THE BRITISH STREET FOOD AWARDS FINAL 2018

By some stroke of luck I FINALLYwon tickets to something! Wonderful Street Feast gave me two tickets to The British Street Food Awards final, which is running over two days 21^st& 22^ndSeptember 2018 at Hawker House in Canada Water. Myself and my friend ate a whole lot of food and rolled out at the end of our evening happy and full, I pretty much had a full-term food baby. It is rather unfortunate that I am not equipped with the ability to eat as much as I think I should, so sadly I was not able to try every dish from all 17 finalists, but I gave it a good try and managed to scoff down dishes from 5 of the stalls.

The British Street Food awards have chosen the best of traders for the finals, the winners from all over the country really represented last night serving their best treats, and we (the public) had the hard job of voting (along with a celebrity judging panel) for the champion. Those in attendance were:

THE PERUVIAN (Edinburgh)

PATTY FREAKS (Birmingham)

WALLACE AND SON (Manchester)

ROK KITCHEN (Essex)

BUDDHA BELLY (Birmingham)

TAMBAPANNI (Devon)

LOVE IS CHURROS (Lancashire)

RUBY’S STREET KITCHEN (Leeds)

BUFFALO TRUCK (Edinburgh)

GINGER & CHILLI (Glasgow)

CREMA CARAVAN (Edinburgh)

ASSEMBELLY (Pembrokeshire)

JAH JYOT (Sussex)

DOH’HUT (Leeds)

PATERNOSTER FARM (Pembrokeshire)

MANGIAMO (Leicester)

PARM STAR (Manchester)

I of course took my job of voting very seriously; the hardest part was actually choosing which stall to eat from first. After much deliberation it was decided that our first stop was to be Paternoster Farm from Pembrokeshire, their entries were Cod Cheeks and Chicharrones. After a very lengthy search for their stall, we bounded up almost on the verge of starvation filled with the joys of being fed. We were greeted by a wonderful lady who took our order, and patiently we waited while perusing their lovely photos pinned on their stall of cows and pigs. With food in hand we scuttled off to try our first dishes.

Our cod cheeks were perfectly cooked, so soft and melted in the mouth. The samphire added a beautifully flavoured crunch, all bursting with garlic which was totally moreish. As we digged further into our food cup you suddenly hit a goldmine if Mangalitza ham & haddock chowder, which was delicate and had just the right amount of sweetness from the ham. This whole little dish was an absolute revelation and a huge burst of flavours. I could certainly imagine this as a big main dish and I would most certainly order it and happily munch through the whole plate.

Paternoster Farm Cod Cheeks in garlic butter, marsh samphire, Mangalitza ham & haddock chowder, crispy pig cheek and sea beet.

Next up was the Chicharrones, this was confit of Mangalitza pork belly, cumin salt and lemon. MIND BLOWN!! This cone of belly was gorgeous and after a squeeze of lemon the acid cut through it and completely lifted the flavour of the pork. This was the perfect sized snack and I felt like I wanted a pint of ale and a giant cone of this by its side. Paternoster Farm was certainly the right choice for our first stall, the food was amazing and the ladies who run it were absolutely lovely, I have a longing to follow this stall wherever it goes and just live off cod cheeks for the rest of my days.

Chicharrones, confit Mangalitza pork belly, cumin salt and lemon

Our next choice was Ruby’s Street Kitchen from Leeds, and we tried their Indian Fried Chicken. These were Indian-spiced fried chicken wings with green chilli, masala and lemongrass and homemade Indian sauces.

These chicken wings are marinated for 24 hours, deep fried to perfection and served with full of flavour sauces on top of each wing. Firstly, Ruby’s deserve a huge round of applause for how perfectly fried their chicken wings were – unlike some popular chicken shops where they can be a bit oily – Ruby’s wings are crispy, crunchy and not greasy. The meat inside is tender and moist and tastes gorgeous. The coating is delicately spiced and even without the sauces are full of flavour. The only thing I wish was that we had little dippy pots of sauces as the mango one was banging, and I really wanted more of it! Ruby’s chicken wings can certainly stand on their own in this competition, if I am ever in Leeds I will be hunting them down and having a double order of them.

Ruby’s Indian Fried Chicken, Indian spiced wings with green chilli, masala and lemongrass and homemade Indian sauces

I am going to say something a little controversial here…. Burgers, I can take them or leave them. I like them, but I would not necessarily order one unless it is the only thing on the menu. Patty Freaks from Birmingham have changed my opinion as I have never had a burger quite as good before, I am just sad that these guys are based in Birmingham and I can’t visit on a regular basis to try every one of their burgers.

We tried their entry the Freaky Mac, double steak patties, pickles, American cheese, freaky mac sauce, lettuce, red onion in a seeded brioche cream bun. At first bite the meat was perfectly cooked, I love that it had loads of pickles and my initial reaction to the Freaky Mac was that it tasted like a big mac and a whopper spent a naughty night together, and this is their secret love child. This burger was so good that I didn’t care about the burger juice falling down my hands, if anything this was it telling me that it loved me and that it was my special burger. It was at this point that I wished that I was an eating machine that had several stomachs, with one of those just being my burger stomach so I could have tried all the burgers on Patty Freaks menu. People of Birmingham you are lucky little things as you get to have these on tap! Patty Freaks please adopt me…

Patty Freaks The Freaky Mac, Double steak patties, pickles, American cheese, freaky Mac sauce, lettuce, red onion in a seeded brioche cream bun

Next stop on our culinary tour of Street Food Britain was Parm Star from Manchester with their entry the New Yorker. As a southerner I have never had a parmo, a northern delicacy of breaded cutlet topped with white béchamel sauce and cheddar cheese. I have always heard my northern uni friends talk about a parmo with such nostalgia in their eyes, so I had to give it a go.

We ordered the slider size of the New Yorker which was a panko-crumbed fried chicken fillet, marinara sauce, mozzarella and pesto in a brioche bun. We also ordered the King of The North slider a panko-crumbed fried chicken fillet, béchamel sauce, cheese, slaw & garlic mayo. While eating these sliders I suddenly had the epiphany of understanding why the parmo is drunk/hangover food. Its stodgy, but the creamy béchamel sauce adds a much needed moistness and I actually really enjoyed my King of the North slider. The New Yorker was a completely different take on the parmo (I’m an expert now) I liked the addition of the mozzarella and pesto as it made it feel like a more sophisticated dish, almost like the southern version of a parmo. I enjoyed the Parm Star and felt that it finally gave me a taste of the legendary parmo.

