THE RUSSET IN SPRING

Last week I was invited to go and try the new Spring Menu at The Russet in Hackney. 

The Russet is a community cafe that not only serves up tasty food, it also holds events, yoga classes and also not forgetting their new cocktail Bar, The Shrubbery.

The spring menu encompasses seasonal local produce where possible. Sourcing from places that include The Ginger Pig, Select Meats, McKanna Meats, The Fishery & Formans. The Russet’s Spring menu has also acknowledged the horrible wet weather we are currently experiencing so have added dishes that are warm and comforting.

So excitedly I headed down there and was introduced to a few other people which included David from Loving Dalston and Crummbs blogger, Stacey. Kathryn was our host for the evening, talking us through the menu and making sure we weren’t without a warming mulled cider. Yep mulled cider in spring and it works. Not to mention it isn’t called The Russet for nothing. 

Chefs, John and Sarah, kicked off by sending out a selection of starters which included:

Roasted Spiced Cauliflower with Pomegranate and Almonds - This was tasty and reminded me of an Ottolenghi style recipe. 

Courgette Noodles, Pea and Mint Pesto, Crushed Walnuts  - Fresh, light and reviving.

Slow Cooked Dalston Cola Sticky Chicken - Wow! This is a very good word to describe these wings, oh absolutely delicious. Plus you can’t get much more local than making your own Dalston Cola - These chefs are serious about finding locally sourced produce! ;)

                                                           

     

Beetroot and Vodka Home Cured Gravadlax, Avocado Mousse  - This was one of my favorites! I am an such a big fan of beetroot and avocado, plus it was fascinating to see how John had cured the salmon in the beetroot & vodka coating. Made it all more exciting!

Roast Piquillo Peppers stuffed with Tofu, Ajillo dressing, which flew from their plates so quick I didn’t have chance to try them but they seem to go down well.

     

Soup of the Day, Sourdough which on this occasion was butternut squash. I have to be honest here because I am such a big soup eater myself, but I found this to lack a bit of seasoning and was a little bland. 

Now that our appetites had been tempted the main courses arrived whilst the conversations flowed. These soon subsided to quiet appreciation of the new selection of dishes in front us.

Slow Cooked Pork Belly, Chorizo and White Bean Stew with Sourdough - This has to be one of the most comforting dished I’ve tried. A hug in a bowl with a soft fluffy cushion of sourdough bread on the side. Very handy to ensure you don’t miss out on any of that delicious sauce at the bottom.  

Roast Sea Bass, Brown Rice, Tomato,Cucumber Salsa, Sweet Pepper Sauce - A zesty light dish which would leave you feeling pleasantly satisfied.

Raw Kale and Avocado Salad with Crushed Walnuts and Tahini Dressing (V)  -  I love kale, avocado and walnuts but due to the fact that tahini isn’t something I like too much this wasn’t one of my favorites. 

Chunky Cheeseburger, Crushed New Potato Chips, Tomato Relish, Green Salad - I’m not a big burger person and rarely would choose this off the menu. However after one bite I can safely say I’m hooked. This burger was so delicious and full of flavour that when I go back I be having it again. Plus the slightly crushed new potato chips are a genius addition to this meal. 

Lastly, I thought it was worth mention that during the week, if you nip down to the Russet you must try out their current ‘No-frills’ lunch time special. A cheap daily dining option for those looking for a simple yet filling meal under a fiver! They have both a meat and vegetarian dishes on offer, to ensure everyone is catered for.

The Russet

Hackney Downs Studios

Amhurst Terrace

London

E8 2BT

Monday to Friday open from 08:30 - 23:00. 

On Saturday from 09:00 - 23:30 and on 

Sundays open from 10:00 - 23:00. 

HEART RACING MUFFINS // DISASTER

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Thought I'd bring some romance to the studio today by making these Beetroot muffins. Valentines is usually all about chocolate galore so I decided that considering everyone at work is more inclined to go for the savoury option, that's what I'd do.

These muffins should get your hearts racing that's for sure! The cayenne pepper and cocoa gives you a warm after kick that'll wake you up. Plus using beetroot adds the colour to match the days events

 I found this recipe on a random blog whilst searching for beetroot savoury muffins -  Beetroot, Carrot & Goats Cheese Muffins. However even though they look pretty... they tasted revolting!!?!?! yup they were a complete disaster... My fatal flaw was that I didn't try one until everyone else had... spat mine out! Not good :(

Back to the drawing board. Does anyone have a decent savoury muffin recipes? I need to make amends to everyone in office now! 8-O

On a happier note, few hours into the day and these arrived! 

Turns out that I have a valentine .... ;) feeling pretty lucky!

(even though I can make horrid beetroot muffins)

CAFE No.178

Last weekend was jam packed but somehow I managed to have a lovely long brunch with some of my friends from Borough Belles. A couple of them had never ventured to New Cross before so taking them to Cafe No.178. It's been open a while now and is somewhere that has caught my eye.

I managed to reserve a table for us during the week. I don't usually reserve tables, but on this occasion there was going to be 5 of us, so it seemed sensible. Luke, at No178, was quick in replying and very helpful.

