The first thing you notice about the Blue Junction is that it doesn't look like an Indian restaurant at all, it looks nothing like you're expecting (although if you've read this first it obviously might not be true). It's down the side of the civic centre in Morden, (in the same building in fact) and it looks from the outside more like a cafe or a bar, or one of those places which sell cakes which always get you wondering how they manage to stay open. There's floor to ceiling glass windows without any curtains, and a glass lobby to keep the cold out. There's TV screens showing the football too, and blokes sitting at the bar who look like bus drivers, they look like they're just having a beer as opposed to waiting on some onion bhaaji's. They even have a decent selection of normal beers on tap, Bud lite (why do they spell it like that?), Guinness and a few others, so my guess is if you just want to go in and "just" have a beer, it's absolutely cool.
The front tables nearest the bar (circular) aren't set up with cutlery or anything (none of it is if I'm remembering right) and as far as the two girls serving drinks and bringing food out are concerned, the nearest they've been to the Taj Mahal is the Indian restaurant in Thornton Heath. In short, the Blue Junction is a different type of Indian restaurant to what we're used to. There's no guys with the old tux on polishing your plate before they put it down, there's none of those little metal heater stands they plonk your little circular metal dishes on (which curiously aren't even hot usually), none of that birdseed stuff that gets stuck in between your teeth when you try some. It's different, kind of half bar half food, and the laid back nature of it takes a bit of getting used to.
Lots have got used to it though, I'd been recommended to go there over a dozen times in the last couple of months. Some of the Indian guys who use the Alex go there regularly and absolutely swear by it, refusing to countenance going anywhere else. On the night we went it was pretty busy (with mostly Indian people) for an in between Christmas and New Year night, and the football was no crowd puller (Crystal Palace against somebody I can't remember).
So the food. We had onion bhaaji's which were the authentic, "not rolled up into balls" type. A plateful of sliced onions in whatever they put on them to make them taste like onion bhaaji's (I'm not going to pretend I know). They were superb, the veggie samosas were great too, while the lamb chops were really tasty. Quick word of warning here, the place might not look like an Indian but the food is pretty authentic, that is to say IT IS HOT. When they say "mild" it means "lively" in English. "Medium" means pretty bloody hot actually in yours and my language, while "Hot" means this is going to have you sweating through your eyelids. As such, even the starters have a bit of a kick to them, yes even the bhaaji's and samosas.
For mains my son had chicken tikka massala (I was surprised they do it but they do) while Sarah had chicken with lentils (I guess we'd call it Dhansak bu they called it something else). I can't remember what mine was called to be honest, but it said it was "Hot" on the menu and they weren't lying. When I say hot though, you can still taste the food. It is beautifully flavoursome, and every single item we ordered was absolutely first class. the rice, the naan etc were also brilliant, and the cucumber raiita was by far the best I've ever tasted. The manager bloke told me the chef is one of the top Indian chefs in the country and has worked with this owner for many years, and that they grind their own spices and all that jazz. I guess they all say that, but from my perspective (and I do like curries) I think it was the best Indian food I've eaten in a very long time, perhaps even ever.
I don't do marks out of ten, but if I did it'd be a ten. Go to the Blue Junction, it is absolutely superb food.
Saturday 30 December 2017
Friday 27 January 2017
The Beautiful Pizza Boy-The @14TheFrog review.
Peckham is a funny area. If you came here about fifteen or twenty years ago looking for your ideal first time buy, don't come back. Presumably back then it was one of the few areas in London you could afford, but within thirty seconds of walking out of Peckham Rye station you'd not only decided to give it the swerve to live in, you were checking the timetable to find out the next train out of Dodge City. You definitely shouldn't come back if you are that person, because the Georgian terrace you came to look at which was reasonably priced at 85K back then is now worth 1.3 million quid. Your decision to buy in Chessington instead wasn't a good one as it turns out in financial terms, but them's the breaks and at least there's the theme park if all else fails.
