RIDLEY ROAD MARKET POP UP...

Whilst we've never been ones to eat on Ridley Road you can often find us frequenting TFC, but now it looks like there's another reason to visit, the pop up restaurant which is taking over a prime spot in the Market.

The restaurant opens for lunch and dinner on Sept 7th with a different guest chef each day creating a menu from Ridley Road Market produce only. The deal is simple - you can exchange your market goods for lunch or pay £15 for dinner (which includes a £10 voucher to use in the market).

Food is eaten at a communal table and don't be afraid to speak to your neighbours! Lunch is an informal takeaway service so no need to book. Each day there will be one sit down dinner at 7.30pm for 16 people. Reservations can be made online.

Wed 7th Sept - Sat 24th Sept, 11am – 11pm
Ridley Road, E8
ridleys.org

REVIEW: ROTI CHAI

Roti Chai may have only been open two weeks but we're already impressed. The Indian Street Kitchen is located on Portman Mews just behind Marble Arch's M & S - quite a strange location but a great hidden street if you're trying to escape the Oxford Street crowds. Inside the decor is simple and has a canteen feel, somewhere you'd go to eat fast rather than linger over a long lunch.

Like other Indian Street style joints the food is served in sharing portions, as and when it's ready (no starters and mains here folks!). We ordered quite a feast; Bhel Puri, Hakka Chilli Paneer, Veg Samosas, Bun Kebab, Raita and Tarka Dhal. The paneer just as the menu said was fiery, coated in a spicy sauce with spring onions and peppers on a bed of lettuce. The Bun Kebab, spiced lamb chapli pattie was a juicy Punjabi burger style dish served with a portion of sticky tamarind sauce in a bun. Two thumbs up!

The Vegetable Samosas were stuffed full of pea and potato with a hot kick that left us reaching for cooling Raita. The Tarka Dahl was another great dish as was the Bhel Puri, puffed rice with chopped onions and tamarind sauce however much it did remind us of rice krispies.

For dessert we opted to try a Pistachio Kulfi and Chai Tea. The Kulfi was incredibly creamy and smooth with a slight pistachio flavour where as the chai was more like a tea than other chai we have tried although we have to admit we actually prefer a creamier chai.

We left Roti Chai stuffed and satisfied, in fact we’re already planning our next trip back. Prices aren’t bad either with dishes starting at £3.80, which given the location is a steal. If finer dining is your thing then you’ll be happy to know that there is a posh restaurant in the pipeline, planned for the basement area.

Check it out people!

3 Portman Mews South, W1H
www.rotichai.co.uk

REVIEW: BIG CHILL HOUSE

With a revamped breakfast menu The Big Chill House now serve the most important meal of the day from 8am to 11:30am on weekdays and 11am through to 4pm on weekends. The revamp is all in the spirit of the Big Chill Festival and they have reworked the interior as well as their home cooked food. LondOnTheInside took the opportunity to gorge on a Sunday morning.

The Full English Breakfast is located at the top of the menu, ideally placed and easy for the eye to be drawn to, on a Sunday there should be no other option considered. However through the week you could try the homemade rosti which is like a Swiss omelette with onions and mushrooms or you can build your own bap, choose from sweet waffles, cereal, toast, pastries and much more. A good selection of dishes and something for all levels of hunger and funds.

The Full English comes with a complimentary coffee and free refills. With a choice of fried, poached or scrambled eggs on English Muffins, bacon, Lincolnshire sausage, tomato, mushroom and beans. The breakfast looks appealing, dirty enough to beat of a hangover but clean enough to eat clear headed. The mushrooms in particular are something to write home about, pan-roasted wild and button mushrooms they add an upmarket element to the fry up and taste delish! The English muffins were a great substitute for toast and at £7.50 it isn’t too bad given its proximity to Kings Cross Station and the quality of the brekkie.

The Big Chill House is informal and relaxed - Would we go back? Well we do love a breakfast so why ever not?


The Big Chill House, 257-259 Pentonville Road, N1
www.bigchill.net

REVIEW: DALSTON SUPERSTORE BREAKFAST....

