fishbiscuits

It is of course sad when a hard working man is forced out of business, and he has my sympathy. But gentrification can also be an opportunity if you're willing to move with the times. Look at the costcutter on Bellenden Rd... there's a permanent queue in there. Too many people stick to their guns instead of embracing opportunity.

I know ppl who bought a house which sounds similar - i.e. a makeshift loft bedroom without structural steels inserted. To make it into a proper bedroom (which is recognised as such by building regs) meant ripping it out and starting again. So a 30-40K job. In the end they just left it as is, and use it as a play room and occasional guest room, with only very light furniture.

Flaming Mangal - no reason it shouldn't be busier, the food is fine and so is the price. I just think the bright and garish appearance puts some people off.

It is a bit embarrassing that all the iconic British motor manufacturers/brands (Mini, Land Rover, Jaguar, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Lotus) have all needed foreign ownership to make them viable. Not only have the new owners brought money, they've also brought know-how and improved the quality. Why couldn't we do it by ourselves?

Is it really that expensive? I think a shish with salad and rice is around a tenner from Flamin' Mangal (try saying that in your best "Alf Stewart" voice)

Seabag Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Nope, it's been consistently salty every time I've been there. Fair enough.. if it's not to your taste, it's not to your taste. Would be childish to argue the point. (although I am quite childish, so if I go there again and disagree with your assessment, I might come back to argue the point)

Lynne Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Why not extend the cafe (it's always full) to > cover the whole of the ground floor, use most of > the basement for a soft play area blah blah... moan moan... It's a family museum - always has been. There's much more there for kids than there is for adults. In fact, why bother going there without kids? Who's really interested in glass cabinets of flea-bitten taxidermy and old musical instruments?

Flamin Mangal is acceptable. Shish is a similar standard to Hizar I suppose. Only ever got takeaway though, the gaudy d?cor would put me off my food (I don't usually care about that kind of thing, but this place is something else). Don't really understand the criticism of FM Mangal. It's not quite the gourmet experience some make it out to be, but the food is good. But I guess these places can be inconsistent and have bad days..

Sue Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I also wonder how many people in East Dulwich > actually eat in these restaurants. They certainly > don't seem as full as they used to be, in fact > they usually look quite empty. My guess is that most of them survive from takeaway business. There's usually quite a long wait for delivery from Dulwich Tandoori, etc, presumably because they're busy. I do like eating in curry in the correct environment though.. the white tablecloths, the rotating chutney pots, the Dhalsim music, pints of Cobra, warming trays, the comedy dessert menu... it's tantamount to sacred ritual. DulwichFox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > done that when it was good. Now over priced > pretentious .. but I get that suits some people. Tell me, do you consider yourself a people person?

Good luck. I'm not a regular here, but fondly recall your fine work on the Sainsbury's avocado thread.

There's nothing wrong with the anglo style curry houses. In fact I love them. Yeah sometimes it's nice to have authentic/regional Indian food, but sometimes only a good old greasy meat madras, garlic naan, poppadoms with luminous chutney, and a couple of pints will hit the spot. It's proper comfort food - and cheap too. Saying that, I can't quite work out how so many restaurants along LL serving essentially the same menu have survived the bordering-on-aggressive gentrification over the last few years. You would have thought one or two of them would try to ride the wave (and I don't mean adding burgers to the menu, and serving silly little dishes of olives and hummus... what the hell was that crap?!) Babur is posh anglo curry. A while ago I was chatting with an Indian couple who considered that place to be an abomination, but I always enjoy it, which is all that really matters I suppose.

Beej Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Seriously cafe owners, do a spell in Oz then > come back and put some heart into your food please. Are you an Australian? (I hear there are still a handful of them left in London, post-recession... doubtless still grumbling about the food, and the weather, and pretty much everything else I imagine) But for the rest of us.. a caf? selling excellent bread and patisserie, and basic light lunches continues to be a welcome fixture of the neighbourhood.

Curmudgeon Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > And you can buy them in frozen and have them fresh > from your oven Or deep fry them http://fishfingersarnie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/cronut.html

Here's one idea for enjoying jaffa cakes in this wonderfully unseasonal weather: http://fishfingersarnie.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/retro-biscuit-ice-cream-jaffa-cake.html

Some cocktails for the beer drinker: http://fishfingersarnie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/beer-cocktails.html

Don't forget the egg-and-bacon sandwich. 2 slices of "eggy bread" Streaky bacon, basted with maple syrup Peanut butter Melted Cadburys Creme egg http://fishfingersarnie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/easter-eating-pt1-creme-egg-and-bacon.html

Panda pops for 12p a bottle. Never did me any harm.

Jacqui5254 : many thanks, but unfortunately I don't have much time to "cook" or update the blog these days! Hopefully I'll start again soon, albeit at a reduced frequency. Dopamine1979 : many Chinese takeaways tenderise meat with baking soda. It's an easy way of making very cheap meat edible. Personally I don't like it as the meat takes on a strange "already chewed" texture, but each to their own. You shouldn't need to do it with decent meat though, maybe you're cooking it too long? Bes : kofta burger sounds damn good.

Here's an alternative pancake day idea. A day late, I know. http://fishfingersarnie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/pancake-day-cripsy-duck.html

jacks09 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Please pass on the recipe for the above! There is no recipe as such... pastry is basic hot water crust. Apple pie filling is just sliced apples and sugar. Pork filling is chopped shoulder, sausagemeat and whatever seasoning you fancy. There are really endless possibilities for "pie within a pie" creations.

Seems like a good time to share one of my proudest moments... the pork and apple pie pie

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I actually tried one of those pizzas a while ago. The kebab pieces were kind of sausagey, and really tasteless. I eat some right old crap, but wouldn't really recommend that. http://fishfingersarnie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/weekend-in-iceland.html

ElmGrove - Cronuts from Ayres? Well I never! Next you'll be telling me that The Man Of Kent has Three Floyds beer on tap. Jamie33 - there's a local baking club called Band of Bakers. It's a good way to share your creations... even if they're a bit "lo-fi" like mine.

There is a way of trying a "cronut" for a lot less than $100... without even leaving East Dulwich... http://fishfingersarnie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/cronut.html