Oh Holy Shit
Tonight, I left class and wandered over to the Ship to have a couple drinks and see if anyone I knew was around. Simon was there, and I had a couple drinks, but then I realized that I really needed to be at My Favorite Restaurant In The World ingratiating myself with the staff with a view to possible future work, so I jumped a cab to the East End and wandered into St John for some drinks and food.
I was in jeans and a t-shirt, and the place looked pretty damn busy, so I didn't even try getting a table, I just stood at the bar, had some drinks and some food, and chatted up the bar staff.
You can't get the full menu at the bar, so I went for a few apps instead. I started with Rolled Pig's Spleen with Bacon, and Smoked Eel with Horseradish. Both were amazing. I love smoked eel, and I've had it millions of times in my life, but I've never had smoked eel that was this fucking tasty ... it literally made me start quivering and twitching with excitement (and spleen is actually quite tasty itself -- who knew? Kinda like liver, which I'm not a big fan of usually, but milder). The eel, though ... I took a bite with a little horseradish on it, and first you taste the eel, then the horseradish cuts in, then it's like this crazy EXPLOSION of smoke flavor, that lasts for quite a while ... it was sooooooo good. After that, I let things settle a bit, then ordered a couple fresh Raw Oysters (with a red vinegar / minced shallot dip, plus lemon juice and tobasco), which were great, and some Suckling Pig with Dandelions (yeah, I didn't know you could eat them, either), in a dijon sauce with capers and baby gherkins. I was pretty much in Heaven at this point, but after resting a little while, I ordered an espresso and some Buttermilk Pudding, which was the consistency of a stiff custard, with a light, thin caramel sauce drizzled around. During the meal, I was drinking a micro-brew cider (7.5% alcie, thanks), but after it all, I had some Knappogue Castle Single Malt from 1992. Plus the bar staff compled me some bread & butter (usually costs a couple quid extra), and a glass of some digestif I can't remember the name of, so that was quite nice of them.
When I left, the bar staff were all asking my name and making me promise to come back (which, of course, I will do). Oh yes, gang, I will be on the inside soon at this place.
Tonight, I left class and wandered over to the Ship to have a couple drinks and see if anyone I knew was around. Simon was there, and I had a couple drinks, but then I realized that I really needed to be at My Favorite Restaurant In The World ingratiating myself with the staff with a view to possible future work, so I jumped a cab to the East End and wandered into St John for some drinks and food.
I was in jeans and a t-shirt, and the place looked pretty damn busy, so I didn't even try getting a table, I just stood at the bar, had some drinks and some food, and chatted up the bar staff.
You can't get the full menu at the bar, so I went for a few apps instead. I started with Rolled Pig's Spleen with Bacon, and Smoked Eel with Horseradish. Both were amazing. I love smoked eel, and I've had it millions of times in my life, but I've never had smoked eel that was this fucking tasty ... it literally made me start quivering and twitching with excitement (and spleen is actually quite tasty itself -- who knew? Kinda like liver, which I'm not a big fan of usually, but milder). The eel, though ... I took a bite with a little horseradish on it, and first you taste the eel, then the horseradish cuts in, then it's like this crazy EXPLOSION of smoke flavor, that lasts for quite a while ... it was sooooooo good. After that, I let things settle a bit, then ordered a couple fresh Raw Oysters (with a red vinegar / minced shallot dip, plus lemon juice and tobasco), which were great, and some Suckling Pig with Dandelions (yeah, I didn't know you could eat them, either), in a dijon sauce with capers and baby gherkins. I was pretty much in Heaven at this point, but after resting a little while, I ordered an espresso and some Buttermilk Pudding, which was the consistency of a stiff custard, with a light, thin caramel sauce drizzled around. During the meal, I was drinking a micro-brew cider (7.5% alcie, thanks), but after it all, I had some Knappogue Castle Single Malt from 1992. Plus the bar staff compled me some bread & butter (usually costs a couple quid extra), and a glass of some digestif I can't remember the name of, so that was quite nice of them.
When I left, the bar staff were all asking my name and making me promise to come back (which, of course, I will do). Oh yes, gang, I will be on the inside soon at this place.
VIEW 8 of 8 COMMENTS
Wow, that makes it sound much more appetizing