Review: MASH (no, not the TV programme)

I really enjoyed my time at Mash on Brewer Street.

This is an unsuspecting white building and on entering there is a desk and spiral stairways. Follow it down a couple of floors and come into this huge arena of dim reds and a cool, modern American bar. I had no idea this place was so huge and so fantastic. The setting was only missing some jazz music but I loved the vibe as soon as I stepped in. Each table is a booth which is very cool and handy.

We started with a drink at the bar. Free popcorn and some strong drinks were served from a liquor prescription menu (very cool).  I went for the Mexican Smuggler which was a perfect start to the evening.

The Mexican Smuggler - Casco Viejo Blanco, Mezcal, basil and Szechuan pepper sugar, lime, Mash Pilsner served with a Serrano ham crisp!

So we may have over-ordered on the sides but you may as well go all out, ya know? It was 50% off Wagyu beef (yes, you read that correctly), so I ordered 100g of the Kobe and 100g of the Ozaki...but if I were to come here again (which I'm not ruling out) I would try the 1000g Australian Tomahawk - which sounds (and looks) bloody amazing!

(Left to right: Ozaki and Kob). Cooked Medium (though slight on the rare side). My favourite was the Ozaki just because it was a bit more tender and had a bit more flavour 

So the rest of the dinner consisted of:

- chips, mash (of course), bone marrow.
The chips weren't anything special, but the mash was very creamy and the bacon bits added an extra bit of to make it more interesting. I could have probably eaten more. I find bone marrow a bit odd, just in the fact that it doesn't really taste of much really, it's the texture more than anything - but didn't really add anything to the dinner.

Bone Marrow with bits of toast

- garlic and thyme jus and pepper sauce for the steak
The garlic and thyme jus was a winner in my eyes. On steak, on mash...winner winner!

- we had some greens

We also had a bottle of red in the form of an Australian Shiraz, which was just delightful.

We then got over indulgent and had the MASH cheesecake with Rhubarb ice cream. The rhubarb was so delicious.

The rhubarb was the bonus bit

All in all, it was a great dinner, and so exciting to be sat in a huge underground auditorium - there is a very understated but sophisticated atmosphere to this place that made me want to stay forever.

Not going to lie - it was pretty pricey - the steak is no doubt of very high quality but, next time, I would cut out a lot of the sides and maybe go for a bigger steak.

I enjoyed my time here and I would definitely come here again...once I've saved up.

RATING: 4 out of 5

Review: Flat Iron, Covent Garden

I do like a cleaver

I've been wanting to try this out for a while - I mean, £10 steak, who wouldn't. But the only issue was that the sites only offered waiting times of 2 and a half hours, so I was extremely happy when I heard they had opened a Flat Iron in Covent Garden which seats a hell of a lot more people.

I'd never heard of the flat iron cut I must admit so was intrigued as I usually like my steak with a bit of fat on it. But the steak was very lean and tender. Very easy to eat which is good for someone like me, as my arms often end up aching cutting up meat (although this meat came already sliced - bonus point). I had mine with horseradish cream.

The beef dripping chips were flavoursome and I could have eaten more. They did remind me slightly of McDonald's chips but in a fresh way - that's not meant as a bad thing, but they did remind me of them (sorry).

The wine I had was also very nice - a red wine I've never heard of before, I usually go for the Argentinian Malbec but it wasn't on offer unfortunately.

I had the Spicy Italian Negroamaro, the Black Cherry was also very smooth

I would also recommend looking at the special's board as a rump heart was on offer, as well as a burger.

The surprising thing was that they offered ice cream at the end... for FREE. Salted caramel with a tasty cone to go with it, with chocolate from the Mast Brothers. It was really good - even on a cold evening.

Cool pepper mill, although I was a bit clumsy with it and ended up with an uneven bit of pepper...

