Penny’s picks are As Good As Meat Vegetarian blogger Penny Wilson’s kids have never eaten meat and have no desire to. “We don’t much care what other people eat, so long as we are left to enjoy our food,” she says. Eating out, eating in Getting down and dirty BY TEA TOTALLER AFTER reading that ‘the stigma’ had officially gone from eating out alone, there was only one thing for it after being caught at a loose end in Shoreditch. It was time to experiment and fly solo. Not that there’s anything intimidating about pitching up on your todd at Dirty Burger early on a mid-week evening. The shoebox American-style diner has a very laidback feel. The tiny shack – situated, as its website puts it, “a bun’s throw from Shoreditch High Street Station” – fits less than a dozen in at a time. Alt-classics play softly out of speakers, which are perched next to dim lights. This being trendier-than-thou Shoreditch, there were the obligatory faux rusted shed walls, a cupboard that doubles up as a self-service fridge and postbox-red thin seats. As in its décor, the menu at Dirty Burger is simplistic. Burgers. Fries. Shakes. Soft drinks. I’d ordered the cheeseburger with a side of onion fries. Six quid for a patty in this part of town is not to be grumbled at, I thought, taking a corner pew Dirty Burger is ‘a bun’s throw from Shoreditch High Street Station’ and offers a laidback feel with a good book. Shortly after, the grub arrived without fuss from smiley staff – via an old-fashioned ticketed system. The burger was a compact oval, but the loin packed a punch. It was met by a thin bun, melty cheese, gherkin and mustard. The accompaniments were subtly done, allowing the meaty treat to be the focus of attention. Perhaps not the best city burger I’d tasted (that was from www.asgoodasmeat.com Street Burger in Riga, Latvia, thanks for asking), but it wasn’t a long way off. The jury remains out on the onion fries (£3.25). They were seasoned to the hills and, while tasty, had a slight doughy texture. There was already plenty of juice and grease from the burger, which perhaps would have gone better with the crinkle cut fries. That said, it was a fine and rapid meal (the whole shebang took less than 30 minutes). And what of the dining alone experiment, I hear you ask? Well, with respect to Dirty Burger, it wasn’t as if I’d pitched up solo at The Wolseley on a Friday night. And one mild moment of friendless induced-tension did hit – after a couple enviously eyed up my spacious corner spot. I certainly wasn’t put off though; neither was I by Dirty Burger. Dirty Burger Shoreditch is at 13 Bethnal Green Road, E1. Tel: 7749 4525 Boost your business 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 Vegetarian twist to a French classic THIS is a cute little meal that is easy and quick to prepare. It is a variation on the French Croque Monsieur which has egg and ham and cheese, but it’s vegetarian. Ideally the recipe uses ramekins, little ovenproof pots Croque Madame Ingredients (per person) Two slices of bread Butter to spread One egg Method 1. Slice the bread very thin – cheap white bread is fine, a nice granary bread or sourdough is nicer. 2. Roll each slice with a rolling pin so it is very slender. Butter each slice on one side. 3. Cut off the crusts and place one slice on top of the other so they make an eight-cornered/ sided star. 4. Nestle each star, butter side down, on to the grease proof paper lined ramekin or muffin tin. Into each bread nest, break an egg. which can be used to prepare individual meals. If you haven’t got ramekins then use muffin trays lined with greaseproof paper. These make a great, filling meal or a lovely snack to prepare for an informal lunch for several people. Enjoy! FOR THE SAUCE Cupful of milk Dessertspoon of flour Grated cheese Oil or butter to fry Salt & pepper to taste 5. In a frying pan melt a little butter or heat some oil until it warms, add a dessertspoonful of flour and stir gently to avoid lumps. 6. Add a cupful of milk and a little grated cheese and stir it into the mixture as it thickens. Add salt and pepper to taste. 7. Put a spoonful of the mixture on top of each egg and add a little more grated cheese on top. 8. Pop the ramekins or muffin trays into the oven. Allow them to bake until the cheese bubbles and the eggs are cooked as you like them. Jobs, Courses and Training Opportunities for Young People Date: Thursday 18 September 2014 Time: 3pm –5pm Venue: Urban Adventure Base, Mile End Park If you are aged 16 –19, or up to 25 with SEN, and not currently in Education, Training or Employment, then come along and meet prospective employers, colleges and training providers. For more information on this event or the support we provide, contact the Targeted Youth Support team on 020 7364 5834/1956 or email: targeted.support@towerhamlets.gov.uk Urban Adventure Base, 150 Burdett Road, London E3 4JT. Located in Mile End Park behind the Mile End Leisure Centre. Buses: D6, D7, 425, 277 and 25. All stops are a short walking distance from the venue. Tube: Mile End. Turn left out of the station and walk down Burdett Road. 8 – 14 SEPTEMBER 2014 N E W S F R O M T OWER HAMLETS COUNCIL AND YOUR COMMUNITY 23
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