Parm Star New Yorker, Panko crumbed fried chicken fillet, marinara sauce, mozzarella and pesto in a fresh brioche bun.

It was at this point I realised I am actually quite full, but I can’t finish a meal without a sweet treat I feel it just rounds the meal off nicely. We swiftly made our way to Love Is Churros from Lancashire and tried one of their entries the Lemonade ‘n’ Meringue Churro. Hollow churro filled with lemon crème patisserie, topped with glaze meringue and candied lemon peel. This was eye wateringly good, the lemon crème pat was delicately stuffed into the churro and it was filled with the perfect amount.

Love Is Churro Lemonade ‘N’ Meringue Churro, hollow churro filled with lemon creme patisserie, topped with glazed meringue and candied lemon peel

The meringue that topped the churro was soft and gooey and just the perfect sweetness, and the addition of the candied lemon peel added a change in texture and an extra lemon smack in the mouth. I instantly fell in love with this dessert it was beautifully executed, such a simple idea, I can’t believe someone hasn’t thought of it sooner. Love Is Churros has certainly changed the churros game. I just wish I had enough room in my tum to try their other entry the Bakewell Churro which again is a hollow churro, filled with almond crème patisserie, cheery compote, almond and cherry bombs. The couple behind this little churro truck are geniuses! I want to be able to have the Lemonade ‘n’ Meringue churro every day of the week and the fact I am still dreaming about it means that it made a small impact on my little food heart.

The British Street Food Awards final is still on today, so if you are thinking what shall I do with me day? Head on down to Canada water, its £5 entry and worth every penny. The winner will be announced this evening at 8pm, I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed for all the traders as each and every one of them are fantastic. If you do happen to go this evening just make sure you leave there with two Lemonade ‘n’ Meringue churro one for each hand and maybe a secret third in your pocket 🙂

Happy Dining xx

Ain’t No Sandwich When He’s Gone

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The humble sandwich has been filling holes in many a tum for centuries. A meal slapped in between two slices of bread, thought up in the mind of the Earl of Sandwich in 18th Century Kent, has been a popular addition to ones daily menu. Sandwiches can be a cause for debate sending people into a heated rage when asked how best to prepare a bacon sarnie! I myself have read extensive articles on the perfect fish finger sandwich. It is very rare to find a sandwich shop that purely focuses on the gourmet art of sandwich making.

There is the odd café that make doorstop sandwiches which could feed a whole family, if you love a classic filling jam packed into a soft bap or nicely toasted Panini then you should try Scott’s on New Row, good value doorstop sandwiches perfect for that working lunch. If salt beef is your thing then you really need to go to Gaby’s Deli on Charing Cross Road for a salt beef sandwich that will blow your mind, and while you are there you should try Gaby’s legendary falafel wrap. Then there is many a local chain that can fill the hunger craving with a classic ploughman’s or chicken salad. The point I am trying to make is the sandwich, once a fleeting thought of an Earl, is possibly considered one of the most important food products in existence.

The common sandwich is pretty much a world staple and one man has made it his mission to create mind blowing meals that can gently rest in between two slices of his very own home made bread. If you have not heard of a man named Max who owns a sarnie shop on Crouch Hill then what bloody tin cans on string have you been listening to?! Gastronomist Max has taken the art of sandwich making and turned it into a restaurant standard meal, and not just a quick stop at the garage to stuff a ham, cheese and pickle lifeless sandwich into your gob for a quick fix. Winner of Best Cheap Eats at the Observer Food Monthly Awards, Max’s Sandwich shop is one of my favourite places, frequented by my friends and me for a weekend luncheon, and regularly deliverooed on a movie night to feed the troops. I can safely say that Max has changed the humble sarnie into a gastronomic taste bud fighter pilot.

Max’s is not your average Sandwich shop; firstly a glass counter does not greet you with ready-made sandwiches on display. All Sandwiches are made to order, you can take away or have a seat on one of the rustic wooden tables. The décor is quirky yet tasteful and there is certainly a love of ducks here. The staff are great, friendly and very knowledgeable. The Menu lives up to every pun lovers dream, with a list of 4 sandwiches daily.

I suggest you start your meal with the deep fried jalapeno mac ‘n’ cheese balls.

Max’s balls are delicious and if you’re brave enough you should have them with Max’s special hot sauce. My craving for these mac ’n’ cheese balls are strong, I especially like them with a squeeze of sriracha, but be careful these balls are hot, don’t be too greedy otherwise you will burn your tongue, slow and steady wins the race with these balls.

Although there are only 4 sandwiches on the menu daily, I can be the first to put my hands up and say that it can be very difficult choosing which one to have. My advice would be to go in a group of 4, order 1 of each sandwich and share. Or like me just be really indecisive, ask the server what you should order, go with his choice than change your mind 3 seconds later, and frantically get up gesturing at said server, change your order, sit down and have a very long conversation in your head about life choices. Sandwiches arrive to your table neatly wrapped in paper, rip off a piece of kitchen towel, delicately open your precious package, and tuck in.

The sandwich that put Max’s on the North London gastro map is the Ham, Egg & chips. Slow cooked ham hock, a fried egg, shoestring fries, piccalilli and malt vinegar mayo. This childhood meal in a sandwich can only simply be described as genius. The ham hock is cooked to perfection; it’s tender and melts in the mouth. The fried egg adds to the sauce of the piccalilli and malt vinegar mayo, and the shoestring fries add a crunch and texture to the sandwich. The bread is soft and fluffy, yet stands up to the filling, no soggy sandwiches here.

A long time ago I got to eat a sandwich here in direct violation of Penal Code 1.13, Section 9. Chris’ infamous Robocoq. Confit guinea fowl, chicken liver parfait, chicory, sweet potato fries, parsley and pickle salsa. Sometimes I dream of this sandwich, the crunch of the sweet potato fries and salsa resting against the soft moist guinea fowl. It was just a burst of flavours tightly packed into two slices of bread.

