by Cedric | Apr 13, 2019 | Food and Drink, General
Hellfire what a glorious find. Ms Charlotte, a dear old friend of mine from Warwick suggested Jen’s to me. I was due in London for a Todd Rundgren concert (which was excellent, thanks for asking). My friends and I met outside Leicester Square tube station and walked the short 300ft to Jen’s. The first thing which astonished me was that we could see one of the chefs making dumplings in the window. She had her own table for all to admire her dumpling making skills. I was very impressed by this.
We had to wait a little while to get a table but once we did, it was worth the wait. The wooden seats (not the stools) were quite low and one is tempted to bear down on them at full speed. I advise you not to do so, as they are rather very hard.
Half of us ordered the roast duck. It is pictured below. Beautifully cooked and arrived with alarming speed. the flavours are difficult to describe. Suffice to say this was a jaw dropping dish. It is ever so rare to find duck well done. Tesco’s hoisin duck sandwich will never be the same.
The other half opted for the BBQ pork with rice. I had this myself and must say it was the better of the two dishes, though I am biased. Stunning dish all round. Very much recommend.
But but but, what really stole the show were the array of aforementioned dumplings, half of which were fried. The other half were good, but nothing compared or ever shall compare to the fried dumplings. These were an exercise in pure joy. Though I would advise you to wait some minutes after they arrive to avoid burning yourself.
And of course… the fried dumplings!
St Nick would you to be informed that at Jens, one is served Chinese tea in mugs with handles. This is a particular affront to his dainty and antiquated ways, with which I have no issue. Nonetheless he is taller than me and capable of inflicting grievous bodily harm so it’s best not to cross him. Otherwise, top marks for Jen’s!
by Cedric | Apr 10, 2019 | Food and Drink, General
It is about time I wrote about this place. When I lived in Newcastle briefly, I would spend at least three nights a week at Colonel Porter’s Emporium. The location is fabulous, their array of gins puts Wetherspoons to shame and the decor is quite unique.
First World War England doesn’t provide for the most politically correct decorating style. However, if one can overlook the disturbing implication of Empire celebration, this is a really sterling pub. One of my favourite ciders in England, Orchard Thieves, is served here. While I take strong objection to paying £4 for a pint of any description, I submitted myself to this astonishing charge for the quality of the cider.
Colonel Porters is most well known for their selection of gins. My personal favourite is the saffron gin, which I first tried in Blue Lips Bar in Naples, which I also suggest. My sister often opts for the Edinburgh gin, but my all time favourite is Lymington gin. I’m unsure whether they have the latter in stock.
Back in the day, Master Brewer Colonel porter teamed up with Chief Chemist Archie Jones to create Newcastle Brown Ale (ala Dog, Journey into Space, Lunatic’s Broth). In this Emporium we celebrate this fine feat. Colonel Porter’s
I haven’t ever sampled the food here, aside from the array of popcorn – which is grand. So it would be remiss of me to give you any kind of advice. However, I can tell you this is a warm pub where you shall feel welcome and drink in comfort. The location is superbly central and the staff are deeply knowledgeable. I highly recommend Colonel Porter’s.
by Cedric | Apr 7, 2019 | Food and Drink, General
You’ll never guess which reviewer was in Newcastle last week! Well, you might be able to, it was me. After marvelling at the architecture surrounding Newcastle Station, I was driven to Casa Antonio. Now, when I lived in High Heaton I would go here quite often. The most attractive feature of Casa Antonio is that you can get 3 courses for £4.95. Yes you read right.
Potato Skins are generally my choice for starter, though the soup of the day are always winners. Crispy and light, they pair wonderfully with the sauces provided. But what is great about them is that they still have some of the potato flesh inside which means some of them are chewy. Really there isn’t much else to say, but trust me when I tell you that this dish is fantastic.
Father went for the ragu pizza, which I had a bite of. The dough was made fresh, the topics were good quality and the smell thoroughly intoxicating.
I, on the other hand, went for the pepperoni. When I lived in Rome, I craved one such pizza. Of course it did not occur to me then, until it was too late, that pepperoni has a different meaning in Italian. In this fine language, pepperoni refers to peppers, such as a bell pepper. So you can imagine my shock when my pizza arrived in Rome with green topings instead of red ones!
Nonetheless, the pepperoni (in the English sense) from Casa Antonio was sterling. Not too filling and piping hot. Really delightful dish.
The third course is either ice cream or coffee. Having travelled four hours from Birmingham, I decided to have a coffee. Their espresso is really very good. Cafe lunghi, not so much. I hope you’ll find the time to eat there next time you’re in Newcastle. When considering the volume and quality of food one can get for under £5, the value for money is astonishing.
by Nicholas Jenkins | Apr 4, 2019 | Food and Drink
Dear Readers,
I have been attending Church on a daily basis recently, and not because Lent has encouraged me to take my religious profession more seriously. You see the Church is a pub, and a rather good one too. At its altars one tends to drink of beer not wine, unless one is an outrageous degenerate in which case one imbibes Cider.
Let’s begin with the beer, the essential element of any pub. There are several; I have opted every time for a pint of the Tighthead. A real ale, of course, with a rather rich flavour. As I haven’t tried any of the other beers, I cannot say whether they hold up to scrutiny as well, but I suspect as much. Cedric no doubt will chalk this up to my lack of adventurous spirit, but as he has ordered a pint of Aspall’s cider every time, I feel on this occasion he has no foot to stand on.
