It hasn't escaped me that in the 5 days since Meathead Eats has risen from the ashes, I actually haven't yet written about food. I've been so caught up in this fast that I'm on, I've purposely ignored the food world because it was all too painful to think about.
And yet, think about it is all I can do. Honest to god, my own mind is taunting me with an endless stream of food related memories, like an imaginary oasis in a desert of my own creation., I can almost taste the dishes, but fall short, face first into the dry and dusty reality. Did I take that desert analogy far enough? Okay then, lets move on.
Instead of ignoring these urges, I'm going to share them with you, faithful readers, as that's ultimately what I'm here to do, is share any and all bad ass food I find so that you can go try it too. I will spend thesenext last 5 days of fasting by highlighting my greatest temptations of the day and the things I will be eating as a priority once the fast is over. And, let me tell you, when it is over, I am going to tear through town like Godzilla with a rabid case of the munchies - hitting up all the food I've loved before with a renewed sense of passion.
Not all at once, because that would mean this fast was for nothing and that would be dumb. But, when I do go, I'm going to savour every bite and think what it would be like if I couldn't eat it again. Come to think of it, maybe that sense of appreciation for the food we have - not a universal luxury - is an under-valued benefit of fasting.
So now, on to the grub!
Today, my minds eye was stuck on these things I stumbled upon by pure chance the other day in Brighton, in a place called "Wheat & Beans". I just popped in needing a quick bite without a clue as to what kind of food they sold. The first thing I saw was something in their window called "Santiago Cake" and, friends, if that isn't the gentle nudge of destiny, I don't know what is.
Once in, I heard the familiar tongue of my family (Spanish) from behind the counter and on the counter I saw....drum roll please... Empanadas!!! That was worth all 3 exclamation points because empanadas are just something I didn't think I'd find in the UK. Though, having said that they are - for my non-hispanic readers - very close to Cornish pasties.
(In fact, there is a very real link between the Cornish pasty and the empanada, in that British miners who worked in mines in Mexico brought pasties with them, their hard rind perfect for miners because they can hold them with their coal dust covered hands and then throw away the rind without poisoning themselves. This mixed with local grub and each influenced each other)
THESE empanadas, however, seemed different than any I'd seen before. The shells (?) had these sweet, soft lustre to them:
The aroma coming off of these things was incredible. For fillings, I had the choice of shredded pork, mozzarella and a 3rd one which I forget. They were a good size, but I took 2 anyway, greedy pig that I am.
Had I known right then and there what they were going to taste like, I would have ordered 10.
These things just hit all the right buttons. The pork empanada was served with a wedge of lime which gave the pork a perfect tang and both were complimented by this sumptuously soft, buttery and perfectly chewy bread encasing.
And the mozzarella one. Oh, dudes..The mozzarella one was so good I wanted to regurgitate it and eat it again. It was like a calzone, but super soft and just pitch perfect in the balance of texture between cheese and sauce and bread.
It was some seriously top notch grub. If I could improve it all - and this is not a critique but just a suggestion - I'd have served it with a marinara dipping sauce to dunk it in. But maybe that's just me. I'm a dip dunking kinda guy.
They had other stuff there, including some pretty awesome looking pizza that is on the hit list for my next trip there
If you're in that area of Brighton (St James Street), I'd suggest a visit - let me know if you do go and what ya think of it. Oh, and if you tell them that Meathead sent you, they'll look at you like you're fucking nuts, so don't.
See ya tomorrow.
Peace!
Meathead.
And yet, think about it is all I can do. Honest to god, my own mind is taunting me with an endless stream of food related memories, like an imaginary oasis in a desert of my own creation., I can almost taste the dishes, but fall short, face first into the dry and dusty reality. Did I take that desert analogy far enough? Okay then, lets move on.
Instead of ignoring these urges, I'm going to share them with you, faithful readers, as that's ultimately what I'm here to do, is share any and all bad ass food I find so that you can go try it too. I will spend these
Not all at once, because that would mean this fast was for nothing and that would be dumb. But, when I do go, I'm going to savour every bite and think what it would be like if I couldn't eat it again. Come to think of it, maybe that sense of appreciation for the food we have - not a universal luxury - is an under-valued benefit of fasting.
So now, on to the grub!
Today, my minds eye was stuck on these things I stumbled upon by pure chance the other day in Brighton, in a place called "Wheat & Beans". I just popped in needing a quick bite without a clue as to what kind of food they sold. The first thing I saw was something in their window called "Santiago Cake" and, friends, if that isn't the gentle nudge of destiny, I don't know what is.
Once in, I heard the familiar tongue of my family (Spanish) from behind the counter and on the counter I saw....drum roll please... Empanadas!!! That was worth all 3 exclamation points because empanadas are just something I didn't think I'd find in the UK. Though, having said that they are - for my non-hispanic readers - very close to Cornish pasties.
(In fact, there is a very real link between the Cornish pasty and the empanada, in that British miners who worked in mines in Mexico brought pasties with them, their hard rind perfect for miners because they can hold them with their coal dust covered hands and then throw away the rind without poisoning themselves. This mixed with local grub and each influenced each other)
THESE empanadas, however, seemed different than any I'd seen before. The shells (?) had these sweet, soft lustre to them:
The aroma coming off of these things was incredible. For fillings, I had the choice of shredded pork, mozzarella and a 3rd one which I forget. They were a good size, but I took 2 anyway, greedy pig that I am.
Had I known right then and there what they were going to taste like, I would have ordered 10.
These things just hit all the right buttons. The pork empanada was served with a wedge of lime which gave the pork a perfect tang and both were complimented by this sumptuously soft, buttery and perfectly chewy bread encasing.
And the mozzarella one. Oh, dudes..The mozzarella one was so good I wanted to regurgitate it and eat it again. It was like a calzone, but super soft and just pitch perfect in the balance of texture between cheese and sauce and bread.
It was some seriously top notch grub. If I could improve it all - and this is not a critique but just a suggestion - I'd have served it with a marinara dipping sauce to dunk it in. But maybe that's just me. I'm a dip dunking kinda guy.
They had other stuff there, including some pretty awesome looking pizza that is on the hit list for my next trip there
If you're in that area of Brighton (St James Street), I'd suggest a visit - let me know if you do go and what ya think of it. Oh, and if you tell them that Meathead sent you, they'll look at you like you're fucking nuts, so don't.
See ya tomorrow.
Peace!
Meathead.
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