Craft Beer Rising 2015 - Sutton & Sons - The Dolls House

Thursday 19th February -  c.12 hours in the life of Matt The List:

Short version (click on times below to whizz down to photos):

2pm-5pm : Couple of beers at Craft Beer Rising on Brick Lane

5pm-7pm : Fishcakes and #NationalChipWeek at the new Sutton & Sons in Box Park

7pm-2am : Negronis and Jazz at The Dolls House new site in Islington

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Long version:

1pm - Leave flat in Battersea. Pop in to my local rotisserie and deli Park Road Kitchen for all the salt beef, spinach & ricotta tarts, and a kale, chickpea & sumac salad. Sorted. I eat here pretty much every day. So should you.

1.30pm - Smugly eat food on the train - definitely better than everyone else's. Beat high score on 2 Cars. Day is shaping up nicely.

 

2pm - Arrive at trade session of Craft Beer Rising in the Old Truman Brewery.  Start working way round room full of 80+ breweries and 500+ beers under the pretence of choosing beers for The Good Egg with founder Joel Braham.

2.15pm - Discover New Zealand.  Fantastic beers across the board from Tuatara, Renaissance, 8 Wired, Three Boys, and Yeastie Boys.  Looking forward to seeing them around.

2.30pm - Still at New Zealand stand. In the words of Jeff Goldblum - must go faster.

2.45pm - Say hello to Mondo Brewing, a brand new brewery coming soon to Battersea (hooray!). Beers are promising and it sounds like they will have a great setup. Pop over to the Ilkley stand for some more top beers including Siberia Rhubarb Saison and Hickory Redcap Pecan Porter. Apparently a collaboration with Yeastie Boys is on the way.

3pm - One hour down, time for bed....lam.  Bedlam Brewery - a new brewery from the folk behind The Bull in Ditchling.  Joel is whipping out his business cards.  They're massive.

3.15pm - Time for some familiar faces at London-based Fourpure and Beavertown stalls.  Enjoy the Transatlantic Overdrive IPA collab between Fourpure & Bear Republic, and 2.8% Londonerweisse collab from Beavertown and Dogfish Head.  I think the bloke from Mondo Brewing is following us.

3.30pm - Yep, he's definitely following us.  Nice guy though, so it's OK.  Why are we in a queue? Ah yes, Wild Beer Co.. Great beers on offer including Beyond Modus, a more complicated version of the superb Modus Hoperandi.  Must buy some - or be bought some.  Anyone reading? Birthday soon. Friendly Harbour Brewing at the same stall - too early for an 8.7% Imperial Chocolate and Vanilla Stout? Nah.

Here There Be Flagons

3.45pm - Flying visits to Thornbridge from Peak District, Bad Seed Brewery from North Yorkshire, and Franciscan Well from Ireland. Joel seems to know a lot about Cork - bit out of my depth.

4pm - Meet Alex from Yelp for a "business meeting". On the home straight - well, except for the entire other room we haven't made it into. Pop over to Redwell for India Pale Lager.

Helping choose beers for @TheGoodEgg_ with @MattTheList at @craftbeerriseuk. And by choose, I mean drink all of them. pic.twitter.com/GxnlRHzEVj

— Alex S (Yelp!) (@yelplondon) February 19, 2015

4.30pm - Last orders called - thought there was half an hour left? Blessing in (thinly veiled) disguise. Settle next to Beer Cat (short for Catalunya) to finish.  Impressive beer brewed by a Dubliner, a South Londoner and a Mancunian. In Spain.

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5pm - Park Road Kitchen is beginning to wear off - definitely time for dinner. We part ways with Mr.Yelp and head to new Sutton & Sons site in Box Park.  Danny Sutton established the Sutton & Sons fishmongers on Stoke Newington High Street back in 1998 before opening their fish and chip shop there in 2010, don't cha know?

5.15pm - Joel and I are welcomed by Matt, the friendly ex-navy front of house who is coping well with the concept of shipping containers being used for restaurants.  It's National Chip Week, so we're feeling pretty on trend.  We tuck in to a Hackney Brewery American Pale Ale whilst Matt gets Mikey in the kitchen to rustle us up some food.

5.30pm - A mixed plate of Whitebait, Calamari and Fishcakes hits the spot.  The fishcakes are absolutely sublime.  Best in London? Any thoughts?