I would definitely come here again, easy, quick and full of flavour. Even with a limited menu there should be enough to keep everyone happy.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5

Review: Steak & Co, Leicester Square

OK, so I seem to have a lot of 'don't's' concerning eating out in London - one of them is avoiding tourist traps such as Leicester Square.

However I was proven wrong on this occasion. After a trip to the pop-up bar, Roofnic (an amalgamation of 'roof' and 'picnic' which is, actually, just a rooftop bar) on Oxford Street, we all fancied some steak. We narrowed it down to two places, and we simply decided to go to the one closest to our location, so off we trotted to Flat Iron in Soho, which consisted of a two hour wait, so we swiftly turned back out the door, and onto our next closest destination which was Steak & Co.

My friend had given us a glowing review of the place, which seemed very interesting, I was just slightly concerned we were heading towards Leciester Square on a Friday evening. However, I shouldn't have been.

Even though the majority of tables were with diners, we were seated straight away. The menu was reminiscent of one you would see at Angus Steakhouses which was slightly alarming, but if you just focus on the steak section, you'll be fine. Choose your pick of any steak, weight, as well as your choice of seasoning, butter AND sauce. This may not be the best place to take the indecisive, but it's a fun place to go to if you want something a bit different.

Each steak comes on a hot stone plate, my sirloin steak was sizzling to the point I was choking slightly on the smoke, but it was well worth it. The smell is divine (although likely to get your hair smelling of smoke too). The method is to slice your steak, put a bit of your chosen flavoured butter on the stone, infuse the sliced steak with the butter, season, and maybe dunk into your chosen sauce for good measure.

The novelty didn't wear off surprisingly, though I did find I didn't need the butter AND sauce, and then once the butter starts melting in your pot, it gets a bit messy and fiddly.

Having said that, the meat was of good quality, if I knew what I was really ordering, I probably would have asked for my meat rare, rather than medium as it obviously cooks pretty quickly once you replace it on the stone.

I went for the sirloin steak with whole grain mustard butter, seaweed salt and red wine sauce. I prefer quite a strong mustard taste which I didn't find with this butter, the seaweed salt was just for fun really - seaweed doesn't taste of much when there's so little of it. I probably could have done without the red wine sauce, which I used mainly to dunk my chips into, it probably overpowered the other two combinations - but then I have no one else to blame but myself. The chips are lovely though - they tasted fresh.

I would go here again - it's a fun place to take friends and family. It might not be the steaks of all steakhouses but the concept is brilliant and the food is pretty good depending on your own personal choices of flavour. It's reasonably priced for steak and Central London. And for a place in the heart of tourists, it is probably a bit more understated and not overflowing with people, so it gets my vote.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5

Review: Tramshed

Chicken or steak?

No really, the website is chickenandsteak.co.uk. If you're still confused as to what food they serve here, then I'm afraid I can't help you. To be fair, for a place that is renowned for chicken and steak, I'm impressed they had a pescatarian and vegetarian section, when some places don't bother. Mark Hix really knows how to sell to people.

The famous Cow and Chicken sculpture. You can't miss it.

Firstly, I have to say the staff are brilliant. On a Friday night in Shoreditch, My Diner Friend (MDF) and I rock up unannounced around about 9pm. Tramshed has been on my hit list for a very long time and I thought I would try my luck. As luck would have it, 2 people were just leaving the bar which we were more than happy to sit by and eat. The waitress suggested we go for a drink nearby and come back in 10 mins while they clear up...15 or so minutes later, we arrive back...to be told that we've been given a table instead. That isn't luck, that's just very good service.

So, we already started off on the right foot, and the rest of the time we were there, we were not disappointed. We started off with the Cock 'n' Bull croquettes (meat and potato) which were divine, we both said we could have just had that as main course, we also tried the Moons Green Beer Stix of meat - turns out it's a bit like Pepperami...only a lot more gourmet style.

