Once upon a time in Angel

Donna, do you think you can get the salt stain out of this?

Elaine Benes (Seinfeld episode “The Secretary”)

A place I wanted to visit was John Salt. Probably I waited too long, as Ben Spalding left over the burger incident and then Neil Rankin moved to open Smokehouse, now they are betting into a neighbourhood bar concept. The place was almost empty, weekday a bit later than lunch time and just a couple tables. This hit me as all the reviews I recalled talked about how hard was to find a table there. Now empty rustic bar stools, same for the wood tables, and loud alternative music.

The place

Not impressed at all with the food to be honest, got a kale Caesar salad, just ok, the smoked chicken was hard and cold. Then salt and pepper squid that was nice, good battered and the siracha mayo was spot on, all worked really nice. Finally, some chips with cheese, kimchi, and pulled pork, a bit tough the fries, the pulled pork was nice, the kimchi I hardly notice it. 

Kale Caesar

Sadly, food was not outstanding, I can’t recommend it, only if you are around really hungry and I would say only maybe.

John Salt

T: 020 7359 7501

International / Neighbourhood Bar

Approx Damage: £22pp

Area: Angel

Borough: Islington

Twitter: JohnSaltN1

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Coffee Enquiry XIII: CoffeeWorks Project

After spending most of the afternoon in Feast, Armando suggested to go for a coffee in CoffeeWorks Project. Simple décor, white bright walls, some cracks to give an irreverent look, a long L shape wooden counter, full with treats, salads and sandwiches, and behind the Slayer machine, according to the staff the only one in the UK. 

The place

Table

I went for my classic macchiato, it was a bit mild and watery for me, as I prefer it the coffee stronger. Some latte art. Service was great and friendly, the place was completely packed. probably one of the few decent options for a coffee in Angel. 

Macchiato time

Espresso Machine: Slayer 

Beans: Has Bean 

Score: 3/5 

Close up

Angel reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Gymnast” 

George: No, Lindsay, it was not in the garbage. It was above the garbage. Hovering, like an angel. Of course I know your aunt bit it. I kissed her goodbye. Listen, can I tell you something else? In my family, we used to eat out of the garbage all the time. It was no big thing, that's right. Oh, okay, bye

CoffeeWorks Project

T: 020 7424 5020

Coffeehouse

Area: Angel

Borough: Islington

Twitter: CoffeeWorksProj

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In Feast We Trust

An event I really enjoyed last August was Feast. This time the ticket is a bit more expensive 7,5 quid, new location in an abandoned North London mail centre building in Islington Square, 4 days instead of 3, and a new line up with some familiar faces coming back. 

The place

The location was stunning, perfect place for the event and full of food vendors and punters. My first stop was Yum Bun. The popular steamed bun, they always have a long queue. My choice a slow roasted belly pork, hoi sin sauce, cucumber, spring onions, and shiracha. Great flavours as usual, my only critic is that they are having a miniaturisation effect as the pork on my bun was quite tiny and my final bites were plain soft bun. 

Yum Bun

The pork buns

My next treat was Anna Mae’s famous mac n’ cheese. I’ve wanted to try their creamy cheddar, Monteray jack, and mozzarella cheese mac for a while. I pimped it up with jalapeños, chipotle, sour cream, and fresh coriander. Amazing, comfort food at its best. 

Anna's menu

Mac time

Bowl of flavour

Another of my favourite of the day definitively was Mishkin’s. The salt beef muffin with shallots relish and English mustard was to die for, just amazing. 

Mishkin's in action

Great salt beef time

Next victim was Rainbo, voted as top 3 gyozas in London by Evening Standard. The homemade chicken and coriander gyoza dumplings were nice and full of flavour. 

Rainbo Ford

Menu

Gyoza's

Then I couldn’t resist having the Elliot’s cheeseburger. Surprisingly there was no queue at all. A great 50-day aged beef, perfectly cooked in a house made bun, with Comte, Ogleshield, caramelised onions, dill butter, and cucumber pickle. One of the top burgers in London no doubts. 

