There's No Smokehouse Without Fire...

Last year us Mice were left raving to anyone and everyone about the amazing Neil Rankin delights we had sampled at the then newly opened John Salt restaurant in Islington. After a gushing blog post had been published, we immediately got on the phone to get another reservation to introduce HK Mouse to our new favourite chef on her Christmas trip home. Much to our disappointment, we received a call the night before informing us that Mr Rankin had resigned and they were forced to close the kitchen whilst they devised their new menu. Rumour had it that he was being asked to create more mainstream dishes, like burgers, which just aren't his style, so the brains behind the menu walked! 

As compensation for our cancelled booking, we were invited back when the kitchen had reopened for a discounted meal, we of course took them up on the offer eager to sample the replacement offering. Sadly we were really disappointed and left not even half as wowed with the bogstandard dishes filling the menu showing a distinct lack of imagination. Not a chicken skin sandwich or BBQ truffle baguette in sight I'm afraid.

Now the scene has been set, you can imagine our excitement to hear that star of the John Salt show, Neil, was setting up shop all on his lonesome and just a stone's throw from his previous stomping group!

The Smokehouse is a gastropub set in Canonbury, the Highbury end of Upper Street. It's just a 5 minute walk from Highbury and Islington tube station, however when we visited, as it was such a beautiful morning, we decided to walk from London Towers along Regents Canal all wrapped up in scarfs and cashmere! Ninety minutes later we had arrived, starving hungry for what we hoped was to be a jolly good feast!

From the outside and even as you walk in, it appears to be a normal local pub - a smart one but nothing too scary as the name Smokehouse may suggest! The interior is spot on and beautifully done - lots of natural light streaming in, crisp white walls adorned with antlers and blackboards, chunky wooden tables and mismatched chairs - a great mix of chic, comfy and open. It welcomes everyone and by the looks of it they all know it...surrounding us we had a big family lunching, young couples with their babies, a group of boys meeting for some pub grub and the download of the night before, a couple on a date and then us three mice huddled in the corner!

On our visit the service was laid back, if I was to be critical I can imagine some may find it slightly slow, however for a chilled Sunday afternoon, we felt relaxed and as if the experience was completely at our pace. The staff were lovely, very friendly and happy to help when asked but not overbearing or pushy.

If I had learnt anything from our John Salt tasting menu, it was that no dish should be missed so we decided to pick four different starters and all share so we could get a taste of everything we fancied!

We opted for...

Foie gras, apple pie & duck egg - safely the star of the show - the flavours were incredible! Definitely one we all wished we didn't have to share!

Burnt leeks with duck egg, girolles & parmesan... 

Lobster Frittata…

Pig's cheek, pecorino & pear…

Each dish left us scraping the plate to get every last morsel - there was no polite 'oh you finish it' or 'you've left a bit' - we were in to win anything we could get…there were definite moments of food war! After polishing off and thoroughly enjoying every last morsel and sipping our way through a carafe of delicious red, we all felt suitably refuelled for more Mice adventures!

Husbands and boyfriends will love this place, they not only serve up a mean plate of meat but they also boast thirty different craft beers on tap and many more by the bottle. Whilst you gossip away and get high from the dessert menu, they can work their way through the LONG beer menu...

At around £6 to £12 a starter and £12 to £25 for mains, you really can't go wrong. I have to add that as we walked out, the family next to us had the most scrumptious looking roast dinner, definitely on my list of Sunday Must Dos'! Having said that the main courses all sounded like a party on a plate, as did the desserts…I sense several wine soaked evenings at the Smokehouse are about to make their way into my diary pretty sharpish and I CAN'T wait!

The Smokehouse
63-69 Canonbury Road,
Islington,
London,
N1 2DG
+44(0) 207 354 1144

King of Cocktails: House of Wolf...

The London Mice are, as always, on the look out for a new place to go for an expertly mixed cocktail, a great vibe and lots of fun! As luck would have it, we just happen to have a little gem to add to your London black book of bars - the fabulous House of Wolf.

The website describes House of Wolf as 'a multi-functional, multi-sensory pleasure palace, dedicated to the creative pursuits of dining, drinking, art and entertainment', from this I was none the wiser as to what to expect but intrigued to say the least. And after one pretty awesome visit, I have a suspicion that it still has even more to give...!

