sunday
afternoon found o and i at a gastro-pub in islington. the plan was for us to
sit and read…o for leisure and me for this consultancy that is biting into my
weekend relaxation time. a comfortable leather sofa bearing distress lines
occasioned by frequent usage instantly invited us to it. the
angelic isn't a classic pub. to start with it is bright and airy with high
ceilings and substantial windows. the furniture is light rather than a dark
wood and the menu is a mélange of classic pub fare and creative tapas and
entrees.
our order was preceded by a bread board – three slices
of thick brown bread studded with olives and poppy seeds and a small bowl with
olive oil with a centre of balsamic. o ordered the soup of the day – a heavy
creamy broccoli soup that came served in a big bowl with a flourish of olive
oil and a well dressed salad made up of baby spinach, quails eggs
with slightly quivery yolks and flakes of a firm white fish (i cannot recall
the name).
i had mackerel fish cakes which were far from
conventional and very good. the fish cake was a combination of mackerel, some
butternut squash and mashed egg encased in a crisp skin of bread crumbs. it was
fired to a golden brown crispness and arrived on a bed of seasoned boiled
vegetables. the broccoli was fresh spring green and retained its shape showing
that it had been thoughtfully boiled. there were carrots cut on a slant and
some boiled radishes – a very welcome change from potatoes. to add a tangy
sweet flavor there was beetroot relish that left wonderful deep pink-red
streaks on the white ceramic plate. a squiggle of horseradish cause ran along
one side of the plate. combined together, the flavors were excellent.
after a while a refreshing kiwi daiquiri appeared
which turned out to be a surprise order for me. i couldn't resist stealing
bites of o's steamed pudding with orange sauce. elsewhere around the pub people
were tucking into sunday roasts that looked as tempting as they smelled. i take
we will have to return to sample the sunday menu, perhaps on a day when i can
just relax and not work.
