get stuffed in london: dining out in the capital on the cheap

2019-03-14T23:43:00.000+00:00

Hello all, long time no blog. I wanted to tell you I'm back and so excited about it :) I wrote my last proper review in 2011 and since then I have moved twice, had a couple of failed relationships and downs and ups (steamroller and roller-coaster!) with my mental health. Pleased to say although every day is still a struggle it is a good struggle and after a very tough couple of years I feel a bit positive. Expect a fresh look and less foodie pretentiousness and less bloody diets. I've grown up and so has Get Stuffed in London.

I've re-branded as a cheap eats blog. I think it is so important to stress how nice going out to eat at a good place can make you feel. Why should it just be for those with piles of money?

You can expect:

Reviews of decent, well-priced restaurants, cafes and bars

Interviews with fellow bloggers and food industry insiders

How to access cheap, wholesome food (via apps and sites) that would otherwise go to waste

Recipes

Cookbook recommendations - (shout out to Jack Monroe!) and much, much more

I will also be covering cheap and free nights out/days out where food plays a part. I look forward to connecting with you.

Stay safe, stay you.

Helen x

2011-10-01T12:44:00.002+01:00

Aubergine and garlic pizza

Made a nice pizza for lunch, my partner did the dough and left it for me. I rolled it out and added tomato puree, fried aubergine and garlic and topped it off with mozzarella cheese.

It looks nice, sadly you will have to imagine it for now as I have no laptop connection. I will try and post a picture when its done.

New reviews coming soon!

2010-03-14T09:51:00.000+00:00

Upcoming reviews and articles:

Inside - Greenwich
Bologna - a foodie's guide
An Italian Feast for Valentine's Day
Pasta and Risotto Masterclass with Theo Randall
La Dolce Vita show review - Islington

Tortilla review

2010-03-13T21:41:00.006+00:00

Tortilla

6 Market Place

W1W 9ah

This affordable chain of Mexican 'casual restaurants' (think fast food for the more discerning palate), now boasts four locations across the centre of London: Islington, Southwark, Canary Wharf and Oxford Circus. Established to tap into an obvious gap in the market ,Tortilla aims to provide fresh, authentic and delicious Californian-Mexican food minus the shots of tequila. This is food designed to attract the lunch hour crowd rather than a post-pub/club one the set-up being reminiscent of Subway, with burritos, fajitas and tacos made to order while you wait, from the selection of ingredients on show at the counter. One would be wise to look past this though, as the quality of what is on offer here soars above that of the ubiquitous 'way.

Ignore the fast food trappings and you really will be pleasantly surprised when you sink your teeth into, say, the soft innards of a carnitas (braised pork) burrito (Medium £4.70, add on 50p for each extra), packed with tender well-seasoned meat, lime-cilantro rice, zingy guacamole, soured cream and pinto beans, and all topped off with one of Tortilla's amazing salsas. The portions here are more than generous (for the ravenous or sharers a larger size can be had for £5.70), and the soft drinks are bottomless (Nando's had the right idea about that at least). it is telling that one of my only other experiences of Mexican food in London has been a visit or two to Chiquetos, and quite frankly, Tortilla kicks it to the kerb in terms of flavour and value for money. Whilst you are unlikely to come here to wile away an evening, it is the perfect alternative to some of the pizza or hamburger joints that crowd the city.

There are also options for vegetarians (beans or guacamole) and for those who wish to avoid red meat or carbs you have the choice of Pollo Asado (grilled chicken) or the Naked Burrito (everything but the tortilla in a bowl).

Staff are the usual friendly sort, but again their uniforms remind one of Nando's employees, including t-shirts with pithy slogans on the back. Sadly, the way the food is presented just adds to this deja vu; it may help to keep the tortillas hot but wrapping them up and putting them in a wire basket doesn't make for a great dining experience. Yes, for takeaway it would be fine, but for sitting down with a beer or a margerita a plate would be nice.

It's a shame that these few points of comparison could put some potential customers off. It's unlikely that I would walk into a branch of Tortilla unless I already knew how good it was. It just looks a little too chainy. Of course, these sort of compromises are the reason why Tortilla is so much cheaper than Chiquetos. However, its clear that as soon as word of mouth kicks in the formula works and the queues pile up a lunchtime.

