Shaolin Temple, Carrot Soup and Injera
I may have taken a brief hiatus from blogging but not in exploring London 's hidden culinary nooks. So I combine here my three most interesting yet diverse restaurant experiences from the last few months .
In chronological order of visit, I start first with the unexpected delights of Shaolin temple's little restaurant in Tufnell Park. Admittedly the trek to the wild regions 'North' of the River Thames was an arduous one (you guessed it, I'm in the 'South' camp). However my planned gate-crash of this small dinner party hosted by Chinese linguists was possibly the best 'I'm-inviting-myself-to-this-evening' occasion. I have no doubt the memory of that yummy aubergine dish, stir fried green beans and crunchy tofu will take me back there soon. No photos sadly and the temple/kung fu centre doesn't really advertise this little restaurant, but here's a link .
Equally surprising was the lovely restaurant with its pretty crockery at the Wellcome Collection Trust Cafe. I worked around the drab grey buildings not far from Euston for over two years and walked past the Wellcome Collection museum a few times. But it took a friend from Japan to introduce me to the lip smacking carrot and coriander soup served here.
And finally at Kokeb Restaurant near Caledonian Road, I tried Ethiopian bread Injera for the first time. Before I describe the bread I must elaborate on the scrumptiously yummy 'curries'. They weren't Indian or Asian but somehow felt familiar. Lots of lemon. Awesome yellow lentils. Finger-licking vegetables. All of these on the side and in the middle a big round fermented bread - Injera. It reminded me of an extra-fermented South Indian dosa.
The only word of warning is that it starts well but can feel a bit sour after a while. An acquired taste? Perhaps, but I would definitely give it a go again.
********
In chronological order of visit, I start first with the unexpected delights of Shaolin temple's little restaurant in Tufnell Park. Admittedly the trek to the wild regions 'North' of the River Thames was an arduous one (you guessed it, I'm in the 'South' camp). However my planned gate-crash of this small dinner party hosted by Chinese linguists was possibly the best 'I'm-inviting-myself-to-this-evening' occasion. I have no doubt the memory of that yummy aubergine dish, stir fried green beans and crunchy tofu will take me back there soon. No photos sadly and the temple/kung fu centre doesn't really advertise this little restaurant, but here's a link .
Equally surprising was the lovely restaurant with its pretty crockery at the Wellcome Collection Trust Cafe. I worked around the drab grey buildings not far from Euston for over two years and walked past the Wellcome Collection museum a few times. But it took a friend from Japan to introduce me to the lip smacking carrot and coriander soup served here.
And finally at Kokeb Restaurant near Caledonian Road, I tried Ethiopian bread Injera for the first time. Before I describe the bread I must elaborate on the scrumptiously yummy 'curries'. They weren't Indian or Asian but somehow felt familiar. Lots of lemon. Awesome yellow lentils. Finger-licking vegetables. All of these on the side and in the middle a big round fermented bread - Injera. It reminded me of an extra-fermented South Indian dosa.
The only word of warning is that it starts well but can feel a bit sour after a while. An acquired taste? Perhaps, but I would definitely give it a go again.
********
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