Still not bored of that ubiquitous London fad, streetfood? No, neither are we. Although nowadays we’re way more fussy about what and where (and how often) we eat it.
And a visit last Sunday lunchtime to KERB’s three-day festival on the Southbank rebooted our excitement for good quality vendors: highlights included tasty counter pintxos at the Donostia Social Club (those scallops!), cold beer from the Meantime stand, and tangy lobster rolls at Bob’s.
Best of all though? A must-try brioche sandwich from current darlings Bill or Beak: of just two options, “Beak” is crammed with juicy grilled chicken, an “old school 90s” (stay with us) anchovy dressing, and topped with garlic and rosemary croutons, capers and parmesan. Completely delicious: it has to be eaten to be believed. Meanwhile, “Bill” is a Vietnamese duck and pork combo.
And why are we banging on about all this? Because Bill or Beak are, in fact, regulars at Camden Town Brewery, and are clucking about there tonight. It’s easy to forget that the Brewery always source good grub providers: tomorrow sees Mother Flipper, who serve some of the juiciest-pinkest burgers around, while Howard’s Meat Co take over on Saturday, dishing up brisket, pulled pork and smoked sausage.
We should probably add here that KERB are also back at King’s Cross for a whole day extravaganza next Saturday, August 16. Expect 18 or so traders, with posh beer and wine, and even better, you can scoff it all on those astroturf grass steps leading down to the canal. And, if you work in N1c or thereabouts, they operate every lunchtime in Granary Square too.
But the big streetfood thing launching? Why, Camden Lock’s regular Thursday summer shindigs (and for five subsequent Thursdays). Surely the best way to see the atmospheric cobbled spaces sans tourists, day-trippers and weekenders, there’s all manner of superior world grub, the Backyard Cinema (showing films until 4th September), Brewdog beer, cocktails from El Jimador and Santa Teresa and a busy line-up of live music and DJs.
And finally, for a regular twice-weekly streetfood market in NW5, don’t overlook Queen’s Crescent. For more details on our favourite traders there – from Caribbean to Vietnamese and Indian – see last week’s guide here.
