dining
Dining in Shoreditch: Funky Asia
Located near the Spitalfields Market on Commercial Street, Funky Asia seems at first glance like a cross between a diner and a discotheque. Upon entering this vast, rustic space ridden with fluorescent lights, I didn’t know quite what to expect. I had heard that the place specialized in Pan-Asian cuisine, but nothing in the ‘vibe’ of this place seemed to communicate that. As well, the fact that all the waiters and waitresses were conspicuously Indian certainly didn’t elucidate things for me, and as I was ushered to my table amidst a hollow, empty space, I couldn’t help but feel confused.Interview with Rivington Grill Head Chef Simon Wadham
Born on the Isle of Wight, Simon attended Kingham Hill School in Oxfordshire before joining the army aged 15, serving abroad for the next seven years. Upon leaving the army, he began working at the fashionable Joe’s Café in South Kensington. He then went to work for Oliver Peyton at the Atlantic Bar & Grill, spending the next ten years working for Peyton. In 2007, Simon joined Caprice Holdings as Head Chef at the Rivington Grill in ShoreditchDining in Shoreditch: High 'n Dry
So, in the heart of vibrant Shoreditch I found an oasis called Jamies [sic]. The first thing you see are the twin staircases spiralling up to a corridor resembling a New Orleans veranda or the front of a Mexican hacienda - only, somehow disappointingly, the pastel green doors did not open into the luxuriant beauty of a South American inner courtyard nor the warm interior of a Creole house, but to a selection of stylish, beautifully decorated, perfectly functional toilets. The staircases are, I imagine, an exercise in equilibrium on a Friday night. The only way you can survive the twisting and turning of those steps is by ordering just the right amount of food to go with your wine.Interview with Fifteen London Chef Andrew Parkinson
Fifteen London is a restaurant that uses the magic of food to give unemployed young people a chance at a better future. All profits go to the Jamie Oliver Foundation, a registered charity (#: 1094536). This week, Made in Shoreditch journalist Charlotte Lily Prior was granted an exclusive interview with one of Shoreditch's (and London's) finest chefs, Andrew Parkinson.Hanoi Rocks – Well … Not Really.
After leaving the Labels Catwalk Show in nearby Rivington St. cold and hungry at 11 PM, my friend and I anxiously wandered the buzzing side streets of Shoreditch in pursuit of a hot and hearty meal. Finding ourselves at the crossroads – in both the literal and figurative sense – we were divided between going to Saf, a seemingly organic and healthy option, and Little Hanoi, an unflattering Vietnamese restaurant flooded by bright fluorescent lights, but nonetheless bustling. Being in the mood for a proper bowl of noodles, my friend was able to placate me, and lure me away from the healthy gems of Saf.Holy Cow
Not being a fan of mindless violence or fire-starting, I nevertheless hit the streets of Shoreditch last week. But instead of throwing bricks through people’s windows, I rather decided to treat myself to a massive steak dinner. I chose Le Bouchon Breton in Spitalfields as my destination, because if you’re going to eat steak, you have to do it properly. For instance, if you go to Wetherspoon’s (as much as I love it) and order a steak – well, let’s just say you’d be better off not doing that. You will get part of a cow – yes - but definitely not a bona-fide fillet or T-bone.
