Mmmm... home cooking.
It doesn't get much more homely than Dasquise in South Kensington, a favourite of mine for some time. Just the place when you need some simple Polish food like your grandmother would cook. If you had a Polish grandmother. Dishes are served out by the owners or their younger relatives, and it feels like home. The family often seem to be talking happily and quietly in their native tongue at the back of the restaurant, and it always walms my heart, as does the food.
Two course lunches including a glass of wine and good coffee for around 7 quid in South Ken? Yes please.
Today's offering was a simple clear soup followed by mushroom pancakes. Nothing wrong with that but you really need to go for the Polish Platter to get a sample of their cooking. Obviously this works a little better in winter though.
Daquise has been at 20 Thurloe St, just behind the Tube station, for a long time - and I hope they stay there for a lot longer. Some might call it kitschy, but its really just honest. And if your grandfather was a Polish cavalry officer you can appreciate the equine art, and imagine him smiling at you from his horse.
This place is about as far from the Fat Duck as you can get, thankfully.
Food 7 Service 7 Atmosphere 9 ( if you enjoy background Polish laughter )
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Baan Aram, Bankok
While the poor Australian football ( soccer ) team were losing up to 5 kilograms of bodyweight during the Asian Cup games, I was putting on about the same amount feasting in the shady alley off Ratchaprarop Rd.
Rat features in many Thai names, but not in many dishes, and certainly not in the synergy of perfection that was the Kale leaf wrap at Baan Aram. A square fresh and shiny leaf for you to assemble the freshest and most simple ingredients upon. Including peanuts (whole), Dried shrimp, 1cm cubes of ginger and onion, small lime wedges with skin on, pork crackle and small whole green chillies. YUM. Simple stuff, but with a taste far greater than the sum of its parts. With a sweetish brown satay-like sauce to bind the ingredients it had it all. Crunchy, juicy and bursting with flavour.
Fried Beef curry was also delicious but the green mango salad a bit less so. Overly sweet and overly spicey ( for my palate ) leaving a sickly sweet aftertaste behind.
Usual Thai service and value gives this streetside stall a big thums up. And not a rat to be seen.
Food 8.5 Service 7 Atmosphere 4 ( 9 if you like car fumes and rabid mangy pregnant dogs )
Rat features in many Thai names, but not in many dishes, and certainly not in the synergy of perfection that was the Kale leaf wrap at Baan Aram. A square fresh and shiny leaf for you to assemble the freshest and most simple ingredients upon. Including peanuts (whole), Dried shrimp, 1cm cubes of ginger and onion, small lime wedges with skin on, pork crackle and small whole green chillies. YUM. Simple stuff, but with a taste far greater than the sum of its parts. With a sweetish brown satay-like sauce to bind the ingredients it had it all. Crunchy, juicy and bursting with flavour.
Fried Beef curry was also delicious but the green mango salad a bit less so. Overly sweet and overly spicey ( for my palate ) leaving a sickly sweet aftertaste behind.
Usual Thai service and value gives this streetside stall a big thums up. And not a rat to be seen.
Food 8.5 Service 7 Atmosphere 4 ( 9 if you like car fumes and rabid mangy pregnant dogs )
Friday, July 6, 2007
8 Ounce. Newcastle, Australia
When 5 or 6 guys want a casual dinner the options may appear limitless, but its not as easy as you might think. Its not business, so ditch anywhere formal. You dont want romantic or too cool for school, and you actually want to participate in a conversation. Everyone should be able to afford it, obviously. Finally It has to be TASTY !
8 Ounce on Darby St certainly looked the goods, though the staff seemed a bit surprised to be rushing around looking after a reasonably full house on a Wednesday night. First impressions were very good when I got to order a Coopers on tap. The perfect way to wash down a pizza.
Good pizza by the slice and some yummy home made pasta supplemented by the offering of mussels and a jug of beer for $25. Reasonably satisfying, but not quite as fulfilling as the Schnitzel from the specials board. My friend polished that off quickly ( avoiding the good looking but apparently unhealthy baby spinach ) so he could duck out for a cigarette. His body is a temple and he is, after all, a doctor.
Beer and pizza... enough to satisfy pretty well any guy I know.
Food 7 Service 6 Atmosphere 7.5
8 Ounce on Darby St certainly looked the goods, though the staff seemed a bit surprised to be rushing around looking after a reasonably full house on a Wednesday night. First impressions were very good when I got to order a Coopers on tap. The perfect way to wash down a pizza.
Good pizza by the slice and some yummy home made pasta supplemented by the offering of mussels and a jug of beer for $25. Reasonably satisfying, but not quite as fulfilling as the Schnitzel from the specials board. My friend polished that off quickly ( avoiding the good looking but apparently unhealthy baby spinach ) so he could duck out for a cigarette. His body is a temple and he is, after all, a doctor.
Beer and pizza... enough to satisfy pretty well any guy I know.
Food 7 Service 6 Atmosphere 7.5
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