Eat London

Missing America

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:35:00 +0000

A little note to homesick Americans in London who may be craving Lucky Charms or Mrs. Butterworth's smothered pancakes for breakfast, mac 'n' cheese for lunch, corn bread and root beer for dinner (boy, I love America) and Big Red to refresh your breath should look no further than the Z Punjani American Food Store located in Holland Park at 2 Ladbroke Grove , W11 3BG (about a 2 minute walk from the tube station).

Despite the small size, this newsagent is packed floor to ceiling with American imported goods. Find your twizzlers and hot tamales here and if they don't have something you're after, that one thing which would make life in london just a little bit greater, tell them. AND THEY'LL ORDER IT IN IN FOR YOU!

One more thing, here’s a paragraph extracted from spectator.co.uk:

"And if you live in London, here's a tip; not for nothing does Z. Punjani Newsagents, 2 Ladbroke Grove (Tel 020 7727 4394; punjani@talk21.com), announce itself an American Food Store: buy your Reese's peanut butter cups and pumpkin purée, pancake mix and pickles, perhaps even the final issue of Gourmet, from W11 and get in the mood to create your own authentic Thanksgiving feast."Lovely.

Gingerbread Pancakes a la Homesick Texan

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:54:00 +0000

So its Shrove Tuesday aka Pancake Day. Whilst the simple pancake is adored by many (eat london included!) sometimes its nice to 'think outside the box' and whip up something a little different. With that in mind, may I introduce to you Homesick Texan's gingerbread pancake recipe. Discovered in Austin, you can now enjoy these in your own home.

Bringin' the taste of the US of freaking A to London, here it is:

http://homesicktexan.blogspot.com/2007/02/gingerbread-pancakes-for-shrove-tuesday.html

ENJOY!

Happy Pancake Day!

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:08:00 +0000

Here at Eat London we like to mix things up a bit, and nothing's better mixed up than eggs, flour, sugar and butter baby! That's right - we're sharing our favourite American Style pancake recipe with you in honour of this fine Shrove Tuesday, with video courtesy of our good friends over at Betasaurus.

So here's the video - watch it to see our very own Kim whip up a batch of pancakes and deliver a little history regarding this delicious day!

Fancy a Snog?

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:11:00 +0000

I know what you're thinking. "Michelle, where have you been? I've been starving here, two long months, trying to work out a route to eat my way through London on my budget, and you've just gone off and left me. I'm not sure I can forgive you. You bastard". There's only one way I can say it: I'm sorry. It's nothing personal, I'm still eating new food for you, still going out of my way to track down the best culinary treats on a shoestring, but somewhere along the way I got sidetracked in the process of eating, and forgot all about the writing. Can you ever forgive me? Because if you do, we've really got a treat for you...

See that cup there in the picture? Notice the little white chocolate stars, chunks of delicious brownie and mouthwatering mochi? That's for you, baby. Let's make up for my blogging hiatus the passionate way. Let's talk Snog.

Starting in South Ken and spreading their reach to Soho (yay!) and Shepeherds Bush's notorious shopping mall Westfield, Snog is a frozen yogurt place with a difference. Choose from three base flavours, plan, bittersweet dark chocolate or green tea then top your snog with a handful of fresh fruit or naughty treats (did I mention the brownie chunks... mouth... watering) and you're good to go. Fat free and naturally sweetened, the clever chaps in PR note it's "tart tasting and not too sugary sweet". But what does this mean for you, dear readers?

Well, fittingly for such a place, I'm not going to sugar coat it. Kim and I had the green tea Snog, and I was looking forward to seeing how that worked with some pretty sweet toppings, hence the chocolate brownies, stars and mochi. The answer? Meh, not so much. The mochi, perhaps understandably, worked the best with the eastern scented green tea, but the overall flavour of the fro-yo was a little too sour for my palate. The choice of toppings is pretty good and the fruit looked fresh enough, with a selection ranging from pomegranate to blueberries; as a low fat snack it's certainly a better option than hard crackers or rice cakes. My biggest regret is that I didn't go for the dark chocolate flavour - for the sake of maybe 30 calories more I lost out on taste. Gutted. But, I'm an intrepid type and I know I have a lot of making up to do so don't you worry - I'll be heading back to Snog, and next time, I'm not leaving till I'm full.

