Review: Hache Burger (Shoreditch)

Pronunciation: Hash-ay

Having raved on about Hache Burger since last year, it came to me that I've never actually reviewed the place. It must have been that good because I can't think of any other reason why. 

Camden is the original branch but I'm so glad they opened one in Shoreditch because that means I can pop in whenever I am having burger withdrawal symptoms. 

I've been 3 times previously and I'm making it my mission to try a different burger each time. I definitely recommend the Steak Milano with the sun-dried tomatoes and the Steak Catalan (it's quite meaty though). I took my cousin here once, and having travelled along America a few months before, his exact words were "probably the best burger I've ever had". Now that's saying something. 

Steak Canadian.
Picture courtesy of Hache Burger.

Always go brioche with the burger, once you go brioche you won't go back, the sweet and meat is a match made in heaven. The burgers are meaty, soft, crumbly but well made. The choice on the menu is not too much for your eyes but enough to carefully pick which one you will try this time round. You even get some 'salad' on the side (a chicory leaf and bits of tomato). I have to mention the wedges and garlic mayo. It's the best garlic mayo I've ever tasted - how do I know? Because I was still tasting and smelling of it the next day. Even though I was full, I was still reaching out for them, I couldn't bear the thought of leaving them. 

To be honest if you can have a burger and a whole side to yourself, you're a machine. It was only on my fourth visit that I had learnt my lesson and ordered sensibly (burger each and a side to share between 2 of us), so that I was able to order a dessert. Admittedly, I went for a hard shake (an alcoholic milkshake, folks), but it was just what was needed - Oreos, Baileys and Tia Maria a perfect combination I think! 

Prices are at a reasonable price, good choice of burgers as well as extra toppings. Drinks are also a bonus as my favourite Belgium beer, Hoegaarden is available and my fave Argentinean Malbec red wine. 

I'd recommend booking if you're more than 3 people but seats are available by the bar if needs must. 

I definitely recommend this place. Come here.

RATING: 4.5 out of 5 (not quite the 5 just because of the slight non attentiveness of service).

Sunday Roast Review: Hawksmoor Spitalfields

Probably some of the best beef you can have.

There's only one choice of meat on offer but that's no biggie because the variety of beef that is available is enough. I've made a visit to the Spitalfields branch before for dinner. It was very good, with the exception of the triple cooked chips - they were nothing special but to be honest you don't really come to Hawskmoor to taste the chips.

A Sunday roast however is a different ball game entirely. The tradition that is the roast dinner, you expect not just a good portion of meat, it's equally important counterpart is the roast potatoes, equalled out with the gravy and the amount of gravy available, equalled with that all important Yorkshire pudding, and some may argue, equalled with the type of vegetables and its crunchiness.

Well, I can say for one thing, that there was no complaint with the Yorkshire Pudding (see picture). I think it's the biggest one yet, it wasn't soggy (one of my dislikes - nothing worse than an oily and 'soggy bottom').

A Yorkshire Pudding with a side of Roast...and horse radish.

For the price of £19.50 a pop it's pricey, but I could probably go again for a quarterly treat. I asked for my meat medium and it came perfectly medium, sliced not too thin but not too thick so it allowed for a good meat/yorkshire/bit of potato sized bite.

The vegetables were not too soft - which was to my liking, although I wasn't too keen on the whole roast garlic (don't even think about eating it if you're out on a date...or going to a work meeting the next morning - you'll still be sweating it out) and the cabbage leaves but that's only due to a bad childhood memory.

I've had better goose-fat potatoes I must admit, but they weren't too shabby and they fitted perfectly into my humongous Yorkshire. They weren't cut too big either and there was a good portion on my plate.

I could have done with a little bit more gravy, but liked the fact I was given our own gravy pot to pour on when and how I wanted.

I was totally stuffed by the end of it but still went for the peanut butter shortbread dessert - seriously, you need this in your life. It was more like a crunchy, soft cookie with some yummy ice cream on top.

Service was fairly quick seeing how busy it was, the bar area was also full. Being seated inside the dining area is better for a more intimate setting, tables were a tad too close for my liking (I was seated in between 2 couples) and my seat may have stuck out a bit as my chair getting knocked into as people walked past but once my food had arrived it was not important in the grand scheme of things.

Sunday Roast rating: 4.5 out of 5

2012 best bits

Just a few homemade highlights from last year...Here's to 2013!

Vegetarian cottage pie

Japanese beef and mirin sauce

Homemade fish cakes with broccoli and salmon

Chinese Almond cookies

Gingerbread butterfly biscuits

Pizza dough

Paella and chicken wings

Savoury muffins with bacon

Chinese soy sauce chicken

Watercress, onion, mozzarella and egg pizza.

