Cannoli at Arancina, Notting Hill

Arancina is family run Italian that has aspirations to be a big franchise, and they've already begun to expand with their concept of fresh Italian food on the move.  They sell a host of snacks such as the Arancina that they're named after, a rice ball filled with ragu and an assortment of pizzas by the slice and confectionaries.

Having been overdosing on the Sopranos recently I felt an urge to pop into Arancine for some Cannoli.  Their Cannoli are really rich, and really big.  The photos don't do them justice, one is almost a meal on it's own.  Cannoli should be bannned, they're dance with death, they hurt so good.  You know once you have ingested that the ever looming heart-attack will be hard and fast.  Recommended.

TRIVIA:  They named a Sandwich here after my friend Dr. Simon Godley, the infamous Dentist-Comedian, ask for 'Doc Simon's Sandwich'.

Cannoli, £1.50 Each

Arancina

19 Pembridge Road, Notting Hill W11 3HG

Gastro, 67 Venn Street, Clapham, SW4 0BD

Andouillette (aka Colon Sausage) & Frites

Why is it that we pay such steep prices for the honest food of the poor?

At £15.40 including service, this dish is not cheap.  Especially when you consider that it's made from Pig Colon, surely this by-product of butchery is just that, a by-product that was cheap and affordable for the poor.  Either way it was tasty, but be warned it's not for everyone.  I've heard some people describe the odour of the sausage as something akin to a mens urinal at Victoria Terminus in Bombay.  

I must say I've always liked it, the sausage, not the smell.  It's an interesting sight when you sever the crispy skin with a knife to see the slippery bits of shriveled colon spill out.  The combination of the crispy skin, the salty soft colon stuffing and a frite done good with mustard sauce is gluttonous beauty.  The food at Gastro can generally be hit and miss, but they do their fries perfectly like only the french can.  Try  going there for breakfast and get the Croque Madame which is quite cheap.

A great meal, but vastly overpriced.

£15.40 

Curse of the Francesinha

Melvin seems to have had a change of heart today...

He has been unhealthily lusting after another Francesinha.  I think he should eat a salad and call it a day.

(According to wikipedia there are many variations on this cholesterol love-fest.  Even one that is cooked in a wood-fired oven, have a look)

-Rajesh

O Cantinho de Portugal, 135-137 Stockwell Road, London, SW9 9TN

A Portuguese friend brought this very curious sandwich to our attention, the 'Francesinha'.   The Francesinha is not for the feint hearted.  Beware, this  is not the sandwich of your lunch-break. 

The Francesinha consists of: A minute steak, ham, portuguese sausage and frankfurter between a fluffy portuguese roll covered in melted cheese.  All this is served up to you basking in a rich sauce that has been stewed for four hours and that includes (allegedly): beer, wine, whiskey and port.

The first thing that hits you when it is brought to your table is the overwhelming size (with chips on the side).   The smokey saltiness of the four meats combined with the twang of the sauce makes for a very interesting first bite.   The cheese fuses nicely with the sauce, the whole experience is very rich.  Melvin thought it was good but wasn't crazy about it, he feels there is a lot of potential in this dish and wants to investigate it in it's natural habitat of Porto one day.  Rajesh on the other hand liked it very much, however feels he may be slightly intoxicated off the sauce.

Overall a heavy assault on your gut, but a good one nonetheless.  We recommend ordering one and sharing between two.  A cheap eat at £6.50.