SEPTEMBER ROUND-UP

Tom’s Kitchen, Chelsea

Tom Aikens was first brought to my attention on the BBC’s Great British Menu, which in 2013 asked the chefs to design a four-course meal for the Comic Relief anniversary banquet. I found his creative dishes absolutely inspiring (in particular his “Egg Chicken / Chicken Egg” starter and Rabbit in a Hat main), and so was hugely excited to finally get to go to one of his restaurants. Tom’s Kitchen appears small and canteen-y, but has a menu to make you salivate. The temptation of truffled macaroni cheese, triple cooked chips and baked Alaska was almost too much to bear, but trying, as ever, to make sensible eating choices, I had a more slimming dinner of a steak tartare starter, sea bream special and half a raspberry crème brulee (accompanied by a delicious Chelsea Gardens cocktail made of gin, cucumber, apple and elderflower).

My starter, pud and drink were perfection, but on reflection I may have opted for a different, more exciting main. For the price, it was a shame to eat something I could have cooked for myself at home. Next time I eat at Tom's Kitchen, those chips will be goin’ down!

Borough Market 1000^th Birthday

No, you did read that right. On 20^th September, Borough Market celebrated its one-THOUSANDTH birthday. How many other businesses can say that they’re just as popular now as they were with the crusaders? It’s unlikely that they would have indulged on the Borough Market delicacies that I did though: toasted cheese sandwiches, duck confit salad, macaroons and marshmallow flavoured vodka, but hey, we can’t say for sure, can we? I also took home two incredible Turkish treats; my giant Turkish figs made a delicious Sunday lunch pudding, and although I’ve never really been a fan, the Turkish delight was, well, delightful. Over the week or so there were a variety of special anniversary events, including visitors walking through paint and leaving a trail of multi-coloured footprints throughout the market.

Whenever I go to Borough Market I wonder why I’m not there every weekend. It’s such an experience, for all the senses.                                                                                                                                                       

My Night With Reg, Donmar Warehouse

Originally written by Kevin Elyot twenty years ago, ‘My Night With Reg’ was brought back this year to the Donmar Warehouse, for its first major revival, by director Robert Hastie. Set in 1985, the play focuses on the lives of a group of gay friends and begins with their reunion after several years of separation. Like with any reassembling of loved ones there are both laughs and heartbreak; I’d hate to give too much of the plot away but as the title suggests, Reg has some explaining to do… The play, however, is hugely bittersweet; without a direct mention the plot revolves around the underlying theme of Aids, and the fears within the gay community at the time.

I know I probably say it every time, and prepare for me to contradict myself in future blog posts, but THIS was my favourite Donmar production to date. An extraordinary cast produced an extraordinary play.

Foxcroft and Ginger, Bethnal Green

You’ve guessed it – I’ve been stuffing my face yet again! When finding myself in Bethnal Green with an empty stomach and an hour to kill, I stumbled across Foxcroft and Ginger on the Mile End Road. Named after the owner Quintin Foxcroft and his redheaded wife, this trendy and relaxed café prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients. There’s a wide variety of dishes on the menu including lots of breakfast options. I was very jealous of the man next to me who was munching on homemade hash browns (one of my fave breakfast items). I also watched as an array of doorstop-sized sandwiches went past, all made using their special sourdough breads.

Nevertheless I had a delicious and satisfying chicken salad made with chickpeas, butternut squash, spring onions, peppers and a spiced yoghurt dressing. Yum, yum, YUM. There’s also a branch of Foxcroft and Ginger in Soho – sounds like a good wintery lunch spot to me, or even a quick coffee-and-a-croissant pit-stop.  


Before I Go To Sleep

A mysterious thriller starring two of my favourite male actors and Nicole Kidman, who really is growing on me after all of these years! She plays Christine Lucas, plagued with a memory span of only one day after a traumatic accident. With the help of a video camera, Christine starts to piece her missing years back together, but who is she to trust; her loving husband, or her professional doctor?

There are some serious spine chilling moments, a few tear jerkers, and there's no way anyone could predict all the twists that this plot provides (you'll change your opinion of the characters at least twice). Do go and see 'Before I Go To Sleep' for a great story and a super performance from all.

