Clapton Pond Blog

Clapton Cookbook

So I bought my copy of the Clapton Cookbook from Pages Of Hackney and did nothing with it for a week. Then, yesterday evening, I turned to page 85, where there's a recipe for Swedish or Hungarian Cucumber Salad. I made the Hungarian one, which involves paprika (which I had) rather than dill (which I didn't. It also involves cucumber, soured cream and salt. And eating. Nearly forgot the eating. Very nice, too. The Clapton Cookbook is also available from Palm 2, price £4.99. I am not on a commission. Thank you.

The Swan, Clapton Common

A local pub is being sold and will become a synagogue. Mr Locker of Stamford Hill reports.

Nando Fury!

Stoke Newington Kris Gets Bin Rage Result!

Home Cooking

A London Fields recipe.

Catholic Tastes

From the Dunadan:

"On Thursday, Fr. Nicholas and I visited the Huong Viet restaurant in Dalston. This was the first time I had eaten Vietnamese food and I have to say that I enjoyed it very much. Alas, the great big photograph of Tony Blair and the restaurant's owners that hung on the wall turned my stomach slightly, but not enough to put me off my food!"

Now read on.

Pro Nando's

From Harry's Place:

"Nandos is likely to succeed because it is popular. It may not be popular with '€œlatte slurpers'€ - who frankly don'€™t know what they'€™re missing out on - but it is popular with most of the ordinary, not-so-rich people who live in Hackney. When you go to a Nandos, you'€™ll see families from all cultural backgrounds eating together. Many of the restaurants are Halal. One, in South Africa, is Kosher. In fact, the last time I went, I saw a little kid, with his dad who was African, wearing tsitsit and a yarmulke munching away on a chicken leg. He was a student at the Jewish-themed primary school, Simon Marks. In fact, all sorts of people eat at Nandos. Rich, poor, gourmets, snackers. And I'€™ll be one of them."

Now read on.

The Amhurst Cafe

It has wooden tables and chairs that aren't bolted to he ground. It has proper egg and chips. It has pictures of Greece hanging on the walls, giving a clue to the proprietor's roots. It is friendly, unfussy and kind to children. Every time we go in there I'm amazed that the bill for all five of us never seems to exceed twenty quid. Top for service, top for value, top for charm. Ladies and gentlemen, the Amhurst Cafe.

L'Epicerie, Chatsworth Road

It's not really a cafe, though there are places to sit down. It is, though, a serious deli. Even an egg-and-chips kind of chap like me spotted that as soon as I walked in to L'Epicerie on the junction of Chatsworth Road and Glenarm Road for the first time yesterday morning. Posh pastries, preserves in jars with homely, fabric tops rather than screw-on lids, organic soups, bottles of mysterious, improving liquids...it's all there, in abundance. I was in a hurry and so stopped only for long enough to buy a rhubarb tart effort - I expect it has a proper name - which was truly delicious. L'Epicerie, I know, already enjoys strong local support. I suppose it's partly in competition with Venetia's, which stands directly opposite, but each offers something different from the other and maybe both will benefit from the general lift they are together giving to the neighbourhood.

Venetia's Coffee Shop

Is there a better cafe within walking distance of the Pond than Venetia's in Chatsworth Road? The Amhurst opposite Hackney Central station, possibly? I love it there. The Mess, almost next door? Hmm. Has its fans, but contains too many Guardian readers for my liking. Ho ho. Let me know? [Photos by Dolores]

Parioli, Lower Clapton Road

Saturday lunchtime: small girl, large lasagne.