Pick N' Mix - Part 7

So, for the final Pick N' Mix of the year. On an uncharacteristically mild December evening, we stuck out the whole evening sitting outside under lamps at The Miller, a pub just a mere stones throw from London Bridge. The menu was devised by Street Kitchen; dominated by hot dogs, there are also salad boxes listed which were promptly disregarded. 

The 'Boston Hound' immediately grabbed my attention, and I'm fairly sure that's down to the mention of both pork belly and crackling. It was a big long smoked sausage (snigger), properly snappy skin and topped with pickled red cabbage, barbecue sauce and pickled cucumber. Slices of pork belly lined the bun. Too cumbersome to eat with hands, I was reduced to a knife and fork. 

Special mention should be made to the chicken wings, which were pretty freaking awesome. Some might recognise them as being quite similar to those at Patty & Bun, and I believe Street Kitchen helped them develop their menu. These were better though - they had more bite, more texture, more pull on the meat. For £3.50 a pot they were also great value. Skin-on chips were hot and crisp, though apple and celeriac slaw was just mush. I wasn't sure what I was expecting for £1 a pot, though. For £12.50 per head, it was a cracking dinner to soak up some booze. 

The Miller

96 Snowsfields Road
London Bridge
London SE1 3SS

Boopshi's in Fitzrovia has just opened. Specialising in schnitzel and spritzes, the dining room is almost Scandinavian in austere style. A basement bar, closed at lunch though open in the evenings, sounds less so. I went along for lunch with their PR contact (disclaimer it was free etc.) and tried a selection of the dishes. The schnitzel is offered as pork, rose veal or chicken variants and the rose veal was crisp and well fried. A variety of toppings, like an egg or capers are offered and we plumped for the anchovies. At £1 extra, they weren't the best quality specimens I've sampled, being a little dry and overly salty. The bill can soon rack up - a veal holstein (so, garnished with egg, capers and anchovies) would set you back £17.25. But well-sourced meat costs. 

Ox tongue, lentils and carrots was a delicious dish, boasting both tender meat and al dente lentils. The bratwurst was served with a pot of sweet mustard for dipping, and all the more interesting for it. I particularly enjoyed the spatzle n' cheese; it could have taken more salt, but was ultimately comforting and stodgy. Sauerkraut could have been sauerer, but pickles had a welcome tang. I'd go back for the schnitzel in bap form with a few (hundred) spritzes, which they're planning on introducing to the downstairs bar. 

Boopshi's

31 Windmill Street

London W1T 2JN

Lastly, I neglected to mention a dinner at Peckham Refreshment Rooms way back in October, I suppose due to all my photos coming out terribly. But! I had a wonderful mutton pie there, as well as some very decently sourced mozzarella that they put on a plate and drizzled heartily with a punchy salsa verde. Dish of the night was Sicilian aubergine with borlotti beans - the beans were creamy and soft, the aubergine sweet yet sour. I could have eaten buckets of this. All the stories are true - the stools are monstrously uncomfortable. 

Peckham Refreshment Rooms

12-16 Blenheim Grove 
London SE15 4QL 

(No reservations)