Father's Day lunch at Heirloom, London N8

The Englishman enjoying his Father's Day pre-lunch pint.

There's a new kid in the restaurant block in Crouch End, called Heirloom. Both the Englishman and I have been watching the changing shopfront of the restaurant on Park Road while walking past on our way into town on a Saturday, or passing onboard the W7 bus on our way home from work. Over the months of the refurbishment, we'd heard good things about Heirloom, so when it was time to book somewhere for a Father's Day lunch, Daughter and I thought this new British restaurant would do nicely.

Reputedly this restaurant was going to use ingredients from their own farm in the not-too-far Buckinghamshire to offer fresh ingredients for a short menu. Just our cup of tea (or coffee for me...).

I really liked the decor of Heirloom. It's very pared down and simple, with wooden tables without tablecloths (but with generously portioned cloth napkins - yes!) and white walls with just the odd colourful print adorning them. There's a bar at the front where you can enjoy nibbles and drinks, and some tables at the back. We were seated at a lovely round table under a skylight. But the table was right next to a back door, with a bit of a draft coming through, which on a hot London day would have been very welcome.  But because I have been 'blessed' with another bout of frozen shoulder I couldn't sit with any kind of draft. (I know - it's depressing to have it again but at least it reputedly only hits a shoulder the once, so this should be the last time). The staff were very good about it and moved us swiftly onto another table in the middle of the restaurant.

In  spite of this, it was obvious the restaurant had been open for a matter of days, because the service was a little tentative, although friendly, which is ultimately what matters. Plus the food was - in one word - divine.

To start I and the Englishman had baby leeks with lobster, which was a combination I certainly would  never have thought of but was perfectly balanced. Daughter had fried asparagus with pork jus and breadcrumbs. I am really pushed to say which one of these was the better starter; both had a clean taste, with none of the ingredients overpowering the dish.

For mains I had skate wings with capers, burned nut butter, new potatoes, fennel salad and greens. Although the dish was far too large for me, I enjoyed the perfectly cooked fish. The new potatoes were really tasty too, and the fennel salad and greens were good accompaniments the dish.

Daughter had ricotta-filled courgette with courgette flowers and pineapple tomatoes. Again the taste of this dish was fresh and well seasoned.

The Englishman's Red Devon rib of beef with baby beets was melt-in the mouth, and rare - or rather blue. It was just as well he did like his beef barely alive, because the waiters had not queried his preference. As I said before, there were a few teething problems with the service, something I'm sure Heirloom will put right in the weeks and months to come.

The puddings were again delicious, with the treacle tart and gooseberries getting the most votes at our table.

Puddings - treacle tart at the front.

This is the kind of food we like to cook at home and equally delicious if we get it right on occasion. Not to be big-headed about it, but it's rare that we get the same quality British fare when eating out locally. Which is why I just had to write about Heirloom and recommend it to you all.

Oh, and the craft beer according to the Englishman was excellent too, as was the pre dinner drink of Cava Daughter and I had. Plus the bread brought to the table at the start tasted excellent with the small pot of hot pork dripping. The taste combination reminded me of the Swedish tradition of Dopparedagen when you gather around the kitchen to dip bread into the juices of the traditionally seasonal cooked ham night before Christmas Eve.

There was a definite Nordic flair to both the cooking and decor of Heirloom, which is probably why I loved it so much. It'd be interesting to find out if the restaurant has a Scandinavian connection?

With three courses, pre dinner drinks, a bottle of good quality white wine and a glass of red our bill came to just under £50-00 per head. That's not too bad for excellent food in North London.

Heirloom
35 Park Road
Crouch End
N8 8TE
Te 02083483565
www.heirloomn8.co.uk
@heirloomn8

Osteria Tufo in Finsbury Park, London

Photo by By: Sunil060902 (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons

Ever since we've been in North London, for me Finsbury Park has just been a place to take the tube from. Lately, however, I've noticed that the area is undergoing a definite transformation.

