Page 60 - BN1 July-Aug 2019 web

BN1
TRIES... DIRTY MAC AT IDLE HANDS

Summer is finally here! And now it’s gone. Wait, now The others went for Cluck-a-doodle Blue (£8) which was
it’s back! Hang on, now it’s... Well, you get the gist. a filling Mac and cheese concoction of Buffalo Chicken,
Inconsistency is ironically the most predictable element pancetta, blue cheese and a dash of Frank's hot sauce.
of this season. The irritation of leaving the house in shorts Spicy but not overpowering, the cheese sauce and pasta
and a t-shirt while having to pack a rucksack with wellies is were deliciously indulgent with bold flavours fighting for
just par for the course when navigating the British weather space on my already primed tongue.
system.
The arrival of Loaded Fries (£7), covered in signature
As a food writer, you should sit down to every review with cheese sauce, chili con carne, jalapeños and salsa sent
an open mind and no presumptions - but my word is it the table into a frenzy until we realised there was enough to
hard to relax when you dressed for Club Tropicana and the satiate us the lot of us.
journey was more El Niño.
For an extra £3 (as an offer add-on), you can incur
Stumbling into Idle Hands, my agitation immediately more arguments among hungry friends by grabbing the
subsided. The pub has a Victorian charisma that oozes homemade Jerk Chicken, which unlike my outfit is perfectly
character. Its wooden flooring and green walls adorned seasoned.
with pictures, craft beer cans, mirrors, and a stack of
previous pump-clips, are perfect companions to the vast After chatting to the delightful bar staff, we went all out
array of tipples on offer. And with the new kitchen, Dirty and threw some Jalapeño Poppers (£5) into the mix. For
Mac are offering an array of mouth-watering bites and anyone unacquainted with these mouth-tingling globes of
comfort foods - it looks like I've stumbled well! unadulterated joy, they’re fried breaded jalapeños stuffed
with cream cheese that burst on dental impact, spreading
Seated as a group, we got straight into the menu and spicy juices into a mouth that can be only be placated by
picked out whatever took our fancy, plus an extra to share. the calming dip of the restaurant's homemade blue cheese
This way no one gets envious of the other's eats. I know I sauce.
always do!
At bursting point, there was not much room for more; but
Among us, we ordered up a storm treating ourselves to there’s always room for research. After once again quizzing
different types of Mac and Cheese and sides - a treat for the delightful bar staff, next time I’ll be trying their signature
the weather-beaten. Vienna style beef hot dogs., or perhaps their vegan options.
I'm intrigued, as the vegan menu is a facsimile of what we
I went for the Mad Macs (£8), topped with chorizo and had but with extra vegetable goodness. With vegan beef
caramelised onions. Bursting with brie, it was comfort food chili, vegan cheese sauce and myriad toppings, this place
at its finest - I barely got to touch the curly fries before my makes sure that anyone who pulls up a pew will be very
friends devoured them. well catered for.

DIRTY MAC @ IDLE HANDS
59 QUEENS RD, BRIGHTON
60 bn1magazine.co.uk