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Eating out<br />
Il Cudega<br />
Like all the great cafés in Italy it has a community<br />
feel and is easy to pop in solo or hangout with<br />
the whole family. We’ve done both as the simple<br />
but great quality food tempts adults and children<br />
alike. The last time we were there we had lasagna,<br />
cotoletta alla Milanese (veal cutlet), while the kids<br />
had spaghetti ragu. It was comforting and cosy.<br />
The only tricky bit is ordering just the one pudding.<br />
With the classic choices of zabaione del ciclista,<br />
(espresso topped with whipped-up egg yolks and<br />
sugar), crème brûlée, rice pudding, tiramisu or<br />
gelato, we managed three.<br />
I have to tell you this is the best gelato this side of<br />
Frome (if you're ever there, seek out the shop) and<br />
what pulled us into Il Cudega in the first place.<br />
Il Cudega. It took me a while to get the hang of<br />
this name, so if like me you’re a little linguistically<br />
challenged the translation, pork scratching, might<br />
work better.<br />
As a big fan of pork this sure works for me. I love<br />
the stuff, and have a recipe book dedicated to<br />
this wonderful animal and all its piggy treats.<br />
This converted railway arch is great for a pork<br />
fix. A beautiful selection of charcuterie with an<br />
espresso is perfect.<br />
Il Cudega, is a combo of deli, wine bar and<br />
restaurant where all the food and wine comes<br />
from the Lombardy region in Italy. Lombardy is<br />
famous for its beautiful landscape, agriculture and<br />
food – by coincidence we stayed in the area last<br />
summer with two very good friends (the David<br />
Furnish and Elton John of Bethnal Green to us).<br />
They used to live in E2, but after taking off on a<br />
grand tour of the region they never returned,<br />
swapping their overcrowded London life for<br />
a remote, spacious and beautiful estate up a<br />
mountain. Why would you do that?<br />
Talking of community, if you’re wondering where<br />
the lovely Bill of Westgate Motors went, he’s just a<br />
couple of arches further over, still keeping all our<br />
motors running.<br />
Open: Monday-Friday 8.30am–6pm<br />
Saturday and Sunday 9am–6pm<br />
Prices: Antipasto £9.50–£12, Mains £9.50–£22<br />
Dessert £2.50–£6<br />
Address: Il Cudega, Railway Arch 358, Westgate<br />
Street, E8 3RN. 07479 611124<br />
Susan Birtwistle<br />
Sadly, there’s no such view from here, but step<br />
across the threshold and you’ll be basking in the<br />
Italian warmth of Luca and Giovanni’s welcome.<br />
24 LOVEEAST
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