This photo-heavy post comes with an advance warning: CONTAINS MEAT. Lots of it.
This weekend started with consecutive trips to two of the meatiest joints in East London; giving me a chance to tick two big TO-DO's off my list!
Thursday started with HOTBOX. When this place opened up a few hundred yards from my office no-one had any idea about what it was or what delights it held inside. A few months later and it's all over Time Out and hosts bloggers, foodies and general meat lovers every night of the week. Finally my work family and I got ourselves down the street for a feast.
The menu is simple and fuss-free, and we were warmly advised by our waitress that they could make any cocktail we liked...so we took them up on that!
Tom Collins', Stone Collins', and Summer Punches started proceedings in the warmly lit, wood-based interior.
As a group of meat-eating hungry girls we managed to order pretty much everything on the menu between us, which meant maximum indulgence from all sides.
Talking of sides....no meal seems complete without a smoked mac and cheese these days...and when it looks and tastes like this one, I'm not complaining.
First up is the beautiful Dirty Swine Sandwich...(pulled pork, of course)
Let's get a close up....
With a vaguely healthy side of Beets and Roquefort, just to make us feel better for eating everything in sight.
Next up...the Chipotle Beef Rob tacos...unfortunately not the best thing on the menu. You can afford to miss these.
This...on the other hand...
The smoked selection is a real treat for a true meat eater (and if, like me, you can't choose what to have, have it all!).
The stars of the show though, were the pork ribs. In a sweet, sticky barbecue sauce these ribs melt in the mouth and are truly value for money. I couldn't even finish every one!
But we didn't stop there. With sweet potato fries on the menu, and Ham Hock Pinto beans we just couldn't say no to a few extras just to fill us up.
/\ these are amazing - definitely going to try and DIY these
Full to the brim I was ready to lie down in a darkened room and repent for my gluttonous nature but before the sweats could set in the dessert menu appeared and with it, the irresistible desire to try deep fried Oreos (yes you heard correctly).
If you haven't had these before I urge you to try them. Don't think of your arteries, just give in to the delight. They're softer than you think and with the chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream they are definitely worth the potential heart attack! We shared two portions between 8 - more than enough after everything else!!
After an uncomfortable nights' sleep from all that over-eating it was over to MEATmission in Hoxton with the boys to really test my body's ability to consume.
We failed miserably to organise the table properly. Top tip: you can put your name on the list then go away and come back again - we didn't know this so could have eaten about an hour earlier than we did. Once we were in the place is rammed. There are booths around the edge but good luck getting into one of those. Most likely you'll be shoved between two other equally hungry groups on long benches in the middle of the room - just go with it...make friends.
It's set in an old church and they've tried to tie in that theme throughout, from the pew-like seating to the menus.
What to expect at MEATmission? Spice, grease and typical American-diner style eating. It's mainly burgers all round, and they get served on a tray with very little pomp or ceremony.
We didn't miss the sides here either...they came in the form of deep fried pickles, chilli cheese fries and the stars of tonight's show: Monkey Fingers (deep fried chicken strips in a hot pepper sauce).
Washed down with a flagon of ale.
These guys were certainly sold!
I went for the dirty chicken cheeseburger - which was very dirty, but delicious. Warning: you are likely to get very messy eating here.
My two nights were very different, if combined in holy meat matrimony.
HOTBOX is definitely a more sophisticated night out, and you pay for this. Pros: you can book, the ribs are phenomenal, relaxed atmosphere, you aren't shoved together with your neighbours, the service is better, deep-fried Oreos.
MEATmission is the perfect boys night. Pros: cheap, quick and a high-energy atmosphere, Monkey Fingers.
Try both and see which you prefer! Now excuse me while I go and nibble on some lettuce.