Of course, I realise, dear readers, that I may have made a blunder. You see without realising it, I have in the space of two paragraphs twice insulted cider drinkers. Rest assured I do not wish to unduly censure those bibulous connoisseurs, like my father, who indulge occasionally in a pint of cider alongside a healthy diet of bitters and other more traditionally correct drinks. I tolerate such acts of folly with a wry smile and occasionally offer a gentle witticism along the lines of: “so when did you become a farm labourer”. No, my opprobrium, rest assured, is levelled solely at those infantile entities who refuse ever to graduate from drinking alcoholic apple-juice, to try a nice pint of real ale.
Anyway, back to the review. We have on occasion been known to order some food at the Church. The first time we went for the pizza. I cannot confess to be an authority on pizza à la Cedric, but I do know a good one when I see it, or rather eat it. It was perhaps not pizzeria standard, but it was a very worthy pizza pie (as the colonials would say), and homemade too. On other visits, we have ordered chips and halloumi fries. I have no idea what halloumi is. It seems to be something vegetarians go in for, but don’t let that put you off. These particular fries are exceptional, they were really meant for Cedric, but I must say I took a fair few for myself in a most dishonourable manner.
Overall the Church, is an exceptional establishment. The staff are warm and friendly and the whole place has a traditional feel with a modern twist (to coin a pretentious phrase). It looks like a pub, sounds like a pub (without the modern trend for loud annoying music), and on closer inspection is a pub. A very good pub that is.
by Cedric | Apr 1, 2019 | Food and Drink, General
Now, I know what you’re thinking; this pub is part of a chain. Historically I’ve avoided any such pub, but on this occasion it appears Nicholson’s have taken over and made no material alterations to this pub. It retains a quintessential charm which I’ve sure it must have had in the 17th century. Wooden beams abound and there is no shortage of latticed stained glass partitions. There is an oddly modern extension around the back but the resulting space housed us for our lunch, so I can forgive the teal wood conservatory-esque modern atrocity.
Let’s talk about the Sunday roast. I had the beef, and good grief, what a meal. The parsnips were outrageously flavoursome. The beef just fell apart and joined beautifully with the home made yorkshires. Tasty taters to boot, I was thoroughly impressed.
Patricia being a fountain of wisdom, tried her first fish and chips. They are pictured above. I was only able to taste a morsel of her fine wine and haddy, but the batter was absolutely top shelf, as was the softness and flavour of the haddock. Cooked very well, as expected.
St Nick, as he often does, went for the steak and ale pie. Now when I see mustard seeds anywhere near batter, I make a point of sampling it. And much to my surprise, St Nick let me do so. Wonderful crispy home made batter! I was not privy to any more morsels.
The Eagle and Child lays claim to a number of interesting literary connections. J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and fellow writers met here and dubbed themselves ‘The Inklings’. They nicknamed the pub ‘The Bird and Baby’. A public house since 1650, our hostelry takes its name from the crest of the Earls of Derby. During the Civil War, our building was used as the playhouse for Royalist soldiers. Eagle & Child
Our dear friend Charlotte, who formed the solar plexus of this trip, opted for the roast chicken. The generous portion she allowed me to sample was teeming with flavour and very well cooked. I would recommend it.
In all, I was impressed by this historical pub. The location, service and quality of the food overall lent themselves to a sterling experience which I am eager to repeat. I’d like to thank St Nick personally for suggesting it.
by Nicholas Jenkins | Mar 22, 2019 | Food and Drink
Dear Readers,
I’m at a bit of loss on how to proceed this week. You see for the last two reviews I’ve been riffing off the theme of the ghastly places I’ve visited, which has done a good turn for my meagre writing abilities. My righteous indignation at Milton Keynes in particular got the creative juices bubbling nicely, and I found that each word proffered itself to me with an ease that would make many a superior writer cry out in envy. No doubt my reading public is settling down at this very moment to this blog, thinking to themselves ‘Ah we’re in for a treat here, let’s see how St Nick skewers the latest locale’. Alas I am unable to oblige.
You see this week I was in York. York is one of England’s great cities, and I say that as a patriot, fully aware of all of England’s resplendent glories (and also its perishing defects). The Minster is architecturally stunning, the shops are full of quality, the station is impressive, and as I hope to convey to you in part, many of the eateries are bloody good too. One particular restaurant was suggested by my good pal, and proprietor of this blog, Cedric. Its name was Rustique.
I have become a zealot for Rustique. Facing out towards Castlegate, its street front is unassuming but what lies within is anything but. The food was superb, the atmosphere just right, and the alcohol flowing as it should. I went there with my dear parents, but the place is just within the budget for the student diner (depending on the student) and one may dine there even if the Paterfamilias is not forking out the necessary funds. To start I had the moule marinieres a la creme which I thoroughly enjoyed. For my main course I opted for the Steak Frites. Jolly excellent I must say. The frites were a particular highlight. They were thin, crispy and went delightfully well with the steak.
The judicious thinness of the chips reminds of something. It is never my desire to disrespect the auspicious proprietor of this blog, but try as I might I cannot stop myself at times from taking a few jabs at the sterling chap, worthy as he is, and I feel just such a moment has arisen. You see, although there is no doubt that Cedric is one of nature’s great suggestors, he is on occasion known to hold some rather unsound opinions. Whether it is through some taint of his upbringing, or perhaps the jejune concoction of Macedonian and Albanian that runs through his veins, I am not sure, but whatever the reason maybe, he doesn’t half have some strange ideas. One silly notion he is got in his head is that baths are immoral. The other is that chips should be chunky.
Now, I’m sure, dear reader you like me, are still reeling from the shock of this revelation, but if I might suggest one way you might re-cleanse your soul, is by visiting the grand city of York and tasting the frites at Rustique. Rest assured they are thin, as nature and nature’s god has commanded. Everything else about the place is superb, this is the very best restaurant I have had the pleasure to review so far on this blog, and another brilliant suggestion by Cedric.