Till we eat again,

Michelle

Masala Zone - get some Punjabi in you!

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:10:00 +0000

As a Camden cruiser, I wonder to myself how on earth this Masala Zone passed me by. Sister to Chutney Mary, Veeraswamy (the oldest surviving Indian restaurant in the UK) and Amaya, everything I have to say about this Indian restaurant is good, great, excellent.

The waitress (who wasn't Indian) asked us if we'd like to have anything of the menu explained. I was very impressed but, obviously, said no. This was just the first episode in a lunch filled with lovely staff; more on that later!

Decor: I could live here. The walls are adorned with retro Indian advertisements, Indian Gods and Goddesses and old-school soap posters. There are Masala Zones in Soho, Islington, Earls Court, Covent Garden, Bayswater and Camden each with their own style and if you want to find out more visit their site. The space in the Camden branch is vast and downstairs there is a beautiful banquette / dining hall area. Despite the big space, they have filled it very well and the space affords friends or couples just the right amount of privacy.

Food: Ok, here's the good bit. They have a great menu, very well priced. Michelle and I both thought their street food starters were amazing (having grown up in India and sneakily eating street food on my way home after school, I am a great judge when it comes to gol guppe, tikkis and the like). I am amazed at the lack of Indian restaurants offering this kind of starter so you can be certain that when you find one that does, it will be good. Who needs a bhaji or samosa (boring and so generic) when you can have chickpeas and yogurt smothered with sticky sweet tamarind stuffed inside crunchy hollow pillows with vermicelli sprinkles? Heaven.

We were there during lunch time and they have some great deals on, so we both chose the £8.50 regular thalis plus starter deal. For starters we picked dahi puri (hollow gol guppe pillows filled with chickpeas, yogurt and chutney) and sev puri (flat wheat biscuits piled with a chickpea mash with yogurt and three chutneys plus lots of sev sprinkles).

For the thalis (basically a platter with lots of little dishes and one centerpiece served with some rice or roti and chutneys) I had chicken mangalore and Michelle had the butter chicken; both curries proudly displaying one chilli on the menu. My only negative comment would be that the curries were a tiny bit hotter than expected, though being Indian I didn't have a problem with that! I love thalis as Indian food is never about just one dish, there should be a party on your plate and that's how we do it at home! Our thalis were utterly delicious, consisting of:

Rice

Crispy spicy masala potatoes

Daal

Coconut and cream brocolli sambhar type dish - new addiction

Popadom (a proper one, not the type which remind me of giant prawn crackers)

Coriander and mint (I think) chutney

Mango chutney (although it was quite pineappley - in a nice way)

and of course....the chicken

Oh, and to wash this treat down we had masala cokes (consisting of chaat masala and mint leaves jazzing up your standard cola) which rounded our meal off perfectly. Once we had finished, the very friendly manager Karen came over to our table and had a little chat (shout out to Karen) and we talked about the food which was very informative and a fun way to finish our meal.

I can't really recommend this place enough for a budget curry, though no doubt Michelle will tell you one day about the amazing spinach puris she got for 50p each in the market! Just go to Masala Zone, speak to Karen and I am so certain you will enjoy your meal that I'll pay for it myself if you don't!

They deliver, they do parties, check it out at: http://www.masalazone.com/

4.5 stars out of 5 (0.5 star lost because there was no toilet paper)

Meal for two with soft drinks: around £20 for lunch, bit more for dinner

Cyprus Mangal, Westbourne Grove

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:04:00 +0000

Cyprus Mangal, why have you hurt me so?

So...Michelle has signed up for the tastelondon card and we decided to test it out at Cyprus Mangal in Westbourne Grove. This restaurant is new and although we were using the card to get 50% off our food bill, they were also offering 50% off as an opening gig.

