: 13pt;">Tagliatelle with Beef Ragu (£8.00 / £15.00)</b><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> was already
offered in little or large portions, but our frisky waiter also gracefully allowed
me to sample the</span><b style="font-size: 13pt;"> Black Ink Orecchiette, parlourde clams,
courgettes and chilli </b><span style="font-size: 13pt;">(price unknown!) in a beautiful miniature bowl. My only regret is that I didn't also get the <b>Potato Gnocchi with Umbria Black Truffle (£11.00 / £20.00)</b>. Incidentally,
this is precisely why you can’t tear me away from a buffet and why a tasting
menu is the superior choice in the more upmarket of eateries – one must try a
little of everything! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;">Italians may all be as crazy as
a box of frogs, but they do know how to create sublime perfection out of gastronomic
simplicity. I loved that our frolicsome waiter was in tune with the bijou but
confident menu, that the chefs plated up some delightful food (not earth
shattering, but very pleasing nevertheless), and that the vermouth bar is an
innovative idea, setting them aside from the pack. <b><a href="http://www.meleepere.co.uk/">Mele e Pere</a></b> is not mind-blowingly
sensational, but it certainly has enough of the good stuff for a very cheerful
shout out! <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/mele-e-pere?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Mele e Pere"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=ffa78f9f608e42348ccb6ef713d7bf17" height="125" width="230" /></a> <a href="https://www.zomato.com/london/mele-e-pere-soho" target="_blank" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Mele e Pere, Soho and other Restaurants in London"><img alt="Mele e Pere Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/6103626/ibiglink" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMKaMwOKLSp3g_sUdzhOztchtAbto7jDFx6vs7s7TZihwUEX_sTnQ6qpqAQSC5_aEsXaz_82ve37ldEsqU4E9jr1q3i9n6phceilftckTTQrPVf2EMjV1vum28bkaBDW_6r2cFqsKlP36/s1600/IMG_4592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMKaMwOKLSp3g_sUdzhOztchtAbto7jDFx6vs7s7TZihwUEX_sTnQ6qpqAQSC5_aEsXaz_82ve37ldEsqU4E9jr1q3i9n6phceilftckTTQrPVf2EMjV1vum28bkaBDW_6r2cFqsKlP36/s640/IMG_4592.JPG" width="484" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-15596958452830510772016-03-08T13:13:00.001+00:002016-03-08T13:16:31.983+00:00Does "Billy & The Chicks" do the trick?<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mlapa1IjvK4wZgm7BzHxP3i5zpd_HeoSzuL4L_l9NoqP3HrfaEDem9s0A6vcXKvoilDmRjxzsB3jcag8gzpVA4IDf4_9inBE0BOwip3rOeYjKkuav_72S9Yiz42kygsemS3ecHmP9Hj8/s1600/IMG_4305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mlapa1IjvK4wZgm7BzHxP3i5zpd_HeoSzuL4L_l9NoqP3HrfaEDem9s0A6vcXKvoilDmRjxzsB3jcag8gzpVA4IDf4_9inBE0BOwip3rOeYjKkuav_72S9Yiz42kygsemS3ecHmP9Hj8/s320/IMG_4305.JPG" width="265" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">What do you tend to think of
first when you see chicken on the menu? </span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rubber chicken dinners – yawn</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunday
roast at home – would rather have lamb</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dodgy KFC when you know you </span>shouldn't<span style="font-family: inherit;"> –
oops! </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nandos – someone still needs to tell me what all the fuss is all about
with that one. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
It’s all a little bit average, don’t you think?! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s nice then,
to see that the humble chicken has been getting a bit of a makeover lately, with
the likes of </span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://chickenliquor.co.uk/">CHICKENliquor</a></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in Brixton, </span><a href="http://www.chooks.me/" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Chooks</b> </a><span style="font-family: inherit;">in Muswell Hill, and </span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://chicknsours.co.uk/">Chick nSours</a></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in Dalston (</span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.motherclucker.co.uk/">Mother Cluckers</a></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and </span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.theorangebuffalo.com/">The Orange Buffalo</a> </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">are also pretty big on the food truck side of things, roaming about various London hotspots). Until recently though, there was nothing much on offer
centrally…that is until </span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://billyandthechicks.com/">Billy & The Chicks</a></span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> opened its doors in Soho in December.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tucked discretely down St
Anne’s Court, a narrow </span>through-way<span style="font-family: inherit;"> between Dean Street and Wardour Street, I was somewhat intrigued to see what was on offer. I absolutely love a good fried
chicken, but have not yet found anything to rival our American friends’ efforts
on home soil. I could also die happy in a well-made vat of buffalo sauce, so a
bucket of tasty wings also make for a worthy scavenger hunt (the best </span>I've<span style="font-family: inherit;"> found
so far are from </span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://theblueskitchen.com/camden/">Blues Kitchen</a></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in Camden, rivalled only by </span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://meatliquor.com/">MEATliqor</a></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">, but I hear
that </span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.stickywings.com/StickyWings.com/Officially_Britians_Best_Buffalo_Wings.html">Sticky Wings</a></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> on Brick Lane is superb – I fear that further investigation on
the topic is much overdue!). And who </span>doesn't<span style="font-family: inherit;"> love a succulent chicken burger
eh?! I foresee a win win culinary experience this evening…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzE7A_tgKEv7qTqLfn__xGQelH_m-Dqm0Pfx_eVwb35PD0FVOt74m6BBKI7Ssd2AtZrdqnf9_8qgda-Y-H4LXkyPO5BgLhdo_e7FuCvRnEfXQ5qotOoKiFOCd9etZ3LWf8deGCdDZ8Xb4S/s1600/IMG_4304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzE7A_tgKEv7qTqLfn__xGQelH_m-Dqm0Pfx_eVwb35PD0FVOt74m6BBKI7Ssd2AtZrdqnf9_8qgda-Y-H4LXkyPO5BgLhdo_e7FuCvRnEfXQ5qotOoKiFOCd9etZ3LWf8deGCdDZ8Xb4S/s320/IMG_4304.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">The joint was empty when we
walked in, not even anyone manning the well-adorned DJ decks, but we were
hungry and committed, and the décor was funky with its exposed brick, window
seats and urban vibes. We assumed a prime window licking position at around
18:00 on a pretty dank Tuesday evening, then somehow the place filled up around
us without us even noticing – by 19:00 it was buzzing with the hum of fellow après
work diners and the music was delivering some retro triumphs! By 20:30 though,
it has mostly cleared out again, which reminds me that this is more of a pitstop diner akin
to its peers – absolutely not a bad thing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On first impressions, the menu
is a winner and the cocktail menu is not over-engineered or exhaustive. The
choice of eat-in or take away is great and more places should take heed of this
flexi approach to grab food – let’s face it, there are plenty of whopping burger joints
these days, but very few that actually allow you to order and run with your gastronomic
spoils (</span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://themeatmarket.co.uk/">MEATmarket</a></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> has been my juicy saviour until this point because <a href="http://www.fiveguys.com/">Five Guys</a> and <a href="https://www.shakeshack.com/">Shake Shack</a> fall short every time!). </span>I'm<span style="font-family: inherit;"> afraid to
say though, that the best thing I ate by a long country mile, was the side of
<b>Mac n Cheese (£3.50)</b>…it was so good that we ordered a second portion and I </span>could've<span style="font-family: inherit;">/</span>would've<span style="font-family: inherit;"> comfortably eaten a third portion if I thought I could have
gotten away with it…infact, who am I kidding?! Just bring me the whole pot and
I will sit</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in it with a spoon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTA5pjj8NRFWf2J0Mik3JqzGC9UPm8N6p_9DWtdnQUliLsRgZCFIQ2ED2lWQN3r_CvzHjHJ-CnglzbYsw9y0zxA4bpjMwMqa0hLIKuYaOZPAGEpWmA6KSQKM3NgBSQkN2AI2M5dW6ZdSe8/s1600/IMG_4303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTA5pjj8NRFWf2J0Mik3JqzGC9UPm8N6p_9DWtdnQUliLsRgZCFIQ2ED2lWQN3r_CvzHjHJ-CnglzbYsw9y0zxA4bpjMwMqa0hLIKuYaOZPAGEpWmA6KSQKM3NgBSQkN2AI2M5dW6ZdSe8/s400/IMG_4303.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stinger Burger with cheese (£13.00)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The <b>Stinger Burger with cheese
(£12.00)</b> was succulent and amply plump, but I found myself rather ambivalent
towards the spice mix covering the meat that wasn't quite right (burnt maybe?! Not sure. Can't put my finger on it, sorry), the cheese that I couldn't much taste, the bun that was not nearly as soft or interesting as I wanted it to be, and the accompaniments that didn't really add anything whatsoever. One
of the chums ordered a <b>Veggie Burger (£9.00)</b>, which to be honest, also fell a
bit flat on the eager palate. The chips on the side were all a little withered and insipid too. Humph!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The prices are good, the
service was on point, the beats were a sensation (not too loud either, which
pleases my old soul!), and despite my distinctly average food choices, I still
really rather liked this place. Perhaps if there is a next time, I will dive
balls deep into the side dishes only though – <b>Buffalo Wings (4 for £6.00 / 12 for
£7.00), Chicken Pieces (£2.50 per item)</b> and of course, a double helping of the
Mac n Cheese (sorry, I meant triple helping!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wish you </span>could've<span style="font-family: inherit;"> been a little better, but thanks for having
us, we had a sterling evening… </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/billy-and-the-chicks?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Billy & The Chicks"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=98389a33f9ac4092bf86bd005a64aa0a" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="https://www.zomato.com/london/billy-and-the-chicks-soho" target="_blank" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Billy and The Chicks, Soho and other Restaurants in London"><img alt="Billy and The Chicks Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/18218824/biglink" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0; width: 200px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-23224213136693803142016-02-25T11:25:00.000+00:002016-02-25T11:25:37.249+00:00ENJOY YOUR CHEESE(!) at Androuet<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I </span>wouldn't<span style="font-family: inherit;"> typically have
thought that lying in a hospital bed would be the traditional breeding ground
for literary inspiration, but since </span>I'm<span style="font-family: inherit;"> currently wedged between a man to my
right with the most god awful toe nails </span>I've<span style="font-family: inherit;"> ever seen, and a geriatric gent to
my left who won’t stop wailing for help inbetween hocking up his entire chest
cavity, I am in dire need of a distraction! After those rotten claws though, I
am somewhat loathed to admit that my mind has wandered to cheese, specifically a cheese evening I enjoyed a little before Christmas. I sincerely
hope, with every fibre of my being, that my most favourite of all dairy
products will not forever be tainted by association. Committed I have though,
so continue I must…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUH2O4KQoVoaMo_YsUUP95B9bVN_vtWi4ETScYblIiYnsiUkkdnw6PDQyZ9xosq4TBakvVj5EOTHb6vKw1-sn-spmsxO86UgcFNh_vsitRxBJcg6ZPu0PwnMwp3GGwNf0pqfPJRGSWHbN/s1600/IMG_3915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUH2O4KQoVoaMo_YsUUP95B9bVN_vtWi4ETScYblIiYnsiUkkdnw6PDQyZ9xosq4TBakvVj5EOTHb6vKw1-sn-spmsxO86UgcFNh_vsitRxBJcg6ZPu0PwnMwp3GGwNf0pqfPJRGSWHbN/s320/IMG_3915.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s been a while since I've
visited <b><a href="http://www.spitalfields.co.uk/">Spitalfields </a></b>and my, what a sanitised place it has become eh! I rather
enjoyed my rainy stomp from Moorgate, navigating my way through all the
roadworks around Liverpool Street and admiring Broadgate Ice Rink en route
though. By the time I arrived, the market had all but packed up and closed, but
the few permanent dining hotspots were starting to fill with the après workers
all gagging for liquid sustenance and trendy nibbles. Elbows at the ready, I
nudged my way into <b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.androuet.co.uk/">Androuet </a></span></b>by way of their rustic cheese bar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Almost full and mildly chaotic
on a dark and damp Thursday evening, I scrabble to find a safe spot on which to
visibly linger. After 5 – 10 minutes of being jostled by every server forced to
rummage with intent next to me, I am joined by a friend who then transforms my
inconvenient loitering into a persistent nuisance, so most graciously, we were
seated at an open corner of the bar (#win!). Gagging for a vat of French
chardonnay (the <a href="https://www.vivino.com/wineries/marie-et-denis-chevassu/wines/cotes-du-jura-chardonnay-2012"><b>Côtes du Jura ‘Chardonnay’, Marie & Denis Chevassu 2012</b></a> to
be precise, priced at a rather reasonable £35 per bottle), we pre-empt the good
stuff with some plonk on tap (<a href="https://www.vivino.com/wineries/mas-des-agrunelles/wines/les-mauves-9999"><b>Poivre d’Âne, Mas des Agrunelles, Languedoc 2013</b></a>
at £21 per bottle). We wait far too long for it, but when it does arrive,
another friend has arrived and we’ve already been moved from the bar stoop to
our very own high table, which works out perfectly. The wine on tap was
surprisingly palatable too…nothing like the goon bags I used to guzzle from
indiscriminately in Australia (for those of you who saved your livers the
disgrace of the “silver pillow,” goon is incredibly cheap boxed wine that is
the life source of any self-respecting hostel dweller!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wine safely secured then (with
the chardonnay on its way because the tap stuff disappeared in a hot second!),
we turn to the menu of cheese, not to be confused with the cheese menu of
course – the former is food and the latter refers to the shop of cheese out
back (I’ll get to that shortly, but for the sake of effect, I would like to say
cheese one more time…cheese!). Everything on this menu pays homage to cheese
and even those few dishes that don’t have cheese in them are a perfect
accompaniment to cheese. If I believed in heaven, this is what it would look
like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was a little worried that
service would be slow based on our frenzied arrival experience, but I need not
have worried because food was plentiful, timely and delectable. The <b>Raclette
Cheese Tapas (£4.50)</b> was an absolute steal and I’m not ashamed to say that I
had two…one for a starter and one for dessert (I’m far too old to care about
judgement, especially when it comes to cheese!). The <b>Androuet Classic Fondue
(£13)</b> was exactly what I wanted from a tank of molten cheese, the <b>Saucisson Charcuterie (£5.50)</b> was generous and adorned with enough baby pickles to ensure
that we all felt sufficiently satiated; and the <b>Tortellini with tomatoes, basil
& mozzarella (£14)</b> was flavourful - with bread on the side though, it was a
bit of a carb overload (I'm not complaining!), and I wish we’d ordered it with
the Comte cheese sauce instead of the garlic butter – this was minor and
self-inflicted blemish on an otherwise sublime dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Before lugging myself homeward
in a wine induced haze, I dragged me and my burgeoning belly into the cheese
shop just before it closed. Despite being scolded by the [over]protective
French guardian of the cheese (apparently one cannot touch the cheese because
it bruises easily, but since I was buying said cheese, I was forced to point
out that my handling of it was an inevitable necessity – but thanks
for making me feel like a naughty tween), I was suitably impressed by the
choice of cheese on offer. Scanning the cheesy stash, I stop in my tracks after
spotting the Brillat Savarin and my grubby mitts go in for the kill…if you've
not heard of it, GET INVOLVED! Infact, if you’ve not heard of this whole place,
GET INVOLVED…it’s informally buzzy, deliciously cheesetastic and quite frankly
a bit of a rarity in a city that seems so overwhelmed with burger joints!</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I just said cheese 22 times!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/androuet?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Androuet"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=d75e58eb67454e818c3558a892bf1e8b" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="https://www.zomato.com/london/androuet-spitalfields" target="_blank" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Androuet, Spitalfields and other Restaurants in London"><img alt="Androuet Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/6103409/ibiglink" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMouNuQYvMJrTB30UuqYlXH75pExBTLRDqqn_4jaYNkfTOe4Zan4gmgtG70iqAMyqck-vqGSMzAEdYhCXvtxujA0NueM93Zfm1-O7E3IqyU93jI_JJQttwsfdMaMYbSgKW3LrEhQ0Ibdo9/s1600/IMG_3914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMouNuQYvMJrTB30UuqYlXH75pExBTLRDqqn_4jaYNkfTOe4Zan4gmgtG70iqAMyqck-vqGSMzAEdYhCXvtxujA0NueM93Zfm1-O7E3IqyU93jI_JJQttwsfdMaMYbSgKW3LrEhQ0Ibdo9/s640/IMG_3914.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cheese Shop</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZM3ULLXme6aOHSPzUz9wVZB0C-12za4V64IqU9ZdJU5yXfcbBc4tVetjmKMP_tBjgxy6U7n2TtU1nPO0vX2vD-cIskO6cnojyHUXIcUMdGeZNZmEvdT9ds8OzKjs5J2cpoOjbVuSRHNc/s1600/IMG_3916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZM3ULLXme6aOHSPzUz9wVZB0C-12za4V64IqU9ZdJU5yXfcbBc4tVetjmKMP_tBjgxy6U7n2TtU1nPO0vX2vD-cIskO6cnojyHUXIcUMdGeZNZmEvdT9ds8OzKjs5J2cpoOjbVuSRHNc/s640/IMG_3916.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cheese AND WINE shop, evidently!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQTPipmhZJUgIKVKC4VQ876qEcwyuCrT398Uq4Ip1TTfWW0IK_d1maZlJ5xZDjz9bpDigkP8zI1JvOV6y-vebVwRmSFV2zorHFBaHbhk49_1Mlw5iQj9v0bhZ0gERva9aiV4qlyOZYvGn/s1600/IMG_3917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQTPipmhZJUgIKVKC4VQ876qEcwyuCrT398Uq4Ip1TTfWW0IK_d1maZlJ5xZDjz9bpDigkP8zI1JvOV6y-vebVwRmSFV2zorHFBaHbhk49_1Mlw5iQj9v0bhZ0gERva9aiV4qlyOZYvGn/s640/IMG_3917.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Raclette Cheese Tapas (£4.50)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJKakWW2PlP-NGbaEwl5-F9esGyJ9S9pLGypqXrpE1PeaxwSjMMD7TG-x5zQjkBOjkskKNlCLt43b52lmiHU9Pk3pG_VVkETyKqdZJlJhari90QnvaDr_f9shnpDfp_r74fjRHxmRpy6z/s1600/IMG_3918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJKakWW2PlP-NGbaEwl5-F9esGyJ9S9pLGypqXrpE1PeaxwSjMMD7TG-x5zQjkBOjkskKNlCLt43b52lmiHU9Pk3pG_VVkETyKqdZJlJhari90QnvaDr_f9shnpDfp_r74fjRHxmRpy6z/s640/IMG_3918.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Androuet Classic Fondue (£13.00)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAf_S6Cj-b29ge59a_XY5B7Fs2uiJ9LCMwvQWQs-ZYqfeDpsonHg9P5K0a7tsTjDrNxOWYCdBw9mahv4HVQd1kgrqMahwvxb7qygVun0yWC26rx0ubZ60Yzs-aUQgSajzHGAVEVYufL2kp/s1600/IMG_3919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAf_S6Cj-b29ge59a_XY5B7Fs2uiJ9LCMwvQWQs-ZYqfeDpsonHg9P5K0a7tsTjDrNxOWYCdBw9mahv4HVQd1kgrqMahwvxb7qygVun0yWC26rx0ubZ60Yzs-aUQgSajzHGAVEVYufL2kp/s640/IMG_3919.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tortellini + Tomatoes, Basil & Mozarella (£14.00)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikO4E5IjwlMk3zpeyu3LKJ5kpraoSs5XnVgmOv6S-ah7im5v_PrqhR1_8ZhrJEvHnfVYR6sT8n8jWkeV8Bhy2VpyKrRtFJ55h7-FIAb_Zen7e4sS794Kgy_KleN2qrsmR7xSPqEe8ybZiZ/s1600/IMG_3920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikO4E5IjwlMk3zpeyu3LKJ5kpraoSs5XnVgmOv6S-ah7im5v_PrqhR1_8ZhrJEvHnfVYR6sT8n8jWkeV8Bhy2VpyKrRtFJ55h7-FIAb_Zen7e4sS794Kgy_KleN2qrsmR7xSPqEe8ybZiZ/s640/IMG_3920.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">ENJOY YOUR CHEESE!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-21324680792367584002015-12-22T22:02:00.001+00:002016-03-01T14:19:09.741+00:002015 ends and modern Jerusalem trends at The Palomar<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLy1w8IO5uDvdRa5Gx6iLh2IcPtL5nKroEHbCea3MxFXWtXXvshhYu89rtl_iWTks3soQV2jaYWYRY0UenBj_IGMWTRfe6jhnLh3sS5NJ30XCcLtT8OfWHIwYc8JvEgUx6vc-L7zAqU7Xx/s1600/IMG_2997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLy1w8IO5uDvdRa5Gx6iLh2IcPtL5nKroEHbCea3MxFXWtXXvshhYu89rtl_iWTks3soQV2jaYWYRY0UenBj_IGMWTRfe6jhnLh3sS5NJ30XCcLtT8OfWHIwYc8JvEgUx6vc-L7zAqU7Xx/s320/IMG_2997.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you ever have those moments
when you realise that you have utterly lost any semblance of balance?! Apparently
there are 8,760 hours in the average year and on the eve of Christmas Eve, as I
stare at my uncharacteristically empty inbox and minimal to-do list in bewilderment,
I surmise that the vast majority of these hours have, to a frighteningly significant
degree, been spent either working or sleeping…yet again! As if we didn’t
already know it, New Year’s resolutions are THE most pointless of ambitions,
doomed only to failure unless yours was to wisely accept their futility and not
bother.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9U7E4dNlTVXbSo43T-te2Sij8KlrkK405lxTd4oHoGdgOHpENfhElKISF_sDVjj_5MfaCDrIAM5V0bpbpfEZKrj_kCYZVimEOT2G_fTfoBQnNygJIF5SB-VChdY5p3J8g7mGJcQHckU3o/s1600/IMG_2987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9U7E4dNlTVXbSo43T-te2Sij8KlrkK405lxTd4oHoGdgOHpENfhElKISF_sDVjj_5MfaCDrIAM5V0bpbpfEZKrj_kCYZVimEOT2G_fTfoBQnNygJIF5SB-VChdY5p3J8g7mGJcQHckU3o/s320/IMG_2987.JPG" width="320" /></a>This year, I have travelled to
23 cities across 12 countries, I’ve given up at least 10 whole weekends to
celebrate other peoples life choices (you’re welcome, by the way!), I’ve barely
missed any birthday bashes (again, you’re welcome!), I’ve smashed 3 long
weekends away (though I’m still not sure if Liverpool and Manchester count!), I’ve
napped my way through 2 holidays and thoroughly enjoyed 1 staycation; and in
between all of this, I’ve somehow managed to squeeze in a little (not enough)
time with the dear family. In order to achieve all of the aforementioned, I’ve endured
cramped planes and chaotic airports full of folk who still don’t seem to
understand the concept of a security check; I’ve nursed a gin-in-a-tin on the
floor of countless delayed and/or overcrowded trains (often with my face
pressed up against the toilet door), I’ve lived by the rules of our sweaty tubes
(and tube strikes), I’ve borne the brunt of inexplicably expensive taxis (Uber
just doesn’t quite stretch to the shires!), and I’ve raved like a lunatic to
the lyrics to Reel 2 Real’s “I Like To Move It” in a fit of bored delirium on the
M25 (enough said!). I suppose then, that with an average 6 hours of sleep on a
school night, plus 7 – 9 hours on a weekend (4 - 5 hours if working abroad and
seemingly the same at the parental gaff if my mother and her hoover have
anything to do with it!), I’ve spent a smidgen under 60% of my year working and
sleeping (approximately 5,184 hours if you want to get scientific about it!).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirznrqA_xuOFkQrYMb5cB-HJFXFFYHu9XyUMguC-JGA80MyblEpw5tMj6Doz927IV5I2pYC6Vf5HoD8z3mGZU5k3rHEMlN9C_pyhsxKNAtahKCHdzkYRLr77FoJyEBn9hrNB3N4q6_Dk5q/s1600/IMG_2986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirznrqA_xuOFkQrYMb5cB-HJFXFFYHu9XyUMguC-JGA80MyblEpw5tMj6Doz927IV5I2pYC6Vf5HoD8z3mGZU5k3rHEMlN9C_pyhsxKNAtahKCHdzkYRLr77FoJyEBn9hrNB3N4q6_Dk5q/s320/IMG_2986.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To follow this train of
thought, if 60% of 2015 has been work and sleep, then I’m almost certain that I
could justify the remaining 40% of the year on eating. OK, OK, perhaps this is
closer to 25% once I also take into account the 7% of time spent quaffing of
beer or bubbles about town, 5% loafing around my flat with abysmal hair and
smelly breath, and 3% on sundry chores including washing, shopping, and cooking
etc. One of the eateries that has made it onto my culinary map this year and is
certainly a worthy contributor to my 25% activity share (unlike those few who achieve
nothing more than to steal my time and money), is <b><a href="http://thepalomar.co.uk/">The Palomar</a></b>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8Djipa_CIUFDldzeJ1giFS0oYmw4M2dj5u4GOh4lIhgj5rXEYKwkhwpjQl1murhgtFvHO7VvJwZgR6vcyeDOQxGNP6NhvmFFfI3V3z1TcfUH0eKKbnvaHRK2rZkVNu7vKOQVgkkxVurH/s1600/IMG_2993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8Djipa_CIUFDldzeJ1giFS0oYmw4M2dj5u4GOh4lIhgj5rXEYKwkhwpjQl1murhgtFvHO7VvJwZgR6vcyeDOQxGNP6NhvmFFfI3V3z1TcfUH0eKKbnvaHRK2rZkVNu7vKOQVgkkxVurH/s320/IMG_2993.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When it opened in May 2014, the
inevitable hype was a little too much for me to bear, so I aimed to put it off
for at least 6 months – unfortunately for me, I let this slip to over a year
though, which meant that I allowed over 8,760 hours disappear without ever
experiencing the somewhat hidden delights of modern Jewish food! This place is not all hummus
and matzah balls – you will find a <b>Pork Belly Tajine </b>with
Res el Hanout, dried apricots and Israeli cous cous for £16 and <b>Seared Scallops </b>with a cured lemon beurre blanc, Swiss
chard, Jerusalem artichoke and a hazelnut tuille for £14.50, both with unmistakably
Middle Eastern flavours and both certainly not kosher! The <b>Corn-Fed
Chicken Two Ways</b> (buttermilk fried and stroganoffed) for £15 was
right up my strasse and if I might I say so, the <b>Yiddish
Bruschetta </b>with chicken liver pate (£6) was to die for. The bijou
<b><a href="http://thepalomar.co.uk/food">menu </a></b>is all served up as a series of small dishes on crockery that could have
come from your Grandmothers cupboard, and to dine at the counter is both vibrant
and voyeuristic – the chefs cook in complete calm as they swiftly create mini masterpieces
in between taking a shot with you and generally enjoying your presence! It's not the cheapest culinary discovery, especially when you consider the tapas style dining, but believe me, it's ethnic fine dining at its best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I should confess at this point,
that Middle Eastern food is not traditionally a cuisine I would fight you for.
