The Pitstop Street Kitchen in Barnet

So I heard another urban boast about a unique place to eat really great, but reasonably priced food. Would it be a hollow boast or not? Well, it's not often one of my tips yields gold but this is one instance and I want to tell everyone about it. The Pitstop Street Kitchen... in NW4 ...specializing in hand carved salt beef sandwiches, homemade burgers and more of the type. Situated off the main road in suburban Hendon is a really funky looking bright red modern food trailer. Think retro meets Iron Man and you get the picture. It is spotlessly clean, surfaces are constantly being sprayed and wiped and wiped again, and staffed by two clearly devoted foodies with experience in the food business. This is how I imagine really good chefs would operate if they couldn't get their own premises. Well, so far so good but the proof is in the eating and the rest is details. There are daily specials and the menu is changed weekly, and some winter warmers are promised soon, but I could only order two items on that day, and I started eating. The homemade burger was definitely that, it would be so easy to cheat and go for a really juicy burger by adding loads of fat but the Pitstop girls are no cheaters and my juicy, flavoursome burger was an innocent creation of good quality meat, seasoning, and not much else. Apparently it helps that the meat is kneaded to leave the grain in several directions but whatever it is really worked for me. My eating partner had the salt beef sandwich, I am no expert on this dish but I could tell from his grin after a few bites that it was good, the last time he had as much fun in his clothes was finishing off the black cod at Scott's fish restaurant in town. Georgina explained the salt beef is brined and braised using a recipe passed down from her grandmother, only using beef brisket from a local butcher which doesn't break down easily during the process and so remains tender and light. Deep fried Oreos is a concept that I refuse to accept blindly, my supermodel wife wouldn't approve, but this isn't an average variation on an overworked theme, they really tasted quite light, nothing like the Mars Bar cousin offered north of the border. I left full and content, next time I will try the BBQ pulled pork on brioche or the roast with apple sauce. There is a loyalty card scheme which gets you a free lunch after ten stars. The Pitstop girls in Hendon can definitely pull their weight against the famous big boys in Mayfair offering luxury burgers and glorified comfort food and it's a lot more convenient and cheaper than slogging up to 'Wolfie's' in town. Boast proudly, Pitstop people.