A hookbone rising from my food, and all things either good or ungood

[venta]

At least once a week, I trundle straight from work onto a train and head off to a dance practice. Being the sort of person who likes meals at nice regular intervals, I pick something up in the station as I pass through. A few years ago, that basically meant Burger King or Upper Crust. These days there are the heady alternatives of M&S Food and Subway. My default choice for some time has been Subway, because it's hot (ie more like a meal, in my book), made from something at least resembling real food, and inexpensive.

For ages, I've been wondering why stations never sell proper, reasonably healthy, takeaway meals - a bowl of rice and curry, a bowl of pasta, a plate of noodles... sometimes you can get soup, but the UK's highstreets are mostly very low on decent street-food options.

I noticed recently a new kiosk was arriving in Reading. I was inclined to dislike it, because a number of bike-racks were demolished to make space for it. Reading does have a lot of bike-racks, but it also has a lot of bikes and space is a bit short. However, stomach overcame principles...

Stewed![*] has a pretty simple plan: make one-pot, stewy sort of meals, sell 'em in tubs to commuters. Yesterday, I paid £3.95 for a reasonable-sized tub of beef goulash and mashed potato, garnished with a spoonful of fresh veg, and jolly nice it was too.

Probably not nice in the sense that if I'd had it in a restaurant it wasn't rave-worthy, and I might not be bothering to tell you. But if considering it on the same level as Subway and Burger King, it's a damn fine option and very good value. (They also do monster-sized pots at £5.95)

Yesterday I had the choice of beef goulash, a chorizo-and-chickpea thing, a Mexican 3-bean chilli (which was vegetarian) and I think at least one other thing (also vegetarian). I also had the choice of mashed spud, couscous or rice as a side-dish. My fresh veg was grated carrot, diced raw pepper, peas and soy beans (no choice to made there, other than do you want it or not). And I think my mash was made from real potatoes, not nasty regurgitated reconstituted stuff. And their website even suggests that all their food is gluten-free.

I'm most impressed. Finally: inexpensive, tasty, reasonably healthy-seeming food which is suitable for a good range of people. (I mean, I'm sure there will be people with dietary problems that aren't catered for, but offering vegetarian and gluten-free choices sounds like a start.) Now I just need everyone to start eating there to encourage them to keep going :) So, er, off you go.

[*] That website seems to deal only with their supermarket ranges - it looks like Reading is their first foray into station kiosk-land.

Comments

[venta.livejournal.com]

And while we're on the topic: what is it with restaurant menus these days advertising "mash potato"? It's mashed potato. Or mash. But what is "mash potato"?

[phlebas.livejournal.com]

I'd guess it's the American influence, being less aware of parts of speech or something.
Johnny or Nick?

[venta.livejournal.com]

Oh Nick, I think, today.

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

But what is "mash potato"?

Contrary to phlebas's theory, I think it's simply the way people pronounce "mashed potato" in practice.

Which is why this naming of the dish happens alot.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Logically, that should lead to people writing about "six form" instead of "sixth form" (which I guess it might do, but I haven't seen it).

However, I am delighted by the alot.

[al-fruitbat.livejournal.com]

In similar vein, the appalling "Chest of draws" :-)