For three days only, The Blues Kitchen’s Shoreditch outpost is hosting Brooklyn restaurant Extra Fancy for a one-off collaboration and friendly “surf vs turf” competition.
Last night (Monday 30 January) was the first of three nights of Surf & Turf Wars pitting Texas-style BBQ dishes from Blues Kitchen against New England inspired seafood dishes from Extra Fancy.
I stuffed my face at a media tasting last night with equal parts sea and land based offerings and reckon the competition was a draw.
Highlights were the Deviled Eggs (with smoked trout roe, celery leaf salad, dill, and chives, £8); Smoked Goat Tacos (with pickled radish and curry sour cream, £8); and Burnt End Sliders (with sticky beer onions, £9). My fave from the night was the Salt & Pepper Shrimp (with chili, lime, garlic and peanuts, £9).
Ordering two or three dishes per person was the recommendation from staff. My supper buddy and I both found (after initially ordering five between us) that three each was the more satisfying option.
Insane Dessert of the Year Award goes to The Blues Kitchen for its Oreo Doughnuts (with salted caramel dip, £6.50) – way better than it might sound but just as guilt-laden as you might imagine.
A special cocktails menu for the collaboration runs alongside the food. I tried (and loved) two drinks: Let the Good Times ‘Rol (George Dickel No 1 white whiskey, Aperol, lemon, sugar, egg white, and orange bitters) and One More That’s It (Knob Creek, Havana Club 7, Amaro Nonino, and Bob’s Chocolate Bitters). Both cost £9.50.
Service was fast, super friendly and efficient.
Surf & Turf Wars is on (!) through 1 February only at The Blue Kitchen Shoreditch.
The Blues Kitchen Shoreditch is located at 134-146 Curtain Road, EC2A 3AR (there are Blues Kitchen outlets in Camden and Brixton as well). Find out more at theblueskitchen.com.
For more about Extra Fancy go to extrafancybklyn.com.