6pm - Box Park attempts to set the mood with some dreadful live music.  We drown it out with delicious Cod Goujons, a Cod Burger, and some #NationalChipWeek chips.  All the food is rather excellent.  Must return for some Catch of the Day specials - Lobster Subs, Sea Bass, Tuna Burgers, Moules Mariniere; that kind of thing.

6.15pm - Joel's turn to attempt a "business meeting", possibly legitimate.  Appears to be going well - I decide to leave them to it and head off to The Dolls House.  Firm handshake with Matt - top bloke, solid name.

Business Meeting

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7pm - Slow progress on the 43 along City Road.  Did I really get that score on 2 Cars earlier? Can't be right. Quick look at photos so far.  That one of the fishcake is alright.

7.15pm - Meet Islington local Cath outside The Dolls House on Upper Street, the latest hand-drawn hangout from Adam Towner and Katy Gray Rosewarne, set over three floors that used to belong to House of Wolf.  We head through the ground floor Parlour, up to the first floor Library and Drawing Room for Negronis, Old Fashioneds and Espresso Martinis.  Antica Formula is greatly appreciated.

8pm - The house starts to fill up with familiar faces.  We check out the top floor Ballroom which starts the evening as a dining room before becoming a private members bar.  Membership seems achievable - just need to bring them some premium booze from their wishlist.  I've got some Tesco's own brand gin knocking around somewhere - that should do it.  Otherwise it's £5 after 10pm for me. A nice fellow comes round with an inadequate number of steak canapés - he's disappointed with himself.

10pm - Ground floor Parlour is looking a bit busy.  Chap behind the bar has definitely served me in three different Dead Dolls Club establishments already.  I imagine I shall be seeing him in Peckham - opening on 1st April apparently.  We retreat to The Library, our preferred candlelit cosy.  Ceiling is leaking - quite endearing. Stripy red & black shirt bartender needs to pass on secret of stirring drinks quietly to stripy black & white shirt bartender.  This is a Library! Steak canapé guy has seriously upped his game by the way.

11pm - Kansas Smittys are In The (Dolls) House! Swing music ensues, occasionally in key with a fire alarm.  Giacomo asks the fire alarm to stop playing over their solos.  Steak canapé guy has switched over to miniature rhubarb crumbles - less interested.

2am - IT'S 2AM! What?! Oh dear. Officially Mum The List's birthday. Call her now? Probably not, it can wait. Could get Kansas Smittys to play "Happy Birthday" though? No. N19 bus is here; goes all the way home - ideal.  Time for a last go at 2 Cars and some decisive photo editing.  Should be a nice photo of a Negroni in there somewhere, I took enough of them.  OK, I seem to have taken a video of a Negroni too.  The wall is moving isn't it?

3am - Nap The List. Big day tomorrow.

Park Road Kitchen - Tommi's Burger Joint - Provincial - Di Lieto

Saturday 8th March - Battersea is great. The Candlemaker, Doodle Bar, Street Kitchen, Franco Manca, Powder Keg Diplomacy, Draft House, King of Ladies Man, Galapagos Foods, Southsider Cocktail Club and more on your door step.  It just got better.

Park Road Kitchen, a new rotisserie & deli, has just opened at the end of my road on Battersea High Street.  Since it opened on 6th March (14 days ago) I have been in 6 times.  Make that 7 by the end of today.  Let's just call it thorough research.

Owner Sam Mousawi and Head Chef Santo Natoli first met at the popular Caffettino coffee shop down the road, which Santo owns with his two brothers.  Santo's parents are Sicilian and he has an extensive background as a chef. From culinary school, he went on to train with Angelo Paracucchi in Tuscany and in Paris at a 2 star Michelin restaurant. Santo then moved to London where he worked for Scott's in Mayfair, Marco Pierre White's Drones and Harrods Georgian Restaurant before becoming private chef to Harrods proprietor Mohammed Al Fayed for 3 years!

Sam (left), Santo (centre) and the team at Park Road Kitchen

Park Road Kitchen is open Tue-Sat 10am-9pm and Sunday 11am-6pm serving up rotisserie chicken with roast potatoes, and all sorts of delights at the Deli Counter.  I've worked my way through pretty much everything now, although new dishes keep turning up.  

