On the list… Plane Food

There can’t be many people who are tempted with a trip to Heathrow’s terminal five, but I am one. Not for the planes you realise – I’m not a fool – but for the food.

Gordon Ramsay is one of the landmark restaurants in the place and promises to offer something a bit different to the usual airport fare – no plastic seats here. The only downside of course is that you have to book a flight with British Airways to eat there.

The Evening Standard did an interesting piece on the restaurant here.

Slow down buster

There’s this little Italian sandwich shop I used to go to occasionally for lunch. Fresh ingredients and all the rest of it. Can’t fault them on that. But my goodness, did they make every customer feel like they should be in a rush: “come on now, who’s next” “hey, hey, hey, next please next please.”

This shop was in East London but frankly it could have been on any high street in London. By contrast then, let me introduce you to the most chilled out little lunchtime place I’ve found yet. It might even be the best lunchtime stop in London.

The Curved Angel Cafe is hidden down a side road off Clerkenwell Green, not far from Farringdon tube. This place just hums: doorstop-sized ciabatta sandwiches, delicious toasties, loads of fresh juices and, really importantly, really friendly staff. Add in a warm, chilled out atmosphere and cheap but really enjoyable food and you have, as I say, a great place to stop for a bite.

Love Food Hate Waste

I’m intrigued by a new campaign ultimately funded by the government to encourage us to waste less food. Love Food Hate Waste is a fancy new campaign to help us make the most of leftover bits in the kitchen. Nice idea.

I am loving… Spanish stew

There’s a little Spanish deli around the corner from my office which serves the best lunchtime treat: a cup of chickpea and chorizo stew.

Brindisa also sells salad boxes, sandwiches and meats, but it’s the stew that really marks this place out. I’ve tried to replicate it myself, with limited success. Nigel Slater’s recipe in The Observer looks pretty good but I made the error of not leaving it to cook for long enough and using tinned over soaked chickpeas. Take note.

There are more Spanish recipes in 1080 Recipes, which includes contributions from Brindisa’s head chef. I’ve been meaning to buy a copy.

Something for the weekend

Brunch. The ultimate wake-up treat on a Sunday, right?

It would seem so judging by the line of bruncheries down my high street and the rise and rise of places like Lucky 7 in Notting Hill.

But the answer is no. The best start to a Sunday can be found tucked away in a few select locations around the centre of London – big dark rooms, often with mirrors and lots of gold.

Yup, my Sunday treat is a good serving of Dim Sum. I love it so much I even have Dim Sum mates, with whom I go to Dim Sum. We were friends before, but we now only meet in Chinese restaurants.

The Ping Pong chain is making a good fist of sticking a Dim Sum restaurant on every corner. They are good, and I’m glad they are spreading the word, but you can’t beat Royal China for a good Sunday lunch.

I tend to go to the Queensway branch, though they also have restaurants atBaker Street, St John’s Wood, Canary Wharf and Fulham. The company also owns Satsuma on Wardour Street but ignore that for now, we’re talking Dim Sum.

The beauty of Dim Sum is that you pick loads of small dishes – steamed dumplings, spring rolls, pork buns – so you get a huge variety, the food just keeps coming, and you still only pay about £10-15 a head, depending on how greedy you are and whether you go for the egg tarts for pudding (we do).

So, find some of your own Dim Sum friends and block out your Sunday lunchtime now.

I am loving… Nusa Kitchen

It’s a bit of a trek from where I am, but Nusa’s soups always brighten up my lunchtime. Everywhere sells soup, but this isn’t just soup. Yesterday I had Mexican borracho bean soup with salsa and rice; the other week it was a South Indian tomato-ey thing.. and each time served with freshly baked flat bread. The menu changes every day too.

Nusa is based just up from Barbican and they’ve just opened a second shop near Bank. WestEnders can only hope that they branch out a bit more.

In the meantime check out Nusa’s recipes section.