The Century House- Latham, NY (an Albany suburb)

On one recent Sunday after the Saratoga Race Course, a friend and I decided to visit our friend (who works there) and more importantly, check the place out.  The Century House has long been a standard for fine(ish) dining in the Albany area.  After all, it's been there for over sixty years!

Upon walking in, we were greeted.  The dining room is pleasant, very colonial in decor.  What you might expect for a place that tries to be The Red Lion Inn (see my earlier blog post).  However, there are no crooked floorboards or short ceilings here.  It's done tastefully and not over the top.  The one thing that needs to change is the ceiling.  We're talking 1980s era drop-ceilings that need to go.  On the comment card, I suggested a tin, or mock-tin ceiling.  That would really change the whole feel of the restaurant... and make it look as good as it should!

My companion and I decided that the bar area was more suited to our needs (and mindset).  This being five o'clock, we ordered some beers and were stunned when the bartender never even suggested to look at a menu!  We were eventually given a light fare bar menu (burgers and such) and the proper menu.  In addition, his shirt didn't fit him correctly and was not ironed.  If you want to present yourself as a top-notch place, you need to start with the small items and work your way up!

Okay, enough nit-picking.  Let's get to why we came here.  The food.  The food is typically American mixed with cues from the Old World... mainly England.  Pot pies, duck, lamb, steaks and a large seafood selection is what this place is all about!

In lieu of an appetizer, both of us decided to go with soup.  I chose the Lobster Chowder and my partner in crime-- French Onion.  The lobster chowder was bisque like in flavor.  You can sense/taste that sherry is an ingredient... but unlike a bisque, there are some serious chunks of meat in here.  I had a whole non-dominant claw in my bowl (and the price was dead on, $9.99).  The onion soup was also very good.  Cheese on top, in a crock pot.  You could tell that this broth was made in house, due to the lack of salt content, which is a dead giveaway that it's a shortcut version.  I would recommend either during you visit.

For our mains, I was going to order the duck breast, however I decided against it (I was coaxed into my other choice).  Was I glad that I reconsidered the duck, because the Lamb Chops were incredible.  I will not order foreign lamb (or buy it in the market).  This lamb was from Colorado and damn, was it tasty!  It came with root veggies (parsnips and carrots), whipped potatoes, and a little bit of homemade mint sauce (unlike the English version, this had no vinegar in it).  The lamb, which I ordered medium-rare was cook perfectly.  The chops were basically the thickness of two ribs (which I had two of).  No shortage on portions here.  The veg, was okay.  I am a firm believer that I roast them best (in duck fat).  The whipped spuds were basically a 50/50 mix of butter and potato.... yummy!

My Companion opted for the Surf and Turf.  He had an option of upgrading him meal with a filet mignon.  Total for his meal?  $34.95... a steal!  The lobster was baked, but correctly.  The meat wasn't dry at all, very moist and delectable.  His steak was also very tasty, cooked rare-- like it should be!

For desert, we opted to share a dish (and get two shots of Sambuca).  We chose Baked Alaska.  I have never eaten this old time dish, but I enjoyed it.  The only regret was eating too much before it!  We fell miserably short on finishing it (you have been warned).

A couple issues to address here.  We asked for the bill and had to wait for it for ten minutes.  I know that the bartender probably didn't want to rush us, but if we ask, we shall receive!  Again, the service let us down.  Saying that, the food wasn't held up at all and came to us promptly, yet at a nice pace so you could enjoy it.

All issues aside, if you haven't been and you're reading this-- it means that you're young.  This I believe is the biggest challenge for this restaurant.  The dining room was busy, but filled and I mean filled... with grey hairs!  We were without a doubt the youngest people in the joint (by 20 years!).  I fear without some real marketing towards the younger generations, that this place is going to die with it's clientele!  This would be a shame, because with food like this place is offering, you can't go wrong!  I highly recommend that you check out this local gem.  It's worth the prices and everything on the menu is quality.  Check it out for a date spot.  I wouldn't go there to drink and watch the game-- save that for Hooters.

