Closing time...

I hereby declare this blog officially dead. It's been emotional guys.

Bubbledogs - Charlotte Street, W1

Bubbledogs is old, in London terms at least, they've just celebrated their second birthday.  Given I'm a whore for hot dogs I thought it was about time I wrote about one of Londons fancier options...

How not to make sausages...

I've got to be honest I probably didn't do as much research as I should have done before starting this exercise!  In my head sausages equalled smashed meat in a skin.  What could be too hard about that?

Polpetto - Berwick Street, W1

Really not a lot to say about Polpetto that hasn't been said before. Generally faultless food, great atmosphere, and friendly service.

Morito - Exmouth Market, EC1

Lovely lazy Sunday afternoons are made for tapas!  I'd normally head over to Jose on Bermondsey Street but being especially lazy on this particular Sunday we just rolled down the hill to Exmouth Market.

The Butcher's Dog - Turner and George, N1

I make little secret of it; I fucking love a good hot dog.  Getting your hands on a decent one in London though is not as easy as you'd think.

How not to do does Amsterdam...

I've been to Amsterdam a lot of times over the years.  My first experiences were hit and miss...  The city centre and red light district are horrible.  The smell of weed pouring into the street and dead eyed women gyrating in windows do not inspire me to anything much more than tears.

Five Guys - Upper Street, N1

Just what the actual fuck is all the fuss about?  The Five Guys website is plastered with positive reviews; the menu has a selection of one-liners singing their praises.  Taste is subjective I know but I just do not get it.

Peckham Bazaar - Consort Road, SE15

One top tip for bloggers out there if you wan't to avoid writers block; never read a review of a restaurant by a much better writer before trying to write your own...  Faye Maschler went to try Peckham Bazaar the day after us and ordered more or less identically.  She put it much better than I could with some lovely words and I recommend you read dem words here.

Silk Road - Camberwell Church Street, SE5

Silk Road does lot's of things really bloody well but fuck me the lamb shish is just amazing.  Smokey, salty, cumin skewered lamb with a little bit of chilli.  Each nugget of lamb next to a nugget of creamy fat...

Smokehouse - Canonbury Road, N1

I'm in two minds about the Smokehouse; I really did enjoy my food but eating it was a bit of an ordeal.  I love an open kitchen, probably more than most, but for the love of god do not sit a table next to the pass.

Bao - Kerb, Kings Cross Boulevard, N1

What a lovely little strumpet; soft, pillowy, savoury, and sweet all at the same time.  The shredded pork belly bun from Bao is a proper treat!

Pig and Hay - Chapel Street Market, N1

Pig and Hay is hands down the best kept secret on Chapel Market.  When I say secret that's probably a bit of an exaggeration as I've never seen it without half a dozen people queuing at lunch time to get their fill.

Dishoom - Boundary Street, E2

This could have been an amazing meal and looks wise Dishoom is a pretty cool little venue in my books.  Eating out on the veranda when the sun's out was a delight but the whole experience left me wanting sadly.

The Wilderness Festival 2013

Noa - Upper Street, N1

Is there anything more noble than kebab meat and chips?  Noa on Upper Street in Islington is one of my new favourite kebab houses and I've eaten there quite regularly in the last few months.  The doner meat is exceptional; crisp, tender, and perfectly fatty.

What your lunch says about you...

In a society obsessed with social media, instagram food porn, and blogging is it much of a stretch to see food as another status symbol? Where you choose to eat says as much about you as the clothes you wear surely?

Giant Robot - Clerkenwell Road, EC1

Why did no one tell me Giant Robot do a decent burger?! Developed originally for the Rotary Bar by Carl Clarke of Disco Bistro fame the Rotary Burger is a bit of a beast and well worth trying out.

Polpo - Beak Street, W1

Anyone heading down to the Wilderness festival this year is going to be in for a treat.  I was lucky enough to try out Russell Norman’s menu for Polpo this week and can safely say it has whet my appetite anew for the feasts to come. I’ve tried very hard to not sound like a smug wanker writing this... I don’t think I’ve succeeded but at least I tried right?

Meatlover - Amwell Street, EC1

So Filthy McNasty's is no more; for the next few weeks only it’s going to be taken over by Meatlover.  I suppose you could liken this to a last stab at rebellion before it turns into a respectable gastropub that is much more befitting of the rather upscale Amwell Street “village” location.