Monday, July 23, 2012

NINE: Pier 9

She says...

"Why are you going to Hastings?"
"For a pirate convention"
"No, seriously why are you going to Hastings?"
"To visit a restaurant with '9' in the title"
"Honestly now, stop joshing, why are you going to Hastings?"

Yeah, talk about unlikely. What was even more unlikely was that we'd manage to choose the first magnificently clear and sunny day after many long tortuous days of torrential rain. Go us.

The two hours on the slow train from Victoria was a bit tiresome, but there was much to welcome us at the other end. Thousands of people in fancy dress waving skull and crossbone flags, faces painted. Bands who'd re-branded themselves  (I hope) for the event (The Sex Pirates, The Peerless Pirates) playing in the historical square and on the beach. And not least our friends, Anthony & Lucy, who we'd convinced to join us with their 2 children. Our very jolly party enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the seafront to the restaurant for a late Sunday lunch.

Within a beautifully renovated townhouse overlooking the sea, Pier 9 is part of the Zanzibar Hotel. A smart looking building sandwiched between slightly more shabby exteriors.

We were shown to the back by friendly staff, past a shiny white grand piano (an attempt to bring Essex glamour into sleepy Sussex?), to a cool and relaxing semi-private room looking out onto their tiered terrace. The menu looked great and reasonably priced at 2 courses for £18, three for £24. Our guests were suitably impressed, us relieved.

Starters of potted shrimp and deep-fried seafood (or fritto misto di mare, if you will) went down a treat, whilst my beef carpaccio was the only disappointment all meal. All the ingredients were fresh and individually tasty, but the tarragon mousse and bitter rocket salad totally over-powered the delicate beef. However, my main of  breaded plaice was lightly dusted, expertly cooked and accompanied by a perfectly judged muddle of potato, crab and capers. Matt's lamb and Lucy's pork and chorizo also recieved praise, but Anthony's special - seared tuna with wasabi mash earned a 'sensational'. Well jel.

They also scored major blog points for offering to 'cook anything for the kids'... and the tomato and cheesey spaghetti was, I think, thoroughly enjoyed...




There was a wedding reception booked in from 6pm, which we had been warned about, so we were slightly rushed towards the bill, but through not fault of the restaurant. We would have happily had desserts and more wine though! Nothing like being left wanting more. A really lovely experience, which surely could only be topped by the red arrows doing a fly by for us... oh.

Restaurant #9: 9.5/10

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Retrospectively - Peir 1 in Camden

She says...

Saw this on my travels to see a band at the once trendy Barfly in Camden...

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Yo ho ho...

He says...


The train tickets are booked - we're heading to Hastings this Sunday. And what a day to choose, for it will be Hastings Pirate Day! In which the city will attempt to reclaim its crown of hosting largest gathering of pirates! The Red Arrows will even be performing a fly past!


Apparently 4,500 people turned out for last year's event. Now this is something I'm genuinely quite excited about.


Time to go home and write our farewell letters to our families...

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Rod Stewart's sweaty face

He says...


Spotted this - 34 in Mayfair, part of the Caprice group... slightly off-putting that we might have to suffer the presence of an oleaginous Rod Stewart salivating over one of his blonde bints. But still, by the time 34 comes around (roughly August 2014), I'd like to think I'll have a job that allows me to happily splash £160 on a single portion of caviar.


Meanwhile, I lunched at sexy Orient Express-vibed Bob Bob Ricard today and while I had a rather nice borscht, the evening menu looks much more exciting...


Meanwhile meanwhile, we've decided Hastings' Pier Nine is the place - maybe next weekend, maybe the weekend after. Could be a good excuse for a boozy Sunday lunch then a leisurely walk along the seafront in the POURING RAIN...

Sunday, July 08, 2012

More nine options...

He says...

Yes yes Kat, Pier 9 looks alright, BUT. WHAT. ABOUT. Thai 9 in Reading. Not a city I would normally go anywhere near since I stopped the annual visits to Reading Festival, the last time of which was 2010 when the over-rated Arcade Fire irritated me enough to be permanently put off the festival.

By the way, I have recently discovered that our stats on this blog go up when we include names of Google-able famous people, Lady Gaga.

But anyway Thai 9 does serve both thai and sushi, which I like both of... Both of which I like. And its decor is reminiscent of the Match of the Day studio... hopefully Gary Linekar won't walk past our table leering suggestively and rubbing his crotch, putting us off our mussel omelette.

Bond No 9 in Edinburgh is a 'stylish and exciting' (like zorbing in a dinner jacket) lounge bar at The Shore, whatever that is. Probably near the sea or some other water. Looks on the cheesy side. It's 'food menu', as opposed to its 'brunch menu' (??) includes confit duck and shiitake mushroom risotto, among the usual fish and chips bollocks. Nah.

And there are also a number of Chinese restaurants up and down the country called Nine Dragons, all of which look utter shit.

And my only other find is Nine in London Bridge, which does have 'big name DJs' like Tony Haze and Kos Evans, but it doesn't do food. Not even a Cos lettuce.

It's decision time!


Friday, July 06, 2012

Nine by the seaside... a trip to Hastings?

 
She says....

Despite the blinding nautical brightness of the interior, I'm definitely liking the idea of  a trip to Pier 9 in Hastings. It's supposed to be a lovely historical seaside town so, if this interminal rain will just stop, a weekend jaunt to the beach would be a real treat, a proper day out.


Although that would mean breaking our newly formed rule of going to the restaurant on the same date in the month as the number in the title. 9th July is a Monday. Not ideal for making a day of it.... unless........... we skive.. shhhhhhhhh....

Spotted... 28-50

He says...

28-50, a 'wine workshop and kitchen', in Blackfriars. I want to go here when we get to 28 (preferably not 50) - the food looks deeply sexual...