Ardleigh and Dragon – Thai Cuisine in your Local Pub

Ardleigh and Dragon in Hornchurch, Romford is one of those restaurants you have to either know about, be told about, or stumble across to really appreciate the beauty and fresh flavours inspired by Thailand. Housed in a former pub that wasn’t really the type of venue that attracted savoury types, Orchid Pubs and Dining took over the site over seven years ago and have done a sterling job of making it a fine pub and restaurant to visit.

What’s that you say? It’s a pub and a restaurant? Yes, that’s right. When you arrive, that’s made clear from the start, with “English pub” one one side of the building and “Thai Dining” on the other. Make no mistake that the Ardleigh & Dragon intends to give its customers an authentic Thai dining experience in an English pub, with an Oriental theme throughout.

To think I grew up less than five miles away from Ardleigh and Dragon and never visited is shocking. Why did I not know about this beauty?

What FoodieClaire Did at Christmas | Lunch Treats at Bam-Bou, Tramshed and Opera Tavern restaurant, London

Such is the nature of my job, now that I am client side working in marketing, I now get taken out all the time. Of course, I’m not complaining. Not at all.

Christmas is a time most are stuffed with food without even trying. Here are some of the fantastic places my lovely suppliers took me too with gratuitous pics to match.

Restaurant Review | Busaba Eathai (Soft Launch) | Old Street, London

I was ecstatic when the latest branch of Busaba Eathai opened in Old St, London last month. Being that my office is a stones throw away from this new venture, I was very fortunate to secure an invite to the soft launch.
Shoreditch usually grits its teeth at chains opening in an area which is largely populated by “indies” however it seems by the creative launch I attended the day before it’s official opening, that this one is welcomed with opening arms.

There is something quite cult like about Busaba and its clean fresh wooden interior. They did a very good job of gutting out what used to be Shish (no kebab smells apparent) and the food is fab as per usual. There are (to my knowledge) no other competitors of this standard in the area. Yelo in the square is still a favourite for quick bites. Miso (in my opinion) is awful. Busaba is definitely one for the lunchtime treats – even casual business lunches. I have now visited every branch of Busaba – Bird St being my previous favourite. This one is 30 seconds away from where I work – happy 🙂

Stylist Magazine Recipe; Chicken and Coconut Laksa. No No…

There will always be recipes you cook and instinctively know you will never cook them again. I today cooked one of those.

A few weeks ago I tore out a Chicken and coconut Laksa recipe from Stylist Magazine as I thought it looked rather tasty. With ingredients in hand, I set about making it this evening.

Following the instructions, I prepped everything I needed to. Chilli chopped, garlic crushed, chicken stripped, spring onion chopped.