The 'Stix'...interesting

Meat or chicken is the next big question - we went for the rib on the bone (rib-eye) to share amongst two (I'm a big fan of the fat). Note - if ordering the chicken, it comes with feet attached - for someone who comes from a Chinese/Asian background, this is no biggie, but if you're squeamish then...deal with it. Rare to medium is how the steak is cooked. This also takes 40minutes, I must admit, I did get a bit impatient waiting but that's only because the people around us ordered separate meals and not a great big chunk of meat, so they came and went, and the staff were great in explaining that meat must not be rushed (I should have known this). Waiting was worth it however, the waiter will be more than happy to cut your meat up for you. We had this with chips and a side of broccoli. The meat was exquisite; it worked pretty well, as I went for the fattier cuts of meat and MDF went for the lean steak. We took the meat directly on the bone home however. The chips were decent, however the bowl it came in was a bit oily and the broccoli was still crunchy (which is how I like it).

We were then too full for dessert, but I kept on dreaming about the meat. It looked and smelled fantastic, it tasted even better. It was cooked to perfection and you can tell it was just a great quality of beef. It may just be the best steak I've ever had.

THE MEAT - it may have been bigger than my head

It's quite pricey, of course it is, but for quality steak then you would have to expect to pay a bit more than your average meal. It's a great place to come with a groups of friends as the sharing plates on offer are great value for money.

Drinks on offer are great. The atmosphere is fun but serious about meat, everyone seems to be on the same wavelength in that they want quality, whether it be service, food or price. By the time it reached midnight, I was disappointed to be leaving, in all honesty I could have sat there for longer and smelt more meat go by.

If you are vegetarian or a bit squeamish about meat, then this place probably isn't ideal, but I would definitely come back here again.

RATING: 4.5 out of 5 (I'm a mean critic)

There's even a nod to the cartoon, Cow and Chicken on the wall, which I thought was a great touch.

TRAMSHED REVISITED - August 2015
I went for the chicken to share...mainly because it came with feet attached. The chicken was served comically and was cooked perfectly, if a little too much for two people, but I managed to force it down anyway. I was a bit disappointed with the skin (my favourite bit) as it was way too salty, but I guess that was for the benefit of having crispy skin. The gravy however, was on point. Delish once again!

 

Review: Heliot Steakhouse, Hippodrome Casino, Leicester Square

If there was one thing I missed as a vegetarian for a month, it was steak. And I mean a good piece of steak, so when I heard about the Heliot Steakhouse I just couldn't resist.

Lovely Argentinian wine was served

What we had:
Starters: 
Smoked salmon with avocado and crab
Tomato mozzarella
Main:
Rump steak
Sirloin steak
hand cut chips
Dessert:
Chocolate pudding with strawberry shake
Lemon creme brulee



The casino wouldn't have been my first choice when choosing steak to be honest, but the best places are always the ones where you would least expect it. We started with cocktails, which were made especially to our personal tastes, RR, my dinner date for the evening, had a lovely little glass of something with cucumber, which was perfect in the warm Sunday evening. Being a Sunday, the place wasn't full but there was enough people around to feel the quiet, unassuming atmosphere with a hint of excitement as a few small groups rubbed their hands and blew a kiss for good luck on the tables below. The Steakhouse has a choice of tables - quieter areas or ones overlooking the whole casino.

My starter of smoked salmon was absolutely divine. It tasted quite fresh, and was a decent size for the first course. I have a bit of an obsession with avocado at the moment and it had just the right amount of seasoning to complement the crab and salmon.

Presentation was very 'pretty'

Next, RR went for the sirloin - well done, and I had the rump - medium cooked. We both agreed that the steak was just right to our liking. My steak was juicy, chewy; I had mine with red wine sauce which was a great combination. The sizes were more than generous, and for that price, I thought it was well worth it. I've been to more 'well-known' steak houses where the meat portions and quality really don't represent the price. How did I know that it was a good quality meat? Because you don't need your plate to be covered when you already start to feel full but want to carry on eating all at the same time.

The rump steak and red wine sauce

For dessert, both waitresses recommended the chocolate pudding, so of course we had one of those, and it was easy to see why it was their favourite. The strawberry milkshake came in a kooky little jar with straw.

