Back to School for Brunch - The Schoolhouse

The Eatery: The Schoolhouse, 139 St John's Hill, London SW11 1TD
The Site: http://www.theschoolhouse.london/
The Companion: a group of pals for hung over Sunday brunch
The Dolla: Around £15 for a main dish and a drink
MCM Rating: 4/5

I fell in love with The Schoolhouse as soon as I spotted they had pancakes on the menu - AS A SIDE. Respect. The Schoolhouse, is a great Clapham gem, easy to walk past but difficult to resist once you've tried it.

The 'schoolhouse' theme is carried through to the decor with comic books, old style school photographs and iconic toys dotted around - personally, I love dining next to Furby.

Mrs Brunch

 

The menu is reminiscent of an old school report with a great selection of dishes, there are twists on classics like 'Mr Benedict - English muffin, soft poached eggs and hollandaise sauce with a choice of Cola Ham, Pulled Pork or Smoked Salmon to go with it  or Schoolhouse specials like the Mrs Brunch - Grilled halloumi, avo, peppers, tomato concasse and mushrooms on poppy & rye with poached egg, rocket and baby spinach - I have these with their Hash Bravas which are delicious.



Santa Fe

My favourite dish is the Sante Fe this is my Saturday morning heaven; ridiculously good Cheddar & Jalapeno cornbread with spicy ratatouille, smashed avocado, poached egg, lime crème fraiche and spicy ketchup.

Schoolhouse serve food throughout the day and even have a Tuck Shop for lighter bites...but their best menu by far is brunch; good size portions and there's a Bottomless option too.  Try it if you feel like something a little different - and DON'T forget the cornbread!



  

Bumpkin - Banging Ribs and Burnt Burgers

The Eatery:Bumpkin South Kensington, 102 Brompton Road, London, SW7 3RD
The Site: http://bumpkinuk.com
The Companion: Great for lunch with a group of pals or the family
The Dolla: Around £35 per head
MCM Rating: 3.8/5

Today I went for a BIG Sunday lunch with the family at Bumpkin . Always good to end a weekend having eaten so much you're no longer able to move. There's a lovely atmosphere at Bumpkin, it has a sort of smart/casual feel that makes you feel instantly relaxed.

Everyone felt like an afternoon full of comfort food so we started off with a plate of ribs to share. This was a pretty generous portion, plenty of meat on the bone and the sauce was tangy, tasty and full of flavour (I kept the little pot of extra sauce for chip-dipping)! Delicious!

For the main course I went for a a burger and that's where it fell a little bit flat; the chips were under-done! More importantly, they wouldn't serve the burger medium-rare but said they would cook it pink, when it arrived  it was far too overcooked for my liking. The good thing was; it came with a fluffy brioche bun, a drizzle of delicious sauce some salad and a gherkin...I love a gherkin.

To finish off this naughty Sunday meal we went for a Sticky Toffee Pudding with Salted Caramel Ice Cream. They gave us another generous portion and this was pretty delicous, only complaint; I would have liked a little bit more of the sauce -I'm greedy like that.

The Verdict: I love the atmosphere here, the service was good and staff were lovely. A good choice for a Sunday lunch. Would be great to try some of their more refined dishes next time and see what they can do with a nice piece of fish or a pork belly. In the meantime Bumpkin, STOP BURNING YOUR BURGERS!

Tasty Tip of the Week - 18.10.2014

What: Comptoir Libanais, http://lecomptoir.co.uk
Where: All over! Westfield x2, South Kensington, Kingston and many more dotted around London...
When: Lovely Lebanese lunchtime
Why?: the Middle Eastern food at these canteens and delicatessens is fresh, light and tasty. Tony Kitous of Levant, Pasha and Kenza restaurants brings it again but this time it's uber affordable and available on the high street. I met some lovely ladies at the Westfield Food Fest and sampled some for myself - pretty tasty and perfect for a quick lunch mid-shopping!

The Grub: Hot and Cold Mezzes, Grills, Wraps, Tagines, great Falafels - the list goes on. Definitely try their specials; Halloumi Tortilla or the Sojok Tortilla (Spicy Armenian Sausage - REPRESENT!). If you've got room then there are plenty of cakes and Lebanese pastries. Wash it down with some mint tea or one of their tasty fresh lemonades.