'Til next time....
FF

The Century House

The Iron Hill Brewery- Maple Shade, NJ (Philly suburb)

Hey folks,
On a recent trip to escape my life's problems (most of you know what they were). I once again found myself down in the Philadelphia region-- at the request of some good friends.  Thankfully, the trip was worthwhile, yet incredibly hot.  The heat was turned on at 99F the night I arrived (with about an 80% humidity) and it was 6pm!  Damn.  The following two days, the mercury hovered at a brutal 103F and a cool 97F, respectably.  Whew!  Is that hot or what?

Because of this excessive heat, there really wasn't too much to do in town (do you want to sit and watch a baseball game when the seats read 140F?).  Nah, me neither.  How about the beach?  Can you imagine how hot that sand was?  Scratch that!  What else?  Oh, let's eat and drink in the air con!  :)

My friends Matt and Nicole suggested the Iron Hill Brewery for lunch.  The Iron Hill is a small chain of brewpubs that are located between Philadelphia and Wilmington, DE to the south (and out to the Western Suburbs).  All are located in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.  The one we ate at was just east of Philly in Maple Shade, NJ. 

After a warm, okay HOT car ride to the pub, we got in.  The temp was icy.  I loved it.  Nothing like a blast of cold air on a hot day.  We were promptly dealt with by the hostess that informed us that if we wanted to sit in the bar area, that we could choose any of the twenty or so tables (or get up to the bar).  We chose the high tables, which allowed us to see the TVs with golf (of all sports) on.  The restaurant itself, is very large and in total, I would say that there are about 50-60 tables in this place.  However, the dining area is much more intimate and quieter than where we sat.   
 
Upon sitting down, our waitress gave us our menus which we perused and felt really indecisive about!  The selection is very nice for a brewpub and all over the shop with variety.  Of course the regulars are present (wings, burgers, etc.).  Before we get into the food, let's remember why this place was suggested to me.... the beer!

The beers range from a light beer to the diesel fuel "Second Rising" a double IPA using strictly Japanese hops @ 8.5% ABV (all are made in-house).  As most of you know, you can tell which I preferred.  They also have many different beers such as a couple Belgian-styled ales, amber ales, porters, etc.  This pub has more beers on offer than I have ever seen in a brewpub.  Top notch drinks and they're affordable as well.  I opted for the Seasonal Sampler tray, which is roughly two pints broken up into eight glasses.  You can also do the Traditional Sampler (which consists of the beers which are always available).  Matty got the traditional and Nicole was into the light beer (after all, she was driving!).

Now, when drinking diesel fuel and other beers it's usually wise to put something something down to line that stomach!  We opted for a unique starter that I hadn't seen before.  A fusion cooking of sorts.  Everyone knows egg rolls, you know the free things that come with Chinese food?  Well, these ones are like none other.  The three types that they have on the menu are:  Oktoberfest Egg Rolls (which have bits of bratwurst, sauerkraut, cheddar, monterey jack, green onion and are served with a stone ground mustard sauce), Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls (Monterey jack, grated carrot, celery served with buffalo sauce and bleu cheese dressing), and finally Cheesteak Egg Rolls (fried onion, American cheese, matchstick potatoes served with ketchup and a cream horseradish dipping sauce).  Because Nicole didn't like the Oktoberfest, I didn't try the Cheesesteak one.  However, that was due to Matt and I bargaining over the last Buffalo Chicken one (that was left over).  I liked the rolls, the Oktoberfest one was really good.  The mustard was an excellent touch and out of the two I tried, the best.  The Buffalo one needed something more.  I think that the sauce should have been present inside the roll-- or adding real bleu cheese instead of jack would have given it more "pop."  Nonetheless, I wouldn't refuse either if offered again.  Next time, I would just get the Cheesesteak one (which I will fairly soon-- when I get "Down the shore," like they say).

Their mains are salmon, tuna, steaks, meatloaf and pot pies.  Burgers and Pizzas are also present as they should be.  They also have a large selection of huge salads.  Iron Hill even offers a gluten free menu for those that cannot eat wheat.  All the main courses (not pizzas or burgers) hover around the $15 range.  Not bad for an establishment like this, and their price point is dead on.  The pizzas range from $10-15 and the burgers are all around ten bucks.