The Good Life Eatery, Sloane Avenue

 Working for a women's health website, as I did only a few months ago, I've been aware of The Good Life Eatery since its opening on Sloane Avenue late last year. This trendy cafe promises good, wholesome food, made from the freshest and tastiest ingredients available. With all dishes gluten-free, what better place to go for a Sunday brunch after indulging in a bottle of wine and a pizza the night before?! We knew it would be heaving, but for a meal fit for the likes of Rosie Huntington Whiteley, we decided we were prepared to wait.

And just as well, as the place was packed out. There were queues for tables and queues for take-away. We all stood squashed in the doorway, whilst those lucky enough to have a table chuckled, instagramed, and took their time finishing the last drips of their almond milk lattes (infuriating, although we couldn't blame them - we would be doing the same as soon as we were given a chance). It was suggested to us that we might order at the bar first, then give the waitress a nod when we were finally seated. I ordered the all-greens frittata, but declined one of the cafe's speciality juices when I was told  it was £6.50 per bottle. Despite being 100% natural fruit and veg, and tasting delicious (as I sampled a friend's later) I couldn't quite justify the cost per sip, so opted for a large skinny Americano instead. After about twenty minutes we finally had a table and gestured to the waitress at the bar that we were ready for our food... But sadly, that was when the real wait started.

If you read my blog regularly, you'll know that on the whole, I'm complimentary of the places I go to; a couple of slip-ups may go unmentioned if the overall experience was enjoyable. But on this occasion, I'm afraid, it's simply unavoidable. The Good Life Eatery makes it perfectly clear that, with room for only 25 people to sit, there's a "first come, first served" policy. But, in my mind, once they're through the door, a customer is a customer, and whether they're seated or standing in the queue, they should be treated with the same amount of respect. Watching three people take up a table for six for an hour after finishing their meal simply isn't fair on the twenty people waiting. If they aren't going to be considerate enough to move on, as they proved they weren't, a polite nudge from a member of staff would have been nice.

We sat down at a table of ample size for the four of us, but with a bench seat along the wall and only one chair, we had to squeeze three of us down one side. We asked if there was another chair, but apparently they are serious about seating for 25 only... Luckily after half an hour, the table next to us freed up so we slid down and made space for the couple and single woman who had been in the queue behind us and still hadn't been seated. But even after this time, there was still no sign of our brunch (though at 2.30, it was lunch by now) or even our coffees. I was nominated to go and ask. 

When giving our number, the waiter look worriedly at the pile of receipts sitting on the counter - it was clear our food had not been put through. I reordered our coffees and returned to my table. Another ten minutes passed and our coffees were finally brought, but for a large Americano, mine was a little on the small side. I was then informed that large coffees were only available for take-aways as they didn't have large mugs, but I must have made what my mum refers to as the "dangerous face", because he scampered back to the bar and brought me back a cardboard cup.

But still, no food. By this point it was laughable, and we all made jokes about going home and making it ourselves in quicker time. The very smiley manager then came over and suggested that to make up for the wait he would bring us all cakes on the house. We thanked him, and I joked that we would really like our mains before pudding, but apparently that wasn't taken on board as we were greeted in seconds with two brownies and two slices of Red Velvet.

We managed to resist tucking in long enough for our lunch to FINALLY arrive. Although smaller than I would have expected for the price, I couldn't fault my frittata in the slightest. It was absolutely gorgeous and even now, several days later, I can taste it with much ease. Everyone had a bit and agreed that it was not only delicious, but the best meal on the table (don't you love it when that happens?!). Packed full of lovely fresh greens, it was made even greater by the side of homemade pesto, made with almonds rather than pine nuts. The eggs Benedict and the avocado on toast also looked great, and all of us were substantially filled by the end... But it would have been rude to waste the cakes, wouldn't it? Both sweets were wonderfully moist but as often happens with gluten-free, a little sickly sweet. We were defeated, and packaged the remainder up to take home ( which is saying something, as two of my friends are baking bloggers!).

So all in all, I wasn't hugely impressed with The Good Life Eatery, but the food was absolutely wonderful. I was also reassured by the couple next to us that, as regulars, they usually experience much better service. Maybe another trip at a less busy time would be a good thing. 

London House, Battersea Square

Sorry for the delay, but better late than never, isn't that the phrase? Last week I enjoyed a fantastic three-courser at Gordon Ramsay's new hang-out London House. 