Just a stone's throw away from the station is the newly opened Park Theatre, which we are yet to try out, but which has had great reviews for its first season. And a few streets away is an Italian restaurant called Osteria Tufo, which Son had heard good things about, so off we went last Sunday lunchtime to try the place out.

The place is owned by an Italian couple, Paola and Morris, who have over 20 years' experience in the restaurant business, including time spent at Carluccio's.

The shortness of the menu at Osteria Tufo gave me immediate hope for freshly cooked food, as did the simple decor. I and Son's fiancé (still looove saying that!) opted for traditional antipasti of Calamari Fritti, which was beautifully fresh and light, although I would have preferred the dish not to be served in a glass Pyrex dish. That and the cheap paper napkin which lined the dish, really let the presentation down.

The Englishman chose Polpette di Pesce to start. This was delicious tuna and swordfish meatballs served with chill tomato and capers, which tasted delicious. Son had Parmigiaba di Melanzane; oven-baked aubergine with tomato and mozzarella, which he was very happy with.

For mains we girls chose pasta. I had absolutely perfectly cooked ravioli with ricotta and spinach in a gorgonzola sauce, while Son's girlfriend had flat pasta with sausage meat and truffle oil. We all agreed this was the best dish of the day,with the meat tender and the truffle adding a beautiful scent of a rain soaked woodland. (Or perhaps it's the Finn in me that thinks of forests when eating anything with fungi in it?)

The boys had meat in the form of Porchetta, 'Savoury pork roast of Italian culinary tradition, layers of stuffing meat fat and skin.' Not something I would have chosen, but the Englishman said the taste delivered on a much higher level than its description.

For puddings the others shared a Babba Napoletano, a dish that came highly recommended. The sweet baked sourdough was indeed melt-in-the-mouth as was the dessert I always opt for, if it's on the menu: Affogato. Here they serve it with two scoops of ice-cream, but I asked for just one, because for me, the espresso needs to be the star of the dish. The staff were more than happy to oblige.

For the wines we chose a Sicilian house red, and a Gavi for the white. Both bottles were of excellent quaffing quality with a price tag to match. The whole meal came to £125.20 (for four, including a couple of beers to start), which I think is pretty good value for London.

This is beautifully executed traditional Italian food, with friendly, unfussy service. A simple task, you might say, but it's so very rarely achieved even by the big names in the industry.

We will definitely go back Osteria Tufo, if only to take Daughter who couldn't join us this time. This local Italian will also be the perfect place to shelter from bad weather when the tubes and trains are out of action. Here's hoping for some more storms and snow this winter. (Only joking)

Osteria Tufo
67 Fonthill Road
London N4 3HZ
Tel 020 7272 2911
www.osteriatufo.co.uk

Crouch End Knowledge: Scarlet Rage Vintage

I have to come clean: I don't like vintage shops. The only good item I've ever got in a second hand shop (as they used to be called) was a beautiful Victorian christening gown for Son. And that was nearly twenty-six years ago. (Time flies). I still have it, for the next generation, and I truly treasure it.

Oh, come to think of it, I did once get a very lovely burgundy ball gown in a vintage shop, called Bertie Golightly's in Bradford-on-Avon. I remember that they had to take the waist in, I was that thin. (Those were the days!) That was before Son was born, so best not think how many years ago that was... I still have that purchase too, so I may have to eat my words on not liking vintage.

But, the idea of wearing someone else's clothes fills me with dread. Besides, I think the whole vintage fashion phenomena is over. There are now far too many shops calling themselves vintage, when in truth they're just full of second hand wares, or last season's sale items at normal prices.

Of course there are exceptions, and one such shop is Scarlet Rage Vintage in Crouch End, North London. I've been meaning to visit this shop for ages, because it has such an attractive window display, but have never quite managed it. And now they are already celebrating their first Birthday!

As soon as you walk into the shop you notice this is a professional outfit: all the clothes are beautifully displayed and they're clean, ironed and not stuffed into overfull rails (and there's no 'old clothes' smell). The lady in the shop, Rosie, was friendly, not overly pushy, just lovely.