So give your taste buds a treat and pop into Tortilla's newest branch at Oxford Circus to try the Salsa Verde, splash out on the Carne Asada (grilled steak) or sample the crisp fresh- -as- a- daisy tortilla chips. Buen provecho!

Lovely nepalese style curry

2009-06-06T10:51:00.000+01:00

The veggie made this for me recently. A lovely, lemony dhal with garlic and onions, the lightest potato cakes I have ever had and a nice bit of basmati rice. She also made a spicy mixed bean curry not shown. She is still being cagey about the potato cake recipe but it was very easy to do, I'll get it out of her! :)

Abokado: City Road, London.

2009-05-12T22:36:00.001+01:00

My new favourite place to grab lunch when I don't bring it from home is Abokado. Think Itsu but cheaper and less fussy. They offer a selection of freshly-made sushi wraps and sets as well as hot noodle dishes. Wraps are great value at less than £2.00 and the sets (which include my pick of salmon sashimi and cover veggie, beef and chicken too) average at £4. Noodle dishes are also reasonably priced.

The best thing about this place is the quality of the ingredients and consequently the taste - you will never go back to supermarket sushi again! Plus you get a free dressing with each sushi set.

I don't know of any other branches myself (this one is a few minutes from old street tube) but If they don't exist yet they soon will. After all, It's gone from being practically empty at lunch when it first opened to having queues almost out the door. Just be careful if you eat in as you have to pay extra (hate that).

e-bar review is up!

2009-05-12T14:00:00.000+01:00

Hi

My e-bar review is now up at Dine-Online.co.uk/foodie!

In other news: I was made a lovely meal last night. Veggie cottage pie (with quorn mince), with mustard mash, a cheesy topping and mini corn on the cob (I will see if I can get the recipe from her!). Bless my gf she's quite excited that I can eat normal food again and has thought 'sod it' to low-fat dishes... I had a small portion, but it was delish!

Rejig of GSIL and latest review on DineOnline

2009-05-09T14:09:00.000+01:00

Hi

As you can see I've had a bit of fun rejigging the blog! I hope you like it, please let me have your comments.

I'm shifting back to writing reviews and posting them here, and moving away from the diet blog (as I have now lost 3 stone and feel able to eat a bit of normal food again!).

My latest review of 'Imli': Indian restaurant in Soho, is up on DineOnline now:

click here

I'm currently writing a review of 'The e-bar' in Little Venice and that will hopefully be up soon too.

I also have tons of catching up to do here, so will do my best to get more reviews up soon.

Cheers!

"Tortilla' Review on DineOnline

2009-05-03T15:18:00.006+01:00

Hi!

Please check out my review of 'Tortilla' at www.dine-online.co.uk (scroll down)

Hope you like it!

More to come.

Quick update!

2009-03-20T13:43:00.000+00:00

Hi!

I know I have been rubbish at updating this... life has kept getting in the way I'm afraid! Just time for a quick update.

The diet is still going well, I have now cracked the 12 stone mark and my "12 stone bones" are starting to show (collarbone!). It's hard and getting harder but I am managing to stick to it about 80% of the time. Need to up that to at least 90% if I want to lose 3-4 pounds a week, at the moment I am losing about 2 pounds a week.

Have continued to hit the gym quite hard, three times this week. My stamina is definitely improving and I can easily (well almost easily!) do half an hour on the crosstrainer now.

Also people have been commenting on the weight I have lost which is always nice :) My boss said I have lost "sh*t loads of weight" and congratulated me. A friend I hadn't seen for a while said it was very noticeable that I had lost. Apparently my face looks longer too! weird!

Anyway, that's it for now!

H

Do me a flavour! The new Walkers crisps tested!

2009-02-23T13:18:00.004+00:00

The scene: A quiet boardroom, not far from here. On the table dozens of
packets of crisps and two seats waiting to be filled by...

Our tasters! Miss Katty Blanch, veteran crisptaster and part-time pole dancer and
Mrs Marie-Claire Tovey EAT(dip) TASTE(hons), a chicken fancier
and all round good egg.

Onto the flavours: Builder's Breakfast, Cajun Squirrel, Chilli and Chocolate, Crispy Duck and Hoison, Fish and Chips and Onion Bhaji.