Max’s always have a vegetarian choice on offer and these do not disappoint. Just as creative as the meat options, the veggie sandwiches layer flavour and highlight the ingredient of choice. I recently tried The Bhaji Smuggler, carrot bhajis, coriander green chilli and peanut salsa, yoghurt, sweet herbs, pickle, spinach and Bombay mix. The yoghurt and dill lifted the sandwich giving it fresh, clean notes against the pickle and robust flavours of the bhaji. The Bombay mix give it a wonderful crunchy texture and a slight background note of heat, and all perfectly balanced in between Max’s home made bread.

I would like to say that I have tried the puddings on offer, but one thing Max’s does well is fill me up, and that is even with the hangover munchies. I think my stomach will need a lot more training to do a 3-course meal here. One thing you can count on here is walking away satisfied, even after you have paid the bill which comes in the belly of a porcelain duck. This place is great value for money and trust me you will be a frequent visitor.

The thing that really makes Max’s Sandwich shop a cut above the rest is Max himself. He is bubbling with personality, stories and jokes and I think my friends and me really love going to Max’s to actually spend time eating a sandwich and to hear Max’s tales. Legend has it that Agnus is the only patron allowed into the sandwich bar and drink tea when they are not even open. One day I would like to have Agnus status here, ham, egg & chips sandwich in one hand and a warm mac ‘n’ cheese ball in the other.

And all you hipster East Londoners can now try a bit of Max’s sandwiches as he will be taking up residency at Birthdays in Dalston for 6 months from 23^rd May 2017.

Happy dining xx

Definitely Got Thai For That

The traditional London pub, an institution, and when you find a good local you hold onto it for dear life hoping that it doesn’t one day slip into a cocoon and completes metamorphosis into a Wetherspoons. Traditionally pubs are drinking establishments serving snacks such as Mr Porky pork scratching’s, Smiths crisps, KP peanuts and if you were lucky maybe a Fray Bentos steak and kidney pie alongside your warm pint of ale. The rise of the ‘Gastropub’ in the early 90’s saw public houses concentrating on the quality of food, and gave new strength to pub culture and British dining. Pubs are now dishing out Michelin starred quality food, and have been a breeding ground for talented chefs across the country. Not only has food become an important element in determining how one views their local, the rise of craft beer has seen people becoming more aware of beer and food matching, creating a whole new pub culture with people using traditional methods and culinary tastes to create a vast range of beers, appealing to the developing pallet of London’s millennials.

Being a Londoner and also an ex professional pint puller (I was a bar wench for most of my 20’s) knowing the best pubs for friendly meet ups and gossip catch ups is as important as knowing where your local corner shop is for that emergency pint of milk. One of my favourite haunts to visit especially on a cold winters night is The Kings Arms on Roupell Street. A quintessential real ale London pub located on one of the most historic back streets of London.

Roupell street is like walking onto a film set, a picturesque Georgian terrace in the heart of Waterloo. This pub is always bustling, serving constantly changing real ales. I like to order a pint of whatever is on the pumps, and curl up by the fire with a friend and put the world to rights. The little snug round the side of the bar is cosy and instantly gives you a feeling of warmth and homeliness. When one imagines a traditional London pub The Kings Arms perfectly fits that picture of expectation. Owned by The Windmill Tavern Group, this family run pub does not feel like one of those large chain establishments, and brings up feelings of nostalgia to a time where the public house was the meeting place of the community.

In the back room you will find a farmhouse style dining area with a collection of vintage treasures strewn across the walls, and old pans hanging from the ceiling. Here is where you will find Kanchana’s Kitchen, a phenomenal little Thai secret. Now please do not think that The Kings Arms has taken traditional British pub food and put a Thai fusion spin on it. Kanchana’s Kitchen is cooking up traditional Thai food in a very British setting. I love a good Thai, the balance of flavours and freshness of the herbs and spices used has always made my palate zing. When I came across Kanchana’s Kitchen years back, it became one of my go to little spots for my chilli addiction, which I completely need to control.

They serve a mean green curry that is a balance of salty, with a cut of acid and slowly creeping heat from the spices. I would suggest if you are going here to eat you wear elasticated trousers because there is no point even setting foot in the back room if you’re not going to have a minimum of 5 plates of food, just saying. I always like to start with a pre-starter here of Khow Kiep, its sort of the locker room pep talk for my tummy. I like it to be prepared for what’s to come especially when I know it’s going to be a knockout meal. I always like a basket of these Thai-style prawn crackers for the table especially when it is accompanied by sweet chilli, and if you are anything like me and have been saving yourself all day for 10 plates of food, than these take the ravenous feelings down to a manageable level.

For starters I would suggest getting Tod Mun Pla – the spicy fish cakes which are also served with sweet chilli sauce (YES!!) They are small little patties of fish, flavoured with garlic, ginger, lemongrass and chilli and give you all the aromatics of punchy Thai food. I also like the Khanom Pang Na Goong – sesame prawn toast, I always order it whenever I see it on a menu. The first time I went out to the Chinese buffet as a pre-teen, I thought my choice of prawn toast on my plate was rather sophisticated and grown up. Now I order it because I really love prawn toast, and I think I can safely say most people love it. The prawn toast here isn’t too greasy, it’s nice and crisp and actually tastes of prawn.

(Mixed Platter with Chicken Satay, Vegetable Spring rolls, Spicy Thai Fish Cakes, Prawn Rolls and Vegetable Tempura served with sweet chilli and Satay Sauces)

Next it is time to choose your curry, I normally like to order at least 2 of the 3 options on the menu. Also all curries here are served with steamed rice and you can choose from chicken, beef, prawn or vegetable. If you are only going to order two curries one of those two options should be the Gaeng Kiew Wann – The Thai green curry I mentioned before. Cooked with coconut milk, a classic green curry paste with Thai basil leaves, lime leaves and bamboo. This curry has the perfect amount of spice. It’s a low mellow heat that’s not too overpowering. If you are a curry novice and not too fond of spicy food I would recommend ordering this, as it’s a good introduction to a well-rounded flavourful curry. The Gaeng Massamun is a medium spicy red curry this is for those who are number 3/4 on the curry scale and like a good punch of spice. A creeping heat that is cut by background notes of fish sauce follows this punch.

My favourite of the curry dishes is the Gaeng Panang, which is a spicy curry. I have a very serious chilli problem, the hotter the better for me, it is like I almost get a rush from the murmuring and numbness I get on my tongue when I get a good chilli kick in the mouth. The Panang curry is an original Thai Curry cooked in thick Thai gravy with coconut milk, peppers and lime leaves. What I most enjoy about this curry is although it is spicy – the heat does not kill the layers of flavours. Its salty and sweet notes sit on the back of the heat and you also get hints of shrimp paste. I like to get this curry with beef, I feel like it sits in the sauce well and is a strong enough meat to not be overpowered by the bold gravy.