All those tajines are too stewy for me, cous cous is just neither here nor
there (flavourless and bitty), aubergine should be banished to the fiery swamps
of death, and does hummus really have to be everywhere?! How wrong I was in
this instance though! The plating was contemporary, the flavours were fused,
cohesive and vibrant in a way that truly represents a global cuisine; and the experience was impeccable. Now, I am no expert on
Jewish food, but I genuinely walk out the door feeling a newfound desire to
explore Sephardic fine dining – I guess in London, <b><a href="http://www.ottolenghi.co.uk/">Yotam Ottolenghi</a></b> is the
closest thing for me to hit up next! Watch this space, I am quickly becoming a
convert. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
The morals of today's story then:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Soho triumphs yet again!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Modern Sephardic food is so much more than you imagine or expect it to be, I promise</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next time you complain at me for not making enough effort, remember that I only achieved 5% relaxation time this year!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Perhaps I should spend more than 3% of 2016 on washing!</span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI5R5-UEilF8AGYhw5n36FnrNL15vMdXtKlK7_cLPHpO_XJfIqnUgHcJrCBaTirNuuGRLRYzb5iEyg9qTdnQNfHGN5-4jNtoVEVH5nKbko-wnrlPGZjyFZ09bO4ky5d-eovK-vfuEZdCV/s1600/IMG_2989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwI5R5-UEilF8AGYhw5n36FnrNL15vMdXtKlK7_cLPHpO_XJfIqnUgHcJrCBaTirNuuGRLRYzb5iEyg9qTdnQNfHGN5-4jNtoVEVH5nKbko-wnrlPGZjyFZ09bO4ky5d-eovK-vfuEZdCV/s640/IMG_2989.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMYlX-52yNfvQQnuqMNoLflz9Ph8_wKpHVSaLDQrQq9YSDDDa4k3tP2GROY7If8djgTcHRf5Lzn8C7sQmXAtBIR54EoKTZ-hhgPKayO7zgqAO61Ni4AF2tIEGktv5agQBveoUJPkNTL8M/s1600/IMG_2991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMYlX-52yNfvQQnuqMNoLflz9Ph8_wKpHVSaLDQrQq9YSDDDa4k3tP2GROY7If8djgTcHRf5Lzn8C7sQmXAtBIR54EoKTZ-hhgPKayO7zgqAO61Ni4AF2tIEGktv5agQBveoUJPkNTL8M/s640/IMG_2991.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Beef Tartare</b> (hand chopped rump steak, burnt aubergine cream, josperized tomato viniagrette, toasted almonds and crispy Jerusalem artichoke (£9.00)</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqys0qnpVfMaWBuHknQ9W_hVlRH8-cxRG-epjJgUIGiy5PwsMpt-o5Fzo2yaQB3h_Z4ux5gBmWBZeis9_dlFOon3DCXkWWM7GOUJBb_wxVkc5OUGaYoLXXdo4YMm4VYPktK_4qk41mboWt/s1600/IMG_2990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqys0qnpVfMaWBuHknQ9W_hVlRH8-cxRG-epjJgUIGiy5PwsMpt-o5Fzo2yaQB3h_Z4ux5gBmWBZeis9_dlFOon3DCXkWWM7GOUJBb_wxVkc5OUGaYoLXXdo4YMm4VYPktK_4qk41mboWt/s640/IMG_2990.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Yiddish Bruschetta</b> with chicken liver pate (£6.00)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLAteRnhfJQieTTA5dZzGRn7IdwmeacAE7Hxf4uQH4g30bXgFikSGv1bz0IMj2wovs7YJqutQzn5I94TO3EcXMroayiF41-WGwM_b7OOHfzK-Q3xjPRXQeyI3GLreO7JEPFqheUnHJMq9/s1600/IMG_2992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLAteRnhfJQieTTA5dZzGRn7IdwmeacAE7Hxf4uQH4g30bXgFikSGv1bz0IMj2wovs7YJqutQzn5I94TO3EcXMroayiF41-WGwM_b7OOHfzK-Q3xjPRXQeyI3GLreO7JEPFqheUnHJMq9/s640/IMG_2992.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>A Date with Endive & Chicory</b> with blue stilton, walnuts and apples (£8.00)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWy26KSPZFWBZreeZ03i2XzUect4MAvtl5g-Rexf_tQXWXRdcqi7JdUxipzed89coLRL3YSywd8a428pTl0_fq5vTQfWhv2oCdVwslT9PlLVqODsmZ81obiCJvoRlrlE74o5hdacUMlU4/s1600/IMG_2994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWy26KSPZFWBZreeZ03i2XzUect4MAvtl5g-Rexf_tQXWXRdcqi7JdUxipzed89coLRL3YSywd8a428pTl0_fq5vTQfWhv2oCdVwslT9PlLVqODsmZ81obiCJvoRlrlE74o5hdacUMlU4/s640/IMG_2994.JPG" width="504" /></span></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmyQ1fmq0Ssp2uPqm8xf0EdnvB1HmEnoANZcaznd0cQTDee_4DafTjhotmDKAGkJh-4hGE2JH9nxF2cb5h-oBh0U8I-5eiRuQ7GO7rZUirzlg8wsUEKDSCeGoc2n47NJ5yK7UKZl0kbVo/s1600/IMG_2995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmyQ1fmq0Ssp2uPqm8xf0EdnvB1HmEnoANZcaznd0cQTDee_4DafTjhotmDKAGkJh-4hGE2JH9nxF2cb5h-oBh0U8I-5eiRuQ7GO7rZUirzlg8wsUEKDSCeGoc2n47NJ5yK7UKZl0kbVo/s640/IMG_2995.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Shakshukit </b>(de-constructed kebab, minced meat, yoghurt, tahini, "The Four Tops" and Yaeli's pita (£11.00)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1SxkS1hk_A474qkXouJftp_Kq3cMLLrndlnWlNpjlaRZvWjDC8pZni0qsgZ003dVaoV5eLoMoE7qPvfkN1x99Eks5TaIUDAmUmo_J8yzYHD3MnT9s4ahaRP86Zg3QOtiY-FUO3NBYuU_/s1600/IMG_2996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1SxkS1hk_A474qkXouJftp_Kq3cMLLrndlnWlNpjlaRZvWjDC8pZni0qsgZ003dVaoV5eLoMoE7qPvfkN1x99Eks5TaIUDAmUmo_J8yzYHD3MnT9s4ahaRP86Zg3QOtiY-FUO3NBYuU_/s640/IMG_2996.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>C<span style="font-size: small;">orn Fed Chicken Two Ways</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"> (buttermilk fried and stroganoffed, mixed spice and tenderstem broccoli with freekeh (£15.00) </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/the-palomar?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of The Palomar"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=1b9ab68bcc284d848149777c912e8b73" height="125" width="230" /></a> <a href="https://www.zomato.com/london/the-palomar-chinatown" target="_blank" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about The Palomar, Chinatown and other Restaurants in London"><img alt="The Palomar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/6122355/biglink" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0; width: 200px;" /></a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-56473235738473558332015-11-29T11:43:00.001+00:002016-01-08T15:56:37.051+00:00Why Jackson & Rye...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5jUljDA1VhTzkxUGnSvKNm17l5-SYBBTlnz3JB_must9b4YUYbsuTmMA1s44eMw834C01v55WkFS8RW-J0uDts2UI0f3vhyxKqi3-XPguYCrBYGJruifY6WnfTO3i0_7NHZcFzZCTMyr/s1600/Jackson+Rye.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5jUljDA1VhTzkxUGnSvKNm17l5-SYBBTlnz3JB_must9b4YUYbsuTmMA1s44eMw834C01v55WkFS8RW-J0uDts2UI0f3vhyxKqi3-XPguYCrBYGJruifY6WnfTO3i0_7NHZcFzZCTMyr/s200/Jackson+Rye.PNG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Formally THE gritty sex pit of London, famed for its backdoor parties and sideshow debauchery, this city enclave may have swallowed a little too much mouthwash in recent years, but it's still a murky mecca for the masses! Soho covers an area no more than one square mile in the heart of the West End, south of Oxford Street mayhem, east of Mayfair sensibility, west of Covent Garden theatrics and north of Leicester Square insanity - there is debate as to whether Chinatown falls within the Soho borders of curiosity, but with such a similar tapestry of colourful soul and hardened charm, who am I deny its automatic in with the cool kids?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hot totty, tourists, tramps and trendy tribes all flock to the streets of Soho in search of their own personal brand of hedonism. Artisan chocolate shops, elite private members clubs and Michelin starred restaurants all co-exist in complete harmony with the sex shops, fag stained historic boozers and pokey street cafes; similarly, vintage vinyl outlets, bespoke milliners and vibrant fabric emporiums clutter the same postcode with pumping gay clubs, pop up dive bars and ever popular no-bookings eateries. Roads close to pedestrians on occasional weekends, bijou festivals attract a specific kind of hipster (not to be confused with the Shoreditch toff, you understand!), and every night positively buzzes in a haze of cigarette smoke, noisy revellers, disorientated theatregoers and experimental diners. For the gin guzzling gluttonous foodie such as myself, Soho offers the perfect balance between salubrious quaffing, boisterous jubilation and insatiable scoffing (it's also close enough to my office to also be a shining beacon of après work frolicking).</span><br />
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Try as I might, not even I can keep up with the flood of new openings in this, the other square mile, especially while also trying to conquer Greater London; infact, one could spend a lifetime gallivanting and gorging around this metropolis without ever fully keeping up with the ever changing social scene. As I wade through my carefully considered hit list, ruthlessly avoiding all chain restaurants and homogenous conglomerates as I go, I arrive for the third time at <a href="http://www.jacksonrye.com/"><strong>Jackson & Rye</strong></a> on Wardour Street.</span><br />
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Opened way back now in December 2013, I have eased into this American inspired brasserie by way of a pitstop snack, breakfast grits and a proper dinner (not all on the same day or in that particular order, I hasten to add!). I fear it's about time then, that I weighed in with my thoughts, starting very sensibly, with breakfast.</span><br />
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GRITS! Need I say any more, except that they're sweet and only £4.50?!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuSMzMf37FMBsQWyzPFtHyTnnGhcj4vD2-UbIvdVTWee4BvMr7FxDNvl1fTX9qxiWECEaUv0P6R26zc2Gyqh70HqQ1t43pJhioGe7cp93wWYujTWP92hrCkajiNYIeHc_vGZUS0_zlUXd/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuSMzMf37FMBsQWyzPFtHyTnnGhcj4vD2-UbIvdVTWee4BvMr7FxDNvl1fTX9qxiWECEaUv0P6R26zc2Gyqh70HqQ1t43pJhioGe7cp93wWYujTWP92hrCkajiNYIeHc_vGZUS0_zlUXd/s320/003.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
OK, I guess I should also say that the Buttermilk Pancakes (£5.95) are suitably decadent while the range of eggs is enviable, paying perfect homage to the New York roots that inspired this particular brand of Manhattan speakeasy (incidentally, it's not just the menu that tells you a story, but also the interior that has been carefully executed by <a href="http://www.mbds.com/"><strong>Martin Brudnizki</strong></a>, with a minimalist and masculine art deco vibe). Designed perfectly, with a huge glass window pane at street level allowing passers by to have a nosey, this brasserie is as equally inviting for breakfast as it is for light bites and bar snacks, but also dinner. Up front is a café style dining room, with a variety of twosome tables and comfy leather bar stools that really encourage people to sit. Out back and downstairs, you will find the larger more intimate brasserie dining rooms.</span><br />
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuSMzMf37FMBsQWyzPFtHyTnnGhcj4vD2-UbIvdVTWee4BvMr7FxDNvl1fTX9qxiWECEaUv0P6R26zc2Gyqh70HqQ1t43pJhioGe7cp93wWYujTWP92hrCkajiNYIeHc_vGZUS0_zlUXd/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my humble opinion, snacks and dinner cannot really be written about as one here because the appetizers, sides and extras here are far superior to the mains. Now, the grill is good, but when standing next to the likes of Pan Fried Scallops (£8.95), Truffled Mac & Cheese (£6.95), Ham Hock & Pea Terrine (£5.95) and Crunchy Chorizo Prawns (£7.50), nothing else can quite compete. I want to stop there, but I just can't! The Grilled Shrimp & Grits (£7.25) are outstanding enough to warrant subtle dribbling, the Cajun Spiced Sweet Potato Fries (£3.95) are sublime simplicity in a bowl, and the Truffle Arancini (£3.95) sits on the most superb parmesan cream cheese.</span><br />
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It really doesn't help me that I'm starving as I write this...</span><br />
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Love Soho! Eat Soho!</span><br />
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PS. Jackson & Rye opened in Richmond in October 2014, so if the West End is not west enough for you, why not head to TW9.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/jackson-and-rye?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Jackson & Rye Wardour Street"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=6ca9aad6f6134222a1a3b26151bf294f" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="https://www.zomato.com/london/jackson-rye-soho" target="_blank" title="View Menu, Reviews, Photos & Information about Jackson + Rye, Soho and other Restaurants in London"><img alt="Jackson + Rye Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/6119451/biglink" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0; width: 200px;" /></a> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-67660197084624479562015-08-23T20:24:00.002+01:002016-01-08T15:57:34.449+00:00Hush(sshhhhh, it's a hidden Mayfair gem!)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I suspect that in any given week, I recommend Lancashire Court to at least five people, whether this be to colleagues, associates, acquaintances or friends, either by email, social media or my big mouth! I absolutely love it, with all it's cobbled glory, tucked away off New Bond Street (or Brook Street if you're coming in from the other direction!), crammed inbetween buildings on all sides and almost entirely immune to the hapless foot traffic of the average tourist. It's never anything less than a hive of apres workers, seated comfortably and happy to be sinking into whatever boozy potion takes their fancy...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxBz5K3_Y35xjIJuMevSF58zSCb70M2cLZn1CxDDZoqatYsAbStJUgBxD7WbXXDzSvraD36OTnYup5bRyd7Q6OdT5j8mc9aMqNYv3Pk09yeZQSDmFfFcpUJX3Z_FO9bGObvxLORU9HeJy/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxBz5K3_Y35xjIJuMevSF58zSCb70M2cLZn1CxDDZoqatYsAbStJUgBxD7WbXXDzSvraD36OTnYup5bRyd7Q6OdT5j8mc9aMqNYv3Pk09yeZQSDmFfFcpUJX3Z_FO9bGObvxLORU9HeJy/s320/072.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're coming in from New Bond Street, you will turn right into an alley alive with the sound of diners from both <b><a href="http://www.mewsofmayfair.com/">Mews of Mayfair</a></b> (left) and <b><a href="http://www.mayfairpizzaco.com/">Mayfair Pizza Co.</a></b> (right), which offer fine brasserie dining and a superb wine list or mezze sharing plates and plush pizza respectively. Formally Rocket, <a href="http://www.mayfairpizzaco.com/">Mayfair Pizza Co.</a> was opened by <a href="http://www.mewsofmayfair.com/">Mews of Mayfair</a>, so this alley quite literally represents different sides of the same coin! Adding to the party, Mews also has a bijou art gallery and a tiny private dining room in a wine cellar, aptly named le Cave; for the more discerning hob nobber, there is also tiny basement club downstairs, open until late and free-flowing with Champagne usually (being bubble drunk allows one to forget how sweaty basements always are when dancing, regardless of how posh the establishment!). Quite honestly, Mews is a triumphant brasserie, paying homage to British fare and rejoicing in simplicity, executed perfectly. Well worth a visit if you're willing to splash the cash a little (not <a href="http://www.noburestaurants.com/london/experience/introduction/">Nobu</a>, <a href="http://feraatclaridges.co.uk/">Fera at Claridges</a> or <a href="http://www.the-connaught.co.uk/mayfair-restaurants/helene-darroze/">Helene Darroze at The Connaught</a> sort of cash, rather more <a href="http://thetrusocial.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/sometimes-i-wonder-how-much-my.html">Holborn Dining Room</a>, <a href="http://thetrusocial.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/fusion.html">Chotto Matte</a> and <a href="http://thetrusocial.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/berners-tavern-shows-atherton-soaring.html">Berners Tavern</a> type of respectable spend!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you can wade through the narrow impasse between the aforementioned hoards of diners and apres work drinkers, you will reach <b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.hush.co.uk/">Hush Mayfair</a></span></b>. Similarly, if you enter Lancashire Court from Brook Street, you will avoid said gulley negotiations and reach the same spot - unlike <a href="http://www.mewsofmayfair.com/">Mews of Mayfair</a> or <a href="http://www.mayfairpizzaco.com/">Mayfair Pizza Co.</a>, which both share the alley, <b><a href="http://www.hush.co.uk/">Hush </a></b>occupies the entire open courtyard. Guarded from any roaming or transient diners sauntering between three eateries, the majority is laden with astroturf and a white picket fence, not to mention huge canopies (yes, it rains a lot here even when it's summer and even when it's hot!). Alfresco dining is emblematic of this location, with all three restaurants offering multiple spaces to suit your every whim - cocktail lounges and private rooms included.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamRsHKws_1ITN5mN2t2GD6Q8P3epCHJJlRUxqHuAG3v4-rYVtBjTxvzdsib5pmcmDxi45I5Cl0UGWsFmXrcnPw9-egynSlXYLvAAXRAnKwhbjoMkD2R040WfzEl-PH9B-km7fuIvTNeWP/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamRsHKws_1ITN5mN2t2GD6Q8P3epCHJJlRUxqHuAG3v4-rYVtBjTxvzdsib5pmcmDxi45I5Cl0UGWsFmXrcnPw9-egynSlXYLvAAXRAnKwhbjoMkD2R040WfzEl-PH9B-km7fuIvTNeWP/s320/064.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a food blogger, I would ordinarily like to start with a rant about the food, but on this occasion, I must first stop at the drinks...well, one drink in particular! The Chenin Blanc & Elderflower Spritzer is unequivocally the best drink I may have ever had - who knew that violet liqueur is such a extraordinarily good thing?! I appreciate that this is a bold statement, but I'm wholeheartedly willing to stand by it, just so long as the lemonade is replaced with soda water (lemonade makes it all far too sweet for my taste!). I've tried others and while my friends thoroughly enjoyed them, I now cannot deviate from this perfect combination of liquids in a giant goblet sized wine glass. Stop me now, for I need not go on and you really don't need any more information...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the sake of all you folk who may also be interested in eating though, I shall pay brief homage to the thoughtful European selection of dishes, presented well and cooked very nicely. I really enjoyed the Lobster Macaroni, but at £16.50 for a small copper pot of it, this is an expensive starter priced like a main course, and for the love of gluttony, far too undersized to pretend to be your main dish (unless you are Kate Moss of course, who believes that skinny tastes better!). The Wild Mushroom Arancini + Truffle Mayonnaise (£4.50) was much more sensibly priced and very tasty indeed - the fact that the mushroom was a little overpowered by the dominant truffle is absolutely a very first world problem and one that I was very happy with as a fan of truffle! Aspen Fries tossed in parmesan and truffle oil (£5.75) tasted thrice cooked, crispy and full of flavour - win! Similarly the Rare Tuna was delicate and fresh, tossed in a soy & ginger dressing with greens - exactly what it said on the tin!</span><br />
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I cannot alude too far to the main courses because every time I visit Hush, I find myself covering every inch of my table in appetizers to share! All the while inhaling the delights of my ultimately divine Chenin Blanc and Elderflower Spritzer...sheer perfection and worth every penny of my £8, though I'm sure they were only £5.95 last year! Competing with Mews of Mayfair next door, no doubt...<br />
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I'll be in again w/c 1 September and am already counting down the days! Thanks, you're epic!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rare tuna with soy & ginger dressing (£13.50 / £19.50)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIeIBhdqHFyQ0PVhCPUewc1ZlWQtaAVQRmRrAC0LqY_OrytEsD0yC2a8CNY6wAlNS2CwvAgXsXeeOq3CxgpQ6VWq2F0TYJhecEwK9WGOnYCOxTPxLIuKRmgMF8KXBxXTfi50vtZo_pVsr/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIeIBhdqHFyQ0PVhCPUewc1ZlWQtaAVQRmRrAC0LqY_OrytEsD0yC2a8CNY6wAlNS2CwvAgXsXeeOq3CxgpQ6VWq2F0TYJhecEwK9WGOnYCOxTPxLIuKRmgMF8KXBxXTfi50vtZo_pVsr/s640/067.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild mushroom arancini with truffle mayonnaise (£4.50)<br />
Parmesan fried courgette with herb mayonnaise (£4.50)<br />
Aspen fries (£5.95)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobster macaroni (£16.50)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZJAB0pFYm7u3dhE498rl3m2_shT0pdW4v1oDtr3h5dgWl6D5aHq0IG38YSA8otdM-nSsmXevF-Il8g5lJrid9GpANESZXiyBslMR9AADs0kcWBhouPB-n6d7I3sNV_hHedmcPXRZQpC7/s1600/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZJAB0pFYm7u3dhE498rl3m2_shT0pdW4v1oDtr3h5dgWl6D5aHq0IG38YSA8otdM-nSsmXevF-Il8g5lJrid9GpANESZXiyBslMR9AADs0kcWBhouPB-n6d7I3sNV_hHedmcPXRZQpC7/s400/069.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtyard - Lancashire Court</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFVzL3TQ1J5pvCDd0rF2fcFfZI_BUOTJhqfF1rAAhTRSdOEYRPwCOVPZ777INGPokMlYd_T6TLHBTXsqhB5cjT2VNiP8Jb1YJ1z3DgkpgUQEQFeukbFk1TJizCS3hU1iy94vd6rkvAe6D/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFVzL3TQ1J5pvCDd0rF2fcFfZI_BUOTJhqfF1rAAhTRSdOEYRPwCOVPZ777INGPokMlYd_T6TLHBTXsqhB5cjT2VNiP8Jb1YJ1z3DgkpgUQEQFeukbFk1TJizCS3hU1iy94vd6rkvAe6D/s400/070.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brasserie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqKpN8-xjpGmyzm4EA4HF3p4wHFe73Q5d9fkVUI5hEDaLE__QCnpU3N9DTyvcthdAz7Mbdf66bRx3sCsqGSr3E_CXWpHzTAtQDhGJKsiy6qcM1bBmCZOYst8DCGT5hhDt5MpFpangbj2w/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqKpN8-xjpGmyzm4EA4HF3p4wHFe73Q5d9fkVUI5hEDaLE__QCnpU3N9DTyvcthdAz7Mbdf66bRx3sCsqGSr3E_CXWpHzTAtQDhGJKsiy6qcM1bBmCZOYst8DCGT5hhDt5MpFpangbj2w/s400/071.JPG" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladies lav!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.zomato.com/london/hush-mayfair" target="_blank"><img alt="Click to add a blog post for Hush on Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/6117141/ibiglink" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a>
