Every Wednesday we get Michelin chefs, top bloggers or critics, to pick their favourite cheap eats where they live and at home.
This week we’ve got the owner of London institution Pied à Terre, the legendary David Moore, whose Fitzrovia restaurant has held at least one Michelin star for pretty much forever.
Hi David, can you tell us your favourite places in London where you can get a meal for two for less than £40?
Fitzrovia, and especially Charlotte Street, are so well known for restaurants, fine dining and Michelin stars. There are no less than five Michelin stars on Charlotte Street alone and a gaggle more on adjoining streets. But, where will you spot the Michelin-starred restaurateur having a cheeky bite on his own turf… man can’t live on tasting menus alone. A curry, a soup or a sandwich is much needed. So…
Tongue and Brisket (Goodge Street): Bring your appetite as portions are generous. I have a large salt beef on rye, pickles and mustard, £10 take away, a bit more to eat in. If dining in, try the Latka, fish balls and an excellent chopped liver, cucumber salad on side. No licence for booze… not a bad thing.
Shoop (Tottenham Street): This tiny, hole-in-the-wall spot serves up some of the tastiest soups you will find this side of Tel Aviv, but it doesn’t stop there. Falafel, £8.20; shakshuka, £8.20; and chicken schnitzel, £9.00, are my firm favourites. Everything is cooked fresh on the premises. I don’t know how they make it work, but I’m thrilled that they do. There is very limited seating so I grab and go and sit in Fitzroy Square, Goodge Park, Crabtree Gardens, or the new urban gardens on Alfred Street.
Palms of Goa (Charlotte Street): If I’m going to blow the whole budget of £40 for two, I would head to see Eugiene at Palms of Goa, 12 Charlotte Street. They have been on Charlotte Street close to 30 years, you don’t do that without solid regulars and good food. My favourite is king prawn masala, £15.95, or lamb biryani, £15.95 – plus a couple of naans at £2.95 each and some tap water just to stay on budget. I have to say I usually need a snooze after an Indian lunch… there are worse problems to have.
What’s your go-to cheap eat for a night at home?
My go-to easy, cheap eat at home is the dish everyone knows but no one cooks, an omelette. I do a three-egg omelette and put whatever cheese, herbs, ham is in the fridge. Buy some frozen herbs, parsley and chive would be my preference.
Ingredients:
- 3 eggs
- salt/pepper
- generous knob of cold butter – chopped in several cubes
- herbs – grated cheese – ham
Crack your eggs into a bowl, season with salt, pepper and herbs – whisk lightly, don’t over whisk at this stage as it will get mixed further in the pan when cooking.
Using a non stick pan, heat until smoking hot, move off the heat and add in the cubes of butter, swirl around the pan to coat evenly with the butter.
When fully melted and lightly browning, add in the eggs, with a fork move the eggs around lifting from the bottom of the pan, repeat several times, and then leave to crust, add fillings to the centre or one side, cook for a further minute or to your desired consistency, fold and serve.
Read all our Cheap Eats recommendations around the UK here…
Source: Money blog: How much will your take-home pay increase from Saturday as national insurance
