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Please note: Bell & Brisket's residency at The Grafton pub has now ended. Owner Bel Shapiro is searching for a permanent London site - watch this space.
They sound like estate agents, but Bell & Brisket are a much more welcome sight in any neighbourhood; they’re food trucks run by Bel Shapiro, serving brisket.
And if you’re wondering exactly what beef brisket is, it’s the lower part of the shoulder, which has good flavour so is used to make salt beef, that staple of London Jewish nosh. Bell-issimo!
These trucks pitch up daily in Highgate, or at Kerb street-food collective events, such as at Granary Square in King’s Cross.
You can get your beef in a bagel, of course, or in a dark rye bread bun. The pickles are particularly tangy, such as the vinegary sauerkrauts or the less orthodox kimchi. Cheddar cheese can be blowtorched to melt over the meat. Clearly none of this is kosher.
So, it’s not much good if the rabbi’s visiting, but it is okay for rabbits, though as there’s a vegetarian option using halloumi. Oy vey!
But that’s enough spiel, on to the price. It’s seven quid for the Duke, which has Tex-Mex chipotle relish and jalapeño sour cream. The Old Timer – beef, mustard, gherkins – costs six.
If you’re thinking your bubbe could make it for less, then ask her why she’s not running a food truck, you klutz!