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

EAT MEET SUPPERCLUB

Somewhere between Brockley and New Cross, Julie & her friend Sophie, run the Eat Meet Supper club. I had read about their supper club through other blogs after doing some research on the area. After emailing them directly to find out more, so I was over the moon to get a reply that there was an event coming up.

Excited for over evening adventure we headed over, wine in hand. However we found we had to do a couple of circles round the block as the excitement had got us there a little earlier than expected. On arrival (still 10 minutes early!) Julie and Sophie welcomed us straight into their kitchen and a cocktail of Rose syrup, Rhubarb and rosemary gin martinis. By the time they welcomed the remaining guests into the garden with a background music of 'screeching women' (Julie's words not mine) we were sailing onto our second delicious yet rather feisty cocktail!

Introductions were made with all the other guests whilst taking the few remaining rays of what sunshine there was, in the lovely back garden. I was interested to find out that none of the other guests had ever been to a supper club but they'd also heard good reviews about Sophie and Julie which had lead them there. Once the cocktails were finished, Julie guided us into the front room which had been turned into our dinning room for the evening.

The first course was green gazpacho chilled soup. A refreshing blend of cucumber, celery, herbs and cream topped with smokey sourdough croutons. The flavours were light and delicate, I really enjoyed this soup it was delicious. And the addition of the croutons were amazing! I love sourdough and these were the best croutons I ever had.

Next was a 'South-Eastern' fried buttermilk chicken served with a citrus slaw and green salad.

The salads were served in bowls on the table and the fried chicken portions arrived on a large chunky wooden board.

The chicken was moist with a spicy crunch coating. It was perfectly cooked, it that the chicken just fell off the bone. The citrus slaw was vibrant with the addition of sharp flavours of grapefruit and sweetness from the orange. Green salad was simple and non fussy, lettuce leaves and radishes. I think by having having light side dishes to the robust flavours of the chicken complemented the meal and prevented it from getting too heavy.

Dessert was rhubarb jellies with homemade royal jelly, honey, rosemary and greek yogurt ice cream. Sounds amazing, except I do have a bit of phobia of jelly and ice cream since I was a kid. Love both just not together, it's something to do with textures.
However I overcame this by eating it in layers. The ice cream was light and fresh not too sweet and then the jelly had a lovely texture from the rhubarb. Both were good however I personally wouldn't jump to have it again purely on the fact I was concentrating so much on the fact I was eating jelly and ice cream together. I just don't think the textures go together.

It was at this point that I stopped taking photos, sorry about that. However Julie popped some photos of the pudding on the Supperclub's Facebook page - Here

The evening then finished with a selection of cheeses served with homemade fruit bread. Which I've never had had with cheese before and it works really well. A bit like having the chutney already in the bread. 
Julie and Sophie were an excellent hosts, sitting down with us to chat after the plates had been cleared away. After a coffee and a couple more glasses it was time to head on home.

I'd highly recommend you to go to EAT MEET, Sophie and Julie are just so much fun and the food is really tasty! I myself have my eyes peeled for when the next one is. Just make sure you have some paracetamol for the next morning! ;)

The Big Red

THE BIG RED is a kooky new pizza restaurant to open in Deptford, actually it's been there for a while. But considering I have only just found out about it, it feels like it's brand new! Anyway, off I went to try it out with a helping second opinion from Jo. Jo has very kindly offered to assist me in my search of new places in the local area! Thanks Jo (at the time she didn't realise I'd end up dragging her to a crazy play where she ended up having water dropped on her head!? :s Yeah, sorry about that )


I believe it was originally an old disused double Decker bus that is situated next door to the Bird's nest pub before it was transformed into The Big Red. Such a brilliant idea!
So as you can guess, all the indoor seating is situated inside the bus (upstairs and downstairs) and then there is the seating outside on the decking, half of which is covered by a canopy.


They also offer hiring out the whole bus if you fancied having a party there. They're happy to offer this this on either a Wednesday or Thursday.
I think the idea is great and the design of the website is great - really love it!