My eye soon caught a treasure; 1920's waitress' (or servant's?) uniform. The lace at the cuffs and the thin white linen pinny convinced me it was truly original. Perfect for a fancy dress; although it looked on the small size (this time it would have to be altered in the other direction). Rosie told me it was probably a size eight, so erhm, perhaps not for me.

Rosie told me the stock comes mostly from the US and Europe, and that they make sure the items are from their chosen era of 1920's to 50's. They also stock a large collection of handbags, vintage jewellery, and a few homes wares such as cushions and chairs.

If you're into your American 20th century vintage, this is definitely a place to visit. And if you're in Crouch End this week, why not pop in on Thursday to celebrate Scarlet Rage Vintage's first birthday?

Scarlet Rage Vintage,
11 Topsfield Parade,
Crouch End,
London,
N8 7LA

Opening time are:

Monday to Friday 10:30am till 6pm
Saturday 11am till 6pm
Sunday 12pm till 6pm

Jazz and Swing in North London

Photo: BBC 

I've been loving the new BBC Two drama, Dancing on Edge directed by Stephen Poliakoff and starring the fantastic Chiwetel Eijofor and Matthew Goode, among other big stars. It's a story of a jazz and swing band in 1930's London, and the acting, direction, plot and above all the music have really impressed me.

So when I had an email  from the wonderful Jazz and Swing band Down for the Count that they will be at The Music Palace in Crouch End this Friday (today, sorry for the last minute notice), I immediately had an image in my head from Dancing on Edge and thought I must go. I had a fantastic evening when this talented group of musicians performed as part of the Crouch End Festival last year. Plus the venue is but a hop and a skip from where we live, so even if there's snow, I am confident we can make it!

Today, the event will also include a dance lesson, which I am sort of dreading, because I love dancing but find it incredibly difficult to follow a pre-designated set of steps…we'll see how it all goes!? Talk about dancing on edge...I will report back if I dare…

Best Fish & Chips ever in North London

Last night, after the Six Nations Rugby, we couldn't be bothered to cook and decided to sample the fish and chips we'd heard a lot about in Muswell Hill. Toffs, on The Broadway is supposed to serve North London's best fish supper, so that's where we headed.

Doing our usual 'fly-past' check, the place looked just as a good chippy should. The fish at the counter was freshly cooked, and at just after six it was already filling up with both take-away business and those who wanted to eat in.

We booked a table for 7.30 and went in search of a pub called The Famous Royal Oak, which the Englishman had seen on Fancy a Pint was the only 'decent pub' in Muswell Hill. The pub is tucked away at the other side of the viaduct, in a very residential area, but once inside you realise this is a local spelled with a large L. You could see some of the punters had been there all afternoon watching the rugby, still there were a few families, all enjoying the friendly, convivial atmosphere of this 'proper boozer'. I can see another visit will be imminent…

Back at Toffs just before 7.30 we had to fight to get inside. After a while we were shown to a table upstairs (the restaurant seems to go on and on, up into the attic of the house), and although I'd much rather have eaten in the bustling dining room downstairs, at this stage I was happy just to be seated.

The menu does have other things on it apart from the traditional fish and chips, but I wasn't going to go away without sampling the real thing. The Englishman ordered cod and I opted for haddock. We also wanted some mushy peas, something which in my view you cannot eat fish and chips without.

Whether it was the pint we'd had in the quirky old-fashioned Royal Oak, or whether it was the half an hour wait for our meal (the menu stated that all food is cooked to order and asks for your patience - fine by me), but when the food arrived and I took a first taste, I just couldn't believe how good the fish was. The batter was thin and delicious, with a definite beer taste to it, and the fish was cooked to perfection. I normally eat but a fraction of the batter, but this time I could not get enough of it. The chips too were crisp and uneven, only the way chips cut from real potatoes are. The only thing missing was sliced white bread - but thank goodness they didn't offer it. I was full to bursting afterwards and still couldn't finish my dish.

