NEWS: BUBBLE DOGS IS OPEN...

We've become slightly infatuated with Hot Dogs since our trip to Superette on Saturday evening which is why were excited to see Bubble Dogs is now open. The laid back joint serves Hot Dogs and Champagne - the clue's in the name.

The Dogs come in three options -  all pork, all beef and vegetarian - made from 100% meat. There will also be Coleslaw, Tots and Sweet Potato Fries served as sides - LOVELY! There are twelve dogs on offer but we're liking the sound of the Breakie with fried egg, tomato relish and black pudding bits and the Fourth of July, a bacon wrapped dog with smokey BBQ sauce and coleslaw.

There's a good list of champers to choose from too and both Bubbles and Dogs start from £6.

Open TODAY!

70 Charlotte St, W1T
www.bubbledogs.co.uk

REVIEW: SUPERETTE X THE DOG DAYS

This post should come with a warning "contains explicit material" because quite frankly these pictures are naughty! The Superette Dog Days pop-up is running for just one more Saturday, and if our visit last week was anything to go by you're gonna want to get down there before they shut-up shop!

The pop-up serves four types of Hot Dogs, we sampled the Classic New York, a whopping great pork dog served in a demi-brioche bun with sauerkraut, onions, mustard and ketchup. This is one bad-ass dog!

We also tried a Korean Dog made from braised pork belly, kimchi, crispy shallots and kewpie mayo served in a sesame seed bun. The Corn-Dogs which were lightly battered mini-hotdogs and Tater Tots which are little chunks of fluffy tatties served in a Cadillac - seriously can this pop-up get any cooler?

Miss this, miss out...

Sat 1st Sept, 7pm - 11pm
www.superettepopup.com

AVANT GARDE DIARIES X BOMPAS AND PARR

 

In the words of Thin Lizzy, the boys are back in town, said boys are of course Bompas & Parr who have been chosen by The Avant Garde Diaries Magazine and Mercedes to create a Drive-Thru restaurant at the old Selfridge's hotel.

The pop-up restaurant will run for 3 days mixing food, light and fashion - if past events are anything to go by then you can expect something quite spectacular. Guests will be able to choose from dining in a car (we'd imagine it will be an A class Mercedes currently being promoted) with food delivered by rollerblading waitresses or dining at a table. Tickets go on sale  Monday 3rd September and we expect they will sell out pretty sharpish. Weird, wonderful and wacky = we're in!

Fri 14th Sep & Sat 15th Sept, noon - 10pm
Sun 16th Sep, noon - 6pm
www.theavantgardediaries.com

Photo credit: CPP Luxury

REVIEW: BOMBAY BRASSERIE

Bombay Brasserie has been in business for 30 years, which is quite a statement in any industry and usually a testament to how good the food is a restaurant serves. This is certainly the case with Bombay Brasserie which dishes up authentic Indian food, in great surrounds with exceptional service. We could end the review on that line but we won't...

Located in a grand building opposite Gloucester Road tube station, the dining room has an old worldly, glamorous feel to it, like you are dining in a ballroom with big chandeliers and perfectly laid tables. We started with the Ragda Pattice, a popular Bombay roadside snack made up of a lightly spiced potato cake with chickpeas and hot chutney for an added kick. Another starter of Kashmiri Chilli and Curry Leaf Prawn came as a huge prawn split in half with a spicy coating - not for the faint hearted

To follow the Tandoori Chicken marinated with yoghurt and spices was a tender half chicken heavily covered in blend of aromatic spices. Goa Halibut curry was rich, creamy and full of flavour with soft fish pieces swimming in a bucket of sauce. A fresh Kheema Naan and small bowl of Vegetable Pulao rice completed our feast.

The restaurant also serves Kingfisher beer (the best Indian lager = FACT), cocktails and a huge selection of wines by the bottle and glass. After a visit to Bombay Brasserie it's easy to see how this place has managed to stick around for 30 years. Some of the prices are a little on the high-side but it's well worth the splurge.

