Eating out

Occasionally, despite the domestic austerity drive, I break free from the constraints of budgeting and become a fiscal rebel (that’s what credit cards are for right?). After all we only live once and the majority of the time I’m watching the pennies and living off lentils. Saturday was one of these days. Heading into London for a trip up the Shard (a Christmas present for M) meant an eye watering early start instead of the usual Saturday morning escape from shackles of the alarm and this, we agreed, would be the perfect excuse for breakfast out. The latest edition of Time Out published a condensed ‘Cheap Eats’ section, listing recommendations for breakfast, lunch and dinner (see, there is a thrifty link to this post after all!). One of the places featured was Caravan, recently opened in Granary Square at the back of Kings Cross station and adjacent to the new campus of Central St Martin’s. Sadly, we failed to take any notice of the opening hours (it opens at 10am on weekends if you are thinking of visiting and fills up fast) so spent a pleasant hour or so exploring the Grand Union canal running alongside the square, peeking into canal boat windows and dodging early morning joggers and cyclists along the canal towpath. It was worth the wait, delicious coffee (roasted on site), my only criticism being that there wasn’t enough of it (a 'long' black should be a little larger than one standard cup size please) and an inventive breakfast menu. M, being more of a traditionalist had the Caravan Fry, their take on a fry-up; eggs (your choice, M had his poached); field mushroom; tomato compote; bacon; all on sourdough toast. I opted for the more experimental aubergine puree with poached eggs; yoghurt; sumac; parsley; sourdough toast; with the addition of an extra soutzouki sausage. Both were a pretty good value £9 each and were really fantastic. If you are looking for somewhere to eat close to the stations but away from the tourist traps inside, it’s very definitely worth a visit (the new developments in this area are worth a visit alone too).

Later (and I'm afraid this is were temptation really kicked in) we explored Bermondsey Street, pressing our noses against the windows of the numerous boutiques and trying to guess who was in the chauffer driven cars slipping into the courtyard of White Cube. Further down, and with bellies rumbling, we passed Pizarro and took a few seconds to say ‘what the hell!’ and find ourselves perched on the window seat tucking into some complimentary green olives and bread with a glass of Alhambra.

The menu was short and simple with a few specials chalked on the wall, always a good sign. It took a while to decide but there was no sense of being hurried and service was friendly and discrete. M finally opted for the salt cod fritters whilst I chose the Catalan dish of escalivada with Manchego. Both were fresh, tasty and just as described. The salt cod fritters in particular were crisp and more-ish, I could have eaten a huge plateful. To follow, we had beef cheek with celeriac (tender chunks of flavourful beef with cubes of roasted celeriac in a dark unctuous gravy) and pan-fried red mullet, served on a bed of creamy polenta fragrant with ceps.

We shared a slice of torta de Santiago with yoghurt ice cream and I (lush that I am) had a glass of Patxaran, a sloe/aniseed digestif from Navarre. I’m sad to note that the online Time Out restuarant rating for Pizarro is only three out of five; surely it deserves much more? It was a little slice of Spanish warmth on a cold February day with friendly staff and delicious food so please do go, it’s worth a visit (even if it's not listed in their Cheap Eats article).

Oh and the Shard? I almost forgot! A great view across London.