We were greeted by a very friendly waitress. The place has a very sleek but earthy feel to it. Purply/blue lighting, chrome finishes, open kitchen, random brick wall. Looking at the menu, there isn't anything that really stood out in the mains but the starters list is absolutely fantastic!

Amongst the usual Mediterranean fare of Greek Salad, calamari, halloumi and white bait starters, there is some really quite super sounding grub. I opted for the spinach and feta parcels and Michelle thought she'd try something different *clears throat* by choosing one her favourite vegetables (aubergine) in one it's favourite forms (a cheesy, tomatoey stack) as a starter. I have to say, though, she made a very wise choice as her 'Grilled Aubergine Mozzarella Stack) was utterly delectable. Cooked to perfection with a drizzle of balsamic, a touch pretentious but we all need a drizzle every now and then. She said would order it as a main if they put it on the menu. My spinach parcels ticked a box of some kind but were a little dry (that'd be the puff pastry) and I felt could perhaps have done with a dash of salt. Having said that, I would eat them again...if they were free.

Now to the mains. All in all it's an 'ok' menu when it comes to the mains but could do with being a lot more daring. Cyprus Mangal list themselves as being a Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant but I felt I may as well be in some gastro pub (a french one with a hint of the Med) with the menu before me. It's all chicken escalopes, Dijon lamb shanks, steaks with French titles, oyster sauce monkfish and meatballs here. I'm not saying this is a bad menu, but I went there expecting Mediterranean food and that is not what I got. Still, we stayed.

Michelle's 'Caramelised Pineapple Chicken Hawaii' arrived with herby crusted potatoes, pineapple and 'chef's special sauce' which despite the name was astoundingly delicious. And it was big. No, it was HUGE. TWO chicken breasts, nice crisp veg, that scrummy special sauce. Totally gut busting. Michelle gave it enough thumbs ups. I chose the meaty delight of Calves liver which also came with some crisp veg and a dark, rich gravy and some crispy parsnip twists decorating the meat. Now, I am a big lover of meats that gross out the majority and this liver did not disappoint. Thick, juicy, steaky liver (two I think or one big one sliced through) melted in my mouth.

We ordered coffee which took forever to get to us but was worth it in the end; thick Greek-style coffee with a nice little plate of nutty Turkish delight which we devoured in about 2 seconds.

Oh did I mention the belly dancing? Friday night only - she'll dance in your face if you make eye contact. Was especially fun watching first daters squirm in their seats!

We were totally impressed with the food so we went back a second time with Michelle's family and were really disappointed. The home-made dip starter was superb and we both had the same mains - adventurous! The calamari is also to die for. Best. Calamari. Ever. The lamb fillet chosen by the sister was a good choice and the Mum's monkfish medallions (oh la la) were perfection but when Michelle's chicken and my liver arrived, we were in for a shock. My liver was in a thin, watery gravy and Michelle only got one chicken breast! My lovely crispy parsnip twists were missing and I felt cheated thinking back to my first meal there. Michelle did enjoy hers but like me, felt wildly cheated too. I can understand why they might scale down a little on the portions when you're saving 50% but the idea of the scheme is surely to get customers coming back for a full price meal - this is a goal apparently missed by the management.

Listen up Cyprus Mangal, you lost some customers who were willing to spend a lot of money in your restaurant. Shame really because I do crave another outing. I have definitely developed a love/hate relationship with this place.

Cyprus Mangal, 107 Westbourne Grove,London W2 4VW Tel: 020 7243 1499

http://www.cyprus-mangal.co.uk

3.5 stars out of 5

Meal for two with soft drinks: around £40

Wine from £12.95 per bottle, beer £2.50, cocktails from £4.50 and spirits £2.50.