If memory serves correctly, Nicole ordered a salad, which was nicely presented and was very fresh looking.  Matty and I needed something with more "teeth" and something that would stick to our guts.  Both of us opted for burgers.  The burgers are a manly, half pound of Angus beef.  Lovely!  I ordered mine rare (which is a good sign-- only places that are confident you won't get sick will do this) with sharp cheddar.  I loved it.  Matty didn't enjoy his as much, but he didn't specify how he wanted it cooked.  Mine was juice with meat-- meaning that my roll was almost soaked through with that bloody goodness (sorry, didn't mean to freak any of you out by using that analogy).  Frankly, it was the best burger that I've had in quite some time-- actually since the diner in North Vale (an earlier post).

After roughly two hours and four beers, it was time to move on and back into the inferno.  If you're in the Philly, Newark or Wilmington areas and like beer, I recommend this place highly.  It's would also be a great spot to catch a game-- although leave your Mets hats at home (unless you go to one of the Delaware locations).  Don't fret if some of your friends dislike beer, they alo have a fully stocked top-shelf bar and I am sure they know how to use it.

Total for three of us and drinks came out to be in the $80 range.  Not bad.  Next installment will touch on an "Irish" pub, also in Southern New Jersey.  Happy chomping!

 Iron Hill Brewery- Maple Shade, NJ





 

Palanga, Lithuania. One of the two famous beach towns in the country.

Most people that I know, hardly know what Lithuania is or more importantly, where it is.  Well, I have to write this entry to do the country justice.  Lithuania has been run over more times than a dead squirrel on the New York State Thruway.  It's been a constant battleground dating back over 1000 years.  The Teutonic Knights were the first to invade, but were crushed and left the country (and therefore Lithuania was the last European country to adopt Christianity).  Ironically, nowadays the Lithuania people are very religious, devout Catholics.

In the 1500s, Lithuania was the largest country in Eastern Europe, consisting of Belarus,. Ukraine, and parts of Poland and Russia (now it's about the size of New Jersey).  About a couple hundred years later,  the Lublin Union was created, which in reality was a Commonwealth including Poland.  This lasted for over 200 years.

After the Union was dismantled, it left Lithuania prone to attack and it was promptly invaded (the first time) by Russia.  This lasted until 1918, in which after WWI, Lithuania once again declared itself independent.  However, this didn't last long.  During WWII, the Russians came, yet again.  Oh, and then the Germans.  But by 1944, the Soviets came back for a third time! They stuck around after the war, thrusting the country into unwanted dictatorship by Joseph Stalin (during which this author's family were sent to Siberia, to the gulags).  The Soviets shifted people from country to country to created confusion.  If the people spoke different languages, how could they organize an uprising?  They also took priests, the wealthy and educated away.  Very effective and very cruel, it tore families apart.

Shift to forty more years into the future.  Lithuania was at the forefront of the Soviet dismantling.  In 1990, they were the first SSR (or satellite) to declare their independence.  The final stance was when peaceful demonstrators at the Vilnius (the capital city) TV tower were killed (they were unarmed).  However, this time... the World was watching.  This prompted Mikhail Gorbachev to cut his losses and dominoes started falling.

The next and surely not last part of this little country's history is when they joined the European Union in 2004.  They were admitted with the other two Baltic Nations, Latvia to the north and Estonian above Latvia.

Well, now that you know a bit of history, let's get to the fun stuff.  The seaside!  Palanga is a town that sits on the Baltic Sea, roughly an hour and half north of Kaliningrad (a broken-off part of Russia which doesn't connect to the main country).  It's east of Belarus, Poland is to the extreme south, and Latvia, as you know to the north.

Palanga is famous for a few things, the beach and what washes on the beach during large storms-- amber.  The semi-precious material is in abundance here and can be bought at much better prices than you could buy it in the USA/UK.

Palanga is an amazing town, with "scrub pines" (Paul, my friend coined this) dotting the half mile or so, to the beach from town.  These trees are all thirty feet or so high, and don't get any bigger because of the constant sea breeze and brutal winters.  It's a really amazing sight, walking down the paths that lead to the beach.  If you didn't know that the sea was there, you'd think you were walking through a forest!

The beach itself is your typical sandy beach, bespeckled with changing cubicles, bars and cafes (that line the path to the beach).  There's no open container laws here, which is nice, if you're used to Long Island where it's strictly prohibited.  The water is usually cold... remember, you're really far north here!  The air temps typically hover in the mid-seventies Fahrenheit (or low twenties in Centigrade).  Sometimes it gets warmer, but rarely does it get to 85 or 90.

