Trying my best to keep to alphabetical order, Afganistan, Albania (Kosovo, will have to go back to Albania) I dragged a couple of colleagues down to 'El Bled' in Streatham for an Algerian. 'El Bled' is the Arabic for 'village' which really sums the place up. White washed and ceramic tiled, it was full of homesick young Algerian men dispatching plates of Merguez Frites, engrossed in the football or slamming dominos. We could well have been in the neigbourhood caf in Algiers.
The window advertised specialities such as Tadjine, Couscous and Shorba, unfortunately all they had was Merguez, lamb chops and liver grilled on a panini maker. According to the one man owner/chef/waiter they had had a lamb and chickpea Shorba (soup) but had sold out at lunch. Nevertheless the grill was pleasant enough, succulent lamb chops and spicy Merguez which oozed unctious paprika infused fat. The only let down was the slightly tough over cooked liver. As in North Africa I imagine, the meat was served on one communal plate for us all to dig in, alongside salad, chips and a nice harisa which benefited from a generous glug of olive oil. To drink we were given an interesting Algerian apple drink with a bizarre bubblegum tang.
The meal ended with a mint tea which Oli my French friend, more of an expert on Maghreb cuisine and a useful translator, thought should have been sweeter and mintier. It was ok, far from the tea theatre of Middle Eastern restaurants in central London it was served in cups which said coffee on the side which I liked, authentically 'Bled'.
For a no thrills slice of Algerian life in the capital it's worth a trip particularly as the owner was so welcoming. If you want to eat Couscous or Tadjine though it might be worth ringing in advance.
El Bled 296-298 Streatham High Road, London SW16 6HG
Tel: 020 8769 9428
The window advertised specialities such as Tadjine, Couscous and Shorba, unfortunately all they had was Merguez, lamb chops and liver grilled on a panini maker. According to the one man owner/chef/waiter they had had a lamb and chickpea Shorba (soup) but had sold out at lunch. Nevertheless the grill was pleasant enough, succulent lamb chops and spicy Merguez which oozed unctious paprika infused fat. The only let down was the slightly tough over cooked liver. As in North Africa I imagine, the meat was served on one communal plate for us all to dig in, alongside salad, chips and a nice harisa which benefited from a generous glug of olive oil. To drink we were given an interesting Algerian apple drink with a bizarre bubblegum tang.
The meal ended with a mint tea which Oli my French friend, more of an expert on Maghreb cuisine and a useful translator, thought should have been sweeter and mintier. It was ok, far from the tea theatre of Middle Eastern restaurants in central London it was served in cups which said coffee on the side which I liked, authentically 'Bled'.
For a no thrills slice of Algerian life in the capital it's worth a trip particularly as the owner was so welcoming. If you want to eat Couscous or Tadjine though it might be worth ringing in advance.
El Bled 296-298 Streatham High Road, London SW16 6HG
Tel: 020 8769 9428
wow nice article
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