Last summer I travelled the States. From the dry and beach-strewn West, to the urban heights of New York New York, I drove, doing….? Why, but eating of course. For those of you who have (shamefully) only recently began reading FoodGoblin, the summer of 2012 saw me take a gigantic food tour across America, eating from state to state. Really, it’s true– check out the travel section! But if there’s one thing I miss, it is the sticky South. The finger licking, butter running and the utterly, filthily dirty food of Louisiana. Jesus it was good. Food to make your thighs quiver, and, girls, not just from the calories.
Since returning to London, my food sluttery has been somewhat less wanton. I’ve behaved myself more in restaurants, there has been entirely less moaning. And yet, I feel this streak of almost inhuman, self-restrained good behaviour has come finally to a sad, undignified end. For Joe’s Southern Kitchen has opened in Covent Garden, recently rebranded from Navajo’s, and it is altogether too good for me to refuse.
Since returning to London, my food sluttery has been somewhat less wanton. I’ve behaved myself more in restaurants, there has been entirely less moaning. And yet, I feel this streak of almost inhuman, self-restrained good behaviour has come finally to a sad, undignified end. For Joe’s Southern Kitchen has opened in Covent Garden, recently rebranded from Navajo’s, and it is altogether too good for me to refuse.
A family style, Louisiana kitchen, its menu hosts all the delights of my drawling summer days. Of course, I tried almost everything on the menu and it arrived on platters, slabs and buckets, to be dived into by all. Southern fried chicken wings with salt crisp skins and sticky, hot tabasco honey, that left me with my lipstick smeared like the morning after the night before and with all the same satisfaction. Exceptional corn and Monterey Jack rice balls, gooey in all the right ways. Slow braised beef brisket chilli cup, popcorn shrimp (average) and very tasty crispy fried pickled okra with buttermilk dipping sauce. Ps, those are just the starters.
 Monterey Jack Balls |  Fried Okra |  Popcorn Shrimp |
 Braised Chilli |  Wings |  Moi, happy. |
Foreplay finished, the mains entered with force. A very serious Deep South BBQ beef short rib, slow roasted, almost dripping off the bone and meaty, so meaty. Beer can chicken: a whole chicken, roasted erect with an open can of ale inside it, continuously basting the bird from the inside, keeping it moist. Next, even better – more chicken. Chicken marinated for 24 hours in buttermilk to tenderise it, then deep fried. ‘The most superior KFC you’ll ever eat’, was the phrase used at our table. Seriously though, it was great fried chicken, although I’d probably have it saltier. And actually, almost guilt free. See Joe’s Southern Kitchen, being a responsible sort of establishment, have purchased themselves one of those handy pressure fryers. These allow food to be deep fried in only about an inch of oil by creating a sort of vacuum that sucks oil up the sides of the frying food. My arteries applaud you.
Beer can chicken – magnificent
 Beef brisket |  Spinach Mac n Cheese |  fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinger lickin’ good |
But almost as much as the food, I applaud the cocktails and atmosphere. Joe’s really does have one of the most impressive restaurant cocktail menus I have seen in a while. To name but one, their Bloody Mary came 1st in an international competition and comes rimmed with Bovril and a spice mix. All are inventive, well executed and really reasonably priced. In an area of London where cocktails casually rock in around the 9 pound mark, Joe’s price theirs between 5.95-8. And a 3 page tequila menu? You can’t really argue with that.
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And so, between the tequila shots, the elderflower, kaffir lime cocktails and the f*** me eyes from the fried chicken, I really enjoyed Joe’s Southern Kitchen. For me it surpasses itself most as a place to go with a group of friends before hitting the town and nearby Covent Garden clubs. Get watered, get fed (both in spectacular fashion), get lively. Recommended.
Dinner for 1 with 2 cocktails: £25. Starters, 4.95; Mains, 9; Drinks, 6.50.
http://joessouthernkitchen.co.uk/
34 King Streeet, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JD
02072404008
Dinner for 1 with 2 cocktails: £25. Starters, 4.95; Mains, 9; Drinks, 6.50.
http://joessouthernkitchen.co.uk/
34 King Streeet, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JD
02072404008
 strawberry fool sundae |  pecan pie |
 Key Lime crumble – very good |  Espresso dunkin chocolate brownies |
