We set out as we mean to continue: organised and efficient in our quest to taste 52 different ethnic foods in 52 weeks in South London. This translated to having 15 minutes in the rain to find and eat some Mexican street food at the Southbank Centre. Our late running was partly because it turned out that Jane Eyre, as played at the National Theatre, was 3 and a half --years-- hours long and so started much earlier than one might reasonably expect. It was honestly nothing to do with not having checked beforehand.
Given the limited time available, and the urgency of our mission - we were both hungry - the choice was limited to restaurants actually in the Southbank Centre: Giraffe (perhaps African, suggested Greenwich Gannet One optimistically),
Ping pong (Chinese), House (modern european) and Wahaca Experimental (Mexican). No contest. Especially as Wahaca had a street vending van right by the entrance to the theatre. We knew it was Mexican as the van said "Mexican Street Food". No fools, we.
So just past the concrete skatepark at Soutbank, having parked in the National Theatre carpark (£8 all evening after 5pm thus trumping 2 x return train tickets from Greenwich even presuming there hadn't been engineering works), we queued with the young and the fashionable at the street stall.
Point of order: yes, we did trail the wrong way up Belvedere Street first in the rain, but we MEANT TO as we were casing the joint.
This blog may also contain economic analysis of the top order: by the time we had reached the front of the queue, we had invested 5 minutes of our 15 and it was too late to duck out, so we were unperturbed when the charming young men serving (no sarcasm, they were lovely) told us that they had nearly run out of vegetarian option and we decided to share just one tacos.
Running out was actually impressive as there was very little choice. It was a tacos or burritos - basically soft or crispy pancake, all with identical fillings: black beans, lettuce, salsa, sour cream, guacomole (50p extra) and an extra of chicken, pulled pork or tomato/onion mix. So to run out of an option must have taken some doing. More would arrive in 5-10 minutes but we didn't have the time. The lovely serving man (see above) kindly gave us two boxes but was unable to cut the tacos in half. Wooden cutlery and paper napkins were provided. As it was £5.50 for one, the price came to £2.75 each.
We grabbed our warm silver foiled packet and ran into the national Theatre.
In any event, we would always rather be happy than dignified so did not shun the small standing table under the toilet signs and grabbed free cooled water from the tap at the bar.
Reader, we ate it. Oh no, perhaps that was Emma. Or Jane Austen. Is one of those an author and one a book????
The tacos was delicious. Not hot, just tepid, yet tasty and filling. We thought perhaps we should have gone for the "hot"salsa rather than the english option of "medium" but otherwise had no complaints. Yum. I doubt you could eat better for under £3 and in under 15 minutes including queuing.
We had thought we would research each country before we tasted its food but the 15 minutes allowed this first week made that impossible so instead we both dredged our minds to see what we already knew. Which was not much although Greenwich Guzzler 1 thought that Mexico City was the capital and that they deal a lot of drugs there. I ventured that perhaps they spoke Spanish or Portuguese. We are better at science than Geography.
The parts of the play for which we were individually or even collectively awake were rather brilliant. The main point of discussion was whether or not the actor playing Jane was in fact Kirstie from the Archers. And, if so, how she found time. I went to the cast list on your behalves, lovely Readers, and they (un)helpfully had a list of the cast with photographs but don;t say who played whom. That is as good as a chocolate teapot to one who is faceblind so I can't tell you which was Jane and then google to find out if she is Kirstie. Obviously I could google them all but there is after all a limit to the lengths of research I am prepared to do on your behalf.
Value: 10/10 Best food for under £3 in London
Ambience: 7/10 We stood in the rain but it was by the Thames and very trendy
Taste: 8/10 Could have been 9/10 with the hotter salsa
Authenticity: ?/10 Who knows? We have neither of us been to Mexico. No detectable drugs. Italians serving.
Would we go back? YES! maybe next time we would splash out and go for the Wahaca cafe just above where you can actually sit down out of the rain.
* the literary amongst you may recognise the famous first line
HOW TO TURN IT INTO A (CHEAP YET CULTURAL) DAY OUT
The Southbank centre is right by Waterloo Station for those from South London. If you come from NE of London, then get Thameslink to Blackfriars and stroll along the south bank for 10 minutes to get there. If arriving by some North of the river tube then alight at Embankment and walk back across the pedestrian bridge to South Bank.
So what else can you do having eaten at Wahaca? D'oh, go to the National Theatre. Friday Rush tickets go on sale every Friday at 1pm. Tickets are a flat £20 each for performances the following week - this is the best way for the disorganised to get to see sold out productions.
Alternatively, stroll across the pedestrian bridge from the Southbank Centre north to Trafalgar Square. You can nip into the National Gallery or the National Portrait Gallery for free if it's raining, or stroll around the sites and St James Park if it's a lovely day.
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