There is also a large pier here that stretches out almost a mile into the sea.  This is a popular spot to hang out, ride a bike, walk, or try your luck catching some fish (which a local specialty is smoked fish).  I am not a fan of smoked fish, so I gave it a miss.  Okay, so far it's not like the Jersey Shore, right?  Wrong.

There is a more lively side that resembles a boardwalk, but is just a pedestrianized street (which leads from town to the sea) called J. Basanavičius.  This street was named after a national hero, Jonas Basanavičius, who is accredited with preserving the Lithuanian culture, which ultimately led to their independence in 1918).

Cafes, bars, kiosks selling everything from amber to trinkets and clothing are everywhere on this street.  Also present here are your usual carnival games and rides.  I tested my endurance on a spinning ride that promised 4Gs.  Trust me, I am seasoned ride junkie, (I am telling you this thing was serious).  The one thing that's noticeably different than Wildwood, NJ is the presence of families and a real lack of riff-raff that you'd find in Seaside Heights or Atlantic City.  This makes it a very safe place for all to enjoy.  It's typically frequented by Latvians, Estonians, Russians, Poles, and Lithuanians.  I did not see many, if any, English speaking people.  However, most of the younger generation are fluent in English (learning English is now compulsory in school).  Perhaps these tourist habits will change?

The prices:
My family and I rented out a large flat that slept six for roughly $200 for two nights.  A steal.  Try to find a bargain like that in the USA (one without roaches, I mean).  Food is very inexpensive too.  Their diet consists of mostly cabbage, potatoes, pork and chicken dishes.  All are incredibly tasty.  Try a cepelinai (or zeppelin, which is mashed potatoes, stuffed then fried with meat or cheese in the inside).  Your typical main course at a local nice-ish restaurant will run you in the neighborhood of $10.  Not bad at all.  However, eating here, like in most European countries is an unhurried time to relax, take in the scenery and enjoy the company you're with.  If you want fast food, get a Turkish kebab at any of the many kiosks in town, or perhaps a hot dog?  Beers are also strong, good and cheap.  Your average beer is roughly $2 (for 50cl) or if you're brave, get a full litre for $3.50-4.00.

Pizza crazy nation?  Yes.  Unbelievably pizza is very popular with Lithuanians, and it's actually of very good quality.  It's along the lines of an Italian pie and nothing like Pizza Hut, Uno, or a NY slice (my favorite).  The oddity is what they do to the pizza once it arrives at their table.  Ketchup, yes ketchup is a popular topping that they drown the pies in (after it's cooked).  The also like to blend the ketchup with Heinz's Garlic Sauce.  Heinz makes all sorts of sauces for different markets.  Chances are, you have never seen it.  They also have Mexican Ketchup (Heinz, too).  I admit, I tried the ketchup thing.  However, I only thought it was bearable once the slice had gone cold.  The best chains that I have eaten at are either Pizza Jazz or Čili Pica (Chili Pizza).  I would recommend either to anyone.  They are both national chains, so you can find them in any of the larger cities or towns.

We ate at a restaurant called de Cuba, which was amazingly decorated.  The pizza was good, and I will not go into a full review because I cannot review a place just on a pizza.  However, the grounds and the restaurant itself are worthy of any high-class place, anywhere!  Day beds (the wicker ones) and a ton of outdoor seating are present here.  The fountain that is choreographed to music is a sight as well.  The inside is a Latin motif, however the menu isn't (oddly).  I was kind of hoping to chow on some authentic Cuban food, but was sorely let down.

If you want to go to Lithuania, it's a bit of a hassle to get to from the United States.  You will typically have to fly through the UK, Poland, Czech Republic or Finland to get there (and this can be expensive).  However, four-star properties in Vilnius (which I won't review due to it being reviewed everywhere else) can be had for $150-200.  Not bad for a top-notch hotel.  In London or Paris it would triple that.  If you're thinking of visiting, skip Kaunas (the second largest city), which is nice, but a little shabby and run down.  Center in on Vilnius, Klaipeda, and Palanga (and/or Nida--the other sea town, which is more sleepy than Palanga).  If any of you are interested in visiting, I'd be happy to fill you in on more information about this subject, just write me.

