Category: Wansteadium

Wanstead weekend photo, CXXV

Geoff Wilkinson writes on Wanstead Daily Photo: “Another fabulous day in Wanstead yesterday and I’m told it is officially  spring, so I thought I would make the most it and publish another blossom lined street. This is Woodlands Avenue on the Alderbrooks Estate, its a very nice road, why choose to publish this particular one? Well in one of the houses on the left hand side of the picture lived Mr Gardner my old geography teacher when I was at school, his inspiration was responsible for my life of travel, I thank him dearly..”

Provender’s rave review

provenderThree cheers for Provender following a glowing review in Saturday’s Daily Telegraph which declared that it was “one of the best among the capital’s few surviving Proper French Restaurants” and added that it was a “near-miraculous survival, or reincarnation, of the Eighties French brasserie”.

There was barely even a back-handed compliment in the review by Keith Miller. Take for instance this paragraph:

“This is a quietly excellent restaurant, serving the needs of a diverse local community in an even-handed and open-hearted way. Portions are large, prices reasonable (the wine list is a joy). The staff are outstanding, moving quickly and easefully about the place like some crack military detail, answering questions, shooting the breeze with the regulars, or leaving you to get on with it if that’s what you obviously want. If what dates it most is its attempts at innovation – well, there are worse crimes. And to be honest, it’s a relief sometimes to ease back into your banquette, stop worrying about what’s fashionable and just embrace what’s good.”

Miller serves a rich selection of prose: “Over a couple of kirs crémants made with fizzy Vouvray, we briefly pretended to contemplate ordering something other than the “hors d’oeuvres Royale”, an artless but near-magical assortment of saucisson, jambon de pays, cornichons, a trembling little bowl of aioli, blade-thin Melba toasts, the said celeriac remoulade (sharp and mustardy, but crisply defined in the mouth), some rillettes (artlessly described as “potted goose and pork”), smoked salmon and salmon mousse.”

His comments on Wanstead are limited to a vague awareness of Wanstead Flats and the proximity to Snaresbrook Crown Court. But he does add a line that a pudding which has a bit of gold leaf on it is “a sop to the flash Harries of Wanstead”. Anyone called Harry who is offended is invited to contact the Daily Telegraph directly.

You can read the article in full here at the Daily Telegraph website.

Calling interesting shopkeepers

The last time Wansteadium invited readers to indulge in a bit of wishful thinking about what kind of shop would they really like to see come into the High Street, the overwhelming answer was a fishmonger. And lo it came to pass.

On the basis that it’s worth trying again, readers are invited to speculate what would be the most interesting and useful shop to open in this particular spot. Fingers crossed the same trick will work.

Playground collects green money

IMG_6146.JPG  The Wanstead Playground Association has been made one of this month’s good causes in Waitrose in South Woodford. Customers are invited to place green tokens in their collecting box for a share of a payout. As this photo shows there’s some way to go, but Wanstead shoppers will doubtless try to make a influence matters.

FB_IMG_1428067961850In other Playground news, the winner of the massive Easter Egg, as made by Belgique, was John O’Connor, pictured with his salivating pals.