Friday, 28 February 2014

February Round Up

This has been my last full month in London.  I’m off to Canada on 20th March, exciting.  I’ve tried to cram as much as physically possible into my final few months.  Here’s a quick round up of some February eats.

Early in the month Art and I head to Maltby Street market in search of doughnuts and general treats.  St John Bakery came up trumps, imitations of these are everywhere at the moment.  This one was chocolate filled.  #idontevenlikedoughnuts but I love these things.





Then we ate at 40 Maltby Street.  I have one word for you - HAM.  Go there and eat it.  The lamb broth and champers by the glass were equally pleasing.  Really liked the place.  Very interesting wine list.  Spent around £40 each I think.  The toasts were also amazing, seen in front of the ham, anchovy paste and rare roast beef. 






Maltby St Market
SE1
8/10

40 Maltby Street on Urbanspoon
After a long wait, I finally made it to Polpetto.  I never went to the French House incarnation, which is a shame as I love the bar.  Anyway, Russell, Florence and co are now permanently based on Berwick and I've been twice already *smug*.


Highlights for me have included the hare papardelle (£8) and the scallop, cauliflower and lardo (£12.50).  The service was still somewhat green.  There were some breakages on one visit, we weren’t given napkins or cutlery and we were very rushed.  We had to repeatedly tell the guys behind the bar that we weren’t finished yet as they tried to clean away the plates with food left on them.  Annoying.  Early days though.  They’d run out of the rhubarb and rose mix so we couldn’t have the drink we wanted.  I went back for lunch and things were much better.  And Russell was there both times!
Spent about £55 each for dinner and half that at lunch
11 Berwick St
Soho
W1F
7.5/10 
Polpetto on Urbanspoon
Much earlier in the month I practised my French by visiting Casse Croute on Bermondsey Street.  There were 3 of us, and there are 3 options for each course on the daily changing chalkboard menu.  Highlights were the terrine de foie gras (£8) and the confit de canard with confit potatoes (£14.50).  The place is small but the food is really excellent and the service friendly.  It’s really good value cooking and a perfect local if you live in the area.

  
109 Bermondsey St
SE1
9/10 
Casse Croute on Urbanspoon
I went for lunch with AV to Brindisa Soho last week.  I’ve been to Tramontana, but never any of the other venues so was keen to try.  I was really impressed with everything we ate.  Lovely padron peppers (none hot though, do these exist anymore), brilliant cheese croquettes, iberico ham was awesome.  Bloody massive bloody olives were a highlight, stuffed with lemon.  The garlic prawns were good too, leaving behind a nice garlicky oil for dunking bread.  Tip – the room to the rear near the open kitchen is where you want to be.  The front end feels cramped and dark in comparison.  Guilt inducing deep fried goatscheese with honey was also excellent, loved the place.  Cost around £40 each for all this and a few cheeky lunchtime bevs.  Cava and rose.  

46 Broadwick St
Soho
W1F 
8/10

Tapas Brindisa Soho on Urbanspoon
Bel, Lisa and I head to Pizza East one Saturday night before a night out in Camden.  We wanted Chicken Shop really but they were full and we didn’t fancy a 2 hour wait.  We sat at the bar overlooking the kitchen and I ordered the 4 cheese pizza (£9) with a side of mac & cheese.  Ha!  Really liked the pizza.  Service was efficient and happy, I really like the place.  The fact that I live a mere 5 minute walk away is a bonus, I hope to complete the trio and visit Chicken Shop in a couple of weeks (already been to Dirty Burger).  Pizzas are less than £10 and they have loads of other stuff on the menu.  The salads next to us on the bar looked interesting, as did the whacking great hunk of pork.


79 Highgate Road
NW5
7/10

Pizza East Kentish Town on Urbanspoon
Valentines night with my girly friend in a romantic wine bar was much fun.  Not in the least bit depressing that there were a million couples in there!  We got stuck into the champagne and wines by the glass and after a slow start got plenty of food throughout the evening.  Highlight was always going to be the croque madame.  It was a cheese heavy affair with the cheeseboard, the burrata and the curds and crudité all making an appearance.  Really liked the place.  All very nice, more French practise. 

10 Neals Yard
Covent Garden
WC2H
8/10
Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels on Urbanspoon 


And onto the first of my eating adventures in Montreal.  I went for a week at the beginning of the month.  Most things I ate were inspired by this article, on the 35 must eat sandwiches in the city, seemed like a good place to start.
Starting with the main event, Schwarz’ Hebrew Delicatessen for all your smoked meat needs.  I asked what to have and it was this, obvs….


3985 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
Plateau
10/10
Schwartz's Montreal Hebrew Delicatessen on Urbanspoon

Sandwich disappointment followed at Olive & Gourmando, they’d sold out of the Cubain but it’s very close to my office, so I’ll be back for it in a few weeks.  I had to have the mac & cheese instead, which was awful for me.  Truffle mushroom mac & cheese with a herb and nut salad.  It’s a hard life.  I counterbalanced this fatfest with a pot of peppermint tea.  Very good.



351 Saint Paul W
Notre Dame (ish)
6/10

Olive Et Gourmando on Urbanspoon

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