As a local to the Battersea Square area, I can tell you first hand that there has been massive hype in the lead up to London House opening. Without wishing to put a dampener on it, this particular site has been a bit of a haunted spot for restaurants over the years. All show great potential to begin with, but after a short while the covers thin out and the "For Sale" signs appear, as was the case with Bennet's not too long ago. But with a big name like Ramsay moving in, gossip spread and near-by residents became hopeful that their prayers had finally been answered (in fact, it was nearly as exciting as the other rumour that Victoria Beckham is to take over our local SPAR..! For a fashion boutique, that is, unless Posh is venturing into the corner shop business).

It's a big venue to run, but like his predecessors, Gordon Ramsay has made use of all the space. As well as the dining rooms there is the long bar, lounge area and wine room. I went on a Wednesday night with my mum (my sidekick when it comes to restaurant reviewing!) and when we entered we were first greeted by a very smiley lady on reception... Then someone else to take our coats, another to take us to our table, another to give us our food menus, one more with the wine menu, then finally, a nice man asked whether we were celebrating a special occasion. Sadly we weren't, but if we had been, like a few of the couples around us, we would have been brought a scoop of ice cream with a chocolate sauce message at pudding time.

Once alone, it was time to concentrate on the menu. Three courses for £35 and I have to say, it was a foodie's heaven! All kinds of wonderful ingredients and combinations were on display. I think we both decided on our dessert first, but more on that later...

To start, I had the scallops with a walnut, apple and celery salad. It must be a popular choice at London House as I conveniently found a photograph of it on their website (above)! I'd eat scallops any which way, but pairing them with apples gave them a fresh twist which I'll have to try myself at home. My mum had the crab tortellini in a shellfish broth. Although she wasn't blown away by it I thought they were very tasty, more like dim sum than pasta, and nice and meaty.

Her main, however, was much improved. A sliced Cumbrian beef fillet served with butter bean purée and delicious potato gnocchi that were filled with braised cheek. I had the ray wing, which was topped with salt-baked beetroot and crispy squares of Parmesan. This came with a large plate of kale and cabbage salad, which was lucky for me, one, because I love kale, and two, because all the portions were a bit on the small side... 

It has to be said that this point, we did feel rather like we'd been ditched by the waiting staff. It was hard to grab anyone's attention, sitting in the back dining room, and though it was an incredibly busy night, it was a bit of a let down. Still, we didn't have long to grumble, as pudding was soon plated up. I'm always up for trying something new and exciting so when I saw there was a chocolate tart with (wait for it) Jerusalem artichoke ice cream, that was definitely for me. It all tasted exactly as expected, but surprisingly, went together perfectly! I do wonder where these ideas are born. 

We agreed that I'd won the first two courses, but for dessert, it was a photo finish. My mum ordered the nougatine parfait which, to save my fumbled description, has also been included in the website's photo gallery...

Inside was gooey nougat and pieces of nuts and dried fruits. I did get a little taste, but wisely, she didn't offer it to me a second time.

So all in all, a wonderful night spent at London House. £35 for a three-course meal at a place like this is  reasonable, but when you add in one glass of wine, two pots of tea and service, suddenly the bill was £100. Maybe not the local we'd all hoped for, but certainly somewhere special for a gastronomic treat - just don't go when you're ravenous!

Source, Battersea

Last week for a quick midweek lunch with my grandfather I tried Source in Battersea. Newly opened, this independent restaurant is what used to be Ransome's Dock, but is now owned by a new couple, again a husband and wife team.

The space has been completely revamped and I absolutely love what they've done with it. Mix-match chairs at every table, exposed brick, wood and metal pipes, funky lights and pretty mosaics; it's industrial, but still sophisticated and comfy.

Source prides itself on being "seasonal, simple and social" and its menu absolutely proves that. No fancy explanations and words that you have to get the waiter to translate. Every dish is listed with three or four ingredients, and that's exactly what you get. Personally, I don't Iike my food to be mucked about with and also, trying eat healthily, it's always a nightmare when a dish turns up smothered in a sauce that wasn't previously mentioned. There's none of that here though, which made me very happy indeed. The menu changes regularly and at lunchtime there's a lovely mix of bigger plates (pastas, meats, fish dishes) and smaller snacks, including a scrummy sounding pulled pork bun.