House of Wolf is located in a three story Victorian building on Upper Street (Highbury and Islington end) - immediately impressive, seeminlgly popular and distinguishable by the grey wolf welcoming you in!

Image via http://houseofwolf.co.uk

You enter on the ground floor walking straight into The Music Hall, this comprises of the main bar and infamous stage that houses the 'entertainment' - unfortunately we didn't get to experience this element when we were there but I believe the likes of burlesque and cabaret feature throughout the week and the website nods towards other more mysterious goings on ...'creative events for discerning adults, high profile club nights and fun filled 'get-on-down' parties...' The interiors are beautiful yet quirky with oversized mirrors, diamond encrusted wolves, mushroom printed chairs, candles littering all surfaces and decadent light fixtures...

Image via http://houseofwolf.co.uk

The main pull for me was the much raved about Apothecary bar - experimental cocktail king, Stephen Quainton and his team claim to push the boundaries of taste through unusual combinations, drama and fun! This they most certainly did, providing a definite experience that we can't recommend enough! Located on the first floor, the Apothecary bar is compact to say the least but this only adds to the exclusivity. The main feature among the Victorian knick-knacks and oversized street lamps is the impressive 'Prescriptions' bar complete with a bartender mixing his personalised concoctions in a white lab coat and a flat cap! 

Image via http://houseofwolf.co.uk

When we arrived our enthusiastic waitress raved that we had the best seat in the house and led us to a bookcase at the back of the room, this was pulled away from the wall and behind was a candlelit cubby hole with a table for four! Perfect! Especially as we hadn't all caught up since Christmas Eve so there were lots of raised voices, squawks and excitable shouting over each other ... where better to be concealed than within a secret book case?!

 

Image via http://houseofwolf.co.uk

SO the drinks ... we decided to pick from the Apothecary menu - the real essence of what the House of Wolf does best - how could we refuse! We decided on 'Over the Pop' - a popcorn infused Bourbon sour which came with a side of iced cherries and a shot of popping candy, a 'Crumble' - a group favourite of spiced fruit jam, vodka, egg white and apple juice all topped off with cinnamon foam, a 'T.I.K.I' described only as a ridiculous rum drink served with an edible beach scene and finally a 'Black Treacle' - Middle Mouse's adventurous choice of black pudding infused rum and apple served with a side of black pudding! They were all devoured (bar the side of black pudding!) with top taste points going to the Crumble and the award for most quirky and never to be forgotten going to Black Treacle - strong, unusual and like nothing you've ever had before!

Finally, on the top floor you'll find the Attic Dining Room - we weren't eating, so we didn't visit this section but it's said to be a den of decadence ... velvet, beams, impressive light features and with a totally unpredictable menu! Once again House of Wolf boasts another unique slant by presenting a permanent series of pop up chefs - currently Kemble and Rodgers have taken over the kitchen space with their 5-course tasting menu which apparently has a progressive British style and Japanese aesthetic ... confused? Why not head on down and try it out for yourself? Kemble & Rodgers are set to reign the Attic until 23rd February, so plenty of time to get it scheduled in! 

This is a difficult one to do justice in a blog post, you can't quite describe the unpredictable, unusual beauty and creative genius behind this project. Having visited I now understand the shroud of mystery the website creates - I predict that every time you go, you'll have a completely new and unknown experience! 

We spent the evening drinking behind a bookcase, discovering hidden dens and snugs...



and finally stumbling back to the Music Hall to be taken through the decades in music - I can safely say this was the most fun I have had in a long time! Dancing to songs from the 40's, 50's and 60's and a few top tunes of today all spun by a DJ in goggles ... which of course Middle Mouse was given a challenge to steal...

Final word...not your average run of the mill bar, but instead a totally unique immersive experience with delicious cocktails waiting to be explored. 

GO. 
IMMEDIATELY!

House of Wolf

181 Upper Street

Islington

London 

N1 1RQ

020 7288 1470

John's A'salt'ing Our Senses...

There's a new restaurant in Islington town and its small-plate menu is winning in every way! Dubbed as a new 'neighbourhood bar, with good beer' John Salt is its name. Formerly Keston Lodge and from the same people behind The Owl & Pussycat in Shoreditch and The Fellow in King's Cross, we were certainly excited to try it out and did so last Saturday. In summary ... OH MY GOD I thought only food in heaven could taste that good!