Every weekend at breakfast Dalston Superstore is packed and it's not revellers still out from the night before. Having seen what goes down in the bar on a evening, we've never been able to bring ourselves to try the food. However on Saturday morning walking past we caught a glimpse of someone's full monty and went in for the kill.

Homemade baked beans, light fluffy scrambled eggs, a huge quality sausage, bacon, mushrooms and a big door stop of fresh white toast hit the spot. The staff were also notably friendlier than when we've visited on a night and greeted us with a smile - trust us a smile from the staff in Dalston Superstore is rarity!

The Full Monty clocked in at £7.50 or £7 for the veggie version, more pricey than it's neighbours but these were homemade baked beans.

As we left we noticed a batch of fresh cakes being brought out and they weren't of the space variety either. The cakes looked pretty good but the huge breakfast had left us stuffed, maybe next time. Yes we've often overlooked Dalston Superstore for food but we're pleased to say they'll be a next time.

117 Kingsland High Street, E8
www.dalstonsuperstore.com

REVIEW: THE DRIFT

The Drift Bar located a hop, skip and a jump from Liverpool Street station is the newest in the Drake and Morgan collection which includes the previously tried and tested Refinery.

LondOnTheInside visited on a Wednesday evening and it was packed to the rafters. Like it's sister venues The Drift's decor is cool and quirky, each table has its own mint plant which you can eat (if you want) and furniture is straight out of Heals.

If our visit to The Refinery had taught us one thing it was to order the Prawn Lolly Pops whilst the other half of us opted for the Potato and Sweet Potato Wedges. Starters were followed by humongous mains of Scampi and Fish with Chips, homemade tartar sauce and mushy peas and a Thai Beef Salad.



The Prawn Lollipops were as good as ever, four battered prawns served on a stick to resemble a lolly pop - there is something about that citrus-soy dipping sauce that blows our minds. Whilst the potato wedges were a generous portion of fresh, homemade wedges served in a small tin bucket. 

Continuing with the quirky theme our mains were served in a red colander and a large brown takeaway box. The Scampi and Fish contained a varied selection of well cooked fish resting on top of a mountain of freshly cooked golden chips. The Thai salad was our least favourite, a little bland and we weren't overly keen on the meat - the one dish we wouldn't order again.

But the thing that impressed us most was the cocktail list. You'll find a whole host of classic and twisted cocktails including 'skinny' options for those watching their weight. Who said you couldn't drink on a diet?

For dessert we'd recommend the pudding shots but don't be tricked into thinking they are shot size they aren't, in fact there about three times bigger! The "shots" consist of chocolate brownie, lemon peel crème brûlée and knickerbocker glory. Anywhere that serves knickerbocker glory's is a winner in our eyes - the creme de la creme of puddings!

All in all we left The Drift pretty happy, the food was good, the service was as well as could be expected considering how busy it was and the cocktails list is the best we've seen in a while.

It's a cool place with lots to look at that would be both perfect for after work drinks, a bit to eat or both. If you're ever drifting past call in....

The Drift Bar Heron Tower 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N
thedriftbar.co.uk

FIKA POP UP

This week Soho Square is being transformed into a pop up ‘Fika Parlour’ serving free Fika (the Swedish version of Afternoon Tea) to hungry mouths.

Over three days a team of traditionally dressed Swedish old ladies from Skåne, led by pastry chef Jan Hedh will be treating you lucky Londoners to the Swedish tradition, which includes a special blended coffee and 7 different cookies.

The Pop UP Fika Parlor can be booked for up to 6 people per table however if you don't have a booking you can still visit the Fika Pop Up Picnic to sample the goodies - on a first come, first served basis.

There is also a chance to win a holiday to Skåne in Southern Sweden, so you can experience Fika in Sweden first hand.

Book on: reservations@fikasquare.co.uk
Wed 24th Aug - Fri 26th Aug, 12:30pm - 2:30pm
Soho Square, London, W1D
www.visitsweden.com/relaxingskane

WORLD'S FIRST GAY ICE CREAM BAR

He's got the horn but will you?