To start, I had a salad, "Celeriac, rocket, anchovies, hazelnuts". When it turned up it seemed to have fennel instead of rocket, but i was pleased as not only do I prefer it but the combination was delicious. Really simple in a great tasting light dressing, but packed full of flavour with the fresh veg, salty fish and sweet nuts. My grandfather had the crab toast which he gobbled very happily.

For a main course, I went for "silver mullet, polenta, broccoli" and he had "baked eggs, feta, tomatoes, red peppers". My fish was perfectly cooked, with soft meat and a crispy skin. The polenta was lovely and creamy and I would have eaten the HUGE cloves of garlic that were also on my plate but I was heading off to a massage that afternoon and didn't think the therapist would appreciate it much!

Although not exactly what my granddad was expecting, the egg dish was super. Served in an iron skillet, the tomatoes and red peppers were cooked down to make a rich base, with the feta crumbled over and two eggs cracked on the top. It was served with crusty sourdough bread, which all defeated him a little (lucky for me though, as I got to polish it off!).

We probably could have stopped there, but as my granddad put it, there's no harm in looking at the dessert menu... For a little palette cleanser, we both chose the blood orange sorbet, which was served with a sprinkling of caramelised peel. The sorbet itself was light and fresh, which was a lovely contrast to the peel that had a bold, bitter taste.

For me, lunch was an absolute success. I love to cook as well as eat out, and Source really inspired me to try out some of these new combinations at home. You could really taste the care that had been taken with the dishes, not only with the preparation but with sourcing the freshest and best ingredients. There was also an extensive wine and cocktail list which, although we didn't sample, looked pretty impressive. The staff were so kind, constantly checking that we had all we needed, and there was no problem at all when we wanted certain things altered, like a different sauce for the crab or having the fried eggs cooked through. There were couples dining, friends, business partners, and (with us!) family too. If it gets a thumbs up from both a 22 and an 89 year old, it's gotta be good. I wish them the best of luck in their opening year!

Five Guys, Covent Garden

The meal I had at Five Guys last week had certainly been a long time coming. You can't know Soho without having seen or heard of this famous American burger place, apparently named Obama's favourite. However, trying to be good with what I eat mixed with the fact that, whenever I've passed, there have been queues literally around the block, it's never been quite the right time. But last Friday, something rather peculiar came over me when, at about 11pm, I walked down Long Acre to find no queue, and only a matter of minutes between me and one of the best tasting burgers around. It had to be done.

The two boys I was with, despite their surprise at my sudden outburst, didn't take much convincing to go in. We'd all just had dinner, but somehow a gap magically formed in our stomachs. Five Guys has absolutely the look and feel of a proper American joint. Red and white tiles, big posters with quotes and rave reviews, and employees everywhere with big smiles on their faces, ready and waiting to please your tastebuds. Overexcited, I asked the lady on the door for her recommendation. She ummed and erred, but confessed that, although I couldn't really go wrong, I should probably go for the bacon cheeseburger. 

But you don't just stop there. At Five Guys, you can have little burgers or regular burgers that come plain, with bacon, with cheese or with both. Once that decision's been made comes the toppings menu, all of which, unbelievably for a burger restaurant, are free (as are the monkey nuts, which you can help yourself to whilst you wait). Lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, grilled onions, pickles, jalapeños, mushrooms, relish, ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, mayo, relish, HP sauce and hot sauce, and you only need to limit yourself by what you can hold between your hands (without losing your dignity completely...). Waiting at the bar with our order tickets, we watched the line of around 40 burgers laid out, all with different combinations. For me, lettuce and grilled onions were enough to top my BCB. Everything was just perfect - especially the bacon which was crisp and smokey. If burgers aren't your thing (pfft), you could go for a hot dog or sandwich, and there are veggie options too, but whatever you order, you'll have to have fries. They're unbelievably delicious. I couldn't put my finger on it at first, but then I saw on the menu that they are, brace yourself, cooked in peanut oil. That wasn't the only exceptional thing about the fries; there was also a sign up in the restaurant that says where the potatoes had been sourced that day (ours that night were from Holland). To wash it all down, Five Guys has one of those Coca-Cola freestyle machines, with over 100 unlimited sodas.

The atmosphere in Five Guys was just so happy, to go with the happy tummies being filled in the every booth table. Families, couples, groups of friends on their way to or from a night out - people of all ages were laughing and having a good time, staff included. That truly is the sign of somewhere special. Get yourselves down there, if you haven't been already, and be prepared for a finger lickin' good time.

