017_021_LS638_food__food 19/07/2013 14:10 Page 4
ANDREW KAY’S FOOD & DRINK
The Chilli Pickle Canteen I was really pleased to find out I was going to be having a takeaway at home for this review, as takeaways are such a surprise. Today’s treat was an Indian takeaway, which is good for me because I like some spicy food and my dad cooks lots of Indian food (there are lots of choices for non-spicy too.) It had to be ordered from the website, which is really easy and clear with pictures (and a funny cartoon). I saw the little car arrive – I was looking out the window as I was really hungry – it was white with The Chilli Pickle Canteen written on it. Mum said we could eat outside as it was such a beautiful day. My first impression was what lovely, colourful, interesting boxes with lots and lots of little tubs and bags inside like a treasure chest! We had a paneer (Indian cheese) Grand Thali, Chicken Railway Tray, Kallikut Biryani (Mum told me all those names as they are not familiar). It was a feast, the thali and tray had pickles and breads and these wonderful colourful rice crackers which I loved, lots of things to dip in, some sweet, some spicy, my favourites were mango pickle, cabbage thoran and the yoghurt ones. Such interesting tastes and so colourful, great for sharing with your family. The Paneer cheese was very tasty; I didn’t believe the sauce was made of spinach until Mum showed me on the website. There was so much food I had to leave it for Dad and my big brother to have later. For pudding I had banana honeycomb ice-cream, it was very yummy but I had to share it with my mum as it was a big tub. I really enjoyed my meal and when Mum said it was about £40 worth of food, we both agreed it was good value as it fed four of us. I’ve never been to The Chilli Pickle restaurant, well not yet! But I love their takeaway, it was excellent and I’ve asked Mum if we can have it again soon! Katja Kettles (Age 7) www.thechillipicklecanteen.com
Bardsley’s
We went to Bardsley’s fish and chip shop for lunch and it is very traditional. Roy Brown, who runs the restaurant, greeted us and was very friendly. He showed us a fish book so I could see what the fish looked like before they were cooked. We tried lots of different fish, some of it fried in lovely, crispy batter, some of it grilled and some poached. We tried Haddock, Skate Wing with capers on it, Huss and Salmon fillet with some side dishes, including mushy peas, which I was surprised to find I liked. We also had a nice salad and chips, which Mum said were very good. I don’t really eat chips. My favourite fish was Plaice cooked in batter, which was a sweet, white fish. You can also have gluten-free batter for people allergic to flour. The main courses are good value at around £7 to £12 and the specials menu includes tasty things like Moules and Mackerel. They didn’t have any Mackerel that day and Roy said that they can only get the fish on the days when the fishermen can catch them. The ice cream menu was interesting and made in East Sussex. I chose the honeycomb and Mum chose the blood orange sorbet. Both were a good price at under £2.50 and really good quality. The service was nice and quick, and I would recommend this as a really good place to have lunch or to get a takeaway. Rhiannon Price (Age 9) Bardsley’s, 22-23a Baker Street, Brighton, BN1 4JN, 01273 681256, www.bardsleys-fishandchips.co.uk
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Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel The entrance to the hotel was really posh with sparkly glass chandeliers and porters taking people’s cases to their rooms. The restaurant was busy and we had the best table “very reserved” for us. It was a curved booth overlooking the sea and it had very bouncy seats. Our waitress was called Izzy and she was really friendly and helpful. She brought out our drinks and food really fast and was very funny. There was a really good selection on the kids’ menu it was a tough choice, between the burger, chicken nuggets and the Thai curry. In the end the curry won me over it was scrumdiddlyumptious. Daddy had the chicken and chorizo salad which was healthy and delicious. For dessert I chose the hot chocolate pudding which had a rich chocolate sponge and sauce and a sour raspberry sauce which was in a wavy pattern on top. Dad had the pecan pie with clotted cream ice cream which I thought was fantastico. You should go to this restaurant because the service is speedy and the food is splendid. All the tables are great but if you can reserve a booth it would be the best. The restaurant is perfect for a birthday treat or other special occasion. I hope to go back soon with the rest of my family. Izzy Blood (Age 7) Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel, Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2FU, 01273 775432
Terre à Terre
Terre à Terre makes a striking impression. The front of the restaurant has a charming antique feel, lavish with wooden panels and ornate décor. While the back maintains the theme with a highly polished wooden floor, the walls are painted a deep purple which creates a more playful vibe. The large French doors, leading out to a small patio area, help the interior to feel open and airy. The service at Terre à Terre is excellent, with polite and attentive staff that seem almost omnipresent in their ability to keep a glass topped up. The food served is refreshingly innovative, and I was really surprised by their ability to take ingredients I would usually avoid and produce a culinary masterpiece. The three-course meal I was served was remarkably satisfying, reaching a rare equilibrium between quality and quantity. The generous portions sizes were a pleasant surprise when considering the precise attention to detail applied to every aspect of the food. An even more pleasant surprise was the relative affordability of such a prestigious establishment, £25 for a satisfying and flavoursome threecourse meal seems a small price to pay. The meal I chose consisted of a warming sweet potato soup, an intriguing rosti re-imagining for main and a refreshing helping of ice cream served with fresh summer fruit and biscotti. All three courses benefited from elegant presentation and were cooked to perfection. Overall, Terre à Terre is an incredibly enjoyable dining experience. The gentle hum of conversation emitted by the eclectic group of diners it attracts creates the perfect atmosphere to enjoy a wide variety of exquisite vegetarian cuisine. Felix Leif (Age 16) Terre à Terre, 71 East Street, Brighton, BN1 1HQ, 01273 729051 www.terreaterre.co.uk