The Icecreamists are at it again! Opening the world’s first gay ice cream bar this weekend. ‘Queens of the Dessert’ is a pop-up ice cream parlour with a difference by the brains behind ‘The Icecreamists’. Until Friday 30th September this strictly over 18’s ice cream haven will promise to bring the gay men of London ice cream treats galore and more.

Get ready boys for the treat of your lives with Mr Wippy aka Sandro Squillace baring all in the store’s window, showing you his wicked ways with ice cream.

‘Vice Cream’ masseur Jorge Khawam will be on hand offering customers complimentary massages and ice cream facials.

Jorge says, ‘Ice cream is great a medium for massage. The cream is a good moisturiser, the coolness tones the skin and the vanilla has natural anti-oxidants and cleansing properties.’

And if all that is getting your heart racing, then you can cool down and sample the ice cream delicacies on offer such as the cheeky ‘Whorenetto’ or ‘Brokeback Mountain’.

If ice cream’s not your thing ‘Queens of the Dessert’ are also offering a range of wines and beers to cool your down.

The Queens of the Dessert, 15 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, WC2E
www.theicecreamists.com

REVIEW: PIMLICO FRESH

Fresh smoothies? Check. Salads? Check. Homemade cakes? Check. If you want fresh, uncomplicated food in Pimlico then head along to Pimlico Fresh. Part deli part coffee shop the interiors are simply done, wooden tables, a chalk board menu and friendly staff add to its appeal.

The menu features a selection of healthy breakfast dishes and for lunch fresh pasta, a couple of stews, salads, quiche, pies and other homemade goodies. We tried a couple of smoothies, a salad, goats cheese and butternut squash muffin and spinach and ricotta ravioli.

We couldn't fault the food, the muffin served warm was a particularly good choice, a huge savory muffin crammed full of goats cheese and butternut squash. The other dishes did exactly what they said on the tin. If you are looking for fresh, cheap homemade food in Pimlico check it out, because lets face it there isn't much else in the area.

Pimlico Fresh - 86 Wilton Road, Pimlico SW1V

REVIEW: EL OLIVO

El Olivo is one of the newer restaurants on Church Street. We visited last week to put its Tapas to the test and we were fairly impressed. The restaurant has a mezzanine level with tables over looking the main dining area as well as a small balcony out the back and a couple of tables on the street.

The tapas are cheap with dishes starting from £3.25 and going up to £5.95. We ate patatas bravas (because it really is rude to go for Spanish tapas and not order them), prawns in garlic oil, Spanish omelette with alioli, pepper stuffed with vegetables and mozzarella, chicken on bamboo sticks and bread.

The patata bravas were perfectly fried served with a kick ass chilli sauce whilst the chicken was so soft it fell off the stick. The prawns although a little on the small side were cooked in a garlic and chilli oil that doubled up as a great dip for the bread as did the garlic mayo. The only grumble we had was that the pepper filled with vegetables was slightly on the bland side as was the veg the chicken rested on.

One San Miguel and a glass of house wine brought the bill to just £27 which is pretty darn good value. The food was all fresh and homemade (thumbs up) and we would happily return. Like most of the restaurants in the area El Olivo doesn't make the rules but it ain't breaking them either. Try it you just might like it!

24 Stoke Newington Church St, N16

REVIEW: THE LIVING ROOM

Remember that fiery ball that used to be in the sky around this time of year? No, us neither, but trust us, summer used to be sunny. We live in hope that one day we'll have another warm summer's evening, the type that just isn't complete without an ice cold drink and a decent beer garden.

Decent beer gardens be hard to find, so we were very excited to hear that The Living Room had refurbished the outdoor area at it's branch at St Katherine's Docks. Right next to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, the bar front overlooks the secluded dock where expensive looking boats are moored, making this feel like anywhere except central London. Marbella, Ibiza, Montenegro, yip you could be anywhere!

The Living Room has branches all over town including Regent Street and Islington and the interior and furnishings are similar as you'd expect for a chain. As with the others, this branch also has a pianist at a white baby grand piano and an extensive list of cocktails. We recommend the Cactus Cooler - tequila, Grand Marnier, apple and pineapple juice - and English Country Garden - Hendricks gin, elderflower liqueur, cucumber, mint and lime.