Breakfast at Birdhouse

The Eatery: Birdhouse, 123 St John's Hill, London, SW11 1SZ
The Site: http://www.birdhou.se/   (not a great one I have to admit)
The Companion: great for a cosy breakfast or light lunch with your bezzie
The Dolla: Around £10 for a breakfast plate and a coffee


I promise to blog about a non-Battersea eatery after this but couldn't resist writing about the little ray of sunshine that is; Birdhouse. Birdhouse, is a small un-assuming cafe on St John's Hill, easy to walk past without going in and that's what I'd done for the past year or so. Now I've tried it I'm converted to walking a little further from my flat and the madness of Northcote Road to this calm, cosy cafe with a menu that's a little different from the norm.

First things first, they get the drinks right. Fresh orange juice is surprisingly hard to get hold of these days - they ticked this box for me. The coffee was also top notch and served in cute yellow cups that made me smile.

Slow cooked eggs & Serrano ham on toast with polenta chips and red pepper mayo- with cheeky chorizo added as an extra!

I liked the menu as it was something a little different to the standard cafe serving breakfast, loved the slow cooked eggs & Serrano ham and was impressed by the polenta chips as I've tried several unsuccesful attempts of these before!!

Baked eggs with a chorizo, mushroom, spinach & tomato sauce

 The baked eggs served in a rustic ceramic saucepan with a woolly handle were warming, different and delicious.

The Chavo - smashed avocado with grilled Brindisa chroizo on toast

If you feel like something fractionally lighter then go for The Chavo; smashed avocado with delicious grilled Brindisa chorizo on toast. The avocado needed a little more flavour but the idea was right - might bring my own lime next time!

Lots more on the menu to try including the Bocaditos (the Cuban word for sandwiches) so I'll be heading back for those as breakfast at Birdhouse was definitely a happy way to start my day!

Dip & Flip - Flipping Amazing

The Eatery: Dip & Flip, 87 Battersea Rise, London, SW11 1HW
The Site: http://www.dipandflip.co.uk
The Companion: Buds who like to get stuck in
The Dolla: Cheap as chips for what you're getting: around £15 for a burg, fries and a drink

I've been wanting to recommend this burger/ roast sandwich heaven for quite a while but to be very honest I wasn't sure I wanted everyone knowing about it! Finally I'm ready to share...

When I first heard of the idea of burgers and roast sandwiches dipped in gravy I had my reservations, being a Londoner through and through my view was that gravy should pretty much be served with turkey and nothing else. I have been converted. It's an absolute stroke of genius which has now made all other burgers look pretty inferior in comparison.

You can go for 'The Dip' :thinly sliced roast meat in a freshly baked brioche bun dipped, double dipped or soaked in gravy with with white cabbage slaw OR 'The Flip'; burgers cooked medium-rare on American chrome flat grills and served wit ketchup, mustard, cabbage slaw and pickles - gravy comes on the side ready for you to dip, dip, dip to your heart's content. Both of these options are mouth-wateringly delicious - just can't get enough! A few sides that aren't in the menu above are, Squeezy Cheesy Fries and Cheese Fries with gravy, crispy bacon and green chilli!

Now these guys are pros so they've come up with an excellent variety of options to help you wash down this delightful grub: a range of bourbons, Sambrooks Pump House Pale Ales, bottled craft beers, hard and soft shakes (my personal favourite) and even 'The Pickleback' which is a combination of your choice of bourbon shot chased down with a shot of pickle juice!?! - I'm yet to try one but I'm planning to on my next visit.

If you make it to the end and still find yourself wanting more you definitely won't go hungry, go for a slice of pie; Chocolate Salted Caramel Pie OR Bourbon & Pecan Pie with double cream or you can finish off with a liquid dessert; shots of Strawberry & Ginger Crumb Cheescake or Chocolate Mousse.

At the moment you can normally rock up to this place and not have to queue or book, not sure how long this is going to last so get down to Dip & Flip to experience the gravy phenomenon - turns out northerners really know what they're doing.