Courtfield Road, SW7
www.bombaybrasserielondon.com

REVIEW: PIPS DISH

The story behind Pips Dish is perhaps its charm. Once a humble Citroen garage the space has been transformed into an intimate dining experience. The main focus of Pips dish is the people and the food, and how they come together in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Its romantic setting is decorated with fairy lights over old furniture and really has a cosy not "trying too hard" feeling about it.

Philip Dundas, author of Cooking Without Recipes and chef at Pips Dish and Mary his business partner cook up something different everyday depending on their mood, the weather, the people they are expecting to feed and the fresh local ingredients they find that morning. It's a great place for indecisive people as there is no menu you just get what's on the table when you arrive (don't worry they cater for veggies and allergies too!).

The meal we had was hearty, filling and everything you'd want from home cooking. Plus it's BYOB which is always a bonus. We were seated at our table and served a meat board whilst we waited for the rest of the guests to arrive. To start an anchovy and mixed leaf based salad went down a treat. For mains the Lamb Stew served with cous cous, yellow carrots and spinach was full of flavour, dished up like a school dinner and very filling. For dessert homemade shortbread with red currents and cream was a simple but effective way to finish.

Pips dish is open Thursday to Sunday and must be booked in advance. Thursday night is Fish BBQ night and costs £15 per head Friday and Saturday evenings are 3 courses for £30. From September Sunday lunches will be served and we cant wait to give it a try. There ain't no Sunday roast as good as a home cooked one!

133B Upper Street, N1
www.pipsdish.co.uk

MEZCAL CANTINA...

There is a new Mexican in town and it goes by the name of Mezcal Cantina. Yes Dalston can now dance until dawn at the sister to nearby Viva! Like it's sibling the restaurant serves tacos, cocktails and beers but it also features a list of mains such as Chilli Con Carne and Fajitas - ariba, ariba!

Inside the restaurant is pretty quirky with exposed brick work, big colourful art,fairy lights and a small bar at the back. We went along for the opening and got to sample a couple of the tacos, the highlights definitely the tender Beef and Chorizo. The Guacamole is also pretty good too, plenty chunky and great with the homemade tortilla chips. If you fancy a change from the usual Turkish check it out, it's on the site of the old Dalston pizzeria.

127 Kingsland High Street, E8

REVIEW: LOCH FYNE

Loch Fyne is a large chain of fish restaurants which is probably the reason we've never visited before, however last week we found ourselves at the Covent Garden branch. Inside the decor is pretty swish - spacious and light with a fresh fish counter at the back where you can choose your fish to eat or take home. Most of the fish is sustainably sourced from Loch Fyne where the first restaurant was located many moons ago.

We started with a basket of freshly baked, warm bread, quirkly served in a small wooden basket. Pan-fried Chilli & Garlic King Prawns served in a deep pot of lemon oil and Loch Fyne Smoked Ashet, a generous trio of salmon, all served differently with individual dips.

For mains we took advantage of the fish counter choosing a Wild Scottish Hake steamed with Slow Roasted Tomato & Chilli Pesto, Pan-fried Samphire in Garlic Butter and Spinach with Nutmeg. The great thing about Loch Fyne is that not only can you choose your fish, you can also choose the way it is cooked, the sauce it comes with and the side portions. Making it as healthy/deadly as you wish.

Another main of Smoked Haddock, Colcannon mash, mustard & crème fraîche sauce and soft poached egg was our favourite dish; rich, creamy and perfect for a cold evening. We were pleasantly suprised by Loch Fyne, there weren't any signs of a chain restaurant group, the atmosphere was bustling, the food was all pretty decent and there's a healthy wine and whisky list. What's more there are some great offers including a three-course menu for £11.95 before 7pm and kids eating free.

Register online now and score a £10 voucher off your next visit.

2-4 Catherine Street Holborn, WC2B
www.lochfyne-restaurants.com

BEN'S CANTEEN

The brains behind Ben's Canteen has be on a little road trip exploring America. Now back on the motherland he is looking to treat food lovers to a serving of American inspired dishes. Taking place tonight guests will be treated to a cocktail on arrival and can look forward to digging into Roasted Bone Marrow with beef floss, anchovy breadcrumbs & cabbage kim chee before moving on to a main of Asian flank steak sandwich with 'giardiniera' salad, mayo and 'Animal-Style' french fries which has kind of got us drooling already. For desert what could be more fitting than Bourbon Banana Cream Pie. Get us a taxi we’re full.