The food is pretty standard bar food and the basics are done well. Tempura prawns were large and perfectly battered but the chicken skewers were a little bland. Nothing a little chilli jam couldn't sort though.

The majority of the menu focuses around burgers, steaks and fish but we went off piste to try the steak and ale pie and the smoked salmon and tarragon fishcakes. Both were homemade and hearty, particularly the pie which was a more than hearty portion! We would recommend an extra portion of vegetables on the side too - the bok choi was well cooked, but a little vinegary.

Overall, you can see that a lot of thought has gone into the new outdoor area. Some of the tables are the perfect height to stand at, and some have comfy sofas surrounding them, making you feel as though you're in a real Living Room. The atmosphere by the water is really pleasant, quiet and removed from the busy streets. Now all we need is for the sun to make an appearance.....

St Katherine's Docks, E1W
www.thelivingroom.co.uk

REVIEW: BAITY KITCHEN

Up at South Kensington tucked away on Waltom Street is a small kitchen cafe called Baity Kitchen. You could be visiting your friends house for dinner, the staff are that welcoming which is quite fitting as the name Baity means "my home" in Arabic. And the food, well yeah the food is bloody good...

The menu changes daily and the selection of salads on display reminded us of Ottolenghi, fresh and colourful they emit a silent sound which cries "Eat me, Eat me!". We ate the salads as a starter and tried six different ones - three on each plate not six plates as that would be greedy! The salads were all well dressed and seasoned, our favourite was a toss up between the beetroot salad, the chickpea and the Greek.

For mains the Greek roasted pepper stuffed with a rice and herb mixture was coated in a tomato sauce and Greek yoghurt, the dish was based on an old greek recipe and it did not disappoint. The chicken in soy sauce with honey roast carrots had just the right balance of sweet and savoury. Both dishes were made from fresh ingredients and you could really taste the different flavours and fresh herbs which are homegrown in the small garden.

The restaurant also caterers for children, we took one along and he dined on homemade vegetable pizza and potato wedges. He cleaned the plate which is an achievement in itself and surely a sign of how good the food is.

For dessert there is a selection of treats made fresh everyday, we shared a Vanilla Cheesecake. Served in a huge slab the creamy cheese was delicately flavoured with a biscuit base packing the crunch - Thumbs up.

There is one more thing we'll say about this place you certainly get your moneys worth - portions are huge, ingredients are fresh and nearly everything is homemade. Check it out.

Baity Kitchen 172 Walton Street, SW3
www.baitykitchen.com

N-ICE RESTAURANT....

N-ICE is a pop up restaurant serving up frozen meals to the masses. But if you're thinking of Iceland's £1 ready meals or Birds Eye's TV dinners then think again. This restuarant will feature signature dishes from Great British Menu’s Atul Kochhar and Something for the Weekend’s Simon Rimmer including Kochhar’s revered Kashmiri Lamb Curry.

All of the ingredients used are frozen from the herbs to the meat and the aim of the week long pop up is to change people's perceptions of frozen foods. The food won't be the only thing frozen the whole venue is being transformed into an icy palace complete with frozen trees, frosty sculptures and snowflake table dressings.

Guests are asked to make a donation of £10 for a three course meal and £10 for a bottle of wine. To book email restaurant@westking.ac.uk or call 020 7802 8391 asking to make reservations for N-Ice (pronounced ‘en-ice’).

Just remember you're coat, it's chilly in there!

Monday 8th August - Friday 12th August, 12pm - 2pm
Vincent Rooms, Westminster Kingsway College, 76 Vincent Square, SW1P

REVIEW: PACIFIC ORIENTAL

With a touch of the mid week blues we felt the need for a glass of the red and a good bit of grub and so upon recommendation we took a break from the office and headed to Pacific Oriental. A former banking hall the interiors are pretty grand combining high decorative ceilings, potted palms, and lavish curtains. The restaurant is split into a brasserie/bar, which is renowned for its cocktail menu, and the Mezzanie allows diners to overlook the action below. Drinkers beware they can see exactly what you're up to!