I really believe this was the best fish and chips I've ever had in England - and I've been both to Bryans in Headingley, West Yorkshire, and Harry Ramsdens (before they went all commercial and franchised).

The staff at this Muswell Hill institution were very friendly too - they were literally rushed off their feet, but all had a smile on their faces and couldn't do enough for you.

We're already planning our next visit to Toffs - that's how good the meal was.

Toffs of Muswell Hill
38 Muswell Hill Broadway
London N10 3RT
Open Mon-Sat 11.30 am to 11 pm
Closed Sunday
Phone 0208 883 8656

The Crouch End Festival 2013

This morning I had a great breakfast meeting in the award winning Crouch End cafe, The Haberdashery, with James Bridgman and Vicci Parker about next year's Crouch End Festival.

The dates of the of the 2013 festival have now been set (7-16 June 2013), and the planning process is in full swing. There will be a bigger and better website, more exclusive news Tweets, much gossip on a new Facebook page, a tiered sponsorship scheme, and many new events and acts.

Last year's Crouch End Festival exceeded everyone's expectations with over 170 acts, and thousands of festival goes enjoying, for the most part, free events in venues across N8. (My blogs about last year are here.)

This year we want the festival to be even bigger and better.

I am also delighted to announce that I will be organising new and exciting literary events during the festival. I can't say much about it yet, but I am very very thrilled to be doing this and cannot wait to spill the beans on the whole thing!

If you have a real connection to the N8 area, and would like to take part, please go here for contact details. Or if you'd like to be a sponsor, see here. With as little as £50 you or your business can have a visible presence in this year's Crouch End Festival.

So, put the dates 7 to 16 June in your diary, and keep checking here and all over Crouch End for more news on the 2013 Crouch End Festival. It will be a corker!

A Swedish Evening at The Haberdashery

I first noticed that The Haberdashery was a little different from the other coffee houses in our new London area of Crouch End because of this sign:

It says, 'Unattended children will be given espresso and a free kitten.' I chuckled to myself all the way home - it was such a refreshing and funny sign I knew I had to visit the cafe next time I was shopping in Middle Lane.

So, a few weekends later, the Englishman and I stopped for a coffee and a bite to eat at The Haberdashery and found that we had - together with the rest of the area - fallen in love with this little quirky place serving fantastic coffee, salads, home made breads and cakes. There was just the one table free, and soon there was a queue outside.

Nothing at the Haberdashery is boring or ugly: even the loo has a design statement with the light cord adorned with a large roll of thread; the breads are served in small clay flower pots; the hot chocolate in tiny pudding basins; the food on vintage mismatched dishes. And in the background there's music from old vinyls.

When Massimo at the cafe told us about their plans to start a monthly supper club, we immediately booked the last table for a Swedish evening. That was two weeks ago.

Before this Friday, the day of the Swedish supper, I wondered if a small coffee place could pull off a full evening of food and fun, and whether the predominantly day-time venue would lend itself to night-time. But I shouldn't have worried; even from the outside the Haberdashery looked magical in the twilight. The tables were adorned with vintage coffee cups, inside of which little tea lights flickered. A string of fairy lights mingled with the bunting.

Massimo serving the drinks.

The atmosphere was very jolly and festive. 

As soon as we sat down we were offered a glass of Prosecco - not very Swedish, I know, but the welcome drink set the celebratory mood for the evening.

And the food didn't disappoint either. For me it was a little like a busman's holiday, as you know if you've read my blog before, I lived in Sweden as a child and both my mother and sister still live in Stockholm, so I'm no stranger to Swedish cuisine.

The menu on Friday was very much 'Husmanskost', or everyday Swedish food. We started with home cured Gravad Lax and Toast Skagen. The salmon was absolutely delicious, not too dry or overly salty, and the crayfish tails in a sauce of mayonnaise and creme fraiche in the Toast Skagen were just lemony and creamy enough. The fresh dill, scattered everywhere, brought memories of summers spent on the Åland Islands. Lovely.