<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/hush?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Hush"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=0cfd922d8e704594aa264d4cfb4a86ed" height="125" width="230" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-3938633212081125212015-08-14T15:17:00.001+01:002016-01-08T15:57:40.140+00:00From Camden to Springfield by way of Bayou Soul!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqHd-ebNVMw2qpIXF89iAkePq6hQd9y7XTq4QF_WoVARQuee3RLE83PKdolfVByKICRYqnQmdvklStYBNMYtQ_wEJVcqSPlFSsjiUY7jyiDdX95L2nz8AK7rLkyI3ILVHvC7Cgmjj9Fzl/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqHd-ebNVMw2qpIXF89iAkePq6hQd9y7XTq4QF_WoVARQuee3RLE83PKdolfVByKICRYqnQmdvklStYBNMYtQ_wEJVcqSPlFSsjiUY7jyiDdX95L2nz8AK7rLkyI3ILVHvC7Cgmjj9Fzl/s320/047.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, despite living around the corner from Camden (5 minutes by tube obviously now equates to around the corner because I've been living in London for too long and compared to the average 40 - 60 minute trek, this is but a stones throw away from my bed!), I rarely get too excited about the culinary scene outside of the plentiful, varied and colourful grab and go grub around Stables Markets, Camden Lock and inbetween! Thus far too, this has been entirely acceptable because there are many other weird and wonderful delights worth hitting up here, namely a sand filled, deck chair clad, container chic city beach at <b><a href="http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/2015/camden-beach/camden-beach/">Camden Beach</a></b> on the mezzanine roof of the Roundhouse; outdoor movies at <a href="http://www.backyardcinema.co.uk/"><b>Back Yard Cinema</b></a> tucked up a side street off Camden Lock, and vintage hair styling at <b><a href="http://www.dappaboutique.com/">Dappa Boutique</a> </b>to name but a few!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More recently, edible treats have gotten a little more exciting and atop of the pizza slice, chow mein and fajita classics, emblematic of the markets, you can now explore liquid nitro ice cream at <b><a href="http://www.chinchinlabs.com/">Chin Chin Labs</a></b>, and gorge on some of the nicest burgers outside of the otherwise superior <b><a href="http://meatliquor.com/">MEATliquor</a></b> empire at the ever wonderful <b><a href="http://www.hacheburgers.com/">Hache</a></b>, hiding discretely up Inverness Street. Hell, even Gordon Ramsey has opened a beach hut at the <a href="https://www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com/york-and-albany/whats-on/summer-cabin/"><b>York & Albany</b></a>! I've also had a pretty superb night eating crocodile, boar, ostrich, springbok, boerwors and zebra, beating my way through a drum workshop at Shaka Zulu (while this particular restaurant is dark and atmospheric, it's absolutely huge by cavernous proportions and may lack vibes if it's not a busy night, so be warned!). I was most recently in search of soul food though, inspired by an earlier trip to America (see next para), so off I trotted, back to Inverness Street to a self-proclaimed mecca for all things southern comfort. <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://thebayoucamden.com/">Bayou Soul </a></b></span>opened in June last year (2014) as an all-day Creole bar serving up a variety of Southern American chow, tipples and live tunes.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQGQOdBNKN8xcF4SiUgBPCPyy7kVA4X0c2WRtl24h4mju1m4ZXUE5MBvEKFjS4JMksKtI9mUuGxPIc45JLz4hT-rmJXmx5Gr_2ribYwmBPGmZFatXNjGCND7Yk_8ezv73FUQIu_1ViX6T/s1600/IMG_3060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1KlEcX4ihbOoIfmqMMl1sM3PeHpC_q0x4eGt5tXhS1hxnljI0cyg6-J8LHBZFTZINQ1TmAsZ5De0k65GGVLIHeBQBfJjSbyUvofSeCPh5Bpp2NrbucA7iuQpZ78CrAabBpR9NDVrVWh3/s1600/IMG_3059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1KlEcX4ihbOoIfmqMMl1sM3PeHpC_q0x4eGt5tXhS1hxnljI0cyg6-J8LHBZFTZINQ1TmAsZ5De0k65GGVLIHeBQBfJjSbyUvofSeCPh5Bpp2NrbucA7iuQpZ78CrAabBpR9NDVrVWh3/s320/IMG_3059.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To set the scene and give some context to this craving: in March of 2014, I found myself in the buttsend of Springfield, Massachusetts (don't ask!), and despite the resounding loss of social stability in a town once famed for many an innovation, invention or creation (the first American musket was made here, if you're interested!), there were still a few morsels of sheer joy to be found. GRITS! Yes, you heard me...Double Cheese Grits & Cornmeal Coated Catfish in particular ($12.95). What an unbridled pleasure and how pleased I was to add to the already bulging catalogue of most loved foodstuffs - evidently, it seems that peasant food from around the world is most frequently what I rave about the most and now, who would've thought that mushy cornmeal could taste so good?! British pies, Caribbean plantain, Polish pierogi, Spanish omelette, Italian pasta, French cheese, Canadian poutine, Swedish meatballs, Indian paratha, Nepali momo, and now grits! The list just relentlessly keeps growing! Thank you <b><a href="http://www.chefwaynes-bigmamou.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Big Mamou</span></a></b> for broadening my horizons in the least anticipated city I've ever visited!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQGQOdBNKN8xcF4SiUgBPCPyy7kVA4X0c2WRtl24h4mju1m4ZXUE5MBvEKFjS4JMksKtI9mUuGxPIc45JLz4hT-rmJXmx5Gr_2ribYwmBPGmZFatXNjGCND7Yk_8ezv73FUQIu_1ViX6T/s1600/IMG_3060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQGQOdBNKN8xcF4SiUgBPCPyy7kVA4X0c2WRtl24h4mju1m4ZXUE5MBvEKFjS4JMksKtI9mUuGxPIc45JLz4hT-rmJXmx5Gr_2ribYwmBPGmZFatXNjGCND7Yk_8ezv73FUQIu_1ViX6T/s200/IMG_3060.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Incidentally, if you ever happen to very randomly find yourself passing through Springfield, MA, it just so happens to be the national home of basketball, so you might want to visit the <a href="http://www.hoophall.com/" style="font-weight: bold;">Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame</a>; it's also the home of Dr. Suess, so a visit around the <b><a href="http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/">Springfield Museums</a></b> would'nt be the worst thing in the world to do either. Suffice it to say though, a culinary hotpot this was not, so the search for anything edible was a challenge. Aside from <a href="http://grits%21%20yes%2C%20you%20heard%20me...double%20cheese%20grits%20%26%20cornmeal%20coated%20catfish%20in%20particular%20%28%2412.95%29.%20what%20a%20sheer%20joy%20this%20was%20and%20how%20pleased%20i%20was%20to%20supplement%20my%20love%20of%20global%20peasant%20food%20with%20this%20buttery%20cornmeal%20-%20it%27s%20not%20just%20british%20pies%2C%20caribbean%20plantain%2C%20polish%20pierogi%2C%20spanish%20omlette%2C%20italian%20pasta%2C%20canadian%20poutine%2C%20swedish%20meatballs%20and%20nepali%20momo%20anymore%2C%20the%20list%20keeps%20growing%21%29.%20thank%20you%20big%20mamou%20for%20broadening%20my%20horizons%20in%20the%20least%20anticipated%20location%20i%27ve%20ever%20visited%21/">Big Mamou</a>, <b><a href="http://federalrestaurants.com/thefederal/">The Federal</a></b> in Agawam had the largest dishes of supremely delicious and finely cooked ingredients in the area [that I found], so if Mamou is where you have brunch, this should be where you should eat ALL your dinners!</span><br />
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Back to Camden then, I spied grits in a variety of forms at Bayou, so I was excited to be reminded of my American food porn find! The overall menu is a grand old thing here, oozing with jambalya, gumbo, Creole chicken and crawfish to name but a few delights. The website also screams authentic southern soul, with live blues and Mardri Gras jazz performances throughout the week, so what could possibly go wrong?!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tC3XjIdyparNmF_RHwWIX65yxRxMY_hSeKVuxc78RnlRhZjN4kgul2etMBFDtLC_qqW4KdavVWWO672CiEzngY-KIOCvZu-0MmnM68riV_Oq8g6-P_XrMPoIPPO8CII3G_7HM3cpF4y9/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tC3XjIdyparNmF_RHwWIX65yxRxMY_hSeKVuxc78RnlRhZjN4kgul2etMBFDtLC_qqW4KdavVWWO672CiEzngY-KIOCvZu-0MmnM68riV_Oq8g6-P_XrMPoIPPO8CII3G_7HM3cpF4y9/s320/048.JPG" width="320" /></a>What is going on with the décor please, kind sir?! I had hoped to be transported into a Creole creation in the heart of Cajun country. Instead, what I got, was one part dodge furniture store + two parts "what were you thinking?!" Not at all offensive you understand, but absolutely not what I had expected from one of the very few London-based US-of-A deep south inspired kitchens. Outside was great and promising, but inside was a little confused with a gold Baroque mirror, deep mauve walls, IKEA light fittings and contemporary striped upholstered seating. I'm frowning as I write this...<br />
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Décor aside, the cocktail menu was heavy on the Bourbon and suitably awesome! The gin-based Mardi Gras (£7.50) was a mouthwatering combination of gin, sake, grapes, lychee, lime and sugar (delicious, truly), and the New Orleans Fizz was superb (also £7.50). If I liked dark spirits, I would have gone mad for the Bacon & Maple Syrup Old Fashioned, Bayou Julep, New Orleans Dirty Mule and Sazerac. Quite frankly, the booze menu is brimming with enough subliminal perfection to keep you suitably inebriated in a haze of saxophone and piano tones for a week!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Y1gh7WaS8bIC721AmdWyH-ZJwa36fir1GYZ-FnONvSrls1FZh3_VIvYJvOw8JaGJ_gVW04z0x0N5o4xX-X5lHPHyCJzAhvPr16FZQWEJH5xKGCDAa8Y3yc-UWi2lW2zINIDcOUwp9FdY/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Y1gh7WaS8bIC721AmdWyH-ZJwa36fir1GYZ-FnONvSrls1FZh3_VIvYJvOw8JaGJ_gVW04z0x0N5o4xX-X5lHPHyCJzAhvPr16FZQWEJH5xKGCDAa8Y3yc-UWi2lW2zINIDcOUwp9FdY/s320/050.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spinach Madeleine (£7)<br />
Spinach, cheese & grits + tomato & parmesan croutons</td></tr>
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This may sound ridiculous, but the BBQ Shrimps (£7.50) were a little too fishy for my taste and the biscuits were a too hard compared to others I've tasted in the past, but might I say, everything else I shoved my face into was a delight! Spinach Madeleine (£7) was an epic way to serve cheesy and rich grits, while the Shrimp & Chicken Gumbo (£13 / £24) was wholesome, tasty and supremely comforting; and the Creole Chicken Burger (£11) was generous and succulent - it could've maybe had a little more flavour in the marinade and I wish the fries were either skin-on or sweet potato to add to the theme, but I'm remain relatively ambivalent. As an aside (quite literally!), all side dishes were a triumph at only £3 a pop...Mississippi Coleslaw, Creole Potatoes, Dirty Rice and Gritcakes. Super! The jeans that used to be loose on me can no longer be zipped up (much to my intense horror!), so it would've been one step too far to also try the Lobster & Crawfish Mac n Cheese (£16), but this doesn't stop the immense regret I continue to feel!<br />
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Overall, I love the concept of this place and I wish we could see more of it in London! I will be back for the live music, cocktails and aforementioned mac & cheese, but for pity's sake, can you please do something with the interior design?!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDew0iEsHNUhv9dpmVpjlI5ahVb1ea9dFIW5UXdWX45jtP2qDx29AwyxYA0GImfh3nipDtJ0SE3RR1IAlZJJt6iRdF31IjoqeKV7lHJRWc5iUA39HJ86tvrt9_1248T6AUoPPkMtT5HDUE/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDew0iEsHNUhv9dpmVpjlI5ahVb1ea9dFIW5UXdWX45jtP2qDx29AwyxYA0GImfh3nipDtJ0SE3RR1IAlZJJt6iRdF31IjoqeKV7lHJRWc5iUA39HJ86tvrt9_1248T6AUoPPkMtT5HDUE/s640/049.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BBQ Shrimps & Biscuit (£7.50)<br />
King prawns + garlic, white wine & chilli's + biscuits</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEsPTSVlEkkjylbIUP3_KnrZsy2gB8nxji1kGcveuUMVypRIopHORvuTYx_c8BosOHvkcMqNCOoBs8B28t2OfSvbR_Z7kaUoUPO_8_09u6nGcbUBMLxBOaP075Jr1nxgPpaPGKbLZ1U4l/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEsPTSVlEkkjylbIUP3_KnrZsy2gB8nxji1kGcveuUMVypRIopHORvuTYx_c8BosOHvkcMqNCOoBs8B28t2OfSvbR_Z7kaUoUPO_8_09u6nGcbUBMLxBOaP075Jr1nxgPpaPGKbLZ1U4l/s640/051.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken Creole (£11)<br />
Grilled Creole chicken fillet + chipotle mayonnaise + cheese</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowT-rOMKB8PyPmOb0aY6zsd7o84CjreCDKlRCP8IpI-poPb5FW3kpvlLmJMVfYzHQepMY5yII7A4MwXl8Mo_0AyArOSu0lKUtUrOKoCoQy6n-Ykrk6qkaZV7vIhNY5eFGgfyeiqplqAsW/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowT-rOMKB8PyPmOb0aY6zsd7o84CjreCDKlRCP8IpI-poPb5FW3kpvlLmJMVfYzHQepMY5yII7A4MwXl8Mo_0AyArOSu0lKUtUrOKoCoQy6n-Ykrk6qkaZV7vIhNY5eFGgfyeiqplqAsW/s640/052.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vegetable Gumbo (£13 / £24)<br />
Slow cooked casserole Louisana style + dirty rice</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHksEkuAwx-qIU06uPKza9WO4ucmzY1fLuuwBtNARAQPVgTfPnL09y_mCf3xQmGFbnHQyh6qbkSbSKdcg1QNqvfnQ8FAGqZC6aLIYYiTZwi95yWvwHdT2M-wZI0IdCwZXL2_7S5pKXEwHb/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHksEkuAwx-qIU06uPKza9WO4ucmzY1fLuuwBtNARAQPVgTfPnL09y_mCf3xQmGFbnHQyh6qbkSbSKdcg1QNqvfnQ8FAGqZC6aLIYYiTZwi95yWvwHdT2M-wZI0IdCwZXL2_7S5pKXEwHb/s640/053.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creole Potatoes (£3)</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.zomato.com/london/the-bayou-soul-camden-town" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Click to add a blog post for The Bayou Soul on Zomato" src="https://www.zomato.com/logo/6125250/ibiglink" style="border: none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/the-bayou?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of The Bayou "><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=43fe35a6bc7349729b8f9b8b80ae53f9" height="125" width="230" /></a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-87121882024337514252015-06-22T14:31:00.001+01:002016-01-08T17:16:17.019+00:00Popping up at The Dukes Head!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Between peak wedding season, birthday frolicking, the pub and party hustling prescribed by fine weather, and a perversely overloaded inbox at work, I have managed to entirely neglect my blog, almost altogether abandon social media and without reservation, taken a break from being that person who takes photos of food! In the hours before yet more pending nuptials though (first and only one of six this year that is local to London...hip hip hooray!), I find myself sitting here, getting lost in prose, nibbling on some homemade prawn har gau, waiting for the creases to fall out of my now already thrice worn matrimonial dress (no, I still don't own an iron and yes, I know I'm 33), and daydreaming about a newly discovered Ben & Jerry's ice cream (Satisfy My Bowl incase you're wondering - it's a heavenly combination of banana ice cream with caramel & cookie dough swirls and dark chocolate discs!). Where then, do I begin and which eatery do I write about today, with so much to catch you up on?! Closest to home first seems like a safe bet, so please walk with me to the <span style="font-size: large;"><strong><a href="http://www.thedukesheadhighgate.co.uk/">The Dukes Head</a> </strong></span>in Highgate for a craft beer, real ale and a revolving door of pop up kitchens...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLiW9R8oLtZ9jM85ShU5zJBs-9skQBByxhKxsfDFq8QHNCgsisESleg4VauadI2DR9wSL7loJjtDQ9WlgfkoYjGiQfkLQktpkKeTlmb8rdfCfS76LXS4Dur4g_zoBYPgzERKeF5_JUb0m/s1600/Colombian+menu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLiW9R8oLtZ9jM85ShU5zJBs-9skQBByxhKxsfDFq8QHNCgsisESleg4VauadI2DR9wSL7loJjtDQ9WlgfkoYjGiQfkLQktpkKeTlmb8rdfCfS76LXS4Dur4g_zoBYPgzERKeF5_JUb0m/s640/Colombian+menu.jpg" width="480" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A relatively small pub on Highgate High Street, my Saturday night is set to be a pretty chilled one and I find myself rather enjoying the inadvertent escapism from city hullabaloo. I'm drinking with locals again, where the staff are friendly, the bar stools are worn by the same asses from week to week, and there's at least one person propping up the bar, popping peanuts. It is infact exactly what a pub should be from the moment you walk in. So, why then do I only now realise how much I've missed it?! Why has it taken me nearly five years of gallivanting the finery's, dives, basements and penthouses in this fine town to feel at home in a regular boozer again!? Aside from the blatant endorsement of trendy craft beers and real ale du jour, not to mention the shrine to the local <b><a href="http://sacredspiritscompany.com/">Scared Gin</a></b> behind the bar (let's face it though, gin that is distilled in Highgate should be boasted about!), grabbing a drink at this pub was like putting an old pair of comfy socks on after your folks have lit the fire and baked cake!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bar staff indulged my lack of beer knowledge with glee by offering me a taste of my top three very random picks, which was greatly appreciated because when I say that my picks were random, I mean to clarify that I select craft beer like I do horses at the Grand National: by pretty colours and quirky names alone (surely I'm not the only one who does this?!). So happy I was with my final choice though, that before I knew it, I was on my fifth pint and feeling like a party would be an excellent idea. What happened next was not my fault and the last thing I recall before crawling into bed past 3am, was bobbing at a bus stop outside <b><a href="http://theboogaloo.co.uk/">Boogaloo</a></b>, probably dancing to my iPod and definitely boring the nuts off a complete stranger, all while halfheartedly dodging the rain!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcsn2YzgBsqoiwnvfkjpYBYshJhCMI2gIL886KjH7Fa_SAvvDit7QSmeyf2ENFaMoSy9gFqIz2WsRjb8S94cTaEzU0WicwM2X7drLHjDdg_JnjfsXC3oS0JJxG671AI_n2THxKGM12Uez/s1600/Colombian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcsn2YzgBsqoiwnvfkjpYBYshJhCMI2gIL886KjH7Fa_SAvvDit7QSmeyf2ENFaMoSy9gFqIz2WsRjb8S94cTaEzU0WicwM2X7drLHjDdg_JnjfsXC3oS0JJxG671AI_n2THxKGM12Uez/s320/Colombian.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoCXvnrndDNg0mNS3xoOalA-szY44jaPQcElMK62w366_znXEhpcfq6yKmst8TdrCfXmSC4-EOh-Th5lr-UXnhL1lPlcPYnvkmGUyJLlQiKywJsoIb-WGcYG40-AJy1ozTx81320VpvIe/s1600/Colombian+planatain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoCXvnrndDNg0mNS3xoOalA-szY44jaPQcElMK62w366_znXEhpcfq6yKmst8TdrCfXmSC4-EOh-Th5lr-UXnhL1lPlcPYnvkmGUyJLlQiKywJsoIb-WGcYG40-AJy1ozTx81320VpvIe/s320/Colombian+planatain.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As much as I appreciate a craft beer, spiffing pubs and accidental dancing though, I can't deny that the real reason I sought out this pub in the first place, was to get my chops around some juicy Colombian food on the final day of the <strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/colombianstreetkitchen">Colombian Street Kitchen</a></span></strong> pop up. I do not lie to you when I say that I traipse around town in search of great plantain, and ecstatic I am to report then, that these are the best Plantain Soldiers I've tasted since being introduced to the humble fried foodstuff in Cuba back in 2011 - they were soft but, retained their bite; not too sweet nor starchy, not greasy and altogether perfect for only £3.50. I opted for the very traditional Paisa Pie (£9.50), which was a rich stew of beans, pork belly and beef, topped with arepa (ground maize dough and cooked flour) - it was delicious and substantial but I'm afraid that it paled into insignificance next to the Cariminolas (£12.50), which were the most expensive thing on the menu, but good sweet Jesus, they were lighter-than-air torpedoes of fried yuka, stuffed with creamy coconut chicken and fresh coriander. I do not much care for coconut dishes either (I overdosed on Thai food and subsequently can't eat it since my travelling days), but in this instance, I had the worst dose of food envy I'd experienced in a while. Perfection in a bamboo bowl I tell you! Service was pretty slow unfortunately, but since I was in no rush and the beer was going down so smoothly, I was in no mood to grumble!</span><br />