First to the lips was the Builder's Breakfast, a daring feat that is supposed to combine all the magical ingredients of that British institution - the full english - in one crisp. Cup of tea and fag optional.

KB: Hmmm. They have got a nice bacon flavour but that is overwhelmed by an eggy taste.

MCT: I would agree, to me they taste just like bacon flavoured crisps with an after
taste of egg - and that taste hangs around for way too long!

KB: Yes, Mrs Tovey, and maybe it is psychological, but I was sure some of the crisps tasted different to others, ie more tomatoey.

So, final score for Builder's Breakfast 4/10.

Now for the chilli and chocolate. Hmm. How would this one fare?

MCT: Tastes and looks a bit burnt - I couldn't taste
the chocolate but maybe that's just me and my current nasal state. We all have poor tasting days... Anyway they did have a nice chilli kick though but again the taste
hangs around for a little too long!

KB: Why? Who would be so weird as to come up with this flavour?? What was occurring to them? Oi!

MCT: Well, actually chocolate with chilli is quite nice...

KB: Hmm, well, this just smells of burnt vanilla-y chocolate. It's not an unpleasant burnt taste but it does have a weird aftertaste. Just wrong though, overall, in my opinion.

Oh dear, another 4/10 and Walkers seems to be letting itself down with the too much aftertaste.. No one likes to still be tasting crisps hours later do they?

Now for the Fish and Chips, a highly anticipated flavour.

KB: These are my favourite so far! They taste well lush, and that's a technical taster term, and I wouldn’t lie to your face.

MCT: I'm sorry I just can't do it... they smell terrible. I have heard lots of other people say they are awful so I can't subject my poor nasal passages to it really. Apologies!

(and she calls herself a TASTE and DIP!)

KB: Well I like them!! They are not as strong as scampi fries (mmmMMMmmmm scampi fries) but they do leave a distinctly fishy aroma on my fingers. Yum tastic though!

9/10 (from the taster who could be bothered!! ;) )

Now for the controversial Cajun Squirrel, could they live up to the hype?

MCT: No, not really! They taste a bit like barbecue... I am only eating one though (oh for god's sake!) as although they don't have squirrel in them there is something wrong about eating
'squirrel flavoured'..

KB: Well, I am a vegetarian and I have no such qualms, give them here!
Oh, I like the illustration on the packet – very funny. They have an impressive list of ingredients but did exclude said squirrel.

MCT: Thank the lord!

KB: However they are over herbed and spiced and something keeps catching the back of my throat which I suspect may be one of the squirrel’s nuts....

MCT: Hehehehehehe.

KB: In the end they look pretty, but more in the league of fancy crisps, and therefore, do not deliver.

6.5/10 bit disappointing after build up

Onion Bhaji anyone?

KB: For me, this is the most authentic flavoured crisp. But it just doesn't work in my mind because Onion bhajis are well nice and lush...

MCT: Yes, I know what you mean... It's very oniony, tasted like onion bhaji but now you mention it they also taste weird, like... cheese and onion.. yuck.

KB: Yes well... I think they taste real enough but there wasn’t the greasy follow through of loveliness why would you want to eat a crisp rather than the actual bhaji?!

7/10

Lastly, after a palate-cleansing sip of water, the Duck, and Miss Katty Blanch has the first taste..

KB: Nice. But could be nicer – quite a ‘meaty’ flavour but also tastes weirdly of marmite.

Mrs Tovey sadly had to decline the Duck crisps as had quite a heavy cold and felt she wouldn't be on top form.

KB: Shame. Quack Quack
5/10 for the Crispy Duck and Hoison.

So the winner is Fish and Chips, mainly because Mrs Tovey was unable to compete fully due to ill health. Get well soon!

All in all though the flavours seemed pretty disappointing and not as good as they could have been... Oh well! Whose for a packets of Mccoys?

Oh dear...

2009-02-23T13:18:00.000+00:00

Was a bad bad girl over the weekend and had some pizza - a very forbidden food group! But never mind I am back on track now and whilst I don't expect I will lost much weight this week hopefully I won't put much on! :)

Had a great weekend though!

Lost over a stone and a half!

2009-02-20T21:53:00.000+00:00

Hi!

