Tuesday, November 15, 2016

The First Sunday Roast of the Season @ The Bell, Walthamstow


I'd forgotten how much I missed having a good Sunday roast. Specifically, a hot plate filled to the edges with roast beef (or pork belly or chicken), a pile of roast vegetables, a big, fluffy cloud of a Yorkshire pudding - all swimming in a thick, rich gravy. Specifically, after a long, bracing walk in the cold - the kind of walk that leaves you with a runny nose, red cheeks, and numb toes.

We had that kind of Sunday roast a few weekends ago at The Bell in Walthamstow. They start serving lunch at 12, but we were warned that it would get busy and, sure enough, every table was taken by 1 pm.

For a lighter version of a Sunday roast, The Bell also serves roast meat of your choice between two soft pieces of brioche, but we arrived with big appetites, so went the whole hog (no pun intended).


While John cut into his roast beef (served with a generous portion of gravy and horseradish), I eagerly anticipated my roast pork belly. Although the crackling was too thick and tough to cut into, let alone eat (a bit disappointing), the belly itself was melt-in-the-mouth tender. Overall, the dish was a little under-seasoned (which I prefer to being overly salty), but it was so satisfying, I ate every last bite. I especially loved the tangy red cabbage buried under the mound of vegetables and the apple sauce - both perfect accompaniments for the pork belly.

Before our plates could be whisked away, we'd already decided on dessert: apple crumble and sticky toffee pudding. The heat radiating off our apple crumble plate was incredible - we warmed our hands above it like it was a fire! I only wished it was served with ice cream instead of double cream (I'm American like that).

Being the greedy guts that I am, I dipped my fork into my brother-in-law's sticky toffee pudding ... which was a bit on the dry side. But, happy with our apple crumble, I scooped the last mouthful into my mouth (which I'm pretty sure was still steaming hot).

I'm so looking forward to taking my parents to The Bell for a roast when they're here in December. What's your favorite place to go for a roast? We love making our own too (John's speciality is lamb and/or chicken ... I handle all the sides!).
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11 comments

  1. God there is nothing like having a Sunday Roast. Need to make sure I have one soon. Its been ages.
    Leonie ♥ Lo On The Go

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    1. It is so satisfying, isn't it, Leonie?! I don't really have it in the summer, so am massively appreciative of a full-on, massive roast lunch in the colder months!

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  2. I had my first Sunday roast of the winter at the weekend, too! We found a great place in Yorkshire that had a great gluten free menu. I even had a gf Yorkshire pud! Pub lunches can be so variable so it's a real win when you find a good one. Looks like you did well. Now craving some apple crumble and custard...

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    1. I agree - they're not always top notch! I've heard great things about The Bell in various local Facebook groups. So glad to see that it lived up to our expectations!

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  3. We've popped into here a couple of times- it is always busy! haven't tried a roast yet but I had their Thai meatballs and it was lovely.

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    1. I'm looking forward to trying other items on their menu, as it all sounded so delicious! My parents are coming in December, so it's just one more place on a list of local places I can take them to :)

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  4. I'm a vegetarian and even I think that looks SO GOOD. Such great comfort food. I wonder what kind of veggie version this place does.. :D

    Laura // Middle of Adventure

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    1. Haha! Well, my sister-in-law is vegetarian and she had a delicious vegetable (think it was mushroom, with some other veggies)-filled filo pastry roast, with all the trimmings. Honestly, it looked so good, I would consider having the veggie option next time!

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  5. OMG that looks totally amazing - I am totally talking A into going there this Sunday as we are finally off together! Apple Pie and Ice Cream is totally better!
    A makes some of the best pork I have tasted which is an awesome excuse not to cook most nights! I would say nothing beats a home roast but sometimes there are places like this! The last good one we had was The Ferry Boat Inn in the Stow - it was lush and they do not scrimp on the portion sizes! xx

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