Jamie's Diner, Shaftesbury Avenue

Forget walking with dinosaurs – try eating with them! I enjoyed a beast of a lunch yesterday at Jamie Oliver’s Diner on Shaftesbury Avenue.

I’d been wanting to try out Jamie’s Diner since it opened a few months ago. I take the 19 bus a lot, and when it stopped at the lights outside the Trocadero, I’d look out of my top deck window and be confronted by the eyes and jaws of a T.Rex! Standing in the middle of the restaurant, surrounded by bright neon lights, he made the diner look like a great place to have a super fun meal, and being Jamie, I was sure the food would taste fantastic too.

At late Sunday lunchtime, I was surprised but happy to find the diner wasn’t too busy for a table for two. We sat on the Shaftesbury Avenue side, a great spot for people watching on the street below. Excited and hungry that morning, we had already had a snoop at the menu online. There were so many choices; diner classics, but with a twist. Hot dogs, burgers, ribs, mac ‘n’ cheese and slaw are all present. After ordering, we sat back and enjoyed our brilliant surroundings.

All the décor in Jamie’s Diner is dinosaur themed. I loved the artwork, like traditional tapestries depicting stegosaurus and brachiosaurus roaming across the countryside, or dinosaur petrol and road signs. Most of the restaurant's art was designed by artist Jay Jay Burridge, and are brilliantly creative; the posters include dinosaur rodeo, dinosaur polo, and my favourite, the dinosaur and “matadaur” in the bullring.

Then, the feast arrived. I’d ordered the Happy Cow Veggie Burger, made from smashed edamame, chickpeas, lima and pinto beans. Not only was it really delicious, but it was also marked on the menu with a ‘Good as gold, tasty, healthy’ halo, so I enjoy it (nearly) guilt free! My not so halo conscious boyfriend ordered the Pitt Waffle, and boy, was I glad he did! There were alternate layers of barbecue pulled pork and waffle, the meat is slow cooked for 16 hours meaning the whole thing was melt-in-your-mouth soft. Apparently it’s one of the most popular dishes on the menu, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the tastiest too. We had a mug of homemade chilli on the side, and also the “love ‘em or hate ‘em” avocado fries, despite the bad review from our waitress. Covered in a light dusting of batter, we both thought they were actually quite nice! The chocolate milkshake had left my boyfriend clutching at his sides, so we avoided dessert, despite ogling the Key Lime Pie from the other side of the restaurant. The drinks menu also stayed untouched, but I think we’ll be back for cocktails and cheesecake soon.

Despite being marketed as a pop-up restaurant, it’s actually in residence for two years. Phew! Whether it’s upstairs in the restaurant, or just grabbing a hot dog as you pass by on street level, you’re sure to have a fab meal at Jamie’s Diner. Go in the next few weeks and you can also sink your teeth into the very tasty looking Christmas menu. 

Carom, Wardour Street

 

Always seeking a new culinary experience, I’ve eaten in most of the restaurants on Wardour Street! There was one doorway I’d always passed though, purely out of confusion; a big, dark staircase, with multiple menus on the door outside. But on Monday night, my friends and I took the plunge, and gave it a go. One of the menus was for Carom, a pan Indian restaurant with reasonably priced dishes, so we ventured inside and hoped we might find it!

We were seated at a booth at the back of the main floor. Black walls, red leather and funky lighting made it feel very swanky indeed! Luckily, this was Carom. We had to tackle the menu with both hands, as it was vast and full of delicious sounding meals. There was a “Travellers’ Menu”, with two courses for just £10, but having sneaked a look at the cocktail menu with several pages dedicated to gin, we decided on one main, and a cheeky drink to finish.

I say “decided”, but it wasn’t quite a snap decision. There was to-ing and fro-ing, pages turned backwards and forwards, and many a “Well, what are you having?”. Finally, after we’d already sent the waiter away once, we committed and ordered. They brought us some popadoms to start us off, which I’d usually ignore, but instead of the usual standard selection of dips, they brought three types of homemade chutney; date and ginger, smoked chilli, and carrot!

