Fat Friday’s personify quality time consuming one’s bodyweight in high calorie comfort food which invariably/inevitably have a patina of filth. The enjoyment will help you celebrate the week’s achievements or discard the woes. Here is one of mine during a dry June Friday:
Pizza Union in Spitalfields has been open for about 3 years or so now and it delivers extra crispy, super thin Roman style pizza’s which are fire baked in their space-ship sized stone oven in about the same time it takes to make a cup of tea! It’s pretty chilled here with communal seating, industrial chic interior and patina’d walls. You can wash your pizza down with a variety of San Pellegrino’s, wine, Peroni or even coffee. It’s perfect for a ‘Fat Friday’. It is also very popular and the queues can be often seen snaking out onto the pavement!
My go to pizza is always the Fiorentina £5.50 (tomato sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, egg, black olives, fresh spinach) with added spicy Nduja sausage (£1 supplement).
This is the ‘Carne’ (£6.50) (Tomato sauce, mozzarella, chicken, beef, pepperoni, onions, rosemary).
The verdict:
When did I go? June 2016
The damage: Expect to pay £8-£10 per head with a drink.
The good: I love biscuit like crust which the tart tomato sauce and toppings soaks into nicely. The nduja sausage is some of the best I’ve had as it packs some much flavour. The oils ooze into the pizza, making it more of a compelling bite. The value is incredible for such a tasty treat.
The bad: The queues can be bonkers long so get there early or after the lunch rush
Rating: 4/5
Address: 25 Sandy’s Row, London, E1 7HW
Closest tube station: Liverpool St
http://www.pizzaunion.com
A fat Friday isn’t complete without after work cocktails and you’ll be surprised to know they do mixology very good at Pitt Cue. We ended up tasting a variety of bourbons including the Original Blanton’s and 1792 in Old Fashion’s along with Elijah Craig sours. We we’re treated to a tasting of the Four Roses too. All were very different back to back yet incredibly mouth-watering.
The creamy head on the sours were testament to the barman’s skills.
Finally now that you’re nicely lubricated I’d recommend a foodie wonderland whereby all the top chefs and restaurants showcase their signature dishes in small plates.. There’s no better place (subject to availability) that Taste London – it was the summer one in Regent’s Park in my case.
For starters from the Chai Wu stand we have in sequence the Roast Duck Mantou Bun with garlic truffle oil. It reminded me of char siu pork, but sweeter and laced with hoi sin and star anise.
Pop corn shrimp with spicy wasabi mayo were delightful little things, especially as the shrimp’s were so sweet and juicy.
Wagyu beef skewer cooked mid rare. It came with this thick teriyaki sauce and asparagus. Believe me when I tell you that it was one of the most tender pieces of beef I’ve eaten.
Grubstance Rating: 3/5
A lubrication pit stop is rudimental especially if there is one of Speyside finest imports called Balvenie in the house with their little lounge. It was a full bodied sherry bomb which reminded me of Christmas cake in a delicious way.
Next up we try the Izakaya inspired Kurobuta’s signature BBQ Pork Belly in Steamed Buns with Spicy Peanut Soy. Thick cut meaty pork belly, slathered in that thick soy reduction sandwiched in that soft pillowy bun, along with the textual peanut crunch. Every mouthful is a gushing one.
Grubstance Rating: 3.5/5
More juice in refreshing Pina Calada form in the Plantation Rum tent with the 5 year old. I had a drop of the 20 year old too which was full of deep caramel flavours.
Molé Taco Bar has put Mexican food (albeit with modern flair) on the Grubstance map as these little taco’s pack impressive flavour.
Butter Milk Chicken Taco. Fired butter milk chicken, serrano mayo, lettuce micro coriander.
Cochinita Pibil – pulled pork with avocado,pickled onion and orange habanero.
Braised Oxtail Taco. Oxtail with blackberry, cream and tomatillo salsa. Dubbed their ‘Icon’ and I can see why as it;s might fine.
Grubstance Rating: 4/5
When I saw that Farang had a little stand, the lure of picking up some fish cakes was unbearable especially since I ordered 2 portions at their Clapham pop-up. (My review can be seen here). It wasn’t meant to be this time round though as they were cold and uninspiring.
Grubstance Rating: 1.5/5
I was a MEATliquor virgin before I came here and any burger lover worth there salt would have tried this and preached how good their ‘Dead Hippie’ burger is. For those who have I’m inclined to agree. French mustard-fried patties,dead hippie sauce™, lettuce, cheese, pickles, minced white onions all in possibly the softest burger bun I’ve eaten, what there not like?
Grubstance Rating: 4/5
And that concludes my perfect fat Friday!
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