Food wise we opted for a selection of starters, our favourite was the prawn and green mango spring roll but the tiger prawn tempura and the prawn spring onion gyozas where also worth a mention. Keeping with the fish theme main we dived into the sea bass which came with a cripy onion crust and sage orange marmalade - a perfect combination of sweet and savoury, crispy fried rare tuna with sweet and sour onions and kimone dressing and Nasi Goreng (that's special fried rice with shallots, pork, prawn and pineapple for those who couldn't guess). Sounds good? It was!

Pacific Oriental, 52 Threadneedle Street, EC2R
www.orientalrestaurantgroup.co.uk

REVIEW: CITRUS

We've previously visited the Park Lane hotel for afternoon tea but never before dined in Citrus. Last week we had the perfect reason to visit with a new Venetian Menu on offer. There is something decadent about dining in a five-star hotel, especially a five-star hotel near to Park Lane.

The menu has been created by Italian chef Daniele Turco from Gritti Palace Hotel in Venice. We started with Scallops and Courgette Flowers and the Venetian Appetisers of Grilled Vegetables & Ricotta Cheese. The food looked too good to eat - full marks for presentation - the three scallops were cooked to perfection, juicy and plump they left us wanting more. The Vegetables and Ricotta was an interesting dish, all served cold with three balls shaped objects one of which was ricotta, not an unpleasant dish just not one for us.

For mains we went for the Fillet of Sea Bass scallop Carpaccio & Asparagus Cipollini Onion Cream Sauce and Red Mullet Fillet, Basilicum Crust Seafood, Filled Calamari, Sundried Tomatoes & Potatoes. Both fish dishes were made using generous slices of fresh fish, the filled calamari was a surprising bonus, a blend of flavours and textures which combined perfectly to create a soft sausage like roll. The potato style roastie with the Red Mullet was a great accompaniment, however the Sea Bass was lacking in vegetables served on top of four asparagus tips it needed something extra to add a bit of stodge.

For dessert the Roast Peach Tiramisu & Flavoured Macaroons went down a treat as did the liquor coffee - definitely the highlight of our meal! For a 5-star hotel restaurant Citrus serves reasonably priced gourmet food and wine. If you fancying trying out the Venetian menu you need to do before September.

The Park Lane Hotel, The Citrus Restaurant, Piccadilly, W1J
www.citrusrestaurant.co.uk

REVIEWED: ICCO PIZZA...

In the movies I always like the bit where the Italian-American guy takes his girl for a slice and a coke, inevitably he will knock someone’s teeth out to show the girl he’s a ‘tough-guy’ but that’s just in the movies. Icco Pizza in Soho kind of has that Italian-American feel to it where if you wanted to you could swing a wise guy over the high table in the middle of the room, or break one of the chairs over his head that are along the windows. The pizza’s are cooked by the counter, above are the choices on the board, and you can throw extra toppings on to make your own creations.

LondOnTheInside slicked back their hair, broke out the cracks in our leathers and wondered in on a quiet Sunday night chewing on a tooth pick. It was filled with other dinners a nice enough atmosphere in a pretty part of town…our town, and we weren’t going to let anyone move in on our pizza.

We ordered a Hawaiian with extra onion and sweetcorn and a Vegetarian with Jalapeños. You’re given a pager which goes off when your orders ready so you can collect from the counter at the front. Drinks are bottled in a chillier, there should be a soda stream in there and a beer or two would be nice but hey this is London not New Jersey. Less than a ten minute wait we were prepared with chilli oil, chilli flakes and garlic oil (a few more bottles of which would go down well) to drizzle and shake all over the light thin crispy pizzas, badda bing badda boom.

So how was it? The cheese was stringy as it should be, the toppings were evenly spread, the tomato base was tangy and although we’re normally in favour of a deep pan the thin and crispy was a treat. An authentic Italian/NYC pizza joint where you can pick up a decent sized pizza for a fiver.

The girlfriend ate my last slice but hey Whatyougonnado!

Icco Pizza, 46 Goodge Street London W1T

REVIEW: THE BROMPTON BAR AND GRILL

Absinthe - a friend, a lover, a sworn mortal enemy. We've had great times, fun times and very bad hungover times, but we never learn our lesson. The green fairy is a cruel mistress.

