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I wouldn't call it so much a peek as a full blown expose of your innermost culinary pretentions and ambitions. You're effectively rolling over and exposing the soft paunch of your underbelly and asking to be caressed. You're a culinary whore! Check out my blog here Essex Eating
Reviews (7) See all»
22-09-2020
Nusa Kitchen is a place I frequent for lunch, probably more than any other. I never heard about it through word of mouth. I wasn't enticed through the door by a flashy shopfront and I've never seen it advertised. No, what drew this place to my attention was the massive queue outside every lunchtime. Intrigued, one day I decided to joined the queue and now I can be found there most lunchtimes,patiently waiting in line to depart with my little brown paper bag back to my desk to consume the contents.
Nusa Kitchen is all about soup. They sell other stuff, various salads for example - but that's not the draw, it's not what the massive queues outside are there for, and rightly so - the Soup is stunning.
It's made from all natural and organic ingredients, and the choice changes weekly, there's normally some kind of option for everyone from your vegans to your gluten free eaters.
Me? It's all about Jungli Beef. Love it.
And if the soup goodness isn't enough, you also get some kind of naan/flatbread type thing to dip in your soup.
As a measure of how good their soup is, I have a loyalty card...buy 9 soups and get it stamped, you get a free one.....at roughly £4 a go - that's £36 spent for a free soup.....I've had dozens of free soups.
Finally, it's not just for the Clerkenwell lunchtime crowd, Nusa Kitchen opened another store a few months back in Adams Court off Threadneedle Street, so you Square Mile lunchers can sample the goodness too. (speaking of samples - they're happy to let you sample any of the soups before you buy - so do take advantage of that).
Nusa Kitchen is all about soup. They sell other stuff, various salads for example - but that's not the draw, it's not what the massive queues outside are there for, and rightly so - the Soup is stunning.
It's made from all natural and organic ingredients, and the choice changes weekly, there's normally some kind of option for everyone from your vegans to your gluten free eaters.
Me? It's all about Jungli Beef. Love it.
And if the soup goodness isn't enough, you also get some kind of naan/flatbread type thing to dip in your soup.
As a measure of how good their soup is, I have a loyalty card...buy 9 soups and get it stamped, you get a free one.....at roughly £4 a go - that's £36 spent for a free soup.....I've had dozens of free soups.
Finally, it's not just for the Clerkenwell lunchtime crowd, Nusa Kitchen opened another store a few months back in Adams Court off Threadneedle Street, so you Square Mile lunchers can sample the goodness too. (speaking of samples - they're happy to let you sample any of the soups before you buy - so do take advantage of that).
22-09-2020
I visited Tayyabs last night with the Girlfriend. I've been there before, but it was quite awhile back and I didn't appreciate it for what it was. I was more than a little drunk (Who me?) and subsequently, I didn't pay attention to what I was eating - all I can remember taking away from the experience was the sense that whatever I ate was good, it was cheap and it was insanely popular, the packed tables and queues snaking around the restaurant and out into the street outside were testament to that.
Since then, I've got into blogging and since realised that Tayyabs is revered among Food Bloggers, so much so that when I asked for recommendations on Twitter it seemed like everyone has been there, and everyone has a favourite dish.
So, last night, with my list of dish recommendations in my pocket, and dusk fast approaching I strode down Whitechapel High Street with the Girlfriend in tow, pausing only briefly to grab some beers from a handily located off-license. (Tayyabs is Bring your own), and turned into Fieldgate Street where Tayyabs is located.
Even at just gone 7pm, the place was packed out with diners. We were shown to our table, a jug of Water and glasses were plonked down, along with a bottle opener and we briefly considered the menu - cross referencing it with my list of recommendations.
As such, we ordered the following...
Tinda Masala (Baby Pumpkin curry).
Dry Meat
Lamb Chops
Chicken Keema Masala
And finally three Roti (It was recommended I order these instead of rice)....I wasn't sure how many to order - so chanced my arm and plumbed for six. The waiter didn't bat an eyelid and corrected this oversight suggesting that I think again, and halfing my order to a more realistic three.
The Lamb Chops arrived first, red hot and sizzling, coated with spices. They were gorgeous - although as is always the way with lamb chops, not much meat on them...so they benefited from picking up and eating with your hands, something my Girlfriend refused to do - so, obviously in the interests of review I had to 're-visit' her barely gnawed chops and finish them off.
Next came the Roti, I've never ordered these before - plate size flat bread, almost like Naans, but not so 'puffed up'.