I'd like to tell you a bit about No.178 before I tell you of my experience when I went there. 

Cafe No.178 is part of, and run by the Toucan Employment, which is a charity based in the Lewisham, Southwark, Brent & Peckham areas. The charity’s aims is to help people with learning disabilities secure work and employment opportunities in London. Half of Cafe No.178 employees have learning disabilities. But with Toucan employment's hospitality program, they are taught to create menus, cook food, wait tables etc. and prep them for further employment possibilities.

“A social enterprise cafe-bar serving large helpings of fantastic 

food, local beers, top coffee and social good”

They are set up so that the proceeds made at the Cafe get put back into the charity in different forms. Firstly they have an veg plot based in Honor Oak, that some of the food that is grown there is used in the cafe. Soup also made in the cafe No.178 kitchen is sold on their soup stall, which is based outside the New Cross Post office & also employs adults with learning disabilities. 

The Trust also uses the funds for their community garden and other projects in the area. Including working with Grow Wild, an organisation that teaches nutrition around New Cross. They have a garden up on Telegraph Hill and run a class called “Chop and Chat”, which is a communal cooking session that they have on Mondays at No.178. 

So as you can tell this place is doing good things and is an important part of the community. Knowing this when I arrived I wanted to like Cafe No.178, as was already impressed at their aim and addition to the New Cross community.

I arrived at the cafe 10 mins late, the cafe was already busy and the girls behind the counter seemed run off their feet. After being shown the table, the Belles arrived and after a brief catch up we ordered some food. 

The cafe itself has a great relaxed atmosphere. I loved the decor and the fact that there are board games & books for customers to use. It gives you the impression they want you to stay and not rush. There is plenty of space between tables which is a refreshing change to ramming in as many tables as you can fit in, which you find in so many places these days. Which I have to say stresses me out. 

Not only is it a cafe in the day but also has things happening in the evenings and also has a license too. Quiz nights on Wednesdays, live music and dancing on other evenings and they're even hosting a valentine's night this Friday.

On the cafe side of things I was really impressed with the food I ate and the coffee was delicious. But don't go there in a rush, food arrives when it's ready, as do your drinks. Service may sometimes seem slow, but bear with them. The girls were incredibly thankful for our patience and apologised for the chaos that seemed to surround them.

I went for the Shakshuka – Eggs poached in a spiced Tomato sauce with Pitta and Feta £5.75. Luke informed be that 'Shakshuka' spelling varies as does the country of origin but definitely from the Middle East. Have to say it was delicious and incredibly comforting for a cold raining weekend. The light kick of the spices sorted out the mild hangover I had too ;)

Ellie and Amy couldn't resist and both opted for the pancakes and bacon. They both deemed it tasty and delicious. American Breakfast – pancakes, bacon & maple syrup £4.00

Muireann went for the veggie brekkie, being veggie n all.

Breakfast pizza, no less! I've never heard of it before, let alone seen it. It baked beans on there and everything!?! Veggie Breakfast Pizza –  Egg, Spinach, Mushrooms & Baked Beans, on a crisp Tortilla base £5.75 

Holly arrived a little later and went for a simple wrap. Not a lot to say here, it was a wrap. Did what it said on the tin, but not very exciting. Alll the same filled the hole. Wensleydale & Chutney (v) £3.50 

Overall I can conclude I will be back and hopefully will manage to check out some of the other events they have going on at No.178. It is a great place with a great vibe and a very welcome addition to the New Cross scene.

No.178

178 New Cross Road 

London SE14 5AA

02079986922

no178newcross@gmail.com

ORIGINAL BTC ENGLAND

2014 has started with organising storage and general clear out in the flat which I will be doing a post on in the near future.

All the stuff we decided to get rid off we took to the local food bank. They sell the second hand goods and with the money they make, purchase food that they then hand out via the food bank. We nipped down to 'Come To The Revolution - Housemartins'. Their address is 467 New Cross Road, SE14 6TA. So if you have any unwanted items in reasonal good nick take them down there.

With the de-cluttering complete we welcomed the arrival of these gorgeous Hector wall lights made by BTC. I love these lights so much, even the boxes they arrived in were beautiful designed (see image above).

BTC was established by Peter Bowles in 1990. The Original BTC lights are hand-assembled in Oxford from high quality aluminium, chrome and the bone china that is hand-cast in Stoke-On-Trent. BTC lights, strengthen what the British Industries were once known for - quality handmade goods. The  success of these lights is down to the mix of materials, details and overall quality. They are both functional and practical lights that have a simple elegance. 

The shade and back plate parts of the light are both Bone China and as mentioned before, hand-cast in Stoke-On-Trent! I'm such a supporter of British Industries especially when it specifically concerns my home town. The added bonus was that Ben found them on sale at SCP.

"When a visit to the Stoke-on-Trent shade manufacturer revealed the factory was under threat of closure, Bowles promptly took on the business, including all staff. Later, unsatisfied with the finish of commonly-used plastic lighting flex, he replaced it with woven cotton braid snipped off the family iron, soon becoming one of Original BTC’s best-loved design features." 

If you're looking for new lights for your home I highly recommend BTC.