Diet is still going well. It wasn't so good last week, I only lost 1.2lbs but I knew why that was; too many cheats and not enough exercise. I now know even more than I did before that it is so important to have as few carbs as possible. Otherwise it messes things up. Plus I had been going to the gym but using weights and not cardio - this can mean you put on weight! My counsellor said I should stick to cardio and if I really must do weights make them very light.

Anyway this week I have done so much better and on my weigh in I had lost over 3lbs! Which brings my total weight loss so far to over a stone and a half! I am really pleased.

I have been to the gym four times this week as well :) And I am doing a mixture of cross training, exercise bike, treadmill and very light weights. I am really enjoying it and I notice my stamina is increasing; I did 25 mins on the cross trainer this evening and felt fine. When I first started I found it A LOT harder (the first week I was at the gym after starting the CD the cross trainer kept pausing cos I was going so slowly ;) ). I am still trying to keep my heart rate down to go for fat burn rather than full out cardio so hopefully this will help to acclerate my weight loss.

I am aiming for another 3lbs loss next week. I was saying to my counsellor that even when I get down to 12 stone I will feel like I am just starting to lose weight as I put on weight when I was in hospital last year - before that I was about 12 stone, so even though I would have lost loads when I get to that weight it almost won't feel like it! Makes sense or not?!

Anyway I am very much looking forward to getting under 12 stone as then I will be lighter than I have been for a long time and definitely a lot fitter with all this gym time.

That's my update for now! We are going to Brighton for the weekend but I am going to stay strong and stick to the diet. I don't want to set myself back.

H x

Diet Update

2009-02-03T20:08:00.010+00:00

Hi sorry again for lack of updates. Been so busy! Diet is still going well. I have had slips but currently losing about 3 pounds a week. I know if I stuck to it religiously I would lose more. So next week I am planning on doing so!

At my current rate of loss I can expect to be at my goal weight by June but really want to push harder at the gym so I get there a bit quicker than that. I am also realistic and know my weight loss won't be as steady as that.

Have fallen into a pattern of 'muffin' for brekkie at work, porridge if at home, main meal at lunch if I am going the gym and then bar before I go, mousse for dinner. Or if not going to the gym bar at lunch and main meal and mousse for dinner in the evening. Seems to work! Am also aiming to go to the gym at least twice a week, ideally three. Although tonight it was shut due to frozen pipes which was rather annoying. I am definitely getting addicted to the weight machines and really miss it when I can't go. K reckons my loss is really noticeable now and I must admit I put on some trousers today that I haven't worn for a while and they were a lot looser.

Am considering going hard core and going on sole source next week. I know how hard that will be though so we shall see! Going out for dinner on friday night but I will just have chicken and veg as normal.

So all in all things are good. Hope you enjoyed the snow yesterday! (not so much the ice today!)

CD Day 8 - 18

2009-01-25T19:10:00.000+00:00

Sorry for the lack of updates... been really busy. My second week on the diet was much harder and my one night of drinking really through me off. So I only lost 2.2 pounds that week.

This week is going better and so far I have lost over 3 pounds. I am loving the atkins bars, so much so that I might get them instead of the CD ones, or at least a mixture of both so I don't get bored. Tonight I am going to try the mix a mousse using the shakes and powder for something different. My friend also showed me how to make a 'muffin' using the shake mix a little water and 40 seconds in the microwave. That was nice and a different texture to have!

So finding things ok, not getting too tired or hungry and this week I will be going to the gym at least 3 times. I am aiming to lose at least 4 pounds this week, although ideally I would like to lose 6. I have worked out if I can lose 4 pounds a week for 6 weeks I will have got very close to my target weight and if I lose 6 pounds a week for 6 weeks I will have achieved my target weight. I know that weight loss goes up and down though, so it won't be that easy. Hopefully going to the gym will help and tone me up.

Day 6-7 of CD, 1st weigh-in!

2009-01-14T19:50:00.003+00:00

Everything is going fine and today I had my first weigh-in! I have lost 8.8 pounds! Which is well over half a stone! I am really pleased and so is my counsellor :)

She said you can definitely notice it in my face and neck (weirdly!), and if I lost weight around my neck I should have lost it around my waist too. K is about to do my measurements so I will share them in a moment.