If you're not that person and like me you just hadn't been for years (for essentially the same reason as the first time buyer who didn't buy) then you should come, it's great. It's kind of like Brixton without the funny smell, still happening and edgy but it feels a bit more boring/safe to me and I like it a lot. It's got more trappings of "cool" and "trendy" than you can shake a shiny shovel at, the sort of place where being a 'hipster" is like walking around in an Adam and the ants uniform, so out of date is it. Every coffee shop "roasts its own" beans, every burger place makes it's own burgers, all the fruit and veggie 24 hour places sell exotic fruits, and all the pubs have kitchens where you can see the fellas in their stripy aprons sharpening their knives and discussing tattoos.
Peckham's got it going on, and tucked past the archways of Peckham Rye station (which all have snazzy little bars and restaurants in) is the pizza place "The beautiful pizza boy". It's on Bellend road or something like that (it probably isn't actually called that but that's how I remember it sounding), and despite the street name it's really cool.
When you walk in the restaurant there's this little cocktail bar front bit which is only right and appropriate as it's owned by the "Little Bird" Gin people, the triumvirate of smooth and sexy thirty-somethings who have six handedly revolutionalised the London Gin scene. It looks like they do cocktails (and are no doubt good at it, they'll be served in jam jars I shouldn't wonder), but we didn't bother with any of that. For us it was straight out to the eating bit at the rear, past the wood fired pizza oven and smashing into the signature gin and Mediterranean Fevertree tonic (which is the best G & T you'll ever have). From there we had platters of Italian stuff for starters, there was bread sticks, cured meats (they told me the names but I can't remember), pickles, cheeses (one was pecorino as I recall which was fab), arancini (them little rice ball things, can take em or leave em meself) etc.
After that we had some wine which was lovely. God knows what it was (once again they told me and I gave it the old "ah yes that sounds fantastic" without actually knowing the variety), but it tasted great anyway (we had white and red if it helps). We all ordered pizzas (there was twelve of us) and they were among the best pizzas I've had in London. Thin, crispy, oozy, flavoursome, and they gave you chilli oil too which is always a major plus. Mine had ham on it, olives, mushrooms, that sort of thing (once again can't remember which one it was) but it was spectacular. I drowned it in chilli oil and shoved it in my mouth while managing to spill only dribbles down my chin, it was utterly fabulous.
We had desserts ( I wasn't going to but they have homemade Gelato for Gawd's sakes) and they were ridiculous, stupidly good. Definitely just ask for the bill straight after the pizzas if you care about your waistline, maybe sign a pact with the lovely waitress before the pizzas come that even if you want a dessert afterwards you're not allowed to have one. If she goes through the flavours though, take it from me it's game over. Obviously they're incredible, but after being full to the brim with pizza I really oughtn't to have done it.
I did do it though and I'm so glad I did, so should you. The best thing I can say about the Beautiful pizza boy is that their pizzas are as good as their gin. Go to Peckham and eat fantastic pizza, if you live in Chessington wait till they open one in Wimbledon.
If you're not that person and like me you just hadn't been for years (for essentially the same reason as the first time buyer who didn't buy) then you should come, it's great. It's kind of like Brixton without the funny smell, still happening and edgy but it feels a bit more boring/safe to me and I like it a lot. It's got more trappings of "cool" and "trendy" than you can shake a shiny shovel at, the sort of place where being a 'hipster" is like walking around in an Adam and the ants uniform, so out of date is it. Every coffee shop "roasts its own" beans, every burger place makes it's own burgers, all the fruit and veggie 24 hour places sell exotic fruits, and all the pubs have kitchens where you can see the fellas in their stripy aprons sharpening their knives and discussing tattoos.
Peckham's got it going on, and tucked past the archways of Peckham Rye station (which all have snazzy little bars and restaurants in) is the pizza place "The beautiful pizza boy". It's on Bellend road or something like that (it probably isn't actually called that but that's how I remember it sounding), and despite the street name it's really cool.