The evening is broken into two sittings, the first at 7pm, the second at 9pm. The food will be served Supper Club style. Y'all have a lovely evening now...

Tickets cost £30

Ben's Canteen
Thursday 24th August
Sittings 7PM and 9PM
140 St John's Hill SW11
Tickets

REVIEW: SATSUMA

Satsuma is a Japanese restaurant located in the heart of Soho on Wardour Street. Last year the restaurant was given a whole new look and now has bright orange interiors and pod style seating - you know how the Japanese love a pod!

The restaurant specialises in Bento boxes but also offers a good selection of Katsu curries, fresh sushi, ramen, tempura and other Japanese dishes. We sampled the deep fried Chicken Gyoza (served pan or deep fried) and the Ebi Tempura Prawns. Both came fast, the Gyoza filled with tasty chicken in a crispy pastry and the juicy prawns coated in a delicate batter.

To follow the Chicken Katsu curry was a generous portion; the thick, spicy curry sauce covering a freshly fried chicken breast. But our favourite dish was actually the Prawn Yakisoba, a stir fried noodle dish with a good helping of prawns in a teriyaki sauce.We finished off with a cheeky Plum Wine but the laid-back joint also offers Japanese beers, other wines and fresh juices. Or for the more adventurous Ice-cream Katsu which is deep-fried ice-cream in breadcrumbs.

The prices are cheap, the food is decent, the service is efficient and we didn't feel like we were being rushed out either. A great place for a first date.

56 Wardour Street  W1D
www.osatsuma.com

JIMMY'S SUPPER CLUB X PARALYMPIC

The Olympics maybe over but we still have the Paralympics left to come, and what's more one of our favourite Olympic pop-ups have announced they will be sticking around for the show. Jimmy's Supper Club is the closest pop-up to the Olympic park, located just 30 metres from the gates and what's more the scenery inside is just as good as it is outside with a team of hot chefs and waiters on hand to dish up tasting treats!

The Paralympic dates kick off at Annex East on Saturday 25th August with 13 events planned, running until Wednesday 5th September. The nights all feature a 5 course feast, live music and some film screenings - need anymore convincing? Then check out our review.

Sat 25th Aug - Wed 5th Sept
2 Hutchins Close, London Borough of Newham, E15
www.annexeast.co.uk

REVIEW: VAPIANO

Vapiano is pretty deceiving from the outset, if we're brutally honest it looks like a place you'd want to avoid rather than go inside. However those who have dared to venture in will know it's a great place to go for quick, cheap Italian food freshly made before your eyes.

The branch on Great Portland Street has two floors, both feature high tables and chairs and areas with comfy sofas for a more relaxed vibe. Upstairs is a little quieter than below and there’s even a basil garden which is replenished every week, an ode to Vapiano's commitment to using fresh produce - plus it's where the bar is located.

Vapiano serves just pizza, pasta or salads and everything is made in front of you. There is a set menu but if you do want to create your own dishes you can or if you want to replace one ingredient with another or just add more you can - anything goes! All of the pasta is made on site daily and there is a huge selection to choose from, aswell as couple of spelt options - full marks.

The pizza station is the same process, the dough is made fresh daily and the toppings can be customised to suit individual tastes. We tried two pasta dishes, the Granchi Di Fiume with Tagliatelle, a generous portion of crayfish with fresh vegetables in a creamy lobster sauce and one of the specials, whose Italian name escapes us with spelt fusilli served with huge juicy prawns, pesto and extra spice as requested.

The wine list is pretty cheap too, the sparkling Rabello Pinot Grigio Rose was just £4.50 a glass and went well with a mound of olives for just £2. We have to admit it did feel a little like a work canteen as you have a card to swipe when ordering and you have to move around the various cooking stations rather to pick up different dishes. That said there is no danger of stale, fatty pie and chips here, it's all fresh, cheap, tasty food and we liked it!

Don't let that dodgy logo put you off, step inside and be surprised...