I went for the “Lamb Chops Karaikudi”, although I had been tempted by the chicken tikka “Gin Sizzler” for quite a while. I made the right choice though. The chops were very tasty, and I was pleased to find there was hardly any fat on them. I have to say the meat dishes were rather smaller than I expected, but with delicious sides, it was perfectly filling. I accompanied my dish with some steamed basmati rice and a “Dhaba Salad” (onion, tomato, cucumber and chilli). My friends had the jhinga tikka, “Beef Uppukari”, and shared naan breads. Both found it hard to finish, but agreed it all tasted great.

After the plate clearing came another difficult decision; which of the many gin cocktails was I going to have? I settled on the “Ginger Chilli Tipple”, which I ordered hot because I thought it sounded intriguing! The waiter was a bit confused, but when I pointed out that the menu suggested I had it this way, he was much more understanding. The others ordered a “Basil Spice Collins” and, for the gin-hater, an “Apricot Cosmopolitan”. What an array of flavours we had! The cosmo was strong with brandy, and my Tipple was sweet, like a mulled wine, but with a fiery punch. I was brought a traditional long-handled cup to drink it from, but the cocktail itself was served in a bright red china teapot! The “Basil Spice Collins” was the most peculiar by far, arriving in a small fish bowl that made it look like a crystal ball. If you can imagine the taste of gin, basil and black pepper all in one, you can image that we couldn’t quite decide whether we were fans! Still, it was certainly like nothing I’d tried before, which is always the point of an experience.

I promise to never look warily at Carom’s door again. A lovely evening, I’ll definitely be returning when I want a special meal with a bit of added fun!

Flat Iron, Beak Street

On discovering a new website called The Nudge, my London restaurant to-try list has doubled! This is where I first heard of Chop Shop and where I found last night’s dinner venue, Flat Iron.

In need of a quick bite before the theatre (more on that later…), we ventured to Beak Street in Soho to try the restaurant that specializes in just one thing – you’ve guessed it – flat iron steak. For you steak connoisseurs, flat iron, or butler’s as we call it in the UK, is from the shoulder, cut against the grain which means it’s tougher, but tastes good.

There are no menus at Flat Iron, just a big sign on the wall, which has the steak (served with salad), and a choice of sides and sauces. The steak was, I thought, reasonable at £10, but as you’d expect, the extras were, well, extra.

Usually this is all they have on the menu, but last night we were also offered their special Flat Iron burger. Why special? Not only because it isn’t a regular option, but because it is first fried and then grilled to make it super juicy. I kept my fingers in my ears for that one, but a young man at the table had his lips smacking and his mind made up.

In a rush, as ever, we were pleased when our food came about five minutes after ordering. Forks and knives ready (I say knives, but actually you are given a small cleaver to eat your meal with!), we were all set to tuck in. I’ve had bigger and more tender steaks before, but I’d say that this flat iron was certainly up there in terms of flavour. You have the option of your steak being medium-rare or well-done, but in my opinion, if you pick the latter, you should really just be thrown out. The meat was beautifully pink, rich in taste, and laced with just the right amount of garlic and salt. I accompanied mine with a good helping of mustards and ‘Fred’s sauce’, a lovely spicy tomato concoction (“a bit like a Bloody Mary’ the waitress had said).

I had to try a bit of the burger, which really was delicious, served with shallots and béarnaise sauce, and the sides of salad and green beans were scrummy, as was that one chip that just happened to fall in my mouth…

On the walk to the theatre we must have said “hmm, that really was good” about eight times. I have to point out that I think we were lucky with our timing because, like most places in Soho, they don't take bookings and queues do start to form outside at peak times. Also take notice, you won’t be seated until all of your party is there. Don’t let that put you off trying though; Flat Iron is certainly one for the steak lover, just make sure to get there early.

Chop Shop, Haymarket

First of all, I have to apologise for my absence from the blog recently. This is my second week in an Internship at Healthista, an online women’s health channel. As well working behind the scene, and on the design side, I have had to opportunity to write some pieces! Do have a read here.

But I digress. The night before last, as a bit of a naughty treat, my mum and I had dinner at Chop Shop on Haymarket, which I had found on thenudge.com (worth a click or a follow, if you haven’t already). To make sure we didn’t miss out, my mum had waded through the online reviews that day, but it seems liked everything on the menu had at least one recommendation! To get our taste buds going, we ordered crispy hot wings with Cashel blue cheese and the cotechino scotch egg with salsa verde. Get our taste buds going they did! Both were so fresh and packed full of flavour. I also asked for the “Celery Gimlet”, a cocktail of lime cordial and celery infused Beefeater gin – it was absolutely gorgeous!