One final point to make about Lithuanians and one of their passions (or second religion as they call it).  When you think of basketball, I am sure for most of you, the NBA comes to mind.  Well, in this little country, they're basketball crazy.  No matter where you travel throughout the country, from countryside to urban jungle you see hoops everywhere.  This is all due to Pranas Lubinas (Frank Lubin).  Frank was a guy born in Los Angeles, who's parents came from Lithuania.  He eventually returned to the country and helped represent them in the '36 Berlin Games.  They also won two European titles after in '37 and '39 which solidified their love for the sport.  He is called "The Grandfather of Lithuanian Basketball."

Today, the sport is widely played by young and old alike.  It is also played professionally with the country having two teams in the European Professional League,  BC Žalgiris (from Kaunas) is the team with the best record throughout history, and secondly the Vilnius based team, BC „Lietuvos Rytas“ who are their bitter rivals.

In addition to the pro teams, their National Team is also widely respected.  They've won several medals and are frequently in the top three in international tournaments.  Not bad for a country of three million people, eh?  Grateful Dead fans, take note of this fact.  Leading up to the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, the team had funding issues (seeing as the country just broke away from the Soviet Union two year before).  They almost couldn't afford to make the trip!  Step in Jerry Garcia, who pledged money to help the team get there, and it culminated with the team winning a Bronze Medal!  The Dead sold tie-dyed shirts with "Lithuania" on the front and all of the proceeds (or profits) went to the team.  I wish I still had mine, as they're worth a pretty penny now.  Oh well, you can't save everything!  The country is hosting the Eurobasket 2011 competition this fall, which will be held in arenas throughout the country. 

Well, that's it for now.  It is my hope that your learned a little bit about this tiny country.  Next post will be about a couple South Jersey watering holes/casual restaurants!  Take care folks.  

Lithuanian National Tourism Office

Palanga Tourist Guide

de Cuba restaurant/bar/cafe

Pub #4, The Market Porter, London Bridge/Borough Market area.

The Market Porter is famous for a couple reasons.  For one, it's been in a Harry Potter film.  Secondly and more importantly it's open at 6am.  The reason why it opens so early is because Borough Market is across the street.  Borough Market is a fantastical foodie's dream.  Gourmet everything.  If you want it, and it's not here, it's not in London!  Each stall (think Reading Market in Philly) has a specialty, whether that be beer, wine, cheese, meat, etc.  This market resembles something you might find in Paris or Antwerp, delicious.  This area is also unique in which that you can walk around with an alcoholic beverage without fear of getting into trouble with constables (just stay around the market).

The Market Porter opens very early to cater to the delivery people that come in the wee hours to set up each stall.  These guys generally come from the New Covent Garden Veg Market, Billingsgate Fish Market, or Smithfields Meat Market.  Each are huge hubs (actually each are owned by the City of London) for suppliers to sell wholesale to market traders and restaurants.  These guys are up all night and all they want is a pint!  Cue The Market Porter (I felt it was necessary to tell you the history, it's a key fact of why the pub exists).

The Porter has around 30 or so taps and the majority are real ales and aged ciders.  I opted for a couple different ciders, one that stood out was the Weston's Scrumpy.  The pub is split between two large rooms.  The bar can get very crowded at times, usually the worst time is the evening rush (as the Cityboys heading home from the office go to London Bridge to catch their trains into the suburbs).  However, there's a light at the end of the tunnel.  There is a large area outside and across the street that drinking is tolerated (not in the street itself, that still has a small amount of traffic on it).  So find a bench, or nuzzle up to a standing table (wooden barrel) and drink away!

While I have never eaten at the Porter, there is a really nice stall just near it.  On the same side of the street, if you come from the Southwark Tavern, you will see a place called "Posh Banger Boys."  This is a takeaway establishment (which has limited seating), but you can always send your mate over and hold his/her beer!  The prices are spot on, and the quality is very good.  You guessed it, the sausages come from the market!  That's why they're so good.  They also have chicken and serve burgers too.  I recommend this place highly.