Valpiano, Great Portland Street, W1W
www.vapiano.de

REVIEW: KIMCHEE

Still in the Olympic spirit we decided to release the inner culture vulture and check out Kimchee in Holborn for some authentic Korean Cuisine. The restaurant was opened by Mr Kim a native Korean who wanted to bring some real Korean cooking to the capital. The place itself is kitted out with charcoal BBQ and open plan kitchen.

We visited on a busy Thursday evening. Heading straight for the cocktail menu we tried the Berry Berry Nice - Makgeolli mixed with blueberry liqueur and shaken with crushed ice and the Sojito - soju, zesty lime, brown sugar, fresh mint and soda water. We also sampled two of the Korean wines; the Seol Jung Mae a strong plum wine, full of flavour and the Bokbunja, a raspberry wine which was lighter and probably the better choice.

For food we dug into the Pa Jeon, seafood pancakes served with a soy and chive sauce, pretty hefty things, think American breakfast style, good if you're hungry! We also had the Yang Yeum chicken, a generous portion of lightly battered chicken in a sweet chilli sauce.

For mains we decided to be a little crazy and go for the Beef tongue, personally the only tongue we'll be sucking from now on is the boyf's. Lemon sole was the winning dish, served with grated radish and a BBQ sauce, the fish was soft and well presented. We also shared a Bap, no stodgy white bread here though, that's rice in Korea.

To finish we had our favourite green tea ice cream and a try of the black bean too. Both rich and creamy and tasted great. Kimchee is a great place to grab a quick bite to eat and offers something a little different than your usual Burittos and Burgers.

71 High Holborn, WC1V
www.kimchee.uk.com

SCOTCH EGG CHALLENGE 2012

It seems like everyone is going crazy for the humble scotch egg of late, so it makes sense that The Ship Wandsworth will yet again host a 'Scotch Egg Challenge'. The event which takes place on the 25th September will see 20 competitors take to the kitchens with the aim of elevating the humble bar snack to new heights! Events will include a cook-off and a blind tasting test in the aim of finding the nation’s favourite Scotch Egg. Think duck, goose, quail, truffle-oil injected and beetroot-infused eggs; wrapped in everything from the standard sausage to venison, spicy chorizo, black pudding, mushroom and even kangaroo.

Confirmed contenders including Heston Blumenthal’s The Hinds Head Pub in Bray, the newly opened Thatched House in Hammersmith (and if our recent meal was anything to go by these guys will kick ass!) and Scotch egg street food legend ‘Egg Boss’. What's more the event is free to attend, with a big screen showcasing all of the drama from the cook off kitchen and demonstrations taking place throughout the day on how to make the classic 1738 style Scotch egg courtesy of the original inventors themselves Fortnum & Mason.

Each competitor will be cooking enough eggs so that the crowd can have a try and if your still hungry there will be a BBQ held at the The Ship’s to finish off the days events.

Tues 25th Sept,
41 Jew's Row, Wandsworth, SW18
www.theship.co.uk

REVIEW: THE THATCHED HOUSE

Food trends always go in waves. A few years ago, gastropubs were all the rage with wide ranging menus of complex dishes, but in 2012 most pubs have gone back to basics. The Thatched House near Ravenscourt Park is one such venue, specialising in home-cooked pub classics, with a great wine list a decent selection of beers.

Inside the newly refurbed pub is spacious and welcoming, but we visited on a warm evening, so made the most of the beer garden at the rear of the venue, an oasis of calm away from the bustling city.

The menu contains everything you instantly think of as being a pub staple, from pork pies and scotch eggs to steaks, burgers and sausage and mash. To kick off, we ordered the prawn cocktail, a retro treat of finely shredded lettuce with a healthy number of prawns making for a light start. We also tried the Welsh rarebit with bacon - fresh bread topped with a citrus tasting cheese and sweet cured bacon. Awesome.

Swiftly following this was our main courses, fish and chips and the house burger. The fish was light and flaky in crispy batter, presented atop chunky mushy peas with a smear of tartare sauce and proper chunky chips. The burger was meaty, seared on the outside and pink in the middle, just they way we like 'em. Topped with cheese, ketchup and American mustard.