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You've missed Colombia Street Kitchen at The Dukes Head now, but if you're keen to sample their delights, you should head down to the <b><a href="http://www.stateofindependencemarket.co.uk/">State of Independence Market</a></b> in Hackney this weekend (27 - 28 June 2015!). If however, you want to reacquaint yourself with a good and proper local watering hole and enjoy the next pop up kitchen, <b><a href="http://www.howardsmeatco.com/">Howard's Meat Co.</a></b> is a Texan BBQ and inhouse right now!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-32642932038277981972015-05-18T09:44:00.000+01:002016-01-08T17:07:49.125+00:00Duck & Rice Advice<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafCOqvPjd8pdViBBS0VwD33gK4YCJhDeC-_TlZ9ENJVMtHql_5iOhnRaA9WyEroYM_O0U7WI2QRrkMQKWPMNgg3U1aLEL1fKVHYuM2DFnWXuZdoZ21uO2S-Jat1rUrP5n7A7i0Sn1o04U/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafCOqvPjd8pdViBBS0VwD33gK4YCJhDeC-_TlZ9ENJVMtHql_5iOhnRaA9WyEroYM_O0U7WI2QRrkMQKWPMNgg3U1aLEL1fKVHYuM2DFnWXuZdoZ21uO2S-Jat1rUrP5n7A7i0Sn1o04U/s400/074.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes it can feel as though a new place to eat opens every day in this town and it's not as if these new additions are the flat-packed cloned siblings of Pizza Express, Bella Italia, T.G.I. Fridays and MacDonalds; we are getting some seriously clever and innovative heavyweights pitching in all the most discerning of urban hotspots. We have street traders finding fixed premises' and Michelin starred chefs diving balls deep into culinary creations for the masses. I can barely keep up with it all, but I also know that I'd rather run a marathon uphill with no bra than give up trying!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently then, when one of my favourite people interrupted a somewhat busy Saturday morning of loafing around my shoebox of a flat (or should I say, festering in my colossal bed?!), with the curtains drawn and my hair stuck to my face (mildly hungover, you see!), I felt somewhat confused, entirely unpresentable and definitely unable to master the art of socialising! Unfortunately for me though, this very same friend knows all my weak spots, so when she brought up the idea of grabbing a lunch that would almost certainly make us feel superior to She-Ra (the Princess of Power....feminist He-Man...'80's classic...if you have to ask, you're far too young!), then told me I could choose, it was enough to have me surreptitiously climb out of bed, into the shower and onto the tube. I had almost forgotten though, what it felt like to be greeted by Leicester Square at lunchtime on a weekend. Hoards of hapless backpack-clad tourists, all elbow to elbow and shuffling their merry way between low-cost theatre ticket booths, Burger King and the dodgy chippy that someone must've told them would be accurate representation of a British fish 'n' chip. For the record, greasy fries from a polystyrene basket in theatreland does not a good chippy make - you must go to the suburbs where real people actually live; you must sit on a park bench, by the sea, on a street corner or on your sofa, with a wooden spork as the vinegar soaks through the paper and everything turns soggy (even amongst good chippies, there is a hierarchy!). Anyway, I digress...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Scrumming my way off Leicester Square, through Chinatown (carefully avoiding my favourite char siu bao pitstop), and into Soho, I realise I've walked straight into an entirely different calamity. It's 18 April and a sea of moustache-twiddling craft ale supping hipsters have descended upon Berwick Street and are seeping through the arteries of Soho for <b><a href="http://recordstoreday.co.uk/">Record Store Day 2015</a></b>. It may well have been the worst day to visit the newly opened <b><a href="http://www.theduckandrice.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Duck & Rice</span></a></b> then, but I was committed now and I'm no quitter!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIz-G9XYxXG2ikjQHkCJjETHSYWp_mEeNc32zVnQbSBVF-ZrYe_ExNP5Q_8chyphenhyphensnFZPrLqNZ_6RLPwnzboYglZxWfPj-oNWX3FaY-PTl7N3C5g2C3ex5e5K6eUauOZcUeRESMExl20ZIL3/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIz-G9XYxXG2ikjQHkCJjETHSYWp_mEeNc32zVnQbSBVF-ZrYe_ExNP5Q_8chyphenhyphensnFZPrLqNZ_6RLPwnzboYglZxWfPj-oNWX3FaY-PTl7N3C5g2C3ex5e5K6eUauOZcUeRESMExl20ZIL3/s320/059.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Char Shui Bun (£4.50)</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6msddKGExISkPuFSu5cLA6mevu-e-khNA-SWJBdZV-Nq7S4ngljfx0FnU0VBjpzQYdGs4rMkm5fDh_TRh0Zh4XZqUV0tR6cn4Bw-1JiVhQTa9fXB28fTWIY28xU-nSXhPpZHqPOZknpI/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6msddKGExISkPuFSu5cLA6mevu-e-khNA-SWJBdZV-Nq7S4ngljfx0FnU0VBjpzQYdGs4rMkm5fDh_TRh0Zh4XZqUV0tR6cn4Bw-1JiVhQTa9fXB28fTWIY28xU-nSXhPpZHqPOZknpI/s320/061.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brought to us by the stick of dynamite underneath modern Japanese monster-chain, <b><a href="http://www.wagamama.com/">Wagamama </a></b>and Thai demi-giant, <b><a href="http://www.busaba.com/">Busaba Eathai</a></b>, <b>Alan Yau</b> is a London-based restaurateur extraordinaire from Hong Kong who didn't stop there - he also built a Michelin starred empire with dim sum house <b><a href="http://www.yauatcha.com/">Yauatcha </a></b>and upscale Cantonese <b><a href="http://hakkasan.com/">Hakkasan</a></b>, setting up in some of the most prestigious locations and 5* luxury hotels around the world. Lucky for us then, that this Pan-Asian virtuoso has struck out again on Broadwick Street, just next door to his Michelin accredited <a href="http://www.yauatcha.com/">Yauatcha</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my head, <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.theduckandrice.com/"><b>Duck & Rice</b></a> </span>combines all the best elements of a traditional pub and Chinese parlour, and the result is quite triumphant - from the giant copper beer tanks and cosy fireplaces to the asymmetric patterns and sharp clean lines, everything appears to be in its place and very well considered. The bar pays ample homage to the hop with Czech <b><a href="http://pilsnerurquell.com/age-gate"><span style="font-size: large;">Pilsner Urquell</span></a></b> (stored in those shiny tanks as you enter past the affable doorman), London-based <b><a href="http://www.fullers.co.uk/beer/explore-our-beers/london-pride"><span style="font-size: large;">London Pride</span></a></b>, Cornish <b><a href="http://www.staustellbrewery.co.uk/tribute"><span style="font-size: large;">Tribute</span></a></b>, Scottish <b><a href="http://harviestoun.com/age_verification"><span style="font-size: large;">Schiehallion</span></a></b>, Kentish <b><a href="https://www.bathales.com/our-ales/aid/gem/"><span style="font-size: large;">Bath Ales</span></a></b>, and Irish <b><a href="http://www.guinness.com/en-gb/"><span style="font-size: large;">Guiness</span></a></b>; not forgetting our friends across the pond either, who are increasingly jumping onto the craft brew wagon, with <b><a href="https://www.samueladams.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Samual Adams</span></a></b> from Boston and <b><a href="http://www.magicrockbrewing.com/blog/brewday-2-high-wire-west-coast-pale-ale/"><span style="font-size: large;">Magic Rock's High Wire</span></a></b> from the West Coast. The snack menu looks good too, so we were off to a striding start, I'd say.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Har Gau (£6.90)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Upstairs is a formal restaurant, with a menu of epic proportions, while downstairs is more of a snack menu, but amply staged to satisfy my [still] fragile appetite. Now, I don't know about you, but a menu gets my taste buds going like no other and not only do I start imagining what it looks like, but I can almost smell it and I definitely have a gluttonous imagination powerful enough to taste it. So, when I get to the bar to order, I could handle one item being sold out (fine, it's new, the place is popular and I like to think I'm a reasonable human being), but when two items are sold out, I start to visibly twitch and by the third sold out foodstuff, I'm holding my head in my hands in despair as the waitress adopts that awkward grimace of shame at having to deliver the bad news yet again to a hungry, hungover and [by now] clearly tense me. The aforementioned teeming Record Store Day almost certainly didn't help with menu availability and perhaps there were still some teething problems in the [almost] new kitchen, but Christ on a dry cracker, why me, why today, and why now?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When our food did arrive, service was super friendly, the mini plates were delicious, and might I say, it was all a rather splendid break from the universally accepted British beer soaker - <b>Boiled Salted Peanuts (£4.00)</b> are served alongside <b>Prawn Crackers (£2.00)</b>, tomato soup has been replaced by <b>Crabmeat & Sweetcorn [soup] (£9.00)</b> and <b>Spicy Kimchi & Tofu [soup] (£7.80)</b>, and <b>Venison Puff's (£4.80)</b> are accompanied by <b>Har Gau (£6.90)</b>, <b>Char Shui Buns (£4.50)</b> and <b>Chicken Feet (£3.50)</b>. The prices are little disparate though, and I find it difficult to understand the upstairs/downstairs syndrome here. Downstairs is the pub side of the operation, oozing mini snacks that were, for the most part, all rather reasonably and proportionately priced (that said, I'm still not sure how nuts can cost £4.00 or spring rolls a whopping £7.80...huh?!). Upstairs though, a <b>Five Spiced Fried Chicken is £30.00</b>, <b>Cantonese Roast Duck is £38.00</b> (even for the whole bird, that's pricey), and <b>Lobster Cantonese is a gargantuan £48.00</b>. I understand that these are all very nice ingredients and almost surely, cooked very well, but really, isn't this supposed to be a pub?! At these prices, I may as well have a blow out at <b><a href="http://www.chinatanglondon.co.uk/">China Tang</a></b> in 5* luxury hotel, <b><a href="http://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/london/the-dorchester">The Dorchester</a></b>.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Beer Battered Scampi with chilli wasabi mayo (£11.50)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-NL5lBMVZJQhrw0DWoHLs_JVgRL-mq308ZJFRl_qPxfUWUp7ujqz4ex4pO-iTyxDqgUl57lRe6b2-gy7NUTuwKIUaoBFiPEKrd-Fz3qYoVBWlFPGlBe8JaFH61G81k8fiW6CI9W4e-qM/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-NL5lBMVZJQhrw0DWoHLs_JVgRL-mq308ZJFRl_qPxfUWUp7ujqz4ex4pO-iTyxDqgUl57lRe6b2-gy7NUTuwKIUaoBFiPEKrd-Fz3qYoVBWlFPGlBe8JaFH61G81k8fiW6CI9W4e-qM/s640/062.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Prawn Crackers (£2.00)</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/the-duck-and-rice?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of The Duck and Rice"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=4ecfda4310d548a7ab528f06a7e56ed5" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1986577/restaurant/Soho/Duck-and-Rice-London"><img alt="Duck and Rice on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1986577/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-40404276741697641922015-05-12T12:19:00.004+01:002015-05-12T21:29:35.435+01:00Playing Safe at Holborn Dining Room!<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes I wonder how much my gluttonous cravings will get me into trouble, as the waistband increases, weekday bedtimes are pushed past a reasonable hour too often, and the bank balance teeters rather precariously between zero and minus sums. I am not at all helped either, by my natural propensity to say "yes" to almost anything socially adventurous, except of course, all things I unequivocally know would evoke anger, irrational fear and/or imminent displeasure (bungee jumping, eating insects, or visiting Benidorm, for example). I remember a time when all my spare pennies sank into a feckless pit of handbags, shoes, snakebite and dancing, then as I primitively evolved, I consolidated this into a colourful medley of cheap boxed wine and gin (not together, you understand!), flip flops in every colour, and a blatant travel addiction...these days, as the growing [old] continues, the burning desire to explore worlds unknown remains (albeit now with a little more philosophical retrospection and considered forethought), but the goon has been replaced by Chablis and 7p noodles have been gracefully usurped by culinary feasting! </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysNI63q-FJQ1CQuYPk-dzfK4bjQyiUsFJrYF6jCjtRteGvrcgB3cW0t0lkC2ILuUZYmzpKfio-JqSp5ecw7j75hjAIsPludTnhR62nfyEZ9iMBOB813KPMlNAxrWdsQPogBWDDZGLZzR9/s1600/IMG_1320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysNI63q-FJQ1CQuYPk-dzfK4bjQyiUsFJrYF6jCjtRteGvrcgB3cW0t0lkC2ILuUZYmzpKfio-JqSp5ecw7j75hjAIsPludTnhR62nfyEZ9iMBOB813KPMlNAxrWdsQPogBWDDZGLZzR9/s320/IMG_1320.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've realised over the years that one doesn't always have to be lost to explore, and the best adventures can indeed, sometimes be found on your doorstep! London is a city with a brash shell and a wondrous soul, radiant and addictive. Not only can I do almost anything I whimsically imagine at any time of the day, but I can dance my way around the world and eat fare from every culture imaginable (except authentic Chiacgo pizza pie - never been able to get my hands on that artery-blocking masterpiece here - humph!). There are posh restaurants, popular chain outlets, simple cafes, inventive pop-ups, fast food joints, Asian canteens, theatrical diners and interactive bars, all served up from decadent dining rooms, cavernous brasseries, minuscule beach shacks, portable trucks, grimy basements, banquet tunnels and open markets. I can eat Indian, Nepalese, Thai, Malaysian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Moroccan, Middle Eastern, Turkish, Greek, Italian, French, Austrian, Spanish, Scandinavian, American, Brazilian, Argentine, Peruvian and Mexican with ease, and don't even get me started on all the various fusion concepts opening up all over town...the list goes on and on..and on! With all that on offer then, what do I choose next?! Bloody British! How terribly ironic! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What can I say?! I saw the Shrimp Burger (£14.50) on the brunch menu recently and I'd not stopped wondering about it since...surely everyone loves a burger fix every now and then, don't they?! Roll up, roll up <b><a href="http://www.holborndiningroom.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">Holborn Dining Room</span></a></b> at the [still] relatively new <b><a href="http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/london">Rosewood Hotel</a></b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />It's not too often that I indulge in fine dining at 5* hotels on my own dime, so it should be a testament to how thoroughly lovely the entire setting is for this property, centred around a grand Edwardian courtyard. Once inside, all the public spaces are </span>beautifully<span style="font-family: inherit;"> balanced between slick masculine themes and gentle traditional tones - think black marble with birdcages and worn leather! Since you enter the large open plan brasserie style dining room from the street though, you will miss out on the hotel side of things, so I won't linger on it either.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The dining room itself if buzzy and reminiscent of <a href="https://www.brasseriezedel.com/"><b>Brasserie Zedal</b> </a>at first glance, but infact could be any universally accepted suit-clad brasserie. We were seated promptly, greeted with enthusiasm and very well looked after throughout our meal, despite the place getting filling up very quickly - just in time then, to grab an overpriced gin at <a href="http://scarfesbar.com/"><strong>Scarfs Bar</strong></a> next door (it may have been worth it too, if the jazz had started on time, but hey what's a band to do when something goes wrong with the new pinspot lighting?!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Owing to the casual ambience oozing from this capacious dining room, it's easy to forget that you're in a 5* restaurant - the prices aren't jaw-dropping either (though it could be tremendously easy to spend a disgusting amount lot of money if you weren't careful). Starters range from £8.50 - £15.50 and you can get a posh chicken pie for £16.50 (Chicken Girolle Pie with Wychwood cider and tarragon). A 15oz Diver Sole will set you back £39.00 and 45-day Aged Cornish Rare Breed Sirloin £29.75; you can pick up Guinea Fowl with morels, wild garlic and braised leg croquette for £23.50, and thanks to our wonderful waiter, we were lucky enough to indulge in the aforementioned Shrimp Burger, which ordinarily only features on the brunch menu - it was delicious, even if a little safe. If you eat here, be sure not to miss the side dishes, by the way! The Mac & Cheese (£5.50) and Truffle & Parmesan Fries (£5.50) were both sublime and I was pleased to see a very reasonably priced dessert menu, all very humble by design - I had the Steamed Marmalade Sponge with Drambuie Sauce (£6.50) and it was scrummy, even if again a little safe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have no doubt that <b><a href="http://www.holborndiningroom.com/">Holborn Dining Room</a></b> will continue to be a popular hotspot for the varied masses - it's great for business meals, friendly catching up, and family dining alike, even if it is [again] all very safe - not necessarily something that will leave you dribbling for more, but the food, décor and ambience are all good, familiar (almost homely), and altogether rather tasty. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do I like it? Yes, but not because it left me excited, inspired or invigorated.. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Would I go back? Yes, but not because any one element was enough to make my head spin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Will I recommend it to others? Of course, but only when you need to play safe with a suit!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/holborn-dining-room-at-rosewood-london?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Holborn Dining Room & Delicatessen at Rosewood London"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=c77ce38108d24ffea9bc3593c3d874d6" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1815589/restaurant/London/Holborn/Holborn-Dining-Room-Greater-London"><img alt="Holborn Dining Room on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1815589/minilink.gif" style="border-image: none; border: currentColor; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-62534172925186696972015-04-28T09:59:00.002+01:002016-01-08T16:53:19.918+00:00BAO bun fight!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsAuhS9Yw5T-QvC26bOMEHLpdAQ1gTlWsDSN4abPPo9wfLgbyQR7kONOL2CaOXM8-2UxbfQrTufZxFfMyZatjZ_IAFSPoSR0jf3x2tL7QEQMgUasBFAibMK5_EGuPlBcjFX_YPm1aUf5H/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsAuhS9Yw5T-QvC26bOMEHLpdAQ1gTlWsDSN4abPPo9wfLgbyQR7kONOL2CaOXM8-2UxbfQrTufZxFfMyZatjZ_IAFSPoSR0jf3x2tL7QEQMgUasBFAibMK5_EGuPlBcjFX_YPm1aUf5H/s1600/127.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is it a Japanese hirata bun, Chinese char siu bao or a Taiwanese gua bao?! Either way, this lip-smackingly good snack has long been my 'I've-missed-dinner-and-can't-be-bothered-to-cook' or 'I'm-too-wimpish-to-eat-dinner-alone' dish and dash solution. I may still need to weave through the hoards to get home, but no longer do I need to rely on a grubby hole in the wall off Chinatown to satisfy my gut-craving needs. Since the trend setting <a href="http://www.yumbun.com/" target="_blank"><b>Yum Bun</b></a> who have been gracing our streets and markets since 2010 (currently smashing it at<b> <a href="http://www.streetfeastlondon.com/where/model-market" target="_blank">Model Market</a></b> in Lewisham, courtesy of <a href="http://www.streetfeastlondon.com/" target="_blank"><b>Street Feast</b></a>), <a href="http://www.bonedaddies.com/peter-st-soho/" target="_blank"><b>Bone Daddies</b></a> ramen shop has brought us <a href="http://www.bonedaddies.com/flesh-and-buns/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Flesh & Buns</a>, then <a href="http://www.beerandbuns.co.uk/" style="font-weight: bold;">Beer & Buns</a><b> </b>popped up and now <b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://baolondon.com/" target="_blank">BAO</a></span> </b>has opened up in Soho.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fried Chicken Bao (soy milk marinated</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">chicken, sichuan mayo, golden kimchi,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sesame bao) £5.00</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Backed by the <b>Sethi family</b>, who have coincidentally had huge success of the Michelin star calibre with <a href="http://www.trishnalondon.com/" target="_blank"><b>Trishna</b></a> in Marylebone,<b> <a href="http://www.kitchentablelondon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Kitchen Table</a></b> in Fitzrovia (tucked neatly at the back of the hugely popular gourmet hotdog hotspot, <a href="http://www.bubbledogs.co.uk/home" target="_blank"><b>Bubbledogs</b></a>), and [most recently] <a href="http://www.gymkhanalondon.com/" target="_blank"><b>Gymkhana</b></a> in Mayfair, <a href="http://baolondon.com/"><b>BAO</b></a> have a appear to have a delectable powerhouse behind them. They may be the new kid on the block, but they are also destined be the revered love child of a restaurateur heavyweight and very successful street food trading (previous notoriety gathered from <a href="http://www.kerbfood.com/" target="_blank"><b>KERB</b></a>, <a href="http://netilmarket.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><b>Netil Market</b></a> and the aforementioned <a href="http://www.streetfeastlondon.com/" target="_blank"><b>Street Feast</b></a>). In a prime location on Lexington Street and next door to a pub (<a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d3531560-Reviews-John_Snow_Pub-London_England.html" target="_blank"><b>John Snow</b></a>), <a href="http://baolondon.com/"><b>BAO</b></a> is a perfect addition to the Soho dining scene, not to mention an altogether irresistible pitstop for me Monday - Friday! Now I don't have to schlep eastward to clamber over hundreds of hapless hipsters to get my hands on a freshly steamed and pillowy milk bun...hip hip hooray for me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On a whim, I dragged a colleague away from her desk promptly at 11:45 on day two of <a href="http://baolondon.com/"><b>BAO</b></a>'s doors officially opening (by my obsessive calculations, that's a generous 10 minute amble from le office and a well-timed 5 minutes wait outside the door, undoubtedly in a queue of sorts). Now, queuing for food is a pet peeve of mine (it defies everything I cherish most about accessible dining options!), but I'll make allowances for (1) new openings that promise to satisfy my seemingly unbridled catalogue of culinary cravings, and (2) anything less than a 30 minute wait...everything over this and my sensibilities begin to unravel (fear not, I have a very effective inside voice at such times!). Thankfully for all concerned, we waited only a smidgen over 5 minutes and boy, did they deliver on the food front!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pig Blood Cake (£3.50)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With a small but perfectly formed menu, I was hopeful that we would have the opportunity to sample almost everything on it (yes, I'm a gluttonous troll!) and while not completely managing this, we did come exceptionally close. The Pig Blood Cake (£3.50) tasted like a rich black pudding with the texture of a quality haggis that was then rounded off superbly with an oozing velvety cold egg yolk...mmm! Trotter Nuggets (£4.00) were tasty, light and well balanced, though had an interesting texture for my palate (not at all bad, but delicately course shall we say...hard to describe!), then the Sweet Potato Chips with Plum Pickle Salt (£3.00) offered a sensational side dish that would have only been improved by a condiment of sorts (I'm skewed by my need for sauce, you see). Then came the buns, oh the buns...we tried every one, with the exception of Daikon because if faced with meat, I am a one way street and must gorge on it (sorry to all the veggie / lacto-veggie / pescetarian / vegan / fruitarian / wheat free / gluten free [coeliacs] / lactose intolerant / yeast intolerant omnivores out there); the Fried Chicken Bao (£5.00) may be my favourite, but it's really hard to call it when pitched against the Confit Port Bao (£4.50), which was overflowing with crispy onions for both added texture and flavour; or the Classic Bao (£3.50), which was sweet, rich and sublime. Lamb Shoulder Bao (£5.00) was also tantalisingly good, so I'm left at a loss on what to recommend, aside from encouraging you to just order everything. You should expect a myriad of small plates here, oriental tapas style, and each one is very reasonably priced, so don't be afraid to get carried away eh!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On a practical note, ordering was simple from a shopping list style ticket, the service was friendly, precise and informative; and the decor was refined, minimalist and bright. Takeaway service supposedly starts soon, so brace yourselves, I'll no doubt be returning often enough for you to know my not just my name, but my inside leg measurements and pet preferences! What a triumph.