So, started off Wednesday night in Dim T on Charlotte Street near to Goodge Street Tube station. Totally arbitrary decision made by an incredibly tired and unenthusiastic sister and myself on the basis that I ALWAYS fancy noodles (and always opt for rice).
It's modern inside and bigger than you might think, there are regular tables available but we were sat facing the service area next to each other which I thought was really odd, but my sister pointed out what a blessing this would be if you were on a date and had FOOLISHLY ordered noodles or some kind of ramen soup so they wouldn't be looking at you. Just, potentially getting flicked in the face by an errant noodle every now or then or elbowed as you master your chopsticks. anyyyywaay, getting off the point. We went in under pretext of, just get a quick bowl of noodles. And you know prawn crackers (Let's get some prawn crackers and last them to the main, will be nice with the noodles - oh yeah definitely...) Then the sister points out - chilli edamame beans which she rates from having before. on the list. I go for Japanese fried rice bowl - a concoction of pak choi, chicken, spinach leaves, red onion, peppers and i can't remember what else?a teriyaki style sauce. and coriander. And my sister goes for Singapore Fried Noodles - adhering more successfully to the original plan. SO. the prawn crackers arrive + sweet chilli dipping sauce (never tire of this). devour the bowl in about 5 minutes.
And then, we wait.
Amuse ourselves staring at the girl behind the service pass who is meant to be preparing all the dim sum and steaming things and salting things and... well it was lost on us actually what she was doing, she definitely wasn't paying much attention to us. We gaze hopefully at a few bowls of likely looking edamame beans only to see them carted off to other far reaches of the restaurant. Eventually who appears to be the manager comes over and asks if we've had our beans yet. Head shakes in unison. Right, she says in a decisive, action plan style way making us feel assured edamame HOOOYY. Not too much later, they arrive. And they're really good. But again, devoured in minutes - pure reflection of our will power, not a measly portion.
and then... we wait.
I didn't visit the loos, but my sister assures me they were very nice. Seems to me, that was potentially her perk of the evening. that and the fortune cookies - HOW london, they weren't sealed so you could pull the fortune out without having to eat it if you're size zero inclined, we're not however, and they were SO nice. Coconut-y. Oh no, wait, that wasn't the perk - this sign in Googe St was.http://www.dimt.co.uk/
So then, THURSDAY night after a long day in Covent Garden standing and presenting ALL day... works up quite a hunger..? OK, no point justifying it, went out to dinner again. There was a group of about 10 of us looking for something cheap and cheerful so after running around aimlessly in the rain for about 10 minutes we all followed the one who ran in the most decisive path into a large Zizzi's on Bow Street. We had to sit and wait a while so they could make space for us, fair enough, we didn't book, but it gave us time enough to remember what a miserable feeling damp denim is so we were all a little quieter than our earlier euphoric WE'RE DONE FOR THE DAY GET ME A GLASS OF WINE mode and when we were eventually led downstairs where it was relatively empty, i think we all thought as one, do we have the energy to fill this room with our own atmosphere? As we were away from the main pizza making hub etc. It swiftly became apparent it was a wise move to separate us from the general public. The sweet relief of wine flowed rather faster than we anticipated and voice levels raised in steady parallel with this. Olives and bread were summoned, the waitress moved off - but not far off enough before the panic set in - what type of bread? white bread? I DONT WANT PLAIN WHITE bread! it's not going to be a few slices of kingsmill chill out.. I want rustic ITALIAN bread... AHEM! The waitress has reappeared. Would you like some rustic italian bread? 10 sheepish nods, thank you yes please. Olives with chilli actually had a kick to them, usually a blatant LIE when menus say this, but they were goooood. By the time we ordered our mains, we were a few bottles down and I held on to my last thread of rational thought by realising that the bread and olives had rendered an entire pizza unnecessary and i ordered their 'skinny' offering, half a Rustica pizza plus side salad. Had the primavera one, a mix of roasted veg and goats cheese. Their pizzas have improved loads, they've completely changed their menu and style of cooking, true i haven't been in quite a while, but when I last did, every pizza was chicken and spinach and barrel loads of rosemary on everything including your ice cream. Anyway, my pizza was rosemary free, delicious and more than enough (or at least it is when you have a bite of the Piccante pizza on your left and the calzone on your right - i thank yooowww) Staff were friendly and kept all rolling of eyes behind our backs if that was the case. Would never have gone into Zizzi of my own accord now, haven't ever liked it in the past but the new menu has totally won me over, will definitely be going back and BONUUUUSSS they take taste card.
And last but not least, Saturday night takeaway back in trusty Walton on Thames and it was courtesy of Oriental Chef on the High Street. This takeaway is what converted me back to liking Chinese a couple of years back when I moved here, it has genuine flavour, not a sickly gloop of something bright that keeps your heart racing till 4 in the morning and you thinking unreasonable but at the time totally believable thoughts about probably being fired the next day at work for wearing uncoordinated socks that Thursday back in January, and last night it did not disappoint. We went for the infamous 3a, spare ribs in a salt and chilli rub - SO GOOD!!! And i had spicy szechuan chicken which i haven't had there before and I'm not sure why but I had it in my head that Szechuan would be a dark sauce? so when I opened it up to find it more the colouring of your standard ginger and spring onion sauce, my heart sank thinking it would be bland - but i was pleasantly surprised, it was really tasty and again, no feeble chilli, didn't need to add any extra. It's not cordon bleu, but I think it always helps to get a good account of local takeaways - AND, an important fact about Oriental Chef, it has the PROPER prawn crackers (errrr becoming aware I talk A LOT about PC's, I promise to have a break) but they do the thin ones which have clearly been fried fresh, not the big white thick all the same circular shaped disc ones... anyone still with me on that..?? they're quite difficult to find these days, but basically taste like the ones you can buy from a chinese supermarket and cook yourself at home - bonus.
Off round said sister's flat tonight to be cooked for - Spag Bol. my death row meal, can't wait!
p.s - not being executed tomorrow, just what I would order if i had a choice and theoretically was about to be - ya geeeett me...?
No comments:
Post a Comment