The House Of Ho - Bringing Sexy Back To SoHo

The Eatery: The House of Ho, 57-59 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 6HP
The Site: http://www.houseofho.co.uk/
The Companion: Late night dinner with a date or small group of friends
The Dolla: A meal for two with drinks costs around £70

The deviously named 'House of Ho' is located in the heart of Soho on Old Compton Street. It's sleek, fun, sexy and the food isn't bad either! This is definitely a night-time venue, perfect for having a few sharing plates with friends along with some sake and a few too many delectable cocktails. I went for the cocktail of the month; the Ho'rny Devil of course; chilli vodka, lemongrass vodka, coconut water, a dangerously large Vietnamese Devil chilli floating on the top and coconut flakes frosting the rim of the glass.

The menu at House of Ho is split into Light & Raw dishes, Hot & Grilled dishes, Ho’s Dishes, Sides and Dessert. All the plates here are designed to share which adds to the fun and games.

Starting with the Light & Raw dishes the Crab Pomelo Salad is definitely a good option, it's light and fresh and is made up of a variety of different textures.

Crab Pomelo Salad, Vegetable Noodles, Mint, Lemon Oil & Crispy Vietnamese crackers

I also enjoyed the Spicy Salmon Tartar. Beautifully presented and again featuring a good range of different textures on the plate. However, I have to say I was slightly disappointed with the depth of flavours, for me Vietnamese is all about strong fresh flavours and fiery chilli - I found these dishes falling slightly short in this arena.

Spicy Salmon Tartar - Chopped Pistachio, Shiso, Jicama with Asian Vinagrette

If you're feeling like satisfying your guilty pleasures then go for the Spicy Chicken Wings and BBQ Baby Back ribs from the Hot and Spicy section of the menu! Probably give the Hanoi 5 Spice Quail a miss as it was fairly dry and bland!

Now onto the star of the show, mixed reviews on how delicious it might be based on this photograph, but I have to rave about the Shaking Beef one of the 'Ho's Dishes'. Tender, tasty and one of my favourite dishes of recent months - definitely worth giving it a go!

'Shaking Beef', grass-fed, 21 day-aged fillet

PLEASE give it a try with some Morning Glory, in my opinion one of the most delicious Asian vegetables you can find -I'm addicted.

Morning Glory

If you're feeling extra naughty, go for the Molten Marou Chocolate Cake (basically a chocolate fondant) - I couldn't resist.

The verdict - although head chef Bobby Chin owns restaurants in both Saigon and Hanoi, I have to agree with many of the other critics when I say that this is not the most authentic of Vietnamese restaurants, not necessarily always a bad thing, for example the elements of fusion such as ceviche are delicious and give the menu a good range, but for me it lacked the explosions of flavour you tend to expect from Vietnamese cuisine. However, I have to say that I did enjoy the food overall especially the different components that feature on the plates and the sharing element. The drinks have certainly kept me coming back for more and I can confirm that with it's sleek style House of Ho has brought a little bit of sexy back to Soho.


Food photographed by my gurl Amandine Powell

The Brixton Diner Pop Up - Brilliance in a Basket

The Eatery: The Brixton Diner by the Pickled Fork Team, Secret Location, Coldharbour Lane, SW9
(sadly you've missed out on this delectable pop-up but read on to find out about this pairs' new project)
The Site: http://www.thepickledfork.com/
The Companion: A group of friends who are game to get stuck into some good grub 
The Dolla: Three course set menu at £20 and some affordable booze on offer

Believe it or not, The Brixton Diner was my very first pop-up experience. Seeing as pop-ups are all the rage at the moment in the big smoke it seemed like the time had come to get involved. It started out with a little test of patience and spontaneity (tough for a diner obsessed with planning) - the secret location was revealed at the last minute and there was no website or gallery for to me to browse expectantly in my lunch break! You arrived at the location and after a few minutes of thinking you're in the wrong place were let into what appeared to be a shut-up shop on Coldharbour Lane next to a fried chicken shop...little did the fried chicken shop know they were getting quite the run for their money.

The Pickled Fork (chefs Chris Griffett and Alex Motture) teamed up with local Brixton residents to create their own take on an American diner. The Brixton Diner used British ingredients sourced from local suppliers including food from London farmers markets, ale from Sambrook's Brewery in Battersea and wine from D Vine Cellars around the corner in Brixton.

A little rough and ready but the look and feel of an American Diner was definitely captured; checkered tablecloths, neon lights, food in little, red plastic baskets and some pretty mouth-watering food.