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBi7Xxigv1_rfo4hyphenhyphenkBFV-ZbkvD5schOxGucqMgYV1VZoyWAry_6gCWVzjMWWe6sk6y3kfuUmmOeYgg6jo3nn-5ZiRT2wcGd02MftR_iSCpaUTQhcsiQkSnsJOznZFOrDVXz-HAHpjTNDf/s1600/131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBi7Xxigv1_rfo4hyphenhyphenkBFV-ZbkvD5schOxGucqMgYV1VZoyWAry_6gCWVzjMWWe6sk6y3kfuUmmOeYgg6jo3nn-5ZiRT2wcGd02MftR_iSCpaUTQhcsiQkSnsJOznZFOrDVXz-HAHpjTNDf/s1600/131.JPG" width="238" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Foam Tea (£3.00)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Trotter Nuggets (£4.00)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sweet Potato Chips, Plum Pickle Salt (£3.00)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lzMEjw5W1N6VgGYqUXWnh1NimBxrEP3W-gEB4jnfmYfm4GkxmJxyj2Ak5ZPlnErspCK8zdQnty3LLHOYQTuTh_xxkMwlX9L2KWG3jEe97B5qJBisnEJh8TqbEwPfZWEh5IY7Lp17lHv5/s1600/140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lzMEjw5W1N6VgGYqUXWnh1NimBxrEP3W-gEB4jnfmYfm4GkxmJxyj2Ak5ZPlnErspCK8zdQnty3LLHOYQTuTh_xxkMwlX9L2KWG3jEe97B5qJBisnEJh8TqbEwPfZWEh5IY7Lp17lHv5/s1600/140.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Confit Pork (confit pork belly, pork sauce, hot</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">sauce, dried shallots) £4.50</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis26SGbOu_MOY8p311ww9G-tZsFz0MIlUlOuxgrCfAvl5ZqQhyRk0uKvWOe_2-4O-AL01Gh_5PpUC_7l0oHdXouyu25PD54zftcAVyCQfT_rCgMUzJ72PMOrfiNFOL21ogCFRl91e5QCJV/s1600/138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis26SGbOu_MOY8p311ww9G-tZsFz0MIlUlOuxgrCfAvl5ZqQhyRk0uKvWOe_2-4O-AL01Gh_5PpUC_7l0oHdXouyu25PD54zftcAVyCQfT_rCgMUzJ72PMOrfiNFOL21ogCFRl91e5QCJV/s1600/138.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lamb Bao (lamb shoulder, coriander sauce,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">garlic mayo, soy pickled chilli) £5.00</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoh5zKCH0lZ8i779Gue1YT3rbTmBdunGQ8c6xsLgWs5d8GxpHYl5C8Gaw3QP8pn1hPPY5Vv_4z5pPdd0N2tCxhCg-5qw5GaBYcdb363GBjXtUCVnEvnShyphenhyphenhFKvjdLphOIlNSQoQhcm53_5/s1600/141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoh5zKCH0lZ8i779Gue1YT3rbTmBdunGQ8c6xsLgWs5d8GxpHYl5C8Gaw3QP8pn1hPPY5Vv_4z5pPdd0N2tCxhCg-5qw5GaBYcdb363GBjXtUCVnEvnShyphenhyphenhFKvjdLphOIlNSQoQhcm53_5/s1600/141.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Classic Bao (braised pork, peanut powder, fermented greens, coriander) £3.75</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/bao?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Bao"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=5fa946a21c474a48b560bd558550aa6e" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1985701/restaurant/Soho/Bao-London"><img alt="Bao on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1985701/biglink.gif" style="border-image: none; border: currentColor; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-11724476004316590762015-04-20T13:08:00.000+01:002016-01-08T16:43:31.199+00:00Creme de la Crepe...is it?!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8FP6Sz_S2BRlbKu5xY0Eos7Utlp0o_bt-0OWFsOisfNTJ1w2ucA_UP5zKAQDObh3Ee_92praBKIbQdG4ynEnuMf20WRue-2Clm2gQ62Dpwz0v39eyPcC_kYaTbM5kuLei-kmoPIN9SgH/s1600/Creme+de+la+Crepe+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8FP6Sz_S2BRlbKu5xY0Eos7Utlp0o_bt-0OWFsOisfNTJ1w2ucA_UP5zKAQDObh3Ee_92praBKIbQdG4ynEnuMf20WRue-2Clm2gQ62Dpwz0v39eyPcC_kYaTbM5kuLei-kmoPIN9SgH/s1600/Creme+de+la+Crepe+sign.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My intention was to write and publish this in time for pancake day (or if we are to be proper: Shrove Tuesday), then I went to New Zealand and the humble glory of my crepe adventure in Covent Garden seemed to pale in comparison! I will will share my Kiwi experiences with you shortly, but today I find myself craving something I can't have: a novel feeling in a city that seemingly offers all variations of whatever foodstuff takes your fancy, however or whenever you might fancy it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was not too long ago, that I was taken to a crepe house in Cologne that aside from being filled to the rafters with folk apparently all in the know, it had a thriving atmosphere in a local neighbourhood of the city centre and [wait for it] produces possibly the most nauseatingly good savoury crepes I've ever had the pleasure of tasting! Oozing and stuffed full with whatever you could ever want, my favourite being Crepe Kerstin, bulging with bolognese, cheese, spinach, garlic & creme fraiche...at only €8.00, I had died and gone to crepe heaven! <a href="http://www.engelbaet.de/crepes.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">EngleBAET</span></a>, you hold a special place in my gut and I will see you again this summer (July to be precise).</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuTeIa1ETpmo0RvgiPmBEETkOzOmh1zsV9LhamuEr9Hb1XMMxzJw-Kr-hsBvE240xPQE3_c71ZlYDVn36Hgpqzv8Dvx5e7ZEmJ3hvAD5LwwHaD3N1T2bGTDt18FwEdDylLMkt8yC2Htft/s1600/Creme+de+la+Crepe+pancake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuTeIa1ETpmo0RvgiPmBEETkOzOmh1zsV9LhamuEr9Hb1XMMxzJw-Kr-hsBvE240xPQE3_c71ZlYDVn36Hgpqzv8Dvx5e7ZEmJ3hvAD5LwwHaD3N1T2bGTDt18FwEdDylLMkt8yC2Htft/s1600/Creme+de+la+Crepe+pancake.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those of us residing in London though, the quest is now on to find a comparable source of dinner crepe. I'm not talking about the street vendor who sells the traditional sweet sort designed to catch you on the hop...no, no, no...I'm talking about a sit-in restaurant where you can drink beer and stuff your face with both sweet and savoury crepes. If you can go to a cereal cafe or eat squirrel in this fair city, surely then, there should be a decent place to eat a crepe! I made a beeline for <a href="http://cremedelacrepe.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Creme de la Crepe</span></b></a>, which has been based in Covent Garden Market since 2008 (who knew?!), evolved from food stalls in St Andrews (yes, that's Scotland!), Borough Market and Covent Garden Night Markets. It's in a really snazzy little spot, tucked in the arches at the bottom of the piazza, with a whitewashed brick interior, all very snug and large enough for perhaps 30 people seated indoors or 50 standing, at a push (don't quote me on that!). It's a fantastic example of the growth and success made possible by realising a passion and making a few savvy decisions to transform a dream into your life (or more accurately, your income!). Hats off to anyone who has the balls to do that...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I stopped in for lunch and had a Buffalo Bill (£6.25) because I can't turn down buffalo wings and ranch dressing. It was nice and I was left satisfied, but I must say, I was disappointed by two things: (1) the crepes all appeared to be pre-made, which I'm sure saves time in a busy lunch service (and the painful reality is that the public would complain more for a wait), but ultimately it makes the finished product taste a little less soft and fresh; and (2) where was all the meat?! Now, I love both spicy buffalo sauce and ranch dressing almost as much as I love cheese and plantain (they are the condiment equivalent!), but among all the wet stuff, I needed more meat to pad it out and fill me up - it was all rather flat, literally and figuratively. On a positive note though, the menu is amazing, the service was clean, friendly and efficient; the venue is novel and comfortable, it attracts prime passers by from a great location, and I would definitely recommend people give it a go. Unfortunately, it was always going to have a tough battle on its hands to beat my Cologne benchmark. The search continues...</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1448378/restaurant/London/Creme-de-la-Crepe-Covent-Garden"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="Creme de la Crepe on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1448378/biglink.gif" style="border-image: none; border: currentColor; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-40683393195490659362015-04-10T12:28:00.000+01:002016-01-08T16:11:49.945+00:00Rethink at The Clink: Fine Dining in Prison!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It isn't all that often that your dining experience is muddled with social responsibility and penal reform, but last week I was fortunate enough to visit <a href="http://theclinkcharity.org/the-clink-restaurants/brixton-london/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Clink Restaurant Brixton</span></b></a> where this particular brand of innovation was dished up in spades! I left feeling positively inspired and curiously determined to get involved; spending the remainder of my week focusing on whatever project management skills, academic background and/or network I may have to bring to this innovative table...you know, those skills that somehow earn me just enough enough pennies to binge and guzzle my way through London, and scamper around the world...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A concept developed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Clink_%28restaurant%29" target="_blank"><b>Alberto Crisci MBE</b></a> while working as Catering Manager for <b><a href="http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder/high-down" target="_blank">HMP High Down</a>, </b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://theclinkcharity.org/" target="_blank">The Clink</a> </span></b>has become a beacon of hope for numerous inmates and the likes of me who has always fervently believed in the need to educate, empower and entrust our people if we want to prosper and evolve into the next generation, with more security, success and safety. According to the <a href="file:///C:/Users/Amy%20Trubridge/Downloads/sn04334.pdf" target="_blank"><b>Prison Population Statistics</b></a> published by House of Commons in July 2013, the number of people incarcerated in the UK has been rising by an average of 3.6% every year since 1993, reducing only slightly for the first time in 2013. I'm sure that this latest slight decline can be attributed to a myriad of factors (sentencing reforms, a redress of mental healthcare, education and rehabilitation schemes for example), and obviously more needs to be done to reduce violence in our communities, remove drugs from our streets and encourage stability of families through work and education, but initiatives like <b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://theclinkcharity.org/" target="_blank">The Clink</a></span></b> have surely got to be nodding in the right direction for all the right reasons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Co-founded with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_McGrath" target="_blank"><b>Kevin McGrath</b></a>, by special permissions of Peter Dawson, former Governor of HMP High Down, with support from trustees Kate Quigley-Ruby and Finlay Scott, Alberto managed to open the first of the <b style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://theclinkcharity.org/the-clink-restaurants/" target="_blank">The Clink Restaurants</a> </b>in 2009,<b style="font-size: x-large;"> </b>but it is now a collective of enterprises ranging from event catering and gardens (HMP Send for women and HMP High Down for men), to restaurants in HMP Cardiff, HMP High Down, and HMP Brixton. There is set to be a forth restaurant in Styal, Cheshire soon, and from what I understand, there are plans to have up to 10 restaurants by 2017 - a very exciting growth strategy as far as I'm concerned.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0CpU1ZNS7yOIer-JFAfbOADyjNyN4TdwbJXHnnBp9Z_g7EKKdPAWrUYuQfj9x2kHcznPiYFQfamkj8p1PYsyrxSevDJMb98BGWRsXYytdDc9Ys8da7EmWG62_G9zSxug6tPoRx8DxrBi/s1600/Inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0CpU1ZNS7yOIer-JFAfbOADyjNyN4TdwbJXHnnBp9Z_g7EKKdPAWrUYuQfj9x2kHcznPiYFQfamkj8p1PYsyrxSevDJMb98BGWRsXYytdDc9Ys8da7EmWG62_G9zSxug6tPoRx8DxrBi/s1600/Inside.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Inmates from a variety of these Category B - C prisons can apply for the opportunity to work during their sentence, earning a little money and gaining NVQ standard qualifications, with the hope that a little more knowledge, confidence and experience will break the cycle of offending by offering better chances of employment and a fresh start upon release. Obviously, noone expects for this to work for everyone, but so far, statistics are revealing that for those involved in the programme, reoffending rates have visibly reduced within the first year of release. I for one, couldn't wait to be a part of it, so I applied for permissions to write about it, therefore hopefully encouraging you all to do the same, to get involved. Spending £30 on a 3-course lunch will not only satisfy your hunger and give you an experience to remember, but it will help allow the charity and inmates alike to grow, improve and change.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHY01jH178EWKnTlMuJlSRkwuGjVpqNXe3pmNGa9rC9TriwWlCcvMCbt87JP3Hbxb1duc9cOvQqLliD1RXmf_r2WBbRp5RNzDxdPgsETO4AwknmkZAa6TelQLwXCkns_tpbOAP4enyj5L/s1600/Staff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHY01jH178EWKnTlMuJlSRkwuGjVpqNXe3pmNGa9rC9TriwWlCcvMCbt87JP3Hbxb1duc9cOvQqLliD1RXmf_r2WBbRp5RNzDxdPgsETO4AwknmkZAa6TelQLwXCkns_tpbOAP4enyj5L/s1600/Staff.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Upon arrival to HMP Brixton, we swapped our photo ID for a security badge, then were collectively given a full and friendly briefing on the security protocols, restrictions of entry and what to expect. Waiting on the wrong side of the prison walls, for the heavy security doors to open felt strangely surreal, giving a tiny taster of what it must feel like to enter a secure environment (except we were choosing lunch, not a captive sentence, so my elevated sense of experience should not be interpreted as an understanding of what it must feel like to be imprisoned for real). A very short walk across the courtyard, we then entered through a double gated locked door into a pristine restaurant, with tables perfectly dressed and staff superbly presented!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our waiter was the impeccable host throughout, offering to take our coats on arrival, prompt on service, attentive with drinks (all non-alcoholic for obvious reasons), and diligent with our orders. He had 3-8 months left on his sentence and while obviously hoping for the sooner of those options, this was his last day front of house - he was moving into the kitchen in an attempt to finish his qualification before being released. I couldn't help but to admire his determination and to root for his success, not just at this programme, but in life after the fact! I don't want to be naive here, but I never want to wake up without intrinsically or unfaltering believing that everyone should be given the opportunity to reach high. I believe that one must be given the confidence to take chances in life, as much as chances must be offered (rarely can one be achieved without the other), but that you must always take responsibility for your own fate.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3ccoGzXlstXdKL0OjneHAiU-7qdzvEb6PczuKEVvzAvu7Ns6ldTY6wzIWW8LUVisLig8qVZc7-XAMCzpqOwfDwUJ5c0StkcNvmjMKtrsNaoBnWKFeyZuczq7jI5KSa8tuwRu5pfB85p9/s1600/Chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3ccoGzXlstXdKL0OjneHAiU-7qdzvEb6PczuKEVvzAvu7Ns6ldTY6wzIWW8LUVisLig8qVZc7-XAMCzpqOwfDwUJ5c0StkcNvmjMKtrsNaoBnWKFeyZuczq7jI5KSa8tuwRu5pfB85p9/s1600/Chicken.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back to lunch though, our food was served in a timely fashion and it was all presented beautifully. I didn't know the backgrounds of our chefs, but assuming they were all working towards a foundation level NVQ in Hospitality and/or Catering (not at all dissimilar to the kitchen and restaurant you would have experienced at your local sixth form college on the outside), the standards were remarkable - there was room for improvement sure, but that's exactly what learning is all about isn't it?! The menu was well thought out and the ingredients were well used. I was in a group of six and we were all left full, happy and let's face it, enamoured and inspired by the entire experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All that's left to say then, is "wow", "great work", and "I can't wait for people to read this, read more and learn more about the charity." If you do nothing else this year, book in for breakfast or lunch (the restaurants are not open for dinner), tell your friends about it and try to get involved...</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/the-clink-in-brixton?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of The Clink in Brixton"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=588c421a7e1a4ca4b6e866d0829bfeb2" height="125" width="230" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-4644691824034553612015-04-05T14:40:00.002+01:002016-01-08T16:39:31.398+00:00Street Feast Hawker<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKg05OWkmevtjGmP6lB8yHM6YEI3xYC11NvDqLnzG-FIc8oduuGfU965bxnFBOrXYQNa0G99zHWm_8Y7M7iQwhaALKrXWHDC5n-2oV8Zy3DNCg_mRDvPrUxF6sS4Z0CMX9pLWq1ijnjFt/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKg05OWkmevtjGmP6lB8yHM6YEI3xYC11NvDqLnzG-FIc8oduuGfU965bxnFBOrXYQNa0G99zHWm_8Y7M7iQwhaALKrXWHDC5n-2oV8Zy3DNCg_mRDvPrUxF6sS4Z0CMX9pLWq1ijnjFt/s1600/photo+1.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think we have already established that aside from my irrational love of cheese and plantain, I could never miss the jumble and calamity of a good market. Show me a food market, with beer and beats then, and it's as if all my loves are coming together in one sweet symphony and the stars are aligning to create an epic evening! I am a big fan of all things <b><a href="http://www.streetfeastlondon.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Street Feast</span></a> </b>and having already blogged about <a href="http://thetrusocial.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/markets-feasts.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Model Market</span></b></a> last year, I was super keen to get down to <a href="http://www.streetfeastlondon.com/where/hawker-house" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Hawker House</span></b></a> before the doors closed this weekend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Conveniently pitched up in a disused office building by Haggerston Overground Station (or rather inconveniently if you consider how unreliable the ginger line is during the weekend!), Hawker House is reminiscent of an illegal rave location! Its grotty urban staircase, crumbling and chipping its way up through three floors, each with bare concrete floors, raw festoon lighting, plastic classroom chairs, and make-shift banquet tables, all positively working together to give you a bite at the alternative dining scene that's oh so popular in London right now. Candles twinkle from gin bottles to offer ambiance, painted oil drums make for an inventive perch and old leather sofas allow you to sink into the spirit of it all. The building fills up quickly and the DJ's soon become muffled by the buzz of people all enjoying the spoils of this fantastically synchronised event...and I've not even mentioned the food & drink yet!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGu4-una0dFw7jYFmmo0tPpxJumSs6t8UQi96CVsghAvXP9yyuTkFQsxFeeSsMg_Icv29HyK_3fAwz_G0poA_QFu-OXOdKgXdgry1RF9yIQmnYLeD5Xi60usNqZSvZX6hzMnvaGK_Fdnk/s1600/Ribs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGu4-una0dFw7jYFmmo0tPpxJumSs6t8UQi96CVsghAvXP9yyuTkFQsxFeeSsMg_Icv29HyK_3fAwz_G0poA_QFu-OXOdKgXdgry1RF9yIQmnYLeD5Xi60usNqZSvZX6hzMnvaGK_Fdnk/s1600/Ribs.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A hipster homage to a traditional Singaporean hawker centre, Hawker House hosts a taste sensational selection of food stalls, with my clear favourite still being <a href="http://www.yumbun.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Yum Bun</span></b></a> - if only my belly could fit in whole basket of those deliciously soft steamed buns (the crispy shrimp buns are unquestionably to die for!). The sweet potato fries at <b><a href="http://bleeckerburger.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Bleeker Burger</span></a> </b>were sublime, the tikka flat breads at <a href="http://www.rolawala.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Rola Wala</span></b></a> were mouthwatering, and the sticky ribs at <a href="http://www.smokestak.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Smokestak</span></b></a> were glazed sweet and meatalicious (though could've perhaps been a tiny bit more tender according to my dear South African friend whom we shall not question on her knowledge and love of all things meat!). I missed out on the supposedly legendary hot duck pastrami bagel from <a href="https://twitter.com/ducknroll_cg" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Duck 'n' Roll</span></b></a> because my poor belly couldn't take it any more after all the aforementioned, but the mussel popcorn was certainly very interesting, especially with the black aioli, which I assume was created by squid ink. All in all, I was in culinary heaven and not down too much cash either, since every mini special came in at £3.50 - £4 per item!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvHWQ4wEr3PNFKXJZnfYinP1p6kEmfVKO7g08Ucwa5EVsC4wwLBM0B3jbaJResDFlLkeL6lJ8K5-_AC45J3Y05nwNjO5wCxCnacURtc8mmkOTasRAsDJ97FxYOgyYEHPqwpug80uMQ6rG/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvHWQ4wEr3PNFKXJZnfYinP1p6kEmfVKO7g08Ucwa5EVsC4wwLBM0B3jbaJResDFlLkeL6lJ8K5-_AC45J3Y05nwNjO5wCxCnacURtc8mmkOTasRAsDJ97FxYOgyYEHPqwpug80uMQ6rG/s1600/photo+3.JPG" width="300" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A food binge wouldn't be complete without ample watering, so off we trot, buns in hand, to sample what all of the bars have to offer. Whiskey roulette was a hugely fun concept, with over 30 brands of fire water to choose from (suffice it to say, I didn't get involved here, but it looked great!), and <a href="http://kammandsons.com/2015/02/brit-spritz-bar-launches-hawker-house/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Kamm's Spritz Bar</span></b></a> sounded like an interesting blend of botanical's, but since I don't like Aperol, I thought I'd steer clear of that one too (truly fantastical vintage-kitsch minuscule bar set up the chap had though). We had an overpriced cocktail at the Rotary Bar (though I concede in retrospect, that maybe £10 for a whole pint is not that excessive!), but <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mlkhny.com/" target="_blank"><b>Milk & Honey</b></a> </span>was my shining beacon, with a great beer selection and more winning cocktails - <a href="http://www.krombacher.com/" target="_blank"><b>Krombacher</b></a> pilsner was a triumph at £4 per can, served in tumblers straight from the freezer!