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27.03.12 - London 2012 guide to London

Coming to London for the Olympic games this summer? Fantastic. We can’t wait to see you.

But when you’re not sampling great British food, such as fish and chips, Lancashire hotpot or Roast beef, in one of our (soon to be) five branches in Spitalfields, Baker Street, Canary Wharf, Royal Festival Hall or Covent Garden – or watching the games, you might like explore the city.

Or perhaps you’re even wondering where you should stay.

Whatever planning stage you’re at, we’ve already had a little look around the Internet for you.

So let us fill you in on what we’ve learned:

VisitBritain research shows foreign visitors often find Britain’s mix of cutting-edge modernity and rich cultural heritage ”fascinating” and ”exciting.”

They see British people as ”honest,” ”funny,’ ”kind” and ”efficient” but in some cases they wish we offered a more exuberant welcome.

How busy will London be? Will prices be inflated? And what are the best ways to get around? Just a few of the questions answered (by experts) in this Telegraph newspaper’s Olympic visitor’s guide.

Fancy hearing from a Londoner? Daniel Cook’s created a London Olympic visitor’s guide that includes information on everything from tickets, accommodation and travel to tourist attractions, culture and eating out/nightlife.

Want to avoid rip-off hotels? Of course you do. So check out the Guardian newspaper’s accommodation guide here, which features alternatives such as camping, apartments and private homes, and package deals.

Finally, a useful, straight-up (as we say in London), guide to London, from famous listings publication, Time Out. It features tickets, what’s on, venues, restaurants, and lets you explore London by area, so you know your Shoreditch from your Soho, your Camden from your Covent Garden.

Oh and while we’re at it, Time Out said our “kitchen’s honest, simple cooking and emphasis on seasonality and provenance is still admirable“.  Here’s Time Out’s review of Canteen.

Finally, if you’re keen on steering clear of the beaten track when you’re not watching track and field, here’s the mighty Londonist’s guide to alternative London, which will help you find just about everything from where Hitler’s bombs dropped in the war to the best street markets… even where famous movie scenes were shot.

Anything else you want to know? Follow Canteen London on twitter or facebook and just ask.

02.02.12 - New opening times

Covent Garden: 10am-7pm, seven days a week.

Canary Wharf:

Now open from 7.30am Monday to Friday, instead of from 8am
(lunch may be for wimps but breakfast is unmissable).

Saturday: 9am-11pm.
Sunday: 10am-7pm.

02.02.12 - Happy New Menu

Did you stuff yourself at Christmas then take a little break? If you did, then it’s time to treat yourself again, because we’ve got lots new dishes to tempt you.

To start with, there’s eggs Royale, which is eggs Benedict with salmon, instead of ham. It’s also known as Eggs Hemmingway but we don’t know why (do you?) Wikipedia, which lists it as a common variation in New Zealand and Australia, needs updating, because now it’s found in Canteen, too.

Now to a main with a difference: Braised pigs’ cheeks.

Canteen head chef, Richard Edney, says “you don’t see them in restaurants much but they’re absolutely delicious. We cook them in red wine and spices, including
cinammon and cloves, for about an hour and a half, then serve with carrot and swede mash, and plenty of black pepper and butter”.

What’s that, you say? More bar snacks? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

We’re introducing West Country chicken wings, which we take off the bone then cook in duck fat for 50 minutes, before rolling in breadcrumbs and Cajun spices. Then there’s our bite-sized sausage rolls. Dip either in our virgin Mary ketchup for a delicious Tabasco, Worcester sauce, celery salt and horseradish tang.

This is just a taste. Check our new menu from 1st February for full details and get ready for ribeye on a board and new fish specials from March. More nearer the time.

30.06.10 - Canteen and the Real Food Market

London’s farmers’ markets mean us city folk can get our hands on produce direct from producers.

And that means the freshest ingredients at low prices.

In fact, there’s only one drawback of this set up as far as we can tell – and that’s having to wait till you get home to satisfy the hunger pangs that strike as you walk around and shop.

Of course this won’t be a problem at the Real Food Festival Market taking place at Southbank this summer.

That’s because you’ll be able to pop into our Royal Festival Hall branch and enjoy ingredients just as fresh in our hearty dishes.

Or why not stay outside and enjoy our outdoor hog roast and mobile Meantime bar?

It all kicks off on 2 July. Here’s the schedule:

10:30 – Canteen head chef, Cass Titcombe, cooks breakfast for press and chairman of London Food, Rosie Boycott, using only market ingredients.

11:00 – A few words from Philip Lowery, festival founder.

11.10 – Rosie Boycott on the importance of the London Food Strategy.

11:30 – Rude Health Rants (see link below) 12:00 – Cooking demo from Cass, then Foyles book signing.

Right now – For reading this far, we’ll make your Union Hand-Roasted coffee FREE with any cooked breakfast before 10:30am if you can present a print-out of this email when you ask for the bill.

Valid for the duration of the festival. How fresh is that?

More details about the Real Food Festival at Southbank here.