Sometimes at this stage I would normally bow out and get the bill, I’ve pretty much hit my quota of maximum dishes intake for an evening, but sometimes I like the challenge of squeezing in a noodle dish. I am a great believer in always having a Pad Thai for the table, I think you can tell a lot about the quality of a Thai restaurant based on their pad Thai. I like Kanchana’s one, as it’s clean with the perfect amount of crunch from the peanuts, carrot, spring onion and bean sprouts. A good generous squeeze of lime over the top and you would just want to bathe in noodles for a quiet hour. I also really enjoy the Pas See iew here too, thick rice noodles with egg, mixed vegetables and soy sauce. The thick noodles have a really joyful glutinous texture to them, which also take the coating of the sauce beautifully. I really love the saltyness of this dish and I think it is a great accompaniment as a different texture and flavour alongside the curry dishes.

The Gaeng Ped roast duck curry is another good one to try under the house specials section of the menu. Generous chunks of duck cooked in Thai red curry with coconut milk. I enjoy the pop of the cherry tomatoes and sweetness of the pineapple against the spice of the red curry.

There are a couple of dishes I am still yet to try which I am craving for like the Pla Chu Chee, fillet of salmon topped with a red curry sauce with coconut milk and the Pd Gra Prow stir fried chilli, basil, peppers, green beans and onions in fish sauce which you can have with chicken beef or prawns. Kanchana’s serves fantastic food with a real harmony of flavours, the staff are a dream and are pleasant, always with a smile on their faces. What I would say is be prepared to not have your drinks served to you at the table. You need to head to the bar for those, but you will be happy for the small walk as it will give you a chance to move around making more room for food. Also I would highly recommend making a reservation if you want to eat here. If you a going here on a whim and you’re feeling hungry be prepared to wait for up to an hour for a table on a busy day.

The Kings Arms is a great place for just a pint, the atmosphere and quality of ale here is fantastic. This is a great spot for a cosy night nursing an ale and doing the crossword alone. This is a spot for a quiet little one on one gossip with your best friend with a bottle of cold Picpoul De Pinet. The one thing I love most about the Kings Arms is that it is a fabulous spot for a good quality Thai dinner with the girls and a good old cackle and a gossip. If you are visiting London, make it your mission to go and visit The Kings Arms and have some real beer! Also word on the street is the do a pub quiz on a Sunday, anyone interested in getting a team together give me a shout.

This is my spot, this is my favourite place to be in London, just hanging out on Roupell street, if you do happen to visit The Kings Arms maybe you’ll find me there standing outside propped by a windowsill sipping on a pint and watching the world go by.

(Happy girls with full tummies after a big Thai meal at The kings Arms. Night cap courtesy of the Duke Of Sussex, Waterloo)

Happy Dining xx

I’ve Got Nata Nine Problems, But A Custard Tart Ain’t One!

Pastéis de Nata the humble Portuguese custard tart, and possibly one of the best dessert imports that has nestled itself comfortably in café counters across the country. I have always been a lover of natas from a very young age; my earliest memory of my first nata was in a Portuguese café on Plender Street in Camden. I used to preciously eat my tart while my father had his morning coffee on a Sunday. It was almost like a ritual – taking my time to eat my tart in slow motion in the hopes of it lasting as long as possible, as I knew I would only be allowed one.

I’m not sure if the café on Plender Street is still open, as I haven’t visited since my teens – but my gluttony for the Portuguese custard tart has grown stronger as I grow older. Unfortunately my experience has not been too good over the years. Like a magpie whenever I enter a café I seek out to see if they have a couple of Portuguese tarts sitting in their display case, tentatively looking for a warm tummy to call their home. I always purchase one if any are available in the hopes of reliving those Sunday mornings as a child. Sadly I am left disappointed, the pastry is not crispy enough, slightly floury and looking a little anemic. The custard filling isn’t smooth or creamy and tasting a little on the eggy side. And to top it off they are cold and limp which is so disappointing as this seems to be a reoccurring theme throughout the land.

That was until one very early Summer morning a couple of years ago on my way to the swimming pool, I spied a new place pop up out of the mystical fog on Endell Street in Covent Garden. The sign read ‘I Love Nata’ – I internally whispered ‘so do I’. It was far too early for even the greasy spoon near by to be open, so I made a promise to myself to explore at a godlier hour. My nata curiosity would not allow me to simply forget about my discovery. Every morning I would walk past and, nod my silent greeting to the sign waiting for the day to sample one of their Portuguese tarts.

The day had finally come! I Love Nata is a tiny nook of a café – serving only natas and hot & cold beverages. The natas sit in rows under a glass counter, looking like a glorious little art installation of yellows and browns. I ordered my nata, which is then popped into a glorious little box with a sachet of cinnamon sugar and a sachet of powdered sugar. I like mine as they are, no extra sugar required. I had a lot of expectation of this little tart and I was hoping the reality would not be like my other experiences.

I gently lifted it out of its little box and it was warm – the surge of joy that passed through me just feeling the warmth being emitted from my little tart I already knew that I had finally found the one. I took my first bite, and much like that wonderful scene in Ratatouille I was instantly taken back to Sunday mornings as a child. The pastry is wonderfully crispy and flaky and makes the most gloriously crunching noise as you bite into it. The custard filling is smooth and creamy, has the right texture and exactly what you expect from a top quality tart.

I Love Nata know exactly what they are doing; I mean you wouldn’t open up a café only selling custard tarts if you were not confident in your tart skills. They even have pairs of little porcelain natas on sale that you can fill with sugar to delicately dust your natas (I have not purchased these yet, but they are on my never ending shopping list) If you are a lover of Pastéis de Nata you need to go and get your tarts here. If you have only ever experienced a limp, soggy, cold tart then please throw that in the bin, go for a ramble and sit with a good strong espresso and a custard tart, it will totally be worth the walk. I have been going here for the odd treat since it opened, I like to buy a box of six and surprise my office with a Friday afternoon sugar pick me up at tea time.

