Grave In London Fields

The other day, we (me and the dogs) found a small grave in London Fields - it was chilling to think what could lie beneath... but I reckon it was street art!

I was then interviewd by Hackney Gazette (here)
I wasn't expecting so many questions, like what is your name, what do you do, where do you live...
seems straight forward, but I don't know what is the answer to the middle question... so I kind of told a white lie or was it a lie - I dunno...

Pistachio & Pickle Supper Club

By Leluu

On the second trip last weekend, we went to Pistachio & Pickle, a new supper club in the east end of London ran by Matt & Steve – (Events Organiser and Artichet) by day. We met Matt at Bob Bob Ricard in the summer when Eat Like A Girl arranged a Blogger’s dinner and since then, he often helps us in the kitchen at our supper club so it was wonderful to stop by to be fed by someone who calls himself ‘stuffyaface’ on Twitter and to support a new friend.

Matt is bold, loud, quirky, sunny and full of beams – no matter what pressure he is under. Matt quickly does things, just like setting up the supper club – everything falls into place with him and it’s really nice to be around him. He has great positive energy and Steve is just well buff, innit!

Matt has told me how his real passion is with Indian cuisine so we jumped at the chance of coming to a (late) Diwali celebration at this new supper club venture. Matt, Indian food and supper club = wicked combination.

Poppadoms & (Matt makes his own) Pickles

I was undignified and hung-over from the previous rendez vous at Shacklewell Nights though so couldn’t have a drop to drink, even though, we were offered anything from Prosecco, white or red upon arrival at their East End, Victorian terrace. The noise of laughter filtered all the way out onto the street – if you were an onlooker – you’d be jealous.

Matt and Steve laid out a long banquet table over a modern chandelier, with name cards, candles and the like. We were joined by Vintage Macaroon (who was taking an intense tour of London foodie places before she departs, Hungry In London, DNAequalsfood and Gina, among some of Matt & Steve’s friends. This supper club had a real feeling of eating at a friend’s dinner party with the singular long table and how Matt & Steve placed everybody in-between each other so that we could integrate with people we do not know. The atmosphere was really lovely and intimate – knowing how cold and miserable it was outside, we were in for a warm feast.

Steve served food at a regular pace while Matt calmly worked away in the kitchen. Everything flowed, like in a really good restaurant, great food, fantastic service and wonderful company. It would be rare to get anything of this standard in a conventional restaurant. And the food, o my, it just kept coming and coming, every dish presented beautifully and was of excellent quality.

Bonda & Dumplings

Lentil Soup

“English Night” – Fish Fingers & Salad Cream

Kush

Fish Fingers was one of my favourites, because it was inspired by Kush, one of Matt & Steve’s friends, who was indeed the star of the night with all his hilarious jokes and stories.  When he was a child, he hated Indian food as that was what his mum served every day. So they had one ‘English Night’ a week where they would have fish fingers – (sounds like how it was in my house) : )

We all loved Matt’s take on it, with his home made salad cream and if Matt could get Kush to attend every dinner – it would be fantastic! Kush is one of those great personalities who finds laughter in absolutely EVERYTHING!

Woodpigeon, Panch Phoron Potatoes, Coconut Carrots & Lingonberry Masala (inspired by a trip to Ikea and their gorgeous Lingonberry sauce with the meatballs – yum)

Homemade Paneer with Tomato and Onion Pickle

Bebinca Cake & Pistachio Kulfi (one of the most wonderful desserts I have ever eaten and I am not a dessert person)

Chai & Gulab Jamun

We were all stuffed at the end, or we were already stuffed at mid point. The portions were great, generous but stuffable at the same time. This is dinning at a great level and we recommend everyone should book in to eat there. Matt & Steve know their food and that’s what its all about!

Stuffyaface Matt

Puppy Copper bouncing around

www.pistachioandpickle.com/supperclub
£35 Donation per person
Excellent Value. Fantastic Food
Not just saying it because he is our friend! Seriously.... Good!