I also got my week's worth of food. I have done away with the soups and now have meal bars (just had the malt toffee one and it was LOVELY). I will be having a porridge (original or apple and cinnamon, I got a mixture) for brekkie once I get into work, then a bar at lunch and a dry mix shake when I get home. I think this will be much better as I will like what I am having more. I will still be having a 200cal meal in the evening.

Okay drum roll...! I have lost 3 inches from my waist and 1 inch from my hips! Hurrah! Weirdly I have put half an inch on each of my arms but I think that must be the weight training I have been doing at the gym.

H

Days 2-5 of CD, 7 pounds lost.

2009-01-12T13:36:00.000+00:00

Sorry for the lack of updates! The diet is going really well. I have lost half a stone already and this is only my sixth day!

I haven't found myself getting too hungry but then I am still having 'proper' food as part of the 200cal green and white meal in the evening. I am considering dropping that next week and seeing how much more weight I lose.

I am also going to discuss changing what I have to eat when I see my counsellor. I only like one or two of the soups, so I am thinking of dropping them and going for porridge for breakfast, a bar for lunch and a shake in the evening. Might try the mix a mousse too as it will be nice to have something to thicker to eat as well as the bar.

I have looked online and people say that the chocolate, peanut, chocolate orange and cranberry bars are nice but the other's aren't. I have also heard that you can replace the bars with the Atkins diet bars so I will see what my couns says if I don't like the CD bars.

I am also planning to cut out the ready made shakes as I can wait till I get home most nights. The shakes you make yourself are much nicer. So far I have tried the toffee and walnut (lovely) and the butterscotch (also nice).

I am excited about seeing my couns on Wednesday. K is taking all my measurements and I think I have already lost 2 inches around my waist so fingers crossed that shows on wed!

So all in all its going much better than I thought it would. I am going to start back at the gym from tonight just for half an hour a night and take it easy at first. This should help me tone up and lose more weight so I don't have to be on the CD longer than I need to be.

Already I can see my attitude to food is changing. I am not craving sweet foods, more meat and savoury things and I can really see how wrong I was going before (too large portions, snacking, no exercise, no self control, too little water and eating when not hungry). Hopefully I will be able to stick to a new approach when I come off the diet.

H

Notes on CD

2009-01-08T13:22:00.001+00:00

I am getting K to measure me and take a pic this evening so I can keep track of my (hopeful) weight loss.

I have also discovered that I don't like spicy tomato soup but I do like the chicken and mushroom.

:)

Cambridge Diet 07/01 Day 1

2009-01-08T13:15:00.000+00:00

So yesterday was my first day on the CD. It went pretty well a few teething problems such as using too much water in my porridge and boiling water in my soup (not nice!) but I wasn't starving. The shake on the way to my friend's and the fact I could have a 200 cal meal in the evening helped.

I could have a type of protein and a couple of tbsps of veg. I choose quorn last night and I was allowed 200g which is four fillets!! I just had two and some broccoli.

I am also allowed black coffee with sweetener which is cool.

I am trying to drink 2 litres of water a day and so far its going ok too.

Onwards and upwards!

H

Can't write about food right now...

2009-01-06T13:34:00.000+00:00

Yes I have loads of updates to add to the blog but won't be doing that for a little while as I am about to embark on a rather extreme diet!

Circumstances of last year have led me to weigh rather more than I did before and would like to so from tomorrow I will be following the Cambridge Diet and using this blog to track my progress.

It will still be focused on food but once on a diet of 615 calories a day I doubt I will want to write salivating reviews about lovely meals!

I will definitely start the blog up again in a few months time but for now stick with me if you would like to read my diet diary if not, see you when I'm back and hopefully thinner!

I'm meeting a friend tonight for a meal at Little Bay in Farringdon where I am planning to say farewell to nice food by eating mussels and pork!

From tomorrow I will be existing on a CD (Cambridge Diet) porridge, a CD soup, a CD shake and a 200 cal meal consisting of a small portion of protein and 2 tbsps of veg.

My CD counsellor lives very near to me and is lovely so that should help. Also a couple of close relatives (hi guys!) are doing the diet at the same time so I know I will have plenty of support.