My favourite thing to do is buy myself a tart and scuttle off home to eat it in peace with no eyes around. I always have a deep fear that one day someone is going to grab my food out of my hand while I am scoffing away on a street corner. If you like tarts I would recommend going here. If you like custard you should totally go here. Tart alone, tart in a group whatever tickles your fancy really. Just promise me when your nata craving starts to kick in you go and grab one from I Love Nata.

Happy Dining xx

‘The British Are Coming’

Nestled in picturesque Neal’s yard in Covent Garden (if you haven’t instagramed a picture of the colourful wild café, you’re not hipster enough) is a Narnia of a restaurant called Nat∙ive. I have been yearning to go and try the food here ever since I heard the murmurs of its opening. Conjured up in the wonderful minds of Ivan (River Cottage HQ) and Imogen this little place is a foodies dream.

I have heard time and again how bland, boring, unimaginative and dull British cuisine is. This place is British and I am not talking a fancy fish and chip shop that places a piece of parsley on your fried plaice, and charges you an extra tenner for the privilege. I’m talking British grub at its finest. Nat∙ive describes itself as wild British cooking, taking the country’s best wild food that is native to the UK and basically making it taste like it fluttered down from food heaven, especially to be eaten by you. This place has given British cuisine a new identity, and that identity is YUMMY! Next time a person says ‘ergh British food, I don’t want no spotted dick’ shove a plate of a Nat∙ive main course in their face, and bask in your mic drop moment.

I took my mother to Nat∙ive for her mother’s day meal this year. The menu is small and seasonal and is determined by supply, this small fact already got me excited. When we arrived we were greeted by an incredibly friendly waiting staff and the kitchen. The kitchen is in full view to the public; you can even have a seat at the chefs table, which is a bench table that spans the width of the kitchen. To give you a bit more context, this place is small and the kitchen takes up the majority of the upstairs area only fitting two small tables for 2 and the chef’s table. We were seated upstairs by the window, and extremely near to the heart of the restaurant (by now I was really excited) I mean in my head I was in chefs table territory, I just had a table and the actual chefs table in my way. I could only describe it as almost seeing a really famous celebrity, but actually only seeing the back of their head.

There is more seating downstairs but we were more than happy with where we were placed, and I didn’t even actually venture down to check out the décor. I shall do this next time I visit (yea I’m going back…. Maybe tomorrow and every day after that). The other thing I love about this place is that it doesn’t give off an air of opulence. It’s rustic and earthy with wooden tables and plants running down the staircase, it just feels really natural with its main focus being the quality of the food and its ingredients. The Menu is not at all overly complicated, you can pick between a 2 course dinner for £28 or 3 course dinner for £35 which I think is incredibly reasonable. We had the choice of 3 courses and a glass of prosecco as I had managed to find a great deal on bookatable. Each course has a choice of three meals so you are not sitting leafing through pages of menu trying to decide what you want to eat.

To start I had the Wild Boar Ragu with buttered salsify, native curds and pickled walnuts. The Ragu was melt in the mouth perfection, flavoursome and although a game meat was delicate but yet packed a punch. It basically gave my mouth a lot of feelings, which were all good. The buttered salsify was crunchy and creamy adding the perfect texture to the dish, which was rounded off nicely with the native curds and the pickled walnuts. The starter had the perfect combination of salty, sweet and sour, I was actually dancing in my chair while I was eating!

Main course I went for the South Downs Venison with English turnips & tops, pine salt, smoked potato and bone marrow crumb. Chef cooked the meat to perfection; I could cut through it like butter! virtual high five to chef on that one. The smoked potato was so smooth and creamy and complimented the venison perfectly. But the bone marrow crumb OMG! That stuff needs to be put in a bag and sold as a beer snack because it was AMAZING!! Salty, crunchy, meaty and moreish. I would not be offended if they had offered me a bowl of the stuff to snack on in between courses. The pickled turnip added the right amount of acidity to the dish, which cut through the bold meatiness of the venison perfectly, and the turnip tops added a nice texture and dimension to the dish.

My favourite seasonal food for this time of year is rhubarb. Technically a vegetable but it makes some sweet sweet puds. So you could only imagine the mouth-watering that happened when I spotted rhubarb on the dessert menu. Rhubarb and rosemary compote, meadow sweet cream and coriander honeycomb was the dessert I was going for and it was banging!! I have never thought of using rosemary in a dessert before, I have always associated it with savoury foods but surprisingly it worked so well in the compote working more as a compliment to the earthy rhubarb flavour, and almost working as a rhubarb flavour amplifier. The cream was thick and delectable and could only be described as a warm ice cream, and who doesn’t love honeycomb? This dessert makes you channel Homer Simpson’s dribbling while he’s thinking about doughnuts. The only disappointing thing about this dessert is that it was not a bigger portion because I could have necked two bowls of it.

Nat∙ive is one of the best places I have visited so far this year, and I am going to make it my go to restaurant for friendly meet ups, all those first dates I go on (like 1 a year… I’m so single) when I am celebrating my forever alone moments by going and having dinner alone. All the special occasions you can wear a hat to, basically every waking moment my stomach requires food. This is a great place if you enjoy good honest food – this place is all about the ingredients. I would recommend this place if you are having a meal as a couple it has a nice comforting huggable atmosphere. This is a great place for friends to catch up with a glass of prosecco and several plates of rhubarb compote. It’s a brilliant place to take that friend that sticks their tongue out at British food, just to give them the experience of what real British cuisine is all about. Pick up the phone and reserve a table now before it becomes difficult to do so, and if you can try and get on the chefs table, now that would be a night to remember – and if you get that table, take me too.

Happy dining xx

A Full Belly Conquers All

Anyone from London will have his or her favourite Chinese in China Town. Located on Lisle Street I have found in my opinion one of the best places to eat. It could be easy to dismiss, as the Imperial China does not have a window show of dim sum being made like many of the restaurants on Lisle street, but trust me if you have walked right past, turn around and walk right in. Outside the front entrance is a magical bridge over a small river of coy carp fish, which greet you by softly kissing the surface of the water.

From the outside it looks like it could be a rather small place, but this is deceiving. It has a big dining room and if it is full (which it always is) don’t worry as they have another floor you can explore. My old bosses introduced me to the Imperial China, we all had a massive craving for dim sum one lunch time and luckily they knew exactly where we could go and feast on a menu full of sensational dumplings. Since that first introduction I have been going to Imperial China at least once every two weeks for the past 5 years.

