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

Eggcellent

I quite liked my boyfriend anyway and then he made these...

Romance is not dead in our house, let me tell you.

Havin' A Ball

My friend once told me about an episode of The Simpsons where Homer orders steak with meatballs as a drink. Even though I haven't seen it, I smile every time I think about it.

Meatballs are brilliant. They are like burgers, but they come in sauce which (unless done poorly) helps them to stay good and juicy. I don't know anyone who doesn't love them, nor do I want to. Which is why opening a restaurant centred around balls of meat is a cracking idea.

A cracking idea, that is, until you remember that they are actually hard to get right. And, if you don't, everyone will notice. Meatball's meatballs are not perfect but I'm not sure it matters. The menu is short and enticing, offering a choice of five meatballs (beef and ricotta, greek lamb, pork and rosemary, chicken, vegetarian courgette) with a selection of delightful sides or 'underneaths' including fluffy mash, honey and thyme roasted carrots and egg pappardelle.

We went as a group of six which turned out to be a perfect number for piling into the booths (I do love a booth) and ordering pretty much everything on the menu. The decor is great: polished wood, elegant leather, and a charming assortment of light fittings (I do love a light fitting). The atmosphere was a little timid for my Friday night taste but here we should note two things: one, I have a big mouth and like going places that drown out my noise and two, they have not been open long so a little time should take care of this.

Most of all though, it was just fun. Fun in the way that tapas with a table of people is fun. Lots of "Oooooh try this one," and "Stop hogging the pork balls!" It is the perfect place to go with a group and be guaranteed there is something on the menu for everyone. Because the menu is meatballs and everyone, particularly Homer Simpson, loves a meatball...

Meatballs at the Quality Chop House

92-94 Farringdon Road

EC1R 3EA

Cross It Off

Saturday mornings mean Saturday kitchen and breakfast in bed, which is why I have missed out on the delights of North Cross Road Market until now. Thank god for circumstance (and a freelance article) which got me out of bed at 8am and daaan the market by 9.

I was there to hang out with Cooper aka The Dogfather who was a pleasure and a joy. What a lovely man and, more importantly, what ridiculously delicious hot dogs. I grilled him whilst he grilled and watched in awe as he created corkers like 'The Mexican Elvis' (Beef Steak n' Pinto Bean Sauce, Jalapenos, Cheddar, Grilled Onions, Hot Cheese Sauce and a 100% beef dog) to a queue of adoring fans.

Once Cooper got busy, I got busy with the rest of the market...

Gourmet Lunch Boxes (mmmm... saffron chicken), The Viet-Van (mmmm... Vietnamese baguettes), Comfort and Joy (mmmm... wraps), as well as huge wodges of sexy cheese, wickedly plump tomatoes and indecently glossy tarts. If I hadn't already eaten a mammouth hot dog, I would have been in serious trouble.

Get ye down to East Dulwich. I like it so much, I'm moving there.

(I would not lie for journalistic effect.)

North Cross Road Market

East Dulwich

SE22 9EV

Monday to Saturday

Carbs in Marbs

I try to be classy. I buy meat from the butcher, wine that costs over £5 a bottle and, when on holiday, try to eat as authentically as possible. Which is why I am slightly shamefaced about my food consumption on a recent trip to Spain. The only night I ate something Spanish (Paella) was the night I drank so much (cheap) wine, I forgot how to use my camera...

I did take a lot of nice pictures though, I particularly love the old men on benches.