Browsing Tag

Food

Hix Farringdon

I’ve been wanting to go to Hix for ages. It must be the only restaurant in Farringdon I haven’t been too, which is crazy considering how long it’s been there. So when I got a chance to go out for dinner in the area with a good friend I didn’t hesitate in booking.

It didn’t disapoint – I loved the inside of the restaurant – great decor, and a lovely looking bar. While they specialise in fish, it isn’t the only thing on the menu and I thoroughly recommend their ‘Heaven and Earth’ starter, which is a little ball of black-puddingy delight. I followed the starter with a beef flank and ale pie – minus the optional oysters, and we shared a gold chocolate mousse and new forest trifle.

I loved all of the food, and I especially loved the cute martini – which came with extra martini. Smooth and strong – exactly how it should be.

PS – I’ve even been back once already – and it was just as good the second time 🙂

Save

17th October 2016

Eat

Whitecross Street food market

When you are on a restricted diet, making sure you get plenty of variety is essential. If you are basically eating meat and veg and fish and veg then you’re going to get pretty bored pretty quickly if you don’t mix it up a bit.

I’m lucky to spend a lot of time in London, in the Clerkenwell/Barbican area so I get to go to Whitecross Street food market a few times a week. Many moons ago I nearly rented a flat in Whitecross Street and then it was a bit of a run down dingy street with a few average restaurants in. Now, it’s completely changed. It’s actually one of the oldest markets in London, dating back to the 17^th Century, and at one point was known as ‘Squalors Market’. After some investment and regeneration it’s now a must-visit for anyone working or living in the area.

If you go down to Whitecross Street any weekday lunchtime you’ll find some of the best takeaway food vendors in London. You can eat your way round the world with curries and tikka boxes, burrito’s, Thai, sushi, Italian, Turkish and everything in between. A walk down the street is a mouthwatering delight and the hardest thing is to decide what to have. There up to 50 stalls on a Thursday and Friday, but there is a pretty good selection all week, from 10 – 4pm.

Everyone knows about Borough Market, but in my mind Whitecross certainly gives it a run for its money on takeaway, and prices are still reasonable for London. This week I’ve had a fantastic tikka box and a bun-less burger with salad, and I’ve got my eye on the Brazillian chicken skewers for later in the week.

The Market opening times are 10-4pm Monday to Friday , with many more food stalls on a Thursday and Friday.

Save

20th January 2016

Eat

Brighton Lunches

I’ve been lucky to go out for lunch in Brighton twice this week, and to two of my favourite restaurants.

Lots of new restaurants and eateries are opening up in Brighton, with some really fab looking places. When I first moved to Brighton about 6 years ago there was a lot less choice. There were a few good restaurants and loads of touristy rubbish, but the foodie revolution appears to have finally made it’s way down from London and we’re starting to get spoilt for choice. Brighton even has it’s own food festival.

So last week, for Madge’s Birthday we decided on a family lunch at The Bistro at the Hotel du Vin. There are much newer and funkier places popping up, but the Hotel du Vin can always be relied on for classic French bistro favourites and the bar does (arguably) the best grown-up cocktails in town.

I ordered the chicken liver parfait, followed by the Gloucester Old Spot pork belly with mousseline potatoes. Both were lovely and very filling. The boys ordered burgers and Madge enjoyed the French onion soup and the cassoulet. All washed down with some lovely bubbly prosecco. I was too full for desert, but the cheese and the enormous profiterole enjoyed by the boys looked great.

All the food was lovely, everyone enjoyed what they had ordered and the service was good too. Always a good, solid choice for a nice lunch or family occasion.

Yesterday we went to English’s, Brighton’s oldest (and best) seafood restaurant. Tucked away in The Laines, there has been an English’s there for 150 years, so it’s quite a Brighton institution.

The small restaurant downstairs was full when we arrived, so we happily opted to eat at the small bar. The upstairs restaurant doesn’t have the same cosy feel, and we don’t mind sitting at a bar watching what’s going on. The menu looked amazing – it was a hard choice, as there were plenty of things I could have ordered. Madge doesn’t like oysters, and they always feel like something to share to me, so we agreed on the mixed starter platter, which had lobster croquettes, sole goujons, wrapped prawns, potted shrimps – and the star of the show, home smoked salmon with dill and goat cheese panacotta. Absolutely scrumptious.