I would recommend going here for lunch, as that is when you will get to experience a full dim sum menu. Unfortunately the dinner menu only offers a small dim sum selection as a starter and I think the dumplings here is what makes this one of my favourite places.

Everything about this place is worth a repeat visit, the atmosphere, of course the food but the maître d’ is an absolute marvel of a women. She rules with an iron fist, but upholds the most efficient lunch service I have ever witnessed in a fully booked dining room. If every restaurant I have ever been to had this woman at their helm, the word complaint would certainly come into extinction.

Going back to the main attraction of the food, there are several dishes I would recommend getting. Typically at lunch there would be at least 6 of us so please do not be surprised by the incredibly big order I am suggesting. I am in no way a competitive eater – I can pack it away but all this for one person or even a couple is way too much. I would suggest maybe picking a couple of my highly recommended dishes; although dim sums are small morsels, they can fill you up rather quickly.

When you are seated you are handed a small form filled with dim sum options, do not be intimidated, you will not be committed to a life of bad luck by ticking the wrong box.

The most popular and well know dumpling you should get is Har Gow, steamed prawn dumpling. There is nothing I can say to make it sound incredible, it pretty much speaks for itself. It’s prawn, it’s wrapped in a crystal dough, it’s steamed and it fits in your mouth in one go, what more do you need. We normally get two portions of these as come in a portion of 4 dumplings.

Next you must order the Prawn & Scallop dumpling, these are wonton shaped dumplings packed with scallop and prawns with a delicately placed scallop on top. These come in a portion of 3 dumplings and take two mouthfuls to obliterate, which is not a disappointment, as you will definitely want more than one dumpling to yourself.

This next dumpling has been added over the past year, it was a new addition and one we as a table have started ordering regularly. The spicy steamed crabmeat dumpling is delicate, delectable and quite frankly if I was a dumpling this is the one I would choose to be. If you love the taste of crab this is as pure as it is going to get. These also come in a portion of 3 – get two portions TRUST ME!

Well that’s the steamed part of the order now we start the baked/fried part of the menu. Unbutton your jeans as its about to get serious from here on in. Baked pork cakes with sesame is a must, it’s baked so half the calories right? Filled with char siu pork wrapped in a delicate crumbly pastry, baked and then stuffed into the hungry mouth of six ladies. Order a couple of portions of these, or if you are feeling like you need a mid week pick me up, go here, have a table for one, and order a plate of the baked pork cakes. This is something I would do daily, maybe it is something I actually do daily…… you will never know HA! I mean look at it, it looks tasty right? a little angel pork cake.

The fried taro paste croquettes should be an item you try at least once. They arrive at the table looking like delicate little clouds, but crispy and filled with taro paste and are incredibly messy, as you’ll be walking away with a crumb-speckled shirt. But they are flavourful and worth an order. These are normally ordered when there is a collective hangover.

The next two choices are also an essential when you are experiencing a hangover with serious munchies. Rice paper sesame prawn rolls and net pastry with shredded aromatic duck. One of the reasons why I love it here so much is because of the quality of the food. Both of these rolls are packed with protein. The prawn wrap has at least 3 whole prawns in one wrap and the net pastry is jam packed with duck. They are deep fried; yet not caked in oil and are crisp and crunchy.

That’s the starters ordered now on to the main event! Now if you thought I was joking about the big order please let me reiterate this is a massive lunch order and not to be taken lightly. Portions here are not small. If there are a lot of you I would recommend getting two of the mains, if you are going as a couple I would say get a couple of dim sum and get the steamed sea bass with ginger and spring onion for your main. Don’t be surprised when a whole fish arrives on your table, and if you order this as your main, be prepared to eat. The sea bass is so delicate it practically melts in the mouth; the aromatics used give the taste that the sea bass has been bathing in a bath of ginger and spring onion, which is so subtle, and incredibly satisfying. Have this with steamed rice and Chinese broccoli in black bean sauce and you have yourself the perfect meal combo.

Although this is a main in the fish course I see this more as a side dish, or something you would snack on while waiting for the arrival of the mains. Fried squid with spicy salt & pepper. This dish can be a little hit and miss as the squid can be a little chewy sometimes, but the batter that they use to coat the squid is crispy and salty and spicy. It is also served with fresh chilies and spring onion, which just adds another dimension of flavor to the squid.

Even if you come here and you do not have the dim sum, or the sea bass or the squid, you must order the Cantonese roast duck. It is packed with flavour and served with an aromatic gravy which you will just want to eat on it’s own with rice. The thing that I love about this duck is the skin, it is crispy and has the right amount of fat to meat ratio, and they will not skimp and give you an inedible fatty duck. Once you have this roast duck you will never eat shredded duck and pancakes again.

For the sides we always order steamed rice, Chinese broccoli with black bean sauce and if we feel like we need to have a healthy lunch we would order a plate of the Monk’s vegetables. This is not one of my top 10 favourite dishes at Imperial China, but if you have any vegetarians around the table this is a pretty good choice for them.

Now your order is complete it is at this point you order the most important thing for the table – the chilli oil. They make their own, it is liquid gold and ask for a lot! you will be dipping dumplings, covering your rice in it and by the end of the meal eating it by the spoonful. Its slowly creeping heat is far beyond addictive. I have tried to replicate this oil at home and with shop bought chilli oil, but I have not been successful. Someone please give me the recipe or just a giant vat of the stuff!

I could go on for days about how good the Imperial China is, but I think the only way you will find out if my word is golden, is by going and trying it yourself. This is a great place for lunch; if you have a big meeting that you need to impress clients with I would recommend taking them here. It is also a fantastic place to go for an alternative Sunday lunch. If I am feeling overly generous I take my family here for a Sunday meal. This is a great place for group meals it gives off an aura for sharing much like a big family setting. It is good for a date night but this place really impresses with its lunch menu. Suggest it for an office luncheon! DO IT! Go! Eat all the dumplings!!

Happy dining xx

A Slow Roast…….

                        

Located in the heart of Soho on Greek street Bó Drake (http://www.bodrake.co.uk) is an East Asian restaurant using slow cooked BBQ methods from the Americas and Europe. On first appearance it is slick, modern and fresh. I myself went there on a girly dinner on a Tuesday evening. It wasn’t crazy mad busy but had just about the right atmosphere for a weekday evening. All we wanted was something to pick on and some cocktails for a much needed catch up. I had never been there before myself but thought why not. The cocktails sound good and it’s a Tapas style menu, which is perfect for this type of evening.