Yours soon to be hungry

H

Latest review on 'DineOnline'

2008-11-13T14:30:00.000+00:00

Sorry for the lack of updates lately, now I'm back at work full-time its harder to find the time to blog so please bear with me will be catching up soon!

Check out 'DineOnline' for my latest review:
Cinnamon Kitchen and Anise Launch

Flying high at Everest Curry King, Lewisham

2008-10-23T12:11:00.000+01:00

Everest Curry King
24 Loampit Hill
Lewisham
SE13 7SW
T: 020 86912233

A hidden gem in the heart of Lewisham, this Sri Lankan restaurant and takeaway offers a tasty, cheap and filling meal for around 6 pounds a head. There are several different curries and dhals, and rice to choose from plus dosas, bhajis and other snacks.

We've visited twice now and both times been impressed by the quality of food, service and general high standards. The atmosphere is pleasant and at times one can imagine you are eating in a family home. The popularity of the place with Sri Lankans is testament to the authentcity of the food; many pop in for a quick lunch or takeaway.

We chose to eat in. You select 2 curries or dhals, a rice dish and any other extras. Your plate is piled high and then heated in one of microwaves behind the counter. You can select a drink from the fridges near the back, The Veggie especially likes the green cream soda, and they also do profile coke bottles and other more recognisable drinks.

When you take a seat you are asked if you want popadums and dips, which as far as I can tell are free. You are also given a glass of water and napkins.

I have eaten a lovely mild chicken korma, a spicy potato dish, a coconut and spinach dhal and nicely cooked pilau rice. The Veggie has tried the okra, and other dhals. I also had a lentil snack last time. All the food we tried was fresh, well-spiced and delicious.

Don't be put off by the outside, the Everest Curry King really is well worth a visit for a reasonably priced meal.

Scores on the Doors: 9 out of 10

A celebration at VK Restaurant & Lounge, Chingford.

2008-10-15T11:52:00.000+01:00

VK Restaurant and Lounge

The Green
Chingford
London, E4 7ES
Tel: 020 8524 8438

Although the name sounds rather like it was inspired by the energy drink, don't be put off! VK is a classy establishment. The Chingford branch is the most recently opened venue and we decided to go there for my parent's 30th Anniversary.

It was a dull and rainy evening and the place was very quiet, in fact we were the only customers! In some restaurants this would be awkward but not at the VK. We were shown to the best table in the place; a half-moon sofa which was very comfortable.

The decor is black and red, with pretty black flower patterned chairs and an open-plan kitchen as you enter. We were all very impressed.

The staff were friendly and welcoming. Whilst we decided what to eat, we ordered the bread and olives at 3.00, which brought us a plate of lightly toasted white bread, black olives and good oil and balsamic.

The drinks were also reasonable, with my Peroni beer only 2.00 a bottle.

There were two choices for the Veggie in both the starters and the mains, which was good. Upon hearing that the soup of the day was Cauliflower she went for that. After craving Mussels since our visit to Zero Degrees in Blackheath, I chose them for a starter and so did my Dad.

My Mum went for the grilled goat's cheese, which looked lovely. All the starters were between 5.00 and 6.00.

The Mussels arrived with some of the same toasted bread and a bowl for the shells. They were well-cooked and served in a creamy white wine sauce. The portion was just the right size and my Dad enjoyed his too.

The Veggie's soup was also a success, it smelt really good and although the portion was quite small it was enough and also came with bread.

For mains there was plenty of choice; a steak, pork, lamb, fish etc. All the mains were between 8 and 12.50. I thought this was good value.

I chose the Pork Belly as that is one of my favourites. Dad went for the Ribeye steak, Mum the lamb rump and The Veggie the artichoke heart, sundried tomato and mushroom risotto.

The mains were a decent size. My pork belly was lovely, had good crackling and a nice depth of flavour. It came with carrots, broccoli and what was supposed to be apple and potato mash. Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be any apple in it, none that you could tell anyway. It was shame as the taste of the apple would have cut through the richness of both the mash and the pork belly. The red wine jus was nice, but I just couldn't finish the meal; the combined flavours were too heavy and I felt full even when I wasn't.

My Dad said he steak was just ok, which was unusual as ribeye normally has quite a bit of flavour. Still it was cooked as he liked it and came with a nice potato rosti and the same veg I had. He most have liked something about it as he was the one who managed to finish his meal.