When you walk in the restaurant there's this little cocktail bar front bit which is only right and appropriate as it's owned by the "Little Bird" Gin people, the triumvirate of smooth and sexy thirty-somethings who have six handedly revolutionalised the London Gin scene. It looks like they do cocktails (and are no doubt good at it, they'll be served in jam jars I shouldn't wonder), but we didn't bother with any of that. For us it was straight out to the eating bit at the rear, past the wood fired pizza oven and smashing into the signature gin and Mediterranean Fevertree tonic (which is the best G & T you'll ever have). From there we had platters of Italian stuff for starters, there was bread sticks, cured meats (they told me the names but I can't remember), pickles, cheeses (one was pecorino as I recall which was fab), arancini (them little rice ball things, can take em or leave em meself) etc.
After that we had some wine which was lovely. God knows what it was (once again they told me and I gave it the old "ah yes that sounds fantastic" without actually knowing the variety), but it tasted great anyway (we had white and red if it helps). We all ordered pizzas (there was twelve of us) and they were among the best pizzas I've had in London. Thin, crispy, oozy, flavoursome, and they gave you chilli oil too which is always a major plus. Mine had ham on it, olives, mushrooms, that sort of thing (once again can't remember which one it was) but it was spectacular. I drowned it in chilli oil and shoved it in my mouth while managing to spill only dribbles down my chin, it was utterly fabulous.
We had desserts ( I wasn't going to but they have homemade Gelato for Gawd's sakes) and they were ridiculous, stupidly good. Definitely just ask for the bill straight after the pizzas if you care about your waistline, maybe sign a pact with the lovely waitress before the pizzas come that even if you want a dessert afterwards you're not allowed to have one. If she goes through the flavours though, take it from me it's game over. Obviously they're incredible, but after being full to the brim with pizza I really oughtn't to have done it.
I did do it though and I'm so glad I did, so should you. The best thing I can say about the Beautiful pizza boy is that their pizzas are as good as their gin. Go to Peckham and eat fantastic pizza, if you live in Chessington wait till they open one in Wimbledon.
Tuesday 3 January 2017
Sticks n Sushi, a quick re-review.
Usually when a restaurant first opens, there's a fanfare followed by loads of advertising, a grand opening and lots of PR people wandering around with clipboards. Then when you go in the first few weeks there's more staff than punters, and they all look like they've come straight from Ira Levin's latest novel "Stepford waitresses". Go back a few weeks later, and you normally find that the bevy of beauties who flocked around your table all pearly white smiles and bonhomie, have been replaced by a couple of surly teenagers who really don't want to be there. Suddenly questions which were automatically met with a smile and an "of course" are met with a frown and a "erm I'm not sure, I'd better ask", we've all seen it many times before.
When Sticks n sushi first opened in Wimbers the "Stepfordness" of it all was beyond anything I'd ever seen. So fabulous and numerous were the staff, so wonderful was the food that along with many other cynics I wondered if it was maintainable over a sustained period of time. "It'll never last" we mumbled, as we revisited and asked the waiters various ever more obscure questions about the telephone directory like menu. They kept doing it though, they kept being smiley and knowledgeable while the food kept on being superb. I don't even like sushi particularly, but this place has something for everyone and everytime I've been I've been massively impressed.
Anyway a revisit, and it was a tricky one for them as it was on New Years day.....
Firstly the booking, I did it via Twitter which isn't the normal way. I was handled by Vickie, and it was done superbly well. When we got there, once we'd got past the "Shamasee!" or "Kaiser Sose!" or "Sensimillion!" or whatever it is that they holler at you when you walk in, we were sat and got surely the most smiley and happy waiter in the universe. Not only that, but he seemingly knew everything about everything on the menu. As I was on a serious detox after a ridiculously heavy NYE party (when will I learn I'm not 18 any more?) I had one of those juice things they do (as did the kids and Sarah). Mine was orange coloured and tasted like it had carrots, lime, kale and all that sort of stuff in it (it tasted far better than it sounds to be fair). The fella did explain in detail what was in all of the juices, but much like when you ask someone directions after winding the car window down, I didn't actually pay any attention to what he was saying, more just marvelled at his knowledge.
