Good news for those on, um, ‘Vebruary’: the sacrilegious faux-chicken joint Temple Of Hackney is now dishing up their devilishly good deep-fried fillets of seitan in an unexpected waterside spot between Camden and King’s Cross.
Having spent the last couple of years progressively busting at the seams in their Hackney-based take-out shop, the wheat-meat purveyors have just flung the doors open to their new restaurant proper.
It’s on Camley Street, and can be accessed on the stretch of canal just east of Royal College Street, a bit further down from the (ace) Constitution pub, as you head down towards KX and St Pancras. Perfect, as there’s not much down that way at the mo.
Seitan initially reared its head 50 years ago in Japan and is made entirely from gluten. Packing a mega-protein-punch it has a fairly stringy, chewy texture giving the veneer of meatiness – minus all the bloodshed.
The Temple team have struck gold with their fried seitan served in burgers, wraps and wings coated in BBQ sauce, with queues, more-often-than-not, trailing onto the pavement on Morning Lane.
The new (and licensed) kid on the block will be joining a prestigious squad of plant-based traders in the area, including Club Mexicana, Hawramam SpiceBox, Magic Falafel.
Get worshipping.
