When you’re away from home seeking a refuel at lunchtime, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to avoid ‘smashed avocado’.
This culinary totem of Britain of the 2020s possibly started when people realised that the chances of getting neat slices out of a slightly over-ripe avocado were slim to zero.
And it sounds better than ‘oops, I-mushed-it-to-bits-by-mistake’ avocado.
Anyway, it’s fine for a brunch vibe, with the very modern sprinkle of seeds, chilli flakes and other debris.
But some days, you feel on the ravenous side of peckish and it might not quite fill that void.
This was one of those days when the smashed avocado ‘n’ egg / black beans / chorizo / smoked salmon / spinach / whatever option didn’t tick the multiple-choice box of Extremely Tasty.
Faced with a training session all afternoon, I needed bolstering nutrition that would leave me just the right side of staying awake while someone talked at me for two hours, stating the very obvious.
About 30 years ago, I lived in Thailand for a couple of years and ate Pad Thai almost every lunchtime with my work colleagues.
They mysteriously knew the best noodle stalls which were beneath motorway flyovers or down dodgy-looking alleys that no ‘farang’ (white person) would notice, let alone eat at. It was always the best food.
That was exactly what I needed.
Mooching in the town centre, I spotted the bright orange Thai restaurant Little Elephant on Grove Road, right next to Camilla’s Bookshop, renowned for its teetering piles of books and a chatty parrot.
Unsurprisingly, there was no one else dining in on a midweek lunchtime but the kitchen was clearly busy with delivery orders for the WFH crowd who are also done with stuff on toast for today.
Thailand has taught the rest of the world genuine customer service and the young woman in Little Elephant was the perfect blend of friendly, knowledgeable and professional.
The menu did not delay me because I was zoning in on Pad Thai alone – the variations offered are with chicken, pork, beef, prawns, tofu or vegetable only.
I went for the tofu version and the waiter checked if I wanted the egg left out too, to make it vegan. I’m not vegan but I went for that option to try a real taste test. A traditional version may also feature dried shrimp and fish sauce.
It was from the lunch menu, which offers the various versions of Pad Thai in smaller portions than the main menu for around the £10 mark.
Since ‘avo smash’ iterations are edging towards double figures in many cafes, it seemed decent value – dinner will not be required.
The large spongy rectangles of tofu and thin, flat noodles soak up the unmistakeable deep flavours of Thailand.
The little trees of broccoli and diagonal slices of carrot did not feature in the Bangkok versions, but they are the vegetables available here so we have Pad Thai Eastbourne.
The textures of peanut crumbs, crunchy bean sprouts and the depth of taste one can never replicate at home are all there. Tamarind pulp, authentic Thai soy sauce and Chinese mustard stems are not to hand in my kitchen, but these are the flavours in Pad Thai I craved.
I barely noticed it was vegan. To me, it was exactly the life-giving plate of noodles I had had in mind: flavoursome, textured and with just the right amount of carb to fuel the rest of the day.
It powered me through the training (remaining awake), the half-hour walk home and an evening with just a light snack. Now that’s what I call a lunch.
Little Elephant, 55 Grove Road, Eastbourne BN21 4TX / 01323 646155 / www.lil-elephant.co.uk
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If possible, may I suggest you review “Soup’n’Tap” at Terminus Road?
Good food, friendly staff.
Your page might have a place for suggestions.
Thank you.
Thanks for this Rose – one to consider! I think people can probably suggest places as you have done in the comments for now. Best wishes, Rebecca