RR and her dessert

My dessert, however, was not the best. I think starters and steak is where the Heliot really excels. All in all, the Heliot Steakhouse was a success. I like the fact that it is in a casino and is a place you wouldn't automatically think to go for just a quality meal if you are a local Londoner, but on the right days of the week, this could be a 'right little gem' just to eat. The prices are reasonable for its quality and location, I've seen higher marked prices for steak, but the Heliot is definitely worth your money. You do have to be over 18 to even enter the Hippodrome but that's reasonable. Service and hospitality was friendly and helpful but not too much of a bother to your evening which I like. I'd definitely come here again for a good bit of steak...and possibly for a cocktail or two.

Steak - 4 out 5.

The mozzarella starter

Review: Sartori Restaurant, Central London

What I had: a ‘Casereccio Panuozzi’ (Mozzarella, Italian greens & Italian sausage)

What Dinner Companion (DC) had: ‘Bistecca al gorgonzola con spinaci saltati’ (Rib eye steak with melted blue cheese & sautéed potatoes)

Unsuspecting in the busy area of Leicester Square/Covent Garden – this is a gem of a place I (luckily) stumbled across whilst browsing through various websites to find somewhere to eat that evening, desperately ignoring all the ‘expresses’ and 'huts’.

I ordered what was basically a thin slice of pizza dough with the filling (with splatterings of cheese and not overloaded with it) with another thin, crisp layer of dough on top served on a wooden board.  Before ordering my dish I had already pre-decided that I would not go for a pizza (due to the fact I have had way too many pizzas in the January month) but when you arrive at the restaurant, it’s difficult to resist the wood fire oven.  It was crisp, not over-cooked, not oily and was a delight to eat to be honest.  I am usually a self conscious eater when it comes to pizzas, but this one came in an oblong shape cut into squares and I was so happy to tuck into it, all my qualms were forgotten – even with the fact another diner duo were sat literally a whisker away.  I overheard (okay, so I may have eavesdropped a bit) one of them saying that her Italian friend had recommended Sartori to her, so that is always a good sign. 

DC basically ordered steak and chips, but the steak was a big slab cooked perfectly to the way DC likes it (rare-medium), the potatoes were also cooked just right. 

The menu selection is vast (that’s the only thing – it requires some studying, but lots of options such as pasta, fish, salads, various pizza types and a wide range of vegetarian options…), but the wine menu also has a great collection for you to peruse. 

The place itself is just off the busy road which I like, it’s close enough to everything but not obvious enough for tourists to fill the place – though I would recommend booking.  All the staff are Italian and helpful – especially to top up your glasses.    

Overall, this authentic Southern Italian restaurant is definitely one to keep in mind.  The prices are not too over-priced and I would come here again just to try all the other dishes I wish I could have had. 

Rating: 4 out 5.

http://www.sartori-restaurant.com/  

One of the 2 foot long pizzas you can order...to share (if you wish).

Image courtesy of Sartori.

Taste of London: post show review

We had the privilege of attending the Taste of London 2012 event at Regents Park on its opening day, and luckily it didn't rain once when we were there (although we both realised we were wearing slightly inappropriate footwear in a muddy Regents Park).

Taste of London 2012, Regents Park

The atmosphere was full of fun, food and frolics.  As we only had limited 'crowns' (raffle-type tickets to pay for food and drink) we had a walk round of our surroundings carefully selecting what would be our best choices to sample whilst getting to grips with the wind and mud.


We came across a stall with various types of sake.  Hayley had never tried sake before so the friendly woman kindly let us try two types.

Left to right - Genmai Aged Sake - can be hot or cold, or to cook with; Honjozo Genshu - more of a dessert drink.

In desperate need for something to fill our stomachs, we found the pulled pork dish from Jamie's Barbecue.  It was almost unavoidable as the smell of the barbecue wafted into everyone's path.  It was by far the busiest stall, however, we were left slightly disappointed with the lukewarm dish we were served.  

