The Pie Who Loved Me
Photo © Anne-Marie Minhall
On the wettest & coldest day of February so far - food solace was sought.
It was found & in the most unlikely place.
One of the busiest tourist destinations in London is Covent Garden. Plenty of restaurants & cafés. Shops (not cheap). Street performers (I watched a man in a kilt climb an unsupported ladder before he juggled knives. IN A KILT.) I mean ..
Anyway ..
A friend suggested we meet here for lunch & there was a deal on the food - all half price because of the site my pal had booked through.
The menu is concise but I prefer that in many ways. Cook what you know will deliver.
Having perused what they offer days in advance, (I love to do this, it's a pattern in my life planning what I might want to eat well beforehand,) I had pretty much decided upon the Beef & Bone Marrow Pie - beef shin, chestnut mushrooms in red wine. It turned out my friend had had the same thought. We shared sides of Buttery Mash plus Tenderstem Broccoli with Almonds & Garlic.
As soon as it landed on the table, I gasped. It was everything I had hoped it would be. Unctuous meat and gravy, soft, yielding puff pastry & marrowbone goodness just adding to the unbridled joy.. One scoop of the mash, (which definitely lived up to its buttery description,) was enough & the broccoli satisfied my brain that I had had some veg that day. Great food, great service & great location.
No starters for me because I knew there would be less space for the main event. My compadre had no such fears choosing the Burrata & Heritage Tomato Salad with shallots, basil & balsamic. She even found space for Sticky Toffee Pudding & Custard. I was in awe.
A bottle of the House French Red - Le Tuffeau Merlot - Vin de Pays d’Oc & the afternoon was complete.
We're just over five weeks away from the Spring Equinox but the Winter days are still with us.
This lunch, the company, the pie, helped another one to pass well.
Especially the pie.
AMM
