This is what A to Z World Food London is all about! A cuisine we knew nothing about before. Delightful food. Friendly staff. Dishes with strange names, like kuku, cigirtmasi and golubtsi. The country Azerbaijan even has an AZ in its name!
I met Alf for Sunday lunch at Land of Fire on the Caledonian Road on a drizzly day in mid-December. It was cold outside, and we wanted stomach-warming stuff. The chef at this small local eatery didn’t disappoint.
I started with a tasty humus, topped with fried chickpeas and roast carrots, while Alf ordered cold herring for some strange reason. Both very nice, and served with fresh bread.
For mains, I ordered Khingali. I’d never eaten anything quite like it before, though it was rather reminiscent of the Afghan Mantu we’d eaten at Ariana II. Khingali consists of large flat noodles that are boiled then topped with minced beef and onions, and you can drizzle yoghurt sauce over it. It’s simple, moreish and very filling.
Alf, meanwhile, ordered Plov, Azerbaijan’s take in pilaf rice. It consisted of stewed beef with carrots, chestnuts and, I believe, apricots on a bed of rice. Again, simple stuff, but done well and very tasty.
We finished it off with Medoviy, a decent, if slightly dry, honey cake.
I’m a big fan of Land of Fire, which is, as far as I can tell, the capital’s only Azerbaijani restaurant. Serving up good-sized portions of comfort food, in a snug, unpretentious style, and with friendly waiters, it ticks my boxes. The one thing that seemed to be missing was any Azerbaijan-themed décor or music, which might have added to the experience.
Definitely worth a visit – especially with a location so close to King’s Cross station.
Score: 8/10
Cost: £64
Location: 95 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9BT
The A to Z of World Food in London 