We sat down and picked our way through the cocktail menu, it is not a menu full of pages and pages of choices, which I myself much prefer. When faced with too much choice I feel my decision-making skills are not up to par, sending me into a state of panic and breaking out into a cold sweat. I decided on a Ginsberg and my friend went for a Big Smoke. My drink was exactly what I needed Tequila mixed with Plum Wine and Rose Honeywater. I had to tell myself to drink slowly and not knock it back in one, yes that is how much I enjoyed it.

I had to force myself to order some food as I could have quite happily sat and worked my way through the cocktail list, but I was in no mood for a dirty kebab on the way home. They have a substantial menu consisting of Smalls, Meat, Veg, Sides and Sweets along with daily changing specials. We were not overly hungry so ordered very little. We had the Tuna Sashimi which was sliced perfectly served along side fennel, peashoots and togarashi and delicately dressed with lemon and rosemary. Tiny but tasty, and a good choice to accompany my cocktail.

From the meat we decided on the Smoked Rib Stack. The ribs are smoked with sweet chestnut wood and then covered in an Asian BBQ sauce. For my taste the ribs were a little dry and not meaty enough, but the sauce was very good. It was rather unfortunate that this was not the meaty showstopper I was hoping for. If I could have my menu choosing time again I would probably go for the Smoked Bobo Chicken or the Scottish Sirloin Tataki. It is funny as the ribs seemed to have been a favourite choice on the menu as every table around us seemed to have ordered them. Personally if visiting Bó Drake I would either go for a special or choose something else on the menu. Thankfully we also ordered broccoli from the specials and pickled cucumber and I kindly passed on my meat to my friend, she seemed to be really enjoying it. Maybe it was the effects of the cocktail or maybe I’m a meat fusspot.

I liked Bó Drake, I liked the décor the atmosphere and I really liked the cocktails. I would visit again but would be stricter on my menu choices. It’s a great place to go to if you happen to be planning a first date or like myself a catch up with a friend over cocktails, unfortunately the food did not blow me away but I would order the sashimi again. If you are looking for somewhere with great drinks, and not so much importance on the food then this is the place for you.

Happy Dining

xx

I Think I’m Turning Japanese

Shackuyu (http://www.bonedaddies.com/shackfuyu/) has very quickly become one of my favourite places to eat. Located on Old Compton street in Made in Italy’s previous location this one year pop up, a brain child of Bone Daddies, is certainly taking food lovers taste buds by storm.

The menu is small and simple but full of exciting choices, which is aptly described as Japanese Soul food. I am very much a lets order a little of everything type person, and this tapas style set up works perfectly for a greedy girl like myself. Everything comes on small Falcon metal camping bowls or a classic willow pattern plate adding a nice bit of kitsch to the already rustic décor.

As always I have particular recommendations that one should pick on the menu. I myself whenever coming here with a friend will simply take charge. So here are my top Shackfuyu menu picks:

At number one we have Edamame! Unlike any edamame you may have picked up at your local Wasabi, this little soybean filled green shelled delight are slightly warmed and then covered in a sweet chilli soy sauce. You should order two portions of these as they are going to go fast and the sauce that they are bathing in is way better than a sprinkling of sea salt and soy you normally get. You will forever be craving your edamame to be dipped in a sweet chilli soy.

In at number two the Korean fried wings. You will want to order at least 3 portions or more of these. Trust me these are some of the best wings I have eaten in a very long time. The wings are battered deep fried and then covered in a sweet spicy nuclear red sticky sauce. Writing about it now is making my mouth water as the taste is explosive. These wings will turn you into a Neanderthal endlessly sucking on chicken bones and desperately licking every drop of sauce off your fingers and plate.

Number three the aubergine – 4 miso – bubu arare. I am not a fan of aubergine I generally find it rather slug like and the texture is not something I enjoy. At first when I came here with the ladies from my office I was staying open to their menu choices but it was not number one on my list. The aubergine is cooked to perfection it does not display its normal aubergine tendencies and has been turned into a very tasty vegetable. The sticky miso sauce it is cooked in is sweet, salty and sour all at the same time and the bubu arare (small puffed balls of glutinous rice) gently pop in your mouth making this the best aubergine ever! There is so much going on in this little bowl the textures, the flavours. If you do not try this dish on your first trip definitely pick it on your second.

At number four Prawn toast masquerading as okonomiyaki. I myself had no idea about okonomiyaki until I went to a great place which you can read about in a later post. Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake which contains a variety of ingredients and then topped with very thin shavings of dried fish. This prawn toast has taken the elements of the Okonomiyaki and turned it on its head. Instead of your traditional deep fried prawn toast topped with sesame seeds this one is on a nice crisp piece of brioche and then topped with dried seaweed and dried fish shavings and served with a zingy miso mayonnaise which you will end up dipping anything edible in. If you like to experience fusion food and new food then get this, it really turns the prawn toast into an experience rather than the oil filled buffet accompaniment.

Number five the duck breast with pepper and orange ponzu. Cooked just on the right side of medium, thinly sliced and seasoned perfectly I would recommend adding this ducky delight to your order. The fat is rendered perfectly and the orange ponzu adds a refreshing twist on the classic duck à l’orange. It is not a huge portion so be prepared to only a little taste if sharing, or you can simply let it be known round the table that the duck is a no go area and if you require a taste order your own!

Sliding itself in at the end is the mentaiko mac and cheese with cock scratchings. On my first visit a man on the table next to us said ‘get the mac and cheese, it will change your life’ I did not order on my first visit but on my third. I was looking forward to it as this confident preacher had told me it would change my life and quite frankly anything that could make life a little better will always be tried. I was a little disappointed as it was a little dry and I wanted it to be more cheesy, but for a carb injection it certainly hits the spot and the salty cock scratchings on top are crispy and very satisfying.

The pièce de résistance is dessert and the only dessert on the menu, quite frankly I do not think anything else would be able to compete with this beauty. Kinako French toast with soft serve ice cream. This is possibly the best dessert in town, it really does deserve to have its name in lights. A triangle slice of brioche is soaked overnight and then fried dusted with roasted soybean flour and served with cold soft set ice cream. It is crispy on the outside and gooey and syrupy in the middle. It has a caramelised quality that is perfectly teamed with the matcha green tea ice cream. The perfect end to a winning meal.