Then finally out came the curries. I was incredibly impressed with the 'dry meat', it was really tasty and I'll definitely be ordering that again. The Chicken Keema Masala was also a winner, it was pretty spicy though. Last, but not least the Tinda Masala, probably my least favourite dish of the three, but still very nice....every last bit got eaten.
Finally, for dessert and despite being stuffed silly - we ordered a Mango Kulfi, which came in the form of an ice-lolly and was gorgeous....really creamy smooth.
Now, a word about the service, efficient doesn't begin to describe it - Tayyabs is busy, incredibly busy and the turnaround on tables is a wonder to behold. As soon as my last mouthfull of curry was being eaten, my plate was removed. My Mango Kulfi 'lolly stick' and wrapper, no sooner as I had laid it on the table, an unseen hand materialised from behind and cleared it. The Bill was presented unasked for (Probably the first time I've seen this in any restaurant). And as we got up to leave, our table had already been cleared and prepared and new customers were being ushered into our still warm seats. But, if anything this frenetic energy and buzz just adds to the charm.
It is, what it is.
.....and what it is......errr...is......a gut bustingingly gorgeous authentic Indian meal for two, the like of which I guarantee you haven't eaten down your local curry house for the bargain price of £28.
I can't recommend Tayyabs enough - if you haven't been, go.
Since then, I've got into blogging and since realised that Tayyabs is revered among Food Bloggers, so much so that when I asked for recommendations on Twitter it seemed like everyone has been there, and everyone has a favourite dish.
So, last night, with my list of dish recommendations in my pocket, and dusk fast approaching I strode down Whitechapel High Street with the Girlfriend in tow, pausing only briefly to grab some beers from a handily located off-license. (Tayyabs is Bring your own), and turned into Fieldgate Street where Tayyabs is located.
Even at just gone 7pm, the place was packed out with diners. We were shown to our table, a jug of Water and glasses were plonked down, along with a bottle opener and we briefly considered the menu - cross referencing it with my list of recommendations.
As such, we ordered the following...
Tinda Masala (Baby Pumpkin curry).
Dry Meat
Lamb Chops
Chicken Keema Masala
And finally three Roti (It was recommended I order these instead of rice)....I wasn't sure how many to order - so chanced my arm and plumbed for six. The waiter didn't bat an eyelid and corrected this oversight suggesting that I think again, and halfing my order to a more realistic three.
The Lamb Chops arrived first, red hot and sizzling, coated with spices. They were gorgeous - although as is always the way with lamb chops, not much meat on them...so they benefited from picking up and eating with your hands, something my Girlfriend refused to do - so, obviously in the interests of review I had to 're-visit' her barely gnawed chops and finish them off.
Next came the Roti, I've never ordered these before - plate size flat bread, almost like Naans, but not so 'puffed up'.
Then finally out came the curries. I was incredibly impressed with the 'dry meat', it was really tasty and I'll definitely be ordering that again. The Chicken Keema Masala was also a winner, it was pretty spicy though. Last, but not least the Tinda Masala, probably my least favourite dish of the three, but still very nice....every last bit got eaten.
Finally, for dessert and despite being stuffed silly - we ordered a Mango Kulfi, which came in the form of an ice-lolly and was gorgeous....really creamy smooth.
Now, a word about the service, efficient doesn't begin to describe it - Tayyabs is busy, incredibly busy and the turnaround on tables is a wonder to behold. As soon as my last mouthfull of curry was being eaten, my plate was removed. My Mango Kulfi 'lolly stick' and wrapper, no sooner as I had laid it on the table, an unseen hand materialised from behind and cleared it. The Bill was presented unasked for (Probably the first time I've seen this in any restaurant). And as we got up to leave, our table had already been cleared and prepared and new customers were being ushered into our still warm seats. But, if anything this frenetic energy and buzz just adds to the charm.
It is, what it is.
.....and what it is......errr...is......a gut bustingingly gorgeous authentic Indian meal for two, the like of which I guarantee you haven't eaten down your local curry house for the bargain price of £28.
I can't recommend Tayyabs enough - if you haven't been, go.
22-09-2020
I recently had to deal with the rather traumatic news that my office location was changing from Clerkenwell to Kings Cross/Camden. Not only would it be further out for me to travel (OK - one more stop on the tube), but to my mind, in comparison to the culinary hotbed that is Clerkenwell - Kings Cross and Camden are gastronomic wastelands.
Luckily for me - after much wailing and childish tantrums, it turns out things aren't quite as bad as I first thought. There are gems in the area, and Hache in Camden is one of those gems.
