A Skeptic Abroad - London Day 6: The Rib Man
Many many moons ago, I stumbled upon a video series on YouTube called “munchies”. For any foodie out there, it is almost literally a best of guide to food and drink around the world. It's a part of the vice company, and is probably some of the best food journalism you'll see online. Not only is one of the presenters ca-uute (and a good journalist to boot) but there is one amazing episode called The Rib Man. It features Mark Gevaux, a one-legged butcher from right here in London. And it is this reason, and this reason only that I decided to come to the Brick Lane Markets today. Being a Sunday I had a bit of a lie-in and then headed up to Brick Lane for, essentially, lunch. Mark and I had been talking via Twitter, and the hype of the rib episode of munchies made me super hungry for what I had been told were the best ribs you will ever have in your life. Now he basically pulls the rib meat in a bun after pulling it all off the bones. It has been cooked in its own juices overnight and is every bit as tender as you can imagine. He douses it with what he calls his “Holy Fuck” sauce which is a hot sauce he makes himself because he couldn't find one he liked enough himself. And at the end of the article I'll tell you how good it really is. Along the walls as well are some amazing street art and grafitti. I would highly recommend doing the street art walk you can find online and taking a look at all the art which if you are lucky you will see being made right before your eyes. I'm not sure whether it is legal here to do this, or if people just do and the police turn a blind eye. Once again I found An interesting arts comparison between England and Australia. The arts are, it seems, so suppressed in Aus or at least in Sydney that they are nearly non-existent. Markets even like the brick lane market (which as I said, pale in comparison to Portobello) don't exist, and as for street art? Handcuffs are common payment for most street artists. I feel at this point I should clarify too. If someone has talent and is doing amazing work like what you can see in brick lane and across the local area, I have no problems with them doing their thing. It's great work and these people are with recognition as an artist. In fact, if they are doing this and living on the street chances are they have autism or dyslexia which means they got kicked out of school, but can visualise pictures and images in a different way to us mere mortals. If you however, scrawl your name on the side of a bus shelter, in a single line with a mask over your face or stop a train to scrawl shit on the side then your payment should be a nightstick upside the head. The rest of the markets are basically food and junk, truth be told. There aren't really many great stores here to take a look at like there are in portobello markets. The food is, in my opinion, a lot better here with more variety and what seems to be better quality as well. But not all is lost – there are a plethora of amazing bars. From little nooks and crannies in the wall, through to larger chocolate bars and pubs. Including one which I said I would mention in this blog to the owners because it was freaking amazing. It was called The Hookah Lounge, and the two guys that run it were awesome. They had electric hookah (water pipes) – the equivalent of a Turkish e-cig without the harmful stuff in it, and possibly the best tea you will have in London. It's not the cheapest thing around, but totally worth it. If you're more in the mood for a cocktail, then the Caribbean themed bar just up the road is much more worthy of a visit for you. Their appletinis are phenomenal and fresh, and they have a great selection is beers and wines for accompaniment. But if chocolate is more your thing, then there is a great chocolate shop/bar down the road, which sells all kinds of home-made chocolate and nougat. Their hot chocolate is fantastic (not quite as good as say a home made Nutella hot chocolate) and their little coffee flavoured chocolate balls are simply the best you'll have here in London I promise you. I really do wish we had this kind of stuff in Sydney. It is such a phenomenal cultural experience mixing with all these people and seeing all the sights and smells of the local market. The food and bars are to die for, but as I said the merchandise here is nowhere near as good as yesterday's experience. But it is a must go and see for one thing, and one thing only.even if you don't want to come and see anything else, you have to take the trip in to sample what are the best example of these in the world hands down. By a long shot. Something I saw months before I started planning this trip. The ribs. Do yourself a favour and go see Mark. Tell him you saw this on A Skeptic Abroad. If you like hot sauce, try his. It's amazing. If you can't handle spice (and to be honest it's not worthy of its name) he will do it with a barbecue sauce which is also amazing. It is worth the trip. Perhaps not 12,500 miles and a plane ticket, but I tell you what - it's close. If you are in London do not miss the rib man. It really is the best street food you will find. Hands down.