The main 26-seater restaurant upstairs is booked right through to Feb next year now so we settled on dining at the bar downstairs AKA the chef's table which works on a first come first serve basis. You can either cherry pick from the menu or put your trust in the incredible chefs and hope for the best. We opted for the latter and chose to go with the 6 course taster-menu for £34. A bargain in my opinion and you'll be sure to agree when you hear the feast we were treated to! All was prepared at an open cooking station at the end of our table so every small dish was whipped up live before our very eyes. 

First up ... the greasy chicken skin sandwich. Don't be put off by the 'greasy' part of this sarnie it's pure genius I promise! Ok picture this ... so boring bread was swapped for two wafer thin crisp sheets of chicken skin. Between the sheets sits red onion jam, paprika mayo, sliced cucumber and blow-torched baby gem lettuce. De-lish! 

Next up heavenly pumpkin soup with smoked cream cheese and bread and butter to die for. This was no ordinary soup, not even M&S soup! You have to taste it to believe it! 

A particular favourite of ours was the baguette with buttery mash, BBQ sauce and winter truffle sprinkles. Enough said...

Fried Machiavelli egg was also a firm fav with smoked watermelon, aromatic ketchup & golden crumbs - like a super duper posh fried breakfast...

Last but by all means least, we finished off with the warm chocolate pud or as us girls called it sex in a bowl! Once described you'll be racing on over to Islington to try it out trust me ... rich Original Bean choco mousse sits on top of salty cubes of baked pineapple finished off with a generous dollop of Jersey milk sorbet and a sprinkling of nuts! The chef actually said to us as he plonked our plates down 'I think this is when I get your numbers' if he hadn't have walked away at that point I would have gladly obliged! Seriously out of this world amazing. 

We didn't get to try the famous 'chicken on a brick' which we were intriged by, let me explain more ... a London house brick is taken and smothered in a caramel glaze. Next super-smooth chicken liver mousse is layered on with sweetcorn and lingonberries. All that topped with crispy chicken skin crumbs. Once demolished guests are encourage to, wait for it ... lick the brick! Yes you read correctly, how wonderfully ill-mannered! 

Definitely one for next time...!

131 Upper Street
Islington
London
N1 1QP

020 7704 8955

Lazy Sunday Spot...

I'm on the constant look out for new cosy pubs for lazy Sunday lunches or hungover gossipping from the night before! One of my trusty besties from university, Fran, had her engagement drinks (ekkk!) at a gorgeous pub last weekend, a perfect addition to the list - The Canonbury.

Image via www.thecanonbury.com

The walk from Highbury and Islington tube station required a map, but maybe this seemed more complex than it actually was as my attention was less on the map, more on the totally amazing houses on Compton street! Flat roofed town houses, with stoops, pillars, beautiful big windows and high ceilings! I saw a 'For Sale' sign and even put the estate agents in my phone...as if Middle mouse and I could afford such a palace!! What more could a girl need though...an amazing house on a quaint street, a homely local pub just around the corner and right opposite Tom Flowers - the cutest little florist!

Image via www.tom-flowers.co.uk

So back to The Canonbury...cosy, comfy, spacious interior - there are two separate sections, one for informal drinks and food, and then a more formal dining area. The wine list is good (well there was a Marlborough present and that's all I care about!) and the cocktails looked delish! My friend Becca sampled one of the Canonbury's roasts before the party and gave it top food points! I didn't try the roasts but the newly engaged couple had ordered canapes for everyone and I was VERY impressed indeed! Chorizo, prawn and cherry tomato skewers, honey and mustard sausages and the most incredible baby chicken, tarragon, leek and bacon pies...lush! 

The cherry on top has to be the large garden terrace just waiting for summer time drinking! Perfect for Pimms O'clock (in my world that strikes every 15 minutes) especially on a Sunday to keep the Monday morning blues away!!!

Image via www.thecanonbury.com

Hip Pip and his Pop-up Dish!

Birthday nights out can get pretty run of the mill, the same pubs and bars as every weekend, but with added pressure that you are celebrating someone's birthday and therefore it must be super duper fun, which usually means they end up falling a bit short.  Last Friday my uni friends and I all got ourselves to Angel to celebrate Fran's birthday, but this time to do something a bit different! I was actually in a very fragile state, having suffered the world's worst hangover with only 3 hours sleep, the thought of a sip of wine made me want to cry! After hugs all round, present giving, squealing at the size of Fran's new engagement ring (double celebration eeek!) and a few gulps of Hendricks, I felt good to go and ready for the night's adventures!