When it comes to burgers Hache is regularly singled out as providing the best in London, which is quite a reputation to live up to, so it was with pretty high expectations that I visited for lunch with a work colleague.
Unusually for Britain, on the afternoon I visited the sun was blazing, and Hache has a nice open frontage with a few tables overlooking the pleasant street outside, it's perfect for a spot of people watching. We grabbed a prime front of house table and studied the incredibly varied menu - pretty much every combination of burger contents you can imagine with a variety of meat options, Scotch beef steak, lamb, venison, chicken, duck, fish and a pretty extensive Vegetarian selection.
I ordered the Steak Canadian, a Scotch beef steak burger with sweet cure bacon and mature cheddar cheese, I asked for this cooked medium rare. On the side I ordered some frites.
My work colleague, being a veggie - went for the 'Le Grand Champignon' which consisted of portobello mushroom, roasted red peppers, courgettes and pesto - to this she added some goats cheese as an extra and a bowl of chunky chips.
Our order arrived rapidly, and it was pretty impressive to look at. Huge burgers, and massive portions of chips (Think we could have got away with one bowl between two).
So, is this the best burger in London?
Quite possibly.
I haven't tried all of the pretenders to the throne - so who can say.
But, what I can say is, It's certainly the best burger I've ever eaten, in London or anywhere else for that matter. It was great. Perfectly cooked, the bacon and cheese used in my burger were obviously quality ingredients and tasted good- I was impressed. My work buddy was equally pleased with her food.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating, as they say. (or should that be burger?) And despite the massive portions - I scoffed the lot - clean plate - including the frites, which were also very good....especially dipped in the mustard mayo thoughtfully provided in the selection of mustard's and sauces with the meal. I also managed a fair few of my colleagues chips who's appetite, thankfully isn't quite as bottomless as mine.
There were desserts on the menu, but I was stuffed silly and couldn't even look at them, that's unusual for me, I almost always shoehorn one in.
Service was efficient, fast and the staff very friendly.
The two Burgers, two bowls of chips, and two diet cokes, including service came to around £13 a head, which considering how damn nice the food was, is a total bargain in anyone's book.
So, all in all Hache gets my vote I'll certainly be visiting again.
Luckily for me - after much wailing and childish tantrums, it turns out things aren't quite as bad as I first thought. There are gems in the area, and Hache in Camden is one of those gems.
When it comes to burgers Hache is regularly singled out as providing the best in London, which is quite a reputation to live up to, so it was with pretty high expectations that I visited for lunch with a work colleague.
Unusually for Britain, on the afternoon I visited the sun was blazing, and Hache has a nice open frontage with a few tables overlooking the pleasant street outside, it's perfect for a spot of people watching. We grabbed a prime front of house table and studied the incredibly varied menu - pretty much every combination of burger contents you can imagine with a variety of meat options, Scotch beef steak, lamb, venison, chicken, duck, fish and a pretty extensive Vegetarian selection.
I ordered the Steak Canadian, a Scotch beef steak burger with sweet cure bacon and mature cheddar cheese, I asked for this cooked medium rare. On the side I ordered some frites.
My work colleague, being a veggie - went for the 'Le Grand Champignon' which consisted of portobello mushroom, roasted red peppers, courgettes and pesto - to this she added some goats cheese as an extra and a bowl of chunky chips.
Our order arrived rapidly, and it was pretty impressive to look at. Huge burgers, and massive portions of chips (Think we could have got away with one bowl between two).
So, is this the best burger in London?
Quite possibly.
I haven't tried all of the pretenders to the throne - so who can say.
But, what I can say is, It's certainly the best burger I've ever eaten, in London or anywhere else for that matter. It was great. Perfectly cooked, the bacon and cheese used in my burger were obviously quality ingredients and tasted good- I was impressed. My work buddy was equally pleased with her food.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating, as they say. (or should that be burger?) And despite the massive portions - I scoffed the lot - clean plate - including the frites, which were also very good....especially dipped in the mustard mayo thoughtfully provided in the selection of mustard's and sauces with the meal. I also managed a fair few of my colleagues chips who's appetite, thankfully isn't quite as bottomless as mine.
There were desserts on the menu, but I was stuffed silly and couldn't even look at them, that's unusual for me, I almost always shoehorn one in.
Service was efficient, fast and the staff very friendly.
The two Burgers, two bowls of chips, and two diet cokes, including service came to around £13 a head, which considering how damn nice the food was, is a total bargain in anyone's book.
So, all in all Hache gets my vote I'll certainly be visiting again.
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