Shacklewell Nights

By Leluu

There is something happening to the London food scene and its fantastic! Obviously the supper club phenomenon has hit it and it’s changing the way we are interacting. Like how technology has changed the way we have interacted over the years – from snail mail to email to social networking. The way we are eating out has blossomed like a wild red rose.

Last weekend, we took some time off to spend with our foodie friends and support other ones who have their own ventures in supper clubbing.

As our dear, Vintage Macaroon is leaving to live in her native Australia, she booked a table to eat at Shacklewell Nights which is run by Claire Roberson from Green Onions who has teamed up with Jonathan Woolway to formulate ‘hidden dinning’- cross pop up in-between-restaurant-/supper-club events at a top floor warehouse in Dalston.

 

Wonderful Claire Roberson

We entered into a gorgeous environment of people mingling around chatting to each other as if it’s an actual event or a private party. Everybody comes with an open mind and a great willingness to integrate with other people. Only one or two years ago, integration was out of the question unless it’s a private party!

The atmosphere was brilliant; there was a bar, lovely waitresses, nice random furnishings (just my style), great lighting, nice cutlery and crockery – a welcoming and happy place that you’d want to spend an evening in.

I have gotten to know Claire a bit since we first came to her supper club (post here) -Green Onions. I just think that its amazing how she has done this, managed to fill the place out with 72 guests over and over. Claire is very entrepreneurial and we are all really looking forward to whatever she does.

LibbieLush, Vintage Macaroon and I were sat next to three very handsome boys – who had in fact been to our supper club before. Nikhil, Nick and Jamie who were also big fans of The London Foodie and didn’t realize he were sitting on our table too. They were best pleased – also to be introduced to Dr G too – they were clapping like penguins in their minds. We talked about why single, straight men do not really get together to go to these dinner events like girls do and congratulated them on being clever enough! It’s the best place to meet women – I tell you boys! Get your skates on!

To eat, we had:

Smoked Eel & Celeriac

Watercress, Braised Beef & Swede

Chocolate Terrine

Neal Yards Cheese Plate with Hackney Chutney

It all tasted really good, the idea of the sharing plates were great – doing this just brings us all closer together and breaks the boundaries of social conventions. However, I have a big appetite and should have asked for seconds. Instead, I got totally drunk on the boy’s port, their promo whisky and all of our red wine! Was not feeling too hot the next day! This is only happening because I am in my thirties! Got to get that dang time machine working!

www.shacklewellnights.com
£40 min donation per person

The Pale Blue Door

This photo by Simon Fernandez

Finally got round to going to The Pale Blue Door – it was on an off chance, a friend of mine couldn’t make it so I’d offer to go. I’d heard so many things about this amazing place that belongs to Tony Heckler – a set designer who runs a supper club at his Dalston home.

It was a cold night and we arrived to a house/ warehouse type place next to the railway line and were greeted by a drag queen who insisted my name is ‘Urine’ – and gave me the self-fulfilling prophecy of needing the toilet! Not even bullies at school called me ‘Urine’ so that was rather spicy of the young lady –

I loved her – she was amazing in her fake tits (about 8 at one point), and all her wigs and outfits – she is the character assassin of any hot-tempered high maintenance woman. And this is whom you come to see.

We were seated on a table for 2, with all this stuff, nibblitts and gadgets and hob knobs, all groups were pretty much segregated like in a restaurant. It was so cold, some people were given blankets and everyone sat in nooks and crannies. Fun.

The food…The lady also said, “The face is happy but inside, I am sad!” in her Portuguese accent - then she grinds her arse into the face of a youngish guy - whose probably loving it!! The evening was a performance, she had all her outfit changes and music to lap dance around the guests. It was mental! Very very wacky! And this is just something everyone should see for themselves.

The Pale Blue Door

http://tonyhornecker.wordpress.com/

Dalston

£35 donation for 3 courses

Extra for wine