Once you've started pigging out, it's only right to see it through fully so we ended with pancakes with chocolate syrup with ice cream. Diet be damned. The dessert wrapped up what was an exceptionally good pub meal. The service is excellent and the prices are reasonable, we'd certainly recommend the Thatched House as a delightful place to spend an evening.

115 Dalling Road, W6
www.thatchedhouse.com

DIRTY BURGERS TO OPEN IN KENTISH TOWN...

They have been getting a fair-share of the action lately, up North in Kentish Town with Pizza East announcing its opening, the Camden Town Brewery and Ruby Violets. And lookie what we have here, another joint set to open next week, Dirty Burgers.

Now some of you might recognise the name, it is of course the generous peeps who were dishing out FREE burgers last week which went down a storm on Twitter. What's more if the feedback is anything to go by they sound pretty darn good, people were declaring their love having tried them left, right and centre!

We hear they will be not only knocking Dirty Burgers they will also be serving up Dirty Breakfasts and we all love a dirty breakfast! Expect shakes, fries and other full-fat treats. Oh and it's open until 1am on a weekend - hoorah for no more Iceland burgers from the white van man.

Opens Wed 22nd Aug
Highgate Studios, Kentish Town, NW5 

REVIEW: THE CABIN

The Cabin opened at Waterloo station last week and we went down to the opening to check it out. With wine by Corney & Barrow – supplier to the Queen don’t you know - the bar features the first ever self-service wine machine to be installed at a train station. Nothing like getting a bit tipsy on the vino before starting your train journey. What’s more the bar offers take-out kits if you want to take it on the train and you can get hampers with cured meat, high quality cheeses and freshly baked bread. For those who like to travel in style!

The bar has a huge wine list as well as offering some exclusive ales. They have a cocktail list too which includes to name a few; the Boarding Pass Bramble - Bombay Sapphire, lemon juice and creme de Mure, The Havana Central Mojito - Havana, mint and line and The Grand Central Cosmo - grey goose and cranberry. Just in case you forgot you were at a train station.

To eat the theme is British tapas we tried; the orange and goats cheese salad served with walnuts and a sage dressy; the chorizo and fennel sausage roll - sausage meat rolled in flaky pastry with a tomato chutney it’s so good you might never crave a Greggs again (might); lamb shank shepherds pie - slowly braised lamb with a hearty montgomery cheddar and mashed potato crust; honey roast ham hock terrine with homemade piccalilli and three spelt bread which not only tastes good, it’s perfect for the diet too; pulled pork mini burger with a fruity apple and fennel coleslaw and the black pudding scotch egg.

For desert we’d recommend the Valrhona chocolate brownie - rich, dark and smooth – just the way we like ‘em and the Pot Shot - sherry trifle topped with sherbet fizzing popping candy.

The Waterloo outlet is set to be the flagship bar in the ‘Cabin by Corney & Barrow’ concept so watch out for more coming soon to an airport or train station near you! In the words of website “Don’t kill time, make the most of it and head to the bar”. Bottoms up baby!

Unit 18, The Balcony
www.corney-barrow.co.uk

PIZZA PARTY...

The pizza party of the summer is about to unfold this weekend with nine of the finest pizza-peddlers in the city, plus three additional guest chefs. Taking place at the Climpson & Sons Roastery, Burnt Enz and Homeslice have teamed up to create a day long tribute to our Italian cheesy friend, that the edible variety not greasy haired Piero from down the local!

As well as 90 minutes cooking slots where you can watch and learn from the chefs, there will also be three wood-fire ovens to make sure all those hungry mouths get feed with minimal queuing, DJ’s and a full bar serving craft beers, wines and spirits. Sounds like, totally pizza-tastic doesn’t it? Get down for the pizza party of the summer, you know it makes sense.

The Pizza Party
Sat 18th Aug, 12 midday until 12 midnight
Climpson & Sons Coffee Roastery, Arch 374 Helmsley Place, E8
www.burntenz-homeslice.eventbrite.co.uk

REVIEW: MEIN TAY

There are so many Vietnamese restaurants on Kingsland Road, how does on choose where to spend his hard earned cash? Our choice is usually defined by which one's still open as we rock up starving a little wobbly on our feet. However last Sunday we followed the crowd and headed for the busiest restaurant on the strip - even at 6pm on a Sunday this place was heaving!