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once again Street Feast, I applaud you for another fantastic show, I'm super happy to see a winter addition to the collective, and thank you for giving us more! I must say, I think prefer the open air summer venues because the buzz of people talking and frolicking gets soaked up in the air, but that's only really my incessant craving for fire pits on a balmy clear evening. I thoroughly enjoyed Hawker House and I'm over the moon that I was able to catch it, but I look forward to <b><a href="http://www.streetfeastlondon.com/where/dalston-yard" target="_blank">Dalston Yard</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.streetfeastlondon.com/where/model-market" target="_blank">Model Market</a> </b>returning in May and April respectively. Watch this space for <a href="http://www.streetfeastlondon.com/where/shoreditch-yard" target="_blank"><b>Shoreditch Yard</b></a> too folks!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjir1qg5ZyagG2ptXs6tOF2OR95lJcGVqEBUCDFzcSO66P5Oi9bCd8cCbinFYJJEAkXl0ETIY52Yu7omIxWdCCjOTTF3Asgu7T6mp2U2MyHwJNYpVa7zrIoLUS5q6khJtx6uPwFSTDQiiQ3/s1600/Rola+Wala.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjir1qg5ZyagG2ptXs6tOF2OR95lJcGVqEBUCDFzcSO66P5Oi9bCd8cCbinFYJJEAkXl0ETIY52Yu7omIxWdCCjOTTF3Asgu7T6mp2U2MyHwJNYpVa7zrIoLUS5q6khJtx6uPwFSTDQiiQ3/s1600/Rola+Wala.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Keralan Dal</b> (£3.50): Beetroot, coconut & channa dal</span></span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiH1qQ-U7VXlDTUHPpL-n0NE3eeeBqB6glI5HwJbaPzcrOliLZBItKZMGtaibAe-vxV0nOWJma4gG2r91JQJiX59XMuuKrTmE_D8dzuv-UwRwlMsMHlQE_t_GDPigYJTDagCqMqsXGXv1/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiH1qQ-U7VXlDTUHPpL-n0NE3eeeBqB6glI5HwJbaPzcrOliLZBItKZMGtaibAe-vxV0nOWJma4gG2r91JQJiX59XMuuKrTmE_D8dzuv-UwRwlMsMHlQE_t_GDPigYJTDagCqMqsXGXv1/s1600/photo+4.JPG" width="561" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yum Bun menu</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKq9cECV1EVJ41k98poDMSwgu4AuIhCiYYDCJFe60dKdexMkZoO5MYKPCdLHzE9P7Vg0Psom9y-9jB-05l_NnwDgYLeDlNdZaexf2EecZShblRTsnkrRTkBw7pG3AghmRfVCgaD3j5fyuf/s1600/Shrimp+bun.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKq9cECV1EVJ41k98poDMSwgu4AuIhCiYYDCJFe60dKdexMkZoO5MYKPCdLHzE9P7Vg0Psom9y-9jB-05l_NnwDgYLeDlNdZaexf2EecZShblRTsnkrRTkBw7pG3AghmRfVCgaD3j5fyuf/s1600/Shrimp+bun.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Shrimp Bun</b> (£4): Crisp prawns with green chilli sambal, lettuce and mayo</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2GzlcOP07vl1hEm-q4Tu7xaIx0GULODZjDZvh2U2EN0xhqEQ_GRHZnRUDFqLkEKhVeche9_dVRNY4Cz-VYlRf5XfSmNq7DZYn2spRGEuRlkH0aYQVA0QC2_-4j80QCJOWJI_yXNUEM-4/s1600/Buns.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2GzlcOP07vl1hEm-q4Tu7xaIx0GULODZjDZvh2U2EN0xhqEQ_GRHZnRUDFqLkEKhVeche9_dVRNY4Cz-VYlRf5XfSmNq7DZYn2spRGEuRlkH0aYQVA0QC2_-4j80QCJOWJI_yXNUEM-4/s1600/Buns.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yum Bun buns!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuWPUybA0stBDD__ZkVOkOOPssool_NsXSVjqZtF4AHV259of_8_oLbup_HMIEEDZBh2AvZQoBPtELUoVIZihMFvE0rApJcFPfHG9K-TiZt-3RR8mjFmJr4HMvNVS2SlWx3YhM_xLb2A4/s1600/Mussel+popcorn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuWPUybA0stBDD__ZkVOkOOPssool_NsXSVjqZtF4AHV259of_8_oLbup_HMIEEDZBh2AvZQoBPtELUoVIZihMFvE0rApJcFPfHG9K-TiZt-3RR8mjFmJr4HMvNVS2SlWx3YhM_xLb2A4/s1600/Mussel+popcorn.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cornetto of Mussel "Popcorn"</b>, Aioli (£4)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlVB4Iqr9tisMbgHYrm50KWXtH3vUfAjDPIF40DQMlNufuL3xxLkctf-pFD41P6jnA5Jcqdq_HJU0p5jLusgr5ZJBLoKZimg8ioGu4fWKVMH4atElsrrq_6bIWNAbWK3Uw2-OYUePnJLT/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlVB4Iqr9tisMbgHYrm50KWXtH3vUfAjDPIF40DQMlNufuL3xxLkctf-pFD41P6jnA5Jcqdq_HJU0p5jLusgr5ZJBLoKZimg8ioGu4fWKVMH4atElsrrq_6bIWNAbWK3Uw2-OYUePnJLT/s1600/photo+5.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Smokestak</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCPGpie9zSWSX_s5TiVbSM6o7HVmkruAjDDYKTZvsMf4MIC9wmGhT4VQe7JhlkP71L9FxvOG9NYPOrg-_7NSU6Yl_p2S0JTdrSAg6aIMt-IDm1uzGqW9Nq3dmTH7XW384-yvmcX3vmZx4/s1600/Scoopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCPGpie9zSWSX_s5TiVbSM6o7HVmkruAjDDYKTZvsMf4MIC9wmGhT4VQe7JhlkP71L9FxvOG9NYPOrg-_7NSU6Yl_p2S0JTdrSAg6aIMt-IDm1uzGqW9Nq3dmTH7XW384-yvmcX3vmZx4/s1600/Scoopy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Scoopsy Daisy</b> - ice cream parlour</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n_Oo9GNmQP29zDHikHmYCAtVVMxEWs8_HEeteqEcReG2zfCWyAYs1CkbNLefWhmVSDnan2FIfNIs_w1SzUt47l2m3vLicYAmDc8mrl7niW0sdP-yMJxTpuQwK_9BD1_EFXHEBysQNZNo/s1600/Wall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0n_Oo9GNmQP29zDHikHmYCAtVVMxEWs8_HEeteqEcReG2zfCWyAYs1CkbNLefWhmVSDnan2FIfNIs_w1SzUt47l2m3vLicYAmDc8mrl7niW0sdP-yMJxTpuQwK_9BD1_EFXHEBysQNZNo/s1600/Wall.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/yum-bun?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Yum Bun"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=a32b2b9512a34d28b57ec4f036f8665d" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1741368/restaurant/Shoreditch/Yum-Bun-London"><img alt="Yum Bun on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1741368/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1693536/restaurant/Kings-Cross/Yum-Bun-London"><img alt="Yum Bun on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1693536/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/bleecker-st-burger?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Bleecker St Burger"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=01b379a6fd004033b3b259250a84491a" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1770290/restaurant/Shoreditch/Bleecker-St-Burger-London"><img alt="Bleecker St. Burger on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1770290/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/milk-and-honey?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Milk & Honey"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=337cd1160b704851a6a7c36d4df1aa79" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/566977/restaurant/London/Milk-Honey-Soho"><img alt="Milk & Honey on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/566977/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-IR8Q0UjAaPM%2FVSEzTboXmjI%2FAAAAAAAABRY%2FkF1P2XYYTXc%2Fs1600%2Fphoto%252B3.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvHWQ4wEr3PNFKXJZnfYinP1p6kEmfVKO7g08Ucwa5EVsC4wwLBM0B3jbaJResDFlLkeL6lJ8K5-_AC45J3Y05nwNjO5wCxCnacURtc8mmkOTasRAsDJ97FxYOgyYEHPqwpug80uMQ6rG/s1600/photo+3.JPG" -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-23645473867975239812015-03-28T15:13:00.001+00:002016-03-09T16:02:50.838+00:00London Living and Austrian Eating<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzOIlKB1PJt57r8JrepVLQkMJ70VwVvlLuHKgLIyQkimrdb6O_rUkdQ4fSvAx1QZvbMvZ5Lbwl92aUgUZxf4vB7N5PD8Hl-cvFdt0IKwaJR-z3Hpws1P_iQv3IDUKdlYOpeOCVLjvKTNf/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzOIlKB1PJt57r8JrepVLQkMJ70VwVvlLuHKgLIyQkimrdb6O_rUkdQ4fSvAx1QZvbMvZ5Lbwl92aUgUZxf4vB7N5PD8Hl-cvFdt0IKwaJR-z3Hpws1P_iQv3IDUKdlYOpeOCVLjvKTNf/s400/photo+5.JPG" width="300" /></a>I started this blog because I wanted to share my ongoing quest to experience a side of town(s) that tourists simply either don't know about or don't think to look for! I find myself writing this particular blog because I just had dinner with a good friend from back home and it all got me thinking...when do you stop being a tourist and start to belong?!<br />
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From the south coast suburbs originally, I grew up with the common and typically bland selection of chain restaurants that descend upon most provincial towns (you know the score: Bella Italia, Pizza Express, Slug & Lettuce, Zizzi, Harvester, Chiquito, Wetherspoons, Strada and the suchlike), and while the village green chippies and riverside pubs that remained were always predictably idyllic, so much of it somehow just started to feel a little rehearsed and manipulated by the aspiring middle class yachties. When I moved to<b> </b><a href="http://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Portsmouth</span></a> then (more specifically, <a href="http://www.southsea.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Southsea</span></b></a>), I started to enjoy a bite at a slightly more bohemian and eclectic apple; it offered an owner-managed culture that seemed to still preside over the corporate conglomerates and as a result it had such an endearing personality. Despite outgrowing it a little in the end, I still have a myriad of fond memories towards it and I'd happily live there again one day!<br />
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Relocating from coastal suburbia to London feels a lot like being punched in the face with full brute force by a heavyweight omniscient giant with 5 personalities. In reality though, what this actually is, is colliding with 8.5 million people from every culture, ethnicity and class, spread over 1,500 square kilometers, while politely battling through 16.8 million tourists annually and competing with the plethora of brainiacs, megalomaniacs, insomniacs, and maniacs that make up the fifth largest city economy in the world. To say it's a brutal adjustment is an understatement and to claim that it didn't overwhelm me in my first few months would be an outrageous lie. What people don't often tell you though, is that it doesn't take too long for butterflies to replace jitters and for collected excitement to oust nervous blind panic! It simply won't work to sit still and expect things to fall into place here...you must get up, stand out, put in and be a part of this city if you want to flourish here. So every day, I try do just that...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxwFHEV9-xt1GvVGnbdyQmYNktGvr9lGf1UNefQSp3OWxjEkaTH980FJwciJ0b2PdcyjTGP68YRf8yJmqZQZdhGjhhRTrdUdZuRWZqmQ-HJaSkC_La4LueMG9IqOWEhwjhnl7l0ER3EpN/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxwFHEV9-xt1GvVGnbdyQmYNktGvr9lGf1UNefQSp3OWxjEkaTH980FJwciJ0b2PdcyjTGP68YRf8yJmqZQZdhGjhhRTrdUdZuRWZqmQ-HJaSkC_La4LueMG9IqOWEhwjhnl7l0ER3EpN/s320/photo+4.JPG" width="320" /></a>I walk everywhere I can to see as much as I can and I roll around in the spoils of such epic ethnic diversity by eating my way around town. I've written about Chinese, Japanese, Italian, British, Indian, Caribbean, American, Peruvian, Spanish, Cuban, Swiss, and Mexican since July last year, but over the years, I've indulged in far more than this and have experimented with fusion concepts from most of the aforementioned! I've eaten in dozens of different countries, but sometimes when I'm dining in London, I feel like I'm getting a taste of the whole world without even breaching the M25! My latest venture took me to <a href="http://www.tirolerhut.co.uk/home.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Tiroler Hut</span></b></a>, to enjoy some Austrian hospitality.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDc4HOhIgT7AZJ5ZwJrSuKo8sjzb4GlPkXeDsM43PyKcYKx6_HkhOOFs5GfwgJi7s2wy67kboQ68aQSIEf1Lqo0rrhFJ_iwefpVdwFtIN8jBcqO51-nAhEcz3bcwZbt13ClvHHyZQ9Vwx/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDc4HOhIgT7AZJ5ZwJrSuKo8sjzb4GlPkXeDsM43PyKcYKx6_HkhOOFs5GfwgJi7s2wy67kboQ68aQSIEf1Lqo0rrhFJ_iwefpVdwFtIN8jBcqO51-nAhEcz3bcwZbt13ClvHHyZQ9Vwx/s400/photo+3.JPG" width="300" /></a>I've been to Austria and gorged on bratwurst, sauerkraut, goulash and dumplings while drinking from a stein amidst cowbells before, but never have I been able to enjoy this kind of hospitality, food and beer accompanied by the gnashing beats of a Casio keyboard and the unbridled rasp of a saxophone! Entering from a tiny door on Westbourne Grove W2 that I missed the first time I walked up the street, we descended into a basement restaurant to be greeted by the most warm of welcomes from staff all with regional accents (always a good sign!). With low ceilings (oddly corrugated, but fine), dark wood beams and gingham everywhere, it was exactly what I wanted it to be so far.<br />
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After a chat with the affable waitress and a couple of beers later, we ordered heavy on the traditionally wholesome dishes, resisting with every fibre of my being, the urge to order a cheese fondue to start. The Bauernschmaus (Tyrolean Peasants Favourite @ £15.50) was steeped high with sauerkraut and oozing all sorts of different meat...mmm! I do wish that the bread dumplings were a little less wet and a little more large, but aside from this, I was exceptionally happy (not forgetting the relentless sax blaring away from a tiny booth in the middle of the restaurant!). All the plates are unfussy and rustic, presented as though you were at home in winter, being fed by your mother who doesn't think you've been eating enough! While not necessarily earth-shatteringly attractive to look at, every meal is infact precisely what you need and I for one, wanted more!<br />
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It was a quiet Tuesday night when I visited, but I imagine this place gets very busy and positively swells with frivolity and kitsch fun later in the week. It has so much charm and character that you can't help but to smile throughout the entire experience. I can't wait to go back...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dIzrGlFjXyulKZczJPLoz8PJBCYLkAAXdSbYl0Zss2b7pA1uoBsMkklxdW6bWxBBwkX3CsWt09PGlevTn0Djn5MjTdgpXgm3aOj-HUit9zo0uqhX2oVvuaKNMAEIfPs5BasrPWLGM6T3/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dIzrGlFjXyulKZczJPLoz8PJBCYLkAAXdSbYl0Zss2b7pA1uoBsMkklxdW6bWxBBwkX3CsWt09PGlevTn0Djn5MjTdgpXgm3aOj-HUit9zo0uqhX2oVvuaKNMAEIfPs5BasrPWLGM6T3/s1600/photo+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/tiroler-hut?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Tiroler Hut"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=23912de8d9ff4dab96174cf304567121" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/571061/restaurant/London/Paddington/Tiroler-Hut-Bayswater"><img alt="Tiroler Hut on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/571061/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-35296342871559598372015-03-19T12:35:00.000+00:002016-03-09T16:00:08.640+00:00Antiques & Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The closest I have come to West London on foot in almost 5 years and its happened entirely by random chance last weekend! I wouldn't say I dread it, but I certainly don't go out of my way to travel anywhere that requires my presence in Paddington (not because it's ropey you understand, but simply because the schlep home is such a lengthy bore and I'd really rather not have to take a punt on the notoriously unreliable Hammersmith & City Line, or indeed, any tube line on a weekend!). Since I must escape this city on the odd occasion though, more often than not, I end up having to travel to/from this hangar for trains, so this time, I decide to avoid said laborious underground trek by walking home, hopefully by way of a myriad of interesting stops and sights...I realise that this may be a tad ambitious, but what's the harm in trying eh?!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszZbhyTzK1LJqpL5JbYGKommUnU7QEhZTzHHUvVcHQtCFWcCyF0ePCqfYjS-Q0A3Hqo_0NX7QBhZKgt22cyECTF4Lg4DiHsUmCdlmtf_FFjo7g3a_4LGeZ1-9L7Sh6TEDtwcwoalpMrkm/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszZbhyTzK1LJqpL5JbYGKommUnU7QEhZTzHHUvVcHQtCFWcCyF0ePCqfYjS-Q0A3Hqo_0NX7QBhZKgt22cyECTF4Lg4DiHsUmCdlmtf_FFjo7g3a_4LGeZ1-9L7Sh6TEDtwcwoalpMrkm/s320/004.JPG" width="240" /></a>Heading off toward the Edgware Road, crossing underneath the demonstratively loud A40, glad that I've never had to stay in Hilton London Metropole and wishing that I could protect my lungs from the traffic (perhaps a cigarette will help?! No! OK!), how ecstatic I was then, to stumble on a market on Church Street. Now, aside from my love of all things cheese and plantain, you should also know that I love a market of any kind - it could be food, junk, clothes, books, furniture, cleaning products and imitation watches for all I care! It really doesn't matter what they're selling or whether or not I actually want to buy anything from anyone because the simply joy of cruising a market stall or car boot knows no bounds! For the record, I bought one of those giant laundry bags for only £3.50 (they're at least £8.99 on Amazon!!), not because I need a launderette, but because they're a superb storage solution for my spare duvet that I have no actual storage space for...because I live in London!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YUzTfFOzNHN1FqMJYQZkMdNv1DlfKX0wDYq3yDCDZY2gOhW4IWzDD_TZd_7aUBDwI42-8sPMPLHZX4yybKsjsPPLD8xaGHn5Ajr_Nvt4ukTggdOfvNbNicNFvnVyFMTa21pNINCp0QdI/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YUzTfFOzNHN1FqMJYQZkMdNv1DlfKX0wDYq3yDCDZY2gOhW4IWzDD_TZd_7aUBDwI42-8sPMPLHZX4yybKsjsPPLD8xaGHn5Ajr_Nvt4ukTggdOfvNbNicNFvnVyFMTa21pNINCp0QdI/s320/008.JPG" width="240" /></a>Amidst the market jubilation's then, I found what I've been halfheartedly been looking for since I set off on this random stomp: <a href="http://www.alfiesantiques.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Alfies Antique Market</span></b></a>! I was actually in search of cake, which I was assured I could find somewhere within the bowels of this vast emporium, but boy was I in for a treat because this place comprised of four floors, all crammed with antiques, vintage bits n bobs, and retro gubbins. The cake was going to have to wait a while I fear!<br />
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After at least 1.5 hours, I finally reach the top floor and ascending into the heavens of my new favourite creaky and cluttered bazaar, I find a cheerful and bustling cafe. I hear friends catching up over coffee and bloody marys, some navigating their sweet tooth around a freshly baked carrot cake with others basking in the sun of an open decked terrace, tucking into eggs and a cuppa. What a cute little place I whisper to myself, eager to peruse the saccharine-based delights on offer. I had barely completed my review of the options by the time I spied the lemon drizzle though, so there's no more looking for me! Sometimes cake looks delicious, but lacks flavour, and sometimes it looks so over the top, so you're bound to like it, only to discover that infact it's dry and anticlimactic...I'm pleased to report though, that this was not the case here - it was good and moist and good and generous and oh so full of flavour, tang and simplicity! Loved it.<br />
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What a great place to while away your Saturday and if you have to tell yourself you're in Maida Vale, St Johns Wood or Marylebone before you give it a go, then I'll forgive you (it's really the dodgy-but-delightful end of NW8, but I won't tell anyone!).<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/560282/restaurant/St-Johns-Wood-Lisson-Grove/Alfies-Roof-Top-Kitchen-London"><img alt="Alfies Roof Top Kitchen on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/560282/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-31761943321202530722015-03-16T09:26:00.000+00:002015-04-05T15:24:12.844+01:00Rum Kitchen <span style="font-family: inherit;">My ongoing plantain obsession has most recently taken me to Kingly Court, which incidentally, is now a buzzing hive of eateries that begs the question: when did all the boutiques get banished and how did all these grub holes pop up without me noticing sooner?! Perched on a mezzanine level balcony, you will find the <a href="http://therumkitchen.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Rum Kitchen</span></b></a> lording over said hive below, positively oozing atmosphere above a backdrop of afro-funk melodies.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGx_FSfFgvIEuczkQVPUPDYZKl9_z1lHDc0ZeQQEYzaXhWwApNCg8hWthtzgmFSPUAPSA7xYpWYbnNPSRl7mtB2jPo-BE9OM3DX73-Xgi95TZsHTV6TMLSp7Oj4d26ZqlI3SSYpFGDU0BG/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGx_FSfFgvIEuczkQVPUPDYZKl9_z1lHDc0ZeQQEYzaXhWwApNCg8hWthtzgmFSPUAPSA7xYpWYbnNPSRl7mtB2jPo-BE9OM3DX73-Xgi95TZsHTV6TMLSp7Oj4d26ZqlI3SSYpFGDU0BG/s1600/001.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jovially welcomed through the busy doorway, I feel as if we'd just walked into the home of our most scatty friend with a medley of other friends, in unison, at that pivotal moment when the cream could burn, the fat might catch alight or the rice just stuck to the bottom of their favourite pot (possibly all of the above!). With a reservation firmly made though, we were whisked to our seats with some bright small talk and a subtle sigh of relief that we weren't just another group to whom the host had to instruct to wait by the open door or perch at the bijou bar. It was chaotic, efficient, friendly and alive so far and I'm smiling because the mania is a rouse - there may be a lot of people squeezing and snaking inbetween the tables or engaged in animated chit chat, but the hardy wait staff were prompt, precise and attentive throughout.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLQ5hz8EZHxriBXFE4xMNBquEhTSBxmfSHkQtwRCL4GbC6dn_rsXATks2Cw-n5yHzP1imfKWsBgYX82yOrN5gHrEc3B5bxAit6QFWdsu_m1s5ujpV7zzXi8-NsLwWns4wJMwk5KOY4MMX/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLQ5hz8EZHxriBXFE4xMNBquEhTSBxmfSHkQtwRCL4GbC6dn_rsXATks2Cw-n5yHzP1imfKWsBgYX82yOrN5gHrEc3B5bxAit6QFWdsu_m1s5ujpV7zzXi8-NsLwWns4wJMwk5KOY4MMX/s1600/004.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As a self-proclaimed Caribbean inspired beach shack, I was very hopeful that tonight would be the night that plantain would grace my plate and Red Stripe would once again whet my appetite. It turns out that I was right on both counts, although I do wish I'd ordered 3 portions of the plantain because as a side dish at £4, it was humble at best. The jerk was tender and delicious, but alas, I wish the skin was either a little crispier or simply removed instead of being left soft and rubbery. The Saltfish Fritters were substantial and immensely satisfying to share at just £7.50, there was a refreshing amount of meat on the Sticky BBQ Ribs (£7.50) and Baby Gem Seafood Tacos (also £7.50) were fresh and light. Overall, I'm happy, well fed and pretty glad I visited this place...I'm especially pleased with the very organised chaos, fun decor and spot on location, but </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I fear that nothing particularly stood out, jumped up or screamed out to me here. I would go back again and no doubt thoroughly enjoy it again though, and that's all that matters, isn't it?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for your hospitality and your delicious pots of plantain <a href="http://therumkitchen.com/" target="_blank"><b>Rum Kitchen</b></a>! I'll be seeing you again...</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/the-rum-kitchen-carnaby?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of The Rum Kitchen Carnaby"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=c9a9c9226d004b1eb9dafedf8f154464" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1805374/restaurant/Soho/The-Rum-Kitchen-London"><img alt="The Rum Kitchen on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1805374/minilink.gif" style="border-image: none; border: currentColor; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-15415561377345940822015-02-09T14:44:00.001+00:002015-04-05T15:24:35.759+01:00Berners Tavern: Atherton soars through London!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4LZ3YMJ2bVkrcoa5GQP-9mKkjmhTb4LYIQ_0FxeNgSeUbLomhlfqVCGm3KZBf56ogTyLqMoZMfr-Yo61xi3vwsNBeucIqmu-hYmZnpONxNtu5LBz2QVSvdl2U2QQjxc-sc05kLUabfPA/s1600/699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4LZ3YMJ2bVkrcoa5GQP-9mKkjmhTb4LYIQ_0FxeNgSeUbLomhlfqVCGm3KZBf56ogTyLqMoZMfr-Yo61xi3vwsNBeucIqmu-hYmZnpONxNtu5LBz2QVSvdl2U2QQjxc-sc05kLUabfPA/s1600/699.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>Since leaving Gordon Ramsey in 2010, <a href="http://www.jasonatherton.co.uk/" target="_blank"><strong>Jason Atherton</strong></a> has taken the restaurant world by storm, soaring his way through Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, London and [soon to be] Dubai. It's been a while since I've been to Asia (when I was there, you probably would've been more likely to find me shoving my face into a bowl of street food instead of engaging in fine dining etiquette), but I have not missed the chance to sample his wares in London. Since the triumphant <a href="http://www.pollenstreetsocial.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Pollen Street Social</strong></a>, we've seen the likes of <a href="http://www.littlesocial.co.uk/" target="_blank"><strong>Little Social</strong></a>, <a href="http://www.socialeatinghouse.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Social Eating House</strong></a> and <a href="http://citysociallondon.com/" target="_blank"><strong>City Social</strong></a> spanning across Mayfair, Soho, Fitzrovia, and into The City to create a demi 'social' empire. Not content with this though, he's now also pitched up camp at the <a href="http://townhallhotel.com/home" target="_blank"><strong>Town Hall Hotel</strong></a> in the trendy east (filling the shoes of Nuno Mendes at Viajante), and the <a href="http://townhallhotel.com/home" target="_blank"><strong>London Edition</strong></a> in the thriving West End. It is the latter that I nod my head today, after recently filling up at <a href="http://www.bernerstavern.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Berners Tavern</span></strong></a>.<br />
