British Food at Golden Union Fish Bar

In my London Eats World series I'm on a mission to eat around the world without leaving London and this week it's England. Okay, I admit this one is easy, but I have to start somewhere on my culinary world tour of London. I picked the Golden Union Fish on Poland Street in Soho, just because it is a bit hipper than the chippie around the corner here in Battersea.

 The Golden Union has got a cool vibe although there were more tourists than Londoners, but hey, they've got to eat too. There are a few tables strewn about, but take away is an option as well from the counter at the front. The decor reminded me a bit of an American greasy spoon, with neon lights on the wall and a cool white tiled wall that spelled out FISH. In case you might forget why you're here. The menu features a range of different battered fish as well as other options for veggies and meat lovers. Although not sure why you would go here if you fall in that category.

My friend and I both went for the battered pollock and chips with some tartar sauce. (none of that horrid vinegar on my chips...) The fish tasted good and the chips were not too shabby, but my portion could've fed two people at least.

Service was swift, food was good, drinks chilled and the atmosphere cosy. One chippie to come back to.

Check out the Golden Union website.

Smith of Smithfields in Spitalfields

The very popular Smiths of Smithfield or SOS has expanded into Spitalfields and a friend and I were invited for the opening last week. The Spitalfields restaurant is located on Commercial Street with outdoor seating looking out onto Spitalfield Market. The restaurant which offers 'the best of British food' is set across four floors. There is a Private Loft that can be hired for private diners, meetings and parties. The 1st Floor Dining Room is open for all day dining, but also serves breakfast on the weekends.

The ground floor is where you'll find the ‘SMITHS’ Café  where you can enjoy breakfast and lunch during the day and in the evening some good music and drinks. The ‘SMITHS’ Basement Bar is a live venue, showcasing the best of British talent on the rise with great DJs, acoustic sessions, ‘gin & jazz’ nights and film nights. If you're strapped for time, you can also get takeaway portions of the classic dishes along with fresh juice and smoothies at the ‘SMITHS’ market stalls.

We were greeted in the ground floor cafe bar with a very much needed glass of refreshing prosecco which mysteriously seemed to stay filled to the top. As we sat down at one of the tables in the ground floor cafe bar, trays of canapes carried by friendly waiters and waitresses suddenly appeared. We sampled crunchy salt beef croquettes, a creamy salmon mouse on toast, succulent pork belly. There were spoons filled with a fiery broccoli and squid, a crispy Thai beef and bean sprout salad wrapped in lettuce and a medley of mushrooms on toast. Needless to say that these all went down very well.

Then we were ushered to the first floor dining room for a butchery workshop where one of the chefs showed us how he handles and cuts premium pieces of beef before they end up on your plate. This display certainly wasn't for veggies or the faint and heart, but the cuts of beef sure tasted great when they came off the grill afterwards.

The final piece of entertainment of the night was located in the basement bar where the bar was littered with fruity gin martinis and the mood was set with sultry jazz. We sat back and enjoyed the music while sipping on our Martinez and Jazz Time martinis and nibbling on a moist mini brownie. If this evening was anything to go by of the standard of food and service, then I will certainly be back for more.