We made a stop off at Sainsbury's local as our destination is BYO.  A few bottles of celebratory Prosecco and Oyster Bay heavier, we set off along Upper Street on the look out for a Citroen sign... We located the sign and spied a little alley just past it (next to Antonio's Restaurant), tottering on our heels, we headed down the alley and at the end of the uneven cobbled walkway was a bright red Citroen Garage.  But we weren't there to get our 2CV's serviced, tucked away down this alley is a hidden gem.  The only clue that you are stumbling upon something quite special is the amazing aroma wafting out of the red metal door and a blackboard welcoming you to Pips Dish.

www.pipsdish.co.uk

The man behind this pop-up sensation is Philip Dundas, a BBC producer turned chef and author (he penned Cooking Without Recipes which is on our Amazon wishlist).  A conversation with a friend who lived in Islington sparked the idea.  The friend pointed out that there aren't any good restaurants on Upper Street; you either have chains or non-descript venues trying to provide every cuisine possible and therefore not doing a good job at anything.  So Philip decided to change that and went on the hunt for a venue. Pips Dish opened in November 2011, serving up a fresh, healthy menu which constantly changes based on seasonal ingredients and basically, whatever's good in the farm shop that day. 

www.pipsdish.co.uk

As you walk through the glossy red door you're greeted with the Farm Shop in a big barn-like space.  Philip has teamed up with Farm Direct to sell their produce to the public from the shop which is stacked with big crates of fresh fruit and veg, jars of chutneys and relishes and I definitely saw the evidence of cheeses and hams tucked away. The other half of the barn has been converted into Pip's kitchen and the cosy dining area. The Kitchen is tucked in a corner opposite the seating area and is jam packed with big steel pans, utensils, glass jars and fresh herbs pots.  It was lovely to be able to sit, relax and chat whilst watching the culinary creations for the evening being whipped up before your eyes. If you weren't hungry before you arrived, that soon changes, the smell of the feast cooking away is incredible! 

You can immediately tell how much care, effort and love has gone into every detail. Many hours were apparently spent wiping, cleaning and scrubbing every wall and surface to try and get rid of the copious amounts of oil and grease they were originally welcomed with.  Well, those hours definitely paid off and now the shabby-chic interior fits the barn down to a tee - exposed brick walls with peeling white paint, candles glowing everywhere, big vases of daffodils, hay bales as benches, red and white check table cloths...it feels like you are a rustic barn in France, miles away from London's Upper Street! 

Pip makes the experience really personal and although the barn seats around 30 people, you feel as if he is cooking a meal specifically for you.  To get the night started he introduced himself, the barn and how the night works, adding little stories in about the pop-up creation.  Throughout the night he frequently came over to check we were enjoying everything or to explain the next creation he'd be serving up and even to make sure that the one vegetarian of the group was happy (she definitely was).

The atmosphere was really chilled out and easy to relax in, lots of laughing and chatter and the food was amazing. The dishes Pip rustled up were essentially homely recipes but with an unusual twist - the flavours were incredible and the combinations quirky yet really tasty. 


The menu for our evening was kept secret (Pip told Fran on the phone that he would decide on the day depending on what he had in the shop and what was looking good - brilliant!). Here goes...my memory is a little hazy...


Sour Dough Canapes of Guinea Fowl & Pork with Sage & Pink Pepper


Ham Hock Terrine with Pickled Slaw and Romesco Mayo


Daube of Beef, Turmeric Rice, Stir Fry Sesame Red Kale, Carrots & Sprouts

Baked Cheesecake with Stewed Plums


YUM YUM YUM!!!

It was the best birthday night out I have been to in a long time - great food, lots of fun and perfect for catching up and celebrating! You pay £25 for 3 courses and then bring your own alcohol - much better than dough balls and an American Hot at Pizza Express! Without a shadow of a doubt I will heading back to test out some more of Pip's creations, and next time I am taking Middle Mouse as I have a sneaky suspicion she will LOVE just as much as me. 

Pips Dish

133B Upper Street

N1 1QP

07503 293 438

http://www.pipsdish.co.uk/