The menu kicked off with 'Barrier Block’ Buffalo Wings served with crunchy lettuce and four homemade british sauces; Pickled Parliament Sauce (brown sauce), Shropshire Blue (deliciously cheesy), SW9 Mayo Dressing and my favourite; South Devon Chilli Sauce (made with jalapeno peppers, tangy with a nice spicy kick). The variety of homemade sauces was a nice touch and everyone got stuck-in trying all of them and grabbing their favourite to keep nice and close. Fun and a nice conversation starter amongst the diners. The wings were tender and crispy with a light batter, good, but as a Buffalo Wing lover my mind wasn't blown.

The real deal breaker here for me was the main course; The Brixton Brisket Bap. Every element in my little red basket was carefully chosen, perfectly cooked and the combination of textures and flavours resulted in an extraordinarily tasty bap. Served in a soft, white dusted bun and topped with crunchy vegetabes and a delicious wafer-like cheddar crisp, the beef brisket itself was tender and tasty and a refreshing change to pulled pork which has been sneaking onto London menus willy nilly in the last year. As good as the beef was, I was equally impressed by the sides; crispy fries with cheddar salt, buttery corn on the cob (so underrated), light garlic slaw and finally deep fried battered pickles (my mouth is still watering). Tasty, original, heaven in a basket.

A hard act to follow, time to employ the use of the blow torch. Enter Coldharbour Lane Banana and Clotted Cream Pie; the best take on banoffee pie I've probably had to date. A crunchy Hob Nob base, light and fluffy clotted cream, banana blow-torched to perfection and served with a London Honey Cream with a generous dollop of peanut butter hiding underneath it waiting to be discovered. A delicious take on a much-loved classic.

The verdict is; boys done good. A fun evening experience with great food. I'm now converted to the pop-up cult and ready to embark on my next adventure. If you want to try out some delicious dishes from this dynamic duo, go hunt them down at Aston and Magill cafe in Wimbledon every Wednesday in May for their Grime-dining experience combining fine dining cuisine with a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Go on....click here  book through Edible Experiences and make sure to browse the rest of the pop ups too!

Flesh & Buns - a tasty combination

The Eatery: Flesh & Buns, 41 Earlham St, London WC2H 9LX
The Site: www.fleshandbuns.com
The Companion: Dinner with a SMALL group of friends or a casual dinner date (this is no place for a DMC or a romantic meal)
The Dolla: Meal for two including 2 cocktails, one small plate, two flesh and a dessert to share was £77 including service - not too shabby

You're not too sure what to expect when you descend the steep stairs into the basement of 41 Earlham Street, but with the music blaring and with the knowledge that this eatery comes from the same team as Bone Daddies around the corner you can't help but be just a LITTLE bit excited.

I have to admit I wasn't too crazy about the layout, the whole room is dissected in half by one long, communal table, you hop onto a tall chair (always a challenge for me) and find yourself getting rather cosy with the people either side of you. But after a little bit of maneuvering and the acceptance that at several points during your meal you may be elbowed by the nervous guy on your right trying to salvage his Tinder date, you're ready to get stuck in.

Watermelon & Kaffir Lime Collins and Lychee & Pomegranate Martini

The drinks menu is definitely something to get excited about; with  a huge selection of both cold and warm sakes served by the masu (cup) or by the carafe, or if sake isn't your tipple of choice then there are a variety of cocktails that won't disappoint. This time we went for the sweeter options served ice cold with fresh fruit; the Lychee and Pomegranate Martini (vodka, lychee juice, pomegranate syrup & orange extract) and the Watermelon and Kaffir Lime Collins (vodka, watermelon, kaffir lime syrup, soda). If you're a fan of tequila be sure to try the Frozen Yuzu Margarita (tequila, yuzu & lime juice, agave syrup, orange liqueur) - delicious.

Softshell Crab  - Jalapeno Mayo

Now onto the small dishes, you can go for the cold dishes such as the sushi rolls, sashimi or tataki or opt for one of the hot options, for me the crispy, juicy, softshell crab served with a spicy, tangy jalapeno mayo wins every time. I was also really surprised by how much I enjoyed the grilled corn - served on the cob with delicious lime spice butter.

