Pie Mash and chippy Chips at Something Fishy

I was on another pie mash quest this weekend and I had two choices in mind. Brook's in Dagenham or Something Fishy in Lewisham.

Something Fishy is actually a fish and chip shop that makes their own pie mash as well.

I decided to go to Something Fishy as I fancied some chips.

You cannot miss this restaurant on the high street because their signs and decor are loud and clear.

I loved the 1970s fixed seats and tables which give it a nice nostalgic touch and the fact that this place has been here for years.

Moving on to the food, I felt that the beef filling was rather bland and the pastry was underbaked.

The liquor was also bland with the usual cornstarch consistency.

Adding pepper and vinegar helped a bit but not much.

The chips on the other hand were amazing but when I saw fresh batch going in I felt the fresh blonde batch would have fared better being piping hot and freshly fried.

Overall, I would give 10/10 for the chips buts there was a oil aftertaste to it but compromised with sauces.

I managed to try chips with liquor which is something I have always wanted to try from BJ's pie mash in East Ham but everytime I go it is always sold out.

They use JJ Foodservice sauces so I got to try all the sauces in the range.

The tomato ketchup and chilli sauce were really good especially the tomato ketchup which is nice and tangy.

The burger sauce was not to my liking as I found it too sweet.

Lamb shank with red wine and rosemary sauce at IKEA

I have always wanted to try the Lamb shank from Ikea but it wasn't available on my last visit.
On this visit for the funfetti cake and vegan strips I ended up getting the lamb shank as the cakes were not available.

The texture of the lamb shank was soft and gelatinous and came off the bone nicely.
There was some bone barrow in the bone as well.
The only let down was the taste, it was tasteless because the meat didn't really absorb the sauce.

Tasting the watery sauce separately, I just found it rather sweet.
Adding salt, mustard and vinegar helped made it taste better.

You can get mash or chips which came with it but I didn't fancy either.

Cake offerings:

Complimentary PG tea:

Strangely it just tastes different to the ones you buy at the supermarket.

I tried both the decaff and the regular one and they just tasted different.

McDowells pie mash in Romford

There are two pie mash shops in Romford.

Will be revisiting McDowells again when they are open.

A visit to Robin's Pie Mash

I find it reassuring there are two pie mash shops in Romford, one is Robins and the other is McDowells.

On this visit, I went to Robin's and would have tried McDowells but they were not open.

Robin's is located at the quadrant near Primark.

Overall, the pie was good but the liquor was not even luke warm.

The Yorkshire tea they served was very different to other Yorkshire teas I have tried in terms of colour and taste.

It tasted like tea from Hong Kong which I am sure the Chinese will appreciate but not my cup of tea.

Video on youtube:

https://youtu.be/Sy-QTfMPmjk

https://youtu.be/Sy-QTfMPmjk

A visit to IKEA Hammersmith

IKEA has recently opened at Hammersmith Livat mall so I decided to give it a visit because there was an immersive, multi-sensory experience that allows you to enjoy a little taste of Sweden.

As a foodie how could I not get some food while I was there.

The food at this store is a little different in the sense that it is more sophisticated with open sandwiches and salads at the Deli.

The usual free tea is not available at the deli.

I feel that the Hammersmith branch is more upmarket to cater for the office crowd who would fancy a salad, wrap or sandwich for lunch with grab and go coffee.

It has been ages since I last had an open sandwich by the Swedish Mackish girls so I got myself the seafood open sandwich which was topped with chopped prawns, crab meat mixed with mayo, creme fraiche, tabasco and dill topped with lumpfish caviar topped with fresh dill.

A bit pricey but it was really good because you can really taste the crab meat and the sea and then you have the delightful lumpfish caviar.

I suspect the red caviar is the one that they sell made of seaweed and dill.

Overall, I am glad I tried because where else can you get these Swedish style open sandwiches.

Again, same story, Hammersmith has totally been revamped with new concept stores etc.

Video on youtube:

https://youtu.be/Zu2c1XnLm48

The expensive and long journey for David Beckham's favourite pie mash in Waltham Abbey

The long expensive journey for David Beckham's favourite pie and mash in Waltham Abbey.

Not bend it like Beckham but eat it like Beckham!!!

Like I said I am trying to eat my way through every pie & mash shop in the UK whether they are good or bad.

I knew I was going to like the one in Waltham Abbey from the photos I have seen as I judge it by the clarity and colour of the liquor and the pie filling.

Both the pie and liquor looked amazing which was to my liking and it turns out to be David Beckhams regular go to place as well.

Tony's Pie & Mash is probably the furthest I have travelled for a pie mash.

The journey had to be made because the travel fares are going up by the end of this month.

I thought I was going to get away with the pay as you go because Waltham Cross is in zone 7 but it turns out the buses are not London buses so my bus journey cost as much as my meal there!!!

Overall, the trip for the pie mash was totally worth it because the minced beef in the pie was really good and flavourful in that really nice rich beefy sauce.

The liquor was just how I liked it because it is made with eel and it has a nice clarity with a leafy green colour.

Along with that, lashings and lashings of vinegar and white pepper are a must to make it heavenly.

While I was there, I met a guy who also likes to try every pie & mash shop in UK and its good to know that he likes Maureen's as much as I do.

I was actually blown away by this visit because I feel that if you like Maureens, you will also like Tony's so I think Beckham would like Maureen's as well if he got a chance to visit. 

The food is annoyingly good at Tony's so I am tempted to visit again!

The buses out of town are not that frequent so I was really lucky the bus driver let me get on after he just pulled off.

Video on youtube:

https://youtu.be/BzUJXNmBly0