food according to pedders

So I wrote about takeaways last year but as I seem to be having quite a few at the moment, I thought I’d take a moment to blog about the takeaways du jour in my household.

 

I’m a big fan of hungryhouse as it lets me pick what I want, pay by card and then sit back and wait. It also has a handy review section which is extremely useful not to mention an iPhone app which means ordering on the bus on the way home has never been so easy. For a newbie in London or a visitor in an unknown area (hey, a few streets and I’m already lost!) it’s a must-have. However, some of London’s best aren’t on the site and it’s these I wish to talk about.

 

Tumnam Thai takeaway - Beautifully presented as usual 

First up is Tumnam Thai on Lavender Hill. This place is one I fell upon by accident by googling takeaways close to my house. I opted for this one because of some good reviews and I still consider it one of the best days ever. Their menu is exhaustive and contains so many goodies that often I sit there in a tizz for five minutes imagining the dishes and trying to decide what I want first. I’ve had 5 takeaways from there now and have opted for a different main every time – My favourite, by far, is no. 67, the ‘panang ped’ (£7.95), which is described as ‘roast duck stir fried in red curry paste and coconut milk’. The duck is a full breast sliced thickly with the roasted skin still crispy and not soggy-fied at all by the sauce. The red sauce is very much like a red thai curry except not quite as spicy and the coconut milk was a nice addition. There’s also courgettes in the dish which have a nice crunch to them; no floppy useless vegetables in this dish. My side dish – as always if you get to know me – is no. 59, phad thai jay (£6.25). I’m a huge phad thai fan and could quite happily live off it for at least a week. The tang of the sauce with the crunchy peanut is something I can’t wait to eat and Tumnam’s is very good. It’s packaged beautifully with the peanuts on top so I can mix them in at will and a slice of lemon to add an extra zizz. It’s lighter than some of the thickly-sauced versions you can find in takeaways and is refreshing, especially in combination with an already-heavy curry. Tumnam Thai is a must-have for all SW4 dwellers (or nearby!) and if you’re not a local, they have a lovely little restaurant so maybe a trip to dinner could be in order!

Address: Tumnam Thai, 163 Lavender Hill, SW11 5QH

Telephone: 020 7223 1046

 

I discussed Holy Cow before on my last blog post so I won’t go into too much detail save to say that it’s still my favourite Indian takeaway in London. I’ve tried Bombay Bicycle Club, I’ve tried Clapham Tandoori (though their 241 offer is always a plus!), I have tried various others. Sadly nothing compares to the magnificence of Holy Cow in any of their locations. As I’ve spied David Mitchell in the Kilburn branch a few times, I dare say it’s a favourite of his too!

 

My last takeaway to blog about is a place called Toscana which is also on Lavender Hill. This one is actually on Hungryhouse which is how I first came across it. Whilst I love a Domino pizza as much as the next girl, sometimes I crave something a little authentic and a little less chain-y. I’ve tried a few places around Clapham without success (although for a sit-in restaurant, the Pizza on the Green nr Clapham South is a good shout) and was bemoaning the lack of good Italian takeaways when I decided to give Toscana a go. It’s been around a while and does some great offers such as free Italian house wine with orders over £15 or deals on lunchtime orders. I’m glad I did as the pizza was great (I had a Parma at £11.50 for an 11” pizza) and the sides etc. were a great price. A lovely crispy base with lots of topping is just what I like in a pizza and what I loved was that Toscana heeded my instructions and gave me my parma ham on the side so it didn’t cook through before reaching me. There was also a very healthy amount of it – Result! I’d advise you to eat the pizzas straight away as they’re best when piping hot but they re-heat easily unless you have a forest (i.e. rocket) on the pizza. If you have, best to take it off before the cheese sets hard.

Address: Toscana, 127a Lavender Hill, SW11 5QJ

Telephone: 020 7223 6664

 

So there’s a wrap-up of three of the takeaways in the Clapham area that this foodie particularly likes. If you’re a local of SW4 or eating in the area at a friend’s, consider them for your next meal. You might just enjoy it!