Buns and Haggis at Broadway Market

Irish, Scottish, what’s the difference, lassie? 

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Phone Message”) 

During my last visit to Broadway Market I had the chance of trying the famous Scottish toastie and one of my favourite Xiao Chin in London. 

Schoolyard

Follow the Haggis

Bao Bar

Deeney’s is a Scottish street cuisine brought to you by Paddy and Carol. Directly from the Highlands you can have an innovative combination of toasties, from traditional ham and cheese to eccentric haggis. You can find them during the week (Tuesday to Thursday) in Greenwich Market, Saturday in the Schoolyard in Broadway Market, and Sunday’s in Chatsworth Road. 

Toasties

Prep time

We got the new sandwich sensation the Macbeth, hot haggis, melted beautiful cheddar, caramelised onions, and rocket. Beautiful, full of flavour, great combination and balance, definitely a must try in the street food circuit. Marisol got the Ham-Ish, smoked bacon, same melted cheddar, caramelised onions, and rocket. Really nice, good option if you’re not a haggis fan. 

Our toasties

Haggis time

Deeney's

Scottish Cuisine / Street Food

Approx Damage: 5pp

Area: Broadway Market

Borough: Hackney

Twitter: deeneys

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My second stop was in Netil Market, just a couple steps beside Lucky Chip stall you can find Bao Bar. I was looking forward trying their traditional Gua Bao as the last time I got their great buns they only had a special. 

Marisol waiting at the bar

Bun time

Small six stools bar but you have plenty of space in Netil Market to gorge your bun peacefully. Got my slow braised pork belly, pickles, peanut powder, and coriander bun. The bun is delicious, really good, the belly nicely cooked, and good balance with the ingredients, I just love it. 

Beautiful

I highly recommend both options, take in consideration that both are only on Saturdays in the area.

Bao Bar
Asian Cuisine
Approx Damage: £4pp
Area: Netil Market
Borough: Hackney
Twitter: bao_london

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BAO and more Street Food Fetivals [Street Food]

Hey, come on! Let's go! I thought we were going to take a steam

Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld episode “The Outing”) 

The street food festival frenzy keeps its pace. Every week you have at least two festivals, Feast, Realfood, Street Feast, Kerb, Burger Mondays, and so on. I just wonder when we are going to saturate of all this, just less than a year ago there was one every quarter now we seem to get into the top of the trend, but who really knows it might just be the beginning. 

Gizzi's full in action

One of this is Street Feast, based in East London, they have a weekly night market on Fridays and a noon to 10pm on Saturdays. One of their main attractions is Ben Spalding’s Stripped Back every Friday, and some quite notorious events that go against our waistlines such as Taco Wars, Gizzi’s Barn Party, Gin Stock, Rib Stock, etc. 

Bao

John Salt

I went to Gizzi’s Barn Party with only one objective to finally try BAO’s steam buns. Everyone is talking about them, highly marks, one of the new additions to the street food frenzy for sure, even though they are active since 2012. Their menu is based on small eats or Xiao Chi, and the specialty is the traditional Taiwanese street food snack Gua Bao (steamed pork bun). How could I resist I die for pork buns, have tracked them since I lost my steamed bun virginity with Momofuku in NYC. 

Finally

They had two specials that day beef skirt and cumin lamb ribs, so guess what I had one of each. The steamed bun was great. The beef skirt was marinated on shacha sauce, nice balance, with all the trimmings, coriander, peanut powder, and home pickles. The lambs were amazing, tender, perfectly cooked, and the touch of cumin was spot on. 

Bun time

Ribs

Anatomy of a Bun

To end the day I also tried the Salt Yard Group burger. The group just in case you don’t know are the owners of Opera Tavern. The burger was great, wonderful flavours, the patty from Basque beef with chorizo and carefully smoked. Really nice. 

Salt Yard Burger

My humble suggestion don’t miss BAO, you will need to track them down through their site or twitter as they keep moving. Regarding the food market explosion I just love it, I have to come back to Street Feast to try Ben's menu.

BAO

Taiwanese Cuisine / Street Food

Approx Damage: £7pp

Twitter: bao_london

Street Feast

T: 078 1169 0012

Street Food Market

Area: Dalston

Borough: Hackney

Twitter: StreatFeastLDN

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