Someone say sausage?!

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!

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!

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...

“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!

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!

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