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Almost ballroom sized, with triple height ceilings, this is a very open plan dining room that somehow remarkably manages to feel warm, cosy and intimate. Impressive chandeliers pay subtle homage to Carl Faberge and the artwork adorning the walls leave no inch of wall uncovered - I feel like I've just walked into a stately reception hall that should be candlelit and butler clad. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the pseudo grandeur though, I am hit by a soulful dining room filled with the sound of casual conversation, unbridled laughter and a welcoming host. With a separate entrance from Berners Street, you need not acknowledge that this is infact a hotel at all, which I'm sure will be appealing to many...<br />
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This is infact the second time I've eaten here (the first being for breakfast at the back end of 2014), so I thought I knew how to contain giddy urges, but upon reviewing the menu, there was rather a lot to get excited about! I owe this to my brother, but I strongly believe that if we are to eat an animal, we should (1) be willing to use and eat all of it, and (2) know where it comes from, or more specifically, how it gets to your plate. Delighted I was then, to see a pigs head on the menu, not to mention a plethora of regionally sourced foodstuffs including, but not limited to Colchester crab, Highland venison and Cornish cod. I didn't order the pigs head because I don't care for fois gras, but I regretted that decision because it was utterly delicious, perfectly balanced by the pickled onions, which also took me back to those made by my mother growing up (Crispy pigs head, fois gras and black pudding, watercress and pickled onion salad with sauce gribiche - £12).<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ggqjOJEdyUI70x7jZHjrk_th6GjKXu99NkP7V03O0cXudUHXJ8CXq24GxZNYORfW3yAJzLBhpH7vrsD_ZlgZLm3r0bHVdEgesOJfbZILcS9h3ryt6xefPRDZMhuwPu7Tn9PIqhsIoo1E/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ggqjOJEdyUI70x7jZHjrk_th6GjKXu99NkP7V03O0cXudUHXJ8CXq24GxZNYORfW3yAJzLBhpH7vrsD_ZlgZLm3r0bHVdEgesOJfbZILcS9h3ryt6xefPRDZMhuwPu7Tn9PIqhsIoo1E/s1600/001.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Starter: Ironbark pumpkin risotto, <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">smoked ham </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">hock, </span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">crispy quail </span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">egg & kale crisps - £12</span></td></tr>
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I wonder if the goal here then, is to present you with all the foods you grew up with in a British home, but to refine them until it's not just your memories that are tantalised, but your tastebuds too. Opting for the pumpkin risotto with caution (I've had one too many starchy or solid risotto's in my time!), I was blown away by its simplicity being so completely perfect - cooked expertly to my taste, an ideal starter portion, salty/sweet ham hock, with crispy kale chips for texture (Ironbark pumpkin risotto, crispy quail egg, smoked ham hock, kale crisps - £12). With my cyclical red meat craving looming, I resist the venison (I'm not sure how though!), selecting the Grass Fed British Rib Eye 10oz (£33), with triple cooked chips and Bernaise sauce (why would you put anything else on a steak?!). Cooked pink and tender, delivered to my table in all it's glory as an unadulterated slab of meat #salivating!<br />
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Continuing the theme into dessert, I had an éclair, a charming and delicious éclair (Apple caramel éclair, calvados cream, salted caramel ice cream - £8.50). Admittedly, this wasn't the average éclair you trundle down to your local baker in your pyjamas for, but when presented on the menu next to a trifle (Rhubarb trifle, crispy meringue, lemon ice cream - £8.50) and rice pudding (Warm apple + pear rice pudding, cinnamon crumble ice cream - £8.50), I couldn't help but feel as though I was at home! Hold on, should I have brought my slippers?!<br />
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What a treat this place is, hey! Not bank breaking, not pretentious, just simple food done exceptionally well...congratulations and thank you for putting that menu infront of me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNFjSl_IhyMgipzU8HBAjV9g7Gq7m5to39QioJG_ilgiC0dV-6L-EKg5OnP3OckehYkTBMzlK3g2Jxpik71QGKIlQbsspwW_gauwBWRWggOZqCfBMBXCV_2i70YQmVY6LRrWxL3nQfocV/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNFjSl_IhyMgipzU8HBAjV9g7Gq7m5to39QioJG_ilgiC0dV-6L-EKg5OnP3OckehYkTBMzlK3g2Jxpik71QGKIlQbsspwW_gauwBWRWggOZqCfBMBXCV_2i70YQmVY6LRrWxL3nQfocV/s1600/002.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grass Fed British Rib Eye 10oz, triple cooked chips & bernaise sauce - £33 </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTaFGO9uyfU8Qxp1VcElO4E2rTA0zUIInQTPKpOY9Ti6Aq3Ww74DtJoVF5btBXjFydo1o3Bn0uC-7CHJGDT1R6RieOVksv_UUFvudykCw4JYmhrvoGZTfqfabf4HDxK3PfcuNM3Lb6NBm/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTaFGO9uyfU8Qxp1VcElO4E2rTA0zUIInQTPKpOY9Ti6Aq3Ww74DtJoVF5btBXjFydo1o3Bn0uC-7CHJGDT1R6RieOVksv_UUFvudykCw4JYmhrvoGZTfqfabf4HDxK3PfcuNM3Lb6NBm/s1600/003.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple caramel eclair, calvados cream, salted caramel ice cream - £8.50</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/berners-tavern-at-edition-hotel?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Berners Tavern at Edition Hotel"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=bf57d41bdce246acbc3f485daab37bdf" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1783949/restaurant/Fitzrovia/Berners-Tavern-London"><img alt="Berners Tavern on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1783949/minilink.gif" style="border-image: none; border: currentColor; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-68038952676940370502015-02-07T23:57:00.000+00:002015-04-05T15:27:41.041+01:00ESPECIAL: Mexican Reflection...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Upon my reflections of 2014 and the obligatory attempts at foresight for 2015, I realise that since 2007 I have spent not just all my time, money and efforts on trotting around the globe, but I've also allowed my mind to be consumed by the next journey, whatever it might be - I yearn for discovery and am desperate for degrees of adventure to satisfy my unrepentant curiosity. Indeed, for as long as I can recall, I've fantasised of far away lands and have had incessant distant dreams of a path less trodden or people less understood. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I started travelling to see the world, to learn by exploiting chance and to answer questions. Seven years later, I still crave the unexpected, I'm still asking questions and I still haven't found anything to beat the "never seen/felt/heard/experienced that before" feeling. The prose may look different in my thirties than in my comparatively carefree twenties, but the determination to be less ordinary remains. I look out to the world in wonder, glimpsing into the lives and homes of others with fascination and awe, taking part as much as I can. I opened a door that I can't seem to close, so here I find myself arbitrarily trying to document the tiny slice of an experience that can be quantified. Enter Mexico...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoPlb4a9AV8unXgkYgezgA2sYz3XxSFFq1ZrgggNcUh2dtorE90565ZpiLZy9FZRXIsPo3ixE4O6mZG-cvZIVsWti_LKAY6aA9t7VHrSXbhOF9V3cYvoXF0oruXdct3gNQp804Xa0hEGo/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoPlb4a9AV8unXgkYgezgA2sYz3XxSFFq1ZrgggNcUh2dtorE90565ZpiLZy9FZRXIsPo3ixE4O6mZG-cvZIVsWti_LKAY6aA9t7VHrSXbhOF9V3cYvoXF0oruXdct3gNQp804Xa0hEGo/s1600/096.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">As an experienced traveller, I was surprised by my mixed feelings towards Mexico. On the one hand, I imagined the brash and overindulgent Americana party scenes of Cancun (incidentally, a spectacle I'd rather avoid), while on the other, I considered with trepidation, the country's persistent drug trade, the rising instability in neighbouring Guatemala and the [perceived] risk to western tourists of theft, mugging, kidnapping and the suchlike. In between all of these thoughts though, I couldn't shake the desire to explore more of Central America and I was itching to swim in the cenotes (infamous sinkholes), step onto the beaches and explore the Mayan ruins.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghe8gYDeobAW8LVueOyxfDn-BoyuFsWBCx2NWAr7Rrj4eMOo3hqijydSMrdObZkAUGzBelgRV5YTfL8-Y0e7crND0bFJCq-ads1k6hxuj2fzq-PteTxqEOhqQn_NpSX5Hpojk3PTb3f2PZ/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghe8gYDeobAW8LVueOyxfDn-BoyuFsWBCx2NWAr7Rrj4eMOo3hqijydSMrdObZkAUGzBelgRV5YTfL8-Y0e7crND0bFJCq-ads1k6hxuj2fzq-PteTxqEOhqQn_NpSX5Hpojk3PTb3f2PZ/s1600/028.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Beach on Cancun's Hotel Zone</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://www.visitmexico.com/en/cancun" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">CANCUN</span></a> </b>was almost exactly what I thought it might be, in good and bad ways, but I can tell you that I unless I was bound for one of the more remote islands (Isla Holbox for example), it's not the sort of place I'd frequent. We splashed out on <strong><a href="http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Cancun/Default.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Ritz Cartlon Cancun</span></a> </strong>for our first couple nights and despite disappearing into the clutches of a resort on an even larger resort (commonly known as the Hotel Zone), we were greeted with a perfect white powdery beach, lining the bright azure blue wild ocean waters; the staff were super friendly, <a href="http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Cancun/Dining/TheClubGrill/Default.htm" target="_blank"><strong>The Club Grill</strong> </a>offered remarkable cuisine, with the most outstanding service I have seen in a long while, and the Sunday brunch spread was superbly indulgent. I wouldn't dare utter a bad word about our experience thus far, so to explain why I wouldn't go back is to remark on the façade of it all. Cancun is akin to Las Vegas or Dubai, but instead of desert and Elvis or camel polo, you have a beach, sombreros and tacos! There are dance parties, happy hour promotions, club promoters, greased up scenes of youthful debauchery, and western food outlets everywhere. Cue imminent departure..</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkUwPUs4zWA1bYE7lTsbuFqqV3-g1PXb_8tEHEhwSafIepznpQg9N1H7ovj2lxTFW2EYC98Qt8SY_7-rq4Rl6U_a2HyCzpUeaRJpN0PZfHyOF2wFfBHNsfnX_siJ46aoCeLJSr50E1tHh/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkUwPUs4zWA1bYE7lTsbuFqqV3-g1PXb_8tEHEhwSafIepznpQg9N1H7ovj2lxTFW2EYC98Qt8SY_7-rq4Rl6U_a2HyCzpUeaRJpN0PZfHyOF2wFfBHNsfnX_siJ46aoCeLJSr50E1tHh/s1600/064.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQH61CoXCpmuB39i7IavcV81XgXTTJrGAYcTx3NmJ5MxIJseOR8xAxkZB49UNDG1_7OTzxbYvbQlxJzZ9-pXSjbxlWc-P3t17Qv7QfvwXyHzUA9ZFeQu0ac_fJoUHtsINeYwlnZ4hN8A5W/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PpUTrH4jAY_GfjNGJR5Il8S_pkocHarisoUIxyU8Ree6lUUUGiLrDvIaEf39MWTFRwRscKRA2LAwz6DtQJIAdtW69GM_rr37QrTHeyyosb9SzAUldN2a2ZlVanhRD-N3fxY2pliQ2YL8/s1600/160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PpUTrH4jAY_GfjNGJR5Il8S_pkocHarisoUIxyU8Ree6lUUUGiLrDvIaEf39MWTFRwRscKRA2LAwz6DtQJIAdtW69GM_rr37QrTHeyyosb9SzAUldN2a2ZlVanhRD-N3fxY2pliQ2YL8/s1600/160.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Using the very reliable and desperately cheap ADO bus service, we travelled 4.5 hours to the Yucatan capital of <b><a href="http://www.visitmexico.com/en/merida" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">MERIDA</span></a> </b>and were delighted to find on arrival, that the atmosphere was immediately different. We jumped into one of the many cabs at the station, chuckled with the driver over the carnage that was his car interior, then checked into the <a href="http://www.hotelmarionetas.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Hotel Marionetas</span></strong></a>, which was so refreshingly humble and homely (<span style="font-size: large;">see my full review on <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g150811-d490536-r252214679-Hotel_Marionetas-Merida_Yucatan_Peninsula.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Trip Advisor</span></a></span>). The city was vibrant and alive with crowds, the Plaza Mayor was brimming with all sorts of folk, and the shops were plentiful - we bought a genuine panama hat and got a table at a recommend locals restaurant. We were craving a spot of salsa or reggaeton after dinner, so we set about to find a dancehall. On our quest, we found the Angel of the Independence monument, which was a pleasant surprise (must do more pre-reading about areas!), and we walked past some rather expensive looking real estate; we even saw Starbucks (twice) and a couple gentlemans bars, but alas, no dancehalls. Instead, we settled into a deliciously kitsch bar playing 1990's musical triumphs and got entirely inebriated on what can only be described as a sugary pink alcopop-esque sparkling wine (possibly a Lambrusco Russo for those of you who recall turning your puke pink as a teenager on the sordid stuff!).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamY-Ax_5M29t0-eVM0Frchpxity4ktjpaA_TMMsZ2MyxP6X4vZyX064HzN8CMp9juBg1-I0_WjR9GPzFeLO7WES_vi1izAUGhFX3gMvmnSRkRKDA53AAzHzT3kgSRJDjQv8dhy6q-X3hR/s1600/098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamY-Ax_5M29t0-eVM0Frchpxity4ktjpaA_TMMsZ2MyxP6X4vZyX064HzN8CMp9juBg1-I0_WjR9GPzFeLO7WES_vi1izAUGhFX3gMvmnSRkRKDA53AAzHzT3kgSRJDjQv8dhy6q-X3hR/s1600/098.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Celestun</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Should you be interested (and you should!), Merida is a fantastic location from which to explore further afield too. We missed a formal tour to <a href="http://www.visitmexico.com/en/celestun-reserve-merida-yucatan-mexico" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">CELESTUN</span></b>,</a> but amidst the poor appraisal of the local tourist board (why would you not recognise the money-making benefits to organising both half and full day tours!), we discovered that the local buses also journeyed there multiple times per day - it was cheaper and far more adventurous, so off we popped with some snacks and smug sense of achievement on our own. In a little under 2 hours, we arrived a quiet little coastal town and sought out the beach to find some soul with a boat who'd be willing to take us to see the flamingos! We were in luck and for a small sum, we joined a few other folk to venture out to sea where we saw pelicans, flamingos and even a baby crocodile, of all things. Upon returning to the beach for a fresh fish dinner, we watched all the fishermen return to shore and sat peacefully as the glorious sun set over the horizon. Idyllic really, when you think of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">God only knows where we went after that (I love a bit of random!), but a truly delightful local chap took us to three amazing cenotes (one of which was ours privately for just a measly few pesos!), some fascinating ruins and a peaceful hacienda for lunch (or in my case a giant plate of plantain...mmm!).</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Cenote</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Cenote</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLqFtjPJMVURG2eNEYMFnjVxbLrEujIFa4xY5gnLz71Jz5Lw9-J5BcGcUA55ExXwBaf1yaxjVw2l1N4JfNBfZ7Jykv6hFgEudvsP3WSfPZ9zHjjOluBrPnhV5b-0H-3XVLu0-xNwMmck6/s1600/155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLqFtjPJMVURG2eNEYMFnjVxbLrEujIFa4xY5gnLz71Jz5Lw9-J5BcGcUA55ExXwBaf1yaxjVw2l1N4JfNBfZ7Jykv6hFgEudvsP3WSfPZ9zHjjOluBrPnhV5b-0H-3XVLu0-xNwMmck6/s1600/155.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Hacienda</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next stop was <a href="http://www.visitmexico.com/en/campeche" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>CAMPECHE</b>,</span></a> an ancient walled city and port, only 2.5 hours by bus from Merida. We checked into <a href="http://hotelsocaire.com.mx/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Hotel Socaire</span></strong></a> <span style="font-size: large;">(see my full review on <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g1632078-d3730230-r252217640-Hotel_Socaire-Campeche_Yucatan_Peninsula.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Trip Advisor</span></a>),</span> admiring the cobbled streets and colourful buildings within the walls. Despite people milling around here, there was a general sense of calm, especially within the walls of the old town, and I began to realise that the Mayan people were consistently showing themselves to be a very gentle, hospitable, calm and warm collective.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Campeche</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are two things I should share about Campeche! (1) <a href="http://www.playasmexico.com.mx/playa_mexico_ficha.php?id_rubrique=973" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Playa Bonita</span></strong></a> is absolutely not bonita (beautiful), rather quite surreal, a little scabby and not somewhere I would've felt comfortable strutting around in a bikini (not that I ever really "strut" in a bikini, you understand, but there were too many awkward looking gawping fellows loitering around my liking!). The bus ride there though, was much fun as it scuttled through so many local villages, all that looked to be crumbling and worn at the seams. (2) <a href="http://www.campeche.travel/en/recursos-turisticos/arqueologia-maya-2/item/edzna" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Edzna</span></strong></a> is a special and serene place, worthy of your time if you want to see more of the ancient Mayan ruins. You can get a local mini bus there from the other side of the food market, which in itself, was a buzzing hub outside of the town walls - the bus stop is not immediately obvious (naturally!), but if you wander around the market area long enough, you'll see a gaggle of mini buses clustered together (they'll leave when full enough!). It's all part of the adventure, you see!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcV4bhzHfhJ6_oOJO3udsJmnzvj6NjA1joH8KhNEY1A448_aCdmii56Ke3bXqrTvJQJpcCUilJmNDA9eKwL_aJ143po47HtjXXTMG3Z7MWEUO1dZSL8Ma8lXBJqMbjZkh8gPcxyqqkNmP/s1600/243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcV4bhzHfhJ6_oOJO3udsJmnzvj6NjA1joH8KhNEY1A448_aCdmii56Ke3bXqrTvJQJpcCUilJmNDA9eKwL_aJ143po47HtjXXTMG3Z7MWEUO1dZSL8Ma8lXBJqMbjZkh8gPcxyqqkNmP/s1600/243.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our penultimate stop took us 4.5 hours down the road, closer to the Guatemala border and further into the jungle to </span><a href="http://www.visitmexico.com/en/palenque" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PALENQUE</span></b>.</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> After checking into </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.hotelchablis.com.mx/en/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank"><strong>Hotel Chablis</strong></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (see my full review on </span><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g249851-d629283-r252222106-Hotel_Chablis_Palenque-Palenque_Southern_Mexico.