Growing up gourmet: We send out the kids to look at the city’s culinary scene

Growing up in the late fifties and sixties my experience of the exotic was to say the least limited. I can remember clearly my first taste of Chinese food, egg foo yung (omelette basically) and Indian (mushroom curry). It was hardly challenging stuff but it sowed the seed of greed, greed for international flavours. Flavours that at the age of 18 upon moving to London, I totally immersed myself in.

In saying this I was not deprived of great food and in those modest times, mum was working with a small budget, but applying a wealth of knowledge gained at her mother and father’s side. Cheap cuts and lots of hearty veg and pulses made for a great diet, a tasty diet that for many years has been neglected and perhaps forgotten.

Not any more, with the best chefs loving seasonal and local produce many of those dishes are returning – which is interesting not only for grown ups, but for grown downs too.

These days we are more likely to be feeding our kids with dished that are foreign in origin than traditionally British. There’s nothing wrong with that, international influences and flavours are a fabulous way of opening minds to cultures and to travel. To acceptance too of global differences.

Every year at Latest we have invited youngsters from seven to seventeen to go out and report back on what this city has become famous for, great restaurants. This year two boys have been out to sample two sharply contrasting styles of food, one form the Far East and one from much closer to home. From spicy to traditional British, but traditional with international influences from both Europe and from America and Latin America.

These are two places that I love to go to – but let’s see what the boys have to say about some of the jewels in the city’s culinary crown.

Street Thai food review
Max Hemmings

On two floors, with a large outdoor balcony overlooking Brighton Square, everything looked good on the menu. There are stir-fry and stir-fry noodle dishes, noodle soup dishes, curry dishes, soups, salads, starters and side dishes to choose from.

I ordered the Chicken Satay as a starter, and the Guai Teaw Namsai Moo (try saying that right!), a clear noodle soup with pork (or tofu for the veggies), both delicious and filling. My Dad went for the Tom Yum Goong, their famous Thai spicy soup with tiger prawns and mushrooms, followed by Pad Med Mamung Himaphan Gai, a chicken stir fry dish, with cashews, chilli peppers, mushrooms, and onions. Really nice.

I asked my Dad what fritters were, liked the sound of it, and ordered Fritter Lover for desert, a banana fritter with coconut flakes, honey and chocolate sauce, and a big dollop of vanilla ice cream. Delicious! Dad had the Green Tea Cheesecake with ice cream. I liked that, too!

Street food in Thailand is big thing, and it’s getting popular here. I loved the food, the setting, and the staff were very friendly.

5 & 20 Brighton Square, Brighton, BN1 1HD
01273 207444
streetthai.co.uk

Moskha food review
Johnny Windsor

On Saturday morning my dad and I went for breakfast at Moksha, we managed to get a table even though it was very busy. For drinks, I had a Pash ‘n’ Shoot (passion fruit, pineapple, mango and orange) smoothie, which I really liked because it tasted really fresh. The flavors weren’t too bold but you could taste every fruit that was in there. Dad had an iced lime crush that was very thirst-quenching. It was nice to see paper straws being used as well! On to breakfast and I had poached eggs on sourdough toast with homemade hash browns, chorizo and avocado.

I really liked the hash browns because they were crispy and soft on the inside. My Dad had a half breakfast with bacon, Cumberland sausage, a generous portion of black pudding and he loved the scrambled eggs because they were light and creamy – also a special mention to the homemade baked beans (which included butter beans). After the meal I felt very full and would recommend Moksha to anyone because it was so welcoming and such a nice place to eat. Thank you Moksha.

4-5 York Place, Brighton BN1 4GU
01273 248890
mokshacaffe.co.uk