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.
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| 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
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