A Curry in Surrey...

Walking up hilly, dark country lanes is not my usual path to curry, generally that involves calling my local, Indelicious (brilliant name, equally brilliant Chicken Dhansak) or jumping on the ELL to Whitechapel and the legend that is Tayyabs (mmmm... lamb chops). But a generous offer, particularly one that involves paneer, must be met with gumption and thus we hopped (cycled), skipped (train) and jumped (walked) our way to India Dining in Warlingham, Surrey.

The restaurant looked like a high-end Indian (lots of leather and up lights) and the menu read like one too (Venison, Guinea Fowl, Soft Shell Crab). Service was attentive, the 'Indian Mojito' cocktails mintily delicious and the food... well there was lots of it. We sampled crisp spiced crab, sweet stuffed paneer, melting lamb shanks, creamy scallops, fiery aubergine and reassuring potato-stuffed paratha. As we ate and drank on their hospitality, I shall not even feign objectivity (free food = good). I will say that, once the war with transport was won, we enjoyed our jaunt to the country immensely.

India Dining

6 The Green

Warlingham

Surrey

CR6 9NA

01883 625 905

With a Little Coaching...

Things were not looking good for the Coach & Horses, a tucked away pub in the back streets of Clerkenwell. The exterior is careworn at best, the wood-panelled interior nice but lacking shine, a lone cider on tap (Strongbow) and not a soul in the place.

Things began to improve once the autumn dark drew in, the place began to fill with a cosy hum and we were settled with the menu. Suddenly I was signalling for the waitress with the determination of a person about to over order.

Crayfish

Shockingly, I've only ever eaten crayfish in the form of a Pret salad, so this was my first time cracking the scarlett beauties apart and sucking out the insides. Blimey. Fresh, sweet meat dunked in tartare sauce did a little song in my mouth.

Cockles Marinara

Again, an eye opener (previous experience of cockles being the cold ones you get at the seaside, of which I am no fan). Replacing mussels in the most classic of soup/shellfish marriages, worked like a charm. The intensely fishy broth silky with cream, the frilled shells infinitely prettier than their dark cousins of the sea.

Alioli whipped the just okay chips into shape with a tangy slap of garlic. Whhhhoooooopppa.

Grey Mullet with Chickpeas, Heritage Tomatoes and Razor Clams - 'looked and tasted fine, but I'm still hungry' (from my father, who doesn't really understand fish unless its battered, deep fried and served in gargantuan portions).

At around £6 for a starter and £12 for a main, the prices are roughly London pub average and, for the quality of the food, this is good value (particularly the weekday set lunch menu). However, with the bar for eating in Clerkenwell set so high (St John, Caravan, Moro, Morito, The Modern Pantry to name a few...), C&H's taps need a bit of polish. That said, the temperature is dropping by the hour, our minds are turning to warming grub in snug pubs and, in a new winter coat, the Coach & Horses could be just the place to spend a frosty afternoon...

Coach & Horses

26-28 Ray Street

EC1R 3DJ

Hat's Off...

Not being the type of girl who turns down a boozy invitation, I was more than happy to attend a mexican food and cocktail making workshop at Benito's Hat on Wednesday evening.

After a quick demos from Head Chef, Felipe and owner, Ben. It was our turn to attempt perfect tortillas, stonkingly hot salsa, and to whip up our own take on BH's watermelon martini.

Like thirsty moths to an alcohol dispensing flame we raced for the cocktail station, and started adding spirits with worrying abandon. Then applied the same kitchen sink method to our salsa and tortillas with mixed results (Felipe deemed our too thick tortillas inedible but our concoction of mango juice, mint and tequila got the thumbs up from Ben).

Sadly we had to leave before the sampling of the menu but after the way Ben talked about his menu of authentic, fresh burritos, tacos, soups and salads, I have mentally promised myself a taster in the very near future. Until then, anyone for a mango martini?

Benito's Hat

12 Great Castle Street

W1W 8LR