Lovett Pies, Cargo 1

The 6th - 12th March marks that lesser known tradition of British Pie Week and it was therefore particularly fitting that I spent last Friday evening with my sleeves rolled up in readiness to get down and dirty at the small yet perfectly formed Lovett Pies container, located at Cargo 1...What I found was comfort food at its finest; served with a smile and for not a lot of dollar. Read on to find out more...

Date and Time: Friday 10 March 2017, 18:30

Name of Establishment: Lovett Pies*

Location: Cargo 1, Wapping Wharf

Reason for Visit: Comfort Food on a budget

What do you do when you're short of cash but in the mood for a right old nosh up? You scour the content of your Wriggle* App of course! This is exactly what my friend and I did on the verge of last weekend's merriment; in order to line our stomachs for the drinks that would inevitably follow. We found that for just under £6, Lovett Pies were offering one of their tasty creations in addition to two sides, gravy or sauce and an optional topping of bacon bits (a meal deal usually priced at £8.50)...we were opting in! Luckily, it wasn't too busy as there is limited seating in this intimately-spaced shipping container...we're talking two tables-for-two and a couple of stools poised alongside a makeshift bar. In light of this, I’d suggest that although the decor may be seen as minimal, (think exposed light bulbs, distressed wood and a neutral colour-scheme), the ambiance sparkles. My dining companion and I were really impressed with the super-friendly server who had been left to run the show - her smiley nature and 'here to help' attitude made for a really warm welcome. Whilst on the subject of warmth, the container itself was an absolute sweat-fest! We had to prop open the door to save ourselves - as well as anyone else in the vicinity - from melting.

The pie selection process was the most difficult aspect of our visit as there are a number on offer - both to eat-in or takeaway. In short, I would have settled for any of the fillings but finally decided to embark on a veggie-friendly foray of sweet potato which had been combined with goats’ cheese, butternut squash, spinach and plum chutney - what a mouthful...and it really was! All the flavours came through deliciously and the sweetness of the chutney offset the twang of the goats’ cheese to perfection. I think adding a side of roasted root vegetables was a rookie error however as, despite tasting great, it doubled the fun in terms of my intake of butternut squash and I found myself getting full very quickly! That said, the second side of bubble n' squeak - which was well seasoned and generously portioned (with an ice cream scoop no less) - was just too good to leave alone and I'm proud to confirm that I saw it through to the bitter end!

My dining companion opted for the seasonal special which constituted an ensemble of venison, smoked bacon and porcini mushrooms. It's fair to say that this was well-received as were the minted mushy peas and the aforementioned 'bubble' (as it's affectionately referred to) that she chose as sides. Generally, we were unanimous in our praise for the pastry which was crisp and well-executed and the gravy; which was of an adequate consistency and applied using the tried and tested method of; ‘say when’…No unsightly sogginess here, thank you! Pies are branded with letters - stencilled in poppy seeds which correspond to what lies within - I enjoyed the novelty that mine sported an 'S' which doubles up as my initial...simple things hey!

Overall, this an establishment that focuses on what it does best. There are no desserts to speak of and the drink menu is ‘soft’, (though lovingly sourced). As a result, you receive top quality fare that has been crafted using top quality ingredients. Furthermore, I enjoyed the upbeat atmosphere that resonates within the Lovett Pies container nearly as much as I enjoyed the food itself. Dining-in really feels like you've popped 'round a friend's house for dins and a natter and although I'm sure that this wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, it certainly kept a smile on my face! Incidentally, there is a similar experience to be had a couple of doors up at Corks of Cargo*; where I would fully recommend that you head to in order to follow up your pie with a glass of wine. This is without doubt the best option if, like yours truly, you like to eat and drink...to be merry!

References:

*http://www.lovettpies.com/

*https://www.getawriggleon.com/bristol

*http://corksofbristol.com/cargo/

PIGSTY, Cargo at Wapping Wharf

Cargo at Wapping Wharf* is arguably the city's most exciting new development and as such, I couldn't wait to explore what each converted shipping container had to offer...Starting with a carnivorous luncheon at the novelly-named PIGSTY*. Now, Bristol's burger scene is undoubtedly next-level and thus, there was a high expectation that this newcomer would meet the bar set by its well-established, bap-happy counterparts. However, what we found was a mixed trough of faultless flavour versus questionable service and value for money. Read on to learn more...

Date and time: 11 February 2017, 14:00 approx.

Name of Establishment: PIGSTY

Location: Units 1&2, Cargo 1, Wapping Wharf

Reason for Visit: A late-lunch pig-out!

It was a good day when the three brothers that founded The Jolly Hog brought a restaurant to our fair city that would specialise in all things porky and I figured that it would be an even better day when I'd get to sample its wares. And so, hungrily stepping into the quirky container and shown to the only free table within the suitably intimate space, it wasn't long before silence descended upon our party of four as menus were unfolded and scrutinised. Now, to get the low point of our experience out of the way, I have to say that the server we had was really rather solemn and clearly considered herself too cool to be dealing with the likes of our rabble! I mean, aloof didn’t cut it and a smile would have gone a long way, especially as we would imminently rack up a bill that would set us back well over 60 big ones! As a minimum, she should have written down our order as it was twice delivered to our table incorrectly and without an apology....Not a good start...

Service aside, I have to say that the quality of the fare itself was first rate and the 'Pig Mac' (£9), although a little tepid, was bloody delicious; the slow-roasted BBQ’d pulled pork and cheesy ‘Baconaise’ that topped the pork patty really packing in the flavour in terms of what constituted a juicy, meaty feast of epic proportions. The Hoguettes (£5) too were indulgent and flavoursome whereby that same slow-roasted pork (shoulder to be precise) had been encased within a perfectly crisped crumb. The addition of the restaurant’s seemingly signature sauce – that aforementioned Baconaise - really sealed the deal here and in fact, my only gripe was that I could have done with a couple more…You know those moments when you don’t want what you’re eating to end?...That! I thought that for nine whole pounds, a side of fries would be a standard accompaniment for PIGSTY’s burgers but alas, they were a further £3.50 (or £4.50 if, like me, you have a weakness for sweet potato fries). Instead, the ‘raw slaw’ that was offered received mixed reviews – I considered it well-seasoned and enjoyed that it wasn’t as ‘wet’ as coleslaw had the tendency to be elsewhere but others didn’t appreciate its simplicity and suggested that ultimately, it just didn’t complement the main event.

To wash everything down was to choose from a small yet perfectly formed selection of drinks and although the Craft Ales (‘oh hai, Wiper and True!’) were a tad on the expensive side, I thought that a 125ml glug of the house wine for £3.50 was fair game. I opted for the ‘Pinoso Tinto’ which was pleasingly palatable.  

Overall, I think PIGSTY will be a takeaway affair for me in the future. I have no doubt at all that the thoughtfully-sourced ingredients will constitute a cracking bacon sarnie to enjoy 'on the trott' but I'm not sure that, given the comparable quality elsewhere (and for less spondoolies to boot), that I'd 'sit-in' for a full-on pig-out. Here's hoping that this review doesn't make me too unpopular amongst my fellow foodies and that my next visit to Cargo warrants a more gushing reception.

References:

*http://wappingwharf.co.uk/cargo

*https://www.pigstyuk.com/