So, things to do around here?  Go to Vinopolis, a museum for wine.  They take you through a tour and depending on how much you spend, you get to drink as much accordingly.  It tutors you through the art of making wine and tasting wine.  Opt for the absinthe and scotch portions of the tour.  :)

The London Dungeon, skip it... it's a waste of time and money (go to DisneyWorld if you want that crap).

The Golden Hind, a replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship is worth a look and a picture from the outside, don't opt to go in.

The Globe Theatre is also close (Shakespeare's Theatre has been recreated with performances in the Summer months.

The best advice I can give in this area is to just walk along the South Bank.  You will see so many landmarks that you know, it's priceless (well, free actually!).  Make sure not to miss the Tate Modern Art Museum, it rivals any museum, anywhere.

Well, that's it for London, this time.  More on the next trip folks!  Hope you enjoyed my writing.  Lithuania beckons... but I have written enough for today.

Cheers!

-Al

The Market Porter

Posh Banger Boys

Pub #3, The Southwark Tavern, London Bridge/Borough High Street.

The Southwark (Su-thark, not South-wark) Tavern and The Market Porter are two pubs that are near and dear to me.  Mainly because I like what they offer and they used to be regular haunts for me when I lived in Southeastern London (Lewisham).  I began frequenting these pubs because they are adjacent London Bridge, which is a main transportation hub on the South Bank (rail, buses and Tube).  Therefore, if you go to London, these two will be quite easily reached from the central part of the city.

After arriving from Lithuania via Helsinki, I knew that time was tight.  Immigration always takes longer when a flight from some two-bit country lands right near your time slot.  This was the case, and it took me an hour to get through it.  I literally had no time as I was supposed to meet my friend Darryl for dinner at 6pm.  RUN!

After I cut clear across the city and got back down to London Bridge, it was twenty-five to six.  Not too bad, apparently it took Darryl longer as well and he'd only been sitting for about five minutes.  I like the Southwark because it's got a great wine list (from Mendoza, OZ, NZ, France, and not many/ if any USA?), and usually some rare beers that you don't usually see in London.  For instance, on this occasion, Brooklyn Lager was offered.  Do you know how much I would have killed for one of them when I lived in London?  Believe me... I would have.

The pub is split into an upstairs, when the bar is and dungeon-like basement area that makes you feel like your in one of the oldest cities in the World (you are!).  There are tables upstairs and downstairs.  Darryl chose what I think was the hottest damn part of the pub to sit in... I think we were directly over the kitchen.  I would have chose one of the outside tables (on the sidewalk), but because it was a nice day, they were full up.

Also joining us were Aisling and Justin, who were running late for some reason.  You can never depend on London Tranport, it's so old and it breaks down all of the time.  So, Darryl and I ordered some drinks.  I had a cider (see a trend here) and he had a Früli, a strawberry beer from Belgium-- they're very tasty in short doses.  I always chose cider whilst in England because it's so far superior to our crappy domestic ones.  I wish someone would import them.  However, this pub also has real ales (think cask aged, served cool, not cold).

When the guys finally joined us, Darryl and I were chomping at the bit to order.  The Southwark is also a gastropub, but one that I can vouch for personally.  Aisling had eaten already, but Justin hadn't.  Darryl ordered his usual West Country beef burger, which was topped with bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato and served with chips (fries).  Justin and I both wanted the fried haddock with mushy minted peas and chips (served with homemade tartare sauce).  However, we were told that only one portion was available (meaning it's fresh, yay!).  Justin bowed to my plea that I hadn't yet had it during my visit and that I'd really like the fish (he's a good man, let me tell ya!).  He instead ordered Gloucester Old Spot (a type of pig) bangers and crushed pea mash, served with red onion gravy.

We all chatted and talked (e.g. drank) the time way until our food was served.  The service came in a timely manner considering how busy the pub was.

Darryl's burger came and was nicely presented with parchment around the actual burger and the chips were run of the mill, but good.  He stated that he always enjoyed the burgers here, I can see why!  Justin's order of bangers and mash looked delicious, the gravy was obviously homemade with chunks of onion left in it.  He also enjoyed his meal and remarked that the combination of mashed potato with the peas was really nice.  I think I'll be incorporating that into my recipes at home!  My fish and chips dish was just what I needed.  A foot long chunk of fresh haddock fried golden brown in beer batter.  The minted mushy (marrowfat) peas were an assault on my senses a new twist on an old favorite.  Another tip I will be taking with me.  The tartare sauce was homemade and also nice.  The chips, like I said before, were standard, yet good.  We all enjoyed each meal, which is why I always try to visit the Southwark when I visit London (it also brings back old memories).