The Ultimate Taste Test: Low Fat Muffins

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:24:00 +0000

One of the hardest things about reviewing (and loving) food is attempting to enjoy what you eat while staying relatively slim. For me this is especially tough as my favourite weekend routine involves a caramel latte and a muffin from my nearest coffee house, mmm I can just about smell the roast coffee beans now! Lucky for me, then, that the three major chains I favour each have their own 'low fat' muffin on the menu, and curiously they're all citrus flavour. But just how low fat are these cheeky morning snacks? And, most importantly, what do they taste like?

Let's start with the daddy of coffee houses, Starbucks. A quick glance at the cakes and pastries reveals a few lighter options, and the one we're looking at is the so called 'Skinny' Lemon & Poppy seed Muffin. At 393 calories and 6 grams of fat, you might be forgiven for thinking this muffin is not the healthiest snack in the world. However, in terms of taste it's close to faultless; the delicious lemon fragrance is perfectly matched by the subtle crunch of poppy seed, though you probably don't want to eat one before catching a flight to Dubai. The only let down here is the lack of a good topping; I like my muffins to at least act like they're bad for me and a little dash of icing wouldn't go amiss.

Now for the young pretender, Caffe Nero. Apparently purveyors of the best Espresso this side of Milan, Nero certainly isn't about to win points for its horribly cloying Reduced Fat Cranberry & Orange Muffin. Scarfing down one of these little monsters will pile on 9.8g of fat, although at 322 calories it's got less sugars than the Starbuck's muffin. The biggest problem for me here is the dried fruit; chewy cranberries lack flavour and the orange pieces seem to be mostly soapy peel. Not a particularly pleasant taste, and the texture wasn't much better. A muffin should be light and cakey, but this was so stodgy I wondered if it was undercooked. Oddly, Kim loved the texture but then she is a big fan of cookie dough.

Of all the coffee houses in all the world, my favourite has to be Costa. Unpretentious as the other chains, Costa also sponsers a book award each year and doesn't charge extra for soya milk (a double bonus for lactose-intolerant librarians). Costa also produces the simply marvellous Low Fat Lemon and Orange Muffin pictured at the top of this article, a moist and magnificent treat stuffed with gooey pieces of orange topped with a lick of sweet tangy lemon scented icing - it really makes my day. At only 4.5g of fat and 328 calories it's not only the tastiest option here but the healthiest, and the only muffin to actually legitimately describe itself as "low fat". Canny dieters will be wise to pick one up next time they grab a coffee - go on, it's practically good for you.

Till we eat again,
Michelle

A Lot for a Little at Little Bay!

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:30:00 +0000

One of the great things about living in a major city is the number of small bistros and restaurants willing to offer a set price menu to get you through the door. A favourite of mine is Bistro Laz in Soho (also, oddly, named 'Bistro Number One' depending on which business card you pick up), where the menu seems to change seasonally and the food is really excellent for the price. Today, however, we're talking about Little Bay, another budget bistro with an excellent offer - get there before 7:15pm and three courses are less than £10! We've gone to the Kilburn branch but there are four in London so be sure to google it!

I can't recommend the Bay enough for lunch; two courses slip down easy at under £8, and the drinks list is cheap and cheerful. I've been there twice now and me and Kim have had the same starters both times; 'Parson's Pastry' - a delightful smoked chicken and mushroom concoction in a creamy sauce enrobed in a filo parcel - for me, and 'Choux Crab' - two choux buns brimming with fresh dressed crab and served with a hollandaise sauce - for her.

Our main courses have been just as tempting; I've had a sumptuously moist chicken breast stuffed with minted lamb served with a rich port jus before, and the last time we went a hearty bowl of fresh egg tagliatelle with slivers of buttery french bean and smokey chicken was so generous and delicious I was overwhelmed. Kim has so far stuck to a devilishly gamey duck breast on each trip, sliced and served in an asian inspired jus her only complaint has been a little too much ginger in the sauce. A bundle of honeyed and spiced vegetables in a parcel accompanies the duck perfectly, and the staff always provide plenty of bread and butter alongside a charming dish of eccentric vegetables ranging from sliced stewed swedes to minted potatoes, so you're unlikely to go hungry. My biggest gripe is the lack of any variety to the menu; it seems to change very infrequently and a little more seasonality wouldn't go a miss.