Elliot's menu

Burger time

Glorious burger

Finally, to end the day I went for Gordon Ramsay’s York and Albany. A stunning pretzel salted squid, great flavour, one of the best squid I have had, salted, a bit spicy, not oily at all, great food from chef Kim Woodward. 

Gordon's Y&A

Squid

Many other stalls I didn't have the chance to try, including my Pizza Pilgrims friends, Abiye's Big Apple Hot Dogs and Hanna's new project Nordinary. Excellent food, great atmosphere, one more day to go so if you are still hesitating hope this post will help convincing you.

Inside

The salt beef reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Blood” 

Jerry: Didn't go for it, huh?

George: No

Jerry: So, she didn't appreciate the erotic qualities of the salted cured meats?

George: She tolerated the strawberries and the chocolate sauce, but eh, it's not a meal, you know? Food and sex, those are my two passions. It's only natural to combine them

Jerry: Natural? Sex is about love between a man and a woman, not a man and a sandwich

Feast

Food Festival

Approx Damage: £7.5 entry

Area: Angel

Borough: Islington

Twitter: wefeastlondon

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On the hook with 'Round Midnight

It’s amazing how you can find little hidden places by chance. The other day I was on Angel waiting for a friend so I decided to wander around the area, and what was my surprise I bump into this small, cosy, and lively place. As they describe themselves “Islington’s only dedicated Jazz and Blues venue”, and what a better name than ‘Round Midnight (13 Liverpool Road, Angel N1 0RW) no other than Thelonious’ masterpiece. As soon as I get in I heard Eric Ranzoni playing on the piano, and later had the chance to listen JC Moody & the Usual Suspects. They have a complete line up for the entire month, everyday a different artist playing live, Sunday afternoon jazz sessions, and on Thursday nights blues jam so you turn up with your instrument at 8 p.m. to play with the band. I took a table near the stage, I had a couple pints, and relaxed listening the live music in this amazing atmosphere, and if you’re hungry a good selection of burgers, chicken wings, or a mixed platter with wings, chips, and onion rings. In conclusion ‘Round Midnight is a place I definitely will become a regular.

'Round Midnight

I watched a couple days back and episode of how I met your mother (Hooked) and I got flashbacks, it’s amazing but true, that happened to me, and to some of my closest friends as well, the worst thing is that there is no escape. It’s amazing how people never realise that they’re completely hooked with somebody else, HELLO!!! They’re using you! Isn’t it obvious? No matter what, they still believe there is something there, somehow in the near future that person that is most of the time unavailable for you but obviously there when she/he needs something, is going to realise that you’re the right person. Well guess what, that’s not going to happen. So my friends if your instinct tell you that something is wrong, start listen to it, I know is difficult, I never listen to it, and probably won’t in the future, as people says hope is the last thing to lose, isn’t it? So I would recommend watching the episode.

When you realise that you’re on the hook is like when a baseball pitcher is going to be replaced, he knows he’s done but he still wants to pitch and end the inning, like in the Seinfeld episode “The Mango” where George confessed he had problems performing in bed the night before.

George: She gave me the hook.

Jerry: You got the hook?

George: It's like the manager coming out to ask you for the ball

For now I’m going to call that girl I know she’s not available and ready for a relation (right now) but she will in the future... yeah right!!!

JC Moody & the Usual Suspects on stage at 'Round Midnight

Finally, talking about eating out, I have a friend (yes she’s one of the unavailable ones so cut me a break ok, LOL!!!), anyway she’s having this game with their friends where each one of them organise an eating night out in a restaurant, the fun part is that none of the others have any idea of where are they going or even what type of food the restaurant serves, it’s like a blind restaurant game or a russian restaurant roulette, I find it quite interesting, so I’m planning to do it with some of my friends (pretty sure Taylor will take us all the time to Noodle Oodle), even better I could do the same concept also with pubs, like a secret pub experience, nowadays everything is secret, secret underground restaurant, secret markets, secret relationships, so let’s see what happens in the next posts.