My Mum liked her lamb, which was cooked a bit rarer than she asked for but was fine. Her only quibble was that the goat's cheese had had a similar ratoutille style of veg underneath it as was served with the lamb. That was rather an oversight but never mind, she enjoyed her meat.

The Veggie's risotto was good, although she couldn't quite finish it either. I don't know how much aritchoke was in it I couldn't see much, but she had no complaints.

We all felt fit to burst after the second course, but were given enough of a break that we felt we could share two desserts. The Veggie and I chose the Eton Mess and my parents had the Movenpick ice cream. All desserts, which also included a chocolate fondant, sticky toffee pudding and banoffee pie, were all 5.00.

I was a bit disappointed with the Eton Mess. The cream was thin rather than the thick whipping cream I had been expecting and the portion was rather small. Still we both enjoyed it.

The ice cream was three scoops; chocolate, vanilla and an orange sorbet (an unadvertised bonus!).

All in all I would probably go back to the VK again, and would feel confident taking a friend there. The standard of food and service was high, not amazing but high, whilst the prices were reasonable. My parent's had a great anniversary meal.

Scores on the Doors: 8 out of 10

Interview with Theo Randall!

2008-10-09T15:16:00.000+01:00

Check out my interview with exciting Chef and winner of Italian restaurant of the year, Theo Randall at DineOnline!

http://dine-online.co.uk/foodie/theo-randall-interview-chef-theo-randall-at-pizza-express/

Great food but grating service at The Gate

2008-10-07T14:31:00.001+01:00

The Gate

51 Queen Caroline Street,

Hammersmith,

W6 9QL

Tel 020 8748 6932

http://www.thegate.tv/

As I was supposed to be attending the re-launch of a bar in Hammersmith, we decided to visit The Gate restaurant beforehand. After a bit of trouble finding it (it's down a side road by the Apollo), we came across a quaint little courtyard and church, with the restaurant on the first floor. The interior looks like it used to be part of the church, with high ceilings and white walls, and hardwood flooring. The room is longer than it is wide and it had a nice atmosphere, especially as it began to fill up.

Good bread and olive oil was offered as we mulled over the menu.

The menu was quite varied, all vegetarian and the prices were quite reasonable. I opted for the Halloumi Kibi to begin. The Veggie chose the the Artichokes.

The starter was divine; a skewer of plump, well-cooked halloumi, with red onions, pepper and courgette, sat on a bed of fresh pomegrante, cous cous and herb salad. It was warming, light and bursting with flavour.

The Veggie's dish was just as innovative and delightful; battered artichokes with a tasty dressing.

Unfortunately, the service was rather unfriendly which was the only thing that marred the beginning of the meal.

For mains we both decided to go for the Rotolo (a gorgeous combination of butternut, goat's cheese and basil rolled in thyme-infused potato), which was beautifully presented on a bed of french beans and green pepper corn and mustard sauce. Initially I thought the dish was going to be rather heavy but the goat's cheese did not overwhelm the other flavours and everything was perfectly cooked and delicious. I have never seen a dish like this anywhere else and it was just another example of the exciting vegetarian food being cooked at The Gate.

Aside from the dish we chose there was a pasta dish, an aubergine dish, another artichoke dish, a thai green curry and a mushroom dish. Something for everyone.

The desserts were something of a disappointment when compared to the high standards set by the rest of the meal. My Pressed Chocolate and Chestnut torte, was rather more of a cake, with very little chestnut and too little creme fraiche on the side.

The Veggie's sorbet was more promising, with three scoops of orange and ginger, apple and raspberry to be had. However, when it arrived the scoops were measly portions, and the flavours and colours were very muted. Not at all the vibrant offering she had been expecting!

Starters range from 5.75 to 6.25 and mains are rather more pricey at approximately 13.50.
Desserts were around the 5.50 mark. I would skip them and perhaps share another starter between two instead.

I would definitely recommend The Gate for its unusual and superior vegetarian food, its just a shame the service lets the place down. I had to catch the eye of our waitress a few times before she came over, and we were more often than not ignored. Service was very slow and although the place was busy we noted some staff were standing around not doing anything or folding napkins instead of being attentive to the customer's needs.

Scores on the Doors: 7.5 out of 10