The menus from the Alwyne and Southwark are almost identical (at a closer look on each respectful website, it appears they have the same owner).  However, the quality food at the Southwark is far superior and as time has told, it hasn't changed at all since the day I left.  If you're in the area, stop by and have a pint and some dinner.  It's a great dependable pub that never lets you down.  Also, my next post, will incorporate some things to see around the area as well (so why not make a day of it?).  The Market Porter will have it's own post, if you're wondering why I didn't write about it.

The Southwark Tavern

Pub #2, The Alwyne Castle, Islington, London

Well,
Most of my friends know that I live to indulge in the liquids department on weekends (sometimes on weekdays).  We visited this pub after a concert on Saturday evening.  That took place in Hyde Park and was an all day affair, so let's just say, neither Justin or I were feeling 100%.  We awoke around noontime by Aisling calling (yes, same one from the other post) us asking if we'd like to go down for a Sunday "lunch."  We said that we would indeed!

A "Sunday Lunch" is also a very important part of British culture (when I say British I mean all of the parts as a whole-- you need to understand there are separate countries within the Union).  Even if you eat around 5 or 6pm, it's still called Sunday Lunch.  I know, it's odd... but that's tradition.  I guess it was traditionally served during the daylight hours.  It is also called the same thing if someone cooks it at home.  Okay, tutorial aside, let's get into the subject matter, the pub.

The Alwyne Castle is located in a fairly busy part of Islington, a North London Borough (London has thirty-two as opposed to NYC's five).   Islington is an area for young professionals and because of this, it's a hip place to live and hang.  Angel is another nice area within Islington (if you ever want to go out in London, this is a safe bet!).  Because of the locale, the establishments in the area are more upmarket than some other areas in London, but not as high-class as Kensington/Knightsbridge).

We arrived at the pub around 1pm, feeling a bit worse for wear.  Pints?  Sure!  Justin abstained.  Actually I think I may have been the only one on "The Hair of the Dog."  No surprise to my mates anyway.  The pub is a very large and also has a huge beer garden.  There are also many tables out in front of the pub.  We chose to sit outside, as the weather was very pleasant (yes, London does have nice weather....at times).  The interior of the pub consists of three very well appointed rooms (I was told it was recently renovated).  This is your typical "gastropub." 

Gastropub means a pub that goes above and beyond the regular pub fare, adding a culinary twist to those favourite dishes that everyone enjoys so much.  So, I went into the situation expecting something outstanding.  The pub has a nice drinks selection, it appeared that they also had a decent wine list, which is another sign of a gastropub.

After a bit on pondering, and the lack of lamb on the menu, I ordered beef. No lamb, yet again...   The Alwyne tries to use ingredients which are in-season which promotes fresh food, as well as a better environment (not shipping that vegetable across the planet = less carbon emissions).  Justin ordered the same and Aisling ordered the Baked Cornish (from Cornwall) Brie and Mushroom Wellington.  This of it like Beef Wellington minus the meat.  All mains come with roasted potatoes, a Yorkshire Pudding, broccoli and carrots.

"High hopes, we've got high hopes..."   My meal came, brilliantly presented, piled high with the "Yorkie" on top.  This created a mountain of food.  I am used to British beef, I actually like it, grass-fed and free from hormones (yeah, we charge extra for that in the USA).  The beef was okay, not tough, but cooked too long for my preference.  I was surprised when I ordered it that they didn't ask how I wanted it cooked.  Well done = taking all the fun out of meat.  The gravy was homemade, that's a plus.  The Yorkie was huge!  Done nicely, textbook Yorkie.  I looked on their website and it says one person is in charge of them on Sundays, give that chef a raise! 

