Good food at Street Feast in Dalston

I am not trendy – in fact, I probably would not know trendy is it bit me on the leg, apart from having a sore leg that is.  So, I was mildly bemused to visit Street Feast at Dalston Yard on Saturday night. This is essentially a glorious nomadic festival of food (with a side order of those that work in med-ya) with brings together various food trucks and independent food pioneers with a sprinkling of craft beer.

It is currently doing a 20 week run on Friday and Saturday nights (5 – 12) at Dalston Yard which is opposite Dalston Junction Train Station and just at the edge of the epi-centre of cool that certain parts of East London have become.  It is fascinating and spread out within what looks to have been an old warehouse complex at some point or another with chairs and open fire pits spread around. 

While I am sure being on time is ‘not nearly cool enough for school’, we arrived early enough to snag a table (5:30) and avoid the cover charge which kicks in at 7.  This was a wise move, we decided solemnly as we watched hipsters jostle for seats as they became available.

So what was the food like?  There are a wide variety of different stalls with 3 sit down options as well  (Bobs Lobster, Steak Diner and Pizza Pilgrims) so why don’t I just tell you what we managed to eat? 

I visited Le Bun and enjoyed confit duck in a brioche bun with straw fries, slaw and hollandaise sauce.  Was it good?  It had cooled somewhat by the time I had fought my way back to the table and I like simple food so would perhaps have left out the fries but the duck was very succulent and the bun perfectly balanced so I would definitely recommend it.

We also opted for proper fries with Korean hot sauce from Spit and Roast.  The sauce was fiery but good enough that we just kept munching when they had gone cold and the people who were serving were brilliant fun (If you are reading this - I stand by my statement that the nice man who handed the sauce over is a god).

Le Bun had disappeared before I could take a photo 

Another friend visited Anna Maes for their version of the big mac – everything you get from the Golden Arches without the bun and on Mac n Cheese.  I had to grab a taste when she wasn’t looking and although I only really got the Mac n Cheese, it was very very ‘swim happily in a vat of it’ rich cheesy creamy goodness.

The man of the table was irresistibly drawn to Smoke Stack and enjoyed a prime short rib.  I did not get to taste this as I was not prepared to risk my arm trying to take it off him but as he was making happy pitbull noises (he is actually human not a dog), I thought he was probably happy.

Would I go again?  Maybe – maybe not!  While the food was pretty good, some of it was pricy (£12 for the single –albeit – big rib) and the wine was downright expensive (£20 for the most reasonable bottle we could find but I do have sense of direction issues).  

So I might pop in for dinner but if we want a longer night out then I would probably give up the table and trot off to the least trendy pub I could find in Dalston ……….

L x

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Devonshire Terrace - Just Add Spice, pls

And the sun came out!  Yes, London was bathed in gentle sunshine yesterday so I was delighted to have booked lunch at Devonshire Terrace (Devonshire Terrace, London EC2M 4WY) which is a sweet informal restaurant near to Liverpool Street.  I had specifically asked for a table outside and was delighted to be led to one on the terrace in the fresh air and the sun.  Good start, I thought!

With thanks to thisisfunky.com

My guest then arrived and we started to peruse the menu as we sipped our Nelsons Estate Sauvignon Blanc.  As a patriotic South African, I could not imagine anything nicer than this crisp white wine in the sun – unless of course, the wine was a little cheaper.  While, I admit the venue is excellent, £28 seemed a little steep for a bottle which retails for around £9.75.

The menu is eclectic (but thankfully not schizophrenic), looking to cater for people who wanted a light meal, a nice sandwich or a proper lunch.   This is a feature of many Corney and Barrows so I was unsurprised to see that Devonshire Terrace is part of the C&B stable.  My guest chose Fresh grilled tuna Niçoise and I went for the ginger and marinated red chilli slow roast pork belly.   We had additional bok choi with chilli as I love this Asian green and I’m a bit greedy.

As it was a business lunch, I refrained from reaching over and stabbing a fork full of the Niçoise but it looked good.  Nice piece of tuna, the leaves looked well-dressed but not drenched and the potatoes and beans were cooked to just the right crunch.  So there was a big tick from a happy business contact.

So when I dug into my lunch, I was to be frank, a little disappointed.  I could taste each of the ingredients – except for the ginger or chilli that is.  The roast pork belly was lovely and there was a great shard of crackling but there was no zing of chilli or heat from the ginger.  I would also suggest that while I know that I need to be careful with salt and pepper, I do actually want some involved in my food – or at least the option to add some more.  Sadly, Devonshire Terrace appears to be a modern restaurant which doesn’t believe in having these condiments on the table.  The Bok Choi didn’t show any evidence of seasoning or chilli either.

