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Dear reader, On a chilly evening, with none of our usual takeaway suspects catching our eye, my main squeeze and I stumbled upon Borough Market Kitchen... was it to be love at first scroll?
Here's what Express's strictly independent, unpaid, secretive, and extremely hard-to-please food reviewer Harry Smiles had to say about his take-out from Borough Market Kitchen at the Normandie Hotel.
I was delighted to see they not only listed allergens in the menu as it made my selection a breeze (seriously, more establishments should do so!), but also that they had a wide range of gluten-free options.
Whilst this would be enough to make a fan of me, the food was outstanding and the portions more than generous, providing leftovers for the following day.
We ordered a whole rack of baby back ribs, accompanied by BBQ Sauce, an Asian slaw salad, and chips – all gluten-free, and all utterly delicious.
The ribs were full of flavour, with the meat literally falling off the bone. I'm not exaggerating when I say they were probably some of the best ribs I've ever had. The menu was also not exaggerating when it stated whole rack because there was more than enough for two!
While we initially balked at the £19.95 price mark, it was justified by the size and quality – this could have been a whole meal itself.
Oblivious to the size of the rack, I had also ordered a burrito bowl. The box it came in was full to the brim and perfectly layered, meaning I could mix up and scoop out the different elements to my liking.
Pictured: "The box was full to the brim and perfectly layered."
Each bite was deliciously aromatic, with the rice and beans cooked impeccably, blending perfectly with tender chicken with a wonderful smoky accent. Packing a decent kick, without being overwhelming, it was a perfect winter warmer.
Ribs and burrito bowl down, I was more than satiated, making the homemade Coconut Rice Pudding I had ordered redundant (note to self: do not order rice for main and dessert).
Whilst I had to leave it for the following day, it was still an utter delight. The rice was perfect and the “sauce of custard, coconut, cream and spices” was as luxurious as promised.
Pictured: "Note to self: do not order rice for main and dessert."
So velvety and flavourful was this dish that other rice puddings will now pale in comparison. And, again, the large serving provided enough portions for two different meals, prolonging the delight even further.
It's not often your order is delivered right on time but it's even rarer to get a call when it is delayed. We therefore hugely appreciated getting a heads up from the team about it. In the end, it only arrived after 30 minutes so there were no issues whatsoever, but we valued the advance notice.
All in all, a stellar meal from start to finish. I highly recommend you give Borough Market Kitchen a try and pig out!
This article first appeared in the December/January edition of Connect magazine which you can read in full below.
