Video: How to Make Goulash!

Manager of Gay Hussar, John, and head chef Carlos demonstrate how to make the Gay Hussar's world famous Hungarian Goulash in today's video!

Next week, look out for the recipe!

Recipe: Poppyseed Strudel

Anyone who is a regular visitor of the Gay Hussar will know one thing: our poppyseed strudel is always on the menu. Why? Well, it's not because our chefs can't be bothered to change the menu, oh no, it's because our strudel is so amazing! To quote one of our beloved customer's comments on Trip Advisor: 'the strudel is to die for'. We can't help but agree!

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Anyone who saw the pastry episode of this series' Great British Bake Off will have seen how tricky filo pastry is to make. Luckily in this day and age, there are always cheats available, and filo pastry bought from the shops is more than acceptable. 

This recipe can be made a day ahead, very useful for forward planning!

Ingredients

100g poppy seeds

70ml milk

125g granulated sugar, plus a little extra

3tbsp butter

zest of half a lemon

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

6 large sheet of filo pastry

50g butter, melted

1. To make the filling, heat the milk, sugar, salt, poppy seeds, butter and lemon zest in a small saucepan over a medium heat. Stir until the mixture is thickened and smooth. Add the vanilla.

2. Preheat the oven to 200C and line two baking trays with greaseproof paper. Place a sheet of filo on one of the tray and then lightly brush with melted butter. Sprinkle over 1 tsp sugar. Repeat the process until there are 3 layers of filo. Repeat with the remaining sheets of filo on the second tray.

3. Divide the poppyseed mix along the shorted edge of both the pastry sheets and gently roll into two logs, tucking in the ends as you go. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle over 1 tbsp sugar. 

4. Bake for 25 minutes or until the pasty is golden brown and crisp. Allow to cool slightly and then cut each strudel into 6 diagonal slices.

Serve two slices each with vanilla ice cream.

The Gay Hussar History Part 2 - 1989 to present day

In today's post we continue the Gay Hussar story from where we left off, at the beginning of 1989.

In 1989, it was widely reported that the day before her 89th birthday, the Queen Mother talking with guests expressed her particular interest in the Gay Hussar and its ‘goings-on' whilst hosting tea in the gardens of Clarence House.

In 1999 renowned political cartoonist, now the President of the British Cartoonist, Martin Rowson drew the Tribune dinner. Rowson says that this inspired him “to draw the famous and infamous patrons, as an enduring record of the Gay Hussar’s place in the history of the second half of the twentieth century, with the intentions that these portraits of the eminence figures of past, present and future importance should end-up, hanging and drawn, on the restaurant's wall. Martin sat in the corner, wheezing consumptively and scribbling away over his supper till he completed”.

Victor Sassie passed away on June 7th that year. Journalist Ian Aitken writes ‘He was equally tyrannical to his regulars, not least about what you ate. If you ordered before he could get at you, he would dash over to your table and demand to be told what you were having. “Don’t have that muck, that’s tourist stuff”, he would snort. Then he would summon a waiter and order you something entirely different’.

Gay Hussar History Part 1 - 1953-1989

Unfortunately in today's world, our high streets are full of chain restaurants, all the same, with little to no history or character. The Gay Hussar, now in its 61st year, could not be more different! It is a melting pot of history and intrigue.

Let's share some of that today!

Gay Hussar Caricatures

Walk into Gay Hussar and you cannot fail to notice the caricatures hanging on the walls. Drawn by the famous and world renown caricaturist, Martin Rowson, they are a real conversation starter.

The portraits are incredibly uncanny, if a little cruel (!) and they certainly make a wonderful backdrop to any meal at the Gay Hussar.

The portraits depict famous politicians, past and present. Who can you spot?