I had to order myself a second glass of wine to console myself and we enjoyed this in the sun.  The bill came to around £90 and while I felt the food was overpriced, I was happy to pay the service charge as the waiter service – while a little scattered – was charming and probably the best part of Devonshire Terrace.

Great service, lovely location but please lets season the food.

L x

Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @littlebitofwhat

Found a Gem in Islington

Arsenal won the FA cup!  Yes, after an innumerable about football matches discussed and dissected by fans over the last 9 years – the Gunners did it!     In my sheer randomness, I chose this weekend to visit my friend in Islington (the closes station to the Emirates which is Arsenals home ground) and while the match was played at Wembley, 20,000 people watched on huge TVs at the Emirates.  And didn’t Islington go mad – while there was a certain amount of drunken celebration, there were loads of dads out with their sons, simply just celebrating.

My friend’s boyfriend is a committed fan and opened a bottle of champagne he had been saving as we watched the families and fans stream past their flat.   Free entertainment at its best.  So good in fact that it was 9-ish before we realised we were hungry and then faced the dilemma of finding a restaurant in Islington on a Saturday night (when Arsenal had won) – the prospects did not look good.  But we made it to Gem (264-265 Upper St, London N1 2UQ) just as a large party left so we were ready to rock and roll (or rather eat the tasty Turkish Kurdish food).

The décor is modern eclectic (not sure how else to describe it) and while the tables are relatively close together, it give the feel of everyone enjoying themselves rather than being too crowded.  Although, if it is a warm day then you may wish to ask for a table away from the front of the restaurant where the bread is baked.

With thanks to http://turkish-restaurants.blogspot.co.uk/ who list loads of other good restaurants too!

The menu is vast and while the main courses are utterly delicious, I’m always too greed just to settle for one option so go for the meze.  Thankfully, my friends agreed and we did a nice little wander through the menu enjoying old favourites and new tastes.    Hellim (the lovely squeaky cheese) was in evidence and we also had Patlican Ezme which is an aubergine dip made by cooking them over a smokey BBQ and then mixing with yoghurt, tahini and garlic.  This was served with excellent Pide and qatme (thin Turkish bread with a filling of cheese and spinach).

I’m not sure where you stand on the issue of offal but if you hesitate at all, I am the person who will push you aside to sample the liver, heart and bone marrow.  One of my favourite dishes is Turkish Lambs liver with red onion, chili and cumin so despite one of my friends being a vegetarian, this was on the table and was fantastic as usual.  The liver is fried in spices and gains a slightly crispy coating which contrasts well with the sweetness of the red onion and the slightly ‘irony’ flavour of the meat.

Other dishes involved some very good falafel, lamb cutlets and BBQ chicken wings.   The food was nicely complemented by a bottle or two of Rose before we staggered back home dodging the exuberant Arsenal Fans (and several who seemed a little tired, emotional and sleepy).   Would I recommend Gem?  Unreservedly yes,  not only is the food superb but the atmosphere is homely and warm with a modern touch and the bill you receive at the end of the night is modest enough not to ‘kill the buzz, man’.

Good eating and don’t forget to try this gem in the heart of Islington

L xx

Don’t forget to follow me @littleofwhatyou

Chicken in a Citrus, Tarragon and Wine Sauce

Back from holiday and staring into the cupboard swearing!  Yes, I’ve got lots of ingredients but nothing that screams comfort so I decide to go off piste and came up with this dish which incidentally, as I watch MasterChef is a bit better than some of their offerings.

• Three medium chicken thighs
• 2 red onions chopped
• Half a large grapefruit
• Big pinch of tarragon
• 2 cloves of Garlic - finely chopped
• 250ml Chenin Blanc
• 15ml Clear Honey
• Potato for mashing 
• Oil for frying

1.  Fry onions and garlic before adding chicken to brown in a small pot

1. Add Chenin Blanc to the pot (until it just covers the meat)
2. Now this dish is about balance so taste, taste and taste as you add ingredients
3. Squeeze half a grapefruit into the pot and add a big pinch of tarragon
4. Then add 15ml of honey (I used Portuguese lavender clear honey)

1. Leave the pot bubbling slowly then peel the potatoes and add them to boiling water 
2. When they are done, mash the potato using butter, milk or whatever you like
3. Spoon the chicken and sauce over the mashed potato and enjoy

So very very good - slightly sweet with a hint of vino and a little citrus tartness.

Enjoy

Lxx

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