The décor of the restaurant is a kind of butcher shop chic, with lots of rich wood, royal blue and white. My grandma used to say that I probably knew every loo in every restaurant in London, because when we went out I would always slope off before pudding to use the facilities (back in the days when I crawled under the table to get out!). Looking back on it now, I think I was always just excited to discover a new room! Though often disappointed with the loos of my childhood, the ladies' at Chop Shop was very elegant, with tiled walls and small, framed photographs of Victorian butchers. Back in the restaurant, a soundtrack including Mark Ronson’s version of “You Go Your Way And I’ll Go Mine” played out, and was the perfect fit for the Hoxton meets Soho vibe.

And then our main course arrived. We both went for the Creekstone USDA hanger steak. It was the cheapest on the menu at £14, but I can’t imagine how it could have tasted any better! Sliced and tender, served with a grilled tomato, we had accompaniments of fries, spinach and grilled trumpet courgettes in romesco (a nut and red-pepper based sauce) and flaked almonds. Everything was stunningly delicious, although we forgot to ask for the taster sauces that were on the menu free of charge… Oh well, we will just have to go back then!

We were rather full, but our waiter managed to twist our arms, with not very effort at all, into having the butterscotch custard, which tasted just like a posh angel delight! Yum.

So definitely pay Chop Shop a visit for a relaxed but special evening out. I would say book ahead, though it was pretty quiet on a Tuesday night. 

Cafe Pacifico

On Tuesday night I ate for the first time at Cafe Pacifico, an amazing Mexican restaurant in Covent Garden. Tucked away on Langley Street just off Long Acre, the venue was perfect for a fun celebratory night out, and a good catch up.

The night started with large pitchers of very strong margaritas and mojitos of all different flavours. Then we opened the menus and got down to some serious business. What a selection! The best thing about a large table (we were fifteen!) is that you can get a really good snoop at lots of other dishes. The most popular were the burritos but, for me, when I saw “Duck, scallop and tamarind fajitas”, I thought they were so peculiar that they had to be tried.

Mexico meets Japan, they were packed with sweet peppers, asparagus, broccoli and pak choi, all absolutely delicious with that sweet, sticky sauce. I also had a forkful of the ground beef chimichanga and the wonderful mango, jalapeño and brie quesadillas. The accompaniments were also to die for (you can buy their homemade guacamole to take away by the litre!) and my new favourite find was a very spicy red onion salsa that the waitress admitted was even too hot for her.

I couldn’t recommend Cafe Pacifico more, and a big thanks to my friends for introducing me to it. Word of warning though – you may walk in, but be prepared to roll back out!

Burger and Lobster, Farringdon

With this blog in its very early stages, I thought I would also share with you some new experiences that I have had recently.

A few weeks ago, I helped my best friend celebrate her 22^nd birthday at Burger and Lobster in Farringdon. I had heard so much about the chain, and was itching to go, not wanting to feel out of the loop for any longer. Although we had to wait quite a while for a table, the bar area was clear and a bottle of bubbles made the time pass nicely. But soon we were seated in a lovely leather banquette, and the feasting was about to begin! I loved the art that hung around the restaurant, all by Russian artist Alexandr Grigorev. He also designed the restaurant’s logo, and the very sexy plastic bibs too.

Burger and Lobster doesn’t have a menu as there are only three things on offer: burger, lobster, or lobster roll, for £20 each. All are served with salad and fries, and if you can’t decide, you can go half and half with a friend. If and when you go, make sure there’s at least one burger and one lobster at your table because, believe me, you are going to want to try both! Everything in that meal, even the sides, were contenders for the best I’ve ever tasted. Although I managed to resist pouring the garlic butter sauce all over my lobster, a few chips managed to find their way to be dunked – chips and garlic butter sauce? Does it get any better?! And there’s even desserts, if you’ve got room.

So all in all, a great experience. I couldn’t say that it’s the best in London (my heart belongs to Big Easy’s lobster festival, and always will!), but it certainly is up there.

Do check out the other branches too, which are all listed on their website. You can reserve, but only for parties of six or more.