One final thing to note is the interior - the bistro is eccentric to a pleasant degree and you're likely to find yourself up a tiny staircase in a second storey private 'booth' on your visit. Peeling prints of Venetian classics adorn the walls, table tops and chairs and the place can get quite lively in the evening, perhaps owing to its tavern-like atmosphere. The staff are always friendly and willing to help, however, and you'd be surprised how quickly they can get up those odd little staircases to serve you...

Till we eat again, Michelle

Little Bay, 228 Belsize Road, Kilburn
3.5 stars out of 5
Meal for two with soft drinks - around £20

We're back!

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:29:00 +0000

Hello everybody,

Welcome back to eat london! We're up and running after having tweaked some technical issues. During this downtime we've eaten a buckload of yummy foodstuffs and will be reviewing them for your reading pleasure.

A little taster of what is coming up.....

The Coriander Leaf, South Ealing (don't miss out on this one!)
Cyprus Mangal, Westbourne Grove (we went twice....we shouldn't have bothered)
Dragon Chef, Park Royal and Slough (venturing out...just because we're piggies who love a good old Chinese buffet!
Little Bay, Kilburn (withdrawal symptoms are currently underway)

Also coming your way, some more market reviews including whole octopus dumplings (!!) from Camden Market and a great hog roast in Maida Hill Market.

Cheerio for now!

Kim and Michelle.

Someone say sausage?!

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:16:00 +0000

Who loves Chorizo? I most certainly do, so lucky me when a French chorizo stall took up residence in my neighborhood. Yes, we are indeed down the new Maida Hill Market again having a gander at the tasty dried meats on display. As annoying as ever, we of course asked to sample everything and the lovely Masoud (who is there every Saturday if you want to check him/the stall out) kindly obliged.

Let me tell you, everything we tried was mighty delicious but Michelle and I both fell immediately in love with the ‘wild boar’; gamey, tough (in a good way) and totally delicious, it’s probably not what the doctor ordered but I command you to buy some this Saturday! I saved a little space in my heart for ‘ostrich’, which was quite soft, melty and made my mouth burst with flavour although Michelle found it a little too oily. Each to their own, which is why it is so great that you can try before you buy. Also on offer is the plain chorizo, which, might I add, is their best seller, along with a garlic & herb and a scrummy walnut. Priced at £4.50 each , I’d say yes, it is more than you’d pay in a supermarket, but then this isn’t the kind of chorizo you’d likely find in a supermarket. Plus, the more you buy, the cheaper it gets, so you can get two for £8, three for £12 etc. If you fancy it, they also sell *those hanging hams* and foie gras.

This stall doesn’t really have a name. To us, it is ‘the chorizo man’ (yes, we really are that imaginative), although Masoud did mention that his boss runs another ‘chorizo man’ stall in Hackney, so go and show support for your local community whether you are an East or West Londoner.

Au revoir for now! Kim x

Our friendly local gives Wetherspoon's a run for its money!

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:28:00 +0000

One of the delights of student living is you soon get to know which offer is on at which pub when. For example, tomorrow is a Thursday, which means if you get yourself to your nearest Wetherspoon's you'll find it's 'curry club' night; a drink and a korma can be yours for a bargain price. We don't like Wetherspoon's that much around here at Eat London, however, as the service tends towards the naff and the decor tends towards the drab. It's one of those funny chains where the pub element comes second to the cheap food, and suffers a lack of ambience as a result. You also tend to get the feeling they want you in and out as speedily as you can gulp down a Guiness.

If you're in London, none of that need bother you. A short trip to Camden will ease your value lunchtime needs in no time, as it's home to The Black Cap, one of the oddest little pubs you'll ever visit. The Black Cap is essentially an independent pub with chain pub food. It's very open and friendly and the clientele is definitely mixed so everyone is welcome, which is just as well as they have the best burger+beer combo I've yet to come across.