Like everyone else who comes here we had Ebi bites, a kind of prawn wrapped in rice crispies number which are food from the Gods. The we had some more (you could just have these to be fair, they're unbelievable), and some edamame beans. As far as the beans go we had both the salted and the one with the dressing on. They were/are gorgeous, and I love the dressing. For mains I had a "man food" which is all sorts of different skewers with sauce, and also a side of pork ribs in sesame seeds. Sarah and the kids had rice paper rolls, sushi and stuff. the food was absolutely unbelievably good (as it always is) and the service was fantastic (ditto). We're lucky to have this restaurant in Wimbledon, it is fabulous, every single time, still.
A couple of minor gripes just for balance (my own view only). The emmentaal wrapped in bacon on the man food board shouldn't be on there IMHO, bung some chicken thighs on there instead (I used to love them). The emmentaal is OK but too much cheese! I had the triple dessert thingie (I'm like that), and the "chocolate cake" thing is more like a mousse than a cake (it's still flippin lovely mind!) and it's impossible to eat without spilling the chocolate pearl things over the table (we still ate them obviously). Those are the only faults I can find though, everything else was absolutely first class.
If you haven't been to Sticks n Sushi you should go. It was brilliant when it first opened, it's still brilliant now. 10/10.
When Sticks n sushi first opened in Wimbers the "Stepfordness" of it all was beyond anything I'd ever seen. So fabulous and numerous were the staff, so wonderful was the food that along with many other cynics I wondered if it was maintainable over a sustained period of time. "It'll never last" we mumbled, as we revisited and asked the waiters various ever more obscure questions about the telephone directory like menu. They kept doing it though, they kept being smiley and knowledgeable while the food kept on being superb. I don't even like sushi particularly, but this place has something for everyone and everytime I've been I've been massively impressed.
Anyway a revisit, and it was a tricky one for them as it was on New Years day.....
Firstly the booking, I did it via Twitter which isn't the normal way. I was handled by Vickie, and it was done superbly well. When we got there, once we'd got past the "Shamasee!" or "Kaiser Sose!" or "Sensimillion!" or whatever it is that they holler at you when you walk in, we were sat and got surely the most smiley and happy waiter in the universe. Not only that, but he seemingly knew everything about everything on the menu. As I was on a serious detox after a ridiculously heavy NYE party (when will I learn I'm not 18 any more?) I had one of those juice things they do (as did the kids and Sarah). Mine was orange coloured and tasted like it had carrots, lime, kale and all that sort of stuff in it (it tasted far better than it sounds to be fair). The fella did explain in detail what was in all of the juices, but much like when you ask someone directions after winding the car window down, I didn't actually pay any attention to what he was saying, more just marvelled at his knowledge.
Like everyone else who comes here we had Ebi bites, a kind of prawn wrapped in rice crispies number which are food from the Gods. The we had some more (you could just have these to be fair, they're unbelievable), and some edamame beans. As far as the beans go we had both the salted and the one with the dressing on. They were/are gorgeous, and I love the dressing. For mains I had a "man food" which is all sorts of different skewers with sauce, and also a side of pork ribs in sesame seeds. Sarah and the kids had rice paper rolls, sushi and stuff. the food was absolutely unbelievably good (as it always is) and the service was fantastic (ditto). We're lucky to have this restaurant in Wimbledon, it is fabulous, every single time, still.
A couple of minor gripes just for balance (my own view only). The emmentaal wrapped in bacon on the man food board shouldn't be on there IMHO, bung some chicken thighs on there instead (I used to love them). The emmentaal is OK but too much cheese! I had the triple dessert thingie (I'm like that), and the "chocolate cake" thing is more like a mousse than a cake (it's still flippin lovely mind!) and it's impossible to eat without spilling the chocolate pearl things over the table (we still ate them obviously). Those are the only faults I can find though, everything else was absolutely first class.
If you haven't been to Sticks n Sushi you should go. It was brilliant when it first opened, it's still brilliant now. 10/10.
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