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Trip Advisor</span></a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">)</span> and without much time to waste (we were only staying for two nights), we booked what we came for: a tour to </span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.visitmexico.com/en/tulum-ancient-mayan-fortress-in-riviera-maya" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank"><strong>Yaxchilan</strong></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> & </span><a href="http://www.visitmexico.com/en/archaeological-wall-painting-in-chiapas-mexico" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Bonampak</a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. It was to take us as close to the border as we could get, to see more mystical ruins, accessible by long boat, 45 minutes down the Usumacinta River. We also booked a tour to</span><strong style="font-family: inherit;"> </strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.visitmexico.com/es/cascadas-en-chiapas" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Cascadas de Agua Azul</a>, which was</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> pleasing to me because aside from caves and adrenaline inducing endeavours (except bungee jumping because that's insane, not to mention impossible!), I always love a waterfall, especially ones that I can either swim in or walk behind - here, we did both. I promptly then busted my leg, which left me hobbling around like an invalid with tourettes for a few days! With a stick and a decreased capacity to feel shame though, I shuffled on. Palenque itself was not nearly as tiny and remote as I thought it was going to be and I rather liked the atmosphere in the town, which had plenty of restaurants, bars and people (a rather disproportionate number of pharmacies too, but who was I to grumble in light of my aforementioned enfeebled leg!).</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Mojito Bar in Tulum</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Having already accepted that we wouldn't be able to simply 'cut through' Guatemala and Belize to get back up to Cancun (damn civil unrest!), we instead boarded an overnight bus to <a href="http://www.visitmexico.com/en/tulum-ancient-mayan-fortress-in-riviera-maya" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">TULUM</span></b></a>, braced for a bad nights sleep and stocked up to the eyeballs with snacks and pop! <a href="http://www.uolisnah.com.mx/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Uolis Nah</span></strong></a> was to be our final resting place and I was hoping that we wouldn't be walking straight back into a miniature Cancun <span style="font-size: large;">(see my full review on <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g150813-d310697-r252225952-Uolis_Nah-Tulum_Yucatan_Peninsula.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Trip Advisor</span></a>). </span>Much to my endless satisfaction then, I was delighted to find a tiny bohemian Mexicana town, brimming with gift shops, rustic restaurants and a free spirit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The closest beach was Playa Paraiso and it was gorgeous - here was a place that felt to be straddling local and tourist life by equal measure even if the reality swerved to the latter! L</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ined with expensive looking eco lodges and beach bungalows, there was not a giant or gaudy resort in sight, yet it still oozed all the splendour of a beautiful beach location! What a supremely superior spot when compared to Cancun I'd say.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you fancy a day away from the beach, then you can take a 20 minute bus ride to <a href="http://www.xelha.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Xel'Ha</span></strong></a>, which is an all-inclusive style nature park full of funtastic things to do. It's all rather Americanised (sorry Yanks, but you do seem to err on the side of organised fun in a risk-free / culture-free resort style environment), but if you put that aside, it's actually very well thought out! You can eat/drink as much as you like, you can snorkel, zip line, dive off cliffs, swim with dolphins and relax in a luxury spa. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you want to know the best thing about Tulum though?! We made friends with local waiters on our last night and finally found somewhere to have a dance to reggaeton! Tulum was such a fantastic place to end a holiday and I t</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">hank you Mexico, for your hospitality. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">May the adventures endure, the questions evolve, and the world continue to fascinate, intrigue and amaze.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-14858558673504861672015-02-02T11:48:00.001+00:002015-04-05T15:28:05.413+01:00Dub Jam jerk and perks!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GPXXCUZpnKMWe03_4xryB38lLjeca1VyLU4hGXAVX1TJud4HiGkTOIgf6BugyB9x62AIExZo_-rqYDNsCIH51bw_q4Gnqg0YEeXTHhiV2OR7zGg4FSNUv1WiURfDpfE1bMIc3s_U-NTA/s1600/Dub+Jam+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GPXXCUZpnKMWe03_4xryB38lLjeca1VyLU4hGXAVX1TJud4HiGkTOIgf6BugyB9x62AIExZo_-rqYDNsCIH51bw_q4Gnqg0YEeXTHhiV2OR7zGg4FSNUv1WiURfDpfE1bMIc3s_U-NTA/s1600/Dub+Jam+sign.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">After nurturing a rather prolonged craving for fried plantain, I recently took it upon myself to scour the streets for a Caribbean restaurant within a lazy strolling radius of the office. Thankfully for me, a dear friend whose never been adverse to shoving her face into a bowl of rice, chicken & peas, was due to celebrate a birthday, so I could think of no better opportunity to share the joy than by booking a table at the minuscule dining room of <a href="http://www.dubjam.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Dub Jam</span></b></a>, a jerk BBQ and rum shack conveniently located in Covent Garden!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">With a surf board for a demi-bar and an open kitchen (a kitchenette may be more accurate), this tiny hole-in-the-wall establishment is attached to <b><a href="http://www.adventurebar.co.uk/covent-garden-bar/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">The Adventure Bar</span></a> </b>and can seat no more than 20 people in close proximity, not too dissimilar to the average pokey pop-up du jour! With graffiti emblazoned over all walls, some smashing neon letter signs (I couldn't guess where they were all from, but the 'M' was definitely stolen from Ronald McDonald!), and a raggaeton heavy playlist gracing the room, it certainly is a super cool bijou eatery. Thumbs up from me so far.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVBORWMhgG-VgT_VEsLsRsSiOmtT9pRC27t2cKX7WTd3VQQ1u2SDoDmbKbtCNXL74hfZdjSEROzYMKvd0cYi3dRchTgQAbeMOwS2o8_ZRW9I_C9yS_iDz7DjDM9wg1fyqxrTKRFvJ5PvZ/s1600/Dub+Jam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVBORWMhgG-VgT_VEsLsRsSiOmtT9pRC27t2cKX7WTd3VQQ1u2SDoDmbKbtCNXL74hfZdjSEROzYMKvd0cYi3dRchTgQAbeMOwS2o8_ZRW9I_C9yS_iDz7DjDM9wg1fyqxrTKRFvJ5PvZ/s1600/Dub+Jam.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVBORWMhgG-VgT_VEsLsRsSiOmtT9pRC27t2cKX7WTd3VQQ1u2SDoDmbKbtCNXL74hfZdjSEROzYMKvd0cYi3dRchTgQAbeMOwS2o8_ZRW9I_C9yS_iDz7DjDM9wg1fyqxrTKRFvJ5PvZ/s1600/Dub+Jam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately though, whomever took my booking made a mistake and our table was being taken by another group who'd been waiting for a while already. A free round of rum shots later, we ventured downstairs into <a href="http://www.adventurebar.co.uk/covent-garden-bar/" target="_blank"><b>The Adventure Bar</b></a>, where we could purchase a bottle of bubbles while we waited. Staff were super friendly so far and I was with a cracking crowd, so the wait didn't really bother any of us too much and when our table became available, we were all a little bubble happy already. A round of orders were made and despite the overwhelming disappointment at hearing there was no curried goat patties left (Punky Raggae Patty - £4.95), we all suddenly realised how hungry we were - I do wish I hadn't realised how willing I was to chew my arm off though, because the ensuing wait for tucker was oh so long! We watched multiple trays of chow go downstairs before ours arrived (you can take food down, but cannot bring drinks up...que?!?!), but when it did all finally arrive, it was DELICIOUS! The Jerk Chicken Burger (£7.50), with extra cheese (£2.00) was tender and full of flavour while the Sunshine Slaw (£3.50) was made with coconut and turned out to be an unexpectedly big hit for me. Meanwhile, KJ's Sweet Potato Chips (£3.60) and the Island Cob (£3.50) were positively mouth-watering and my friend did indeed dive face first into a good portion of Rice 'n' Peace (£3.50). With everyone's head down, reminiscent of feeding time at a farm, I think I can safely appraise the cooking talents here and as such, I have to be a fan! Such a shame then, that this was tainted somewhat with our lost booking and long waits...most importantly of all though (for me, least!), where was the plantain?! There's even a picture of it on the website, but nowhere to be seen on the menu...I was then and remain now, utterly distraught!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Overall then, <b><a href="http://www.dubjam.co.uk/" target="_blank">Dub Jam</a> </b>is casual cavity, with an amazing soundtrack! It will deliver you fantastically unfussy basket food, cooked very well and priced right. Service was also excellent and super friendly, and much to my endless delight, it's the kind of place that makes you really want to thank everyone for their hospitality when you leave! I wish our experience had been a little more slick and that plantain had been on the menu, but this aside, I would definitely, but cautiously recommend that others give it a go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">PS. Thank you for having us<a href="http://www.dubjam.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b> Dub Jam</b></a>! The music rocks, the decor is cool, the vibe is welcoming, the staff are great and the food is cracking...</span>
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/dub-jam?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of Dub Jam"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=a7518c3a40604566bf7111a7b2425127" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1846068/restaurant/Covent-Garden/Dub-Jam-London"><img alt="Dub Jam on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1846068/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a><br />
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<b>zW45v5t32w5c</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-64151557144243182502015-01-27T12:45:00.001+00:002016-03-09T15:58:30.845+00:00Beef, beef and more beef at MASH London<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgW8dj5Cw3iKXAtx50h_CJvYem2ZKTSTWbTpS863fkwjHqOr9lddud5OPRGDV8aCXPFedlT-F0ezJwayrcsjDFhsUKmdVjc4vRhw_8tn6Syjw6_hQbhFw6waFruzGq8Ek72rnoW5dcG5e/s1600/Mash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgW8dj5Cw3iKXAtx50h_CJvYem2ZKTSTWbTpS863fkwjHqOr9lddud5OPRGDV8aCXPFedlT-F0ezJwayrcsjDFhsUKmdVjc4vRhw_8tn6Syjw6_hQbhFw6waFruzGq8Ek72rnoW5dcG5e/s1600/Mash.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Beef, beef and more beef! We can’t get enough of it at the moment, with steakhouses, burger joints, chicken shacks and BBQ’s all ingratiating themselves onto our eating out guides, bringing us meat from Argentina, Uruguay, New Zealand, America, Scotland and Scandinavia among others. We drink red wine with fine steaks at the likes of <b><a href="http://thehawksmoor.com/" target="_blank">Hawksmoor</a>, <a href="http://www.34-restaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank">34</a>,</b> and <a href="http://www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b>Gaucho</b></a>, but we also spend hours collectively queuing for root beer and burgers at the plethora of pop ups and no-bookings hotspots including<b> <a href="http://www.themeatmarket.co.uk/" target="_blank">MEATmarket</a> / <a href="http://www.meatmission.com/" target="_blank">MEATmission </a>/ <a href="http://www.meatliquor.com/london/" target="_blank">MEATliquor</a>, <a href="http://www.honestburgers.co.uk/" target="_blank">Honest Burgers</a>, <a href="http://www.hacheburgers.com/" target="_blank">Hache</a>, <a href="http://pattyandbun.co.uk/" target="_blank">Patty & Bun</a></b>, and <a href="http://www.eatdirtyburger.com/" target="_blank"><b>Dirty Burger</b> </a>etc. We all seem to be going gaga for cow on a plate and for this, I am eternally grateful. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Uruguay Fillet 200g - £30 </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><a href="http://www.mashsteak.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">MASH </span></a></u></b>still feels relatively new to this cavernous basement space in Soho, but having opened in 2012, it’s definitely overcome any growing pains it may have feared! It’s a beautifully masculine dining room and bar, with low lighting, dark wood and brass trimmings, a sea of cosy booths and a vibe that would be equally befitting of a business dinner as it would a date or catch up with friends; it attracts celebs, sports folk, and regular folk like me by equal measure, and it’s luxurious without being inaccessible. Rarely does such a place straddle such a myriad of social gatherings or clientele, but here we have it…I don’t know what else to say about the matter really! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can be modest or you can go wild with your steak, with a menu ranging from £25 for a standard steak & chips to £75 for a 200g American grade 9+ sirloin from Grand Omaha. Be aware though, you are ordering simply steak (nothing else but a plate of steak), so if you want sauces, sides and/or salads, you must order separately for an extra £4.50 per dish (each portion is big enough to share between two, so there’s no need to go overboard). My Uruguay Fillet (£30 for 200g) was tender, cooked exactly to order (medium rare incase you were wondering!), succulent and flavoursome. The Béarnaise was precisely what it needed to be, the chips crispy and well-seasoned; the creamed spinach was rich and bone marrow sympathetically cooked to bring out the best beefy flavours (I spread mine on like a flavoured butter!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Service was also precise, friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable and efficient, which is immensely pleasing in such a large restaurant that, as I’m sure you can appreciate, gets rather busy.
I got lucky with a 50% discount from all food (promotion for those of you who can find a friend with a birthday in November), but without this, I suspect this would not have been a cheap meal, even without the wine! Starters are all under £10 (unless you opt for the ½ lobster!), and the steak is offered at whatever you’re willing to pay for it. It’s worth it, but be prepared to spend a bare minimum of £50 - £70 per person for a 3-course meal, with a glass of wine. If you love good steak, there’s not too much to moan about here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Meat, meat, oh glorious meat! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you and goodnight.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurant/mash-london?utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=Blog&utm_campaign=Link" target="_top" title="Read Square Meal's review of MASH London"><img alt="Square Meal" src="http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/Views/DynamicImages/BlogBigImage.aspx?restaurant=225da13072874964af78a234c0478433" height="125" width="230" /></a>
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1713985/restaurant/Soho/Mash-London"><img alt="Mash on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1713985/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guns n Roses: Cherry wine, rosemary & lavender syrup, Californian sparkling wine - £11.50</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06297211643841294198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8961275440702495264.post-8337823181974671962014-11-29T22:22:00.002+00:002016-03-09T15:56:14.468+00:00Chinese Rules! Cheaply does it...<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit;">We all love a
good Chinese dinner, but with the plethora of all-you-can-eat
buffets popping up everywhere, who can blame you for feeling somewhat bamboozled and spoilt for choice, and not in a good way? Especially when you’re in Chinatown – London’s very own
microcosm of oriental eateries, dim sum parlours and tea houses?! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaOeIej4W0kf6w-hyCmP7Xw99CjW6zkRd3ghsg8cMafDWH9dgSfQq1h-lwj0a1XwslfbrIlqi7Gu_hL-uW-5NQxEgvdzjM6OzzWp6tlJkz3np40jXSX3T2H20BCyOgI5hdD9vwwCOyhot/s1600/Imperial+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaOeIej4W0kf6w-hyCmP7Xw99CjW6zkRd3ghsg8cMafDWH9dgSfQq1h-lwj0a1XwslfbrIlqi7Gu_hL-uW-5NQxEgvdzjM6OzzWp6tlJkz3np40jXSX3T2H20BCyOgI5hdD9vwwCOyhot/s320/Imperial+bridge.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit;">You can get Michelin star standard Chinese food and top
quality fusion menus about town, but if you search heard enough and down the right alleyways, you may also find the best chow mein you've ever eaten. The latter may lack
finesse and the finest ingredients, but frankly the flavour is all that matters when all you want is a vat of Szechuan King Prawn or wheelbarrow of Sesame Prawn Toast?! Like a humble British pie or roast dinner, a cracking Chinese meal is
something that, for me, needs to be plentiful, flavourful and entirely fuss free! Dim
sum however, is a niche and should be none of those things; it’s a mouthwatering talent (if you get it right), a precision art and a carefully
considered delicate thing. Find a good dim sum chef and you’ll never look back.
<b><a href="http://www.imperialchina-london.com/about.php" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Imperial China</span></a> </b>may not give you the latter, but it definitely serves up the former and I’ll tell you why I liked it thusly…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dWGiU2MYpw-biKjxI_OeExkNPVq8HNY9CHE2WBwkx-_lSysO4jzYsnglGk26Bq9Xo9pCOGq5_sQ0pkzp-txOQy811-kBIwHWBevB-3JfllnXKUjG8TVGW5fuL_S_eMSkjFZysxAf2CFL/s1600/Imperial+outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dWGiU2MYpw-biKjxI_OeExkNPVq8HNY9CHE2WBwkx-_lSysO4jzYsnglGk26Bq9Xo9pCOGq5_sQ0pkzp-txOQy811-kBIwHWBevB-3JfllnXKUjG8TVGW5fuL_S_eMSkjFZysxAf2CFL/s320/Imperial+outside.jpg" width="240" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit;">Greeted by a miniature fish pond beneath an unexpectedly delightful bridge and a pergola, laden with
hanging lanterns, red dragons and twinkle lights, I can’t help but to fall in
love already...and I haven't even entered yet! I find myself wishing that instead of being a restaurant tucked away in this yard, there
would be a tranquil blossoming garden with a midget playing a banjo on an
oversized swing (yes, this is a surreal image, but then so is this entirely welcoming scene!). With a thriving karaoke scene inside, perhaps this vision isn't too far fetched afterall though!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBeUuCcAg3wwB5s7FqUCzAvla6t0SkwM_pCCOzHlHc8oyo6Mc3zAld3Cig2HdxRtuVXt8IsKlaLCX5kYhwR-efm97AMozQrevzN-4yRN80g7zVYZAVsL3wrOMppNt1B9v8TKm3Li20mYy/s1600/Imperial+dim+sum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBeUuCcAg3wwB5s7FqUCzAvla6t0SkwM_pCCOzHlHc8oyo6Mc3zAld3Cig2HdxRtuVXt8IsKlaLCX5kYhwR-efm97AMozQrevzN-4yRN80g7zVYZAVsL3wrOMppNt1B9v8TKm3Li20mYy/s1600/Imperial+dim+sum.jpg" width="300" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit;">Located in the middle of
an urban jungle, <a href="http://www.imperialchina-london.com/location.php" target="_blank">Imperial China</a> is tucked down the lesser trodden Lisle Street,
in-between the audaciously bedazzled Chinatown highstreet and the ghoulish Leicester
Square. Lest I digress, I could easily now dive face first into a debate about tourist vs. real eating in London - I shall resist
the urge to rant, but please indulge me one things: Leicester Square may be the
epicentre of activity and you may even spot the odd celebrity-infused movie
premiere from time to time, but by no means is it an accurate barometer from which
to gauge London life…you must search beyond the bright lights and big brand
[mediocre] eateries because in scouring the side streets, cobbled alleyways and
basements, you will find locals basking in the enchanting wonderland that lies
behind the touristic façade. Why gorge on a TGI Fridays, ASK, Bella Pasta and the
suchlike when you can find one-off specials around every corner that you’d
never get at home?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Getting back
to the point then. Once you’re over the mystifying first impressions,
you walk into a rather standard Chinese restaurant; all very welcoming and
comfortable, but nothing too </span>earth-shattering<span style="font-family: inherit;">. Service is efficient, clean, polite
and precise, though all a bit transactional and impersonal. The beer is crisp, cold and
satisfying, and the Jasmine tea is soothing, but it's not the largest selection of either I've ever seen. Conversely, while the dim sum may not be worthy of <a href="http://www.chinatanglondon.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b>China Tang</b></a>, the platter was only £8.50 for 8 pieces and I could not have been more happy with it (so much so, I went back three times within 2 weeks to indulge!). The
Beef Ho Fun was a perfect plate of starch with a generous portion of meat, and
the crispy Shredded Beef hit the spot, leaving me wanting more...and more...and more! I could go on,
but that would be immensely dull of me. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit;">Overall, it was good and nice and tasty and oh so filling, but it was not breath-taking and special or exceptional and refined. It was just very good and very nice, nothing more and nothing less. It’s also cheap
as chips, so why not get involved?! I urge you to try it, even if for no
other reason than to imagine that banjo playing midget singing Living on a Prayer in one of the karaoke suites!</span></div>
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