I followed up with salmon en croute, and himself had a whole dressed crab. They serve prosecco on tap, so we made sure our carafe was filled regularly! I have to make a special mention for the staff, who were absolutely superb. Fully attentive, interesting and they seem to know all the regulars’ names and details. Properly special.

It’s been ages since I’ve been to English’s – it’s easy to forget about the more established restaurants with all the new kids on the block, but I definitely won’t be leaving it so long until the next time.

We were having such a good time that I forgot to take any pictures, so the images of the Hotel du Vin are taken from their website and the image of English’s is of the home page of their site.

Save

6th November 2015

Eat

Cottage pie day

Sunday the first of November was cottage pie day. I always call it shepherds pie, but I think technically it has to be lamb to be a shepherds pie. Anyway, we made a huge pie and did nothing all day but eat it and chill out in front of the tv watching series 5 of Downton Abbey. Bliss.

Save

1st November 2015

Eat

Chambers of Flavour

Last week we went on the most amazing ‘multi dimensional dining experience’ – the Chambers of Flavour, run by Gingerline.

I was really looking forward to it, even though the whole premise of the concept is secrecy, so I didn’t know what to expect. I’d been told it was ‘Secret Cinema for dining’, and looked at the website, which doesn’t give much away!

So, once the booking is made, you have to wait until 4pm on the day of the booking to find out where the venue is. You know it is going to be somewhere on the Overground, but that’s it. At 4pm the text arrived and we were told where to head, and to be there for 5.30pm.

On arrival we were given a welcome drink and our entrance tickets and waited for our turn to go through.

Because the whole concept relies on secrecy I can’t say anything about the experience itself, other than the fact is was amazing. An absolutely fantastic night out, with good food and great company. I have not laughed so much in ages and the minute I came out I wanted to do it again!

If you can get tickets for this or any of the Gingerline events do – I’d definitely go again.

Save

7th October 2015

Eat

Lunch at the Chilli Pickle

After a long week, including an unexpected stay in London on Thursday night, it was nice to get back to The Shires to start the long-weekend on Friday. I even managed to side step the pub and get on a train slightly early – I must be getting old. Or sensible.

I was up and out and in the hairdressers by 8.30 on Saturday morning, which was pretty cool as I was all done and able to go and do the rest of the boring stuff early. Quick trip down the high street then back home to get ready for lunch at one of my favourite restaurants, The Chilli Pickle, in Brighton.

We’ve been going to The Chilli Pickle for ages, even before it moved to the large premises under the MyHotel about three years ago, when it was a tiny little restaurant in The Lanes. In that time it’s managed to do the seemingly impossible, which is to get better as it has got bigger, with a ever-changing fab menu and consistently excellent service. It’s never lost that friendly family feel and we’re always assured a warm welcome, and even have a ‘usual’ spot, up on the banana bar

The restaurant décor is wonderful, with bright colours and indian artefacts, but done in a very boutique way. It plays warmly to the space and feels modern and light. The menu is inspired by different regions of India and there is always so much to choose from that it’s hard to decide. The Tandoori chicken and chips is a favourite, and unlike any other tandoori chicken and chips you might ever have had, but I was feeling a little more adventurous.

I ordered a cheeky lunchtime martini (well, late lunch) and we had Momo’s and Pani Puri to share, followed by King Thali’s for main course. The food at the Chilli Pickle is very different to any other Indian restaurant I’ve been to in the UK. Really delicate flavour pairings, with unusual dips and pickles to accompany every dish. I’ve not yet had anything I haven’t liked and usually have to resist ordering too much – though if you do, you can take it home with you afterwards.

If you like lots of little morsels of different tastes The King Thali is perfect. I had the Murgh Pulungari – chicken simmered in coconut, tamarind, squash, turmeric, curry leaf, mustard seeds and black pepper. It was awesome. The Thali comes with rice, bread, poppadum, dal, dhokla and a sweet rice pudding, as well as the wonderful pickles. And I’ve never managed to defeat a whole one yet!

A bottle of Prosecco washed the food down nicely and we happily wandered off home in search of an afternoon snooze 🙂

Save

25th May 2015