Now, please shoot the chef in charge of the veg.  The carrots and broccoli were pretty much on the verge of mush.  Cooked any longer and I think that they would have melted away in the pot.  Perhaps people that eat there like them this way?  I can't be sure, but it also cooks out any nutritional value that might have been ingested.  The roast potatoes were seasoned nicely, with a simple combination of salt and pepper.  I have to admit, my roasties are miles better.  I could teach the chef a thing or two.  They were edible, but far from the best I've eaten (if you would like the recipe, just ask).

Aisling, from the looks of things, didn't really get into her dish, leaving the majority of it on her plate.  I chalked that up to her going out the night before, rather than not enjoy her meal.  It did sound interesting, I wish I had asked her to try it.   

So, in summary.  This pub is recommended by me, for a beautiful place to enjoy a nice Summer's day or check out a match on the tele.  If I return (which is quite likely), I will keep things simple and order a burger, or plain steak.  That will ensure I get exactly what I want.  It's not a bad pub, it just needs a little more pizzazz, which should remedy the issues I experienced.  I know my friends will be returning and I will always ask a local's advice.

Pub Patrol is not over yet.  :) 

The Alwyne Castle   

Pub #1, The Faltering Fullback, Finsbury Park, London

Well, hello again blog readers! As you can see, I have now adjusted from the hell that is jetlag and feel human again.  My most recent trip brought me to London, UK and several parts of Lithuania (which will come in another post soon).

Whenever I visit my old home, London, there is usually one thing on my mind... pubs!  Nowhere like the UK (okay, maybe Ireland) does pubs better.  NYC?  Yeah, right... Australia?  Keep dreaming.  The UK is the birthplace of the Public House.  Therefore, it's a duty of yours, if you visit, to consume food/drink in them.  Pubs are an integral part of British culture, somewhere that it's fine to go at 9am, because they serve coffee and most likely, breakfast!  It's not just a watering hole like people think (NYC/Australia), it's a community center point.  If you miss this, then you aren't really understanding what a pub really stands for.

My trip started on a Wednesday evening.  I planned on cooking some native lamb (I miss it so! :( ), however my mate Justin (Irishman) and other mate Aisling (Ash-ling, an Irish name) usually go to a certain pub called "The Faltering Fullback."  Justin advised me that they'd both be going there. 

"The Fullback" as it's referred to by those that frequent the place, is basically (for those in Albany, NY) an Andy's Sports Bar.  It's a place where tag-rugby players (similar to our flag football) congregate after the match.  As you can imagine, it's bumpin'!

The Fullback is located in the Finsbury Park area, which is along the Victoria and Piccadilly Tube lines in the Northeast portion of London.  It's an okay area, nothing to write home about, but this is where you find the real Londoners, not the poncy transplants from all over that hang around the West End (avoid at all costs!!!!).

The Fullback is literally, huge.  It might have the biggest beer garden in the whole city.  It has double level decking out back with one large room, that is attached to two separate bar areas.  I don't even know how many people were there that night, but it was crazy.  A friend of mine from NJ, Joe joined on our evening out.

Okay, the food.  Now, most of you think of pub food as heavy, with potatoes, etc.  You'd be right, however in this case, this pub serves Thai food.  I am pretty certain that the Landlords of this pub sub-contract out the food portion to a Thai family, that operates the kitchen.  Their food is outstanding, probably along the lines of the some of the best Thai I have even eaten.  The best part?  The price.  You can get a main course for roughly £6.00, which I recommend any of the curries (beware, they're really hot).  I was told that the Pad Thai is amazing, maybe next time...or perhaps a duck dish?

I ordered the Kang Panang Curry.  The flavours blended so perfectly together, that I really didn't even mind the heat.  Each curry comes with an ample amount of white rice to sop up all that goodness. The apps are nice as well, we ordered spring rolls (homemade) and spicy prawn crackers (look it up if you don't know).  All of this for about £12.00 (cheap by London standards).  Beers and ciders are in the  £3.50 range, which is normal for London.   

If you're looking for a cool, down to earth pub with loads of real people... come here.  It's a great place to meet folks and they're all friendly.  The only downside is that it's a bit out of the way.  However, if you ever find yourself going to an Arsenal match, this is a great place to start out at, or go afterwards (Emirates Stadium is quite close).  When I was living in London, I wish I had found this place, it's a real gem and should not be missed. 

More London Pubs to come shortly....

Cheers!

-Al


 The Faltering Fullback

 Their location