The family owned restaurant serves reasonably priced, authentic Vietnamese food. We started with the Fresh Green Papaya Salad with Prawns, a tangy, crunchy salad which tasted as vibrant as it looked. Another starter of Chargrilled King Prawns with Butter & Garlic were served sizzling with enough garlic to ward off vampires for a whole week - perhaps Rupert Sanders should have eaten some of these before he locked lips with K-Stew.

To follow the Chargrilled Chicken with Honey and Spices was a generous plate of tender meat coated in a sweet, sticky glaze. The Whole Crispy Fried Sea Bream with Lemongrass and Chilli came served as a whole fish, coated in a spicy sauce with soft onions topping the crunchy skin. A side dish of Noodles with Beansprouts was another generous portion of steaming noodles - we also ordered the Egg Fried Rice but these portions are enough for two to share.

We couldn't fault the food at Mein Tay, nor the prices, for £30 you get a meal for two and more than enough food. If you like to team your Asian food with a beer then check out the Saigon, a Vietnamese beer and goes down a treat with spicy dishes.

For authentic, fresh, Vietnamese food Mein Tay ticks all the boxes.

122 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, E2
www.mientay.co.uk

REVIEW: GIRAFFE BURGERS

Giraffe Burger is located on James Street, an area which can be a bit hit and miss for restaurants with plenty of Tourist Traps. The laid back joint is part of the Giraffe family who have outlets across London, including the Soho joint which is a little snazzier than the rest.

Giraffe burgers serve exactly that, burgers with three options to choose from; Beef, Turkey or Chicken - great for those watching their waists! There are then various concoctions, from the LA Burger to the Rodeo. If you don't fancy a burger, there are other options including Hot Dogs, Salads and sides.

We tried the Cobb Burger with beef patty, a thick burger topped with crumbled blue cheese, avocado, crispy bacon and house salsa. The burgers are served in a brown bun which is actually quite rare but we'd champion it any day. Unlike most burgers, Giraffe's are pretty lean and won't leave you in a food coma which means there great for a quick lunch or early dinner.

We also tried the New York All Beef Hot Dog which was a pretty big dog topped with sweet and sour onions, the sweet potato fries, a nice change from your usual french fries and a chocolate shake which wasn't as thick as we'd hoped but rich and chocolatey!

If you're looking for a bite to eat with the boyfriend who's wanting a burger, whilst you're on a diet Giraffe Burgers is the answer. There's a burger for everyone...

35 James Street, W1U
www.giraffe.net

EDIBLE CINEMA...

Following the success of the first Edible Cinema, The Electric Cinema have announced yet another cinematic experience which sees them team up with event organiser Polly Betton & experimental food designer Andrew Stellitano. This time it's at The Aubin Cinema (The Electric is still closed due to a fire) and the film of choice is  Studio Ghibli’s weird and wonderful 'Spirited Away'.

Like the first installation the audience will be given a number of food packages to consume at specific points during the film along with a Bombay Sapphire cocktail inspired by the film. The smell, texture, even the way your mouth feels after eating the contents of the packages will correspond to what’s happening onscreen.

Imagine eating foaming tapioca 'soap' powder as Sen bathes a filthy river spirit at the bathhouse. Or when bathhouse worker Lin eats a roasted newt you’re also eating the strangest sweet-savoury crunchy treat you've ever tasted.

Tickets from £20pp and on sale from Monday 13 August.
Email ediblecinema@aubincinema.com to book

64-66 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch E2
www.aubincinema.com

REVIEW: BLACK PIG WITH WHITE PEARLS

We've been pretty excited for the opening of Black Pig With White Pearls since we spotted it last month. The Spanish pop-up has decided to go permanent, taking over a small restaurant on Stoke Newington High Street and converting it into a cosy, informal style eatery with a bar upstairs and a 60's style dining room downstairs.