Chinese breakfast: congee and savoury churros.

Review: Beach Blanket Babylon Shoreditch

A last minute Friday decision saw us go for dinner at Beach Blanket Babylon in Shoreditch.  I was quite relieved that there was a table for 2 on Friday at a reasonable time (9pm).

When we arrived we were seated at a table next to the bar, but the waitress offered us another table up in the dining area which we accepted.  As soon as we stepped in, there was such a good atmosphere, the lighting inside was dim enough to create an air of excitement for the night ahead, but light enough to see in front of you.

Menu:
8 Oz fillet of beef (my veggie days are officially over...especially during the weekends), with blue cheese polenta, honeyed turnips, watercress and red wine sauce.
Pan fried fillet of cod, puy lentils, crisp salsify and sun blushed tomato vinaigrette
With side orders of french fries and green beans.
And a lovely bottle of red.

I have to say, I was willing to like this place, I already had high expectations - BBB didn't exactly disappoint but food wise - it wasn't all that.  For that price I was expecting something to 'wow' me.  It was good but didn't make me go 'wow'.  My beef was cooked medium - and I had no complaints, it was good.  My friend's cod however came uncooked in the middle first time round which was a bit of a surprise, but to their credit they did actually re-cook the whole dish (and not just re-heated it as some restaurants do).  When the cod was served second time round, it was good.

The dish did the trick for a late dinner, but of course I couldn't resist the dessert menu.  I had the Rich chocolate torte with vanilla ice cream, and it was rich indeed - but divine.

Service was ok - the waiters were friendly and helpful enough, but not too attentive really.

However, the bar downstairs is where BBB is at its best.  Lively atmosphere, modern and a variety of music courtesy of the DJ, who moves from the dining area to the basement.  Reasonable priced drinks.  All in all a pretty good evening.  The only thing I wished was that it stayed open later than 1am!

All in all, BBB is excellent if you want a night of dancing, or having a party.  Food wise didn't quite match I'm sad to say.

Japanese Mirin-poached Beef

• Rump steak
• 150ml vegetable stock
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 5 tbsp mirin
• 1 tbsp golden caster sugar
• 1 onion, sliced
• Spring onions, finely chopped
• 1 red chilli, thinly sliced
• Steamed rice or thin noodles

1. Combine stock, soy, mirin and sugar in a pan, bring to the boil, then turn down to a simmer. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, slice the meat, add the beef and cook for a few more minutes, stirring. Sprinkle with spring onions and chilli (I added some to the pan to add some flavour to the liquid), and serve with steamed rice or noodles (I used vermicelli in this case and I think it works better) and some of the cooking liquid spooned over, or if you prefer soup noodles, pour the rest of the liquid in.

Simples!

Recipe taken from BBC GoodFood

Chilli con Carne in 30 minutes

A tasty, juicy and lightly spiced chilli in under 30 minutes. Serve with rice, a jacket potato or in a fluffy bun for a classic 'sloppy joe'.

Serves 4
Ingredients:

• 500g beef mince
• A diced onion
• Spice mix 3 teaspoons of each unless stated (you can use a packet spice mix if you prefer): onion powder , paprika , 2 garlic cloves grated, sugar,  plain flour, cumin, oregano, chilli powder (or crushed, dried whole chilli peppers)
• Splash of white wine vinegar
• 400g tin of tomatoes
• 200g (1/2 a tin) of baked beans
• 400g tin of kidney beans
• A squirt of #5 umami paste (available from Waitrose)
• Soy sauce
• 50g grated mild cheddar (or another hard cheese of your choice)
• 1/4 pint of boiling water
• Tabasco sauce (optional, for extra heat)
• Salt and pepper to season
• Sour cream to serve.

Method: 

1. Brown the mince and onion in a saucepan. Drain off any excess fat. If you are making baked potatoes preheat your oven.
2. Blend your spice then mix with the water and stir into the mince, along with a splash of white wine vinegar and soy sauce. Also add the Tabasco sauce if you are using it.
3. Add the tomatoes, baked beans and kidney beans and a tablespoon of #5 umami paste.
4. Bring to the boil, stirring continuously. 
5. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes until thoroughly cooked. 
6. While the chilli is simmering, prick your potatoes with a fork and microwave for 4 minutes (or until soft) then move them to the oven for a crispy skin. 
7. Remove the chilli from the heat and stir in the grated cheese until melted, this will add an extra creaminess to the chilli and serve immediately with baked potatoes or rice and lashings of sour cream.

This is an easy dinner that is sure to satisfy and great if you are having friends over. If you are eating alone or with a partner just freeze the leftovers or halve the ingredients.