The Brompton Bar and Grill isn't the sort of down and dirty den of iniquity that we usually associate with the green liquor, this a genteel, sophisticated bistro on the Brompton Road between South Kensington and Knightsbridge, not the backstreets of turn-of-the-century Paris but their cocktail list is a thing of beauty. All manner of absinthe twists are here - both as aperitifs and after dinner delights.

We tried the house caipirinha - traditional recipe except with a big hit of aniseed green and 'Death in the Afternoon' - a straight up mix of absinthe and champagne. The caipirinha was sweet and sour, the demerara sugar competing with fresh limes, before the absinthe smacked you straight between the eyes. Death in the Afternoon was appropriately named and could have caused us to expire at any time of the day.

However, one does not come to the Brompton merely to drink; you may come for the cocktails, but you stay for the food. Soft shell Devon crab was smooth and creamy but quite fishy - either a good or a bad thing depending on your outlook, and the steak tartare was served ice cold, the capers adding a slightly pepperiness and the tabasco adding a little fire.

The main courses were equally good, the duck breast in plum sauce was flavoursome and the guinea fowl was rich and perfectly cooked. Both were served with vegetables and the portion sizes were very generous.

The service was attentive without being fussy and made us feel very welcome indeed. This isn't a cheap restaurant, but one that we have no problem going back to again and again, great service, great food and great cocktails. If only it was a little cheaper, we'd eat here every week.

243 Brompton Road, SW3
 www.bromptonbarandgrill.com

BRITISH STREET FOOD AWARDS....

The champion of the 2011 British Street Food Awards will be trading next to champions of a different kind next year - when they set up shop in the Olympic Village for London 2012. It's an amazing prize, which is why the announcement of the 14 finalists is so eagerly awaited this year. They come from all over Britain - and each one is a potential gold medallist.

The Awards, judged by a panel of food experts including Richard Corrigan and Antony Worrall Thompson, will take place at Harvest on Jimmy Doherty's farm from September 9-11. With everything from jhal muri (served out of a little truck, decked out like an Indian temple), to fresh pizza (cooked over a wood-fired oven in a vintage van), they promise to be more hotly contested than ever. And so without further ado here is the moment you have all been waiting for.........

Café Mor [Pembrokeshire]
Lulabelle's [Yorkshire]
Wholefood Heaven [London]
The Ginger Comfort Emporium [Lancashire]
Flying Ducks [Surrey]
The Fish Hut [Suffolk]
The Laughing Stock [Edinburgh]
Churros Bros [London]
Hall's Dorset Smokery [Dorset]
Street Kitchen [London]
Lemon Jelli [Devon]
Jalopy Pizzas [Dorset]
Chilli Gone Barmy [Suffolk]
Kolkata Street Food Experience [London via Kolkata]

If you fancy tasting their goods then head along to the farm on Sept 9th - 11th where you'll also be able to vote for the hotly-contested Best Looking Mobiler. Judges of the awards include Anthony Worrall Thompson, Richard Corrigan, Jan Matthews, Fay Ripley, and Bob Fox.

Form more info check out: britishstreetfood.co.uk

REVIEW: EDINBURGH CELLARS

We're going to put it out there The Edinburgh Cellars Sunday Roast is up there with the best we've eaten in London. Located on Newington Green the pub recently reopened following a complete refurb to a typical gastro style establishment. We hit them up last Sunday to sample three of their finest roast dinners. Two chicken and one lamb arrived with huge portions of all the trimmings. Homemade Yorkshire puds = top marks, roast potatoes, roast carrots, cabbage, roast beets, stuffing and proper gravy, none of the Red wine crap!

The lamb which had been marinated for 24 hours in mint sauce was the winner, a generous portion of tender meat although the chicken came a close second. The only grumbles we had were that the roasties were slightly under cooked and there was no pork on the menu. All in all a flipping great roast dinner for around £13. In the words of Arnie we'll be back!

Edinburgh Cellars, Newington Green, N1

FRENCH LAUNDERETTE SUPER CLUB....