The restaurant serves a selection of Spanish tapas & pintxo which change daily and the specialty (in-case you hadn't guessed from the name) is Black Pig. For those who don't know the black Iberian pig is the daddy-o of pork, fattened on barley and maize after weaning, then raised on a diet of acorns, herbs and olives - no swill here!

The restaurant uses Black Pig in a number of dishes, when we visited we sampled the Grilled iberico Pork Fillet on a bed of Patatas Panaderas (Roasties) and the Presa, a unique cut of pork with mojo picon sauce. Both cuts of quality meat are served medium rare and full of flavour but quite different in texture. These portions are designed to share and come big enough for two.

From the Tapas dishes, all of which sounded ACE & are only £4.50 a pop, we tried the Piquillo pepper stuffed with Artisan black pudding, a rich dish and possibly our favourite tapas from the menu. Other highlights were the Albondigas, soft tender meatballs cooked in white wine with vegetables, an Oyster Mushroom risotto and the iberico jamon.

We finished with a cheeseboard which was a generous selection of Spanish cheeses, one sheep, one goat and one cow, served with homemade crackers which had a slight sweet flavour. Overall we couldn't fault any of the food, authentic Spanish tapas perfectly executed.

BPWWP get most of their ingredients from their motherland, including a good choice of Spanish wines, the chef and background music. This small independent joint is finding it's feet in the heart of the Dalstonites, and without a doubt will become frequented by every fashion-east-er in town. Get it while it's hot. We'll be back...

There's no doubting it, Hackney is raising it's foodie game!

61 Stoke Newington High Street, N16
http://blackpigwithwhitepearls.co.uk

DOWNSTAIRS AT BLACKS SOHO...

Always wondered what goes on inside those members clubs? Well wonder no more because this weekend Black's on Dean Street in Soho who will be opening their doors to non-members on Saturday as part of the 3 date August pop up event. Lunch or dinner the choice is yours...

Taking place in Black’s candle lit famous panelled dining room, and of course those rare Hogarth prints will be on display for you to have a gander at too. Food this week will be prepared by Claude Compton (ex number two at Petersham Nurseries and Glub Gascon) and Jan Smith (ex Urban Caprice and Le Table D’Aligne, France) founders of the street food company Green Goat Food. Yep the guys behind the converted 1995 school bus known for bringing us Londoners fresh, seasonal British produce ethically and on the move.

Treats on the menu this weekend will include Portreath line-caught mackerel with forgotten beetroot and tomato concoctions and orange blossom yoghurt panna cotta with blackberry moss and honeycomb.

Whilst next Sat 18th Aug Carl Clarke, the man behind God Save The Clam, Rock Lobsta and The English Launderette will be slaving over a hot stove to bring you all kinds of weird and wonderful dishes, from dried pigs blood to popped millet - sounds like an illegal substance, after all it is a private members club!

Lunch (1pm for 1.30pm start) is £42 and dinner (7.30pm for 8pm start) is £48 and for that you'll get a welcome punch and three course meal.

For tickets call 020 7734 5399 or email moira@blacksclub.com
67 Dean Street  Soho, London W1D

REVIEW: REAL GREEK

We've often wondered what the deal was with the Real Greek, the London chain of Mediterranean restaurants which were set up 13 years ago and have grown to six outlets. So last week we popped into the Spitafields branch for a speedy dinner.

The informal restaurants serve hot and cold meze, Souvlaki and great value platters - no moussaka here! The dishes are served as and when they are ready, but this isn't a jump on the bandwagon trend these guys have been serving dishes this way for a long time. We tried a selection of the meze which came on a three tier stand, similar to those afternoon tea is served on.

Standout cold dishes included Greek Flatbread with Olive Oil & Dukkah, a spicy, crunchy mix of nuts and seeds; Htipiti, a rich feta dip with tangy roasted red peppers and red onions; creamy Hummus and Dolmades, fresh, hand-wrapped vine leaves with a sweet rice, herb, pine nut and sultana filling.

Our highlights from the hot selection included the Tiger Prawns with Garlic & Chilli, a particularly generous portion of juicy prawns and the slow roasted Pork Belly with oregano and paprika, topped with crunchy, sweet red onion - a great addition to the tender meat. 