Thailand

Not to be deterred, we made our way through the continents; Thaliand, Italy, the Far East (ironically with no far-easterns working at the stall), Whisky... We also inspected some durians and had a debate with a fellow foodie about why they have been banned from from Australia - give it a smell and you will know why; whilst Kate tried some exquisite spicy dip at the Malaysian counter.

We have to say, Gaucho's grilled thin skirt of steak with a humita cake and smoked garlic hollandaise was magnificent.  Between the two of us, we could really taste the quality of the meat.  That's when you know you are eating good food, it doesn't depend on the size of the plate, it's what is on the plate that counts.

For dessert we decided to go for some traditional ice cream from Simply Ice Cream based in Kent.  Kate had the Heavenly Honeycomb Crunch flavour, while Hayley had the seasonal Apply and Blackberry Crumble.  We're sure if the weather had been right, the ice cream would have suited us perfectly, it was just unfortunate Taste of London took place on a cold day in Summer.

On our way out, we came across some very friendly waiters from the West Country Cream Teas, and of course we couldn't resist.  As soon as we approached them, the cream teas flew off the trays like wildfire.  The jam was good, but the scone itself was a little bit dry to get through.  

All in all, we both enjoyed our time at the festival.  The only minor things we noted was that the entrance could have been better signposted when getting out of the tube station, and the queuing system could have been a lot more efficient.  It was just a shame about the weather as it really does have an effect on people's moods especially as it is an outdoor event.  The 'crowns' you had to buy in order to buy the food was slightly confusing, nor practical as the wind would have very easily swept them away (we thought coins may have been a better option).  The mood of Taste was very friendly and inviting, with the range of food available interesting, as well as learning about different ways of cooking with foods; it was a very worthy time for us!

Range of sake

Review: Wahaca, Westfield Stratford City (London)

It was a Sunday night and what better way to end the weekend than a trip for Mexican food and the cinema?

Where we went: Wahaca, Stratford City for "mexican market eating"

What we ate:
Kate - Black Bean Tostadas, MSC Fish Tacos
Hayley - British Steak, the Mexican way, served with green rice
Shared 'Street Food' - Queso Fundido (cactus)

What we drank:

Cocktails

Kate - The Barragan (tequila, grapefruit, lime, lemonade, mint)
Hayley - Hibiscus Mojito (tequila, mint, lime, hibiscus)

Sunday 6pm, we were seated in the pit area.  Quirky choice of furniture for Wahaca, as essentially one of us was seated on the floor with only a cushioned pad to, well, cushion us.
We were served by our 'personal' waitress, who was slightly rushed off her feet.  We ordered our cocktails from the more refreshing selection of drinks.  When they arrived, we weren't disappointed.  They were easy on the eyes with some fresh flavours (and perhaps a little too easy to drink). We like a lot of ice, so for our tastes these were perfect.

Fish Tacos

The great cocktails were a little overshadowed by the fact that we had to wait another 30 minutes before we could order our food.  If we weren't that hungry before, then we were certainly hungry now...and possibly a bit tipsy.  At least we had time to choose.

Cactus Fondue

The food arrived at the same time so there was a slight atmosphere of competitive eating at the table immediately. The cactus fondue with caramelised onion and cheese, was our something different choice of dish.  The cactus was pretty non-descript to be honest, and unfortunately it wasn't very melted!
The steak was cooked medium, but some parts were a bit too red for my personal taste, but the right amount of spice.

British Steak 'The Mexican Way'

The fish tacos were yummy and came with rice and coleslaw. We're real coleslaw lovers but it just didn't live up to our expectations! The tostadas however were fresh and tangy and Kate would have been happy just eating these!

Black Bean Tostadas

All in all, the Wahaca experience was satisfactory.  The food was average.  The drinks were delicious.  The service could have been better.

Overall Egg Rating:

5/10