Gravad Lax and Toast Skagen

Home made delicious bread with butter served in a sweet vintage pate jar.

The second course evoked my childhood even more: Lindström's Biff (minced beef with beetroot) was a staple in our home. This one was juicy and very tasty and came with Hasselbackspotatis - a finely sliced potato roasted in the oven with butter. All very filling, but so very nice. 

Lindström's Biff and Haselbackspotatis.

Next we had another fish course, this time fried herring with creamy mashed potatoes. Again this was a fine Husmanskost dish, but by this stage we were all so full up that we really couldn't do the dish justice.

Fillet of herring with creamy potato mash. 

And there were still puddings to contend with...the Kladdkaka, a chocolate mud cake, was intensely chocolaty, but I was so full of food I could only just have a little taste of it. As I considered asking for a doggie bag, a further pudding of rhubarb and yogurt arrived. This was the perfect end to the meal - it was refreshing and not too sweet. I just wish I'd left a little more room in my tummy for the final piece de resistance of this excellent first supper club evening at The Haberdashery.

Kladdkaka.

Rhubarb 'fool'.

Oh, and the wines were very good too - I had a few glasses of fruity Pino Grigio which suited all the dishes very well. To help the pudding go down better I ordered a glass of Prosecco to finish the evening off with a flourish. A decision which I regretted the next morning when I woke with a slightly heavy head. Oh well, a good time was had by us all. And as my mother says, 'Nobody died.' (I often wonder what she'd say if some did die, but that's another conversation - or blog).

Now I cannot wait for the next culinary evening at The Haberdashery, which will be a Croatian feast. We were promised smaller helpings, and I will try to drink less wine. (A fat chance...).

The next supper club at The Haberdashery is on May 11th. It's very good value at £35.00 for a five-course meal including a glass of Prosecco, but the evenings get booked up very quickly, so hurry.

The Haberdashery
Eatery, Coffe House and Old Vinyls

22 Middle Lane

Crouch End 

London N8 8PL

020 8342 8098
info@the-haberdashery.com 

It's raining, it's pouring...

For the first time ever, due to the low levels of rainfall, there's a hose-pipe ban in the UK this early in the year. The summer isn't even here, yet we are already suffering from drought. For my non-UK followers the ban means that we are not allowed to use a hosepipe to water our gardens or wash cars (etc.). Also, fountains like Trafalgar Square in central London have been switched off to save water.

Trafalgar Square will be dry for the rest of the summer.

And since yesterday afternoon it's been raining in North London. I hate rainy days, yet I know it's good for the water levels in the country, so I shouldn't complain.

My thyme is already looking greener after the rain.

Whenever there are news items about drought, or flash floods for that matter, I think back to the excellent novel by Doris Lessing, Mara and Dan, which is set in a bleak future when the world has literally run out of water. The first chapters where the young Mara struggles to survive alone in an abandoned village in central Africa with skeletons of dead cows for company, are so harrowing, I've never since taken the luxury of having taps with running water for granted.

I saw Doris Lessing read from and talk about this novel years and years ago at Bath Festival, and I remember being struck by her comment that the book was basically an adventure story. It's typical of the Nobel Prize winning Doris Lessing that even in a tale that she said she wrote to entertain her son, there had to be a strong social message.

So I should wish you a happy rainy Easter Monday....

Happy Father's Day

We celebrated Father's Day in style: first Daughter made blueberry muffins for breakfast which she served with scrambled eggs and bacon and fried tomatoes.

Father's Day breakfast.

These blueberry muffins were still warm when we had them this morning. 

Then we made our way across North London to have lunch with a very Spanish influence at Son's place. Whether it was the aperitif, called Coronel, made with lemon sorbet, vodka and Cava (it was delicious!), the rare steak, or the Chocolate Guinness cake (from Hummingbird Bakery's latest book called Cake Days), which Daughter made for pudding, but I feel absolutely exhausted now...think I need a lie down in front of the TV.

Cake in transit...

Daughter's latest favourite cookery book

Father's Day can be exhausting for the mother too...