Whilst the Real Greek isn't pushing any boundaries, it's all decent grub and served pretty fast. A great option for a hot, cheap dinner with platters for two costing around £20, that's £10 per person and you get a good amount too!

Six London locations
www.therealgreek.com

REVIEW: WAHACA

We're big fans of Wahaca so when we heard about the Wahaca Experiment on the South Bank we were keen to head along and check it out.

From the outside it looks pretty impressive, built from 8 recycled shipping containers which have been decorated by pro graffiti artists. The building spans two levels with panoramic views of the Thames. What's more its location means it's good for a bit people watching too!

The 'experiment' is that the menu will change monthly offering a range of different specials, the most popular of which will go on to appear on menus in all of Wahaca's restaurants but the basics we were glad to hear will be staying the same.

There is a tequila bar up top serving every tequila based cocktail you can imagine! We tried the Barragan which is a mixture of tequila (obviously) grapefruit, lime, lemonade and mint and the Hibiscus - tequila served on the rocks with an kick of cranberry. Both pretty strong so don't go having too many on your lunch break!

We sampled a selection of dishes, those which stood out were the thick, chunky Guacamole, the Burrito with juicy pulled pork, pink pinched onions and chillies and our usual the Chorizo and potato quesadillas. For dessert we had the Mexican doughnuts with chocolate sauce. The menu was spot on when they call it the 'favourite' as it certainly was ours.

The Wahaca Experiment will be around for approx 18 months after which time it will be relocated. What's more if you fancy sitting outside and enjoying the weather there is also a van at the front of the restaurant offering everything on the menu but to go.

Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1
www.wahaca.co.uk

REVIEW: PURE

Pure are a small group of stores which serve up healthy dishes to hungry Londoners on a daily basis - bar Sunday. Everything in the stores, aka "working kitchens",  is made on site from fresh ingredients which contain no unnecessary preservatives, additives, sugar, salt or fat.

With the latest store opening on Shaftesbury Avenue just last month, we popped along to sample some lunch, The stores offer a huge selection of options; from Salads, Soups and Wraps to Flat Breads, Noodle Boxes and Toasties. They even do a Big Mack - but don't worry it's actually a mackerel salad not a *meat patty.

We tried the Celebrity Skin salad, a generous portion of Scottish, hot-smoked salmon, avocado, cashews, cucumber and tomato on mixed leaves. What's more there are a good selection of dressings to choose from so that you can give the salad your own spin. We went for the Sweet Chilli and Lime which added a tangy kick.

The Koh Prawngan salad was equally as good, king prawns, avocado, sesame ginger noodles, petit pois, broccoli and radish on crunchy Cos. We also sampled two of the fresh juices, the Anti-Oxidizer and Summer Loving both made to order.

We ended with the Sicilian lemon cheesecake which was packed with zesty Sicilian lemon posset on top of a crunchy ginger biscuit base. The After Eight (am) was a light, fluffy 70% cocoa chocolate mouse with a hint of fresh mint.

If this is healthy food, then we are converts!

Three London locations
www.pure-madeforyou.co.uk

REVIEW: MUSSEL MEN

Last month, festival favourites, the Mussel Men came to town and boy did we get on it! The bunting was up, the striped shirts were on, the music was playing and the mussels were cooking.

Located in Fabrica584 the pop-up mussel shack offered Prosecco by the bottle, six oysters, a kilo of mussels and a tray of skinny fries (or pomme frites as they say in France) all for forty quid. There were also options to try just a kilo of mussels for £12 but we'd recommend going all out. The mussels were fresh, the sauce was full of flavour, the portions were generous and the thumb wars were plentyful.

The muscles behind the Mussel Men are currently rushed off there feet feeding the masses at the Olympic Park but when that's all done we here they have another three nights planned! Tickets cost £27 for a kilo of mussels between two, bottle of prosecco and skinny fries - Remember you heard it here first!

Fri 31st Aug, Sat 1st Sept & Sun 2nd Sept
Fabrica 584, Kingsland Road, E8
www.musselmen.bigcartel.com