I would recommend this place every day of the week simply to get my edamame fix. A great place for a friendly get together, or a working lunch. Being able to pick at bits means that it has a real friends and family feel. Thankfully Bone daddies have decided to make Shackfuyu a permanent feature so I can forever nibble on chicken wings and stuff my face on French toast. Huzzah!!

Happy Dining xx

the beauty in a hamburger bun

Located in the back streets of Vauxhall housed in a shack made of corrugated metal I found the best burger these lips have ever touched. Thinking about it now I can still taste every mind blowing burger meated mouthful. Thank you Dirty Burger I feel that my life long search of finding the perfect burger are over, now you have come into my life.

Dirty Burger http://www.eatdirtyburger.com brought to the streets of London by those very clever boys at Soho House, is a fairly simple set up, but do not let that fool you. What is produced in these small shacks is literally food porn. Located in Kentish Town, Vauxhall and Whitechapel Dirty Burger has become my new go to when ever anyone asks the question, “know anywhere good to grab a burger?”

I have been wanting to go and sample their delights for a while, but have not had the excuse or the opportunity at present. My cousin who is a personal trainer has been on an extremely strict diet for the past two months in order to get himself lean enough for a photo shoot for his website. The deal was once he was done with the photo shoot we would meet up for a burger and a beer to make up for the weeks of behaving. Dirty Burger was the perfect place for the food binge!

There are three burgers to choose from on the menu cheese burger, dirty bacon and a cop out (vegetarian option) and they also had a special chilli burger on yesterday evening too. I went for the dirty bacon, one thing this place is good for is the quality of their ingredients. The bacon was not that crispy pretend bacon you normally get in a burger place, this was thick cut, proper bacon the type of bacon bacon addicts only dream of. The burger itself was succulent and cooked to perfection not too well done and not too rare. I wanted to eat this slowly make friends with this burger, eat it like I have never eaten a burger of this quality before. But like an excited teenage boy I ate too quickly and in a flash my love affair with the dirty bacon was over before I knew it. Thank goodness we ordered crinkle cut fries and onion fries. The crinkle cut fries are no McCains, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside the perfect fries to accompany the perfect burger. If you do go to Dirty Burger EAT THE ONION FRIES they are something else. Not your traditional onion ring, these are like onion battered fries which are then covered in salt and pepper, I will never touch a onion ring again I have been converted to the onion fry.

You can’t book a table at Dirty Burger you just rock up, and you can either take away or sit in. This is a great place for the day after the night before. I would totally recommend going here with friends and if you have a meat loving significant other than take them here and eat the onion fries!!! Now I need to try the Dirty Burger breakfast menu, but I think I need to wait for an encounter of the morning after the night before 😉

Happy dining xx

the Phantom of the tapas is here, with a glass of wine…..

The Opera Tavern on Catherine Street http://www.operatavern.co.uk (opposite Drury lane theatre), used to be a somewhat normal pub. Then someone came along and put some love in it, and has turned it into a fantastic tapas bar! I never ventured inside when it was just a pub as it never really appealed to me, but my friend wanted to take me out for a little food before we went to a work party, and I can only say that my opinion has changed. If I could eat there almost everyday I would.

I left my friend in charge of picking what we were to eat as the Opera Tavern is a frequent dining spot for her. What happened next involved little conversation as I was so preoccupied by the food that talking was not an option and eating and drinking became priority from that point onwards.

Our first plate arrived with an excited squeal from my friend, this had better be one damn good plate of food or our friendship would be over, purely based on bad food judgement alone. Our first sample of what was to follow was a small mountain of Padrón Peppers girdled and generously sprinkled with rock salt. Each pepper tasted better than the last and each bite would either be smokey or salty. I found I was unconsciously reaching for more! good thing the next tapas plate arrived before I finished the whole small mountain of green goodness.

Next to arrive were the courgette flowers stuffed with goats cheese and drizzled with honey. If you happen to go to the Opera Tavern, order this dish and when you eat your courgette save your goats cheese stuffed flower for last! the courgette was tender, and not watery at all. I sometimes find when courgette is over cooked it just tastes of sloppy water, but this courgette tasted like courgette but better. The honey glaze made every bite start really sweet and end with you wanting to go in for another bite. Once I reached the flower, it was stuffed with goats cheese which was distinctive but mild and went perfectly with the honey glaze. I was satisfied by this point if no more food came along, I was quite happy finishing off the bottle San Campio, Terras Gauda Albariño (2012) which was being polished off quite nicely with the flowers stuffed with goats cheese.

The smoked and cured sea trout with beetroot gazpacio and cucumber shimmed it’s way onto the table and it was love at first sight. the sea trout was smoked to perfection and was not too fishy. The earthiness of the beetroot fitted perfectly with the crisp cucumber. this plate was perfection, all aspects of it happily married together. I would eat this everyday and on some rye bread it would be amazing!

But it did not stop there! next to arrive was the confit of old spot pork belly with rosemary scented cannellini beans and the classic tortilla which was cooked in the traditional way and a little runny in the middle. Pork Belly is one of my favourite cuts of meat, and this was cooked perfectly the crackling was so crispy and salty and could almost be mistaken for a favourite pub snack. The meat was falling apart, secretly I did not want to share this plate with my friend but I played nice. Next time I am going to sneak off to the the Opera Tavern alone and order myself a plate of the pork belly confit and spend a long time savouring every taste. The tortilla was cooked perfectly a little runny in the middle and not rubbery at all, which sometimes a tortilla can be accused of being.

The Opera Tavern really know what they are doing when it comes to tapas. This tapas is far far far away from the patatas bravas and Tortilla Española one pictures when offered spanish tapas for dinner. The menu goes above and beyond expectation, its a shame that my stomach could not stretch a little further as every dish on the menu sounds fantastic. The only thing I was upset about was that all five plates left me so satisfied I could not fit anymore food in my belly.

This is a great place for an anniversary dinner as it is a little pricey and not one of your average date places to eat. This is the place you save for someone special who deserves a nice night out. you would not leave the Opera Tavern felling empty, in fact you might rock out with the tummy of a glutton after one sitting. This place just leaves you wanting more I will definitely be visiting again.

Happy dining xx