Five good reasons to eat five a day 1. They’re full of vitamins. 2. They help keep your weight down. 3. They’re a source of antioxidants. 4. They cut the risk of heart disease and some cancers. 5. They are delicious! Eating out, eating in Yummy scrummy Restaurant reviews are a popular feature of East End Life. If you would like to advertise on this page, call our ads team on 7364 4940 Memories of warmer days SUMMER may be coming to an end but you can still revive memories of warmer days with this healthy, Mediterraneaninspired recipe. Vegetable tart Ingredients 300g flour 125ml beer 20ml olive oil 5g salt 1 egg, beaten 4 cloves of garlic, chopped Method 1. Mix together the flour, beer, oil, salt and egg, and knead into shape until it no longer has a sticky consistency. Leave to stand and then stretch a little with a rolling pin to the desired shape. 2. Place in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes at 180°C 3. Sauté all of the chopped vegetables together for 10 2 peppers, diced 2 tomatoes, chopped 1 onion, diced 100g anchovies Handful of black olives Salt, pepper, sugar, paprika and oregano minutes, adding the tomatoes halfway through. Season with salt and pepper, a little sugar and paprika. 4. Remove the tart from the oven and scatter with the sautéed vegetables, making sure to evenly cover the surface. 5. Sprinkle over some oregano, the olives and the anchovies and bake for another 20-25 minutes. www.5aday.nhs.uk Food fit for an Empress BY TEA TOTALLER LOOKING back, it was a good thing we’d booked ahead. An otherwise ordinary Wednesday evening in Shadwell would turn extraordinary; but that wasn’t the overwhelming feel at the start. Sandwiched between an old-school boozer and a modern estate agents, The Empress looked slight – especially as the DLR rail track connecting Tower Gateway and Shadwell loomed above. A rackety sliding door entrance looked like it had been ripped out of an old garden conservatory. Once inside, a narrowish dining room greeted the eye, along with dim lights and a smart, sleek, contemporary feel while Indian trad music hummed in the background. So far so standard. But it was deathly quiet as your lone diner ordered up a Kingfisher beer and was handed a wide-ranging menu. The restaurant’s prices – with mains from £5.15 to £11.95 for a top end house speciality – seemed agreeable. Eventually, the family trickled in to greet the Tea Totaller – excuses and apologies ringing out of their hungry chops. An inauspicuous start. However, like the magic realist twist of a Salman Rushdie book, mood lifted as the room filled, plates sizzled and smoked as laughter and stories rained around. We were buoyed, first by our charming waiter – who was as quick with a oneliner The Empress was buzzing with diners as he was with our starter order – and then by the presentation of our starters and the rapid refills of the ‘dom dips. From the cripsy, flaked onion bhajis through to the packed pancake kebabs which contained a juicy shredded lamb followed by a hot kick. The Empress’ staff are happy to tinker the mains to suit, which was a lovely touch as were the grease-free meals. We siblings had ordered our own takes on the lamb bhuna; it was equally tender and tasty and the portions well-sized. Dad had the Dhaka murgh – a chicken breast stuffed with mince, spinach and cheese finished with a honey glaze. Faultless, apparently, while mum had mixed biryani which was fluffy and light. By the end of the delicious dinner, the place was buzzing with mid-week couples and larger groups. The transformation, from what appeared a regular Indian joint to a red-hot restaurant was complete. As mother chirped near the end, it was the best Indian she could remember having in London in a long time. Our companion, who lives near Glasgow, concurred. And they know their curries up there. It was high praise indeed – and was fit for an empress. The Empress is at 141 Leman Street, E1. Tel: 7265 0745. 1 – 7 SEPTEMBER 2014 NEWS FROM TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL AND YOUR COMMUNITY GET A LIFE 7
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