Starting at about £5 for a standard burger, chips and a pint it's a low cost option that's guaranteed to satisfy your junk food cravings. We pushed the boat out and went for the £6.49 Gourmet Burger, again with pint included. Unlike the Wetherspoon's gourmet, this burger comes with two whole patties of beef, alongside the usual stacked trimmings of onion rings, bacon and delicious BBQ sauces. You also get an extra large portion of chips; this is again a world away from the stingy handful you seem to get at Wetherspoons which is really no good for washing down your pint. This gourmet burger is a real mouthful; I had the chicken version which was just as succulent and huge as the beef, which Kim wasn't even able to finish.

I can't recommend this little place enough. With a charming roof terrace for smokers and outdoor diners and a slightly bizarre cabaret club beneath the pub for those looking to stay and party all night, it's definitely worth a visit. The food is cheap and plentiful and the vibe is carefree and fun; go there, you'll love it!

Michelle

West London gets a new market, and we get a Happy Kitchen!

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:18:00 +0000

On Thursday the 11th of June Maida Hill Market in Westbourne Park will be officially opened in what we're told will be an extravanganza of local delights. It's excellent news for residents and visitors alike; there's nothing better than a local market for picking up fresh quality produce, and you'll often save yourself a few quid on the poshest of nosh. Lucky locals have been sampling the goods on offer since last Saturday, with a sneak preview market offering up roast hog sandwiches (we watched the porky fella spin before our very eyes!) and delicious dry cure meats such as boar and ostrich lovingly prepared in France.

Our hit of the day though was Happy Kitchen, purveyors of hand made baked delights such as sticky apple cakes and flap jacks, all made locally using England's best organic crops!

If you're visiting the market, speak to Lisa. She helped us choose the best red apple cake to try and offered a wealth of knowledge about the ingredients used. Without pushing the vegan message, Happy Kitchen strays away from dairy and makes its own milk from ground oats! This added a delicious oaty flavour to the chocolate biscuit we tried, but our love is really reserved for the cake.

Golden and spicy with slices of fresh red apple baked into the top forming a gooey toffee that clung to the roofs of our mouths, the apple cake slice is a bargain at £2. We tasted cinnamon and ginger but the best bit is the texture; moist and almost treacly it's a slice of heaven!

Best of all? Happy Kitchen is a Non Profit organisation, so you can be sure that besides stuffing your face with all kinds of tasty treats you're also doing your bit to make the world a better place. That's the kind of thing we can all dig into...

Michelle

We've got lunch banged up...

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:33:00 +0000

“The best sausages from around the world grilled to perfection in a bun”? Tall order thinks I, so into Banger Bros, 225a Portobello Market I wander with Michelle, scanning the menu above my head for the goods on offer, which are Chorizo, Smoky Polish, Cumberland, Frankfurter plus a free-range chicken and a vegetarian option. All sound good, but I pick the Smoky Polish, Michelle goes for the Chicken and we also opt for a good old British Cumberland to split between us (for the good of you lovely readers, of course...). They also do salads and extras such as fries, aioli and caramelised onions alongside all the usual condiments stashed in convenient pumps so nothing comes between you and your mustard!

As we waited for our superior sausages, I grabbed an overpriced lemonade out of the fridge, paid and stood back. There is a row of seats at the shop forefront but unless you have all day to wait for one, I’d recommend you go around the corner and sit on the pavement and enjoy your grub in peace as you watch the world go by.

Somebody shouts at us to collect our sausages and we eagerly open them up. When you spend £12 on three sausages, they had better be pretty darn good.

Were they? Yes, they were! The Smoky Polish and Cumberland came with crispy shallots and they really do stuff it full of meat. Although the chicken was tasty, Michelle felt cheated by of the ‘processed’ look of it. At £3.95 each, I thought it was a bit pricey for what is essentially a hot dog, but the portions are huge and will fill you up; when you look at it that way, lunch can be a bargain! We will definitely be going back for more. Highly recommended.

P.S. They don't appear to have a website and I wouldn't recommend googling 'Banger Bros' - definitely not safe for work!