Crispy Piglet Belly - Mustard Miso and Pickled Apple

At this point you probably will have realised that Flesh & Buns isn't the most authentic of Japanese restaurants, there's a bit of a fusion going on and they're definitely catering to customers who are drawn in by the latest ‘food trends'. However, I happen to be a sucker for a gimmick and in this case their gimmick has definitely payed off. For your main course, F&B serve homemade, soft and fluffy Hirata buns filled with your choice of 'flesh'. Each dish is served with lettuce, cucumber, pickle and two buns per person but you can always order more if you feel the need. Definitely, pick different fillings amongst you so you can try as much as possible!

Crispy Duck Leg - sour plum soy (beetroot pickle)

 The crispy piglet belly is their signature dish, incredibly tasty and perfectly paired with a spicy miso and tart pickled apple. Another popular dish is the crispy duck leg with sour plum soy and beetroot pickle - for me this wasn't too different from the crispy duck you would get at a fairly decent Chinese restaurant - nice but nothing special.

 Grilled Seabass - coriander, miso (kimchi pickle)

My absolute favourite 'flesh' is the grilled seabass, I've had it a few times and it's always cooked perfectly with the skin salty and crispy and the fish tender and tasty. I also love the little bowl of kimchee you get on the side.

Kinako Doughnuts - black sugar custard

Final bit of advice, this is a place where you should always leave room for dessert because F&B offers up a few which are pretty unique. I'm yet to try the S'more which I must say really intrigues me (marshmallow, chocolate and green tea in a biscuit) but I have absolutely devoured the Kinako (soybean flour) doughnuts which are oozing with warm black sugar custard; light and delicious. The sorbets (these tend to change depending on the day) are also a great option. I got three scoops of mango and kiwi, lychee and raspberry and tangerine - incredible.

Sorbet - 1.Raspberry and Tangerine, 2. Lychee 3. Mango and Kiwi

So the verdict? Yes, it is a bit gimmicky and yes, the noisy, busy basement venue might not be everyone's cup of tea but Flesh & Buns is always a lot of fun and boy are those buns TASTY! Jump on the band wagon....

A Homeslice Is A Heavenly Slice

The Eatery: Homeslice, 13 Neal's Yard, Seven Dials, London, WC2H 9DP
The Site: http://www.homeslicepizza.co.uk
The Companion: Great for lunch or dinner with your best homies
The Dolla: £4 for a big slice or £20 for 20 inches of heaven - careful with the wine though (read on to find out why)

Homeslice has been the best kept secret in Covent Garden for the last few months. Now, sadly for those of us who have been loyal fans sneaking there on our lunch breaks, THE SECRET IS OUT. Bloggers and pizza enthusiasts have discovered this little gem so I SUPPOSE I too should be willing to share...reluctantly.

Homeslice is tucked away in the colourful little world that is Neal's Yard. The atmosphere is low-key and relaxed at lunch time - a great break away from the office if you work near by. At night, when the wine is flowing, this little venue is buzzing with shiny, happy friends tackling huge slices of pizza whilst trying to avoid being totally covered in tomato sauce.

The size of the glorious, 20 - inch wood-fire pizzas is definitely one of my favourite things about Homeslice. They're the perfect size to share with two of your best homies and the variety of toppings on the menu have your mouth watering as soon as you step in. If you're not brave enough to go for a  whole pizza a few of the pizzas are always available by the slice. The menu changes slightly from day to day but be sure to look out for 1) Lamb shoulder, watercress and red wine soaked goat's cheese 2) Salami and Rocket (a Homeslice classic - the salami is delicate and tasty) 3) any of their pizzas with a butternut squash base! Absolutely delicious - take my advice and go for two different varieties on your pizza, going half and half is always the best way forward and helps to avoid food-envy!

Naturally, on a night out with friends you will need to wash down this delightful food with a suitable beverage. Luckily, prosecco and draught beer are available by the glass, unluckily for your wallet - you pay for wine by the centimeter (the waiter will measure up how much you've drunk at the end of your meal) so the bill might come as a little more than you expected if you've got a little carried away on a Friday night. However, it's tried and tested that friendly and efficient service, wine by the centimeter, tasty toppings and 20-inch pizzas result in some happy homies (see below for proof). Try it out with yours soon please!