Weekend Recipe - Apple, Date & Walnut Cake Posted by Unknown |

This is one of the easiest, failsafe cake recipes I know...

Read more »

East London Love: Shoreditch EatMeUp Christmas Festival - Thurs/Fri/Sat This Week! Posted by Unknown |

It looks like there'll be some really interesting independent fashion labels at this week's Shoreditch Christmas EatMeUp festival. The main focus is street food – street vendors Street Kitchen, Tongue n' Cheek and Bhangra Burger among others – but quite a smattering of other bits and pieces too. Worth checking out handmade jewellery by Demise of Diamonds (Mary Portas was spotted snapping up earrings from their Roman Road market stall), new fashion label Extragged, 1 in a 100 who print t-shirts with limited edition artist prints, vintage inspired lingerie by east London designer Miss Crofton, eccentric leather accessories by CGrand London plus tasty chutneys by Rubies in the Rubble. And for an extra layer of excitement – dance for a drink, sing for your supper, that kind of thing – check out the associated promotions app HitMeUp. (NB: The fashion brands will be mainly Friday & Saturday.)

www.hitmeup.co/eatmeup

Where: Red Market, 288-299 Old Street, London, EC1V 9DP 
When: Thursday-Saturday 6-8 December. Open daily, 11am - 11pm 

Weekend Recipe: How To Make A Really Quick & Easy Rhubarb Chocolate Tart Posted by Unknown |

Ok, another first. A really simple recipe for rhubarb chocolate tart which I made yesterday (listening intently to Absolute 80s on the radio and keeping an eye on little cookie while he played) to take to a dinner party – first adult dinner party for a long time, and yes, we took the babe and put him to bed there, bliss. Of course, I forgot to take the final photo of the sliced up tart ready for serving up with a dollop of creme fraiche, but it looked great and tasted great. Not too sweet and the rhubarb adds a nice tang. The rhubarb just needs to be heated and will turn into a mush after about 10-15 minutes. Also for the amount of chocolate – the 110g above – I actually used 100g which is what's in a packet of Green & Black's. Enjoy!

Restaurant Favourite: Railroad Posted by Unknown |

1. We visited one of our favourite Hackney restaurants at the weekend, Railroad on Morning Lane. It's small, very cosy and serves up the most delicious dishes – each course offers three options; they really do meat so well, slow-cooked lamb and rare steaks, always a veggie dish too. We arrived at half seven when it was still quiet, but it quickly filled up. 2. Chicken livers with garlic and sage on toast to start, yummy. For the mains, shoulder of lamb and Onglet steak (forgot to photograph, too busy wolfing). 3. I like the tables for two by the windows the best. 4. The Cru Virunga chocolate cake was rich, moist and not too sweet, served with creme fraiche. Fresh mint tea on the side.

railroadhackney.co.uk

Bombay Cafe Dishoom Opens in Shoreditch Posted by Unknown |

I haven't been to the Covent Garden Dishoom but I sure wanna try out the newly opened branch on Boundary Street in Shoreditch. Based on Bombay's Irani cafes – opened by Persian immigrants;  during the 60s there were nearly 400, now less than 30 remain – the menu also comprises dishes inspired by Bombay street grills and south of Bombay. Open all day serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in the courtyard, bar, bakery, cafe and kitchen dining room. Sounds and looks like fun. Can't wait to check it. Also there appears to be 50% off until the 18 Oct – see below. Find out more on their Facebook here.

O-Food: Nordic Pop-Up Fish & Vegetarian Sandwich Bar In Shoreditch Posted by Unknown |

I always longed to be the kind of girl who could survive on a croissant and coffee a day – all inspired by Jean Rhys's short stories detailing the waifishly chic existence of beautiful lost girls in Paris – but the reality is what you really need is a good sandwich, and one that is as healthy as it is filling. And while London is full of sandwich shops, how many cite sourdough and Russian rye as their bread options? And how many focus on offering just vegetarian and fish fillings? Replenishable fish that is locally sourced from low-impact fisheries in Kent i.e. not the over-fished Big Five (haddock, prawns, tuna, cod and salmon) and vegetables from British farms. Opened in August on Rivington Street in Shoreditch, the O-food pop-up had a proper launch last week (which I missed due to being a totally disorganised first-time mum) so this week O-food kindly sent some sandwiches my way. Well, I wolfed down the smoked mackerel & horse radish O'Macky sandwich in a matter of minutes, as did my hubby with The Hook, made from a hake & coley fish patty, sweetheart cabbage and capers. Lip smackingly delicious. Finished up with a super healthy mushroom, gherkin and beetroot salad and voila, sated and satisfied.

O-food, 54 Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3QN. 8am-4pm. Until September 23.