Week Thirty Three
Another short read for you guys this week you'll be pleased to know, as I only visited one place this week. Clapham was the destination and it was four of us going for a spot of dinner at a recommended place on St. John's Hill near Clapham Junction train station.
Other events which went on this week was SW4, which was fantastic, and my first appearance at the Notting Hill Carnival. Don't think you can write a review on the carnival due to it being an event rather than a place. Same goes for SW4. That's my opinion anyway.
Special guests include: Tom Grimes, Marion Kutter, Chloe Smith and Laura Cramphorn.
Summary of Powder Keg
Name: Powder Keg Diplomacy
Type: Restaurant and cocktail bar
Location: 147 St. John's Hill, Clapham Junction, London, SW11 1TQ
Website: http://www.powderkegdiplomacy.co.uk
Date Visited: 22/08/14
Price: Not Cheap
Rating: 4/5
Review
The week had quickly passed and before I knew it was Friday. Tom Grimes was in London visiting so we went for dinner in Clapham with two old friends, Chloe and Marion. Chloe, who fancies herself as a bit of foodie, highly recommended the Powder Keg as being one of the best places to eat around the Clapham parts. A big claim I initially thought, especially with the name Powder Keg which sounded more like a brewery or a pub which only served ale.
I was wrong. This place was pretty trendy with it being split into two different areas. The area at the front is a cool and funky cocktail bar sort of thing. At the back of this place is a lovely sit down dining area or a restaurant as people like to call it, this was where we were spending our evening.
See from the outside it looks pretty pedestrian
But actually its pretty smart inside
Powder Keg really backs itself as a big dog restaurant, heres a little snippet from the website: 'Head Chef Thomas Cooney and Restaurant Manager Katie Parfitt have scoured centuries of gastronomy knowledge, endeavouring to create a unique, wholesome and thoroughly satisfying experience for the modern, discerning and ethically conscious customer.' Steady on guys.....there's a lot of adjectives in that long sentence. Despite this centuries old menu, we decided to stick with the classic starter....bread and olive oil but importantly not forgetting the medieval balsamic vinegar.
For mains we all went for four different things to mix things up (crazy bunch you lot are!) and due to the lack of burgers on the menu I was forced to try something new. With Tom taking my desired choice of the slow cooked pork belly, I went for the Romney Marsh lamb rump with jersey royals, braised pea, and baby gem. The waiter, who was very good, funny and efficient, asked me and Tom which wine we would like to order. Not wishing to look like we didn't know what we were talking about, I took charge. I went for the wine third from the top (the order started with the cheapest at the top) and ordered it in a slight french accent to show I knew my stuff.
Unfortunately when the waiter brought the bottle over I had to perform the old tradtional wine tasting routine. It smelt like wine, it swirled around the glass like wine and it tasted like wine. 'Hmmm, very good, thats superb' was how I conveyed that to the waiter and then he left us the two bottles for us to crack on with.
Four old friends having dinner
Fair play to Chloe with the recommendation, the food was superb with all four us being extremely satisfied with our dishes. I must say, that when a place which operates mainly as a cocktail bar in Clapham, bigs up it's food as it does on their website, it has to pretty damn good. It was pretty damn good so fair play Cooney and Parfitt, you've nailed it. We didn't have any cocktails, which in hindsight we should of done, but we did do four shots of Tequila (waheyyy....you never stop do you Jack!?)
The bill came to £45 a head, which included two bottles of wine between 4, a main course and 4 shots (mentioning it again) of Tequila. Not bad value really and it has to be the best food I have had in the Clapham vicinity for some time, if not ever. That said Pizza Metro is around the corner and I do love that place.
Definitely worth coming here if you haven't before and as due to it being further up the hill and past Clapham Junction train station, it seems relatively unknown and undiscovered. Give it a whirl as it's well priced, nice decor, a good atmosphere, perfect lighting, exceptional food and magnificent service. See we can all through in an exceptional adjective when we want to.
Special Shoutout
Winner: Laura Cramphorn
Winner: Laura Cramphorn
Now this special shout out is long overdue and I have been feeling guilty about how long its taken for me to give this person the deserved recognition. One of my most dedicated readers and she heads the international fan membership of the blog. She has been responsible for the regular hits I have received in countries such as Sierra Leone and more recently Kenya. In all seriousness, Laura has worked abroad for the past few years and despite limited internet activity (not entirely sure if that's true) she ensures that she reads it every single week. Your support is and will always be much appreciated. Keep spreading the blog, I hear it's now getting big in Kenya? Many thanks Laura and sorry for the delay.
Poem Advice
Want A nice restaurant in Clapham
While having cocktails too?
Then you must go to the Powder Keg,
because that's the place for you
Guys thanks for tuning in again and keeping the hits high. As I've said before if there's anywhere you can recommend or feel I 'must' go to, then please do let me know. For all media enquiries please contact my agent at jackgravestock@hotmail.com.
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