Make History Under the Arches
Bone Daddies are using Frank’s Redhot Sauce in a new dish they are calling RedHot Ramen and that is what I was there to try, writes Michael Holland.
Bone Daddies in Bermondsey dwells in an arch beneath London’s very first railway viaduct, the first of what became many that emanated from the capital’s main termini, reaching out to the suburbs and beyond. Bone Daddies is surrounded by history, enveloped by history, and now it is making its own history by teaming up with Frank’s RedHot, a sauce created in Louisiana over one hundred years ago with a rich blend of cayenne peppers and the inevitable ‘secret ingredients’…
That sauce is now the No. 1 Hot Sauce in the World, and even Danny Dyer says ‘it is hot AF!’
Their latest bowl of goodness and fire is created with a combination of Bone Daddies homemade chicken broth, cornflake-fried chicken drumstick, buffalo sauce, pickled chilli, half soy egg, beansprouts, spring onion and noodles. Frank’s Redhot is added to give extra spice, more body and depth. Our server, Monika, ceremoniously set a bottle of Frank’s Redhot next to the bowl of ramen and gave me a look that said, ‘I dare you!’
I dared. I tried a little taste on the edge of my little finger and found it to be similar to that other American favourite, Tabasco, but with a tangier twist to it. Nice.
But before I started splashing it all over my food I looked at how many red chillies were already in there floating about waiting for me to put my spoon in there, just like those crocodiles in the Serengeti ready to pounce on a wildebeest who fancies its chances in the river.
But first I wanted to try the RedHot Ramen as the chef had lovingly prepared it. The broth was good. Very good. It wasn’t long before my lunch companion had to tell me to stop slurping.
I’m not a fan of boiled eggs in soup so that was the first thing to go. It was actually quite nice but I’m not convinced they should allowed together.
The differing textures came from the fresh beansprouts, spring onion and chillies. Tasty. It was getting hot in there. Each time a train rumbled overheard my personal thermostat went up 5° though the level of the broth didn’t seem to be going down. Phew!
I asked Haydn what his lemon pepper ramen was like. ‘Beautiful,’ he said.
When I had made some headway I decided it was time to try the drumstick. Even though it had been standing in the hot liquid for quite a while the cornflake-fried chicken still had a crunch to it. I was impressed. And when you got through that outer crust it was juicy and succulent inside. Incredible.
Eventually the time came to take up Monika’s implied challenge. I added a few splashes of Frank’s sauce and blended it in. There was a notable difference. Immediately.
After two spoonfuls my nose began tingling. Cushty. That’s why we have spice food. After four spoonfuls my eyes began watering. Sweet!
‘Fancy some of this hot sauce in yours, Hayd?’
‘You’re having a laugh, ain’tcha? You can’t even talk properly!’
And he was right, the spice had made my vocal chords contract and I was only able to squeak.
I finished off the bowl with gusto. Haydn handed me a napkin to dry my eyes and we both laughed at the foolishness of people who put themselves through this and deem it a true delight.
I took a good slug of my Hiro IPA, especially brewed for Bone Daddies and for drinking with ramen. I came alive.
The Redhot Ramen felt like it had healing powers. I felt invincible, that I could live forever. Haydn handed me another napkin to mop my brow. It was really hot in here now.
Monika placed a Soy Salted Caramel before me. ‘You’ll need this to help you cool down, Mr Holland,’ she said with a knowing smile…
Bone Daddies RedHot Ramen is making history for just a limited period. Get in now and give it a go.
Bone Daddies, 27-28, Old Jamaica Business Estate, 24 Old Jamaica Rd, Bermondsey, SE16 4AW
Booking and full details: https://bonedaddies.com/location/bermondsey/
£20-30 pp.