Kimberley

Cheer up, it's churro time!

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:25:00 +0000

The Churro stand, Portobello Market. I wish I could take this stall home with me. I absolutely love Churros and these are really quite scrumptious. For £3.50 you get a huge cup overflowing with mini Churros, sprinkled liberally with sugar and cinnamon and a little cup of delicious melted dark chocoloate to dip your doughnut in. Fancy a peek?

Feeling a little jealous? You should be! This stand is here at Portobello every Saturday and the lady who served us was not only very friendly but also generous with portions, which is always a good thing. My Saturday pilgrimage sorted for now, I will also be checking out the Churro stand in Camden one day *very soon* and making notes. You do, after all, deserve the best and I now have great excuse to eat rather a lot of food!

Kimberley

2 for 1 at Tootsies? Sounds like a bargain to me!

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:05:00 +0000

Everybody loves a good burger, and at Tootsies a really good burger is what you'll get. If you like your steaks lip-smackingly good, your burgers loaded with enough toppings to topple the greatest guzzlers and your fries, well, fried, Tootsies is worth a look.

So why am I talking about this tasty 'poshed up' diner chain? Well, they think I'm a Very Special Person, and frankly I love that. Register now and you'll receive a tasty tenner off your bill, plus the latest newsletter comes with a very exciting offer; 2 for 1 on any main meal! This really is a steal as their newest burger has just been launched, alongside steak cut chips for those who think skinny fries are a little too skimpy. The offer runs Monday to Friday so it's a great way to light up your mid-week rather than saving all your food love for the weekend. I'll be there, making mine a medium-rare, please. I hope to see you there too.

P.S. Here's that link again; I spoil you lot, I really do.

Lurve, Michelle

The best minced lamb in West London!

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:57:00 +0000

Now, a bit off topic but still food related, this butcher is really worth a mention. "Lebanese Cuisine", situated a quick 5 minute walk from Westbourne Park tube station (H & C line, zone two) is a meat palace designed to tantalize your inner chef. This is a Lebanese family-run business; service is prompt and friendly and their produce is freshly stocked every morning to ensure quality and deliciousness!

The reason this place deserves a nod is the flavoured minced lamb. Specially prepared in advance by the butcher with fresh coriander, onion, cinnamon and sundry other delights, it really is a treat. 500g costs less than £4, what a steal! Its all super fresh because every morning there is an assembly line of onion slicers, lamb mincers, coriander choppers and this is all mixed together for a taste experience unlike any other. We have made burgers, kebabs and even spag bol... the flavours really complement any meal and hardly need a sauce to spice things up.

Another thing, one chicken breast from Lebanese Cuisine will feed two people and there may even be left-overs. They are absolutely huge! If you're having a BBQ (and in this weather, you should be!) these are great for dicing into kebab skewers.

So please, give this butcher a go. Other than the chicken and lamb, they should be able to fulfill your every-day meaty requirements alongside stocking a variety of culinary products specially imported from Lebanon. We're obsessed with the authenitc demitasse sets (tiny decorative cups) used for serving strong, syrupy Arabic coffee... yum!

Welcome to Eat London!

eatlondonweb@gmail.com (The Eat London Crew) — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:30:00 +0000

Welcome to Eat London, the simply most fabulous food and restaurant guide to the ol' smoke that you'll find. As a budget tipster site let's start off with a quick slice of goodness. Posh pizza purveyors Papa John's (blimey!) are offering any pizza, any size for £9.99 today only! Go to the site and find your nearest London-based store to take advantage of this offer.

Let's talk deliciousness for a moment. Papa John's pizzas really aren't like your standard take-out. We're talking creamy white sauce toppings with chunks of salmon and fresh greens, or maybe you fancy a bite of their new Margherita Raffaele, a classy take on the standard cheese and toms featuring tangy vine-ripe tomatoes, mozzarella coins, and a basil pesto drizzle. Lovely. Seeing as the average Papa John's pizza can cost you up to almost £18, this offer really is worth it. Get an extra extra large, you know you want to!!