Lockdown takeaways

This second Lockdown, rather than met with despair, seems to have been greeted with a shrug of the shoulders and resignation. However, creativity has flourished and restaurants, cafes and bars that have been forced to close are doing what they do and offering sustenance to the locals by way of takeaways. HOT’s Lauris Morgan-Griffiths sampled some of the goodies on offer. 

This is only a selection of small, independent establishments being creative, supplying takeaways. There are others.  You can reserve your food online, by phone, or you queue. And it seems St Leonards likes nothing more than a queue.

At St Clements people evidently believe that good things come to those who wait. Good-natured, the line snakes down the road and around the corner – all happily distanced, chatting, making new friends, anticipating what treats there are in store. The menu varies, but there are some standards:  breads, vegetarian and meat pies, pork pies, sausage rolls, arancini, cakes, cinnamon buns, frangipane tarts. Delicious. Even the pork pie which I am not normally a fan of. And the treacle tart…I can definitely vouch for it all.

St Clements Restaurant,  3 Mercatoria, Saint Leonards-on-sea TN38 0EB. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12 noon.

When I mentioned to friends that Three Faces of del Parc were going to be doing takeaways, one said, “I need one of their tortillas a week.” Another  “…And their olives.” And after “what about their cheese cake?” there was a reverential silence. They are now making about three cheese cakes a week.

Steve and Alan moved to St Leonards and opened Three Faces of Del Parc. In normal life it is a takeaway, deli and restaurant. After 21 years of owning a restaurant in North London they came down here, “…for a stress break and fell in love with the place – it felt right for us”.

Starting over is never easy but they have been touched by the friendliness and support of St Lens-ites. After some initial teething problems with local suppliers, they are now across it, using local producers as much as possible.

Their takeaways include empanadas, spinach and cheese pie, tortillas, prepared plates, cheese, hams, saucisson, anchovies. And besides wonderful tins of sardines and anchovies, Christmas treats of Spanish chocolates, a cinnamon hot chocolate, local chutneys and jams. I sincerely hope it is not long before they can open again as a restaurant.

Three Faces of Del Parc is at 1 Western Road, TN37 6DG. Open Thursday-Saturday, 12-3pm.

Opening the Royal opposite St Leonards Warrior Square Station was a leap of faith. James, the proprietor, has a track record with London gastropubs and restaurants in London. He came down here on a record buying spree and just liked it. So when the first imposed closure happened they hadn’t really had time to get their feet under the table.

However, with local word of mouth and a positive Jay Rayner review in the Observer, things were going well until wham, another compulsory closure. But they are fighting back with takeaways. Menus change but include meals like brown shrimp and soft boiled egg, soup, terrine, cassoulet, pork shoulder, aubergine curry. All prepared, ready to eat, just pop in the oven. Puds available too. And don’t forget the wine.

The Royal, 1 St Johns Road TN37 6HP. Open Wednesday to Saturday. Orders to be placed by phone after 12 noon and paid for prior to collection 6-10 pm.  01424 547 797.

You might know Liban from the Kino-Teatr days. A meal and a film. Now called Liban Coast, this family-run Lebanese Syrian restaurant has moved to Marine Court. Having lived in England for 25 years, they first showed their cooking passion in the market in Hastings town centre and now have their own premises cooking the food that they love: falafels, hummus, babaganoush, mezzas, fava beans, marinated chicken and very tempting Arabic deserts and cakes.

Liban Coaast, 13 Marine Court TN38 0DX.  Open Wednesday-Saturday. Phone 01424 434426 or 07703 720847 to place your order and choose a collection time.

The cafe Sugarpie Honeybuns has made its mark in London Road in upper St Leonards. There is always a warm welcome from proprietor Ray, good music as well as homemade food, like slow roasted tomato, basil, taleggio galettes and leek, feta and oregano borek, bean stews. They have amazing cakes – and, in the words of Twin Peaks FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, “a damn fine cup of coffee”. In fact awarding winning coffee.

They also do the occasional meal takeaway. Last month it was a chicken or vegetable biryani, this month it was – sorry, you’ve missed it –  beef or mushroom bourguignon. Watch their Facebook page, order a few days before and collect it, with instructions, on the Friday. Bung in the oven and tuck in.

Sugarpie Honeybuns is at 235 London Rd, St Leonards-on-Sea TN37 6LU . Open Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-2pm.

Bread featured strongly in Lockdown One as people baked bread who had never attempted bread before. Now there is a definite alternative in newcomers Maker+Baker who have become known for their sourdough loaves –  only problem is getting hold of it. Why is it so good? I don’t know, but I understand it is all in the proofing. Their bread has proved so successful that they now have their own shop in Kings Road – and  have added cakes and tarts to their bread range. Expect to queue.

Maker+Baker, 51 Kings Rd, St Leonards-on-Sea TN37 6DY. Open Thursdays and Saturdays, 11 until it’s gone. Contact them via Instagram (@makerandbaker).

Food related are Stewart Walton’s scrummy watercolours of St Clements takeaway bakes. You can see from the pictures that he understands and loves food. During the first Lockdown the food proved irresistible and he did what he does, exercised his creativity and painted his edible booty: sausage rolls, pork pies and the luscious cakes. He was hoping to have an exhibition at the restaurant but has been foiled by Coronavirus so he is putting his original and prints on sale from his website. A great memento and…Christmas presents.

 

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