New Tables, New Tastes
STEVEN SHORT
When it comes to food and drink, Hastings and St Leonards continue to punch well above their weight. Times restaurant critic Charlotte Ivers ruffled a lot of feathers last summer when reviewing Lury on Cambridge Road. While the Londoner gushed about the restaurant and its food, she also majorly slagged off Hastings, but it was a great reminder of how vibrant our foodie scene is.
So, let’s all be a bit Charlotte in celebrating some great new places to eat and drink – and new offerings from established businesses – while embracing the grittiness of the place we call home.
NEW OPENINGS
The Pelican Diner
A couple of years ago, Jess Beerling could be found in the kiosk next to The Pelican Diner opposite the boating lake, serving excellent vegan sandwiches under the name Blue Moon. Jess has history with The Pelican Diner – she was first there as a waitress then a chef but is now back, this time at the helm of the place.
Jess is retaining some American diner elements of the previous menu (the much-loved Pelican Burger is still there), but adding “a splash of other cuisines,” as she put it. French onion melt sandwich or Korean chicken burger, anyone? This incarnation of The Pelican Diner isn’t just about food, though: “I’d also love to use the space for various other things like crafting or gaming nights and other events when the restaurant is closed to make use of the space for the community,” says Jess.
Arta Bakery, George Street
George Street recently welcomed Palestinian chef Momo and his Arta bakery. Pop in for made-to-order Levantine flatbreads with toppings including Akkawi – Palestinian cheese with nigella seed or zaytoun – pickled olives, carrots, peppers, lemon and walnut. There are freshly made dips such as baba ganoush and shawander – beetroot, walnut, pomegranate molasses, coriander, sumac and olive oil. Momo also makes a zingy fresh green tabbouleh salad with parsley, broccoli, cucumber quinoa, raisins, pumpkin seeds, coriander, mint, spring onions and pomegranate molasses dressing.
@artabythesea
Guacamaya’s Nest Café, George Street
Boldly opening next door to Hastings institution Hanushka’s, Guacamaya’s Nest sets itself apart by offering speciality coffee from Honduras – from a solo shot espresso or cortado to flat white and cappuccino.
Team at Guacamaya’s Nest
Honduran couple Raul and Jensy moved to the UK with the dream of building something meaningful around specialty coffee. “Our focus is on delivering a premium coffee experience, highlighting single-origin coffee from Honduras – something many people don’t realise is that Honduras is actually one of the largest and highest-quality coffee producers in the world,” says Jensy.
There are also some interesting latte variants on offer, too, including matcha, cocoa and blueberry, and pastries, including cinnamon rolls. “Our rolls have become a signature item,” says Jensy, who runs the place alongside partner Raul. “Raul has always loved cinnamon rolls, and we wanted to elevate them: soft, freshly baked, and generously filled. They’ve become one of our best-sellers, with many customers returning specifically for them.”
Another of Guacamaya’s USPs is its Honduran breakfast menu, which includes Baleada – a flour tortilla topped with fried kidney beans, scrambled egg and feta (you can add chicken, chorizo, bacon or avocado) – and the hearty Honduran Breakfast of scrambled eggs, fried beans, fried plantain, halloumi, sour cream and a flour tortilla.
New for spring is a Taco pop-up between 6-11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, offering slow-cooked birria tacos and a selection of Mexican-inspired dishes.
@guacamayasnestcafe
Salon, Norman Road
If you loved the wine section at SHOP on Norman Road, you’ll be glad to know that the person behind it, Mark Plummer of The Wine Room, has opened Salon a few doors down. Alongside a great selection of wines to take away, you’ll also find cheeses, deli goods, bread and coffee. As well as takeaway, you can sit in for cheeseboards and wines by the glass.
@salon_stleonards
Jerk & Bean, Kings Road
Bringing “authentic Caribbean flavours” to St Leonards, Jerk & Bean is owned by long-time business owner O.J. and opened its doors on Valentine’s Day. O.J. has been on Kings Road, latterly as a barber, for the best part of 20 years but has always been a chef at heart – he previously had restaurants on Norman Road and in Bexhill. “People were telling me, ‘You’re a good barber,’ but a better chef, so I decided to go back to what I know,” he laughs. The menu features the Caribbean greatest hits – mains include jerk chicken (made with ‘house’ jerk seasoning), curried chicken or goat and chickpea curry, all served with rice and plantain. Rice and peas are available as a side, as is Jollof rice, and there are no fewer than five types of patty to choose from – lamb, beef, chicken, fish or callaloo.
@jerkandbean
FOODIE NEWS
Galleria
After more than five years running Galleria Seafood bar, Gianluca Tozzi and Jack Booth have reinvented the place as an “Italian delicatessen and eatery”, serving pastas and sauces, Italian snacks and pastries as well as coffee.
@galleriastleonards
Mamma Putts, Kings Road
Much-loved African and Caribbean restaurant Mamma Putts has just introduced a £10 lunch menu on Tuesdays. “I decided to launch the menu due to people wanting the food but at the same time struggling with money – and also trying to bring people in when it’s quiet,” says owner Jerome ‘Jerry’ Odibi. “It also gives people who haven’t tried our food before the opportunity to do so.” Tuesday lunchtime diners can choose between jerk chicken with rice and peas, plantain and a fried dumpling or veggie coconut chickpea curry.
@mammaputts
CHEESY COMINGS AND GOINGS
Penbuckles, the beloved deli on the High Street, is just about to relocate to London Road. After being in the heart of the Old Town for almost nine years, Ellie and Richard have relocated to London Road (just above the Tower Pub) St Leonards. “A new premises came up that we couldn’t say no to,” says Ellie.
Penbuckles 2.0 will still have a great selection of cheese (including the always popular Penvensey Blue) and its coffee, so beloved of Old Towners, but will also have a catering kitchen allowing them to produce cakes and other treats – “and it’s got better parking” as Ellie notes.
Stepping in to fill the fromage-shaped hole are Nick and Nicky Holt from Noah’s Goat – the wine bar on George Street. The couple, who previously ran The Stag pub, considered opening NG with a deli but, good people that they are, didn’t want to tread on any toes so stuck to wine. ‘The Cheese Cave & Deli’, as it will be called, will open later in March. “We’re planning on putting it in the middle room … through the bar,” says Nicky. “We’ll have lots of cheese and charcuterie and all sorts of deli bits that go with wine… we’ll start small and see what people want us to stock.”
@penbuckles @noahs_goat_wine
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