Wonder if Jo got very far?....



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Cloche Burger & Brioche Bap

Happy New Year All! 

I've started as I mean to carry on 2012 by beginning with some serious savoury cooking. This year the sweet stuff is being put on the back-burner and we begin with one of London's new trends!

In previous posts I've talked about London's 'craze' of pop-up restaurants, well now it's all about the Street Burger! You may have about places such as Lucky Chip, The Meateasy & Honest Burger.
I've had the splendid joy of being to, two of the three above and I have to say, I don't think I'd ever had a proper burger before I had tried one from the above establishments!

The Meateasy also known as The Meatwagon has now moved to the west-end & re-named itself Meat Liquor. I went to the Meatwagon whilst it was still based in New Cross & have to say it was a fabulous experience of trying my first cloche burger!

So here are the two recipes I used to get the creation above in the photograph.

Light Brioche Burger Buns -  Got this recipe from Smitten Kitchen
Adapted from Comme Ça restaurant in Los Angeles, via the New York Times
Go! Make these! What are you waiting for?
Makes 8 4 to 5-inch burger buns
3 tablespoons warm milk
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
2 large eggs
3 cups bread flour
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Sesame seeds (optional)
1. In a glass measuring cup, combine one cup warm water, the milk, yeast and sugar. Let stand until foamy, about five minutes. Meanwhile, beat one egg.
2. In a large bowl, whisk flours with salt. Add butter and rub into flour between your fingers, making crumbs. Using a dough scraper, stir in yeast mixture and beaten egg until a dough forms. Scrape dough onto clean, well-floured counter and knead, scooping dough up, slapping it on counter and turning it, until smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. The dough will be on the sticky side so it can be a bit messy, but keep in mind that the more flour you knead in, the tougher the buns will get. Try to leave them tackier than you would a round loaf.
3. Shape dough into a ball and return it to bowl. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, one to two hours. (In my freaky, warm apartment this only took an hour.)
4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using dough scraper, divide dough into 8 equal parts. Gently roll each into a ball and arrange two to three inches apart on baking sheet. Cover loosely with a piece of plastic wrap lightly coated in nonstick spray and let buns rise in a warm place for one to two hours. (Again, this only took one hour in my apartment and I suspect, you’ll also only need an hour for a second rise.)
5. Set a large shallow pan of water on oven floor. Preheat oven to 400 degrees with rack in center. Beat remaining egg with one tablespoon water and brush some on top of buns. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if using. Bake, turning sheet halfway through baking, until tops are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.

Cloche Burger - recipe found on The Independent website

1kg coarsely minced chuck steak with about 20 per cent fat (get this from your butcher not the supermarket)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
A little vegetable oil for grilling
4 slices of cheese
4 soft homemade Brioche buns

Mould the mince into round patties the same size or a little larger than the burger buns. Season the burgers then heat a griddle or heavy frying pan and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, keeping them nice and pink. When it's almost done, splash a little bit of water into the pan and then puts a cloche over the top to let it steam a little.
If you are using cheese, just place on top of the burger for 30 seconds or so to melt it.
Meanwhile, lightly toast the bun, assemble with your chosen relish and serve immediately.

Dill Relish
Chopped dill
Tommie K
Mayo

 Once you make a cloche burger you'll never do it any other way.

Go on give it a try!!

Why SE London is the place to be

South East London has always seemed to be an after-thought of where to go or live. However in recent times I have heard more and more people getting excited about it, even suggesting that it might be the 'New Hoxton / Shoreditch'. An up and coming creative hub. What with having Goldsmiths College on it's doorstep and a large array of affordable art studios and places to live, not to mention the new transport links, it is no wonder it's beginning to gain the reputation it deserves!

Here is a short film I came across on the Deptford Dame & Transpontine blogs.

Some interesting debates going on the video post on the Deptford Dame blog...

Ooo I do love a good debate! :)