The bylaw-busting brood of four urban chickens scratch out a living in downtown Dundas. The city considers this fowl play, so Karen won’t reveal her full name or address. But she’s not shy about showing off her Rhode Island Reds to neighbours.
“But I really want them,” said Filinski, who has designed her dream chicken coop in the hopes that Hamilton will buck the ban recommendation. “I have young children and I want them to recognize where their food comes from.”
If you have an Iranian mate, take them with you so the menu will be a little less daunting if you’ve never been. Or just suck it and see by ordering specials and talking to the staff. Don’t forget a side order of paneer cheese with herbs, and finish with falloudeh, a kind of sorbet with rice noodles in it. You squeeze fresh lime over the top and it’s the best way to finish anything, ever.
Breakfast – Banners and Brockwell Park Lido CafeLike a good fish n chip shop, we all need a good greasy spoon nearby to make our lives complete, and we all have a decent one, but there are a few breakfasts out there that stand out for special mention. When I lived in North London it was all about Banners in lovely Crouch End. A legendary place owned by Andy Kershaw’s lovely ex-girlfriend Juliette, and an institution. It’s a proper man-meal that’ll leave you in pain when you walk out, but my god it’s good if you’re starving and need that massive meat and stodge hit after a big night out. Order the smoothie of the day to balance out the badness and marvel at the ‘Now Not Playing’ record on display.
Persian food is the most under-rated, unknown cuisine in the world, I think. And the best place in London to appreciate it is surrounded by smiley Iranians at a place called Mohsen, near Earls Court. It’s pretty rugged, like a roadside cafe in Iran, it feels a bit like you’re in a slightly pikey B&B, or something. But the food is straight from the kitchen of an average Iranian grandma. Fresh cooked bread from their tandoor oven, the best rice you’ll ever eat, and incredible, warming, long cooked stews that will bow your mind at this time of year.
Karen doesn’t buy this argument. Neither did the medical officer of health in Waterloo, Dr. Liana Nolan, who wrote a letter of support for urban chicken advocates during a 2009 council debate in that region.