Start with Roast Beets, Butternut Squash, Parsnip, Red Onion, Honey & Mustard Dressing and Roast Cauliflower with Toasted Almonds & Harissa - my two personal favourites so far.  Work your way over to delicious Fish Cakes, Saltimbocca, Swordfish, Meatballs, or Octopus with Peppers, Celery, Spring Onion & Smoked Paprika.

I feel a little bit special when I'm sitting on the 344 to Vauxhall eating Octopus and Roast Beets, safe in the knowledge that I have the best food on the bus by a long way.  You can sit in to eat, but everything is served in takeaway cardboard boxes.

Then there's the chicken - served in 1/4, 1/2 or Whole portions with incredibly moreish roast potatoes on the side.  They haven't gone crazy with the flavours of the chicken, it is just lightly marinaded and beautifully cooked.  There are plenty of sauces, herbs and spices available to buy to take home with you - try the little spicy green bottle if you think you can handle it!

I can't recommend Park Road Kitchen highly enough, they are making some extraordinary food in a very small space, and the service with a smile from Sam & co. is always appreciated!

Despite filling my face with beets and tentacles, I found myself eating a second lunch just over the river about 30 minutes later.  Tommi's Burger Joint had been threatening to open a second site on King's Road for about 4 months, and it finally happened a couple of weeks ago.  I popped over to meet Wilkes (read his preview post here) to take a look at their new home, not really intending to have too much to eat on this occasion.  However, once they told me that all the food was free for their launch, it would have been rude not to tuck in.



The décor is much the same as the Marylebone site. The upstairs window seats are perfect for watching the entertaining Made in Chelsea types swanning around.  There is also a spacious downstairs area, though I prefer the natural light option.

Photo Credit : Wilkes

Tommi's is run by a bonkers bunch of Icelandic folks, who were on hand to dish out some Viking beers.  Hopefully they will bring in some Einstock brews soon and perhaps some Mikeller & Evil Twin from across the Norwegian / North Sea.

The menu is simple & affordable, and the burgers are high quality fast food, which is what they want to be.  The hint of horseradish is a big plus for me, and meat lovers should order the steak burger for £8.90.  Don't miss out on their extensive range of sauces - Stokes Bloody Mary Ketchup is the one to go for.

Photo Credit : Wilkes

Photo Credit : Wilkes

A speedy 45 minute trip on the 345 took us over to Craft Beer Co in Brixton where we met up with Natalie, Chris, Zoe, Luke, Lauren, Caroline & Cath for a few pints before dinner.  I've mentioned Craft several times as it always part of my Brixton trips (much like Seven).  I was very taken with Three Friends Brewing Motueka Pale on this occasion.

For dinner, most of us made our way over to The Provincial in Market Row for some "Latin Fusion". We stood at our table for a few minutes as the resourceful waiter ran around finding chairs for us. You can BYOB but 6 tapas & 1 litre of Sangria for £30 sounded good to me and Cath.  That said, Market Row Wines is right there and has a wonderful selection of booze.

Aside from some dodgy patatas bravas and fairly uninspiring chips, the food was very good.  Chorizo cooked in wine, Romana calamari and Garlic prawns were all particularly delicious.  There are also main courses available - order the squid.  The Provincial was slightly less busy than most of its neighbours which led to a pleasant atmosphere (apart from one drunk chap) and excellent service. 

I'd just like to briefly mention my other favourite new lunch spot which I recently discovered with work colleagues.  If you find yourself near Oval, make your way over to Di Lieto Bakery & Deli on South Island Place just off Brixton Road.  

At lunch, they serve up several hot food options, mostly very generous portions of fresh pasta & meat or seafood for around £4.50.  We hardly ever have the same thing twice, and the quality is always incredibly high.  Then there's the freshly baked bread brought to your table, soup, pizzas, great coffee, and tempting pastries (we've created the Di Lieto special - Nutella shoved inside one of their fresh ring doughnuts), all served by a very entertaining bunch of Italians to very happy locals.  Seek this one out.

Last but not least, I am very excited about heading over to When Mac Met Cheese in Bayswater which opens tomorrow (Saturday March 22nd) for 3 months.  Sam is one of my favourite street food traders, and he is well known for his awesome Mac'n'Cheese and his ridiculous Deep Fried Oreos.  There will also be a bar with some banging cocktails apparently.  It will be open Wednesday-Sunday - check the poster below for exact times.