7. Square Pie, Spitalfields - Pie and Mash

Pie is my go-to dish on the pub menu (I think I might actually have eaten all of them). In fact, wrap anything in pastry and I'll eat it. ANYTHING EDIBLE, not dirt or worse. You think you're so funny.

Anyway, my pie love meant I went happily to Square Pie; another excellent tin that does what the label says. That is, pies. Square pies.

For me, it's all about shortcrust - none of this pot pie with a puff pastry lid. That is not pie. That is stew with a hat. No, no, I want fully enveloping, thick, lardy crust. The golden kind that's a bit soggy on the inside but has a good bite to it on the outside.

And Square Pie nail it. Proper pie with proper pastry plus mash and a side (peas or beans; so beans, obviously) and gravy in a box for £7.50. Bargain.

My photography; as good as ever

The List didn't specify a filling (of which there are many), so I kept it traditional with the steak and Guinness and didn't regret it. Don't let the canteen hot plate put you off. Good stodgy pastry, soft or crispy in all the right places, big chunks of beef, rich ale-y gravy. OK, the mash was a bit 'school dinners', but then I've never found it particularly un-'school dinners' (sorry, Mum).

Side note: The confusing highlight of the whole experience was when  I said: "Thank you, that was yummy", to a member of staff clearing the table (as you do) and she looked at me, shrugged and muttered "I don't make them"; as if I had mistaken the place for a family run shop and her for Mrs Squarepie herself.

Being in Spitalfields Market, this is a great place for a comforting, pastry-cased sit down after traipsing round all that London has to offer in the way of moustached T-shirts. Especially on a cold grey day. It's like a hug in a box.

Thanks Mrs Squarepie.

6. Kao Sarn, Brixton Village - Som Tam

Yay, Brixton Village! Like pretty much every food blogger (so pretty much everyone then), I bloody love that place. I'm proud to say that I was there before it got trendy; when you'd eat your lunch at Cornercopia surrounded by empty units and the aroma of fish guts. I miss those smug days when it was a hidden gem, but there's no arguing the fact that the queues are well and truly justified.... *mutter*...day trippers... *grumble* etc.

If you really must visit Brixton Village (and I'd prefer you didn't), you won't regret it, wherever you eat. The place exists to satisfy every food craving... Thai, Pakistani, burgers and grills - Bukowski's is a new favourite of mine, crepes, cocktails, ice cream, pizza, tapas.... Also, vintage clothes, but I imagine they would take some chewing...

I was dead chuffed to find a Brixton Village classic on The List. I'd been to Kao Sarn a few times before (known as, The Thai One; in a similar way to The Crepe Place and That Really Good Pizza One) and loved it; not least because the BYO-ness means it's mega cheap. But also because the food is brilliant: quick and delicious and Thai.

I'd not had the Som Tam before (or Som Tum Thair as it said on the menu) so it needed another visit. The review for this one says it'll bring back memories of backpacking but it's funny... I never came across it in Peru... (Dad joke!TM)

Som Tum Thair is Thai for 'papaya salad with a kind of sweet and sour flavour and one hell of a kick'. Now, on a scale from 'pansy' to 'this lady', I'd rate myself as 'alright' with spicy food, but this one had my nose running good and proper and had my sister whimpering (she rates as 'less than alright').

It was a nice flavour to start, a contrasting mix of the citrusy papaya and ground shrimp flavours and a good, fresh crunch. But when those chillies kicked in, my taste buds pretty much retracted and it quickly became a test of endurance

I'd overlooked this dish in the past and, although it's nice to try something new, I think I'll continue to do so. I'm beginning to think The List is about 'the experience' more than the flavour - this experience was snotty.

I can, however, recommend the Pak Tod (listen up, Meat Liquor: that's how you deep fry a vegetable!), the lamb massaman (rich, flavoursome and HUGE), the lovely service (lovely) and the price (small). 

Not that it needs my recommendation; we arrived at 6.30pm and got a table straight away. By the time we finished at 7.15pm (a combination of efficient service and food inhalation), the queue was round the corner. Go here (but don't).