So we've all heard the hype surrounding Thomas Keller's £250 a pop French Laundry Pop Up restaurant coming to Harrods, and if you haven't you should really read the news now and then. Well now the pop up has inspired a cheeky new spin off - the French Launderette - we love a good old bit of tongue in cheek! Organised by Sabrina Ghayour, the Launderette dinner will cost just £2.50 which is 1 percent of the price of the 'original'.

Reservations have already gone mad however the main set of 40 tickets will be released on 1 September at 10am. Any donations above the £2.50 ticket price are welcome, and will go directly to the Action Against Hunger charity. No word on the menu or number of courses yet but we'll keep you posted.

Sunday 2 October
The Chancery, London EC4
Booking line: 020 7854 9369 E-mail: FrenchLaunderette@hotmail.co.uk
frenchlaunderette.blogspot.com

REVIEW: BLUES KITCHEN

The Blues Kitchen in Camden is one of our favourite late night drinking dens in North London, last week we did a whole other kind of drinking there and it nearly finished us off. Yes we're talking about the killer shakes! We ordered one each but really one is enough to share especially if you're eating. The shakes come served in a glass with another helping in a metal blender cup - Chocolate and Peanut Butter that's what we're about.

We also dived into jerk chicken burgers served on ciabattas with onions rings, sweet potato wedges and homemade coleslaw. The dish is served on a wooden slab and we struggled to finish it after the shakes.

The chicken breast was well seasoned and juicy and the sweet potato wedges were a great alternative to french fries. Thumbs up! The only grumble we had was the onion rings were of the frozen variety and not homemade (sad face).

If you're in the area check it out - AM or PM. This month also sees the launch of the Carnivore Club Menu with a different meat on offer every Tuesday kicking off today with kangaroo burgers followed by crocodile steaks, zebra fillet and other foreign delicacies. We'll pass on those.....

Blues Kitchen, 111-113 Camden High Street, NW1
www.theblueskitchen.com

KIRIN ICHIBAN'S POP-UP YATAI RESTAURANT

For one week only from 3rd August, Japanese lager Kirin Ichiban is launching a pop-up restaurant near Brick Lane, serving hot food, cold beers and promoting the Kirin short film competition.

The restaurant will take the form of a traditional Japanese yatai, a small mobile food stall, which should be easy to spot in central London. The food is kushiage style - deep fried skewer delicacies - and comes from the head chefs at Yashin sushi and bar, so we predict that it'll be amazing!

There are over ten combinations including pork with Japanese Worcester sauce, marinated lamb and miso, asparagus with sea salt and lemon and pickled tomato with tangy green pepper and lemon.

Possibly the most exciting thing about this venture though is the prices - £5 will buy you three skewers and a bottle of Kirin when you book online - Bargain!! Diners will also have the chance to see exclusive short films and vote for their favourite to win the Kirin First Cut prize which will be announced at the 55th BFI London Short Film Festival in October

The yatai opens on Wednesday 3rd August and operates midday - 11pm Wednesday to Saturday and midday - 9pm Sunday and Monday. Just make sure you book.

Wed 3rd Aug - Mon 8^th Aug
www.kirinfirstcut.co.uk

PRIMROSE HILL BAKERY

Tucked behind Camden High Street just off Primrose Hill you'll find the Primrose Hill Bakery well known for its cupcakes and sweet treats. Inside there's the odd seat or two but the counters where the actions at - cupcakes, layer cakes, mini cupcakes, croissants, brownies and more!

We've been here before but this time we went for a Dime Bar and Carmel cupcake, Strawberry layer cake and two Earl Grey teas . As the waitress put them down we knew we'd made the right decision - the Dime Bar cupcake was fluffy and light with a rich Carmel butter cream and a generous scattering Dime Bar pieces.

The Strawberry layer cake with fresh strawberries baked into the sponge and strawberry butter cream on top was DIVINE . As we sat grazing a fresh batch of coffee cupcakes was brought out and we had to pull ourselves away. If cupcakes float your boat check it out, they also do birthday cakes and unlike some of the cupcakes shops they are reasonably priced.

Primrose Hill Bakery, 69 Gloucester Ave, NW1
www.primrosebakery.org.uk